on and near the Erie Canal. t 45 



tains. It is found also mixed with muriate of lime, in nume- 

 rous localities, called Deer-Licks, in situations wiiich cannot 

 have au}^ connexion with the formation with which the great 

 salt sprmgs of this country, and the salt mines of Europe, 

 are associated. It is thus found on the metalliferous hme- 

 stoae near Sackett's Harbor, and on argiliite and first grey- 

 wacke in Reusseiaer county, or third greywacke in Green 

 county ; and m numerous other localities in various geologi- 

 cal strata. But the sprmg waters which are used for the 

 manufaciure of table salt in this country, are confined to the 

 well known red and grey saliferous rock, the variegated sand- 

 stone of Werner, No salt has been detected in this rock 

 where it underlies the basaltic rock on the Hudson and Con- 

 necticut rivers. 



In the first part of the Erie Canal Survey, I made some 

 remarks upon the origin of the salt springs. The specula- 

 tions upon this interesting subject have been numerous and 

 ingenious, but not satisfactory. At least I may say, that af- 

 ter reading the various essays which have appeared on this 

 subject, and after an attentive examination of the vi^hole 

 range of salt springs in the canal district for the last eight 

 years, I have made no progress towards a satisfactory expla- 

 nation. To aid those who may be inclined to pursue the 

 inquiry, I will add a few important facts, which have not been 

 presented to the public. The discoveries were first made 

 by Dr. James Eights, Prof. F. Edgerton, and myself. 



There are immense quantities of pseudomorphous crystals, 

 imitating^ most perfectly^ crystals of muriate of soda, in the 

 strata of saliferous rock, and the lias which is situated above 

 it. The pseudomorphous crystals are found in the softest 

 varieties of calcareous slate, and red and grey marle-slate. 

 They appear to be mostly cast in the hopper-form moulds of 

 crystals, as they are called by the manufacturers of salt. But 

 they often appear to have formed around the outsides of the 

 cubic crystals of common salt. 



I will give a few directions for those who are curious to 

 examine those remarkable productions. First make yourself 

 familiar with the process of crystallizing common salt in the 

 large way ; which may be best effected by spending one day 

 at Syracuse, on the canal, and carefully inspecting the works 

 where salt is made by solar evaporation. The works where 

 a little fire heat is added, to aid the solar process, are the 

 most instructive. You will see a cubic crystal form first, and 



