308 Sketch of the Geology of 



of a peculiar variety of talcose slate, which, in most cases, 

 could hardly be determined, were not the observer to 

 trace carefully, the gradations of that rock; a method to 

 which the geologist is often obliged to resort. Near the 

 light houses, this rock, owing to an almost inexplicable 

 peculiarity of structure, exhibits a remarkable tendency 

 to split in the direction of the layers, like wood. Indeed, 

 where It is laid up to form fences, as one rides along the 

 road, he can scarcely distinguish the long and apparently 

 fibrous masses from wooden rails, or planks. At a few 

 rods distant, where the rock passes under the ocean, it 

 cannot be distinguished from large logs. I refer particu- 

 larly to a spot a little north of the light houses. On the 

 shore east of these light houses, the rock is so fissile that 

 splinters of It, half an Inch thick and nearly a yard long, 

 were obtained by D. Miles, who accompanied me thither. 



Much of this talcose slate is that compact variety 

 which Is sometimes converted Into whetstones ; though 

 I know not that It is employed for this purpose In Maine. 

 On the shore near Portland, I noticed one or two boul- 

 ders that appeared to be a very fine, though rather hard, 

 variety of novaculite. Probably, the bed from which 

 these blocks were detached, is north of the city ; since 

 the diluvial current had a southerly direction. 



It seems now to be well ascertained, that talcose slate 

 is the deposite of nearly all the gold found In the United 

 States. It is the porous quartz, which abounds in oxide 

 of iron, that constitutes the immediate gangue of the 



metal 



very 



noticed It on Cape EHzabeth. Such facts it may be weU 

 to keep in mind; though the occurrence of talcose slate, 

 m any region, does not prove the existence of gold there. 

 But if gold exist in one place in this rock, the presump- 



rock 



