292 



include the bed, but they are probably greenstone trap and 

 sienite. The serpentine itself was found by him to be natu- 

 rally separated into blocks, or sheets from three to eighteen 

 inches thick and from two to four feet in width. Analysis 

 of themineral gave Dr. Jackson the following results ; 



Silcx, 37 grains. 



Magnesia, 42 " 



Oxyde of Iron 2 " 

 Water, 15 " 



Loss, 4 " 



100 grains. 



Mr. Mudge next referred to a so called copper mine at a 

 l)lace hi Lynnfield, specified as Tophet Hill. Some fifteen 

 hundred dollars raised by contribution from individuals in 

 Charlestown and other places, were expended upon tliis spot 

 directed in the research l)y an Englishman, by the name of 

 Kingsford, who sought with divining rods after the precious 

 metals, such as platina, copper and other valuable ores, which 

 he pretended were concealed there. A shaft in the sienitic 

 ledge had been sunk to the depth of twenty-five feet, which 

 was met by a horizontal excavation seventy-five feet from 

 the foot of the hill to meet it. For this great outlay they 

 obtained it is said a few bits of copper, and some very thin 

 layers of micaceous iron ore of no useful value. Mr. M. 

 had seen these specimens, and the platina was the micaceous 

 iron, which the empiric declared he had fused in a skillet, 

 ingorant that platinum was the most infusible of the metals. 

 Such instances of charlatanry and credulity are too com^ 

 mon among us in other subjects besides metallurgy. Good 

 specimens of the magnetic oxode of iron, smoky quartz, and 

 of felspar, obtained by him at the railroad excavation wero 

 exhibited by Mr. Mudge to the meeting. Lynnfield, he 

 assured it, also affords schorl, fluateof lime, asbestos, graphia 

 granite and other minerals. The sienite quarries are also 

 extensive, and might hereafter prove an important revenue 

 to the town. The character of the rock is as good as that of 

 Quincy. 



