PREFACE. 



This bulletin is in part the outgrowth of the work done in 

 preparation for the Scientific Exhibit of New York at the World's 

 Columbian Exposition. In collecting a representative series of 

 specimens of the economic products of the State much informa- 

 tion was obtained concerning the various mineral deposits. As 

 sufficient space was not available in the text of the report of the 

 Superintendent of the Scientific Exhibit to discuss fully the data 

 at hand, and as it was necessary that the economic and geologic 

 map should be accompanied by a description of the various eco- 

 nomic minerals and their relations, it seemed advisable to prepare 

 a bulletin containing a synopsis of the iacts. This bulletin is 

 designed to answer many questions concerning the mineral 

 resources of New York which have hitherto been answered by 

 correspondence, and though it is not offered as an entirely com- 

 plete record, it is hoped that it may in a measure supply a want 

 which has long been manifest and that in a future revised edition 

 it may be made more perfect. In the brief time available for 

 the preparation of the bulletin it has not been possible to write 

 original articles on all the economic minerals of the State. 

 Extracts have, therefore, been made from various reliable articles 

 already in print wherever it seemed advisable to use them, and 

 references are given to other literature. 



FREDERICK J. H. MERRILL. 



Albany, March, 1895. 



