220 BULLETIN OF THE NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Prof. Hall describes it as follows: *'The mass is usually 

 a red or slightly variegated sandstone, solid and coherent 

 in the eastern extremity of the district, becoming friable 

 and marly in the western extension, and admitting an inter- 

 calated mass of gray quartzose sandstone, which contains 

 marine shells ; while in the red portions are rarely found 

 other than marine vegetables or fucoids."^ 



Quartz is the principal mineral constitutent, associated 

 with some kaolinized feldspar. The cementing material is 

 mainly oxide of iron with less carbonate of lime. The stone 

 is even-bedded and the strata dip gently southward. The 

 prevailing systems of vertical joints, generally at right 

 angles to one another, divide the beds into blocks, facilitating 

 the labor of quarrying. 



Quarries have been opened at Fulton, Granby and Oswego 

 in Oswego county ; at several points in Wayne county ; at 

 Rochester and on the Irondequoit creek, and at Brockport, 

 Monroe county ; at Holley, Hulberton, HIndsburgh, Albion, 

 Medina and Shelby Basin in Orleans county ; and at Lock- 

 port and Lewiston in Niagara county. The Medina sand- 

 stone district proper is restricted to the group of quarries 

 from Brockport west to Lockport. 



The leading varieties of stone are known as the Medina 

 red stone, the white or gray Medina, and the variegated 

 (red and white) or spotted. The quarries in this district 

 are worked on an extensive scale, and their equipment is 

 adequate to a large annual production. The aggregate 

 output is larger and more valuable in dimension stone for 

 dressing than that of any other quarry district in the state. 

 And, Including the stone for street work, the total value Is 

 greater than that obtained from the stone of any other 

 geological formation In the state. The stone has gained 

 a well-deserved reputation for its value as a beautiful and 

 durable building material ; and its more general employment 

 both in construction and In paving is much to be desired. 



* Survey of the Fourth Geological District by James Hall, Albany, 1843, p. 34. 



