DESCRIPTIVE NOTES OF QUARRY DISTRICTS AND QUARRIES 245 



Quarries have been opened at many points in the valley 

 of the Mohawk between Amsterdam and Little Falls, and 

 in the Trenton and BIrdseye limestone formations. Some 

 of them have been Idle for many years ; others have fur- 

 nished small quantities of stone for home use, and hence 

 are only of local Importance. 



Canajoharie, Montgomery County.— There are three build- 

 ing-stone quarries opened in and near Canajoharie, and in 

 the Calciferous formation, two of which are worked contin- 

 uously. The openings are large, and there Is much varia- 

 tion in the beds. The leading varieties are a blue stone 

 and a gray, sub-crystalline stone, the latter of which is cut 

 for monumental bases, sewer blocks, house trimmings and 

 canal lock construction. A specimen of the gray variety 

 from the quarry of A. C. & C. H. Shaper w^as examined 

 and gave an analysis 46.92 per cent of lime, equivalent to 

 83.92 per cent of calcium carbonate and 10.06 per cent of 

 insoluble matters. The specific gravity was 2.726 and the 

 weight 169.9 pounds per cubic foot. Its absorptive capacity 

 was found to be 0.07 per cent. The alternate freezing and 

 thawing produced no change, but the high temperature 

 calcined the specimen so that It fell to pieces in handling. 

 The stone of these quarries can be seen In the churches of 

 Canajoharie and Fort Plain, and In some of the large mill 

 buildings of Utica. 



Palatine Bridge, Montgomery County — On the north or 

 left bank of the Mohawk there are two large quarries 

 which furnish blue and gray limestones for common wall 

 work and for cut work. These quarries are in the same 

 formation as those across the river In Canajoharie, and the 

 stone resembles closely that of the latter quarries. In all 

 of them the beds are dipping at 5° to 10° southerly, and the 

 stripping Is comparatively light. 



At Fort Plain and St. Johnsville, Montgomery County, the 

 BIrdseye limestone Is opened in small quarries for local 

 use. 



