GYPSUM DEPOSITS OF NEW YORK 4I 



Monroe county 



The Camillus shale crosses the county from east to west, out- 

 cropping ill) southern Perinton, northern Mendon, southern Hen- 

 rietta, northern Rush, southern Riga and ChiU, and the greater part 

 of Wheatland townships. Its northern limit is uncertain owing to 

 the heavy drift coA^ering and to its merging gradually into the Ver- 

 non shale below. Its southern limit is the outcrop of Bertie water- 

 lime beds. 



The gypsum deposits of value seem to be limited strictly to the 

 town of W'heatland in the southwestern corner of the county. Here 

 the Bertie beds, underlain by gypseous shales and the gypsum 

 layers, are exposed for a distance of several miles along Allen's 

 creek between Garbutt and Mum ford; while small gypsum deposits 

 have been exploited along its banks as far Avest as Fort Hill in 

 Genesee county. The Wheatland township deposits are among the 

 most important of the State. The area at present worked occupies 

 about 3 square miles. 



-^he gypsum at present developed, occurs in two continuous layers 

 below 40 or more feet of soil and waterlimes. The upper layer 

 lies at a horizon above the level of the stream while the lower layer 

 is probably at the stream's level. The upper layer varies in thick- 

 ness from 5 feet to 7 or 8 feet, but rarely can good rock be ob- 

 tained with a thickness of over 5^ feet. The second layer, or 

 '' second bottom " as it is locally termed, has been found in prac- 

 tically all the workings. It is separated from the upper layer by a 

 hard, bluish limestone varying in thickness from 6 to~i2 feet. The 

 gypsum in this layer varies also from 5 to 7 or 8 feet in thickness 

 and in some mines contains from i to 2 feet of whiter gypsum than 

 that of the upper layer. Its general average would probably run 

 about the same. At present, the upper la3^er alone is being devel- 

 oped, although the lower layer has been exposed and its qualities 

 arc known. The descriptions of the individual properties follow. 



Empire Gypsum Co. This company owns the most eastern mill 

 of the group, situated southeast of Garbutt station and east of the 

 north-south highway. The mine is situated west of the road, en- 

 trance being made to it by a slightly inclined tunneh opening on the 

 road. The gypsum averages 5 feet, 5 inches in thickness of which 

 the middle 2 feet appears to be of the best quality, and the lower 2 

 feet is harder. The layer is overlain by a good limestone roof and 

 underlain by 10 feet of limestone, below which is a second g}'psuni 

 bed not yet develoi>ed. 



