10 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



quartzite. The original rounded grains are outlined by thin films of 

 iron oxide; the secondary quartz, in parallel orientation, has most 

 complicated crenulated margins which dovetail together in an 

 extreme of interlocking. The grains average from 0.50 mm to 

 0.60 mm in diameter, and are composed practically wholly of quartz, 

 fairly free from inclusions ; a little scattered rutile, zircon and 

 tourmaline are sparingly distributed. The purity of this quartzite 

 is likewise shown by the chemical analysis (table i) ; silica 99.51 

 per cent, iron oxide 0.21 per cent. 



The rock shows a little more complicated history than one of 

 simple induration, since all grains exhibit strong undulatory extinc- 

 tion and some show crushing; but subsequent silification has healed 

 all crush effects, and has produced a remarkably tough, hard rock. 



Figures 5 and 6 illustrate these features. In figure 5, a photo- 

 micrograph taken in ordinary light, magnification 65 diameters, the 

 original rounded grains are shown outlined by iron oxide, and the 

 notable absence of minerals other than quartz is evident; figure 6 

 represents the same field, viewed with nicols crossed, thus empha- 

 sizing the individual grains of quartz. Note the crenulated margins 

 and the highly interlocking habit. 



The rock in other places in this area appears to be less desirable ; 

 samples taken from a ledge resting unconformably on the gneiss, 

 about three-fourths of a mile west of Ladue's farm, contain less 

 quartz and such a considerable amount of ilmenite, leucoxene, rutile, 

 zircon, tourmaline, carbonate, sericitized feldspars, iron oxide, mag- 

 netite etc. as to render it unfit for use. Figure 7 illustrates this type, 

 which is inferior both in composition and structural habit to the 

 rock shown in figures 5 and 6. 



Operating facilities and transportation. The best rock in this 

 area, so far as was determined by this investigation, is, as stated, 

 that which outcrops in conspicuous ledges on Ladue's farm, 2 miles 

 south of Wiccopee, extending southerly one-fourth of a mile or 

 more. 



The road from this outcrop to Wiccopee, level and in fairly good 

 condition, merges into a state road at Wiccopee ; the line of the 

 Central New England Railroad (Nev/burg, Dutchess and Connecti- 

 cut Railroad) crosses the state road at Brinckerhoff, about 1J/2 miles 

 west of Wiccopee. This line connects with the Hopewell branch 

 of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad at Hopewell 

 Junction, .5 or 6 miles north of Brinckerhoff, and with the main line 

 of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad at Dutchess 



