8 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



II 



REPORT ON THE GEOLOGICAL SUR\ EY 

 SOME PRACTICAL FEATURES OF NEW YORK GEOLOGY i 



The services which geology may render to industry and technology 

 are becoming widely recognized with the progress of organized sur- 

 vey work, but nowhere in the country perhaps is the relationship 

 more historic or continuous with respect to actual records than in 

 this State. The reports of the First Survey of New York, issued 

 between the years 1837 and 1841, give prominence to the con- 

 sideration of natural resources ; their treatment of the mineral de- 

 posits particularly attains a measure of accuracy and comprehensive 

 value that is at least surprising in view of the conditions under which 

 they were prepared. So far as our knowledge goes they represent 

 the earliest attempt to cover the physical features of a whole com- 

 monwealth with similar detail and to maintain a practical balance 

 between the twofold objects, pure and applied knowledge, that 

 should be subserved by such investigations. 



Since their publication applied geology has gained materially by 

 accumulated experience and improved methods of research. In 

 keeping with the needs of modern industrial activities there has 

 come a demand also for more specialized information than was 

 afforded by the early reports, as well as for the extension of survey 

 work into entirely new fields. 



To illustrate more particularly the features of this development 

 we outline briefly some of the later investigations carried out in 

 New Y^ork with their purposes and results, making reference at 

 the same time to other possible inquiries that may be followed with 

 profit. 



Mining. The relation of geology to mining is of first importance 

 to the State, though New Y^ork it would appear is not generally con- 

 sidered to be very largely endowed with mineral resources. This 

 view is justified only with regard to metallic minerals, of which, 

 aside from iron ores, the deposits are neither varied nor specially 

 extensive. But a production valued altogether at nearly $40,000,000 

 a year on the basis of crude materials is not an inconsiderable item, 

 even when compared with the totals of many so-Called mining states. 

 As a matter of fact New Y^ork ranks well up in the list and ahead 

 of nearly all states that arc similarly lacking in wealth of mineral 

 fuels. 



»By D. H. Newland. 



