72 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



of Benson village. The best abundant rock, however, for macadam- 

 izing roads is the syenite, especially the basic varieties which are 

 hard and rich in iron-bearing minerals but which usually contain 

 little or no quartz or mica. 



The syenites and granites would furnish durable and beautiful 

 building stones, but their distance from market has so far prevented 

 any considerable use of these rocks. 



Feldspar and mica. Pegmatite dikes, which are so often pros- 

 pected and quarried for feldspar or mica, are comparatively scarce. 

 One prospect hole has been opened in pegmatite along the small 

 stream one-half of a mile east of the south end of the village of 

 Wells. Good muscovite mica and potash (orthoclase) feldspar 

 were found but neither in sufficient quantity to pay for mining. 



In Paleozoic rocks 



Little Falls dolomite. Many years ago, along the line of outcrop 

 of the Little Falls dolomite in the outlier near Hope, this rock was 

 quarried (see map) and burned in nearby limekilns, the remains of 

 which may still be seen. What the burned lime was used for could 

 not be learned, but it was probably put upon the soil, as it makes 

 a very poor quicklime for plaster or mortar. 



A small quarry in the dolomite has also been opened on the hill- 

 side one-third of a mile east of Wells, this rock being used for 

 building purposes in the village. 



Lowville limestone. Many years ago two small quarries were 

 opened in the Lowville limestone, one within the small area in the 

 outlier near Hope (see map) and the other along the small stream 

 three-fourths of a mile west of Wells. Li both cases the rock was 

 burned in nearby limekilns (still standing) for the production of 

 quicklime, this rock being of very excellent quality for the purpose. 



Trenton limestone. The Trenton limestone a mile north of the 

 north end of Wells village was quarried many years ago and burned 

 for quicklime in a kiln which still stands. This rock is of good 

 quality for the purpose, but no extensive operations were ever 

 carried on. 



A very small quarry was also opened in the Trenton limestone 

 one-half of a mile west-northwest of Wells. This rock is the shaly 

 Trenton near the shale contact and was used for road work. 



Canajoharie shale. The only quarry in this rock lies just above 

 the road across the river one-half of a mile west of the northern 

 part of Wells village. A considerable amount of the shale has been 

 taken out for road repair work in the Wells valley. 



