MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 1 55 



pebbles reach a diameter of 2 inches or so. The pebbles consist 

 of milky white quartz such as occurs commonly in veins and are 

 fairly rounded, showing considerable abrasion during the stage of 

 their accumulation and deposition on the shores of the interior sea 

 on which the beds were laid down. 



The cementing substance of the grit is white silica which forms 

 a matrix for the grains but does not wholly fill the voids; thus 

 producing the bur or cutting surface characteristic of the millstones. 

 The grit is nearly pure quartz and has found application in years 

 past for glass manufacture. 



Shawangunk mountain extends from the vicinity of High Falls 

 near Kingston southwest into New Jersey and Pennsylvania and is 

 capped by the grit beds which overlie the Hudson River shales, 

 the whole dipping steeply to the northwest. Material suited to 

 millstone manufacture occurs here and there along the slope of the 

 ridge, in the section between Kerhonkson and High Falls. Some 

 of the localities where extensive quarry operations have been carried 

 on are Kyserike, St Josen, Granite and Kerhonkson. In addition 

 New Paltz and Kingston have been identified with the industry 

 as shipping centers. 



Quarry methods. The quarry operations are simple and require 

 little equipment, as the amount of stone handled is relatively 

 small. The layer or layers of desirable quality are uncovered by 

 stripping of the overlying soil and rock, and then lifted out by bars 

 and wedges, perhaps assisted by light charges of powder to loosen 

 them from the bed. Blasting, however, is avoided as much as possible 

 lest the stone be weakened. The size of the block is determined 

 by the spacing of the natural joint planes. The block when removed 

 from the bed is roughly squared up and then worked into a disk 

 with the aid of hand hammer and point. The last operation is to 

 drill the center hole or eye. This is usually done by starting a 

 hole in the center of one of the sides and drilling half way, then 

 reversing and cutting a second hole on the opposite face to meet 

 the first. The round eye thus formed may be squared up. The 

 dressing or grooving of millstones is not done at the quarry. Mill- 

 stones are sold in pairs. 



Production. Considerable difficulty is encountered in obtaining 

 information about the production of millstones. Values of course 

 are dependent upon the quality and size of the stones and the quarry 

 prices range all the way from $2.50 to $3 for the smallest size, an 

 18-inch stone, to $75 or more for an 84-inch stone which is about 

 the maximum size that is used. The quarrymen may sell the whole 



