136 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



of Hastings. The opening extends about 300 feet on the strike of 

 the gneiss, which is nearly north and south; it is about 100 feet 

 wide and the face on the west side about 30 feet. The quality 

 of the rock exposed in the quarry is somewhat variable. The best 

 quality is found in the west side where a massive gray gneiss is 

 quarried for building stone, in blocks that measure up to 10 feet 

 long and 4 to 6 feet in section. Through the middle of the quarry 

 runs a band about 18 feet wide of a darker, seamed, or contorted 

 gneiss. There is more or less granitic admixture with the gneiss, 

 but this is not usually injurious to the strength or appearance of 

 the stone. 



Besides the bedding joints that run with the foliation and dip 

 80° east, there are two well-developed sets at right angles to the 

 foliation, the one dipping 80° south and the other 35*^ north. 



Microscopic examination of the gneiss from this quarry shows 

 the mineral composition to be like that described for the typical 

 Fordham. The texture is even grained for the most part, and 

 very fine, with indistinct banding. The feldspar and quartz par- 

 ticles average under 1.5 mm and the biotite scales are of about the 

 same diameter. There is only an occasional shred of hornblende. 

 Among the accessory constituents is zoisite in small rounded grains. 

 Sulphides are absent. The only mark of alteration is a slight 

 clouding of the feldspar, due to incipient kaolinization. The speci- 

 mens showed no effervescence with muriatic acid. 



A hand derrick and Steam drill comprise the quarry equipment. 

 The blocks are loosened from the ledge by drilling deep holes and 

 loading with black powder, after which they are broken up by hand 

 drilling. The stone is sold rough and dressed for building and 

 foundation work. The waste is sold as crushed stone for macadam. 



Fenano quarry 



A quarry in Tuckahoe has been operated for several years past 

 by Nicholas Fenano. The rock is a compact bluish or grayish 

 gneiss of the Fordham type, but somewhat contorted and broken 

 by numerous joints. The opening is about 200 feet long on the 

 strike of the gneiss and shows a face of 40^ feet. The strike of 

 the beds is north and south and the dip vertical. Most of the 

 product has been sold as crushed stone, the larger blocks only being 

 utilized for foundation or building work. The ledge has been 

 worked nearly down to the street level and it is probable that the 

 quarry will soon be converted to other use. 



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