CRYSTALLINE ROCKS OF THE WESTERN ADIRONDACK 



REGION 



The field work for 1898 in the western Adirondacks was planned 

 with reference to the desire of the late Dr James Hall, state 

 geologist, to issue during the present winter a new edition of the 

 geologic map of the state. 



With this end in view, every effort was made to cover all of the 

 ground remaining unexamined, while the detailed study neces- 

 sary for a clear understanding and accurate delimitation of the 

 formations was almost wholly neglected. 



The region studied embraces large areas in the central and 

 northern parts of western Hamilton county, the northern third 

 of Herkimer county, and the southeastern corner of St Lawrence 

 county. These areas are practically all covered with dense forest, 

 the topography is rugged, and lines of travel few and difficult. 

 These, and other conditions, combine to make field work arduous, 

 ■and results unsatisfactory. A partial compensation is afforded by 

 the comparative uniformity of the rocks over wide areas. 



After covering this part of the region, a hitherto unstudied 

 ■area in northwestern St Lawrence and northeastern Jefferson 

 counties was taken up. This area adjoins the region in which 

 most of the work of previous years has been done, and shows the 

 •same complex geology. Yet in spite of this complexity, the writer 

 is convinced that this part of the crystalline area is by far the 

 most favorable for the solution of the problems afforded by the 

 gneisses, granites, syenites and crystalline limestones. But, as 

 •already stated, no time was afforded for the study of these prob- 

 lems during the past season. The areal work was done under the 

 writer's direction by D. H. Newland, and, as no changes of classifi- 

 cation or nomenclature have been introduced, such formational 

 terms as are used in the present report are to be understood in the 

 same sense as in the two preceding reports. In the latter, it has 

 •been pointed out how far from satisfactory and final these terms 



