REPORT OP THE DIRECTOR AND STATE GEOLOGIST 1903 117 



In this state the development of the gypsum deposits followed 

 close on the settlement of the country, but the date when gypsum 

 was first mined is not known. The deposits at Fayetteville were 

 opened in 1812; and in 1822 Cleaveland stated that "In the 

 western part of New York, sulfate "of lime is very abundant, par- 

 ticularly in Onondaga and Madison counties, and in the vicinity 

 of Cayuga lake, whence several thousand tons are annually ex- 

 ported to Pennsylvania.'^ Though statistics of production are not 

 available for the greater part at this time, there is little reaston 

 to think that there were any marked fluctuations in the product 

 other than those caused by differences in climatic conditions and 

 a natural gro-wth. Since 1889 it has been observed that there is 

 little variation in the quantity of land plaster used from year to 

 year, and this was practically the only form in which gypsum 

 from this State was marketed prior to 1890. 



USES 



The purposes for which gypsum has been used since it was first 

 discovered are numerous and varied. In its natural state it 

 was used as a building stone at a very early date, on account of 

 the ease with w^hich it could be dressed. Examples of its use in 

 this way were the temple of Fortuna in Seia and the buildings 

 of Arsoffa Emii in Arabia. 



The transparent plates of selenite were used by the Romans in 

 place of glass for windows, and translucent slabs of alabaster were 

 used at a later date in some buildings for the same purpose. 



Alabaster and satin sjiar were used at an early date in making 

 ornamental vases and similar ornaments, and at the present day 

 they are still cut for this purpose in Germany and Russia. When 

 cut en cdhoclion, satin spar has the chatoyancy of cat's-eye, but 

 can not be used as a gem "on account of its extreme softness. 

 When ground to a powder, it is used without calcining as a fer- 

 tilizer, as an absorbent and deodorizer, as an adulterant and in the 

 manufacture of glass and porcelain. 



As a fertilizer, gypsum has long been used in the powdered con- 

 dition under the name of land plaster. Its use in this country 



