Report on the Work of the State Museum. 



By Frederick J. H. Merrill, Assistant Director. 



The scientific work immediately under the charge of the 

 Assistant Director is that in Mineralogy and Economic Geology ; 

 the last title including the investigation of the mineral resources 

 of the State. 



The time of the Assistant Director has been chiefly occupied in 

 the general business of the office and in directing the work enum- 

 erated below. Preliminary visits have been made during the year 

 to the iron districts of Port Henry and Crown Point, and to the 

 garnet deposits of Essex and Warren counties, and a geological 

 survey of Albany county has been begun with a view to the con- 

 struction of a geological map of the county. 



In Geology, a collection of 443 specimens of Westchester 

 county rocks has been made by Mr. E. M. Blake of Columbia 

 College, and during the work of collecting, a large area of that 

 county has been mapped geologically. 



In Economic Geology, Mr. H. Kies of New York City has 

 made a careful study of the brick clays and the brick industry of 

 the Hudson Eiver Valley in their economic aspects and has pre- 

 pared a report illustrated by numerous photographs and 

 specimens.* 



Mr. I. P. Bishop of the State Normal School, Buffalo, N. Y., 

 has prepared a report upon the progress of the salt industry of 

 Central New York, illustrated by photographs.f 



Mr. Wm. B. Marshall has communicated a short paper on marls. 



The papers of Mr. Bishop and Mr. Marshall are appended to 

 this report. 



A paper on the Geological History of the Hudson Kiver Yalley, 

 which will form a part of the report on clays, has been published 

 in advance, in the American Journal of Science for June. 



During the remainder of the calendar year, if opportunity 

 permits, it is proposed to continue the study of the salt region. 



t Incorporated In Bulletin No. 11. * Appended to the Report of the State Geologist for the 

 year 1890. 



