62 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Two main areas of extensive outcrops of granites and gneissic 

 rocks are found in the State : the Adirondacks and bordering region 

 and the Highlands of southeastern New York. In both areas a 

 wide variety of these rocks exists from which material suitable for 

 almost any purpose can be obtained. Up to the present time, how- 

 ever, the local granites have not been utilized to any great extent 

 for cut and polished work, of which trade the New England quar- 

 ries have long held control. 



In the Adirondack region the prevailing rock formations are gran- 

 ite, syenite, anorthosite and norite of both massive and gneissoid 

 types. Quarries have been opened only in the more accessible places 

 on the borders. 



One of the best known products from this region is the red granite 

 Vv'hich is obtained on Picton and Wellesley islands in the St Law- 

 rence river. This is a true granite, of attractive red and pink shades, 

 ranging from fine to course texture, and takes a handsome polish. 

 It ought to command a wide market for monumental and building 

 purposes. 



Green syenite is quarried at West Cliazy and Ausable Forks. The 

 Adirondack Granite Co. has recently undertaken the development of 

 large quarries at the latter locality and intends to erect a dressing 

 and polishing plant for turning out all classes of work. The com- 

 pany has secured the quarries formerly worked by the Ausable 

 Forks Granite Co., as well as additional properties. The products 

 of the quarries are green and dark green granite (syenite) and light 

 gray granite (anorthosite). The syenite is particularly adapted for 

 polished material. The anorthosite has the qualities of an attractive 

 building stone. 



An outlying mass of Adirondack crystalline rocks occurs at Little 

 Falls, Herkimer county, where quarries have been opened princi- 

 pally for supplying crushed stone. The crushing plant of the 

 Syenite-Trap Rock Co., which was destroyed by fire in 1909, is in 

 course of reconstruction. 



The granite quarries of southeastern New York are mainly sit- 

 uated in Westchester county. The Fordham gneiss, a well-foliated, 

 grayish biotite gneiss, supplies stone for foundations and rough 

 masonry. The Yonkers gneiss, more massive than the former and 

 containing hornblende, affords a good building material. Dikes and 

 bosses of massive granite are also common in this region and have 

 been quarried quite extensively for building purposes at New 

 Rochelle, Mount Vernon and Lake Mohegan, Westchester county; 



