374 C. A, Goessmann on the Onondaga Mineral Springs. 
or loamy sand, covers, frequently, to a considerable extent, and 
to a depth of from 30 to 40 feet, the lower diluvial deposits. 
5. The Onondaga red shale has been struck everywere, when 
the boring was continued beneath the brine-bearing drift masses; 
near the eastern embankment at from 90 to 180 feet ;—toward 
the middle of the valley, between Salina and Geddes, at about 
882 feet. 
brine proper makes its appearance at about 300 feet 
below the level of the surface. 
. The brine rises by means of boring and tubing to the level 
of the lake surface or within from 10 to 15 feet of it; the de- 
gree of its rise depends apparently on the specific gravity of the 
brine e most concentrated brine remains lowest. 
8. The yield of a well, independently of the concentration of 
the brine, depends on the size of the gravel or sand around the 
lower termination of the tubing. 
9. The brine does not increase or decrease in strength during 
the winter season, when no pumping takes place; its temper- 
ature is from 52° to 58° F. 
10. The deep wells bear tlie heavy drafts of brine during the 
summer season without suffering in strength, while the shallow 
wells decline.* 
11. The lowest depth does not, in all cases, guarantee the most 
concentrated brine. 
12. The red shale apparently bears irregularities of stratifica- 
tion independent of the peculiar form of a basin. 
13. The outcrop of the red shale on the eastern embankment 
of the lowlands—at Green Point—contains veins of gypsum 1n- 
terspersed with specular iron ore. 
occurrence of the peroxyd of iron asa pseudomorph of 
chlorid of iron in this local outcrop of the red shale is deserving 
of some attention. The peculiar manner in which the gypsum 
and that ore present themselves, sometimes in veins along side 
of each other, sometimes the latter surrounded and enclosed by 
the former, (besides the resemblance between some of the adjoin- 
ing gypsum to the hardened masses of gypsum separated from 
its boiling solution in salt water,) are facts which seem to point to 
the existefice of some peculiar local disturbance due to subterra- 
nean heat. The presence of serpentine at James street height, 
and the elevation of the localities where casts of chlorid of so- 
dium have thus far been found, may also bear some relation to 
* The strength of the brine from the various wells varies from 45° to 76°, Salo- 
meter at 60°. The weaker brine is frequently found near the outskirts of the lak 
aang the shallow wells. ‘The strongest brine has thus far been 
obtained beach of the lake, and along the banks of Onon- 
eek, (tov the valley), between Geddes and Salina. The 
nual presen of salt for the past ten years averages about 
0! 
