NIAGARA LIMESTONE. 



347 



Eacine fauna than those of the Pewaukee beds, so that there is here 

 presented a novel and interesting question of equivalency, that will 

 be more fully appreciated when all the facts are before us. 



The strata under consideration are designated Byron beds in this 

 report, only so far south as they maintain their distinctive character. 

 They have been regarded by some geologists as the equivalents, in 

 part, of the Clinton strata of New York. In reference to this ques- 

 tion, the attention of geologists is called to the fauna of the Mayvillc 

 beds, which lie between these and the Clinton iron ore beds, which 

 shows that there is no good reason for separating these from the Ni- 

 agara group. 



Economic Considerations. The purity of the rock of the Byrou 

 beds admirably fits it for the manufacture of lime. It makes a strong 

 and white article, that sustains an excellent reputation. In selecting 

 for this purpose, the granular variety is generally to be preferred, 

 from its superior purity, and because its somewhat porous nature al- 

 lows the carbonic gas that is discharged in the burning to escape read- 

 ily, thus facilitating an easy and complete calcination. 



In the towns of Oakfield and Byron, kilns have been established, 

 that manufacture an excellent lime, some of which is shipped to the 

 Chicago market. To the northward, where the formation is so abun- 

 dantly displayed, it is but little burned, as the local demand is as yet 

 small, and shipment by water is attended with risk. 



The thicker beds furnish an excellent building stone, either rough 

 dressed, foi" ordinary masonry, or cut, for the finer classes of work. 

 In some instances a color as white as statuary marble may be ob- 

 tained. 



In the town of Brillion, and less notably at some other localities, 

 the strata are beautifully mottled and banded with pink, j)roducing 

 a handsome ornamental stone. It is fine grained and close textured, 

 though not entirely free from minute pores, and possesses sufiicient 

 hardness to be capable of taking a fair polish. It will not take rank as 

 a high grade of marble, but should find a place as an ornamental stone. 

 As considerable sums have been exj^ended on this series of lime- 

 stones, in search of marble, it may be well to remark here that this is 

 an undisturbed sedimentary formation, lying very much as it did 

 when deposited by the ocean, and, while it has crystalized to a large 

 degree, there is no evidence that it has undergone any unusual degree 

 of heat or pressure, and there is no reason to expect that any portion 

 of it will present that indurated and perfectly crystallized character 

 that is shown by inetamorphic rocks, to which class the better grade 

 of marble belongs. 



