Per cent. 



Magnesia 39.02 



Water 12.10 



Magnetic iron 3. 02 



BUILDING AND ORNAMENTAL STONES. 365 



neater than that of marble." An analysis of the deep-green variety 

 gave the following results : 



Per c ent. 



Silicic acid 40. 00 



Alumina 1 . 37 



Chromic oxide 0.20 



Niccolous oxide 0.71 



Ferrous oxide 3. 43 100. 00 



Mangauous oxide 0. 09 



Specific gravity 2.GG8, equal a weight of lGGf pounds per cubic foot, 

 or practically the same as granite. Specimens of this stone received at 

 the National Museum admitted of a very high lustrous polish, the colors 

 being quite uniformly green, slightly mottled with lighter and darker 

 shades. It is not a true verde antique in the sense in which this name 

 was originally employed. So far as can be judged from appearances, 

 this is a most excellent stone, and admirably suited for interior decora- 

 tive work. 



About 6 miles north of the city of Baltimore, at a locality known as 

 the Bare Hills, occurs an outcrop of a coarse light-green serpentine 

 covering many acres. The rock is quite porous, of a dull light-green 

 color, and unfitted for any kind of ornamental work, but admirably 

 fitted for general building, especially in rock-faced and rubble work. 



At the time of the writer's visit, in the summer of 1885, but a single 

 quarry had been opened, and this was not at the time in operation. 

 The material had been used with excellent effect in the construction of 

 a school-house in the immediate vicinity. The stone occurs in the form 

 of low rounded masses or bosses, and is regarded by Dr. G. H. Will- 

 iams as an altered gabbro.* The supply is inexhaustible. Portions of 

 the rock carry a very considerable amount of chrome iron, which was 

 at one time mined here quite extensively. In the quarry the rock oc- 

 curs in a very badly jointed condition, and the blocks are rounded and 

 irregular. Firm blocks several feet in length can, however, be obtained, 

 which cut up readily into sizes suitable for house walls and similar 

 purposes. 



The Museum has received from the farm of Mr. George W. Leakin, in 

 this vicinity, samples of a fine dark-green rock, which took a fair polish, 

 and perhaps might prove suitable for decorative work. 



Massachusetts. — Serpentine exists in Massachusetts in great abun- 

 dance, particularly in the Hoosac Mountain Bange. u The most exten- 

 sive bed occurs in Middlefield, in the southern part of the town. This 

 bed can not be less than a quarter of a mile in breadth and 5 or 6 miles 

 long. The colors of the rock are various and its hardness unequal. 

 If wrought, it might supply the whole world. It yields both the prec- 

 ious and the common varieties. There is another bed in the same town, 

 associated with steatite or soapstone. In the west part of Westfield is 

 found another extensive bed of this rock, extending into Kussell, of a 

 much darker color, and containing green talc. This has been used in 



* Bull, U. S, Geol. Survey, No. 28, " 



