2 r Rocks of the same formation may be found east in the towns 

 of Lenox and Stockbridge, and west at Syracuse (Spruce Street, Uni- 

 versity Avenue and Adams Street, D. L. and W. R. R., near Oakwood, 

 etc.), and Camillus (N. Y. C. R. R., Auburn Branch). By reference to a 

 map it will be seen that all these places are in an east and west line a 

 little above parallel 43° N. Lat. 



3. The rocks of this formation are mostly argillaceous shales or 

 shaly limestones, usully of a light drab color, though sometimes darker 

 and bluish or greenish. The upper beds approximate in appearance to 

 the rocks of the succeeding water lime group, being for the most part 

 impure hydraulic limestones. A portion of the beds consist of a calca- 

 reous rock rilled with pores or cells, called by Eaton " Vermicular Lime- 

 rock " from the resemblance of the pores to worm holes. These pores 

 probably contained crystals at some time which are for the most part 

 dissolved away, yet some are even now partly or wholly rilled by crystal- 

 line mineral matter. This Vermicular rock is also found in Syracuse 

 near Oakwood Cemetery, and on University Avenue, where it rises 

 nearly to the surface. These forms of rock all contain sufficient cal- 

 cium carbonate (Ca CO 3 ) to effervesce with cold hydrochloric acid ; of 

 the ordinary shale about 20 per cent will dissolve in acid, while about 

 40 per cent of the vermicular and hydraulic limestones are soluble. 

 The only mineral commonly found is gypsum (Ca SO 4 ) principally in 

 its laminated form known as selenite; beautiful specimens may be 

 found in the first of the rock cuts of this formation, some as transpar- 

 ent as the purest glass, some so minsrled with earthy impurities, or 

 worn by the dissolving action of water as to be only translucent or even 

 opaque. Fibrous gypsum is found occasionally in very thin and fragile 

 layers parallel to the planes of stratification, and it also occurs massive. 

 Here as in other parts of Onondaga County, notably at Camillus, may be 

 found what are known as " hopper shaped cavities and crystals ;" these 

 cavities are the molds of crystals of common salt, which has the pecu- 

 liarity of crystallizing in cubes which so unite by their edges as to form 

 "hoppers;" the salt then dissolves away and leaves its imprint in a 

 matrix. The "hopper shaped crystals" are denominated as pseudo- 

 morphs by the mineralogist ; cavities or molds are first formed as above, 

 and after the salt is dissolved away they are filled with other mineral 

 matter which takes the peculiar form of the original crystals of salt. 

 These imitations of form in the mineral kingdom are not uncommon 

 among a large number of mineral species. 



4. No fossils are found in these cuts and they are extremely rare in 

 all parts of the Salina formation. It is generally held by geologists 

 that the rocks of this period were formed in estuaries or enclosed por- 

 tions of the sea containing water intensely salt and bitter, and conse- 

 quently not supporting animal life. Perhaps a modern example of 

 similar azoic water may be found in that of the Dead Sea. 



b. LOWER HELDERBERG. 



1. The outcrops of the Lower Helderberg are found between Fay- 

 etteville an Manlius; about one-half mile south of the former place 

 occurs the first cut through the formation extending for 300 feet and 

 after an interruption of 60 feet continuing 270 feet farther. The rocks 

 here are cut through only about four feet in depth. Farther south oc- 

 curs a deeper cut extending 840 feet with rock varying from 10 to 12 feet 

 in thickness. A lime-kiln is situated at the southern terminus using 

 rocks for burning similar to those in this cut, as well as those of the 

 water-lime proper, which are obtained from quarries in the adjoining 

 hills. Some 40 rods north of this lime-kiln beds are found about 15 feet 

 thick extending for 000 feet along the track. The rock in this bed is 

 much more laminated and shaly and consequently less valuable. .lust 

 north of Manlius station are found the last beds of this formation extend- 

 ing for 540 feet and nearly 25 feet thick. These beds are little cut by the 



