119 



ANTHRACITE. 



(Mineralogy of New- York, page 188.) 



It is believed that nothing has occurred since the publication of the 

 Mineralogy of New-York, to change the views which were then ex- 

 pressed concerning the very unimportant character of the strata of 

 anthracite which have been found in this State. The anthracite in 

 Herkimer and Montgomery counties, is found in the calciferous sand- 

 stone, and it appears in the form of drops or buttons ; from Which Mr. 

 Vanuxem inferred that its previous nature was bituminous, and that 

 the greater part of the rock had been subjected to heat, not dry, but 

 humid, and which accounts for the numerous siliceous and other pro- 

 ducts which are common to it. Analysis of this anthracite gave carbon, 

 86*50; water, 11-50; cream-colored ash, consisting of silica, 2*00. 

 The proportion of water is greater than that obtained from the anthra- 

 cite of the coal series. Rep. on the Geol. 3d DisU p. 34. 



CLASS IV. 



ALKALINE MINERALS. 



COMMON SALT. 



(Mineralogy of New- York, pages 119 and 198.) 



This is a product of great importance to the State, and I shall there- 

 fore occupy some space in presenting a summary of the information 

 which has accumulated since the publication of the Mineralogy of New- 

 York. 



Crystalline form. Common salt sometimes occurs in hopper-form 

 crystals, produced by the symmetrical agglomeration of a multitude of 

 little cubes. The largest surface of these crystals is first formed near 

 the top of the solution. The upper part rises, the solution is thus weak- 

 ened in the immediate vicinity, and the next row of particles retreats 

 from the margin. The same explanation applies to the succeeding 

 rows. 



The manufacture of salt at Syracuse, and the surrounding villages in 

 Onondaga county, has been steadily increasing in importance. The 

 annual produce of the works might still be greatly extended, although 

 it has already reached the considerable amount of nearly 4,000,000 



