32 



Economical Geology. 



spar, which renders it less easy to work. But this quarry has been 

 explored more extensively than any other in the state ; and the blocks 

 transported to Northampton, and even to Boston. In Windsor are 

 not less than three beds of this rock, from which the New Lebanon 

 Shakers obtain it, for converting into inkstands. I was told that a bed 

 of it exists, in Cheshire. Another occurs in Savoy ; one in Hins- 

 dale ; one also in Blandford, which is wrought and produces an ex- 1 

 cellent stone. Two beds occur in Granville, which I have not visi- 

 ted. Another is opened in Zoar, where are two distinct varieties, 

 one nearly white, another of a deep green. In Rowe is another 

 quarry , where these two varieties are equally distinct. At the two 

 last named localities, however, the rock is distinctly green and white 

 talc ; and indeed, the two minerals (talc and steatite) are probably in 

 every case identical. 



On the east side of the Connecticut river are several beds of this 

 rock, more or less quarried in every instance ; but in general not ex- 

 plored deep enough to develop the rock in its unaltered character - 

 for the air and moisture generally affect it for several feet deep. In 

 the south part of Shutesbury is one bed ; in the southwest part of 

 Wendell another ; and two miles east of the centre of New Salem, 

 a third. The quality of the rock at these places, is not as good as 

 that west of the river ; though it has scarcely been explored at all, 

 at the localities above mentioned. 



In Groton is a bed of soapstone on which considerable labor has 

 been expended* Its width appears to be 10 or 12 feet, and it descends 

 into the earth towards the southeast ; dipping about 30°, and lying 

 between layers of mica slate. It is not of the best quality, being some- 

 what too hard ; yet its proximity to Boston, Newburyport, and Salem, 

 will probably render it an object of importance. 



In the states adjoining Massachusetts, and not many miles from 

 its limits, several extensive and valuable quarries of soapstone have 

 been opened. In Vermont they occur at Marlborough, Windham, 

 and Grafton. In New-Hampshire, very fine steatite is found at Fran- 

 cestown. In Connecticut, a bed has been wrought in Somers. The 

 Grafton steatite is employed extensively and successfully for aqueducts : 

 the joints being connected by sheet lead. A bed of this rock exists in 

 Smithfleld, R. I. ; although it is not wrought ; there are beds also in 

 several other places in that state. 



From the preceding statements it seems, that in this state, and 

 contiguous to it, immense quantities, and every variety of steatite 



