232 



Scientific Geology. 



Sulphate of Strontia. 



This mineral occurs in radiated masses upon fetid carbonate of 

 lime in West Springfield. Its specific gravity is about four ; and 

 before the blow pipe, it melts and gives a slight tinge of red to the 

 flame. 



Sulphate of Lime. 



I have already mentioned, on the authority of Mr. E. Davis, that 

 this interesting mineral exists in small quantity on the banks of West- 

 field river, in West Springfield. I have found it also, in the form of 

 selenite, on gray sandstone at South Hadley Canal, in quite small 

 quantity. These facts are sufficient to encourage farther research 

 after so valuable a substance. 



In some of the seams of the fetid limestone of West Springfield, I 

 have noticed thin layers of purple fluate of lime. 



It ought not to be forgotten, that in Europe, the new red sandstone 

 group is one of the depositories of salt and gypsum, as well as the 

 rich mines of Mercury in Carniola : nor ought it to be supposed that 

 our new red sandstone has been examined thoroughly enough, to ren- 

 der it certain that the same minerals do not exist here. 



Organic Remains. 



In Europe the new red sandstone is rather remarkable for a paucity 

 of organic relics. And the same seems to be true in this country. 

 Enough, however, have been found in this rock in the valley of the 

 Connecticut, to throw considerable light upon the circumstances un- 

 der which it was produced. And judging from the success which I 

 have had in the few direct efforts which I have made for discovering 

 the fossils of this formation, I predict that subsequent examinations 

 will bring to light many more. Much obscurity also, rests upon the 

 nature of several of those which I have found, which farther research 

 will I hope remove. 



The remains found in this formation are both vegetable and ani- 

 mal. The former I shall first notice. 



Those fragments of vegetables which are not uncommon in certain 

 varieties of the new red sandstone, and which present a thin layer of 

 coal, having the general form of the original plant, might have be- 

 longed, in some cases to dicotyledonous plants. And their extremely 

 broken condition shows that they were transported from a distance to 



