84 Great Greywacke Region of the State of New- York. 



Art. X. Observations on the Great Greywacke Region of 

 the State of JYew-York. By James O. Morse, of Cherry- 

 Valley, Corresponding Member. 



Read October 28,1829. 



The comparative strength, and fertility of the different soils of 

 our state, is a subject in which considerable interest is beginning to 

 be felt ; and as these soils can be most accurately classified, 

 by considering the kind of rock on which they repose, it is hoped 

 that the following paper will not be thought altogether unworthy 

 of a place among the records of the Institute. 



The greywacke region, now under consideration, commences 

 on Lake Erie, and extends to the east as far as the western parts 

 of the counties bordering on the Hudson. 



Its northern boundary commences on the shore of the lake, a 

 little above Buffalo, and runs east in a serpentine course to the 

 county of Schoharie, and then stretches more north, so as to em- 

 brace portions of the counties of Montgomery, Schenectady and 

 Albany. This northern boundary is all the way, more or less in- 

 dented by tracts of country in which lime-stone is the mass of rock 

 on which the soil reposes. These spots of lime-stone soil, pene- 

 trate the northern boundary of the greywacke region, from one 

 to twenty miles. The southern boundary of this great region is, 

 all the way, south of the line of our state, and has never as yet, it 

 is believed, been accurately traced. The soil is somewhat diver- 

 sified, but has many common properties. In like manner, the rock 



properties are perceptibly the same. The surface of this region is 

 generally uneven, and in many places its undulations rise to high 

 hills and mountains. The water is pure, soft and wholesome. 

 Its elevation varies from about 600 to 1650 feet above tide water. 

 The loose stones scattered over the surface, are portions of the 

 greywacke, and boulders and fragments of gneiss, quartz, and 



The greywacke on which the soil reposes, is generally a good 

 distance below the surface of the ground, and of different compact- 

 ness. Near Lake Erie it is quarried into blocks that make excel- 

 lent building stone ; and there are various other places where it is 

 quarried in large square and oblong masses, that are much used. 

 Grind stones are made of it, which have a near resemblance to 

 those made from the quarries on Cayahoga river, in Ohio. Public 



