NO.200.J 19 
of the fibrous variety are more beautiful than any which I have hereto- 
fore seen from this State, the fibres being often more than two inches in 
length. But by far the largest proportion of the gypsum at this lo- 
cality is in thin layers of the fibrous or foliated kind alternating with 
the dark colored earthy variety, which is indeed nothing more than a 
gypseous clay. It may also be stated, that both the rock and the clay 
associated with this mineral, effervesce strongly with acids, and contain 
a large proportion of carbonate of lime. 
In digging a salt well at Liverpool, three miles north of Symcuse, 
fibrous gypsum was found twelve feet below the surface, in strata of 
black mud intermixed with slate; both above and below the strata, was 
found soft red rock, or indurated clay, full of seams, through which the 
salt water passes.* 
Simeon Ford, Esq. for several years engineer of the pump- works at 
Salina, in describing the well which had been sunk in the marsh by the 
Syracuse and Onondaga Salt Company, says, " the strata of earth, to the 
depth of thirty-four feet, consisted of hard-pan and chocolate colored 
clay, intermixed with thin layers of sand. In the clay were found em- 
bedded stones of different sizes, from half a pound to half a hundred in 
weight, consisting of granite, quartz, red and white sand-stone, gray and 
blue lime-stone, sulphate of lime and slate, together with pieces of fine 
potter's clay."t 
In another part of this communication, Mr. Ford states, that " salt 
water is found flowing in small veins on the marsh, the whole distance 
round the south end of the lake, from Liverpool to the mouth of Nine- 
mile creek, a distance of nine miles. In any part of the marsh for that 
distance, by digging down two feet, salt water will be found, though of 
very inferior quality, and will rise above the ordinary level of the lake 
at low water. The marsh is composed of a stratum of common shell 
marl; passing through the marl, the next stratum is hard-pan, and next 
chocolate colored clay. In the hard-pan and clay, small veins of salt 
are found, some rising perpendicularly and others running in horizontal 
lines. A horizontal vein of salt water enters the well now used, about 
two feet from the bottom, five inches in diameter. Through this, a 
stream is constantly pouring into the well; the coating of the vein ap- 
pears to be sulphate of lime, and forms a perfect tube for conducting 
the salt water. "J 
* Silliman's Journal, XVI. 377. 
+ Legislativ© Document*. February 3cl, 1826. 
t Ibid. 
