No. 200.J 
261 
^Though we have no proof that all these hot springs originated in the 
lower part of the calciferous, attention in that point of view not having 
been directed to them, yet I have no doubt of their common origin in 
this rockj finding no fact in opposition, and knowing that this rock in 
the United States, is the most ancient and most extensive, of all those 
which rest unconformably upon the primary mass. The effect of this 
difference of position is this, that whatever derangement the primary 
mass may receive, is not always communicated to the other; hence se- 
parations or caverns may be created between their surfaces, into which 
surface water may find its way, and thus be subjected to the tempera- 
ture incident to great depressions. 
Along the Mohawk, the calciferous sand rock appears at the uplift of 
Amsterdam, extending on both sides of the river, and to Crane's village 
to the east, where our observations ended, and as far north as Hagaman's 
milL The next locality is Tribes Hill, the Noses, Fort Plain, and in the 
neighborhood of St. Johnsville, on both sides of the river. North of 
the Mohawk, it appears at the Fish House, in two localities in May- 
field, in the vicinity of Lacellsville and in several places between that 
village and East Canada creek, these latter no doubt forming a part of 
he broad and irregular uplift of St. Johnsville. 
The calciferous sand rock appears to contain more carbonate of lime 
in its composition at Tribes Hill, and in the small streams between 
Amsterdam and Crane's village, than on the western side of Montgo- 
mery county, and appears to contain still less in Herkimer county. In 
no part of the third district is this rock found as a pure limestone, or 
without silicious matter in its composition. This is very different from 
what is known of this rock in other States. Thus in many parts of 
New- Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina, it 
makes excellent lime by burning, and ranks amongst the limestone 
rocks. 
The calciferous, though in a measure a metalliferous rock, is by no 
means a productive one, occupying, as it does, an extensive area in the 
United States, it furnishes, so far as my knowledge goes, but one mine, 
that of Austin ville, in Virginia, which is of lead. This lead mine 
shows what observation in New- York proves, that its most abundant 
metallic mineral is pyrites, a fact which throws the greatest light, as 
w^ill be shown, upon the origin of the extensive iron beds of Herkimer 
and Oneida, as well as the gypsum, all which occupy a higher geologi- 
cal level. 
