214 
2. The soundness of the layers which it is proposed to work. 
3. Their freedom from hard or flinty particles or masses, as quartz, 
hornstone, &c. 
4. Sufficient thickness in the several layers composing the bed; for 
unless there are a number of layers of sufficient thickness to work in 
juxtaposition, it will be necessary to remove a great mass of useless 
material. Small defects, such as checks, seams or cracks, or imbedded 
masses of flint, reduce the value of any piece materially. . It is neces- 
sary therefore that there should be a general freedom from all the above 
defects, in order to make it a profitable business. 
A variety of marble quite distinct from the preceding, occurs among 
the primary rocks, principally in the gneiss districts. It is that variety 
which is known among the mineralogists of this country as the verd 
antique. It is therefore formed by the intermixture of the primitive 
granular limestone and green serpentine. The limestone varies from 
white to grayish white, and the serpentine from dark grass green to 
straw yellow; hence there are many varieties of this kind of marble, 
even m the same quarry. 
The variety of shade depends mostly on the serpentine. This occurs 
in it in small and larger masses, perfectly distinct, and free from the lime- 
stone constituting its ground or base, but at its borders it blends with it, 
and forms thereby a clouded appearance as the two mingle and combine 
with each other; there is therefore no sudden transition of colour which 
is seen in the variety of Italian marble, known in market under the 
name of Egyptian; the tints and colouring are gradually softened into 
each other. In polishing, the colours and shades are often brought out 
in ideal landscapes, which have a very pleasing effect. 
The verd antique has been discovered since the commencement of 
the survey; it was entirely unknown in this State previous to my disco- 
veries of it the last season, and which was made known in the second 
report. Since I have found it extremely abundant, and of an excellent 
quality. The question concerning its value can only be settled by trial; 
it is of no value, of course, unless it can find a market, and this de- 
pends on the taste of community. Were it not for the fact that we 
often admire a thing because it is foreign, and has been imported at a 
great expense, there could be no doubt on this point; but as it is, many 
years may elapse before its reputation can be established. 
