No. 275.] 
277 
often exhibits itself as coal, giving rise to an expectation of discovering 
beds of vi^orkable or profitable coal, where such perceptible accumula- 
tions exist. A number of localities where excavations for coal had been 
made in this rock to the east of Oneida creek, were given in the last 
report, and a number of like excavations are to be seen in the same 
rock, to the west of that creek. 
In many places carbonate of lime has been deposited witji the mate- 
rial of the slaty shale, but not in sufficient quantity, excepting ia one 
instance, to form a layer or two which extends for some miles. It ge- 
nerally forms those kind of interrupted beds which may be termed con- 
cretions, though they are of considerable length as to thickness. It also 
appears as septaria, but without divisions, or septa; and again^ as perfect 
septaria, as at Auburn, in the outlet of Owasco lake. 
Above the falls, on Oneida creek, just below the saw mill, two exca- 
vations were made for coal; one by a company, the other by Elias Ma- 
son, small pieces w^ere obtained, but nothing which could give the least 
encouragement to those acquainted with the rock. 
A boring of 100 leet for coal was ma^e in the same rock, by Mr. 
Sage, near the road which goes from Chittenango to Cazenovia: And 
two excavations were made for the same object near Manlius squan-; 
one on the farm of Mr. Nettleton, near the turnpike, about a mile west 
of tiie village; the other a little further west, on Mr. Marsh's farnj. 
The excavation made by Mr. Nettleton, is by the side of a brook, and 
in the black slate which is much contorted, owing to crystalline 
limestone which is mixed v/ith it. Both are very black from coaly 
matte!-, of which minute veins are to be seen. At the place where coal 
was sought for, there is a fault, the hrst I met with going west. The 
waters of the brook flow over layers of limestone, which belong to 
groups below the slate worked for coal; the two rocks now appearing 
as parallel masses, and not as they were originally formed. A similar 
fault likewise occurs at Marcellus, where the slate is deeply coloured 
with coaly matter, and contains minute plants and fragments of the 
same. The cause of the fault is very obvious, at Marcellus; for the 
existence of sinkholes and the abundance of water from springs in the 
Nine Mile creek below, show subterranean passages or excavations by 
which portions or blocks of upper masses have been let down to a lower 
level. The same effect exists in the quarries south of Springport on 
Cayuga lake, where several extensive masses of two distinct eras may 
be seen, now nearly on the same level, having, no doubt had their 
