96 
[Assembly 
present, except that one or two new springs have been recently dis- 
covered at Saratoga which are thought to rival those that have here- 
tofore maintained the ascendancy. In matters of this kind, however, 
the public are better qualified to come to a correct decision than those 
individuals whose interests are immediately concerned. 
Among the useful mineral productions of this county may be men- 
tioned marl and bog iron ore, of which there are several localities. 
The magnetic oxide and hematite are also found, but heretofore only in 
very small quantities. 
In the immediate vicinity of Saratoga Springs, there are several in- 
teresting minerals. Thus agate and calcedony are found associated 
with a siliceous limestone. The rare chrysoberyl, presenting some 
interesting forms, occurs in the town of Greenfield, about a mile from 
the springs, and in the same vein with this we have also garnet, tour- 
maline, feldspar, mica, phosphate of lime, and perhaps spodumene. 
Some other minerals have been noticed as having been found in this 
county by Dr. Steele, to whom we are indebted for much information 
concerning its productions. These are, 
Graphite, crystallized quartz, asbestus, calcareous spar, calcareous 
tufa, at the high rock spring, oolite,* coccolite, tremolite, steatite, alum 
in efflorescences, epidote, hornblende, iron and copper pyrites, and 
lignite. 
SCHENECTADY COUNTY. 
Very few minerals have hitherto been found in this county. The 
only useful one I believe is bog iron ore, of which there are some beds 
near the line between this and Albany. There are several localities of 
calcareous spar, one of which is particularly interesting, as this mineral 
constitutes the cement of a stratum of pebbles, and assumes the form 
of dodecahedral crystals. It has usually been called arragonite, but I 
doubt much whether it deserves to be ranked under that species. 
These and a few inferior specimens of quartz and common jasper, 
are all the minerals at present credited to this county. 
* There is a bed of oolite about four miles north of Saratoga Springs. It is of a 
dark 'colour, and is made up of grains about as large as a pin's head. On analysis I 
found its composition to be as follows in 100 grains : 
Carbonate of lime 95.00 
Silica and alumica, with some carbonaceous matter 5.00 
