No. 50.] 
409 
more probably from its facility of transportation it was carried beyond 
the sand, its origin being the same. The Oriskany sandstone thins to 
a few inches as we proceed westward. The rock described in the pre- 
sent report as the Cashaqua shale, containing but a few concretionary 
masses of argillaceous sandstone, is on the eastern shore of Cayuga 
lake represented by a mass, the greater part of which is sandstone ; 
also in Seneca county it is mostly sandstone.* 
The changes in character of strata, and their probable sources, will 
be treated of more fully hereafter. Mr. Vanuxem has detected rocks 
of volcanic origin in the saliferous group at Syracuse ; and Mr. Rafi- 
nesque some time since expressed an opinion that all the salt springs 
proceed from volcanic causes or from a " salz^ It may be hereafter 
demonstrated that the thick mass of calcareous marls, &c. of the Onon- 
daga saliferous group proceeded from a mud volcano, and were spread 
over the surface much in the same manner that chalk in Europe is sup- 
posed to have done. There are also many reasons for supposing the 
Lockport limestone to have had the same origin ; or more probably to 
have been affected after deposition, by similar causes. 
To return from this digression. The strata above the red rocks at 
Wellsville, those on the Shenunda creek and towards the Pennsylvania 
line, contain no fossils. The mass greatly resembles that above the 
red sandstone elsewhere ; and the great elevation of the points examin- 
ed, considered with the difference in altitude between this and the Tio- 
ga, may lead us to expect these rocks in place as far north. 
Conglomerate. — Occasional fragments and boulders of this rock are 
found in the elevated lands of Steuben, and the eastern part of Alle- 
gany. 
About three or four miles south of Wellsville, the side hill and valley 
east of the Genesee are strewed with masses of the same, consisting of 
small and large pebbles of white quartz with coarse sand. From the 
great numbers of fragments, we would infer the rock to be in place 
near ; and in a former section this position was given to the conglome- 
rate : though from careful investigation I am not able to find it in this 
vicinity, the position is undoubtedly correct ; for it appears on the hills 
west of the Genesee, in Scio, and several other points. Its thickness. 
* This mass holds the same position as the Sherburne Flagstones of the third district. 
[Assembly, No. 50.] 52 
