108 
GEOLOGY 
From near Kingston on lake Ontario, to some distance below Quebec (as far as I can recollect, 
not having my note-book here) it is principally primitive ; and from all the infoirnation I could collect, 
that great mass of continent, lying to the north of the 46th degree of latitude, for a considerable dis- 
tance to the west, consists mostly of the same formation; from which it is probable, that on this con- 
tinent, as well as in Europe and Asia, the northern regions are principally occupied by the primitive 
formation. 
The foregoing observations are the result of many former excursions in the United States, and a 
knowledge lately acquired by crossing the dividing line of the principal formations, in 15 or 20 different 
places, from the Hudson to Flint river; as well as from the information of intelligent men, whose situa- 
tion and experience, make the nature of the place near which they live familiar to them ; nor has the 
informations that could bo acquired from specimens, when the locality was accurately marked, been 
neglected, nor the remarks of judicious travellers. 
Notwithstanding the various sources of information, much of the accuracy of the outlines of sepa- 
ration between the formations, must depend on rational analogy; for instance, between Maggotty and 
Rockhsh Gaps, a distance of upwards of sixty miles, I found in six different places which were exa- 
mined, that the summit of the blue ridge divided the primitive and transition formations: I of course 
concluded , that in places where I had not examined (or which from their nature could not be examined) 
the blue ridge from Maggotty Gap to Rockfish Gap, was the boundary of the two formations. 
The map of the United States on which those divisions arc delineated, though I believe the best 
yet published, is exceedingly defective in the situation and range of mountains, courses and windings 
of rivers etc. but as the specimens which I collected every half mile, as well as the boundaries of the 
different formations , -arc from the positive situations of the different places, the relative arrangement of 
the map cannot change them, but must become more exact, as the geographical part is made more 
accurate. 
In adopting the nomenclature of Werner, I do not mean to enter into the origin or first creation 
of the different substances, or into the nature and properties of the agents which may have subse- 
quently modified or changed the appearance and form of those substances ; I am equally ignorant of 
the relative periods of time in which those modifications or changes may have taken place; such spe- 
culations are beyond my range, and pass the limits of my inquiries. .411 that I mean by a formation, 
is a mass of substances (whether adhesive, as rocks; or separate, as sand and gravel;) uniform and 
similar in their structure and relative position, occupying extensive ranges, with few or no interpolations 
of the rocks belonging to another series, class, or formation ; and even where such partial mixtures 
apparently take place , a careful examination will seldom fail to explain the phenomenon without shaking 
the general principle, or making it a serious exception to the rule. 
In the account of the metals and minerals, it is not intended to give a list of the number, extent 
and riches of the metallic and mineral repositories ; the nature of the ore or mineral , with a description 
of its relative position, in regard to the surrounding substances, is the principal object of geology, 
which cannot be understood by microscopic investigation , or the minute analysis of isolated rocks and 
detached masses ; this would be like the portrait painter dwelling on the accidental pimple of a fine 
face : the geologist must endeavour to seize the great and prominent outlines of nature ; ho should 
acquaint himself with her general laws, rather than study her accidental deviations, or magnify the 
number and extent of the supposed exceptions, which most frequently cease to be so when judiciously 
examined. 
Should this hasty and imperfect sketch, call forth the attention of those possessed of more talents 
and industry for the accurate investigation of this interesting subject, the views of the writer will be 
fully accomplished. 
