Infusorial Earth and its Uses. 
1876.] 
339 
Wrentham and Andover, Mass., Smithfield, R.I., Stratford, 
Conn., and other localities too numerous to mention. 
An interesting occurrence of this nature is the deposit of 
infusorial earth at Drakeville, Morris County, New Jersey, 
and which, through the instrumentality of the writer and 
others, was first brought into general public notice about 
three years ago. The bed in question is on the property of 
the late Frederick S. Cook, and is located at the foot of 
Schooley’s Mountain. The annual report of Prof. George 
H. Cook, State Geologist of New Jersey for 1874, contained a 
descriptive article in reference thereto, from which we obtain 
the following statements concerning its probable extent, &c. 
“ It has been known as a white earth or marl for a long 
time, and some years since was dug out and spread upon 
the soil as a manure ; it had also been observed to possess 
remarkable excellence for scouring silver. The establish- 
ment of a manufactory for making nitro-glycerine and giant 
| powder at McCainsville, near Drakeville, in which infusorial 
earth imported from Germany was used, led to an examina- 
tion of this deposit, when it was found to be the same 
material with that they were bringing from Europe. The 
j deposit occurs in a depression of the surface just at the foot 
of the mountain (Schooley’s). The swale appears to be 
occupied in its lowest part by a common swamp of low 
bushes, growing in wet black earth; but by digging in the 
black earth it is found to be only about a foot thick, and 
underneath it is the infusorial earth. The extent of the 
black ground is about 540 feet in length by 200 feet in 
: breadth, and 100 yards north-east is another but much 
smaller deposit. A trial pit sunk in the middle of the swale 
showed a thickness of 12 inches of black earth, 8 inches of 
very light infusorial earth, and 12 inches or more of a much 
denser infusorial earth. The lower part is said to be 3 feet 
thick, but I only examined the upper foot of it.” 
The report continues: — -“There is little doubt that other 
I deposits will be found in the small ponds and swamps in 
this gneiss region, and those interested will do well to make 
search for it in any of the swales where these little swamps 
occur. It can be easily reached by digging, and when found 
can be distinguished from any other white earth by its not 
effervescing with acids as white marl does, by its not be- 
coming plastic when wet, as white clay does, and by its dis- 
solving almost entirely in a strong boiling hot solution of 
washing soda. 
“ The importance of this material will be appreciated when 
it is stated that the manufacture of dynamite, or giant 
2 1 2, 
