LIME. 233 
is about three miles northeast of Syracuse (see page 146). Tufa is also extremely abundant 
between Camillus and Canton, and between Canton and Elbridge. 
On Limestone creek, about three quarters of a mile north of the Fabius and De Ruyter road, 
is a fine deposit of tufa, in the state of earth, and in porous masses, the horsebone limestone. 
The earthy part is made into bricks, and burnt into lime. No lime can be whiter or purer 
than this ; it is said to be highly valued.* 
In various parts of this county, there are masses of calcareous tufa stained by oxide of 
iron (see page 36). One of these localities is about two and a half miles northeast of Salina. 
Mr. Vanuxem supposes the oxide of iron to be derived from the soil on which the tufa is 
deposited, and not from the water to which the tufa owes its origin. 
Another locality of this iron-stained tufa is on Nine-mile creek, between Marcellus and the 
great embankment of the Auburn and Syracuse railroad. 
Ontario County. Deposits of tufa are credited to the Clifton sulphur springs in the town 
of Phelps. 
Orleans County. At the falls of Oak-orchard creek, at Shelby, calcareous tufa forms in 
large quantities from the decomposition of calcareous shales.f 
Orange County. Snow-white calcareous sinter occurs in veins, and coating white lime¬ 
stone, near the village of Edenville. The same variety is found similarly situated in the blue 
limestone near Newburgh. 
St. Lawrence County. Four miles northwest of the village of Gouverneur, there is a 
spring, the water of which covers the grass, moss and roots over which it flows, with carbo¬ 
nate of lime. And about two miles north of the same village, the variety called agaric 
mineral is found. 
Saratoga County. Calcareous tufa is abundant in the vicinity of the Springs. What is 
called the “ High Rock,” is formed of this substance. 
There is a bed of oolitic limestone about four miles north of Saratoga springs. It is of a 
dark colour, and is made up of rounded grains, which are about as large as a pin’s head. On 
analysis, I found its composition to be as follows : 
Carbonate of lime,.. 95.00 
Silica and alumina, with some carbonaceous matter, 5.00 
It should be distinctly stated that the term oolite, applied to this limestone, only has refe¬ 
rence to the peculiarity of its structure, and is used in the mineralogical, and not the geolo¬ 
gical sense. The same structure is also observed in some of the limestones of Orange 
county; but it is well known that the true oolitic series does not occur in these counties, 
nor in any part of the State. I am the more particular in making this explanation, from 
the incorrect inferences which have been drawn from the use of the term oolite in one of my 
annual reports. 
* Vanuxem. New-York Geological Reports, 1839. fHall. Ibid. 1838. 
Min. — Part II. 
30 
