UTICA SLATE. 
59 
maximum is there probably the greatest. .Through Steuben and Western are other points 
where it can readily be examined, and where it shows great thickness. So also in Lewis 
county, it is still more favorable to observation ; the slate forming a part of a high range as in 
Montgomery, by which numerous water courses traverse to Black river, through very deep 
channels cut into this rock. 
Where the lower part of the slate appears, in Herkimer county especially, the thin layers 
of flags of impure black limestone, so. characteristic of it, may be observed. They are best 
seen on West Canada creek, towards the lower part in its small tributaries, and in the side- 
hill on the south of the river below Herkimer village. They are more exposed near the farm 
of Stephen Hammond, to the north of Little-Falls, not far from the road to Fairfield. 
At this locality/in a small lateral water course, there are two thin layers of fibrous sulphate 
of strontian, which are parallel with the slate ; also a singular layer, two or three inches 
thick, of a leaden grey color, resembling clay, but solid : when wet with water, it falls into 
fragments like lime in slaking. ‘ 
The slate shows at every point two sets of vertical joints, and often a third. At the creek 
to the east of Utica, the direction is N. 30° E. for one, N. 55° E. for another, and S. 60° 
E. for the third; this latter is the less common one. South of Little-Falls the joints were 
N. 89° E., and N. 19° E.; at the brook on the south side of St. Johnsville, N. 55° E., 
and N. 15° E.; near the dyke on East Canada creek, N. 30° E., and S. 70° E. 
Back of Spraker’s basin, where the slate makes its appearance in the bed of the creek 
about half a mile above the falls, there are several small workings for lead ore. No large 
regular veins exist, but only the common vertical joints of the rock filled with carbonate of 
lime, and some sulphurets of lead, iron and zinc, the latter rare. 
The first mine, ascending the creek, is on the left side : there the ore of lead is to be seen ; 
the veins numerous, but none at that time over one and a half inches wide; very irregular, 
the direction being generally east and west. This mine cannot be very far in perpendicular 
direction from the Trenton limestone ; and should the workings ever be extended to that rock, 
it may furnish facts conclusive as to the connection between the rock and the substances 
which fill the veins, though less so, from the similarity of the two rocks in part as to compo¬ 
sition, than if they were totally unlike each other. 
Higher up the creek, on the same side, is the next working: there the slate rises into high 
vertical walls on both sides of the creek. This is the point from whence the mass of galena, 
several inches wide, was taken, and which was sent to the Treasury office. At this mine are 
veins of brilliant pyrites, and some carbonate of lime, with a little galena. The vein worked 
is very variable as to width, enlarging from three to five inches within a distance of a few 
feet, and then nearly running out from the sides of the rock coming together. The veins 
exist in a part of the rock where the material of the slate was more plastic and carbonaceous 
than is usual with the rock. 
Other workings exist on the opposite side of the creek, and were deemed the most impor¬ 
tant. Many years ago r workings were made in the bottom of the creek, where innumerable 
veins or strings of white carbonate of lime exist, showing occasionally a few specks of galena. 
