86 
GEOLOGY OF THE THIRD DISTRICT. 
curve, the centre of which is inclined at an angle of about forty degrees, due probably to 
lamination. 
The next exposition of the group, where it is seen to advantage, is the quarry of Dr. Rud¬ 
dock, to the southeast of Clinton village. It is of considerable interest, from containing seve¬ 
ral fucoids and other fossils. It consists of a series of rather thin layers of sandstone, 
alternating more or less with shale. At the bottom of the mass, is the same kind of ore as 
the upper mass at Stebbins’ creek, only the limestone with which it is intermixed is of a 
yellow color. In consequence of the valley of Oriskany being somewhat level for a few 
miles, the group is exposed for some distance to the south of the quarry. 
Griffin’s quarry towards the north of Hamilton College hill, is another point for the examina¬ 
tion of this group. About twenty or more feet are exposed. The upper mass is here an en- 
crinal limestone, stained with the red ore, and containing ore, and is about five feet thick. 
Under this is the same kind of limestone intermixed with shale, the two appearing as if 
kneaded together. Under this latter is the same, but with the limestone greatly in excess; 
some of the layers are a foot and a half in thickness, and contain more iron than the upper part. 
The ore has the bright copper-colored appearance of the upper mass in Swift creek, being also 
oolitic, and the encrinal disks are coated with oxide of iron. Other fossils are abundant in the 
whole mass exposed, all which belongs to the upper ore bed; the ore, both here and at Steb- 
bins’, having been deposited through a greater thickness of associated materials. The top of 
the rock was covered with alluvion, the encrinal limestone having been laid bare previously. 
This covering prevented an examination for scratches ; but these ancient marks were observed 
by Dr. Penny, the former President of the College, in a quarry near to the Institution. The 
encrinal limestone was worn smooth, and scratched in a direction judged to be about north and 
south, being that of Oriskany valley. 
Between Griffin’s quarry and the College, towards the east, is the quarry of Dr. Hopkins. 
It shows hard encrinal rocks of limestone and sandstone with iron ore, in several alternations : 
it belongs to the upper mass. At Dr. Norton’s, near by, is the lower ore bed; it is oolitic, 
and was formerly quarried for smelting. 
On the turnpike road from Utica to Vernon, near the town line of Kirkland, is Bennet’s 
ore bed. The ore is near the surface, on the top of the hill. It is the lower bed, being a 
mass of oolite. It is associated with green shale, and contains some brown shale and oolitic 
particles of manganese. The shale contains fossils, among which is the Strophomena 
depressa, the lowest position in which it was seen in any part of the district; also others to 
be noticed. This is a good point to examine the shale and sandstone below the ore bed, 
which is here of great thickness. 
Between Manchester and Lairdsville, the same ore bed as at Bennet’s appears by the road 
side, having been uncovered by a stream of water. It contains the Broad agnostis. The 
range of this species in the district appears to be from the sandstone of Davis’ quarry, to the 
upper ore bed; not having been seen either above or below those limits in this group. 
Opposite to Lairdsville on .the north side, is a deep depression, and a favorable place to 
examine the position of the two ore beds. The upper part shows about ten feet of irregular 
