ONONDAGA LIMESTONE. 
137 
The above wood-cut., from a drawing by R. C. Taylor, exhibits a portion of a layer of 
Onondaga limestone at Split-rock quarry, showing-the well defined vertical joints in two direc¬ 
tions at nearly right angles to each other, so characteristic of this rock, as well as of most of 
the rocks of New-York belonging to its system : one of the joints is E.N.E. The surface of 
the rock, as in the wood-cut, shows slight scratches, the direction of which is north and south. 
The lower layers of the limestone frequently contain black pebbles, whose water-worn cha¬ 
racter admits of no doubt. When fractured, they show identity with the sandstone nodules 
or accretions which are found in the Oriskany sandstone south of Paris hill, near Eastman’s 
quarry. 
At the village of Marcellus, it forms the bottom of the creek at the mill. It appears to be 
of a darker grey, finer grained, and less encrinal than usual; but little, however, is exposed. 
The last place of note, where the Onondaga limestone is much exposed and quarried, is to 
the north of Auburn, in front of the village, and east of the outlet. It is said that when the 
building of the Prison was commenced, the stone used for the foundation was brought from 
a distance ; the architects not being aware that the water-lime group, the rock of Split-rock, 
and the corniferous limestone, underlaid that section, and that their outcrop was but a short 
distance from the site of the building, extending east and west. The Onondaga limestone is 
the rock which is wrought at the Prison, and of which so many of the buildings of Auburn 
are constructed ; being sold at so low a rate, that preference in all cases even where expense is 
considered, is given to it. It rests there upon the Oriskany sandstone, which is of variable 
thickness, and is covered by the corniferous limestone. The same black rolled stones, con¬ 
sisting of accretions from the Oriskany sandstone, occur in the bottom layer. Fossils are not 
numerous, those found being some of the kinds already enumerated. 
Beyond Auburn, though the terrace of which it generally forms the surface rock is well 
defined, yet from alluvion and soil the rock is but little exposed. Among other points where 
it was seen, and which are of importance from the presence of other masses, is Yawger’s 
quarry, above the Oriskany sandstone, near the road to Springport; and upon the top of 
Blanding quarry at Springport, between Howland’s quarry and the lake, being its last 
appearance in the district. 
The Onondaga limestone has not yet been noticed as existing out of the State, but it is no 
doubt a regular associate of the Helderberg divison, wherever this division exists, being what 
was once termed an universal formation or mass. The Smooth encrinite exists in prodigious 
abundance about ten miles north of Nashville, where I collected it with Prof. Troost, the 
Geologist of Tennessee, fifteen years ago. Recently I saw a specimen of it in the possession 
of Mr. Conrad, given to him by Mr. Lyell, and imbedded in the same peculiar limestone as 
the Onondaga. It was from the Wenlock limestone of Mr. Murchison in England, and 
showed perfect identity with that of New-York. At the locality near Nashville there was no 
quarry, the encrinites were replaced with silex, and we had no opportunity of obtaining an 
unaltered specimen of the rock which had enclosed them. 
Geol. 3d Dist. , 
18 
