UPLIFTS OF THE MOHAWK. 
203 
CHAPTER VII. 
UPLIFTS OF THE MOHAWK, &c. 
The subject of this chapter formed a part of the Report of the second year of the survey: Its importance renders it 
necessary to give a considerable portion of what was then written. 
Along the borders of the Mohawk, extending through Montgomery, to the middle part of 
Herkimer county, there exists a series of parallel upraised masses or uplifts, extending but 
a short distance south of the river; the effects in that direction ceasing, the power which 
raised them being confined to the valley and the country north; the visible action having 
ceased before reaching that great massive, the southern boundary of the valley, which no local 
action of uplift has disturbed. 
These uplifts or upraised masses consist of those rocks and groups whose position is below 
the Utica slate. They have been raised in place, just as if they were composed of a series 
of parallel blocks, under which a force was applied, which caused them to pierce the slate, 
and to appear at various heights in the district above the common level of the slate. 
Northwardly, a few of the uplifts extend for some distance, but are finally lost in the mass 
of Primary rock, of which gneiss, the lowest member of the uplift, forms the greater part. 
The general direction of the range of the uplifts is about north and south, as is evidenced 
in that of the Noses, and of the Little falls, the two most remarkable. The uplifts vary as 
to length, breadth and height. Some traverse the whole extent between the primary region 
and the river, whilst others are partial, occupying but limited areas. Whilst some have been 
raised so high as to exhibit the whole series of rocks from the Primary inclusive to the Utica 
slate, others show only the upper rocks of that series. In no instance has the order of arrange¬ 
ment in the uplifted rocks been changed, but each holds its relative position, appearing to have 
been gradually raised ; and the Utica slate through which they were all thrust, though curved 
upwards at the point of contact with the uplifts, is unbroken, showing that the action must 
have taken place under water; the same results being exhibited by the upraised slate, which 
take place in the common experiment of cutting glass under water : as all vibration is prevented 
by the denser medium, those parts only are broken where the force is immediately applied. 
With few exceptions, the whole of the uplifts have been produced by a power which raised 
the masses on the east side, giving them an inclination or dip to the west side ; so that the 
eastern ends rise with a wall or mural face, whilst the western ones slope gradually, and are 
