QUATERNARY DEPOSITS. 227 
a portion of the side-hill and road. It appears to have commenced in a depression which it 
filled, and moved from place to place, to avoid the obstructions which it created. 
Numerous deposits were also noticed in Skanandea and Oneida creeks, some occupying 
large areas. 
Deposits are numerous in Madison county, near Clockville, Chittenango, &c. They are 
more abundant in Onondaga county, along the north sides of the gypseous hills through Manlius 
and De Witt. It is in great quantity towards Split-rock, and especially in Onondaga valley, 
towards the head of the valley in Tully. Along Nine-mile creek it has the crystalline character 
of alabaster, showing successive layers also, and in quantity suitable for the smaller purposes 
for which that beautiful substance is used when polished. 
At Alcott’s on Limestone creek in the town of Fabius, there is a large deposit, showing the 
three varieties ; the earthy, solid or horsebone commonly so called, and the ferruginous. The 
former kind or variety is made into bricks, and burnt for lime. 
There are several places in the district where deposits of tufa have raised mounds, and of 
some size ; such as the one at Richford springs, to the south of Herkimer county. 
On the farm of Mr. Grizzle, southwest of Vernon village, near the Indian reservation, the 
ground around a spring has been observed to rise, and is now about six feet above the general 
level. The top part is muck, which produces luxuriant grass. From a digging made near the 
spring, logs of wood encrusted with tufa were discovered: the rise evidently was caused by 
a deposit of this mineral. At a lower level on the farm of Mr. Adams, there is another ele¬ 
vation, caused by a deposit from the same waters which flow in that direction. 
It was to a cause of this kind, the spring being less copious, that the Rock spring at Sara¬ 
toga owes its stony envelope ; the water slowly depositing its carbonate of lime where exposed 
to the air, and gradually raising the little hollow mound or elevation by which it is so well 
known. 
Ferruginous Tufa. 
In several localities in the district, deposits of tufa and oxide of iron exist, some of which 
have ceased to increase, whilst others are continuing to form. Of the latter kind, there is 
a constant deposition going on upon the farm of Robert Riddle, about one mile west of the 
village of Chittenango. The immediate deposit at the spring shows no iron, but at a little dis¬ 
tance it is colored. The ground is low, and favorable for the deposit of bog ore, which no 
doubt takes place, and thus stains the calcareous deposit. Some of the masses of tufa, 
when broken, show thin veins of crystallized manganese : the same were noticed in the 
fourth district, near the Genesee river. 
At William Wheeler’s, two and a half miles northeast of Salina, tufa is also stained with 
hydrate of iron. This deposit is quite extensive ; it is upon a very gentle sloping side-hill, 
the surface showing spongy muck, and swampy soil. This locality clearly proves the double 
source of the two materials ; the deposit at the springs being free from iron, and the surface 
portion only colored by it. These springs, at both localities, appear to derive their material 
