228 
GEOLOGY OF THE THIRD DISTRICT. 
from the gypseous deposit, which rises to the south at both places. The benefit of these 
calcareous waters are perceived on the farm of Mr. Wheeler, when compared with the ad¬ 
joining ones ; the common sorrel, for instance, does not grow in his fields, whilst it abounds 
in those of his neighbors. 
At Crill’s, in the town of Stark, Herkimer county, there is a considerable deposit of the 
same kind of tufa, covering the hill-side for some distance on both sides of the gypseous adit. 
On Nine-mile creek, below the village of Marcellus, a like deposit also exists. 
Near Saltspringville, north of Cherry-Valley, a spring issues from the hill-side, which also 
deposits iron and tufa. The spring was not visited by the reporter. It was said to have been 
used as a paint. 
A similar deposit occurs in the valley just below the village of Genoa, in Cayuga county. 
There it is equally obvious that the iron is a deposit from a mucky soil, the waters which 
yield the calcareous deposit coming from a lower level. 
From the connection of specular iron ore with limestone upon the northern slope of the 
primary, which is evidently a water-worn surface, its first great deposit subsequent to the 
ore having been a mass of sand, these ferruginous tufas are of interest, pointing to a like 
origin for those products ; both having been subjected to crystallization, the particles of iron 
were brought together to form the specular masses; whilst the carbonate of lime, as the 
greater product, served as a matrix or envelope. 
Bog Ore, Limonite, &c. 
This very common, though not an abundant product in the third district, is caused chiefly 
by the decomposition of iron pyrites ; by the decomposition of rocks, or their minerals, con¬ 
taining iron as a constituent; and from the soil by decomposing vegetable matter, as explained 
in the first report of the fourth district. This kind of ore usually lies in low places; and 
where so few excavations exist in such situations, but few deposits could be met with. As 
the country increases in population, and the swampy soils are drained, the ditches made for 
that purpose will alford information, which could not be obtained during this survey without 
resorting to manual labor which formed no part of its plan. Less attention also was given to 
it, as being more properly a mineral than a geological product, in a survey where the subjects 
are divided as in this. 
In the course of the survey, numerous places were visited where ore was said to exist; but 
not one offered much evidence of profitable quantity, nor can any be mentioned which pro¬ 
mised abundance. The localities are numerous where it exists in comparatively small quan¬ 
tities, and some of these may not be far removed from large bodies which the future will 
make known. 
Near Constantia furnace in Oswego, it was said to be in abundance, but was not examined. 
Among the localities visited were the following : Below the outlet of Oneida lake, above the 
rift; near Colliersville, in the low grounds of the valley, in Otsego county; on the farm of 
