270 
GEOLOGY OF THE FIRST DISTRICT. 
conglomerate and gravel strata, which form the underlying mass; and the quaternary, or 
the drift deposits, as the next overlying mass.* 
As the marls of New-Jersey are of great agricultural value, it was considered desirable to 
ascertain their existence or absence in New-York. The geological limits between which this 
marl formation might be expected, have been examined with some care, but no marls like 
those of New-Jersey have been found. A stratum of greenish loamy sand and loamy clay 
has been found in several localities ; one on Lloyd’s neck, others on Eaton’s neck. East neck, 
etc., containing some green granules like the New-Jersey green marl, and in the proper geo¬ 
logical position ; but no marls like the proper green and blue marls, the grey or black marls, 
have been discovered, and no fossil remains. 
The fossil shells that have been so often found by persons in digging wells, seem to have 
been in the proper position for marl deposits, namely, below the drift, and either in or above 
the sands and clays, etc. that have been described in this article; but none have been seen by 
any one able to identify them generically and specifically, so as to determine the formation in 
which they are found. 
Springs. 
Springs in great numbers break out from the gravel and sand banks of the formation under 
consideration, at the levels of tide water, and of the clay beds in certain places. They have 
already been alluded to in general terms.f They are caused by the surface water percolating 
through the pervious strata of sand and gravel, until they meet an impervious layer, generally 
clay, or the tide water level; and they find an outlet in the sides and heads of the ravines, and 
along the coasts. 
Localities of the principal springs of this formation. 
A fine and copious spring rises through the sand near the shore a mile or two west of Mon- 
tauk point, on the north shore. It might be made available for furnishing water for vessels. 
In Southampton, on the road from Sag-Harbor to Northsea, a mill is supplied with water 
by springs that flow from the gravel banks near it. 
At the head of Little-neck bay in Flushing, many fine springs flow from the gravel beds in 
the ravine, and are used for milling. 
Springs flow abundantly from the level of a little above tide water, at Old Man’s, Drowned 
meadows, Setauket, Stony brook, Hempstead harbor at the head and on the west shore, 
Cow bay at the head and at several places on the east side. Coldspring harbor, northwest part 
of Eastneck, heads of Cow harbor and Little Cow harbor, and head of Freshpond creek. 
■* As boulders and erratic blocks are not deposited over the marl region of New-Jersey, (for reasons assigned in discussing the 
drift deposits), we cannot tell certainly whether the drift is the next overlying mass; but it probably is, for the strata presently to 
be mentioned, containing green grains, underlie the drift deposits, 
t Vide p. 108 of this volume. 
