336 
GEOLOGY OF THE FIRST DISTRICT. 
This section is a continuation of the detailed section given on pages 303 to 305 of this 
volume, including the Catskill and Erie divisions, from the summit of the Catskill mountain 
to the stone bridge across the Kaaterskill, where the Marcellus shale is seen overlying the 
Helderberg limestone. 
Some curious contortions may be seen between the line of this section and where the Hel¬ 
derberg limestones cross the Catskill creek. Below Madison, on the road to Catskill, the 
creek is seen flowing along the line of bearing of the strata for about one quarter of a mile. 
One of the strata here shows a warped surface, such as is defined in mathematics. The 
stratum dips down under the creek, at a high angle, at one end of the place referred to, and 
at the other, a distance of perhaps two or three hundred yards, it dips down at a very mode¬ 
rate angle ; and at intermediate points, the dip varies very regularly between these extremes. 
It is thought probable that an extension of this warped stratum, if traced out, would show 
the strata reversed in dip and superposition, like some of those on Pine mountain and near 
High rocks in the vicinity of Kingston. 
The Delthyris shaly limestones, the Pentamerus limestone and the Water limestones, are 
the most common rocks, and in fact form almost the whole mass of the Helderberg division 
through the region in which we have traced the derangements from Carpenter’s point on the 
Delaware, to the south line of Albany county. They also form the most prominent masses 
in the Helderberg mountains. They are found successively in passing from the Hudson 
westward in Ulster and Greene counties, and are well characterized by their fossils. They 
generally present cliffs and mural escarpments to the east, as may almost every where be seen 
in their range from Kingston to the Helderberg, in consequence of their dip to the westward. 
Limestone springs, caves and subterranean streams, which are not uncommon in the Helder¬ 
berg rocks, have already been described. (Vide pp. 109, 112.) 
Agricultural character. 
The limestone and slate lands of the Helderberg group are rolling, with a good soil, and 
very productive for wheat and other crops. The strata are generally nearly horizontal; but 
through the valley of the Delaware and Hudson canal, and from Kingston to Coxsackie, the 
rocks are upheaved, and sometimes overturned. Many parts of this region are very rough 
and broken. 
