302 
ANALYSES OF WATERS. 
the State, is a fact of considerable interest, and which especially throws light upon their 
origin. 
Sulphur springs are known from observation to issue from every geological formation in 
the State ; indeed, almost every rock furnishes this kind of water. The Primary system 
gives origin to fewer springs of this description, than the superior ones. The production 
of the acid waters which have been briefly referred to, is probably due to the decomposi¬ 
tion of waters which contain the sulphates. The decomposition may be brought about by 
organic matter ; thus, near Cherryvalley, two acid springs, issuing from a marshy place 
in which there was a large deposit of peaty matter, had charred a thick mass over twenty- 
five feet in diameter. This black material was decidedly sour ; and it seemed highly 
probable that the same waters beneath, and before they came in contact with the organic 
matter, were merely the common mineral waters which abound in sulphates. The acid 
springs of New-York belong, I believe, exclusively to the rocks near the Salt group. De¬ 
composing pyrites, in contact with organic matter, as wood, in the Tertiary and Cretaceous 
formations, produce the acid sulphate of iron, by which the wood is not only blackened, 
but completely carbonized. 
Another class of mineral springs abound in Central New-York, and constitute the well 
known salines, which consist principally of the chloride of sodium. These springs or 
wells have been fully described in Dr. Beck’s Report on the Mineralogy of the State, and 
hence require here only a brief notice. For the purpose of giving instances of all the 
waters known, I deem it proper to give one or two examples of the analysis of these 
waters. Dr. Beck’s analysis of the Salina and Syracuse wells of brine are therefore 
subjoined. 
Salina. Syracuse. 
Sp. gr. 1-110. Sp. gr. 1’104. 
Saline matter in 1009 grs. 146-50 139-53 
Carbonate of lime. 0-17 0-14 
Sulphate of lime. 4*72 5-69 
Chloride of calcium__ 1-04 0-83 
Chloride of magnesium ___ 0-51 0-46 
Chloride of sodium_ 140-02 132-39 
Oxide of iron and silica, and carbonate of lime.. 0-04 0-02 
Carbonic acid_ 0-09 0-07 
Water, with a trace of organic matter and bromine, 853-41 860-40 
The Salina water contains 1130 grains of pure and perfectly dry chloride of sodium in a 
wine pint, and 9045 grains or l - 29 pounds avoirdupois in a gallon : it therefore requires 
forty-three and a half gallons to yield a bushel of salt weighing fifty-six pounds. In the 
Syracuse well there are 1063 grains of dry chloride of sodium in a wine pint of brine, and 
8506 grains or 1 • 21 pounds avoirdupois in a gallon ; and hence it requires forty-six and 
a quarter gallons for a bushel of perfectly dry salt.* 
L. C. Beck’s Report, pp. 105, 106. 
