Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-06-21


re hand notes, in the Geid bDolS in the Jorps
unrimmcd and unricketed specimens,-and
the heads Of the State Geologist and his asst
tanis.
= The Green Mountains have. Cor some yea,
= past, presented TO geologsts an interesting pr,
Y blem, which was,-thc determination of the
y geological age and character, and PARTICULAR
!, the age and character of that portion of tn
! western slope of those mountains which ha
J been denomnated the TaeOnic .Ssta. An
t As the larger part of this range Of mountain
I, was within the limits OF Vermont the attenio
OF the geOIogsts OF the country was directed {
the geological survey OF that State, as beinl
likely to furnish satisfactory solution Of th
T problem and during the continuance Of th
survey, that object was kept constantly in view
by those engaged in it. Masy sections wcrt
traced eastward from the well known SlInriar
rocks, which occupy the valley OF Lake Champ
lain, to the centre of the Green Mountain range
aud many facts were brought 10 light which
nave an important bearing upon the problem
nave mentioned but lust as the examinations
were being completed, and the results and facts
were to be brought together, sys!emat zed and
weighed. the survey was snspended and wbeth.
er it will ever be resumed or not, is problem,
which time only can solve.
The rocks in the western part Of Vermont
in the valley Of Lake ChanpIain, are highly
fossiIferous and clearly belong to that portion
OF the lower Slurian dcnominatcd by the New
York gcoIogis,s the Champlain GROUP. 70 the
eastward Of these and mostly in the south part
OF the State, lie the so.ca'lcd Iaconic rocks
These last consists principally Of sla'ce, lime
stones and quartz rock A few fossils are be-
ieved to have been found in them, but they are
extremely rare and obscure ; and the question
with regard TO these rocks is, as ! understand
it, whether they are series rf fosslifprous
rocks which are older than the Champaign
group, or are metamorphic members Of that
group, whose fossils have been mostly oblitcr.
ated by heat.
TO he eastward Of the Champ'ain and Taco
mic groups. am not aware that any fossIlifcr-
ous rocks Lave been found, in plac within the
State. Lying next to these. is belt of talcOsr
slate formation, varying from IL TO 80 miles in
width, and extending through the entire length
OF Il State from south To north This belt
embla aces all tie highest submits or the Green
Mountain range. The rocks, horgh gt netaly
more or less talcoSc, contain, in maj v places, ii
large proportion OF mica, and. IN some places. I
are highly chlorilic. Near the ca.tcrn margin
OF this belt there is narrow range Of sicatitc |
extending through he State, having associated
=.
extensive beds of serprntnc rock, whrch are
capable of furnishing, in great abundance, and |
OF excellent quality, that beautiful variety of
magnetism ma'ble, called I.rd AniiQue. H. |
this serpcn'ine. in the north part OF the State.
large veins of the magnetic oXvde, aud also Of
chronic iron, lave been opened. The whole
bel. which have mentioned, is entirely des''-
utc, certainly in the north half Of tie Sta c,
both Of lin, stone and granite.
Between this belt of Iacose rocks and Con-
1ecticut river, the formation consists of CLAY
slate mica, hornbende, and talcose states. rnelss
md limestone frequently intcrstratisiet, and OF
lumerous prorusionS, and some extensive re-
Jions Of granite This granite is of excellent
lnality for building stone, but the limestone
VI this formation Is all too sihccous for the
OF good quickme.*
One Of the most marked pccnliariles in the
zoology Of Vermont, is found in the general
iIp of the stra,lied rocks, which is, with a few
rtljnE exceptions, towards a syuclna axis pX-
ending north and south near the centre Of the
ireen Mountain range. Along the shore OF
AXE Champlain the rocks are nearly horizou
al, having only slight easlcrly dip; but the
lip increases pretty uniformly, in proceeding
eastward, till it becomes vertical at lin, a
lltle westward Of the principal submits Of the
irccn Mountains. From This line, Tor dis
ance OF seven or eight mics eastward, the din
# the strata continues nearly vertical. Thi,
pace embraces the highest part OF the noun
ain range and, to the eastward of IT, tie cer-
raj dip OF the rocks is distinctly westward;
nj the rocks are here more disturbed. and the
ip less uniform, than on the wesi side Of the
with regard to the question, whether the ,
ockS, which form the Green Mountains and
xtenL eastward 10 Connecticut river, are truly I
lmary, CT ante pl'nozlic, as was formerly
opposed, or are metamnrphc silurian rocks.
'hich are newer than the ChampIaiA group, a
as been more recently suspected, woul only
bservc, that evidence in favor of the latter I
pinion was constantly accommodating during ,
Ie cont nnance Of our survey and has been I
realty increased by the lators Of Mr. Logan. I
10 provincial geologist OF Canada, along our
orthern boundary. n
TIE rocks, in place. in Vermont are, for the 4
lost pant, covered by the drift formation but :
'hereyer exposed, they are found to b. worn Il
nd smoohed, and usually, srialed or scratch Il
d in the direction in which the din materials y
ave been transported, which is, generally from -
little west of north to Z little cast of south n
ut this direction is, in various places, very il
onsderaby modified by the direction Of the II
:
'wer parts Of the valleys of Luke Champain /
nd OF Connecticut River, but from northwest i
southeast, and in some places nca~ly from :
est to east, in the valleys and gorges of the Il
'Teen Mountains. Vermont furnishes man, q
cry interesting cases Of the transportation OF :
ouldcrs to distance OF many miles from the :
uarres in which they originated. Rolled mas. :
IS Of peculiar kind of granite, often of sew
raj tons weight, are found scattered over the h
'wer parts OF Caledonia county, from 20 To 80 c
lilies to the southeastWart of the locality in :
'rlcans county, from which they were evident. Ii
derived, and blocks OF caIcareuus sand. .,
one, found, in place, only along the shore OF :
AXE Champlain, arr met with far into the in. Il
rior of the State, and, in some cases, 10 tha ;
astward of the principal submits of the Green II
lountains.t ! mentien these merely as exam.
es. Many other cases might be adduced OF n
lual interest. c
The unstratified drift in the western part Of f
lie State, and the Champlain rocks, are to "a %
fThe limestone thus series furnishes ne Xhausll-
c quarres OF the most beautiful white marble II
~W hile all the yyesPru nnriG nj N,rrnout a