New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-04-03
THE EMPIRE STATE.
The Primitive GeoIog icnl Re sion of Sonthsrn
NeW-YOrk.

To the Editor ef The Tribune.
In my previous letter gave description OF toe
North Primitive district Of the geological division
of New.York State and, in this, | shall condne
myself to the Southern primitive district. These
two districts, of course, comprise the entire geo
logical formations of the State, and present to the
philosopher unbounded sources Of interest and
contemplation. Here he can trace the silent and
mysterious operations of an invisible power bring
ing into existence objects of peculiar beauty and
form from Cd rtinles of organic and
inorganic creation. He can survey the sublime
workings of the latent principles of earth pc wer
ful elements for, here are to be found unmis'
taxable traces and evidences that, at some distant
period, many of the islands and hills around New
York, have been covered by the sea.
The Southern Primitive District embraces in
ito area Staten Island, Long Island, Manhattan
Island, nesrly the whole Of Putnam and Westches
ter Counties, portion of Columbia and Dutchess
the Northern portion OF Rocklaad and the Southern
hAlfo Orange. The line which divides these two
primitive districts, commences at an angle In the
south west corner of Columbia County, in what is
termed the Taghcsnc mountain, andincludeS that
and the Matteswan mountain It follows the lat
ter across the Hudson river, and extends INTO New
Jersey in southwestern direction. This forma-
ton is, however, slightly interrupted on the east
side Of the Hudson, by narrow belt Of transition
slate and below or on the south side OF this strip,
on the westtside OF the river is quite large field
of secondary sand stone, which forms the basis Of
basaltic rocks, and which rise into mural preci.
pices such az are seen in the Closter mountain,
Al. H.. hoe kha nf
New.Yo1k. They are also observable and form
ridges which border on the Tappan Sea. These
are the only exceptions that we have been able
to discover of any interruptions in the primitive
formation, south Of the line above mentioned
The most conspicuous. and we might say, inter-
esting features Of this district are the everyary-
ing and beautiful scenes of the Highlands. Their
geological composition too is of a peculiar charac
ter, consisting of gnesS sienite, granite and gnes
sold hornblende. 1t is asserted that the granite
proper is never found in its place. in this district,
except where it is discovered as beds and veins
in the other rocks. When it is found in beds, it is
not unfrequently from fifteen to twenty feet thick,
and is exceedingly coarse grained, and rests on
base of red feldspar. Adularia is frequently found
in it. The granite which is found in veins is not
SO coarse and has more even texture, and 1t is
very rare that found to contain the red fedspar
The veins ran in an irregular direction bat, it is
said that most Of them ntersect the strata alright
angles In the strata, we md that the dip is ex.
ceediDgly Variable for in come instances it scarce
" sinks from a horizontal line, and not unire
oueptly in other places il assumes 4 vertical po-
sition vi bile, again we find the strata comfort
ed as 70 present every possible variety of dip
The general bearing OF the strata Is that Of the
mountains, in north and north east direction
Various minerals in consequence, without any
apparent regularity in their disposition, such as
EeTpentine, primitive limestone, magnetic oxide
of ron augite and various other mixtures OF these
with each ether, are found Ia almost innumerable
beds, scattered in every direction. In the augite
rocks nearly all the varieties Of the pyrogene are
discovered Limestone of silicious character, is
scattered in every direction in the shape Of gravel
and boulders bat we believe that il has been
found in place. in but one locality. Il has also
been Rscertaned that the augte rocks, in many
places, have associated with them beautiful speci
mems Of scapolite and spbene. It il not uufre-
ouently the case that in this district hornblende
occurs in distinct beds; though it is more proper
" constituent Of the sienitic rocks Numerous
veins and beds OF iron ore, strongly magnetic, and
passing into gneiss, and sometimes In other rocks,
frequently containing copper and iron pyrites, as
well as hOrnblende and augite, are dispersed over
various portions Of this district
There is bed OF very excellent granite IN the
mountain south Of West Point, out of which
there have been taken quite large blocks; but, its
quality is not good for agricultural purposes, and
in conse quence, il has never been very extensive
ly wrought II we take section Of this district
for ten miles in extent, commencing at and taking
Buttermilk Falls az q Center, we shall find that
the aEiddle portion consists almost wholly Of well
characterized gneiss, alternating with layers Of
hornblence and granite. On the north and south
il Is bounded by belt Of hcnbleDde rocks two