New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-03-28
THE EMPIRE STATE.


There is TO State, perhaps, in the Union, whose
geological features present greater amount Of
interest TO the naturalist and the lapidary, than
the broad and beautiful State of New York,
with her green and picturesque mountains, alter
nstely pleading with the glories OF never fading
foliage and the tinted yellow OF the Autumn
leaf her broad rivers, slvery streams and tranquil
lakes.
In making a succinct account Of the geological
features of this State, shall begin, as all geoo'
gists do, at the Primitive Formation. OF the
primitive formation there are, in this State, two
exceedingly large portions, which are divided by
an extensive field of transition These are de-
nominated, in consequence of their relative posi-
tions, the Northern and Southern Districts. The
Northern Primitive District commences at or near
the head of Cumberland Bay, on the western
border of Lake Chsmplain, and extends in
north. stern direction over Clinton Coaittle DO
low the north line of the State. 1t is then defec
ted south. westwa rdly almost parallel with the
River st, Lawrence and extends over Franklin
and st. Lawrence Counties, and reaches to the
town of wilma in Jefferson Co. From this point
it is again detected in a southeast direction, and
extends along Black River until it reaches the
Black Creek Of Oneida Co. when it suddenly
turns eastwsrdy, and continues in that direction
until it approaches the forks Of West Canada
Creek, short distance above the Falls Of Tfen'
ton. Here it takes another defective curvature,
and runs iTegulsrly in southeast course to the
southern base of the Pamertown Mountain In
the County of Saratoga thence its course IS con-
tinued to Lake ChamplAin, and from that Lake to
the point Of departure,
The area of this district Is beautifully chequer-
ed with small portions OF transitions, and perhaps
secondary formation, whose lines of division have
not yet been determined by biologists. The
primitive rocks Of the mountain ridges on the
south alternate TO q considerable extent with the
transition and secondary districts, OF which the
Clinton range at Anthonys Nose, and the Cha
teaugua range which crosses the Mohawk, at Lit
tie Falls are conspicuous Instances. Before the
latter "a nge arrives at the Falls, however, IL pass
"a upder more recent rocks, and, In NUMBER OF
instances, other ridges frequently DIP beneath
them Hence as we travel over the country from
the Falls Of Trenton to the Springs at Saratoga,
we find that the rocks of the three classes In
place alternate and can be traced In a divergent
line from the North TO the South On the NORM
the primitive rocks prevail until they entirely sd
persede the secondary and transition but, on tue
south the transition aud secondary increase until
they overspreRd the primitive. In this manner
we discover that Fall Hill, for number OF miles
before il reaches the Mohawk River, is covered
with the primitive formation. Where the waters
OF the Mohawk pass through this formation, they
have, with continual washing cut 1t TO the BASE
and In consequence, the granite rocks are pre-
scented to view. They are, however, soon con-
cealed below the mountain gorge. short ais
tance above the river, on the north SIDE the hills
are covered with limestone; and scarcely trace
of the primitive rocks appear Tor more tnah
twelve OF fifteen miles from the river. Inc sam
mits of the logs and elevations on the south are
maptled with graywacke. AS it advances toward
ahe river the elevated range, generally demon
mated the Clinton hill IL Ia measare over
spread with recent formation; but the Promontory
of Anthonys Nose alternates with primitive and
transition. The primitive is observable at the
road, a small distance from either side OF the
point; and the transition is seen in the form OF
red sandstone combined with lime, extending
along the east side about tive miles, ana along
the west nearly two. This forms mural preci'
pices from two to three hundred feet In height
bat at the base of this promontory the river
flows over the primitive rock formation. The
primitive rocks, as general thing, approach near
the surface on the north and on the south side OF
the river, and, in West Canada Creek, nine miles
from its mouth, they appear at the surface In ex-
ceedinsly large masses They are also brought
toleht by East Canada and Zmmerman's Creeks,
and a number of less important streams. AS
thew approach the river, they form quite decilnR
tion, and rise as they recede. Inc latter iorma-
tons have been very thinly imposed, which is H.
iuetrdted az even u CuI6OIy SA@HSo ~ buS SS-~S
urstion of the entire territory, over which they
appear 90 follow in close proximity all the inc
qualities Of the surface Of the basis rocks. The
primitive rock constitutes the nucleus OF the
Highlands Of Black River, and projects 20 con-
adorable elevation through the surface along the
eastern side Of that stream, and It IS not unire-
quently visible in its bed. Ii also often rises IN
innominate masses in the western interval
The transition formation rests upon the granite
in various places in Saratoga County; and near
the southern line of Greenfield, on the south east
ern side Of the Kay aderSsseras mountain, II Is
found in the form OF pudding stone, composed OF
round pebbles OF quartz. IRON the SIZE oil very me
grains Of barley to that Of abushel snds quite rnl
iy cemented together by coarse feruginous sand
Where the masses unite with tue primitive rock,
they are much larger chan elsewhere, but as We
descend the bill they decrease, until they finally
pass into a uniform quartzose stone, which over
lays il. There are immense quantities OF this
formation scattered over the country, In broken,
rounded fragments; and especially throughoutthe
ridges which skirt the valley between Palmer
town and the Kay sderasseras mountain. rms
mountain is likewise. in places, Overland, though
not so thickly, with the above mentioned quartz
orc rock, which appears to alternate with or pass
into the coDgomerate. Large and singular
patches Of metklliferOas limestone are found upon
this sandstone, covering large tract Of couPtry,
and is traced throughout the whole valley
Thus, the most common and 10 fact we might say
the principal rocks OF this primitive formation are,
sandstone, serpentine, granular lime stone, MICA
slate, ateSlte granite, gneiss and sienite. Toe
most abundant, however, Of these rocks are the
granite and gneiss, but the others are quite sbun-
dant throughout the whole district AS Ia all
granite regions, they run into each other, and ge
ologists who have made very minute investiga-
tions, assert that the line of demarcation is
frequently difficult to be ascertained." Where
an excess OF mica predominatss, the stone as
sumes slaty and schssose character, and is the
true gneiss; but where the feldspar becomes a
massive rock, il is then recognized as genuine
This granite is found throughout the whole
range Of the Palmertown and kayaderasseras
Mnnntainn. n Ia nrnrAinent In the hlghasr nanla