The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1874-07-22
LANfBERTvILLE, n J, WEDNESDAY, JULY %, 1874

/ "
s = ~ 1880 a,. Z Va'sa'a.iies staa
as' ~ 'naeA ~ .''as = - oi'en uiincui' W "
1888, : - - 10''es eas'o no oause y
80 1., 'es .'annt'aen' "non "s
1850 sa' s,'0 Intense ''e". 0on,'''n'o''eo =
slo = o'' ''o '"o''on naSai' "ouio
.sso s''e ro..s uous po,sions u sle shale' anu
sAo :" ,."'e'' .'o i'o''en Di'aie anu ei's moi
'eii pasai', "ouio intimately mix along theif
I meeting edges, and form compound which
is neither pure Basat nor pure baked Shale.
] This kind of rock, think, we might with
considerable propriety for the purpose of de-
scription, call Transition Trap, from the cir
cumstance that the Trap is in every respect
the prime mover in forming the compound
| have frequently noticed where the Trap ap-
pears in thin layers in deep gorges, so that the
cooling has taken place rapidly under great
pressure, it is of this variety chiefy--and
sometimes entirely-the Shale being mixed
entirely through the Basalt, but with such
uniformity and nicely that the closest discrim-
nation is required to determine its composit-
ion. Other conditions of the Trap are de-
pendent upon it's manner of cooling. For in
stance, if it cools in large bulks, say in layers
300 or 300 feet deep, evenly from both sides, it
is found, excepting along the edges, in large
blocks with regular faces, and may be split
up with much ease and precision into smaller
| fragments of any desirable size or shape. As
a type Of this we might site the great dixie of
the Sourland Mountain, especially that part
about the Roaring Rock, or the Western end,
near Lambertville, laid bare by the Delaware
river. But if it cools rapidly from both sides
under no great amount of pressure, it sepa-
rates into irregular fragments of small size.
Again, if in large quantities. it cools from
one side only, say the upper surface it as
sumes the columnar form, as in the case of
the Palisades on the west bank Of the Hudson
river.
So we see that the same material may ap-
pear under four forms, three of which are
pure-one mixed.
To the west of A. b. Holcombe's buildings
again we find fragments of Basalt among the
surface stones. But although every gorge
which is cut through this hill between the be-
fore mentioned rayine and the Delaware. has
been carefully examined. have been able to
discern no Trap in place. In MANY places
the character of the sBaked Shale y is such
that we were hardly willing to leave the fields
until we had discovered its presence. No
doubt the denuding forces already active, will
in few years bring it to view. The crest of
this ridge for the most part as we'll as it's slope
has deep and fertile soil, and notwithstand-
lug the great numbers of loose fragments Of
alsersa e'i"'e' p's'oT anu nlney, fSnaer some o.
it difficult OF tllage' us productlveness IN ev.
cry case mas ieu the farmer 10 Tear IL up ano
supJece IL 70 'l'c rouhus Oh agricultural aisc'
pine. Andrew ID. hoicomoe INFORMED me
that the fonshest acre OF TINS piue or plack
stone iand on ms iarm' when once plougheo
up Is worth any TWO acres OIL the smootn
arabic red-snaie SOIL on tne soutn sac OF MS
buildings. l notice now, July otn' tnat whlie
elsewhere vegetation generaiiy is suffering fo'
the want OF MOISTURE mere no plant seems 70
be retarded IN It's growth on account OF the
drought. But as passed over some OF the
cornfields,l wondered how they had ever man.