its way to the surface; being however still submerged, new layer c, c, were deposited, at an angle of nearly 450 with the first.

Hypersthene and primitive limestone also occur among the mastratified rocks.

THE STRATIFIED Rocks are divided into six orders or systems. as they are called; viz.,-beginning at the lowest strata, or those next succeeding the unstratified rocks, we have,

J. THE PRIMARY, OR PRIMITIVE SYSTEM, consisting of disinte grated granite, deposited by the waters; and probably again modified by the action of the subterranean heat.

The rocks, composing this system, are known as gneiss, mica schist. and hornblende. There is no evidence of the existence of either animal or vegetable life, during the period while this strata were depositing. Nearly all the metals, used in the arts, are found in these rocks, and in the granite on which they rest.

II. THE TRANSITION SYSTEM. This system embraces a great variety of formations, and occupies a large portion of the crust of the earth. Its lower strata consist of limestones, sandstones, and shales or slaty rocks. Above these, is a layer of sandstone, known as the old red sandstone, which is succeeded by a limestone, forming the bed of the vast coal formations, which furnish so large an amount of fuel to the world. Over these is deposited a magnesian limestone, and another layer of red sandstone, distinguished as the new red sandstone.

The period, when these deposits were made, was characterized by extraordinary luxuriance of vegetable life. The coal deposits are all of vegetable origin, and were reduced to their present form, by the influence of heat, decay and pressure. In the rocks belonging to this system are also found, in immense quantities, the lower orders of animals, shell fish, snails, and a few fishes, and amphibious reptiles. None of them, however, belong to species now known to be in existence.

III. THE SECONDARY SYSTEM, composed of oolitic limestone, greensand, and chalk. This system contains a large number of fossils, both animal and vegetable. Among the former are those gigantic amphibious animals, mostly belonging to the lizard and crocodile tribes, whose skeletons, found both on this continent and in Europe, have excited so much attention. There are also many shells, fishes, insects, and a few quadrupeds. Several hundreds of species of plants have been found in the secondary rocks. These fossils, vegetable and animal, with scarcely an exception, belong to extinct species.

IV. THE TERTIARY SYSTEM. This consists of deposits of clay, sand and gravel, in some instances hardened into rock, but generally containing evidence of the comparative recentness of its deposition. It contains an immense number of fossils, both animal and vegetable; of these about 12 per cent. have been identified as belonging to existing species, and the remainder generally bear a marked resemblance to plants and animals now in existence, which the fossils of the earlier periods do not.

V. THE DILUVIAL DEPOSITS, called also the erratic block group. In thi system are included the boulders, scattered so abundantly over many sections of the earth's surface, and many of the more extensive deposits of sand, gravel and clay, which are evidently the result of

the resistless action of an overwhelming de

tain numerous animal and vegetale lutas Large belong to existing species, althougi ortasida found.

VI. THE ALLUVIAL DEPOSIT. 12.12. posits at the mouths of rivers, the des come drained, the valleys a rivers subvent tions, the shores of oceans, sras, &C.

These also contain in unt, it cuantities table existence, but with ven les extent is known. The gigantic mastigat has been UEK We have beer this nastir 1 each system, because ther serve as WLT even the most unlettered may read the 11 from the period, when it was firs

granite, devoid of vegetatue or atima, like T
its green fields, and its innumerade noss a
ings, attest with myriad voices, the power and
Creator.

The whole of these formations åt not ex I ever

world; but wherever geologica exturations have been an I been found that the same order is use

some one, or more, of these systems 2′′ zowe

present follow the arrangerien we Lave seently

In the state of New York the second to

well as the upper members of the transitz SREL· parts of the state the tertiary system.

It will be seen, by the following tabit the

among the formations of the state.

except the alluvial and diorial deposts at the

the St. Lawrence, are below the cum

which is the highest member of the transitiv 5 RTI „

being the layer immediately beneath i

It is true that there are layers of AITZIŁ Z DE

ness, and extending over a few feet of surface. Derwen te

rocks of an earner era, in various parts of the state. VITA SA DE exist in the state, in sufficient quantities use of 205 Pracusa, VA This deficiency, however, is abundantly made us to the var ca fields of Pennsylvania and Omar, which to meas of the errorS systems of internal improvement, are rendered a trolle The prevalence of limestone it near a the frZED WYN of notice, affording, as it does, the basis Tuck des aviet 1 bed the materials for fertilizing the sol

The table exhibits the geological formations of the state accors-ing to the arrangement adopted by the state guess there survey.

III., IV. and V. of this arrangement are compriset under fue generi head of the Transition system, heretofore descrivet

• The existence of a small bed of wine in Saran war the m doubtful era of the red sandstone of Lucciant county cas carcery E CHE as exceptions to this statement.

TABULAR VIEW OF THE ROCKS OF NEW YORK, ARRANGED IN SYSTEMS, GROUPS AND FORMATIONS.

There are in the state two tracts of primary and unstratified rocks. The first is nearly circular in form, and occupies the counties of Essex, Warren and Hamilton, and portions of Saratoga, Fulton, Herkimer, Oneida, Lewis, Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Franklin and Clinton. The Black river forms its southwestern boundary, from Wilna, in Jefferson, to Remsen, in Oneida county.

The second is in the southeastern part of the state, of a somewhat triangular form, and comprises Putnam and Westchester, together with the larger part of New York, and part of Rockland, Orange and Dutchess counties.

These two sections together occupy nearly one third of the state.

They contain extensive and valuable mines of iron, lead and plumbago, both in the northeastern and southeastern portions of the state. Their surface is generally broken and elevated, towering up to the height of more than a mile above tide water, in the Adirondack group, and attaining a considerable, though less lofty altitude in the beetling cliffs which overlook the waters of the Hudson.

The soil is less arable and fertile than in the lands of the limestone formations, but is covered, except in the older counties, with a gigantic growth of oak, pine and hemlock timber.

The gneiss of this system furnishes a fine building material, and under the name of granite, is abundantly quarried for that purpose. The serpentine, primitive limestone, and steatite, are also largely quarried for the purposes of the arts.

These rocks abound in minerals of great interest to the mineralogist. Garnet, beryl, chrysoberyl, pyroxene, sphene, tourmaline, apatite, colophonite, scapolite, Labradorite, epidote, &c &c.

Geologists differ in opinion, on the question, whether the Taghkanic, or Taconic system should be ranked with the Primary, or the Transition system. It is composed of brown sandstone, limestone and green shales, or slaty rocks. It contains some minerals, and furnishes a fine limestone for building, but has few, or no fossils. The soil which overlays this system is generally good, and often highly fertile.

Its range is quite extensive, although frequently of no great width. It comprises nearly the whole of the counties of Washington, Rensselaer and Columbia, part of Dutchess, Ulster, Greene, Albany and Saratoga, and trending westward occupies a narrow tract in Schenectady, Montgomery, Herkimer and Oneida, and expands more widely in Oswego and Jefferson counties.

We next come to the New York system, as it has been appropriately named, comprising, according to the table, four distinct groups. We commence with the lowest of these, the Champlain Group. The constituents of this group are various kinds of sandstone and limestone, slate, conglomerate, and a peculiar stone, compounded of lime and sandstone, and hence called calciferous (or limebearing) sandrock.

Of these the Potsdam sandstone furnishes a beautiful and durable building material, and is also used in the manufacture of glass, and the preparation of sand paper. The Trenton and birdseye* limestones are used for the purposes of the arts. The Lorraine shales, and the Utica slate are employed for roofing, and to some extent for writing slates. The grey sandstone and conglomerate furnish stone suitable for grindstones.

The rocks of this group, and particularly the limestones and slates, abound in fossils of the earlier periods; encrinites, trilobites and numerous others, unlike any of the crustaceous animals now in exist

ence.

The soil, throughout the territory occupied by this group, is generally good, and much of it is highly fertile, being constantly enriched by the decomposition of the limestone, slate and sandstone, which is

This limestone receives its name from the abundance of encrinites which it contains, which give it, when polished, an appearance somewhat resembling birdseye maple.