clap of thunder, there was an extraordinary explosion, with a loud hissing noise, and throwing out a great quantity of sparks. [Philosophical Magazine.]

PRIZE QUESTION CONCERNING THE NEW METALS.

Among the new Prize Questions lately proposed by the Royal Society of Sciences at Harlem, are the following: "Can it be demonstrated by uncontrovertible experiments that the substances which have the appearance of metals produced from alkaline salts are real metals? Or are there sufficient reasons to maintain that they are Hydrurets produced by a combination of Hydrogene with the Alkalies? What is the most certain and convenient mode of producing these substances from the Alkaline Salts in pretty considerable quantity by means of a high temperature?

[Nicholson's Journal.]

VERMONT MARBLE.

Extract of a letter from Professor Hall, of Middlebury College to the Editor.

Marble of various qualities has been found in many places on the west side of the Green Mountains in Vermont.

A few years since, a valuable quarry was discovered in Middlebury, a town situated on Otter Creek, eleven miles above Vergennes. The quarry forms one bank of the Creek, for several rods, and extends back into the side of a hill to a distance at present unknown. The stone lies in irregular strata, varying considerably in thickness, but all more or less inclined to the northwest. The marble is of different colours in different parts of the bed. On one side it is a pure white. I have compared pieces, taken from this part of the quarry, which has recently been opened, with specimens of the white marble brought from Italy, to which, I think, it is but little, if any, inferior. The white marble seems to constitute but a small portion of the whole mass. The colour, that predo

minates through most parts of the quarry, is a grey of different intensities. The marble of both kinds is solid, compact, free from veins of quartz, and susceptible of an excellent polish.

A mill, of a peculiar construction, has been erected for the purpose of sawing the stone into slabs. It contains sixtyfive saws, which are kept almost constantly in operation. During the years 1809 and 1810 these saws cut out twenty thousand feet of slabs, and the sales of marble tables, sideboards, tombstones, &c. in the same period amounted to about eleven thousand dollars.

CRYSTALLIZED BODIES DISCOVERED IN METEORIC STONE.

Extract of a letter from Col. Gibbs, to the Editor.

In examining some of the meteoric stones which fell at Weston, I found imbedded in one of them a cubic crystal of Pyrites about 2-3ds of an inch over, and at one angle of it another like crystal. The pyrites has suffered more or less of decomposition, being generally of a dark grey colour, approaching to brown, hard, frangible, and is attracted by the magnet: a part of the broken surface has the metallic lustre. One surface of the cube is nearly preserved. This discovery proves the existence of crystallized bodies in the meteoric stones, which before had been only conjectured by Mr. Gillet de l'Aumont of Paris, a distinguished French mineralogist. (See Journal des Mines, vol 23.) I am happy to inform this gentleman, through your Journal, that I have been able to verify his conjectures, in remembering his former advice to search in our meteoric stone for crytallized substanThis fact, I think goes far to destroy the theory of the formation of these substances in the atmosphere.

ces.

7

THE AMERICAN

MINERALOGICAL JOURNAL.

NUMBER IV.

XXXI. On the Geology and Mineralogy of the Island of NEW-YORK, by DR. SAMUEL AKerly.

DEAR SIR,

The following account of the Geology and Mineralogy of New-York was written in 1808, and constitutes part of an essay composed for a particular purpose, but as that purpose has not been answered, and this part comes within the view of your Journal, it is at your disposal for publication. I am respectfully yours,

Dr. Archibald Bruce.

SAMUEL AKERLY.

Geology of New-York.

LITTLE can be said on the geology of so small a portion of country as the island of New-York. The relation it bears to the surrounding country in a geological view, would make it necessary to include in the same view a description of the country to a considerable extent. Its mineralogy, which is VOL. I.

2 B

the key to geology, or some inference drawn from mineralogical facts, may be described independent of the neighbouring country. Such facts must then remain, till sufficient are collected to form a theory. To take such an extensive range, would go beyond the task assigned in this undertaking.

Should I take up the subject of Geology, I would pursue it in the extent of its signification, commencing where Kirwan left off, and travel over the whole of North America. This celebrated author, when he had followed the great wave (in his account of the deluge) which arose from the southern abyss, and deluged the world, pursued its course and marked its operation, more particularly upon the eastern hemisphere, making but few observations on the western. The waters which rose between South America and Africa, were turned in their course from the latter, and scooped out the Carribbean sea and gulf of Mexico, being prevented from dividing the western hemisphere into two continents, by the mountains of Darien. This barrier again changed its course, and being joined by those which had risen from the Pacific Ocean, and overflowed the mountains, they took a north-easterly direction, and swept over the whole continent of North America. Hence the direction of the mountains in this part of the world. The shock and force of this overwheln ing torrent becoming weakened in its course to the northward, had a less destructive effect on the mountains, and hence we find them higher in the northern latitudes of the United States,* and the same inferences may probably be drawn, when we learn more of Louisiana. Thus would I proceed to trace the effects of the deluge upon our own continent, marking the indentations and bays along the

* Mr. Jefferson conjectures the highest mountains in Virginia to be 40co feet(See notes on Virginia, p. 29.) But by measurement they are 2706, in Maryland 3257, in New-York 3549, in Vermont about the fame height, and in NewHampshire 780. Volney's view of the United States.

coast, and the points of land directed to the south, inclosing them, made by the receding of the waters and subsequent alluvions.

But to return to the narrow limits of our small island. Its solid rocky base without a vestige of animal remains, in the form of petrifactions, points to its primitive origin. The island is divided into its primary and secondary parts. The first is a solid mass of granite and limestone; and the second is composed of an alluvion of sand, stones, and rocks. The primary part is all the island, except that over which the city is built. It is therefore necessary to account for the formation of the south part of New-York county, and this will be subsequent to the Creation, and even the Deluge.

After the waters of the Deluge had retired from this continent, they left a vast chain of lakes, some of which are still confined within their rocky barriers. Others have since broken their bounds, and united with the ocean. The Highlands of New-York was the southern boundary of a huge collection of water, which was confined on the west by the Shawangunk and Kaats-kill mountains. The hills on the east of the Hudson confined it there. When the hills were cleft and the mountains torn asunder, the water found vent and overflowed the country to the south. It was then that the channel of the Hudson was formed, and its stream has never since ceased to flow. The earth, sand, stones and rocks brought down by this torrent, were deposited in various places : as on this island, Long Island, Staten Island, and the Jerseys. This opinion is mostly hypothetical, because unsupported by a sufficient number of facts, but that it is probable may be judged by what follows.

The north part of Long Island is indented by a number of bays made at that time, having no rocky basis to resist such an impression. In levelling the hills to extend the improvements of the city of New-York, accurate observation will show that some such catastrophe has taken place. When the various materials diffused in the water, and carried a