displaying
likewise the gigantic trilobite family, is not less attractive than the
enormous slab of the black limestone, called the comiferous limestone,
with the Marcelli» shale, near Manlius, in Onondaga county. This slab
contains several ammonites of one foot in length ; it is called now the
'goniatilis expansus orthoceratas marcettinius. This specimen
must weigh at least one hundred pounds, and is three feet in length ;
and it is certainly a very magnificent specimen.
The'
large rhombic limestone, from St. Lawrence county, with the dogtooth
spar, from Lockport, form interesting specimens in the mineralogical-
department of the State Cabinet.
The
splendid quartz crystals, from Herkimer county and Lake George, as also
the fluor spar of Jefferson county, and the beautiful green crystals of
apatite, from St. Lawrence county, with the sulphate of strontia
specimens, from the latter, Onondaga, and Schoharie counties,—all claim
their respective merits ; the labrador spar and hypersthene, from Essex
county, the gypsum, sulphate of baryta, the beautiful rose quartz,
from Fort Henry, the red sapphire crystals, from Orange county, and the
amethysts, intermixed in layers with the serpentine, from Putnam
county, form very fine ornamental minerals.
Among
the most interesting minerals of this State may be mentioned the
rensselaerite, from Fort Edward ; a great many specimens of this
interesting mineral, both rough and polished, may be seen in the State
Cabinet. It forms irregular masses in that limestone region, has an
unctuous feel of stalactite, but is of superior hardness ; resembles
more the satin spar in its crystalline form ; it resembles pyroxene,
but differs much from it in its hardness and specific gravity ; its
hardness is 3"5 to 4% and specific gravity 2-87 ; its color is white, yellowish-white ; has uneven fracture. This
