Title

The graphites of New York: Scientific and aesthetic surprises

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2009

Abstract

In an effort to improve his health, Benjamin Silliman (1779–1864) traveled in the latter part of May and early June 1821 with Samuel F. B. Morse to areas along the upper Hudson River and Lakes Champlain and George. In his notes made during this trip Silliman (1822), who was a professor of chemistry, mineralogy, and other subjects at Yale College and also founder and editor of the American Journal of Science, made the following observation regarding graphite, which he referred to by its then common but now obsolete synonym, plumbago: “This mineral, of singular beauty, occurs near Ticonderoga, both massive and disseminated, in brilliant plates, in a large grained crystallized limestone.” With an air of regret, Silliman noted that he was unable to visit graphite occurrences at Ticonderoga and at Roger’s Rock “from want of time and want of health.” What “singular beauty” does graphite from the state of New York bear that would merit such a description by a mineralogist of such stature as Benjamin Silliman? Although we are unlikely to ever know what specimens Silliman was able to see to inspire such a description, we hope that this article will reveal some of the remarkable beauty of New York graphite.

Publisher's Statement

© 2009 Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group. Publisher's version of record: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00357520903284848

Publication Title

Rocks and Minerals

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