1 10 Transactions of Geological Soc. of Pennsylvania. 



that they will not object to this. A work so elaborately exe- 

 cuted, and enriched with so much matter of worthy quality, 

 will be cheap at the advanced price. Since the writing of the 

 preceding, No. 41. has been seen : better paper is employed 

 in it than in the cheaper numbers. 



Geological Society, Pennsylvania : The Transactions. Vol. I. 

 Parti. 8vo, 180 pages. Published by the Society. Phi- 

 ladelphia, 1834. 



We hail the appearance of this number, as affording satis- 

 factory evidence of the labours of our transatlantic brethren 

 in this department of science. At the end of the volume it is 

 announced that numerous geological surveys of several parts 

 of the United States are in progress, and it is probable that 

 in a few years we shall possess a correct geological outline of 

 the whole of North America. Our limits will not allow us 

 to do much more than announce the principal contents of the 

 present number. 



The first article is by R. C. Taylor, F.G.S., " On the 

 geological Position of certain Beds which contain numerous 

 fossil plants of the Family Fucoides, near Lewistown, Mifflin 

 County, Pennsylvania." The description is elucidated by 

 several well-executed drawings and sections. These fossil 

 fucoides occur in a succession of sandstone beds, which Mr. 

 Taylor refers to the grauwacke formation.* 



The second article is, " An Essay on the Gold Region of 

 the United States, by James Dickson, F.G.S." M The gold 

 region of the United States of North America, so far as it 

 has been at present developed by mining operations, is con- 

 sidered to extend from the Rappahannock river, in the State 

 of Virginia, to the Coosa river, in the State of Alabama." But 

 Mr. Dickson adds, that indications of gold ores have been 

 met with as far south as the Gulf of Mexico, and, in a northern 

 direction, to Vermont. Mr. Dickson is also of opinion that, 

 from the vicinity to the wood, rivers, inland seas and bays, 

 and the cheapness of labour (slave labour), and considering, 

 also, the health and excellence of the climate, the gold region 

 of the United States possesses greater advantages than any of 

 the gold regions in South America, or the ancient continent. 

 It has been calculated that not less than six millions of dollars 

 in gold have been extracted from the branch gold mines of 

 the United States since the commencement of mining opera- 

 tions. 



* For an account of the fucoides, by Mr. Taylor, see M. N. H., Jan., 

 1834 [VII. 27— 32. 163.]. Professor Harlan refers their geological position 

 to compact sandstone subjacent to the coal-measures. 



