1884.J i^d [Stevenson. 



Clinch Mountain group of folds is of no little interest as having some bear- 

 ing on the relative age of the folds and faults. The anticlinal originates 

 probably at but a little way from Little Moccasin creek, and as it increases 

 steadily eastward, it thrusts the outcrops of the successive groups further 

 and further toward the south-south-east. On Wolf run, along the railroad 

 grade, the whole of the Lower Carboniferous column is exposed, the red 

 shales being well shown in the long cut at the summit. These roclis de- 

 scribe a synclinal and anticlinal which are distinct on Wolf run. On this 

 railroad line, then, the Knox beds are in contact with the very top of the 

 Lower Carboniferous. Eastward the red shales are cut off more and more 

 in the fault, so that at Saltville only a small part remains exposed, and 

 the fault passes very near the crest of the anticlinal seen on Wolf run. At 

 ten miles east from Saltville, the greater part of the limestones have been 

 swallowed up, while on L H. Buchanan's property, sixteen miles from 

 Saltville, there remain merely the clayey limestones and the shales at the 

 base of the series ; and at the line of Bland county all has disappeared 

 save the coal-bearing shales. 



So this fault, in crossing the strike of the rocks, carries down in succes- 

 sion the several divisions of the Lower Carboniferous. Its course can be 

 followed by the eye without difficulty, for the ragged hills of Knox sand- 

 stones and limestones, near whose northerly foot it passes, go directly to 

 Garden mountain, the southerly slope of the Bark's Garden anticlinal. It 

 is wholly probable that, beyond the eastern border of Smyth county, the 

 Lower.Carboniferous disappears, so as to bring the Chemung and Knox 

 into contact ; while still further east the Lower Carboniferous may reap- 

 pear as the anticlinal loses strength. 



What erosive etfects have been due to the influence of the fault cannot 

 hardly be ascertained. Unquestionably there is what is termed a valley 

 in the vicinity of the fault for much of the distance within Washington 

 and Smyth counties — but it is in the vicinity only ; such a valley can be 

 found in the vicinity of almost any other line which one may choose to 

 draw within the limestone region. Rich valley, now on one side, now on 

 the other side of the fault in Washington county, is merely a succession of 

 cross-valleys separated by irregular divides ; but in Smyth county it is 

 altogether south from the fault, except near Saltville, and is separated from 

 it by the rugged ridge of Knox beds. 



The Clinch Mountain Series of Folds. 



This series enters the State from Tennessee at ten or twelve miles west 

 from the line of Washington county, and extends thence in an E.N.E. 

 direction through Scott, Washington, Smyth and Bland counties into 

 Giles. Clinch mountain is the bold ridge at the north with a Medina cliff 

 for its crest, with Clinton for its southerly slope and with Hudson and 

 Trenton forming the northerly slope ; a Poor valley of Clinton and 

 Hamilton separates it from Brushy mountain, a clumsy mass near the State 

 line, but owing to encroachments by the Saltville fault becoming simpler 



