1897.1 ASHLEY — GEOLOGY OF ARKANSAS. 311 



Considering the great extent of country to the south and east 

 without building stone of any kind, it was hoped that stone of value 

 would be found in this, the nearest of the rock-covered mountain 

 country. At present rock is used here only for lining chimneys, 

 the ferruginous sandstone and slabs of laminated sandstone being 

 used for the purpose. 



Millstone Grit. — Grits have been noted and described in preced- 

 ing chapters. Rock of this kind is fairly abundant, but it is only 

 here and there that it is firm enough to be used as millstones. Quite 

 a number of these have been cut from it, several having come from 

 the outcrop on top of the Chalybeate mountain just west of the 

 Caddo river in 6 S., 20 W., section 14. 



It is claimed by some that the meal ground with these stones is 

 always gritty, and whether for that or some other reason, there are, 

 as far as could be learned, none of the millstones running at present. 



Grindstones. — A few attempts have been made to cut grindstones 

 from the sandstone. None of these were seen, however, nor could 

 it be learned just what kind of sandstone was used. Some stones 

 were obtained from the part of the Chalybeate mountain east of the 

 Caddo, whence that portion of the mountain took the name of 

 Grindstone ridge. Similarly Grindstone creek, a tributary of An- 

 toine creek in 8 S., 23 W., section 15, took its name from the occur- 

 rence there of a gritty sandstone from which grindstones have been 

 made. 



Slates. — The only places where slates give promise of any value 

 is along the Rolling Fork in 6 S., 32 W. ; and west of there near the 

 State line, Owen reports good slate. ^ But it is doubtful if these 

 have sufficient value to pay for working. 



XI. Agriculture, etc. 

 Soils. 



The soils of the region are of three kinds : 



1. The red and brown soils of the overwash gravels. 



2. The residuary soils formed by the decomposition of rocks in 

 place. 



3. The alluvial or river bottoms soils. These will be taken up in 

 this order. 



The Overwash Soils, — The overwash soils consist of gravel and 



1 Owen, Second Geol. Surv. of Ark., p. 112. 



