OF THE UNITED STATES. 425 



ta waving with the inequalities of the surface, distinguishes this 

 from the two preceding formations. 



Immense beds of secondary limestone, of all the shades Iron? 

 light blue to black, intercepted in some places by extensive 

 tracts of sandstone and other secondary aggregates, appear to 

 constitute the foundation of this formation, on which reposes 

 that great and valuable formation, called by Werner the inde- 

 pendent coal formation, extending from the head waters of 

 the Ohio, with some interruptions, all the way to the waters of 

 the Tombigby, accompanied by its several usual attendants, 

 slaty clay and freestone with vegetable impressions &c. but in no 

 instance that I have seen or heard of, is it covered or does it al- 

 ternate with any rock resembling basalt, or indeed any of those 

 called the newest fleetz trap formation. 



Along the S. E. boundary, not far from the transition, a rock- 

 salt and gypsum formation has been found; on the north fork 

 of Holstein not far from Abington, and on the same line south 

 west from that in Green county and Pidgeon river, State of 

 Tennessee, it is said considerable quantities of gypsum have been 

 discovered; from which, and the numerous salt licks and salt 

 springs which are found in the same range, as far north as lake 

 Oneida, it is probable, that this formation is on the same great 

 scale, which is common to all the other formations on this con- 

 tinent: at least rational analogy supports the supposition, and 

 we may hope one day to find, in abundance, those two most 

 useful substances, which are generally found mixed or near 

 each other in all countries that have been carefully examined. 



The metallic substances which have been already found in 

 this formation, are iron pyrites, disseminated, both in the coal 

 and limestone; iron ores, consisting principally of brown, spariy 

 and clay iron stone, in beds; galena, whether in veins or beds is 

 not ascertained. The large deposits of galena at St. Louis on the 

 Mississippi, have been described as detached pieces, found co- 

 vered by the alluvial of the river, of course not in place; all 

 the large specimens which I have seen, were rolled masses, 

 this rather confirms the opinion, that they were not found in 

 their original places. 



