62 Mr. Kain on the Geology and 
is more or less slaty in its structure. It is interspersed with 
veins of the crystallized carbonate of lime, more or less per- 
fect, and of a pure but opaque white. Another variety of this 
limestone, not so abundant, is that which is white and red, hav- 
ing the white and red spots intimately mingled. Its structure 
is similar to the other kiad. 
Lying in beds of this limestone, parallel to, and imbedded in 
its strata, is a stone, which, from its globular form, its hardness, 
and its colour, has been usually mistaken for flint. On com- 
paring it with the flint of chalkbeds, we find it much less trans- 
lucent, its colour darker, and its hues duller 3; and its rough 
and irregular fracture, compared with the easy, smooth, and 
conchoidal cleavage of the true flint, decides it to be hornstone. 
Itis found, also, forming considerable distinct beds on the hills; 
and is seen in detached pieces, and irregular pebbles, covering 
many of the ri 
Alternating with the beds of limestone, and possessing the 
same formation, is a soft clay slate. Soapstone is found in it. 
As soon as we ascend the mountains, we meet with a slaty 
sandstone, of various compactnes, as it possesses more or less 
iron, often forming an excellent iron ore. A variety of this 
iron ore has been lately turned to a good use, in the manufac- 
ture of a red paint, near Knoxville, Tennessee. Different 
varieties of this sandstone possess different qualities. It is 
converted, by the inhabitants, into millstones, grindstones, and 
whetstones. Interspersed among the sandstone of the moun- 
tains, we often find very beautiful and interesting specimens of 
hornstones, assuming a resemblance to all the siliceous stones, 
from the chalcedony to the jasper. In this extensive range of 
mountains, many other minerals exist, of which we shall treat 
more particularly hereafter. The limestone, slate, and sand- 
stone, as far as the writer’s knowledge extends, so to speak, 
form the country ; the limestone and clay slate dipping under 
the sandstone. Gypsum, coal, sulphate of barytes, &c. are 
found in these, and we shall now speak of their localities. 
. Gypsum.—This valuable mineral production exists in Wash- 
ington County, Virginia, 20 miles north of Abingdon, in the 
vicinity of Saltville. It is similar in every respect, to the 
