130 Coal Mines of Virginia. 
properly call it ironstone. Iron pyrites are very abundant: is 
the slate, and the heaps of rubbish are white with the sulphate 
of alumine; yellow ochre is found among the rubbish, but I 
could not ascertain its relative position with any precision. 
The side of the hill at the pits is covered with quartz pebbles ; 
some of which are as transparent and beautiful as I ever saw. 
The country, for several miles around the pits, (i. e. as far as 
I have seen,) appears to be entirely destitute of rocks or peb- 
bles, and is covered with a light sandy soil. Iam unable to 
inform you of the number of hands employed at, or of the quan- 
tity of coal annually furnished from, these pits, as a part of my 
notes has, by an accident, been rendered illegible. 
Thus, sir, I have endeavoured to comply with my promise 
of giving you an account of the coal pits.* In doing this, 
have only attempted to state facts as they existed ; although I 
have no doubt that my imperfect acquaintance with geology 
has occasioned many omissions which might have been inter- 
esting. To the same cause must be attributed the use of Jan- 
guage not always strictly scientific, and a method. less exact 
than might have been desired. With all its imperfections, 
_ however, if you can, from the mass of facts, cull any one which 
may be useful or interesting, I shall be fully compensated, by 
the pleasure of having furnished it, for any trouble I may have 
been at in doing so. And, if at any time I should be able t 
furnish you with any information relative to the mineralogy 
geology of this part of the country, I hope you will let me 
know it, 
* In using the word “ pit,’ instead of “ mine,” [ have accommodated 
thy language to the custom of the country. 
