OF SOUTH CAROLINA. 77 
thickness of the beds towards the North varies from ten,to one hundred yards—so far, at least, as 
they are exposed; but where the country, for the greater part, is covered with a dense forest, it is 
evidently impossible to ascertain the extent of these beds. 
In the mica slates of Pickens at least two distinct strata of limestone are found. 
On the Georgia side of the Tugaloo, on Panther Creek, about three miles above its mouth, a fine 
exposure occurs, where the rock is seen rising boldly and outeropping on the hill side. Strike N. 
15° E. dip 'S. E. 45°. About forty feet of this bed is pure enough for any purpose—the rest is 
mixed with the associated rock. Following the direction of this rock along the old Indian line, in 
Pickens, we find it again on Brass Town Creek, nine miles from its mouth, near the head of a long, 
narrow valley. Thickness of the bed, twenty feet—strike N. 30° E. dip 45°. Limestone is found 
again South of this, on Chauga Creek. A kiln was erected here, many years since, and the lime- 
stone was taken from the side of the creek, in a narrow valley; but the debris from the hill sides 
have fallen down and covered every thing in such a manner that I could barely satisfy myself of 
the existence of limestone at this place. 
That many more promising localities than those already known in this interesting portion of the 
State will be brought to light, when the country is settled and the land cleared, no one can doubt. 
Quartz Rock. 
The rock designated by this name is readily distinguished from common or massive quartz, so 
abundantly scattered over the State, generally by its granular structure, and always by the distinct 
planes of stratification which it presents when seen in large masses. It seems to be the result of 
the gradual disappearance of the matter forming the micaceous or talcose portion of the rock in 
which it occurs, and the introduction of a proportionably large amount of siliceous or arenaceous 
matter, during its deposition; for it is seen gradually passing into mica slate, and 1t often contains 
a considerable amount of tale. It is rarely found so completely silicious as not to exhibit scales of 
both tale and mica, particularly on the surface of its bedding planes. From a solid, compact rock, re- 
sembling massive quartz, it passes into an arenaceous variety, so little coherent as to crumble between 
the fingers. At one locality the weathered surface of the rock presents the appearance of a conglo- 
merate, composed of small spheroids, having their longer diameter in the direction of the strike of the 
rock, but the hammer soon reveals the true structure, and shows that this appearance is confined to 
the surface, and that it is probably the first step towards crystallization.’ Before the consolidation 
of the rock, the silicious matter, obeying the tendency to collect around centres, formed these 
spheroidal masses; the iron also contained in the mass, obeying the same laws, collected between 
the spheroids; but it does not become evident until it is highly oxidised by exposure at the surface, 
when it is washed out, leaving the small spheroids in relief, on the surface of the rock: yet not a 
vestige of this structure can be seen in a fresh fracture. Another remarkable structure presented 
by this rock may be seen on the Union road, near Limestone Springs, where the surface of the 
stratum is quite smooth, and grooved in the direction of the dip, suggesting the idea of a confused, 
columnar structure. 
The finest example of this rock that I have observed is found on the peak of King’s Mountain, 
forming the great escarpment at its eastern extremity, in North Carolina. 
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