112 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 
from the influence of that stream, in its present state. These must all, I suppose, be referred to the 
same cause that rounded and transported to their present position the beds of pebbles of the 
Tertiary formation. Marks of this foree may be traced to the mountains. 
From Dutchman’s Creek our section passes along a granitic ridge, penetrated by quartz veins, 
particularly on the descent towards Sawney’s Creek, where it enters Kershaw. Near the mill it 
intersects strata of micaceous slates, which form the extremity of the gold formation, to which I 
have already referred. 
About a mile lower these slates are explored for gold; but I did not learn with what success. A 
good opportunity occurs here of observing the relation of trap dykes to the rocks they intersect. 
Beyond the creek the argillaceous rocks occur in their usual position, beneath the overlapping 
edge of the Tertiary beds. Some trap dykes are seen at this place, and on the right bank of 
the Wateree red argillaceous slates are laid bare by the removal of the superimposed beds of sand 
and clay, by the river. 
The granite of Kershaw is noted for its great beauty and remarkable crystalline structure. ‘The 
well known locality of the DeKalb granite, as it is sometimes called, occurs about fourteen or 
fifteen miles above Camden. The beauty of this rock consists in the lively color of the feldspar, 
and the form and disposition of the crystals of jet-black mica; it is coarsely porphyritic. On 
Liberty Hill a gray and hard granite occupies the surface and may be traced to Peay’s Ferry.— 
This is not unlike the porphyritic granite of Buffalo Creek, which is explored to furnish mill-stones. 
The bald heads of the masses of granite, as they are protruded through the sand, which covers 
the greater part of the District, present a curious appearance. 
Nearly all the streams that empty into the Wateree, in the Northern part of the District, flow 
over beds of granite. 
In the north-east corner of the District the talcose slates of the gold formation appear, near Little 
Lynch’s Creck, where they dip under the beds of sand that cover the greater part of the District. 
The only granite that I have observed in Chesterfield is found on Stonehouse, a branch of 'Thomp- 
son’s Creek, which rises near the District line. 
The banks and bed of this little stream present a scene wild enough. Granite rocks lie scattered 
in every direction—some piled on each other in curious forms, whose projecting masses afford shel- 
ter to cattlein inclement weather, while others are placed, like enormous capitals, on single pedes- 
tals—affording matter for speculation to those who pay but little attention to such things. 
A short distance above Cheraw clay slates may be observed on the Marlboro’ side, crossing the 
river, and dipping towards the North, showing that the anticlinal axis of the verge of the Tertiary 
is south of this point. About a mile higher, some wide trap dykes occur, and may be seen on the 
left bank, where the sand and clay beds are washed off, which hide the slates between this and 
Thompson’s Creek, near the Court House, where they are again laid bare on the hill descending 
towards the creek. The persistency of these rocks is extraordinary. While all other rocks in the 
State have suffered from decay and denudation, so as to have their continuity every where broken 
up, this holds its place, almost without interruption, from the Savannah to this point. It is only 
where the rivers have cut through them that they have disappeared. With this exception, they are 
every where seen coming out from beneath the overtopping edge of the superincumbent Tertiary. 
On the creek, and nearly at every other locality, the slates are variously colored, and abound in 
