14 Gold Region of North Carolina. 
As this formation stretches quite across the state, in a north 
unheard of variety of rocks, might here add largely to their 
mineral riches, especially a long series of substances varying 
between compact feldspar and simple quartz or hornstone, 
colored green by chlorite and epidote ; differing too widely 
from each other to be easily and naturally comprehended 
under one species, and presenting varieties enough to de- 
mand a nomenclature for themselves. The name of green- 
stone is more appropriate to them than any other, but they 
are quite a different affair from the rock generally designated 
by that title in the geological books. It is of fragments of 
this rock, connected by finer. particles of the same, that many 
of the conglomerates mentioned above are composed, espe- 
cially those at three of the principal gold mines, Chisholm’s, 
Parker’s and Read’s. In Mecklenburg and Anson counties, 
we have very little besides simple clay slate, but as we ad- 
vance northward, these compounds become more abundant. 
‘The claim of this formation to a place amongst the transi- 
tion rocks, is founded on such characters as the following. 
1. It is not known to include, as one of its component 
members, any of those rocks which are universally acknowl- 
edged to belong to the primitive class, such as mica slate, 
gneiss, granite, &c. 
2. Mue the clay slate included in it: has a dull, earthy 
appearance when broken, and differs widely therefore from 
that shining argillite which is usually referred to the primitive 
rocks. It resembles very much such of the clay slate of the . 
western country, (‘Tennessee,) as I have had an opportunity — 
of examining, and this last is universally allowed to be tran- 
sition. Any one who will at the map will see that it 
must be to a prolongation of this formation, that Maclure has 
given the name of “ transition clay slate,” at Camden, South 
Carolina. . 
3. Starting from the University of North Carolina, and 
travelling a little south of west, 1 can point out conglome- 
