230 Geology of the Country between 



marble, it would be difficult to say* Their igneous origin seems to 

 be universally admitted and at a time when it is so fashionable to re- 

 fer all troublesome facts in geology to that mighty cause, I may be 

 excused for conceiving the possibility of a blue limerock, becoming 

 a white one, when exposed to its energetic agency. 



By reference to the section, it will be seen that the strata, which 

 along the eastern part are represented as having a southeasterly dip, 

 at Cumberland and for some distance this side, have a reversed dip. 

 It would be solving an interesting question, to determine the precise 

 line where this change of dip occurs. Any one, however, who ex- 

 pects to find a well defined anticlinal line, continuous for any consid- 

 erable distance, must necessarily be disappointed. There is no such 

 line to be found. There is a district between Hancock and Cum- 

 berland, where the strata are found more confusedly disposed, and 

 where sudden changes in the dip of the rocks are frequent. East 

 of this district, the dip is very regularly S. of E. West of it, the dip 

 is equally uniform towards an opposite point, N. of W. Beneath 

 this space then, we are authorised in concluding, the eruptive power 

 that was instrumental in upheaving the Appalachian chain, was most 

 energetically exerted ; this may be considered as the true anticlinal 

 region. I regret that no opportunity was afforded me of exploring 

 this region in the direction of its length. Subsequently, however, I 

 had an opportunity of crossing it at another point, a short distance 

 north of the Cumberland road. I copy from notes taken at the time. 

 " About ten miles east of Bedford, and between that point and the 

 Crossings, we may see slates and sandstones alternating and present- 

 ing an extremely interesting, although somewhat confused appearance. 

 Within the compass of a few miles, there occur strata of various col- 

 ors, although mostly red and chocolate color, of every variety of tex- 

 ture, and reposing in every possible degree of inclination, from verti- 

 cal to horizontal, and often exhibiting complete semicircular curves. 

 The appearances indicate that here was one point, where the eruptive 

 power from beneath was principally exerted. 5 ' By referring to a 

 map, it will be evident how well these two observations coincide in 

 pointing to the same tract of country, and I have no doubt, if fur- 

 ther investigation were made along this line, north and south of the 

 points already visited, that similar appearances would be found. It 

 remains for future observers to ascertain also the direction of this an- 

 ticlinal region; it probably follows more or less faithfully, the general 

 curve of the mountain chains as represented on the maps. There 



are some indications, however, that render it probable that its course 



