12 PKEFACE 



are very extensively represented, and which furnish the best criteria for the 

 recognition of the Miocene formations. The senior author of this report 

 has also been engaged in a study of the Eocene fauna, to which he has long 

 given much attention. 



These studies, together with others which have been undertaken by 

 specialists in other groups, will afford the materials for a series of systematic 

 reports on the geology and paleontology of the Coastal Plain of Virginia, 

 which will follow the present contribution as rapidly as possible. 



The third chapter deals with the Geological History of the Virginia 

 Coastal Plain. The various geological events which have transpired in 

 Virginia during the building up of the Coastal Plain series of deposits are 

 discussed, and the relationships of these events to the history of the entire 

 Coastal Plain is considered. 



The fourth chapter deals with the Correlation of the Virginia Coastal 

 Plain formations, comparisons being instituted with the known horizons 

 of adjacent states, as well as the hitherto recognized series of the Gulf, and 

 even in some instances with European deposits. 



The authors desire to express their obligations to Messrs. E. W. Berry 

 and L. W. Stephenson, who have been carrying on an exhaustive field 

 investigation of the Coastal Plain formations of the South Atlantic and 

 Gulf states under the direction of Dr. T. Wayland Vaughan. This work 

 has resulted in clearing up many disputed points, but the final results are 

 not yet available for use in the present report. 



The fifth chapter, entitled Economic Products of the Virginia Coastal 

 Plain, by the State Geologist, embraces a discussion of the more important 

 products of commercial value found in the various formations of eastern 

 Virginia. Many undeveloped resources are found in this district, and 

 attention is briefly directed to them in this connection. 



Thanks are particularly due to the U. S. Geological Survey in cooperation 

 with whom this investigation has been conducted. This report is one of a 

 series being prepared by the Federal and State Surveys on the geology and 

 water resources of the Coastal Plain under the supervision of a joint 

 committee consisting of members of the U. S. Geological Survey and the 

 State Geologists of the states involved, of which Dr. Wm. Bullock Clark, of 

 the Johns Hopkins University, is chairman. Dr. Clark has under his direct 

 charge the study of the district extending from North Carolina to New 

 England. Dr. T. Wayland Vaughan, of the U. S. Geological Survey, is 

 supervising geologist in charge of the entire work. 



Thomas L. Watson, 



Director. 



