ECONOMIC PRODUCTS OF THE VIRGINIA COASTAL 



PLAIN 



BY 

 THOMAS LEONARD WATSOX. 



INTRODUCTION. 



There occur within the Coastal Plain region of Virginia, numerous 

 deposits of very considerable economic value. Some of these have been and 

 are still being utilized, while others have scarcely commenced to be devel- 

 oped as yet. Not in a single instance, however, is the production of those 

 products which have been utilized in any wise commensurate with the 

 possibilities. The deposits of clay, sand and gravel, diatomaceous earth, 

 calcareous (shell) and greensand marls, are very extensive and are 

 generally of good grade. The extensive deposits of calcareous (shell) marl 

 and clay, located directly on deep tidewater, offer large possibilities in the 

 location of plants for the manufacture of Portland cement. The 

 potentialities of the economic aspects of the geology of the Virginia 

 Coastal Plain cannot be discussed at length in this chapter, but they are 

 briefly summarized in the discussion that follows below. 



DISCUSSION OP INDIVIDUAL PRODUCTS. 



The more important of the economic products occurring in the A^irginia 

 Coastal Plain region are claj's, sand and gravel, diatomaceous earth, 

 greensand marl, calcareous (shell) marl, mineral paint, iron ore, building 

 stone, peat, soils, and underground waters. These are discussed below in the 

 order named. 



CLAYS. 



Clays have wide distribution over the A^irginia Coastal Plain region. 

 They are sedimentary clays, and are usually of unconsolidated character. 

 Almost every formation in the region contains deposits of clay which are 

 suitable for the manufacture of common brick, while the others are adapted 

 to the higher grades of building brick, drain tile, hollow ware, and the 

 cheaper grades of pottery. 



