690 



FARMERS' REGISTER— MINERAL RESOURCES OF VIRGINIA. 



tant field of geological and chemical inquiry, and 

 one in which the agriculture of lower Virginia 

 could not fail to be deep!}- interested. 



Associated with this deposite, and generally 

 forming the superior stratum, is an extensive for- 

 mation of selenite or gypsum. Vi'^hcther this be 

 an invariable attendant of the green sand, is of 

 course undetermined, since of that deposite so lit- 

 tle is yet known — but so i'av as observation hasj'et 

 extended, it would seem to be a general associate 

 of the green sand, specimens trom the Potoaiac, 

 Rappahannock, Panu.uikej', and James Rivers, 

 agreeing in containing some portions of gyp- 

 sum. 



In this region too, a variety of clays suitable to 

 different species of potter}', are known to exist, an 

 examination of which would doubtless lead to the 

 introduction or extension of an important branch 

 of industry. Jllwn earth and copperas earth, of 

 which immense quantities are fouiid in Maryland, 

 and applied to the manufacture of alum and green 

 vitriol, exist also in this part of our state, and pro- 

 bably in great abundance. Bog iron ore, one of 

 the most valuable of all the ores of that metal, 

 would also be met with extensively. Boi'dering 

 on this region, at its upper limit, a variety of valu- 

 able products might be expected. In the south 

 especially, the secondary rocks immediately adja- 

 cent to the granite ledge, woukl be deserving of 

 particular attention. In this vicinity might be an- 

 ticipated a third deposhe of fertilizing marl, iden- 

 tical in position with the gunpowder marl of New 

 Jersey. A stratum of magnesia earth has, with- 

 in a lew years, been discovered at one point along 

 this line — and it is not improbable that its value, 

 either in agricultiu-e or in the manufacture of ep- 

 som salts, may lead hereafter to its profitable em- 

 ployment. Chemical examination would deter- 

 mine the value of these various matters, and new 

 incentives might thus be given to the manufactur- 

 ing enterprise of this portion of the state. The 

 several varieties of water furnished by springs and 

 wells would also form a subject interesting to 

 health, and in other respects practically use- 

 ful. 



4. The space extending from the granite ledge 

 to the Blue Ridge, embracing all the varieties of 

 primary rock, containing the yet imperlcctly traced 

 gold region, the bituminous coal fields, and a vast 

 varietj^ of other mineral wealth, is next to be con- 

 sidered. Here, to trace out the gold region en- 

 tirely through the state, would be an important 

 and useful work. From what is already known 

 of this deposite, there is every reason to auo;nr its 

 great extent and value. Indications of this'metal 

 have been found even in Goochland, and at other 

 points far removed fi-om the supposed line of the 

 formation. A sj^stematic inquiry on the subject 

 would evidently result in much practical advan- 

 tage, not only by opening up new discoveries, but 

 by preventing those ruinous expenditures which 

 are occasionally incurred for want of the proper 

 guides to inquiry and research. The coal fields of 

 Goochland, Cliesterfield and Powhatan, from 

 which eastern Virginia has already reaped so 

 many benefits, would present a most intcrestins: 

 subject of geological examination. To ascertain 

 the dips and convolutions of the various strata 

 overiying and subjacent to the coal, and to inves- 

 tigate more attentively than has yet been done, 

 the hne of out crop connected with the coal, mio-ht 



lead to discoveries of no small importance to the 

 prosperity of the state. That the real extent of 

 those coal beds is not yet accurately known, is 

 evident from the discovery of indications of this 

 mineral in situation;? at some distance from any of 

 the workings; for instance, on the line of the con- 

 templated Richmond and Fredericksburg Rail 

 Road. 



In Prince Edward too, bituminous coal is found, 

 and there is reason to believe that the scam fi-oni 

 which the specimens have been derived, forms 

 part of a very extensive basin of this mineral. 

 Nor is it imj}robable that between the Richmond 

 and Prince Edward deposites, and in the same 

 geological range tov/ards the north, this valuable 

 mineral might be brought to light. Among the 

 granite and feldspar of the region we are now 

 considering, valuable deposites of proceiain clay 

 are already indicated. A stratum of this sub- 

 stance is known to exist in the vicinity of Char- 

 lottesville, and specimens have recently been ob- 

 tained from a bed in Goochland, which in appear- 

 ance, give promise of considerable value. That 

 this earth Avill be found in many places through- 

 out the region referred to, there can be no doubt. 

 The rock fiiildspar, from which it is produced by 

 the slow action of the elements, is an important 

 constituent of our granite, and exists in some 

 places in a separate mass. It is with this rock 

 that the earth is mingled in certain proportions in 

 the fabrication of porcelain; and the very beauti- 

 ful material of this nature, now so successfully 

 manufactured in Philadelphia, is formed of the 

 clay and feldspar procured in the vicinity of that 

 city and Wilmington, localities in the same geo- 

 logical range with the region in our state to which 

 we now refijr. 



In this region too, will be found valuable beds 

 of iron ore of various kinds, some of which are 

 already known and wrought. Serpentine and 

 magnesian rocks also occur, in connexion with 

 which the valuable ore from which chrome 5-ellow 

 is manufactured, may be expected to exist. In the 

 vicinity of the South-west and Buffalo Mountains, 

 on both sides, a variety of important minerals are 

 embedded. The shale of this ridge in Amherst 

 and other places, yields, by the action of the at- 

 mosphere, great quantities of green vitriol, which 

 impregnating the water as it filters through the 

 rock, gives rise to some of the most poweriial 

 chalybeate springs in the United States. To the 

 east of this ridge a belt of blue hmestone appears, 

 which would seem to be a continuation of the' 

 Potomac marble. From the continuity of this 

 narrow vein through Maryland, high up into 

 Pennsylvania, it would appear to constitute a very 

 important feature in the geology of this district. 

 It crosses the Potomac, and rises in one or two 

 places before it appears very distinctly at Ever- 

 ettsville, and then shows itself very abundantly in 

 Amherst, where it is associated with marble of 

 superior quality. On the eastern side of this belt, 

 is a large vein of flint, which experience shows to 

 be equal to the common gun flint. Copper occurs 

 very abundantly on the west side of the Buflalo 

 ridge, and would probably be found interruDtedlj;' 

 in the same range throughout the state. In the 

 continuation of tliis line, it is found abimdanily in 

 Maryland, associated with iron and manganese. 

 These metals woidd aj)pear to be associated with 

 it in Amherst. The vein of copper in this rou.nty 



