126 THE MOUNTAIN. 



mass would exhibit diversity in mineral characters. The 

 next formation above, (No. 9,) is a slate and sand group of 

 large extent with few soluble elements. In some portions 

 of the State it contains iron in different forms, "and here of 

 course mineral waters might be looked for. The formation 

 succeeding this (No. 10 of the series) being constituted 

 principally of coarse heavy silicious masses, almost insoluble, 

 gives consequently common unmineralized springs. The 

 next is the shale formation, (No. 11,) with lime layers, and 

 succeeding this is the Conglomerate and Coal Series, consti- 

 tuting the summit of the whole group. It is made up, as 

 we have seen in the chapter on geology, of sandstone layers, 

 slate and shale strata, limestone layers, and coal-seams. 

 From this extensive range of mineral elements it would 

 naturally be inferred that we would be presented with a cor- 

 responding number of mineral waters. This we accordingly 

 discover to be the fact. In the lower part of the carbonifer- 

 ous group we find true saliferous or salt-bearing strata. 

 In certain portions of the State these are perforated by bor- 

 ing from a few hundred to many hundred feet in depth, and 

 from these borings, or wells, as they are called, large quanti- 

 ties of the finest common salt are manufactured. They are 

 situated in the bituminous coal series upon the tributaries of 

 the Alleghany and Monongahela rivers. Of these the Cone- 

 maugh and Kiskiminetas and Sewickly are the most exten- 

 sively worked. The water of these salt-wells also contains 

 iodine and bromine, which have been made from them in 

 small quantities, also salts of magnesia and lime in appreci- 

 able quantities ; they are classified, however, among the pure 

 brine or salt waters. The shales, limestones, and coal- 

 seams give rise to other classes of waters containing mineral 

 elements. We consequently find in this region, as has been 

 remarked in the general observations on the hydrology of the 

 mountain, representatives of most of the classes of medi- 

 cated waters, the acidulous and carbonated occurring where 

 the alkaline bases prevail, and the saline in the region where 

 the rocks containing salt can be penetrated. It is, however, 



