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Mineralogy and Geology. 145 



Dr. Falconer has remarked a relation to tlie insectivorous Ericulus of 

 Madagascar, and from the general bearing of the evidence, it is thought 

 that it was not marsupial. "Specimens are arriving -Ireekly from Mr. 

 Beetles, and we may expect a great addition to the number of individuals 

 as well as an increase in the number of species. To gain access to these 

 treasures he has already at liis own cost removed nearly 3000 tons weight 

 of stone overlying the dirt bed." 



The facts thus far ascertained, prove the existence of about fourteen 

 species of mammalia in the Middle Purbect. They belong to eight or 

 nine genera. All have been obtained from an area less than 500 square 

 yards in extent, and from a single stratum but a few inches thick. 



2. Report on the Geological Survey of South Carolina: being the 

 First Annual Report to the General Assembly of South Carolina, embrac- 

 ing the Progress of the Survey during the year 1856, with plates and 

 maps; by Oscar M. Lieber, Mineralogical, Geological and Agricultnral 

 Surveyor of South Carolina, etc. 136 pp., 8vo. Columbia, S. C. — This 

 First Annual Geological Report by Mr. Lieber treats especially of the 

 Chesterfield, Lancaster, Chester and York Districts. The region is to 

 a great extent characterized by crystalline or metamorphic rocks, among 

 which the gold veins or mines occur. The author has a field of great in- 

 terest and has taken hold of it with energy and success. There is no de- 

 partment in American geolog}^ requiring more study than the metamor- 

 phic rocks of the Atlantic States, and especially those of the South. The 

 descriptions and handsome maps of Mr. Lieber^s report throw much light 

 on the subject, and when the survey is completed — which we trust it will 

 be without interruption — the doubts as to the age of the metamorphic 

 rocks and the period of metamorphism, must certainly be much lessened 

 if not wholly removed. The structure of the gold veins, and their true 

 relations to the containing rocks, their resources, and the value and nature 

 of copper and other mines in the states, are additional topics of great 



importance, which Mr. Lieber has begun to elucidate. 



The Itacolumite rock, a peculiar arenaceous rock occurring in the gold 

 region of Brazil and the Urals as well as Carolina, is described with 

 much interesting detail ; and since the publication of his Report, Mr. 

 Lieber has added (as we learn by letter) the important discovery of the 

 passage of the itacolumite into a true sandstone or even a conglomerate, 

 proving its original sedimentary origin. 



Associated with itacolumite occurs a slaty rock made up largely of 

 specular iron. We cite the following observations on this "specular 

 schist," the siderocriste, or eisenglimmerschiefer of European authors. 



"This rock, which is so exceedingly rare — for the only localities hith- 

 erto described or mentioned are in Brazil, Marmoras and Provence 

 appears in beds intercalated between the talcose slates. As true specular 

 schist, the Bird bank or specular ore bank can alone be named. This 13 

 seen at various points between the western declivity of King's mountain 

 and the southern lime outcrop, extending thence southwestward to the 

 two ranges of hills, which bound the Dolittle (or Dearlittle) Creek — the 

 Dolittle and Silver mountains. On the former of these, the outcrop is 

 wider than at any other point obser^^ed ; for they have already quanied 



SECOM) SERIES, VOL, XXIV, NO. 70.-JULY, 1857. 



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