406 REPORT OF NATIONAL MiTSEUM, J904.. 



comprised: (1) Aii introduction of 59 pages, given Up, as was so often 

 the case with these eariy reports, to general geological considerations 

 and as applicable to any other region as that at hand, and (2) the 

 report proper, comprising seven chapters (234 pp.) and an appendix 

 of 56 pages, containing a catalogue of the fanna of the State. It also 

 contained a geological map of the State, the first to be issued. 



The introductory chapters are interesting only as reflecting the con- 

 dition of geologic knowledge at the time. Tuomey estimated that our 

 actual knowledge of the earth's crust extends to a depth of 15 miles, 

 measured from the tops of the highest mountains. He adopted the 

 Kant-Laplacean theory of the origin of the earth, and recognized 

 slaty cleavage as distinct from joints and stratification, regarding it as 

 resulting " from the tendency of the simple component substances of 

 the rock to arrange themselves in crystalline forms at a time when 

 the semifluidity of the mass permitted a certain degree of motion 

 among its particles. ,, The crystalline structure of the gneisses and 

 other metamorphic rocks he regarded as resulting from a degree of 

 subterranean heat which, although intense, did not destroy the lines 

 of st ratification or bedding which they received at the time of their 

 deposition. In his table showing the order of superposition of 

 fossiliferous rocks, he divided them into: (1) The Recent or post- 

 Pliocene period; (2) the Tertiary; (3) the Newer Secondary or Creta- 

 ceous; (4) the Middle Secondary, including the Wealden and Lower 

 Lias with the intermediate beds; (5) the Older Secondary, including 

 the Triassic; (6) the Newer Paleozoic, extending from the Magnesian 

 Limestone or Permian down to and- including the Lower Carbonifer- 

 ous shales; (7) the Middle Paleozoic, including the Devonian; and (8) 

 the New York S}'stem of Upper and Lower Silurian, including the 

 Chemung and Champlain Division and intermediate formations. 



In the part of the report relating to the geology of the State proper 

 were chapters on the character of the surface rocks, beginning with a 

 discussion of the granites and traps. Attention was called to their 

 extensive decomposition, and the production of bowlders through 

 decomposition along joint plains is described and figured. The occur- 

 rence of the flexible sandstone, or itacolumite, was noted, and it was 

 rightly remarked that "the flexible portions of the rock seem to be in 

 the incipient stages of disintegration." The gold and iron mines 

 received a considerable share of attention, and a map was given show- 

 ing in color the deposits of magnetic, specular, and limonite ores, and 

 limestone of the York and Spartanburg districts. 



In the line of purely physical local geology, perhaps the most 

 interesting part of the report lies in his discussion of the possible sub- 

 sidence of the coast going on at the present time. He showed, to his 

 own satisfaction at least, that the presence of stumps of trees below 

 and partly below the present sea level was due to the gradual under- 



