192 Geological Reports. 



V. Report on the Geological Reconnaissance cf the State of Vir- 

 ginia; by Prof. Wm. B. Rogers, of the University of Virginia. 

 pp. 143; wtth illustrative sections. 



This able document, preliminary to a more detailed report, is re- 

 plete with valuable information, and affords the best assurance of the 

 successful completion of this arduous labor. 



Virginia is -a fine field for geological observations, as it possesses 

 most of the regular formations that have been found in this country, 

 from the primary to the most recent alluvial. Its tertiary contains 

 inexhaustible resources for agriculture, furnishing the calcareous in- 

 gredient of immense deposits of marine shells — while it affords to 

 science many points of interesting comparison with similar deposits 

 in the old world. Its coal fields are rich in the combustible material, 

 and its gold is diffused through a wide region. 



It has lead, copper, and iron — sandstone, soapstone, and slates, 

 and mineral waters of great variety, strongly charged with mineral 

 ingredients, and some of them remarkable for an elevated tempera- 

 ture, and for a copious perennial flow. Its great elevated valley of 

 the Shenandoah abounds with ancient fossils, with grand and pictur- 

 esque scenery, and with modern calcareous deposits in vast caverns. 

 Its natural bridge is one of the wonders of the world. But all ap- 

 propriate topics will be illustrated in the detailed report — especially 

 " the minute geology, practical and scientific, of all parts of the state. 



There will be a geological map, with accompanying sections and 

 profiles, and a cabinet of specimens illustrating the report. 



VI. First Annual Report of Prof. Henry D. Rogers, of the 

 University of Penn., State Geologist. Dec 12, 1836. pp. 22. 



This Report gives a preliminary reconnaissance of the state, and 

 assigns the groups of formations and their boundaries. The section 

 lying southeast of the Cumberland Valley is denominated the south- 

 east region. The middle area, stretching northeast and southwest, 

 comprising nearly the whole mountainous zone of the state, embraced 

 between the southeast region and the principal ridge of the Allegheny 

 mountains is called by Prof. R. the Appalachian region, while the 

 mountains west are denominated the Allegheny chain. The observa- 

 tions of the late season have been made principally between the Ma- 

 ryland line and the Susquehanna in one direction, and the Cumberland 

 valley and the ridge of the Allegheny mountains in the other, with oc- 

 casional excursions to the west of the Allegheny on the one hand, and 



