60 Mr. Kain on the Geology and 



Art. X. Remarks on the Mineralogy and Geology of the 

 the Northwestern part of the State of Virginia, and the 

 Eastern part of the State of Tennessee. By Mr. John H. 

 Kain, of Tennessee. 



X HE most prominent as well as the most beautiful feature 

 of this country, is that succession of mountain and valley, ridge 

 and vale, which we meet with in traversing its surface. The 

 grand range of Alleghany mountains enters Virginia about the 

 39th degree of north latitude ; and, pursuing a southwestern 

 course, spreads out upon the east end of Tennessee, and ter- 

 minates near the southern boundary line of that state, in the 

 Alabama territory ; and about the 34th parallel of north lati- 

 tude. In this view are included the Blue Mountains, the 

 North Mountains, the Alleghany, (properly so called) the 

 Cumberland, Clinch, Iron, and Smoky mountains, together with 

 a variety of smaller mountains, spurs, and ridges, all running 

 parallel to each other, from the northeast to the southwest ; 

 and all, I believe 1 may say, covered with forests, and present- 

 ing to the eye of the naturalist a most interesting field for 

 speculation and improvement. 



With a few exceptions, the geologist meets with none of 

 those remarkable appearances which indicate the changes and 

 convulsions which have been wrought by time, the great 

 enemy of nature. Occasionally we are presented with a view 

 of a sublime precipice, formed by a section which a river 

 appears to have made for itself through an opposing mountain ; 

 and the large masses of ruins, which lie scattered around such 

 a place, seem, to the imagination of the solitary traveller, the 

 historical records of commotions, awful even in retrospect. 

 Most commonly, however, the mountains seem to have lain for 

 ages in undisturbed repose ; and the streams of water, when 

 they have crossed them, have sought an easy passage through 

 the ravines, which do not so often divide a mountain, or ridge, 

 at right angles, as wind between the ends of two opposing 

 spurs, which pass each other, gradually declining into the 



