Sringier on the Region of the Mississippi, ^c. 23 



that it projected like a tootli in its own alveolage. By- 

 breaking a piece from one corner, the enamel and the lay- 

 ers of the tooth soon became visible, so that there could be 

 no doubt as to what it was. 



I examined the block of porphyry attentively, and think 

 I could discern some osseous forms; the bones appeared to 

 be in their full size, and, Hke the grinder, converted into 

 jasper; but it was of a more dull colour, and not so hard, 

 and resembled indurated clay. The other component parts 

 were clay, feldspar, and quartz, and some other things not 

 ascertained. 



Marbles. 



I will next describe the marbles found in those hills al- 

 ready mentioned, which are situated in a portion of the 

 territory of Missouri, known by the name of Laurence 

 county. 



The kind that is most abundant is a brick coloured mar- 

 ble, with brown stripes, (resembling the Italian Roso di 

 Monte Catini.) The next is a plain flesh coloured marble, 

 (Rosso di Caldona.) A white and black marble, is the first 

 that occurs at the foot of the ridges; it is a most beautiful va- 

 riety, (JVero, y Bianco Antico.) I have found many other 

 varieties in the branches of the creeks, but have not discov- 

 ered the quarries. The kinds first mentioned, are found in 

 great plenty. The first covers more than 50 miles of sur- 

 face. The land is extremely fertile in the places where the 

 Marble lies, buried in two or three feet of loam. This is 

 particularly true on the bottoms of a great number of 

 streams which abound in this country, and are produced by 

 large springs fxowing every where. The growth is black- 

 walnut, hickory, mulberry, sassafras very large, white oak. 

 cherry, fee. Where the rocks are above the vegetable 

 earth, nothing is seen for miles, except now and then a few 

 wild gooseberry bushes. These quarries generallv exhibit 

 level surfaces of a tolerable height. 



Other Mineral Productions. 



Marls of several varieties cover a great portion of this ex- 

 tensive country. In the south, swine stone, impregnated 

 with bitumen, is very plenty; and in the north, anothpr va- 



