Report on the projected Survey of the State of Maryland. 25 



The geology of the Catoctin range, in a scientific respect, will re- 

 fjuire a very special investigation. The existence of a serpentine 

 rock at its base, as observed at the foot of Mount Saint Mary's, must 

 be regarded, to say the least of it, as a very unexpected occurrence. 

 This serpentine rock, which from the peculiar nature of the country, 

 covered as it is with a heavy growth of forest trees and with loose 

 materials detached from the superincumbent rocks, could have been 

 discovered only by accident, has been exposed to view by the sink- 

 ing of a shaft, the work of some vissionary in search of the precious 

 metals. It is traversed by veins of specular oxide of iron associated 

 with quartz, and in some places by thin veins of calcareous spar. 

 Pieces picked up among the materials raised from the shaft, exhibit- 

 ed perfect specimens of verd antique. Should the pieces of granu- 

 lar limestone, which were shown as occurring in the same vicinity, 

 belong to some continuous formation of this rock, there is very little 

 doubt, that at its junction with the serpentine, a quarry of the highly 

 prized and very ornamental marble just named might be opened with 

 success. But the only mineral production of the Catoctin Moun- 

 tains, that has so far been put to any profitable use, is the iron ore, 

 which may be said to occur along the whole length of the mountain 

 range towards the foot of the eastern slope. By its mineralogical 

 character, it is referable to the variety hemaiitic brown oxide of iron. 

 On Hunting-creek, at the Catoctin furnace, where it is extensively 

 worked, it is associated w'lih phosphate of iron; yet it yields a metal 

 exceedingly well adapted to the casting of hollow ware, to which use 

 it is principally applied by the intelligent proprietor of that extensive 

 establishment. A similar ore is found, and was formerly abundantly 

 raised, in the vicinity of the Point of Rocks. 



Much anxiety has been felt and great interest excited about the 

 possible occurrence of cool, either of a bituminous character, or as 

 anthracite, in the Fredericktown valley. Search has been made af- 

 ter this substance in various places, some of which the undersigned 

 have had an opportunity of visiting ; but so far as it can at any time 

 be deemed prudent to come at positive conclusions from observations 

 which were necessarily only superficial, they must report that they 

 have not been so fortunate as to perceive the least evidence of the 

 certain existence of this very desirable mineral in any place within 

 the valley of Fredericktown. 



At the Yellow Springs, on the head waters of the Tuscarora, there 

 are appearances which would justify a more thorough examination of 



Vol. XXVII.— No. 1. 4 



