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



through limestone : but, although it is reported, to have been pursu- 

 ed for a short distance with very fair promises, it was not continu- 

 ed. The shaft having been filled up previous to the arrival of the 

 undersigned upon this locality, they are not able to form any opin- 

 ion as to the importance of the vein from actual observation ; but 

 they may venture to state, that it is very desirable it should undergo 

 a careful examination. Manganese, as already stated, occurs near 

 New Market. 



In addition to these metallic ores, the same region might be made 

 to furnish marble of great variety and beauty. Already, at New 

 Market, a fine grained dove colored marble, capable of receiving a 

 good polish, has been quarried ; a red and white marble occurs near 

 Liberty ; and a similar variety was formerly quarried to some extent 

 on Sam's creek. 



Upon the whole then, the undersigned have no hesitation in ex- 

 pressing their opinion that in the event of a geological examination of 

 Maryland, the district of country which they have just briefly descri- 

 bed, would be found not to yield in interest and in importance to any 

 other part of the stale. 



Fredericktown valley, so beautiful in its position, and so rich in 

 agricultural resources, is thus bounded, on its eastern limits, by a coun- 

 try full of interest in a mineralogical and geological respect. Its 

 western limits will be found to include a full share of the same kind 

 of interest. 



Commencing at the extreme northern end of the Catoctin range 

 of mountains, there is observed in the first place, a recurrence of 

 those mineral aggregates more commonly described as belonging to 

 the primary groupe of rocks. They consist of epidote, chlorite, 

 amygdaloids, serpentine, and granular limestone. The summit of the 

 ridge is, in a great portion of its extent, crowned with a sandstone, 

 characterized as very compact, exhibiting occasional small cavities 

 lined with drusy crystals of quartz, and crossed by siliceous veins, 

 which indicate the age of the formation, as among the oldest in the 

 transition groupe at least. It is found, not unfrequently, to form the 

 gangue in which are imbedded various metallic substances, such as 

 native copper, pyritous copper, specular oxide of iron, &/-C. This 

 sandstone is exceedingly well adapted for use as a building material: 

 it might also be employed for mill stones ; and ere long will doubtless 

 render a full amount of service in these ways. 



