Schoolcraft on the Copper of Lake Superior. 43 



It is probable that upon an accurate investigation the coun- 

 try between the Alleghanies and the Atlantic will be found 

 to consist of eight or ten distinct formations, agreeing pre- 

 cisely in their general character with the newer strata in 

 England and France. The fossil shells from the various 

 beds would not, perhaps, all be exactly like those of Eu- 

 rope, but a sufficient number would be found so, to estab- 

 lish their relation and order of succession. The fossil shells 

 from many of these various strata, preserve their angles 

 and sharp tender edges unbroken ; the skeletons of fishes 

 and animals which are found, are many of them entire : 

 they must have been deposited at the bottom of a tranquil 

 ocean. 



It may be said that a knowledge of these strata is of no 

 use, but not only is it desirable to pursue science to its far- 

 thest bounds, but it will be found that a knowledge of these 

 formations will be useful to the manufacturers of America, 

 for in these strata are found materials necessary for the pot- 

 ter, glass-maker, builder, &;c. They are the repositories 

 for clay, sand, pyrites, ochre, fuller's earth, &,c. ; and when 

 the boundaries of the various formations are accurately de- 

 termined, it will be known where we can expect Iq find 

 these different substances. 



Geology will achieve a triumph in America, when the 

 term alluvial shall be banished from her Geological Essays, 

 or confined to its legitimate domain, and then her tertiary 

 formations will be seen to coincide with those of Europe, 

 and the formations of London, Paris and the Isle of Wight, 

 will find kindred associations in Virginia, the Carolinas, 

 Georgia, the Floridas, and Louisiana. 



Art. III. — Notice of a recently discovered copper mine on 

 Lake Superior, with several other localities of minerals ; 

 by H. R. Schoolcraft. 



Sault Ste. Marie^ July '29th, 1823. 



Dear Sir. — I transmit to you, through the Secretary of 

 War whose permission 1 solicit to have it published in the 

 American Journal of Science, a copy of a letter which I 

 have addressed to him, announcing the discovery of a vein 



