1881.] -"4:9 [Stevenson. 



The Eastern Division. 



The gradual disappearance eastward of the Pattonsville and Walleu Val- 

 ley faults has peruaitted the retention of much newer rocks on the eastern 

 than on the western part of Powell mountain ; so that on the former the 

 Quinnimont group and not the Medina sandstone forms the crest of the 

 ridge. 



Powell mountain has an abrupt slope on the north-westerly side, and the 

 face toward Slemp's gap is so steep that it can be climbed only with great 

 difficulty. The succession of the rocks on these bluflfs is distinct, the 

 Quinnimont group forming the rim, with the Lower Carboniferous, the 

 Devonian and the higher beds of the Silurian in order below it. No de- 

 tailed section was made here, but the Chemung, if present, must be ex- 

 tremely thin, and the probabilities are altogether in favor of the conclusion 

 that it is wholly wanting. 



The Hamilton shales are well shown on the road following the foot of 

 Powell mountain and they contain carbonaceous bands in which thin streaks 

 of coal occasionally occur. One of these was seen at barely half a mile below 

 Ward's mill. The Lower Carboniferous rocks make a well-defined band, 

 curving round the end of the ridge in Slemp's gap and continuing to im- 

 mediately beyond Powder Mill gap, terminating where the Hunter Valley 

 road leaves the line of railroad. The Mountain Limestone group is ex- 

 posed near the school-house not far from the railroad, where it contains 

 Pentremites godonii, Zaphrentis, Productus semi-reticulaius, and Ghonetes. 

 The Hamilton shale is shown between it and the calcareous sandstone of 

 the Knox group, turned up by the Hunter Valley fault or Clinch River up- 

 lift. No traces of any lower rocks were observed between the limestone 

 and the line of fault. 



The rocks of the Knox group form a sharp, though low ridge, which is 

 continuous into Russell county. The Hunter Valley road lies behind the 

 ridge and soon rises upon the Quinnimont rocks, which seem to be in con- 

 tact with the beds on the opposite side of the fault. This, probably, is 

 not the case, but the coat of debris between the last definite exposures of 

 the conglomerate and the base of the sandstone wall is so thick as to con- 

 ceal everytliing. 



Coal blossoms have been seen in all the hollows leading froiTi the northern 

 side of Hunter valley into Powell mountain. Some coal has been obtained 

 along the Laurel Fork of Stock creek, at probably two-thirds of a mile 

 from the valley, but the gorge is so close and rugged, that the coal can be 

 brought down only by packing it on men's shoulders. In a bed which has 

 been opened along the main stream at only a few yards from the road, the 

 coal is decidedly good, being preferred to all others by blacksmiths ; but 

 the bed is badly distorted and crushed. It stands at an angle of 45 degrees 

 and varies in thickness from 2 inches to 14 inches within a distance of two 

 or three feet. The sharp dip prevails to nearly half a mile from the valley, 

 where it changes suddenly and becomes not more than 5 or 6 degrees. At 



