12 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF ALABA3IA. 



The topographical features of this valley differ slightly,, 

 though not essentially, from those of Jones' Valley. The 

 longitudinal ridges are more distinctly marked, and more 

 persistent. The Red Mountain occupies a more central posi- 

 tion, being near the middle of the valley, and the Carbonif- 

 erous or Mountain Limestone is much more extensively ex- 

 posed on the north-west side. The structure of the fold is 

 different, but the formations exposed are precisely the same. 



The prominent Igngitudinal ridges divide this valley into 

 several sub-valleys. These are called by different names 

 respectively, and present different features. No two of them 

 can be distinctly seen at once from any standpoint. It is 

 therefore necessary to examine them all consecutively to get 

 a clear knowledge of Murphree's Valley. 



Rand Valley. The first of these sub valleys on the north- 

 west side is called Sand Valley. It has the coal measures 

 of the Warrior Coal Field for its north-western margin. Be- 

 low the coal measures, at the base of Sand Mountain, as it 

 is called, the carboniferous or mountain limestone is largely 

 exposed. But the most prominent rock in it is the Oxmoor 

 or Lagrange Sandstone, the disintegration of which has given 

 it a sandy soil, and large accumulations of sand; hence the 

 name, "Sand Valley." The Red Mountain, with its base 

 covered with sub-carboniferous cherts, makes its south-east 

 margin-. 



This valley is often narrow, but where it is traversed, or 

 crossed by a stream, it contains good bodies of land. Towards 

 the upper and lower ends of this valley it has its most con- 

 tinuous wide belts of arable soil, and many good farms. 



The, Central Valley. The Red Mountain, the most promi- 

 nent and persistent ridge of this valley, separates the Sand! 

 Valley from the central or middle sub-valley. It is locally 

 known as "Red Mountain Valley." It is of varying width,, 

 but is generally the broadest and most important of the sub- 

 valleys. On* the side next to Red Mountain it has a rich, 

 dark red soil mainly derived from the iron ore and limestone 



