172 GEOLOGICAL REPORT. 1286 



DR. l.M. QUIN'SMARL; RANKIN (.' HNTY. 



Insoluble Matter (sand and fine silica) 13.074 



Potash 0.265 



Soda 0.031 



Lime 46.222 



Magnesia 0.614 



Brown Oxide of Manganese 0.067 



Peroxide of Iron, and Alumina 2 722 



Phosphoric Acid trace 



Sulphuric Acid 0.058 



( Jarbonic Acid 34.754 



Water 2.050 



99.857 



A determination of the ingredients insoluble in very dilute muriatic acid, 

 contained in the yellowish-white, soft marl intervening, between two limestone 

 ledges in the "rock cut" of the old P. R. track at Yost's Lime-kiln, gave only 

 6 per cent, of insoluble matter, 2 of which were sharp black sand, the rest a 

 ferruginous, clayey material. The remaining (14 per cent, may be considered 

 nearly pure carbonate of lime, corresponding to 52.75 per cent, of pure lime. — 

 The marl used by Mr. A. P. Miller, is of this character. 



The^e marls are therefore to be considered essentially as stimulants, whose 

 continue! application, unaided by other, true manures, would in the end exhaust 

 the soil. On account of the small amount of inert matter contained in them, 

 they are equally well suited to sandy and clayey soils ; it being recollected, 

 however, that their great purity renders necessary some caution in their appli- 

 cation to light soils, in order to avoid overdressing. Thus, on the sandy ridge 

 soils S. of Brandon, it might hardly be safe to use more than 200 bushels per 

 acre. 



286. Besides these pure, white marls, which are to be looked for 

 wherever, in thai neighborhood, ledges of limestone occur {between 

 the latter), another material may be obtained, in abundance, above 

 (i. e. always at a higher level than) the limestone, viz : a yellow 

 calcareous sand, containing but few entire shells, but many obscure 

 casts of others : which is seeii in the cuts immediately W. and E. 

 of Brandon Depot. 



This material is very variable ; the firmer, the more lime it generally contains. 

 On account ot the large percentage of inert sand contained in it, it would not 

 pay for transportation to any distance ; but where it is at hand, it would be a 

 fine material for the improvement of the heavy, cold soils which occur in patches 

 in that neighborhood — e. g. at Mr. Jos. Jayne's. For the improvement of hill 

 lands, where transportation is costly, the pure white marls are, of course, to be 

 preferred ; so also, for composting, de-odorizing, etc. 



Outcrops of limestone occur on Richland Creek in several 

 localities (see below, under Limestones), and they are probably 

 accompanied by marl. The only marl outcrop on Richland Creek 

 which I have as yet examined, is at Mr. German Berry's, S. 11, T. 

 4, R. 2 E., (Monterey P. O.). The blue calcareous sand, contain- 

 ing entire shells, is very similar to the uppermost marls at Vicks 

 burg, at Brownsville, etc., which see. — Of the gypseous marls of the 

 prairies of N. Rankin I shall speak in another place, in connection 

 with the soil of these prairies (see Agricultural Report). 



