178 GEOLOGICAL REPORT. [1298, 29!) 



CLAY MAUL FKOM JUDGE HIRAM CASSEDY'S, FRANKLIN CO. 



The airdried substance lost 6.818 per cent, of moisture at 212 deg. F., dried at 

 which temperature it consisted of : 



Insoluble Matter 49.475 



Potash 1.242 



Soda 0.152 



Lime 13.190 



Magnesia 1.829 



Brown Oxide of Manganese 0.266 



Peroxide of Iron 5.538 



Alumina 12.587 



Sulphuric Acid 0.033 



Phosphoric Acid 0.132 



I !arbonic Acid 9 



Water 5.876 



99.871 



The most remarkable feature exhibited in this analysis, is the large amount 

 ©f Potash contained in the substance, in the absence of any visible trace of 

 greensand grains. It is highly probable, however, that in consequence of the 

 long continued action of lime on the mass, a large part of this potash, as well as 

 of the other ingredients present, is in an available condition, and that this 

 material will prove a valuable fertilizer, more especially as most of the soils in 

 the neighborhood of its place of occurrence, are very light, and in the case of 

 the bottom soils, extremely so. The large amount of clay contained in the 

 material itself, as compared with its percentage of lime, obviates any danger of 

 overdressing ; except in rendering the soil too heavy where it is not naturally 

 very light, by using a very great excess. 



The most calcareous portions of the mass ought, of course, to be selected, as 

 they will pay best for transportation. Experiments on the efficacy of the 

 material must decide how far the 22% per cent, of carbonate of lime and 1% of 

 potash will pay for the transportation of the inert clay. 



298. It is very likely that similar deposits occur in other portions 

 of the Homocliitto Hills. All bald hilltops having a clay soil do 

 not, however, necessarily indicate the presence of similar materials: 

 I have observed many, both in the Homochitto Hills, in those S. of 

 Fayette, and in other localities between the Mississippi and the 

 waters of Leaf River, in which a heavy gray potters clay, which 

 does not effervesce, forms the soil and supports a stunted forest 

 growth, and generally some long grass. It is only when the Crab 

 Apple, Red Haw and Honey Locust are present in such spots, that 

 the existence of calcareous marls is indicated. Such indications 

 are found in the hills three to live miles south of Fayette, where 

 the trees mentioned, accompanied by the Wild Plum and Poplar, 

 may be observed in several points on the ridge ; and I have found 

 calcareous veins in an outcrop of gray clay in the roads on a hill- 

 side about three miles south of Fayette. 



For use on the small scale, in the improvement of gardens, where the expense 

 need not be considered, the clay marl at Judge Cassedy's might, no doubt, be 

 greatly improved by a gentle calcination, which would render most of the ingre- 

 dients available to a much greater extent than is the case in the raw material. 

 In composting manure, it will be found valuable in either case. 



299. I have no personal knowledge of the existence of any 



