,; :}I7. 318 WATERS OF THE LIGNITIC FORMATION. 189 



strong alum waters, mostly saturated, at the same time, with 

 gypsum. 



These waters occur especially, wherever the Selenite is found accompanied by 

 crusts of Yellow Iron Ore ; which is more commonly the case near to the line 

 of the marine fossiliferous strata, than at the more distant points. Very fre- 

 quently, the waters of the lignitic formations contain organic matter, which 

 imparts to them dark tints, and a variety of tastes, which are more particularly 

 unpleasant in the presence of sulphuretted hydrogen. I have occasionally seen 

 waters, whose color and smell could readily have caused them to be mistaken 

 for the drainings of a manure-pile ; and I have repeatedly heard waters of a 

 similar character extolled by enthusiastic persons as particularly " healthy," on 

 that very account. 



317. Tt is not unfrcquently the case, that mineral waters, especially 

 chalybeates derived from the Orange Sand formation (and con- 

 taining their iron as bicarbonate) are partially impregnated with 

 the constituents of the lignitic waters, by contact with the strata, 

 or intermixture of the waters themselves (175). Mineral waters 

 thus produced are among the best of the State. 



In the absence of deep borings in the Northern Lignitic formation, I have been 

 unable to settle definitely the question whether there is any constant dip of the 

 strata, sufficient to afford a useful rise of water in deep wells. While it is highly 

 probable that such is the case on the whole of the formation, it has been proved 

 with certainty only near to, or on the territory of the marine Tertiary, in 

 Madison and Hinds counties, where wells, although begun in the latter strata, 

 yet obtain their rising waters from the Lignitic formation. Special data with 

 reference to bores of this kind, will be found below (319, ff.) 



318. In the Southern Lignitic. or Grand Gulf Group, also, data 

 bearing on the question of the general dip are scarce. Several 

 instances have been mentioned (11239, 240) where the strata showed 

 a strong dip for a short distance, but then again became horizontal, 

 which is the position in which, apparently at least, they are usually 

 seen. The lact that there is a general correspondence ol the 

 materials of this: formation in an E. and W., or S. E. and N. W. 

 direction, while there is a much greater variation at right angles 

 to such lines, would seem to make a general dip south-westward 

 probable. 



I know only one instance, however, in which a notable rise was obtained in a 

 well dug in this formation, viz : at Mr. P. H. Halo's, S. 2, T. 3, K. 2 E., Rankin 

 county, where at 86 feet, dug chiefly in soft, whitish sandstone, a stream of 

 water was struck, rising 36 feet ; the water impregnated, as usual { though not 

 apparently, to an injurious extent), with different salts. This single instance 

 might possibly be owing to one of the faults of stratification above referred to ; 

 yet in view of the fact that there are very few cases in which the strata of this 

 formation have been penetrated to a similar depth, the hope of success in the 

 boring of artesian wells is sufficiently, justified to induce experiments. It is 

 particularly so when it is remembered, that the water, such as it occurs in the 

 water-bearing strata themselves, is often of good quality, and only becomes con- 

 taminated with salts by standing in the wells. Hence, the continuous stream of 

 an artesian fountain might be expected to be comparatively pure, even when the 

 water of stagnant wells would be undrinkable. 



To the Southern River Counties, which in the absence of the 

 Orange Sand, can obtain no drinkable water in shallow wells (that 

 of the Bluff formation being too limy, and that of the Grand Gulf 



