EDITORIAL. 



THE MARBLE AND SCHIST FORMATIONS OF ROMBLON 



ISLAND. 



The Island of Eomblon is remembered by travelers in the Philippines 

 because of its well-protected, deep-water harbor, its conspicuous outcrops 

 of marble, and its coconut groves. Its longer axis, which extends from 

 north to south, measures about 14 kilometers, and its greatest width from 

 east to west is about " kilometers. 



The town of Eomblon, situated on the harbor in the northwestern part 

 of the island, is picturesque in its location. The water front is in a narrow 

 gap in a ridge, on which bowlders and ledges of marble show conspicuously 

 through the tropical vegetation. The main portion of the town lies 

 behind the ridge in a small, fan-shaped basin formed by the junction of 

 several short stream valleys, which descend from the hills. Prom one 

 of the streams water is brought to the town and the landing stages of 

 the port by a gravity system. 



I made an unexpected visit to Eomblon on February 13 and 14 of 

 this year. During the two days spent in port there was opportunity 

 between the showers of rain to examine the geology of the vicinity. 



ROMBLON MARBLE. 



The inner shore of Eomblon harbor is a nearly straight line striking 

 approximately N. 30° B. and extending along the base of a ridge of 

 marble broken by the gap and valley in which the town lies. The marble 

 as seen on this ridge for the most part has a very even, fine-grained 

 texture and is thoroughly crystalline. It does not apipear as massive 

 ledges, but in the form of jointed blocks, and on the surface occurs in 

 irregular, weathered masses. 



The dip of the marble could not be determined accurately but is 

 probably about 30° to the westward. The color varies from a pure white 

 to a mottled wliite and bluish variety which in some cases has a streaked 

 appearance. By carefully selecting the quarries, large amounts of any 

 particular type can be obtained, but no place was seen near the port where 

 a large commercial quarry could be opened and operated by modern 

 machinery. It is possible, however, that good quarries admitting of 

 extensive operations can be found at other localities on Eomblon or one 



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