No. 50.] 9i 



The specimens from 98 - 105, with those numbered 41 and 42, 

 represent the diiferent strata passed through in sinking a shaft for 

 a rock-salt mine in Clieshire, England. The following is the account 

 of these, in the order in which they are met, as given me by an 

 experienced miner : 



2 feet of soil. 



3 feet of fox-bench, or hardpan. 



36 feet of marl, indurated clay (98) & (99). 



7 feet of open gravel. 



90 feet of metal ; marly earth witli seams of crystallized gypsum, tlio lat- 

 ter most abundant near the bottom (100), (101) & (102). 



75 feet of rock-salt (103). 



30 feet of stone, red and mottled with veins of red rock-salt (104)&(105). 

 75 feet of rock-salt. 



15 feet of rock-salt : this layer contains less earthy matter than those 

 above or below it, and is the only one worked (41) & (42). 



180 feet of rock-salt has been passed through below this, and still the bot- 

 tom has not been reached. 



168 feet of rock and earth. 

 345 feet of rock-salt. 



513 feet. 



The specimens from 109-115 were presented by E. Meriam, 

 esquire, of Brooklyn : they were accompanied by several others 

 which have already been mentioned, and by the following descrip- 

 tive notes, the numbers of which correspond with those of the 

 preceding list : 



93. " Salt water from a shaft sunk in the Holston salt mines, at Saltville, 

 Washington county, Virginia. This bottle of brine was received in 

 the spring of 1846, from Thodias L. Pbeston, esquire." 



21. " Salt from the Holston salt wells, Saltville. A kettle was filled with 



the brine, and a broad pan placed at the bottom, and carefully with- 

 drawn previous to the commencement of ebullition." 



83. " The matter caught in the pan previous to the boiling of the brine of 



(21)." 



22. " Salt from Saltville. The brine from which this specimen was made 



was skimmed previous to boiling." 



84. " Skimmings of the kettle from which (22) was made." 



23. '* Salt from Saltville. Brine as it came from the well, settled with alum, 



say 2 lbs. to 6000 gallons of brine." 



