288 J. B. Hiliott—Age of the Southern Appalachians. 
the enclosing beds of gneiss, while the gneiss had the same dip 
as the overlying mass composing the Table. The ravine gave 
a complete section to within two hundred and fifty feet of the 
valley level. The elevation of the summit above the valley is 
about 2,300 feet. 
The conclusion was unavoidable that Table Rock was but an 
outlier of Cesar’s Head, composed of the same gneiss and 
hornblende slates, having the same N.E. dips with all.of the 
beds conformable from summit to base. This revelation was a 
great disappointment, as the section had been made simply to 
verify the work of Professor Tuomey, with the hope that it 
would afford a key to the problem of the age of these moun- 
tains. From the absence of all Archzean characteristics, there 
was no warrant for referring the gneiss to any formation older 
than the Ocoee. This hypothesis, however, needed the subse- 
quent sections made in Georgia to warrant its presentation here. 
- (See sec. 4th, and conclusion). 
The topographical peculiarity of the Blue Ridge is a matter to 
be noticed, as it aids somewhat in explaining conclusions drawn 
en the mountain range had been studied at other points. 
Wherever the Blue Ridge is ascended from the S.E. the ascent 
is long and the elevation attained is great. When, however, 
the eye is directed from the elevation to the northwest, the 0 
server realizes that he has ascended the southeastern slope of a 
great plateau. The mountain masses to the northwest gee 
: : is 
superficial examination of the formation passed over could be 
made. The important point noticed and observed at one or 
was first observed. It was a dove-colored fine-grained hord- 
blende gneiss containing large feldspar crystals. The feldspar 
had more the appearance of pebbles than of crystals. It cou! 
be easily mistaken for a partially metamorphosed quartz cOP 
