2.34 Geology of North Carolina. 



bed of the river, lies a formation of limestone, of the description 

 called by mineralogists, oolitic limestone — different in its appear- 

 ance from all the other beds which occur on this river. It cros- 

 ses the river in a northeast and south west direction, and affords 

 every indication of being one of those general formations which 

 traverse the whole state. 



The most favorable view of these rocks occurs at Mr. Gris- 

 wold's, on the bank of the river, nine miles below Waynesborough, 

 where vl bluff ninety feet high exposes them fully to inspec- 

 tion. Thirty five feel above the limestone, in the side of a hill, 

 the blocks of marl, above mentioned, make their appearance. 

 It is of a close texture, nearly or quite destitute of shells, and 

 other organic remains, and does not, like the stone marl of Jones 

 county, fall to pieces on exposure to the weather. It is of a 

 lively grey color, and when first removed from the bed, it is so 

 soft as to be easily cut with a knife or sawn into blocks ; but on 

 becoming quite dry, it grows hard and firm, and assumes every 

 appearance of a most elegant building stone. Indeed, on com- 

 paring it with a specimen of the celebrated Bath stone, (which 

 is used for the finest public buildings of the city of London) re- 

 cently taken from Westminster Abbey by the Rev. Dr. Cald- 

 well, the eye can hardly discern any difference between them, 

 but the two appear equally well fitted in texture, color, and 

 beauty, for the finest purposes of architecture. It is composed 

 of sixty per cent, of lime and forty of a fine grey clay. It is 

 therefore a true marl ; but, as has been already remarked, not 

 subject like that to decompose, but on the other hand, possessing 

 the valuable property of hardening on exposure. Lying as it 

 does on the very bank of the river, and therefore susceptible of 

 easy transportation in boats, it is to be hoped that some edifice 

 in the town of Newbern, will ere long display its uncommon ex- 

 cellencies as a building stone. Should it cross the other large 

 rivers, as it probably does, it maybe regarded as without a rival 

 among the building stone hitherto discovered in 'this state. 



In Lenoir county is found a fine white sand that would 

 probably answer for common glass : and in Lincoln occurs 

 abundance of white granular quartz, easily crumbling be- 

 tween the fingers. No manufactory of glass, however, has 

 yet been established. 



For more than a hundred miles along the banks of the 

 Neuse, the pyrites of the clay is found in a decomposing 

 state, and partially converted into copperas. No establish- 

 ment, for its separation from the clay, as yet exists. In the 

 same clay and associated sand, occur abundance of fine 

 lignites. 



