XXXIV REPORT OF THE STATE GEOLOGIST. 



joining the area cuvered by the Coast Clays, under which the beds 

 gently dip towards the Gulf. 



This region, which is of varying width — in places not more than 

 forty miles (perhaps considerably less), while in others it widens out to 

 one hundred miles or more — stretches entirely across the State from the 

 Sabine Eiver to the Rio Grande, with its lower border from fifty to one 

 hundred miles from the present coast line. In its eastern portion it 

 carries a good growth of timber, interspersed here and there with 

 praiiies, but as we trace it to the southwest the forests grow continu- 

 ally thinner, until we find ourselves upon a rolling prairie, with timber 

 only on the streams or in scattered islands, and consisting principally 

 of post oak. 



The soils of this district, like those of the coast clays, are highly pro- 

 ductive, and their fertility is from the same source — the lime which 

 they contain. They are mostly of a black clayey or sandy character, 

 aiad the crops grown upon them compare favorably with those of any 

 portion of the State, both in variety and amouot. 



From these facts, together with its favorable location and the amount 

 of rainfall which visits the greater portion of it, this division bids fair, 

 when its capabilities are more thoroughly understood, to rival even the 

 famous black waxy soil of Central Texas. 



These Fayette Beds include all the beds of clays and sands lying be- 

 low the Coast Clays and the more recent limestone and pebble deposits, 

 and above the uppermost fossiliferous stratum of the Marine-Tertiary. 



Their upper portion consists of sands and sandstones, with seams and 

 concretions of calcareous matter. The lower portion is composed of 

 beds of clay and lignite. 



The sandy strata are very variable in thickness and in consistency, 

 although composed almost entirely of pure, coarse, siliceous sand, gen- 

 erally quite sharp, and containing a few red grains. In color they vary 

 from gray to light buff and even white, and frequently contain lenticu- 

 lar beds of a very coarse sand. In places they are uncompacted, form- 

 ing sand beds ; in others, more or less indurated, forming sandstones, 

 which vary in hardness from one that can be crumbled with the fingers 

 to that of a quartzite proper. In these sands and sandstones are found 

 large quantities of petrified wood, in the form of wood opal, often 

 showing delicate shades of banding. 



The underlying clays also differ greatly in structure and in color, 

 varying from massive beds to thin laminations, and showing many dif- 



