SALINE COUNTY. 223 



No thorough exploration has yet been made of this cave ;■ therefore, as 

 it appears to be quite extensive, it is possible to discover chambers or 

 rooms surpassing both in size and decorations those at present known. 



While in the cave diligent search was made, but no trace of organic 

 remains could be found in its walls, which are formed of decomposing 

 limestone. 



Much still remaius to be learned regarding the effect of the disturb- 

 ance which has brought the Gold Hill strata to the surface, as to the 

 influence which it may have had in modifying the shape of the coal- 

 basin, for here as at other places before mentioned, on the north side 

 of the ridge the coal bearing strata are seen apparently undisturbed. 



A very good mineral spring issues from about the junction of the lime- 

 stone and sandstone, on Mrs. Ross' place at the foot of Prospect Hill. 

 It furnishes a bountiful flow of c'ear, cool water, that possesses a faint 

 odor of sulphuretted hydrogen gas, and leaves a white sediment on the 

 "gum," and on the sides of the little branch to which it gives rise. The 

 reputation which it has acquired is no doubt well deserved, and if suit- 

 able buildings were erected to accommodate the public there is reason 

 to believe that it would become a place of considerable "resort during 

 the summer months, especially for invalids suffering from general debil- 

 ity. Its medicinal effects are most likely to be alterative and aperitive. 



The Lower Carboniferous limestone appears above the surface also, on 

 sees. 36 and 35, T. 9, R. 7, near the line of Gallatin county. The hill 

 above it at this locality is eighty feet high, and exhibits the following 

 succession of strata: 



Ft. 



Slope covered with chert 55 



Red clay mixed -with chert 20 



Blackish-gray limestone veined with calc-spar 5 



80 



The limestone in the above section dips to the south at an angle of 

 40°. It is a hard close-textnred rock, traversed by veins of white calc- 

 spar that would make it a beautiful marble, if polished. 



Coal Measures . 



The Millstone grit, or Conglomerate, as it is indiscriminately called by 

 geologists — lies in this county conformable to the Chester group, and is 

 at the base of the productive Coal Measures. Its position has already 

 been indicated in the section given of the strata at Prospect Hill, where 

 it is principally represented by a massive redish-brown sandstone that 

 contains, at many places along its exposure, small rounded pebbles of 

 quartz. It is sometimes divided into two members by a few feet of 



