68 F\ REPORT (>K PROGRESS. K. W. CLAYPOLE. 



thf ridge and between the two sandstones, at length cross- 

 ing the upper, thus producing a zigzag channel. Evident 

 traces of t lie change may be seen in Pfoutz's Valley and near 

 Sandy hill. But outside the limits of the county it becomes 

 manifest. At and near Huntingdon the two sand layers 

 may be distinctly traced only a few yards thick, the upper 

 being the heavier, and the great mass of the bed has become 

 shaly. This is only 60 miles in a straight line from its point 

 of greatest development on the Susquehanna. The Hamil- 

 ton sandstone is, therefore, a mass of coarse material, inter- 

 calated near the middle of the group, and spreading fan- 

 wise as from a center near Marysville. dying away and at 

 length disappearing as it recedes from that point. Further 

 details and deductions from the observed facts on this 

 stratum will be found in the report on Rye township. 



The Hamilton upper shale. 



These shales extend, so far as my observation has reached, 

 over nearly all that part of the county occupied by the Ham- 

 ilton sandstone. It overlies that formation, being separated 

 from it only by the Montebeilo fossil ore. The transition is 

 much more abrupt than that between the lower shale and 

 the sandstone. The shale is also much smoother, contains 

 very little sand, almost none toward its upper part, is pecu- 

 liarly soapy to the touch, olive green in color, with ocherous 

 weathered surfaces for the most part, and in its uppjer por- 

 tion remarkable for the abundant fossil fauna which it 

 yields, altogether of marine types. These fossils are also 

 ocherous or black from the presence of iron. 



The Hamilton upper shale lies along the slopes of the 

 Hamilton sandstone ridge, and is usually much concealed 

 by the fallen wreckage. It is exposed, however, at several 

 places on the south side of Mahanoy ridge, near Bloomfield ; 

 near Drumgold's tannery on Sherman's creek, in Carroll 

 township ; near the crossing of Inoculate run on the New- 

 port Bloomfield road ; between Buffalo hills and Little Buf- 

 falo creek on the land of Mi-. Toomey, &c, &c. 



The Hamilton upper shale may be divided in Perry county 

 into the following beds : 



