6G 



of the Chinese, one of the essential ingredients in the composition 

 of Porcelain. Numerous rich deposites of it are to be found in this 

 portion of the state. In Goochland, an extensive bed of this earth 

 has lately been discovered on the estate of Mr. Triplett. Its colour 

 is a dull white. Between the fingers it has the smoothness of the 

 finest flour, and with the exception of a few scattered grains of silex, 

 the whole mass is a perfectly impalpable powder. 



By a careful analysis of some of this earth, I find its composition 

 to be as follows : In 20 grains, 



Silica, 



10.76 



Alumina, 



6.00 



Water, 



2.90 



Loss, 



.34 



20.00 



In numerous places in Goochland, Cumberland, Buckingham, and 

 other counties similarly situated, the Porcelain earth occurs in ex- 

 tensive beds, and in many cases in as available a condition as above 

 described. This fact, taken in connexion with the known existence 

 of felspar in the same region, points to the probable introduction 

 at no distant day, of an important branch of manufacture in the 

 state — I allude to the fabrication of the finer description of China or 

 Porcelain, in which such excellence has already been attained by the 

 employment of similar materials in Pennsylvania. 



The region on the western borders of that which we have been 

 describing, is marked by the occurrence of talcose and argillaceous 

 slates, micaceous and garnet slates, chlorite slates, steaschist, vari- 

 ous modified rocks, and numerous veins of auriferous quartz. The 

 precise nature of many of the rocks occurring in this, which for the 

 sake of distinction, may be called the gold region, cannot be deter- 

 mined without close and persevering attention. 



OF THE AURIFEROUS ROCKS. 



A general examination of this district suggests a variety of prob- 

 lems of a scientific as well as practical nature, which it would be 

 premature at this time to attempt to resolve. The number and ex- 

 tent of the quartz veins is one of the most interesting as well as im- 



