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on both sides of the James river, dipping east at an angle of about 

 80° with the horizon. In Buckingham, the bed is largely exposed 

 in the neighbourhood of New Canton on Slate river, and the quarry 

 at present wrought by the enterprising owner, Mr. Sims, yields a 

 material which will bear comparison with the better qualities of the 

 imported roofing slate. In texture, density and capacity of resist- 

 ing atmospheric agents, it can scarcely be excelled by a similar ma- 

 terial in any part of the world. This quarry was first opened to 

 procure slate for roofing the capitol ; and notwithstanding it has 

 been thus long known, and its value established, but little further 

 use has been made of it, until the activity of the present proprietor 

 has again brought it into notice. The buildings of the University 

 will soon be furnished with a complete covering of slate from this 

 quarry. The bed of slate wrought by Mr. Sims, has an average 

 breadth of sixty yards. The rock splits with great regularity, pre- 

 senting a smooth surface, and having such strength and flexibility 

 as to admit of being separated by iron wedges into sheets of 100 

 square feet, and not more than an inch in thickness. There are 

 many other places in the neighbourhood, from which slate of the 

 same kind may be procured, and several small quarries have been 

 opened. Increased facility and cheapness in transporting this valu- 

 able article to Richmond and the seaboard, will, no doubt,' at some 

 early day bring it into extensive use in our principal towns in that 

 direction, and will render the quarrying and preparation of it a pro- 

 fitable business. During the last year, Mr. Sims brought into a 

 state for the market, six hundred squares of this slate, at twelve dol- 

 lars per square ; and this, with but few hands and very imperfect 

 arrangements. 



The steaschist or soapsfone which occurs west of the slate, and 

 may be seen near the mouth of Hardware river, both in Fluvanna 

 and Buckingham, though not as valuable as other beds of a some- 

 what similar description, to be hereafter described, is nevertheless 

 capable of being very usefully employed. In hearths, jambs and 

 other parts about the chimney, it is found to possess useful qualities, 

 and its texture is such as not only to render it easy of separation 

 in the quarry, but also to make it readily wrought under the chisel. 

 At Bremo it has already been brought into use. 



Several veins or beds of iron ore exist in Buckingham in the 

 region of the gold veins and slates, and ore of similar description 

 makes its appearance in Fluvanna, Louisa, &c. In the former 



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