82 



of Encrini, a fossil remain abounding in the bed of limestone near 

 the western flank of the Blue Ridge, and for which we might in vain 

 look in the limestone previously described as skirting the eastern 

 flank of the South-west mountain. This curious discovery will at 

 once indicate the extent of the violent agencies preceding the forma- 

 tion of this rock, and of the conglomerate which we have regarded 

 as its equivalent. 



In the same region likewise, beds of genuine red sandstone occur, 

 sometimes of a fine and sometimes of a very coarse grain. This and 

 a variety of red slate are the chief rocks to be met with between 

 Warminster and the Folly. Similar beds are to be seen in many 

 places in Orange and other counties in corresponding positions. In 

 Amherst, near the Stonewall mills, strata of coarse conglomerate 

 occur, in which the pebbles have sometimes a diameter of half an 

 inch. 



Near Lynchburg, a very beautiful bluish-gray sandstone is largely 

 quarried, and in the same neighbourhood very extensive exposures 

 of various sedimentary rocks may be 6een. h\ nearly all the locali- 

 ties which have been described, the dip of the rocks is east. At the 

 latter place, however, a very superb exposure of a silicious and tal- 

 cose schist is presented on the river bank immediately opposite the 

 town, exhibiting the feature so strikingly seen among the sandstones 

 of the North mountain — that of an arch or great bend in the strata 

 showing the eastern and western dips at its opposite extremities. 



On the western declivity of the Green mountain, beds of steatitic 

 rock occur, furnishing a soapstone which in all respects compares 

 advantageously with that now generally in use. A quarry of this 

 rock has been opened near the residence of Tucker Coles, Esq. from 

 which slabs and jambs for fireplaces have been procured. The 

 colour of the rock is a grayish and sometimes greenish-blue, with a 

 somewhat marbled appearance. Its texture is fine, and with suffi- 

 cient firmness for any purpose to which it may be applied. It is 

 capable of being cut and planed with great facility. With the ex- 

 ception of some of the finer kinds quarried in Vermont, there is 

 probably no soapstone used in this country which combines the 

 valuable characteristics of this species of rock in a higher degree. 

 The recent introduction of anthracite as a fuel in some of our cities, 

 and the probability that ere long the semi-bituminous and anthracite 

 coals of the western ridges of our valley will also be similarly a\)- 



