liV REPORT OF THE STATE GEOLOGIST. 



LIMESTONES. 



The limestones of Texas which are suited for building purposes are 

 abundant and widespread in their occurrence. The Cretaceous forma- 

 tion which covers fully one-fourth of the entire area of the State abounds 

 in limestone well adapted for structural purposes. In addition to this 

 we have the limestones of the Carboniferous, Permian, and Silurian sys- 

 tems, so that the total area is largely increased. 



The limestones of the Cretaceous occur both in its upper and lower 

 divisions. In the Austin chalk there are beds which furnish excellent 

 stone which is quarried for use in many places, but a large portion of 

 it is too chalky and not firm enough for general use. The best lime- 

 stone of this formation is that contained in the Fredericksburg and 

 Washita divisions of the Lower Cretaceous. 



These limestones are of color varying from white to yellow, very 

 rarely darker, and are often somewhat soft when first quarried, becom- 

 ing harder on exposure. 



Among the materials of the Clear Fork division of the Permian for- 

 mation are some even bedded limestones of square fracture, fine even 

 grain, and good color, that will prove valuable as building material. 

 These were observed in the northwestern part of Shackelford County, 

 and will also be found north and south of that locality along the out- 

 crop of these beds. Seymour and Ballinger show buildings constructed 

 of these limestones. 



SANDSTONES AND QUARTZITES. 



The sandstones are fully as widely distributed as the limestones, being 

 found in nearly all districts in greater or less quantity. 



In the Fayette sands are found beds of indurated sands of light color 

 which have been used in various localities along their line of outcrop 

 for building purposes. Rock has been quarried from these deposits 

 from many localities, principally at Eockland, Tyler County ; Quarry 

 Station, on the Gulf, Colorado, and Santa Fe Railroad; Rock Quarry, 

 on the Houston and Texas Central Railway, in Washington County, 

 and in various parts of Fayette, Lavaca, and other counties to the south- 

 west 



In the Timber Belt Beds the altered (and even the unaltered) green- 

 sand marls are sometimes so indurated as to be used for building pur- 

 poses. In addition to which many of the hill-cappings of sandstone, 

 which at times replace the iron ore, are valuable building stones. 



