302 



TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



upheaved those mountains that have a direction through 

 our continent from N. E. to S. W., appears to have 

 acted in parallel lines with diminished force as we move 

 east from the main or highest line of action — the Blue 

 Ridge being the result of one of those forces. 



Notwithstanding the altered appearance of the rocks, 

 they are distinctly stratified, and have a dip east vary- 

 ing from 10 to 15°. The beds forming the main emi- 

 nence approach nearer to 10°, which is about the dip of 

 nearly all the rocks southward between this ridge and 

 James river. 



The trap rocks form dykes running parallel with the 

 general direction of all the beds, which is from north 

 east to south west. Some of these traps, when the am- 

 phibole becomes more abundant, are crystallized and 

 somewhat schistose. 



In a geological sense, the Bhie Ridge is well defined 

 on either side. On the east, the altered rocks make 

 their appearance, and limit the gold belts. They are 

 stamped with certain similar characters, that lead us to 

 believe, all such, included between this line and the 

 transition limestone, owe that general character to simi- 

 larly and coevally acting agents. In a physical point of 

 view, we should be led to the same conclusions. From 

 this point, where the altered rocks appear, the ascent is 

 gradual, yet undulating, until you reach the beautifully 

 situated little village of Paris, on the eastern slope, 

 which you climb before passing down into the rich val- 

 ley of the Shenandoah. The eastern side of this chain 

 is cultivated to the top : on the west the slope is much 

 more rapid, and in an uncultivated state. As might be 

 expected, springs are abundant and the water excellent. 



ROCKS OF THE BLUE HIDGE. 



As we have already observed, there is a general, pre- 

 vailing character stamped upon the rocks that constitute 



