Geological Society of Penyisylvania. 523 



" The limestone is of a coarse texture, and uneven fracture, 

 and sometimes slaty. It is fusible at a white heat into a black 

 glass, which denotes the presence of much silicious matter. 



" The strata of brown slate and gray wacke slate most fre- 

 quently alternate, and are of considerable thickness and extent, 

 declining from the horizon at an angle of thirty degrees or 

 more, and dipping generally towards the north-west. It is fre- 

 quently the case that the several strata form successive ridges, 

 facing the south-east, which seem to rise behind each oth€r like 

 steps to the summit of the upland. In such cases the strata are 

 from ten to a hundred feet in thickness ; principally of gray- 

 wacke slate and brown slate, alternating with occasional small 

 strata of gray wacke and limestone. 



" In the vicinity of the Belmont coal mine, on the western side 

 of Moosic mountain, is found, an argillaceous oxide of iron, some- 

 times called clay iron stone, in nodules and masses of various 

 forms, imbedded in shale. Some of the nodules exhibit only a shell 

 filled with a dark bluish liquid, of the consistence of paint ; or 

 with a compact substance of the same colour, but always capa- 

 ble of being cut with a knife. A specimen of this ore yielded 

 33 per cent of metallic iron. This mine is not worked. The dis- 

 trict is yet covered by its native forest. Sulphuret of iron is also 

 found in the shale at this place. 



" I am not acquainted with the existence of any other minerals 

 in this county than such as I have noted. There can be no 

 doubt, however, that many will be discovered when the country 

 becomes more improved, and its forests cleared off. To such a 

 conjecture the properties of the soil and the nature of the forma- 

 tion afford many indications. The anthracite region approaches 

 the western side of the county, but does not extend into it. There 

 are neither salt nor salt springs known in this county ; the only 

 mineral springs known are chalybeate, on the western slope of 

 Moosic mountain, near Belmont mine, and near Big Beech pond, 

 in the southern part of Damascus township." 



Mr. Featherstonhaugh presented, on thepart of Lieut. Col. Long, 

 an original coloured sketch, showing the blue ridge, and the ad- 

 jacent country, from the Susquehanna river to the Mississippi 

 river. 



