PHOSPHATE DEPOSITS. 
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that were deposited in the river valleys of South Carolina, and 
their exuviae in the phosphate rock of Florida and certain tropical 
islands. These were available by dredging the river channels in 
the Carolinas, stripping the beds buried in the flat lands that 
bordered these rivers, or, as in Florida and the West Indies, 
quarrying a soft rock that was found comparatively near the 
surface. 
Having seen the bones of gigantic early Tertiary mammals 
and fishes that had been taken from the Carolina phosphate beds, 
I had been under the impression that these beds were of Eocine 
Tertiary age; but a study of their relations in situ show them 
to be much more recent. They probably contain the remains of 
animals of various ages promiscuously mingled, rolled in the sea, 
and re-deposited in late Tertiary beds. 
Excursion to Phosphate Mine on the Stono River. 
(March 17, 1908). 
Through the kindness of Prof. Paul M. Rea, Mr. Henry P. 
Williams, of Charleston, placed his motor yacht at our service for 
the excursion, and we started for the mine at 1 p. m. The party 
consisted of Prof. Rea, Mrs. Rea, and two of Prof. Rea’s geolo- 
gical students, Mr. Williams, owner of the yacht, Mr. Law, a 
visitor from the north, Mrs. Matthew and myself. We started 
from near the Battery at the south end of the city, and steered 
diagonally across the Ashley River to a creek (Wappoo Creek, 
or Cut), that is part of the inland waterways along the coast. 
This Creek had been straightened and deepened by the United 
States Federal Government to connect the Ashley River with 
the Stono River to the south. The latter river is one on which 
some of the principal phosphate mines are situated, and the third 
of these above the point where we entered the river was our 
obj ective. 
On the way up the Stono River we enjoyed the beautiful 
scenery characteristic of that region. On the immediate borders 
of the river are low marshy meadows, diversified here and there 
