20 FLORIDA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY—FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT. 
In 1892 the term Altamaha Grit was applied by Dali to sands and 
grits found along the Altamaha and Ocmulga Rivers in Geor¬ 
gia. This formation had been previously briefly described but not 
named by Loughridge in the reports of the Tenth Census. Further 
descriptions of the Altamaha Grit have been given by Harper* and 
by Veatch,f both of whom refer to the extension of the formation 
into Florida. The map which accompanies Harper’s paper repre 
sents this formation as reaching into the State along the east border 
of the Apalachicola River. 
Whatever their geologic correlation, certain it is that these 
coarse sands, grits, and clays have a wide distribution and are an 
important factor in soil formation in the State. In soil studies, 
moreover, we are concerned only incidentally with the geologic cor¬ 
relation and age of formations, but more particularly with the litho 
logic character, the minerals present and their behavior under the 
weathering agencies. Whether representing one or parts of several 
formations, these deposits are closely similar in materials and react 
similarly under the processes of decay. 
The most persistent and characteristic single feature of these 
deposits is the presence of water-worn, flattened, quartzite pebbles, 
usually light colored and sometimes almost clear, although as a 
rule they are clouded and more or less stained by iron oxide. Owing 
to their resistence to decay, these pebbles tend to accumulate on the 
surface as the formation decays, especially on slopes where the wash 
is sufficient to remove the smaller sand grains. They are also found 
quite generally in the stream beds. 
The quartz sand grains which make up the largest part of the 
deposits are angular, and variable in size, although usually includ 
ing more or less coarse sand. In regard to the texture of the sand, 
however, there is great variation from place to place, some localities 
having prevailingly coarse sand, while elsewhere the sand is prevail 
ingly much finer. The color of the sand grains near the surface and 
within reach of the surface waters is often red, or ochre yellow, due 
to staining by iron oxide. Deeper within the formation, where not 
stained, the grains are usually perfectly clear and transparent. In 
form the grains are roughly angular. 
In addition to the coarse sand grains and the flattened pebbles 
there is occasionally found local deposits of much coarser material, 
including water-worn flint pebbles up to one or two inches in length. 
* Annals; N. Y. Acad. Sci., Vol. XVII, pt. 1, 1906; Torreya, Vol. 6, 1906. 
p. 241. 
tScience, Vol. XXVII, 1908, pp. 71-74. 
