BRICK CLAYS. 69 
In certain localities of the State the surface soil formed from the Lafayette is used in mak- 
ng common brick, but such brick are always high in sand and a very inferior product unless 
;he soil is mixed with a more aluminous material. 
The clays of the Lafayette have received very little attention, since they are usually infe- 
rior in quality and very limited in quantity. The two samples which are mentioned below 
show the character of the purer clays embedded in the coarse Lafayette sands. 
Brandon clay. — In the vicinity of Brandon more or less Lafayette sands overlie the older 
ormations. Within these sands are small, irregular deposits of clay, which is usually non- 
elastic and highly colored, owing to the presence of iron oxide. The following is an analysis 
if the Brandon clay : 
Analysis of Brandon clay, Rankin County. 
[By W. F. Hand, State chemist.] 
Silica (Si02) 64. 79 
Mumina (AI2O3) 21. 35 
ferric oxide (Fe20 3 ) 3. 58 
me (CaO) 14 
fagnesia (MgO) 70 
ulphur trioxide (SO3) Trace. 
1 oisture 1 . 40 
on ignition 7. 36 
99.32 
Morton clay. — One mile east-northeast of Morton, Scott County, at the old gravel pit of the 
labama and Vicksburg Railway, there is a good exposure of the Lafayette sands, pebbles, 
nd the accompanying clay. The uppermost bed consists of Lafayette pebbles and coarse 
and, 12^ feet thick. This is underlain by 5 feet of very plastic clay. The upper portion of 
he clay is interstratified with yellow to red clay and sand and the purest part is near the bot- 
om, where it has a deep, orange-red color, with milky-white spots. The clay is often so 
ough that it can only be removed from the bank with the greatest difficulty. The analy- 
is of this clay shows it to be low in silica and high in alumina, with very little ferric oxide. 
Analysis of Morton clay, Scott County. 
[By W. F. Hand, State chemist.] 
ilica (Si0 2 ) 47. 40 
dumina (AI2O3) 36. 72 
ferric oxide (Fe 2 03) 96 
Lime (CaO) 24 
kagnesia (MgO) 19 
Sulphur trioxide (SO3) Trace. 
loisture : 1. 09 
oss on ignition 13. 28 
99.88 
LOESS AND YELLOW-LOAM BRICK CLAYS (QUATERNARY). 
The yellow loam represents the latest deposit in northern Mississippi except the more 
ecent deposits in the Yazoo bottom and along the streams. It was called yellow or brown 
)am by Dr. E. W. Hilgard, and was referred to by W J McGee as the Columbia. 
In northwestern Mississippi, east of the Yazoo bottom, the loess and yellow loam overlie 
jjhe Lafayette and form the surface soil of the region. From this loam the brick plants at 
fllolly Springs, Oxford, Grenada, Yazoo City, Jackson, Vicksburg, and other places obtain 
paterial for making brick. It is an excellent clay for making wet-mud and dry-pressed 
?»rick. It burns from a buff to a deep-red color. Forming the surface of so large an area, 
|fc is accessible at almost any place and can be made into brick at a minimum cost. 
