886 GEOLOGY OF OHIO. 
probably represented by a small and uncertain seam, which is frequently 
met, 40 or 50 feet below the Lower Mercer limestone. It is sometimes 
opened by stripping in ravines or on hill slopes, but it never justified — 
mining in a methodical way. | 
Several borings have recently been made in the vicinity of Junction 
City, in search of a lower coal. They were begun at a horizon about 
50 feet below the Lower Mercer, and passed in their descent through 
several streaks of coal and fire-clay. The borings were made by Mr. 
Philip Patton, of Canal Fulton. He has kindly furnished to the Survey 
the records of these wells. One of them is given herewith: 
Record of Boring near Junction City. 
12 ft. Made earth. 
5 ft. Gray Shale. “ 
3-ft. Coal and slate (Quakertown ?). 
20 ft. Fire-clay. 
10 ft. Light-gray Shale. 
12 ft. Dark Shale. 
1 ft. Soft black slate and coal (Sharon ?). 
3 ft. Fire-clay. 
6 ft. Sand rock (Conglomerate ?). 
15 ft. Dark Shale. 
2 ft. Black slate, hard (Maxville horizon 2). 
2 ft. Fire-clay. 
30 ft Light-gray Shale. 
5 ft. Dark Shale. 
13 ft. Flagging, soft and hard. 
The lowermost 50 feet undoubtedly belong to the Waverly forma- 
tion, the exposures of which are found in all the region to the westward. 
The Lower Mercer coal is shown in numberless sections. The 
limestone of this series may be said to be universal, and the ores are 
also very widely distributed. The coal is occasionally wanting, but, as 
a rule, there is at least a thin streak of it under the limestone. Nowhere 
in Perry county is the seam known to be thick enough to fairly justify 
mining, but small openings are occasionally made to it. Its quality, 
where seen, is generally poor. | 
The same line of remark applies to the other limestone coals, viz., 
those beneath the Upper Mercer and the Putnam Hill limestones, which 
are known respectively as No. 3a, and No. 4. Both are present in 
numerous sections, and neither has much economic value in any instance. 
