Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-11-23
From the Boston patriot !

The Mineral Wealth of The Wess In late Wes-
tern Journal we find some interesting remarks on The
mineral regions of Ohio and Illinois, and an account of
"a PetrG d Forest as described by Judge Hall i'm tue
Illinois Magazine. The mine raj region of Illinois is
said to be unrvaed 1t is yet but partially deveI-
opcd Chemistry, mineraloSy, aud geology will yet
unfold its treasures The rich turf which yet
its praries, has scarcely broken, except for the
purposes of agriculture and the treasures which lie be-
meath it, at prese mt useless. 1t is believed that
the mineral region will supply lead enough Tor the
Of both Europe and America. Copper and coal have
been frequently discovered; and silver has been
found IN the southern parts of the state Medicinal
springs have been found, strongly mpregnated with
sulphate of magnesia and other mineral properties.
One of the mos: curious mineral discoveries of the
present day, is the "petrifed forest the Missouri
river letter the editor of the illinois Magazine
states, that the petrfactions of stumps and limbs of
trees abundant for the distance of thirty miles, o.
yer open prairie the western bank of the Mis-
souri,. The topography of this section of the country
is billy and much broken into deep ravines and bol-
lows. On the sides and SUBMITS OF the hills an ell
ovation of several hundred feet above the level of the
river, and estimated height of some thousand
feet above the the earths surface is literally
vered with stumps limbs, and roots of petrifed trees,
presenting the appesance of ga petried forest,p bro
ken and thrown down by some powerful conyulson
of nature, and scattered in all directions in innumera
bic fragments.
Some of the trees appeared to have been broken off
in falling, close TO their roots; while others stand at an
elevation Of several feet above the surface Some Of
the stumps when measured proved TO be upwards of
fifteen feet in circumference.
As these formations, supposed TO be produced
by the agency Of water and of mineral substance
natural TO conjecture that this region has at some day
been sub.nersed in water. But when1 Are they An
ediluvan remains or this region covered at pc.
Rod subsequent to the general delugef They must
have proceeded from such causes unless it is granted
tina, petrfactions may be produced by the simple ac-
ton the atmosphere. These interesting topics
of enquiry.
a petrifed forcst vast wilderness changed to
stone! Was it the gradual work of ages and did the
hand Of greybeaded time deposit the stony particles
in the grains of the wood, sand by sand, rs-
Their instantaneous transformation from vegetable
life TO mineral DEATH like the sudden change Of Lots
wife into pillar of salt Did the great process of pc
trihcatiou commence at the day. when Noah's vessel
of DID, tossed in the boundless and overwhelming
of the Deuge, not till ages afterwards after
some great nuudatiop, in the praires of the Westl
Has there taken place in those extensive regions
mighty unreveaIed flood laying waste ''the fair
hunting grounds of the ering aboriginal, sweep
ing away his cabin on the hill. compelling hin, to trust
Lis life to i'sbroaen csHoe; destroying the buaIoe