Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1837-07-20

more than twenty miles. The position q
'nese oeds ON the river shores, facilitate thei
conveyance TO distant points. The textur,
100 OF the strata, render them impervious I,
.he assaults OF The sweeping currents, which
only wear them smooth.
Professor Il. thinks that the Eocene str.
Ia continues over a idle area of the State or
level corresponding with the general depti
al winch they are found on the rivers.
In commenting upon the value of the Go.
Gene strata IN an agricultural sense. PROBES
sor rogers presents some strong arguments
IN behalf oil their efficacy. The large nor
lion otgypsum in some, and the carbonate OF
lime in others, hespeak at once confidence.
he principal ingredient of many beds. the
green sand is OF known efficacy, but highly
recommended by the Professor. In the
course OF his argument he makes the follow
,ag quotation from the Report OF his brother,
Professor ii. ID. II ogers, on the geology of
| New Jersey. 81 "
When we behold a luxuriant harvest
gathered from helds,-where the soil was
originally nothing but sand, and find i, all
uue 10 mineral sparsely disseminated in the
Sanhy beach OF the ocean, we must look ~ iih
, eAuitinS admiration upon the benefits upon
vegetation, conferred by few scattered
gfanuies of this unique and peculi,r sub.
stance. The small amount OF green sand
dispersed through the common sand, is able
as we behold, To effect immeasurabIe bene
h's IN spite OF great preponderance of the
other material, which we are ,suybt In re-
gard as by itself SO generally preiudicisI 10
iertility. This ought 10 exhibit an encour-
aging picture 10 those districts not directly in
me limits OF The mari tract, where some of
'he strata possess the green substance, in
sensible proportion. II expands most mates
riaiiy the limits OF The territory where mari
ing may be introduced, and points TO many
beds as ferlilizing. which otherwise ould be
deemed wholly ineficacious."
Professor X. gives the following results of
some experiments made by him Oil the green
sand maris:-
DR.. Corbin Brarton's-Silica and Alu
nina, &c. 90
Carbonate of Lime, 10
Green sand, 80
Gypsum, .
Waiker 1omlin's Lo,Der !Strofum-Si.
lica and Alumina, 60
Carbonate of Lime and gypsum. truce.
Green sand, 40
Conrad Webb's-Silica and Alumina, 80
Carbonate of Lime, IS
Green sand, 25
HIM H. Roane's, Lower Stratum-Si-
lica. Alumina. Sc. so
Carb. Lime, 4
Green sand, 46
Gypsum, g
Iar6y Lo,Oer Stratum Silica, ALUMNI
ma, &c. 10
Carb. Lime, 3
Green sand, 81
DO. Upper Stratum-Gypsecus earth,
containing from TO 10 per cent. of
gypsum, and ircm 10 to 10 per cent
of green sand
Berkeiey-Siiica, Alumina, SC. SO
Green sand, so
In little while when eur modes OF trans-
portaiion are cheapened, these valuable marls
treated IN past numbers, will be easily sup
| piled TO those sections OF our State, beyond
| The reach at the limestone region, which
ranges little east Of the s. w. Mountain.
REGION BETWEEN THE HEA
OF TIDE, AND THE w ESTERN
FLANK OF THE BLUE RIDGE.
This is an Interesting division The Stale
The first portion alluded 10 by Professor r.,
is the BituHinous Coal Field of which he
gives long and interesting account Too
little IS known 10 give it proper geographical
boundaries, more than sort Of general de,
sigGation OF its position and relation 10 the
| other strata.
The sand stones and !heir associated coal
seams, which make up the formation before
US, rest in narrow trough in the primary
strata Whether the group contains coal
throughout its whole extent, is vel 9ues-
ton, which must be determined nv minute
investigation, "Fraces OF good bituminous
coal are detected al intervals over space oil
near thirty five miles in length, from the
South Anna near its mouth, 10 near the D.
pomaitox river but there is nothing 10 as.
sure us that the sand stone in which the Goa
! occurs, does not range at least in some di
rections, beyond the Limits where the coal
itself ihins away aid disappears" In the
ceRtraI part-wiIhin few miles on either
side OF James River, the coal appears to be
Ihickest. A; the estates Of Mr.. Wickham
on Tuckahoe Greek, the width of the Goa
tract isabOut four miles. iteXrands in widti
as followed TO the South side of James River
being ia section drawn through the Black
Heath Mines, probably eight miles across
from The Eastern to the Western ouIcrop o
the primary strata, composing the floor upor
which the coal, bearing group reposes. "Tb,
probability is, that this IS near the centre o
the basin, and The widest part OF il, il we ar
to Judge from the fact that coal exists i;
greater thickness hefe than a! any place mort
or south. 10 his report last winter, PROBES
sor X. said That The examinations bad no
been sufficiently minute 10 ascertain the tlu
extent and boundaries of the bituminous Goa
} field; but that il was ascerlsined TO De ia
more extensive than be had supposed
The coal seams are quite variable in thicl,
ness. lr the deep shalt, and adjacent mine
! in Chesterfield, the great lower mass repos
; ing within two feet 0f The primary rock
! estimated TO be 40 feet between the upper
! lower surface. Above this, there is ano! he
seam FIVE or six feet thick, separated by
} few feet Of coal shdle. In some of the mine
: third still thinner band Of coal - found be
tween these Al the western side of the be-