Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1837-07-27
MISCELLANY.
From fac Richmond Compiler.
GEOLOGY OF VIRGINIA
(NuMBER vIII.)
Sand stones oos'laying ihs Eastern bounda
rg IF the Primary Rocks.

ry II the Primary Rocks.
Along tho eastern outcrop OF the urinary
rocks, and spme distance below the head of
tide, sand stones Of vaiious coarseness exhib
rs raswseives. Near Fredericksburg these
sncRs are seen, the strata in neatly hori
zontai direction upon The edges oil The pr;m "
rs rock. At Falmouth, The latter forms the
beds on the river, the former rising upon
chem horizonthhy. AT the head of Pamun
key they appear dipping s.eeply to the west
they are met with below Richmond, near
petersburg, and at several points in Chester
Elesd-- They also occur in the unper part al
isrecasville and in large portion Of Bruins
wick Counties.
This rock is composed of mixture of
quartz and te!dSpar, in rather loose cohesion
the feidspar often decaying rapidly on ex-
posture. la some localities the sand stone has
flne close texture and is employ ed in bull
ding Qnarries near fredericksburg and
on Aqua Creek, present very thick beds OF
homogeneous rock Of This description
which is used largely in building -Lignities
slicihed wood and vegetable impressions are
often found in this stone.
In connexion with these sand stones and
Ihe rocks of the coal measures, there occur
beds of earth containing much calcareous
matter. 10 Prince Edward these claws and
semi-rccks are soliberally irnpregnated as TO
Furnish a valuable mari.
Qffhs Primary Rocks.
The eastern Of this portion of the state
comedies with transverse line crossing our
principal rivers al their lowest falls. AT
these points various specimeDsoi eneiss roc K s
and granite are exposed, valusble as building
Enoterials Along the river, at, and above
ans city, these strata are beautifully exposed
snclining OF various angles eastward. The
rock IS al a grayish while gneiss, of great
density, and OF such degree of bardness and
ioughness combined, says Professor r. as
20 impart the double advantage Of DURABILITY
and facility OF bsihg wrought Feldsbar s.
quartz predominates, with dark mica sparse
~ distributed, which give 10 il ligh, grey
color. AT this time this rock is exhibited
most fayordbly during the operations of the
James River and kana~ha Company along
the Canal, and Messrs. Mountain and Lyon
have opened several quarries OF the most
beautiful specimens. The whole vicinity a.
bounds 10 this most valuable material. At
the falls OF The Appomattox near Petersburg,
there IS we'll characterised variety Of gran.
lie. In The upper part of Goochland and in
several counties, about like distance above
the falls, gneIss of a very compact texture
prevails quarry at Columbia furnishes
admirable buileing mSterial.-"A gneiss of
very peculiar description occurs in w Ills
mountain, Buckingham, associated with sew
eral interesting minerals. The rock is gen
orally OF rich pink or purple, owing 10 a
large portion Of oxide Of iron disseminated
through il, making il very heavy. The mica
and augie, which appear 10 be large compo-
nents OF the mass, give il a very brilliant
aspect, especially when recently fractured
II is sometimes studded with minute cells
containing bematalic oxide Of iron Nearly
The Whole Of the principal peak of the nouns
tam 10 made up OF this beautiful rock, which
rIsing 10 the form Of wedge TO The height OF
several hundred feet. presents narrow wall
Of nearly vertical strata along the summit -
Professor K. thinks that this material. from
Hs indestructible nature, aud colour, will be
some day well suited 10 building, and much
used
"a Toe base Of The mountain, schorl oc.
ours IN great abundance, crystalIised in long
pris'ms OF quartz. Asbsstus and kyanile arc
sis9 Ionoa together, with several other min
erals chiefly interesting in a scientific poipt
OF view"