Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1837-07-13
MESCEELA ANY.
From the Richmond Compiler.
GEOLOGY OF VIRGINIA.
(NUMBER VIZ
EOCENE OR LOWER TER7Yl5R y
NJ 4RT

Our last concluded with description Of
fhe Miocene straits OVERLAPPING the Eoceue.
Tae latter comes under particular considera-
tioa oow. Follow Professor Rogers, the
description and facts relative TO this, will re.
fer Themselves principally Ia localities on the
j dsaes and Pamunky rivers. JUDGED our
articles have been almost entirely an alb
straci from the report Of that skilful geoogisi;
and his matter is SO voluminous relative To
Eastera Virginia, that we could find nothing
10 add from any other source. The data
furnished 10y these localities, however, may
he regarded from general geological anal ysis
as applying 10 the Eocene district at large.
The Professor says, "No region Of Eastern
virginia holds out more certain promises Of
reward 10 future investigation, and none will
reap from the research more lasting aud i'm
por,a.t benefits"
Description Of The EJesne Strata ofthe
Pamunkey.
"Rising above the water line AT Northbu-
ry, the upper surface OF the deposite is seen
ascending with Il very gentle slope, as il ex-
tends higher up the river, until at New Gas.
tie, II attains an elevation of 25 feet above
medium tide" 1t then continues with bu,
slight deviation of height, from the water
line, 10 aear its termination, at the junction
Of the North and South Anna, where il dips
or thins cut until lost, Immediately on the
verge OF the coarse sand stone, appearing
there for the first time in massy form
Where the flats do not intervene, the deposit
appears on both sides Of the river, CORES.
ponding in position 10 its place in the river
cliffs Of the same vicinity.
On the South side of the river Professor
*. made an examination OF the depo site al
Northbury, Hampstead, Retreat, Washing
ton BasSeps, w alker Tomlin's Mrs Ruff
fms, MIR. Roane's, and Mr.. Wickham's,
where 1t terminates. Specimens have been
collected from other localities on The river,
or at tho base of the second level! on the
north side at Chericoke, Captain Hills, MT
Nixon's, Piping Tree, New Castle, DIR.
Braxton's, aud MIR. Fox's. Specimens from
other points, and distant from the river, have
also been obtained by Professor r. The
following arrangement OF strata exists to-
wards the Southern boundary the ieposite.
commencing al the top.
LIST. Greenish yellow earth, free Of shells.
hut interpreted with Casts and impressions
indicating that shells were once Undecided.
Suiphate OF lime or gypsum occurs in crys-
ea's, sometimes OF considerable size, inter
spread throughout this stratum, which is
composed principally of coarse siIecious sand
IN which are blended granules of green sand
or s'licate Of iron. The thickness Of this bed
varies from two 10 five feet.
End. n layer of dark greenish blue or
brown earth, which when dried, generally
falls to pieces, and is discovered 10 consist
manly OF coarse siiiciOus sand, and green
sand, together with shells generally in a
broken condition. The shelly matter occa-
sI0naily composes large portion Of The mass
and again il is hardly perceiyabIe. Al
Hampstead, the calcareous ingredient is a
oundant, and finely divided One or more
thin layers Of the oys;er she'll peculiar TO the
iower tertiary region occurs in this stratum
frequently, ga fact remarkably exemplifed
at Piping Tree, and for nearly mile fur
Their down the river, where the iaver of shells
forms hard rocky shelf, laid bare al low
tide, and presenting large and perfect speci-
mems OF the fossil oyster in the midst of the
greenish stratum just described.
AT Chericeke, the stratum rises 10 about
four feet above Inc water, and az ascertaned
by digging, descends to seven feet below the
river shore.
"Higher up the stream, these strata attain
agrester elevation, and subjacens beds moi
apparent at either Of the points above desert
bed, como gradually into view In these
localities we usually find -
list. layer Of dark grayish green Of
grreyish brown color, containing mullitudei
OF shells, generally in perfect state The
FOSSIL oyster she'll, already referred to, aboun
ding chiefly in the upper part ofthe stratum.
beneath this, but frequently separated by nj
instinct line, we frequently find: -
End: A layer Of darker hue, containing
leSs shelly matter, and the shells chiefly o
the smaller kinds and
5rd- stratum Of the same appearance
in which no calcsrsous matter Can be dis
covered"
All those strata contain much green sand
In the upper beds, the granuies Of this sub