Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1837-06-15

The second division is comprised bet wee
the Hypothetical line Just named, and Oh
western flank Of the Blue Ridge-incIudip
the range, which the Professor says are i'm
properly denominaied the Alleghany noun
tain In Franklin and Patrick counties. TIL
Professor here exposes the errors which Ger
tam geologists have committed in deiinin:
this region. Mr.. Mcclure, who was ,h
irst to point out The great geological divis
IONS of North America. was of opinion, tina
The rocks OF the Blue Ridge and narrow al
Jacent belt Of territory, should he regarded
as belonging TO the primary sys,em of geolu
gists-while large portion of the area he
tween this and the belt, ut unequvocall,
primary character, is 10 he looked upon a,
equivalent Ia the old red sandstone rocks OF
Europe. Others have with less accuracy
compounded all these strata under the sweep.
ing denomination OF primsry-thus giving &c
this extensive and diversified region, the dis
tinct appelaiion Of the primary region oil
virginia. This view is given by the au-
thors OF the Map of our State, saws the Pro.
lessor, the geolog ical sketch alta he'd To which
describes the Blue Ridge ms the Uesfern
Boundary offhe Primary! A more recent
writer, proiessing Ia form opinions from &C &.
tuai observation, proposes, as an appropriate
name for the Blue Ridge, the TILE of"At-
laniic Primary Chain" The Professor re-.
grets that while SO little has been done TO-
wards minute survey of this complex and
diversified section, writer's should have OBJ
serves go little caution in applying names,
indulging 50 much the spirit of superficial
and has,y generalization. So far from the
whole area in question being Of primary
Character, observations demonstrate that the
extent Of the rocks TO which the title may be
applied, form but small part Of the whole
surface OF this division (; and while II is rem
dered doubtful whether any truly primary
rocks occur in the Blue Ridge, il is estab-
lished that there exists in that range, rs veil
az throughout very extensive district in
the east, sandstones, conglomerateS, and 9th.
CIR sediT entary deposics, unquestionahly re.
terrible 20 a different period of formation.
Under this division, the gold region, re-
markahle for its extent and richness, and
the bituminous coal field, of Chesterfield
Goochiand, Powha.an and Prince Edw ard
are cIassed, which, with the slales and soap
stones, iron ores, limes.ones, and other min
erals hich il includes, makes il one of grea,
interest.
The third division commences near the
Western flank Of the Blue Ridge, extending
westward in Berkely, Frederick, Shenan-
doah and Rockingham, 10 the base of the Sc
yeral ranges called the Little North noun
tains, il Augusta, and Rock bridge, incIud-
ing all The Valley, nearly 90 the base al N orth
Mountain, and in the counties further south
occupying an area which Cannot he defined
accurately until the detailed survey is had
Limestone strata OF vast extent, hydraulic
lime, marble, travertine or deposite mari,
slate iron ore, and in the south lead ore are
among the valuable materials found in this
Iivision.-Proiessor Rogers declines the APP
e l. 81. .f
which this region is composed, "because
determine their trae geological relations"
and refers them to the oldest OF that group oil
rocks in which organic remains or fossils
have been discovered.
The fourth is less susceptible OF definite
limits than the last mentioned-the surface
being occupied almost entirely by chains Of
Mountains, and little having been done TO-
wards an exploration. In general, ii com
prises the country between the Western il
mits Of the great Valley formation, and the
front Ridge Of the Allegheny, the Green
hrier and Muddy Creek Mountains TO de-
fine iis boundary further south is not practl-
cable in the absence OF accurate data which
the detailed survey will afford. "Besdes
the interest in scientific point o! view
which attaches TO this region, on account Of
the peculiar structure Of lis mountains, the
siupendous natural sections which il exposes,
and the astonishing abundance and variety OF
the fossil impressions found among lis rocks,
il claims a high importance from the great
value Of lis materials economically consider
ed. Its anthracite, pseudo or
semi>biluminous, and bituminous Goals, its
limestone., sandstones and grits, md iron
ores. and its numerous thermal, chalybeat
and sulphurated springs, constitute collec-.
lively an amount Of mineral treasures oil
which few ether territoiie OF The same OK
tent, are so largely possessed" The profess
sor does net venture 10 apply any precise &C.
illogical designation TO this singular!y inter
eating region, but its marked peculiaTitIPs
will distinguish il from the division previous
" described.
The fifth division stretches from the Eas'
tern limits OF the former, 10 the Western &
South western boundaries of the State, pre-
sentipe an area OF vast extent, Astounding in
materials oftho highest economical utility.
This territory is characterized by nearly
horizontal strata, gently dipping towards the
west having unequivoCal reference 10 the
group Of secondary rocks-and may be styl-
ed the secondary bituminous coal region oil
Virginia, from its numerous rich beds oil
biIuminous coal. This favored region also
possesses the additional treasure Of a saline
formation, Of great extent towards its west
ern boundary-and If the limits are not ina
properly assigned, similar formation, &C
companIed with gypsum, and other valuable
minerals, in the south west corner Of the
State. :,
This, concluding the general division, F."
we must defer commencing the consIdera-
ton OF the "Tsrtiary Mari Region" the
first in order till our next,