Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1837-06-29

rock consisting OF cemeuted fragments q
shells occurs at various points on the caster
portion OF the Miocene District"
The Professor describes the following in
teresting phenomena in the structure OF YorL
cliff: 'Thnugh The direction OF the fossil
beds IS nearly horizontal, several Of the stra
tact rock are composed Of transverse layet.
parallel To each other, generally dipping TO.
wards the North, and max ing an angle oiiii.
teen or twen;y degrees with the horizon
| HE course OF these lamine sometimes differ,
IN adjoining strata, and in some places the
ooi'q",'y diminshes gradually, until the Ia
! mime become horizontal thus presenting a
remarkable resemblance tn the appearances
described by Lyeli and others, as E xis,ing i'm
the Crag OF England. The phenomenon
here described, viewed in connection with
! .he raSmeniary structure Of the rock, and
| The general distribution OF brok en- shells over
| The lower extremity Of the Peninsula, would
seem to Indicate the former agency in this
dhtrIci oil coast currents and an ocean surf
me Deds 0f shelly matter comminuted by
these means, and subsequently elevated a
Dove the level Of the tide, would he gradually
! cemenied into rocky mass hy the cry,,aii,
cation between the PARTICLES OF such portions
OF The cnirareous matter, as the rain " hen
just fallen was capable of dis,oIving. The
solvent power oi rain being chiefly due 10
Incomes united in its descent through the
cir. would he lost, az the LIQUID percolated
through the shelly strata, and thus the cal
cdreous matter which il had seized. would
be gradually deposited in the crystalline
form.
Shells and Zoophytes, the bones Of cata-
ceous animals, and the teeth ofsharks, are of
very frequent occurrence in the fossiliferous
beds, says Professor X "but no remains
Of fresh tcater or land animals have as vet
been discovered"
HE PARTON of the State lyi ing on the Eas-
tern eide OF the Chesapeake, is so far as hith-
erto explored, extremely simple !; the surface
strata only have been examined.
Hitherto no beds OF mari or fossil shells
have been discovered. Professor Rogers
thinks IL not improbsbl that at no very con.
siderable depth beyond that of the ordinary
wells OF the country, deposites calculated TO
prove OF much economical value, might he
attained First after superficial sands and
sandy clays OF the country, bed Of clay of
tenacious quality is found, impregnated with
SAIL, communicating TO water uh,ained from
~ brackish flavor. Then a more arena
cious bed occurs, beyond which no search
has been made
he wafer OF The Miocene mari district,
whether Sf wells or springs, presents nearly
as great variety as the mineral beds from
which ii Issues" Ia The more Eastern re-
gIon II IS strongly ippregnated with common
salt and in shell mari eighhsrhoods, there
IS marked proPorti IN of caIcareous mat
ter. he transparency and copiousness Of
the latter, and the carbonate Of lime they hold
dissolved, ally them nearly 10 the limestone
springs OF other sections The common salt
with "hir! they are imbued constituting
distinct feature. The ferruginous clay and
sand beds impress a slight chally beaie Char
actcr upon the water, and occasionally i'm
part sufficient impregnstion Of iron 10
make il Of medicinal utility.
Nearly all the water IL hard in this region
lIom the calcareous and other matter j, holds
IN solution. Boiling remedies the evil
"car Donate Of lime is precIated, first rem
derng the liquid cloudy, and subsequently
collecting on The sides and bottom f.he yes
Sc! in the form OF a thin incrustalion.' In
uses requiring the mari water free oflhis pei
culiari,y, il should be previously boiled.
"1he Carbonate acid which is the chief sol>
vent OF the caIcareous matter, being eXpell-
ed by heat, suffers the latter To separate
from the liquid" From these facts il APP
pears that water from the strata Of gravel or
pure clay, will in general, from its great
purity, best suit employment in the arts.
Professor Rogers gives the following results
OF an analyst as an example OF the kind Of
imprcgnalion usual in the water OF this dis
! irict. The water was taken from a spring
near Williamsburg. In 400 cubit inches of
this water, the aggregate OF solid matter was
found to DO lO4,S9 grs.-cOnsisling as fol-