Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-04-12
From the Pontotoc Tunes.
GEOLOGY OF NORTH MISSISSIPPI

GEOLOGY OF North MISSISSIPPI.
Mr.. LELAND.--i send you a spec
linen ofan exceedingly interesting nat
ural curiosity. Its a portion ola tree
completely and beautifully fossilized,
found about three -fourths of a mile
from this place. 1t was discovered by
young man Of this neighborhood,
whilst hunting, and so little has it been
disintegrated and mutilated by natu-
raj agents, that he at once suspected its
true character. Upon being shown a
small portion, and seeing Immediately
that it was petriied wood, proceeded
to the spot, and was agreeably surpri-
sed with its perfect state. 1t lies upon
the surface of steep hill, about half
way up the side, at an angle Of about
twenty degrees, and is nearly twenty
three feet in length, and three feet in
diameter. 1t is broken off near the
root. and presents at that extremity all
the characteristics Of trees generally
while the upper portot is fractured Ion
gitudinally as beautifully as the straitest
chestnut when halved md quartered by
the wedge. Portions of the interior
are covered With the most beautiful
crystalization; md the heart, sap, bark,
and fibre Of the wood are remarkably
perfect. Upon reflection, a, near as
| can discover, it is a species Of Hick-
DRY, and is silicious petrilaction. |
have come to the conclusion that it did
not become fossilized at the location,as
now found because Of the absence Of the
branches and roots as it would seem
probable that the same petrilying agent
which caused the fossiization Of the
trunk, would operate in the same man
ner upon those portions. However, it
might possibly be they were removed
before the action of that agent; or be-
come disintegrated and reduced to
powder by natural agents operating
since its petrifaction. Upon the same
hill, and near the tree, are numerous
red sandstone rocks, evidently placed
there by diluvial agents; and from the
fact that fossilized trees and plants are
common in similar formations, which
are regularly strati6ed. am led to the
conclusion it was brought to It's present
situation by the same cause at the
same period, and being of much
greater solidity, it was not so ca
silly broken and decomposed by the &C
ton of water. The fact of its lying
upon the surface of the ground, does
not, in my own opinion, preclude this
idea.
l look upon this discovery, in its ge-
illogical bearing, as one of the most in
teresting and valuable, that has been
made in this State. Only one instance
has come to my knowledge, ofa similar
fossil being found in this region of the
country, and that is mentioned by Pro-
fessor Ingraham,in his "South West
which he describes as being coated on
the outer portions with large brown
crystals in size and color resembling
garnets-buf in what location it is tc
/ be seen, he does not mention.
, l cannot close my letter without ex.
pressing deep regret that so little i:
known ofthe Geology of Northern Mis-
, sissppi' Presenting a field for inter
esting and highly instructive ipvestiga
ton, it is strange that SO little interest i
: taken in the matter. Possessing a va
: ried soil composed of the richest ingre
! dients, it only remains to bring to til,
aid of our farmers the common precept
t taught by Agricultural Geology, to en-
: able them to mix and harmonic tn
? various materials within their reach, t,
: produce the happiest results: Man,
e are at loss to know why their lands
j, which produce first rate crops of cor
e will not yield a good crop of e0heat.-
d Place the results Of a Biologists in
Q vestigations before them, and they wi