Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1843-07-26

MINOR POINTS. ISpIoo.vAr MARL"
FORMATION.
Among the mauy sources or causes oi
risdirecfion which have embarrassed or
impeded thy progress Ia searching for mari
in South Carolina, there have occurred so
many cases of ono general class, that it is
found necessary 10 publish the following
remarks with tho view of preventing fu.
,ure unnecessary trouble on this score, TO
all parties concerned. allude 10 the
many supposed discoveries Of deposites Of
mari, Of which specimen,s have been sent
10 me TO be examined and analyzed, or
which have been induced TO visit BY er-
roneous reports, and which deposiies a
very little labor in digging could have
shown 10 abe discoveries 10 be tho used
lime of old and forgotten indigo vats. or
some other equally artificial deposi,es, not
less limited in amount, and of which che
,rue characters were equally obvious. or
open to easy detection. In sundry cases
have been called upon to examine what
proved 10 be such deposiies, either IN stu,
at much waste Of my lime aud labor, or
Otherwise much 10 the ,ronblo Of the pro-
prie.ors in obtaining aud forwarding spe-
cimens. Several new supplies Of the
"Indieo-vat mari" hsve very recently been
received. Aud as ;here must be many
thousands of such forgotten deposites YET
undiscovered in South Carolina, (thai is,
one or more on every plantation on which
indigo was formerly made,) il may be by
no means work Of superrosaiion for l:.e
to suggest the easy aud simple means by
which all sucb artificial and limited depos-
ties may be distinguished from tie natural
and abundant, and also both kinas from
all pou- -calcareors ea,ths.
When any earth or stone is suspected
10 be mari, or 10 be calcareous. the easy
and ready mode 10 reSt it, is to apply n
few drops Of muriaiic acid. or any other
strong acid. Twenty FIVE cents worth of
uauriu,ic acid would be enough 20 test thus
1000 specimens. If no other acid be at
hand, strong vinegar will serve, provided
that, if the specimen be very hard, II be
first pounded or crushed. If the earth in
question is calcarcous. {as mari or lime
stone.) such application OF acid will pro-
duce 10y the disengagemcu, Of carbonic
acid gas,) al Immediate and violent ef.
fervescence. which i, will be impossible to
mistake. A mistake however. IS frequent.
iy made by new expe7imeniers 10 this
manner. 1.-THE acid, gas indeed would
wster) be poured on dry clay, or earth noi
calcareous, tho atmospheric air enclosed
IN the pores or crevices will give place to
the liquid, and escape in air.bu5bics, which
may be mistaken for very Sigh. diseu-
gagemenl Of carbonic acid gas. The mois.
lening OF tho earth with water. before
touching with acid, will guard agains: this
slight source Of error.
This testing by acid decides as to wha,
is calcareous or uei, but Of course does not
Distinguish between natural and artificial
formations; and for rnnuure, The latter, so
far as n ymay hold OUT, would be just US
service able rs the former, provided they
are as rich. Therefore, when tho char
acicr Of any earth has been tested aud
found 10 be calcareous, the next exanina-
ton needed is tho, chemical analysis Of
o spe linen of The frs, spade-lull, bup TO
ascertain whether tho quantity or extent
be considerable. by digging and removing
the earth. and applying j, as manure.
Nearly all the artificial deposiles (indigo
vats, transported limestone, or other
kinds which have been called 10 decide
upon, might have been dug through and
exhausted In half an hour, and the most
extensive Of them would no, have supplied
single cart 70. three days. Therefore, IN
all such cases Of doubt, after ascer,aiains
the earth TO be cafcareous, let the pfopric-
TO put grubbing hoe and spade TO work,
and cart if need be. The longer the
supply may last. so much The more 10 his
proiit, aud be will not fail 10 learn, either
in few minutes or few days. whether
the deposile be natural aud abundant, or
artificial, and Of course very limited ia ex-
tent. .If,hc latter be the case. the propric.
tor will need no aid; il the former, then
will most willingly receive his specimea,
aud unalyzs it aud report TO him its
strength.
Even in regard 10 natural jepnsiles
bona fac mari, it is desirable and pecessa.
ry that the specimens sent for my exami-
Ia,ion should be correctly designated and
labelled, 30 that tue precise locality and
important circumstances shall appear, aud
also the person be known who selected tho
specimen. and who irresponsible for The
accuracy of the description. Without such
nccompaniments Of description and au,hen-
ticnlion. the rcpor, Of the analysis Of a
specimen nigh, serve to rnislead rather
than to inform or benefit the public. Very
diicren. from The course hero recommcn-
ded, specimens Of ear,hs and, minerals
have been sent to me forsexaminaiion,
without any proper designation Of The
kind, locality, or position in The beds, and
sometimes even whhou, the name Of the
sender. OF course il would he throwing
away any labor Of investigation TO bes,ow
j, on such indefinite subjects.
/ trus, that these remarks will notsbe
miscons,rued or ascribed to either than the
true and avowod motive. While desirous
-,r o., ,,,o;J q nj "a r,,,o.J ,,h,x, r,o.,