The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1858-11-16
state Ge.ioxicaI Heport.

state GesiowicaI Report.
The Report of the Geological Survey of the
State OF Iowa, embracing the results of the
Investigations made during portions of the
years 1885, $50 and 81, made by James Hall,
State Geologist, and J. d. Whitney. Chemist
and Mineralogist, which has been some time
in press, is now in the hands of the binder.
and ia about six weeks will be ready for dis.
tribution. IN advance copy lies before us.
1t comprises what will constitute volume
hrss of the completed report. 1t is in two
parts, " Geology" and palaontology,n
which will be bound separately, the whole
making IA pages, aside from the index and
plates. There are two maps accompanying
it, one, diagram of the lead-bearine crew.
ces near Dubuque, and the other peoloci.
cal map OF the eastern half OF the State. The
plates (aside from the wood engraving. moor
porsted in Ne text are partly lithograph AID
partly steel. The book is we'll brought out.
and is credit TO the State and the American
press. The slight examination which we
have been able to make Of its contents. in.
duces us to believe that the matter is WORTHY
OF the style, and that all that has been an,ioi.
pated from the eminent qualifications of the
gentlemen who have prepared it, has been
fully accomplished. The complete examna
t'on of the State, and the publication Of the
ascertsined results, in the manner begun,
will prove at once source Of pride and of
material advantage, as well as contribute
greatly to the advancement Of learning and
science.
The articles concerning the several coun-
ties, so far as examinations have been made.
respectively conclude with remarks under the
head OF Economic Geology" Though we
shall hereafter make liberal quotations from
this book, we have only space to-day for the
following extracts, the first being remarks
under the head Of
ECONOMIC GEOLOGY or LEE COUNTY.
Buildtng and Fidgging Stones Nearly
every part OF this county is supplied with
good building rock, easily accessible, and
costing at the present time no more than the
labor OF quarrying. The northeastern nor.
ton OF the county is supplied from the beds
OF erinoidal limestone which outcrop in the
bluG on the south side Of Skunk river. ma
well as on Lost creek in the vicinity of vii.
sons mill. This rock il usually a soft prn-
nufar limestone in strata from six TO fifteen
inches thick, easily wrought, and well adapt
cd for the ordinary purposes for which lime
stones are required. Some Of the LAYERS are
semicrys'aiiine and SUSCEPTIBLE of good pol.
,sh, and may be used as marble. The ke-
okuk limestone also furnishes an abundant
supply of good building material, and is ac.
cessible along the bluffs of the Mississippi
from Montrose to keokuk, and also one and
hall miles southeast Of Denmark, and at
several points ON Skunk and Des Moines riy-
ers. The interior portion Of the county.
however, il mostly supplied from the Con.
cretionary limestone which outcrops on both
Sugar creeks, affording an abundant SUNNY
Tor the middle and western portions of the
county. This bed also affords an excellent
Tagging stone in the vicinity OF Denmark.
where the upper myers uru kUmwJ hat arena.
ceous and from two to four inches in thick.
meas.
Quicklime. -Qnicklimc is made from all
the limestone above named, though the Con-
cretionary is undoubtedly the best adapted TO
TINS purpose. Az keokuk, the city is mainly
supplied with this material from the upper
myers OF the keokuk ,imestones. some law
ers OF tins bed, as well as q portion Of the
Irinoidai limestone, afford very good lime.
but they usually contain too much arenace.
Gus or slliceous material, and require 10 be
selected with considerable care when used
for the manufacture of lime.
Clay and Sdad.--An inexbaussihle sun
ply OF these materials for the manufacture Of
brick may be obtained from the Drift ar
Boulder formation in ui parts of the county.
The clays arc accessible everywhere nj a short
distance below the surface; and the sands
which are mostly in the middle and lower
part Of the deposit, may be obtained in the
bluffs OF the streams and also in their beds.
Fire clay, suitable for the manufacture OF
IRE brick and pottery, may usually be obtain
Cd from the underolay Of the lower Coal
seam, ousliers OF which are found ut several
points in this county.
Few counties in the State are more boun-
tI'aiiy supplied with all the elements of ma
teral wealth, than the county Of Lee: hay-
ins an abundant supply Of building stone,
timber and water, and asoil of unsurpassed
fertility. Although no valuable deposits Of
mineral wealth have been found within the
limits OF the county, nevertheless her citizens
possess mine Of wealth in the rich soil
everywhere oyersprsading the surface, of far
more Importance ard greater value than the
richest mineral deposits, accompanied as
such deposits usually are with barren and
unprodnetye soil.
To those who are desrous of ascertaining
whether coal'may be found at any particular
locality, would sugges that by simply bor.
ing oown 10 the limestone, the question will
be definitely settled, as no workable coal
seam has ever been found below the Conere-
ttonary limestone. From tho character Of
the outliers of,coal in this county which have
fallen under my observation, il il not prob-
able that they Will prove to be Of any grea,
economical valve
With reference to the prospects Of Gold in
the State we observe only the following re-
marks, at the close Of the FIRST part
While these sheets arc passing through the
press, many statements are going the rounds
Of the newspapers in regard to the occurrence
Of gold IN Iowa, according TO which ,hr
metal exists In large quantities in some Of
the censra counties Of the State. II NAV
therefore be advisable 10 state, that nc rooks
such a., IN other parts Of the world, have
bsen found 10 be auriferous, occur within
thu rApi0n mentioned ar m far ~ xsa 49,