The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-12-29
The Charleston Phosphates.

An interesting article on this subject ap-
pears in the Rural CarOlinian, for October,
from which we condense the following &C
count:
The deposit is superficial and PECULIAR
The nearest approach to it exists in South
America, where large deposits of bones are
found, of such character that if they had
been decomposed, they would have formed a
phosphate of lime similar 20 the South Car
DINA deposit. Professor Agassiz conjectures
that the phosphates of Charleston are the
result of decomposition of vast deposit of
such bones Whole acres are thickly studded
with fossils. Among these are the bones Of
the mammoth, mastodon, megatharium, my
lodon, megalonyx, plocodon, various saurians,
the shark and many other fishes, also of the
horse, dog, sheep, OK and hog, differing little
from our present domestic animals. Pieces
of pottery, stone, hatchets, arrow-heads and
other implements of human skill, together
with one or two human bones have been
found.
To the scientific man this extraordinary
deposit is of great interest. In an econom-
ical point of view its value to the agricul-
ture of the South is immense, as it contains
the means of restoring to fertility our ex-
hausted soils. 1t was known long ago to
the planters in the vicinity and to men of
science, but only few years ago was its
real value suspected. The marls of Charles
ton entirely different from the phosphate
rocks have long been highly priced as fer
tilizers, containing as they do from six to
fifteen per cent. of phosphate of lime. The
working of these mari beds led in connection
with another circumstance to the use of the
phosphate rock That other circumstance
was the reading of little book called
-" Ansted's Lectures on Practical Geology"
This work mentions the fact that very
extensive deposits of phosphate rocks exist
near London, which are turned to good &C
count as fertilizers. This first opened the
eyes of scientific men, and led to careful
analysis of the Charleston phosphates, which
showed from fifty to seventy-fve per cent.
of phosphate of lime, and from six to seven
per cent. of organic matter.
The Charleston deposit is supposed to
cover an area of thirty square miles. 1t
crops out on the banks of the Ashley, Ash.
epoo and Combahee rivers, but is developed
most heavily on the first named. The stra-
tum varies in thickness from six to sixteen
inches, and occupies nearly horizontal po-
sition. The rocks or nodules vary in size
from that of hickory nut to foot in dia-
meter, and are Of every conceivable irregu-
lar shape. Tney are water worn and per-
forated with holes. A fresh fracture in any
of them discloses the forms of shells and
bones, and emts fetid odor The yield of
these rocks is from five hundred to one thou
sand tons per acre, which would give twenty
millions of tons as the probable yield of the
whole bed. There is no doubt of the agri;
cultural value of this deposit. 1t supplies
just what the farmer needs. Its compost
ton is that of recent bone deprived of most
of its organic matter. 1t is not a mineral
phosphate, but in its crude state when ground
fine is equal to calcined bone in fertilizing
power. 1t contains from six to seven per
cent. of organic matter containing nitrogen,
equivalent to one half of one per cent. of
ammonia. An excellent superphosphate can
be made of it. The new phosphate is worth
at rough estimate ten dollars ton at the
works. Numerous companies are engaged
in working the beds, which are known to the
public through their various advertisements
In conclusion We would ask the question
of moneyed men in this city, whether it
would not be prqftabl0 10 import the crude
rock and manu- 'cture here good fertilizer
to meet the demand of the extensive section
of country which finds at Wilmington mar
ket for its productions?