The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-07-03


THURSDAY EVEN'G, JULY 3. 1877,
Geology and Nineralogy of Virginia
from. our Travelling Correspondent
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS,
.ssfr NJ June %, 1873. 4.
This being my birthday anniversary
and | being an old "fossil'' myself, and in
clined, somewhat, to 60 down into tn
Loaoer Siluidn Strata for my youthful
"reminiscences, l send the following to TIN
JOURNAL readers N sAss. s.
For the benefit Of the readers of TIL
JOURNAL, out Of Virginia, and those no
acquainted with the geology and
mi neralogy of the state, with it,
other natural treasures, and to aiC
all who wish to examine different localities
with view to investment or settlement,
| have gathered together, in brief, from
the reports Of Professor 7. S. Ridgway and
Professor j. P. Lesley, distinguished
biologists, some of the more important
facts as they are found in different portions
of Virginia. t ~
This article, and collection of facts, will
serve as convenient basis for reference
and remark, in future articles, on the re.
sources and inducements of Virginia and
Professor Ridgway remarks, that the
geological formations Of the two Virgin.
las, correspond with those of Pennsyiva-
MIA, of which they form an extension.
This identity of the different strata has
been fully traced by Professors William B.
and III. d.. Rogers, in their exhaustive
treaties on the geology of Virginia and
Pennsylvania, respectively. l have, how
ever, adopted in this report, and In refer
ences to the geological map accompanying
it, the nomenclature Of the New York ge-
ology. s' ~.
Passing over the valuable hills of grew
granite, which are found near to Rich.
mond, and also the extensive beds of fer.
tilizlng mari, which are found along the
line of road, in its passage through Han
over county and also the gold bearing
belt in Louisa county, the roofing states Of
Albemarle, the kaolin in Augusta, and the
hydraulic cement and marble in Rock
BRIDGE" we come to the conspicuous veins
of
IRON oKE.
Starting from the eastward, the first
pronounced vein OF iron ore is found in
Louisa county, about four miles north
from Tolersville station, in the gold belt,
and consists of o assure vein of hematite
iron ore, thirty feet wide, bearing few
degrees across the qualification, and at
times conforming to that course; appear
ing in places as if bedded, the ore being
the "Iron HAITI TO the sulphurets Of iron
and copper ores below
The next workable bed of iron ore is
found in the Piedmont district, near Cor
louisville; an arglllaceous ore, Of rich quail
ity, and useful 70 mix with silcious ores.
And near by is found abundance Of lime
stone suitable for fux, in connection
with charcoal. This lime is also useful in
agricultural and mechanical operations.
In Albemarle county, between Char
lottesville and the Blue Ridge, is found
granite, gneiss and other valuable rock.
together with magnetic iron ore. Ascend
ing the Blue Ridge, and near the tunnel,
large quantities of magnetic ore are
found.
In its present condition, however, it is
valuable iron ore, especially for mixture
with calcareous and argillaceons ores. Close
at hand, stratum of argillaceous shales,
containing valuable bed of brown clay
iron, in working thickness, tinged with
oxide Of manganese" ~
- In the geological spurs of the Blue
Ridge, about two miles to the south of
Fishersyille station, in Augusta county. at
Gibson's Hill, we find a deposit of Silurian
iron ore. of the brown hernatites.u SSH Z
This kind Of ore is already in constant
demand to sffpply charcoal furnaces in Vir-
ginia. 1t contains from 40 to so per cent.
of iron. and NAV be mined for GO cents ner
ton. The variety of ores found in the
nejghborhood. and the excellent quality Of
the limestone adjacent. will render This Ii.
cality favorable site for extensive iron
manufacture.u- IS
s'At and near Baskerville station. and
thence for one mile toward Staunton. cal
careous shales and bands of limestone alter
nate. dipping to the N. w. Limestone ia
here quarried and burned. as well as ship
ped in its crude state to various charcoal
furnaces for fluxing purposes.u
Passing on beyond Staunton to the
opposite, ssor Little North mountain eleya-
ton, whose crest line is made up of the
Medina sandstone and the Clinton eronn.
we next come into the Oriskany sandstone
range, well-known among biologists as the
division. band between the Timer Silnrian
and Deyonian formations il being. Il, some
parts of Pennsylvania. n mere Mate of
sandstone, but which Is here develoned into
an enormous mass Of bedded sandstones.