The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1883-05-17
GEOLOGY OF GILES.
Her Soil Formation Scientifically
Considered.
BY w. T. MANN.

Whites Geology of Tennessee for
authorities. Both of these describe
the formation of large areas and do
not give minute descriptions of the
formations in each country; hence
1 find it difficult to write with that
minuteness with which the subject
ought to be treated. The writer's
on the subject say that there is
great uniformity in the formations
of all the central basin" and they
give a general classification for. all
the area embraced. 1 have made
considerable number of observa-
tiOns in different parts of the coun-
ty and believe that the descriptions
of the extent and character of the
formations-for our county-are in
the main correct. Whoever wrote
up the geology of Giles for Kille-
brew's Resources says that 1.-THE
ridges are everywhere capped
with the lowest and fiinty layers of
the lower carboniferons." 1t is
probably correct, but it seems to
me that most Of the lower ridges, at
least, have precisely the same for
nation on the top that they have on
their sides and in many of their
valleys.
They all have the silicious gray
els and usually have soil appa-
rently as fertile as that to be found
at their bases, but of course want
ing the sedimentary character of
the soil of the valleys. The forma-
tions Of Giles indicate that they
were deposited at a very early pc
Rod of the earth's history. This is
shown by the remains of animal
life to be found. Those that are
found in the very latest formation
represent the lowest orders of the
animal kingdom, belonging to the
mollusks or shell family. There
are few if any signs of vegetable
life, showing that the dry land had
not yet made its appearance. The
highest formation in the county
representing the rim belongs to
the lower carboniferous. The for
nation is just below the coal meas
ures which crop out on the Cumber-
land table land. AS we are below
the coal formations there are of
course no coal beds in the county,
as some have supposed.
The upper formation called the
sub-carboniferous is nearly horizon
tai and caps the highest ridges and
covers a considerable area in the
southeast portion of the county.
The fossils which distinguish this
formation are the remains of small
shell animals called crinoids, to-
gether with corals Of a peculiar
type.
The rocks are of a silicious or
sandy character and when wealth
cred form q soil of considerable fer
tility, but very inferior to the soil
of the formations just below it.
Underneath this formation is found
in some parts of the county, chiefly
in the northern part 1 believe, a
stratum of black shale which has a
peculiar fossil, a conical shaped
shell called "ringula.'' This shale
contains large quantity Of btu
mInous matter and will burn to
some extent. 1t is sometimes mis-
taken for the out-cropping of stone
coal. This formation belongs to
The Hamilton period of the Devo-
man age. 1t is so thin and covers
such little area that it is unimpor-
5ant to the agriculturist.
The next below the black shale is
5he Niagara limestone, so called be
cause it is the very same formation
hat forms the Niagara Falls. This
,rops out high upon the ridges and,
think, forms the tops of most of
hem in the southern and middle |
parts of the country. 1t forms a
FOOD soil, and the siliciOus gravel |
associated with the soil keeps it |
rom washing and seems to keep up
is fertility by decomposition.-I
Next below the Niagara is found |
he Nashville or Cincinnati lime
tone. This is the most important
in the county and in
dudes about 800 feet of rather
andy, highly fossiliferous, rich
which by weathering
orms a very fertile, mellow soil.
This and the stratum above form
he larger part of the soil of the
ounty. There is another forma-
ion, however, which perhaps pre-
ents the richest soil. This is the
.ebanon and is the lowest sub
vision. 1t embraces the fertile
alleys of the Richland and the Elk
nd some of their tributaries; but,
f course, this soil is intermingled
18th the soil of the higher stratas
nd its great fertility is perhaps due
5 much to them as to its own rocks.
The great number of small
5reams intersecting all parts of the
ounty have the same broad valleys
nd as fertile soil as can be found
| any land. An evidence of this is
zen in the eXuberant vegetation of
i kinds that grows to the greatest I
and in the greatest S
Guidance. All the grains, grasses, {
9getables and nearly all the fruits
the temperate zone flourish in the g
ost luxuriant growth. 1 have '
en- corn growing on the land of s
r. J. G. Patterson IN Elk ri 5er S
llley that l suppose would make
10 bushels to the acre and l think 1
e stalks were the tallest 1 have :
-er seen. Mr.. Patterson told me C
at the field had been cultivated t
corn every year for over forty n
airs.
1 copy the following from Kille c
ew on Giles county: a
"On one farm we observed a little
Id of q acres in timothy, of which
e owner related that it was sown !,
out the year 1910, six years be- Il
re he came into possession of the ii
ice; that he had pastured it two tt
hv,t hoe ont 90 h.