The Aberdeen examiner. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1866-current, 1884-10-09

marked by two broad bands on the
West. These are the Ripley and tie
the Rotten limestone. Upon this
map, the Ripley occupies small ter
ritory to the Northwest, and Is made
to stop ut the end of the p n'oioc
ridge nenr Houston in Chickasaw
the Rotten limestone con-
tinues through the State, from Ten.
nessee into Alabama.
The Ripley. which we have seen
occupying 80 conspicuous n corner
in the counties of Ripley, Union.
I ontotoc and Chickasiw W, is supposed
to be suppressed, or to make long
leap over to the ou'hern edge OF
the Chunnenugga ridge in Alabama
Ripley and Owl Greek are repeated
at Eufaula and Cowikee. Between
the two, heretofore, it has been sup
posed the rotten limestone alone
represented the upper cretaceou'.
In the light Of recent Investigations
made by the U. S. Geological Survey
and the State Geological Survey OF
Alabama, so ably and vigorously
prosecuted by Prof Eugene A. Smith,
this anomalous supposition will have
to be abandoned,
But it is not expected that the
scientific world will change readily {"
conclusion so long agreed upon: The
evidence offered may be somewhat
obscure, and at present unsatisfac
tory, but it is believed every dis
covery now will make it more and
more apparent. To say nothing OF
the observations made in 1888, upon
undetermined outcroppines on The
Tombigbee and Alabama rivers-at
the mouth Of Succarnochee, at
Bridgeport and up Pine Barren
Creek-a recent visit to Noxubee
county, Mississippi, it is thought
throws a strong light on the question
Having been called upon by you
on behalf of the State Exposition
Bureau for such assistance in the
matter OF Geological exploration IN
Noxubee county as l might be able
70 render, among the first matters Of
inquiry were the building stones.
Hearing of sandstone at Shu
qualak, to this point l first directed
my course in company wit Mr.. L, }
Ross, County Commissioner. The
specimen to which rumor had called
our attention was found covering &
cistern in that thriving village. i
had very much the appearance OF /
huge milestone, with the central holt
much enlarged to admit the passage
of a well bucket. Il was evidently
sample of a good free stone: clos
inspection revealed more: Thei'
we're obscure impressions Of fossils
not seen in the rotten limestone
Now where is the quarry from which
| it was taken, This was easily fount
some two or three miles southeast
ward, on the lands of Major E. T
Mum, sections q and %, TOWNSHIP
Is, range II.
In this locality il WAS found i
large plates or seams several feet j
all, but the layers of varied Thickness
from the fraction of an inch to on
foot and more Easy to quarry, eae
to dress, and of easy and nice cleav
age, evidently this sand stone is
good building material. Again tb
impression of fossils could not escap
notice. Among these were certai
curious looking holes half an inc
in diameter. and two 10 four incht
deep, tapering however, ms OF SON
elongated corr. The impression
we're not at all distinct ard nice
outline. II OF Turretella they coul
suit only Tertiary species. But Il
absence of whoils and the pecuit
tapering forcibly reminded me of
7eredina peculiar to Owl Crpel
Ripley. The fossils abounding
the calcareous soil inrncdiat ely oyel
lying this sand stone, were also sue
gestive. None were found peculii
to the rotten limestone; althoue
the white appearance and calcareol
composition would readily be take
for evidence of their identity. B
if rotten limestone, a very rott,
friable form-In fact it is ensi
plowed, and constitutes fields of pc
petual fertility. The only she'll foun
not cast, is small GrypAd
common to all layers of the cretac
GUS having fossils, though me
abundant, and conspicuous in t
lowest portions OF the Ripley.
the casts, VI am too uncertain TO spe
yet without further comparison, b
certainly they are not all Of the re
ten limestone. Unless very mu
mistaken one is Crassatella pecul
: t. the Ripley.
, Underneath the sand stone, n
4