The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1891-10-14
The Geology OF vicksburo.

The following interesting cores
pondencc WIS published in the Pea
yHRe some time ago:
vIcKsBURs, Mis-, Aug. 5, 1891.
Prof Joseph j. mes, New Orleans. La:
DEAR SIR herewith forward to
you what Is 10 me on inexplIcablc pho
nOmenOn presented hy this specimen
taken from the bluffs above this city.
The formation from which this speci-
men was taken is evidently that Of a
gradually Swallowing sea, and | will
be much obliged il you will give me
your explanation of this accumulation
OF sharks teeth. The rock from which
this specimen was taken wGs at least
three feel long by two feet thick. As
the teeth are so thickly studded in the
rock you will perrciye that there was
great number of them.
5. ID. ROBBINs.
Dr. Jones transmitted the following
reply:
Neg Orleans, Aug Sth, 1891.
Dear DoctOr-l received your COM
InnhicaliUn of the 9th inst. Hud the
s s,Iccincu Of rock from the bluffs above
the city. aud, according to your re-
quest, give the results of the cxamIna-
liOn Vt the same. The rock is mass
Of sea shells, aud what you suppose TO
be sharks teeth az, ho; such, but are
shells siIniler to those which are now
To be found in the gulf of Mexico.
In 1888 passed through Vicksburg
aid examined the shells above the
city, towards the federal cemetery.
Active blasting of the rock was then
gOinS OH aud Afforded an excellent o.
prrtunity for examination. obtain
ed numerous interesting specimens,
such as impressions of crabs, am entire
nautilus sId sea shells of various va
riclics, aud soIuc sharks teeth. In my
opinion, this belongs 10 the Eoceue OF
the tertiary formation. Upon analysis,
| tiid this calcareOus rock with con-
siderable percentage of lime.
| regard the deposit as of great val
ne 10 tie agriculturists of Mississippi,
TO b. used ia improving their lands.
Tie hIarl beds Of Mississippi should re-
Give The most careful aud searching
examination at the hands of the state
gcOlOg ists. Where Vieksburg now
stands was once the bottom OF the o.
ccan. THE wEs bcaved up, no doubt,
by volcanic action. Subs6 quently
period of depression occurred and tho
rocks were covered by a great inland
fresh wafer lake or sea, in which was
the Loess formation, which |
you find cappiug the bluffs mt Yicks-
burg. In this last or newer formation
we find tic bones OF the mastodon, me-
gllOnyx and gigantic horse. II Is |
probable that the carcasscs Of these gi- |
gauiic ahIInals iloatcd IN the waters Of
this lake or mired ia the muI of its
borders. Similar remains, also, with
fresh water shells arc to be found at
Natchcz.
The upper formation capping the
cliffs at Vicksburg Is fresh water for
while the specimen which you
send me is evidently of salt water ORR
gin. have investigated the character
Of the bOrings of an artesian well i'm
valley below Vicksburg, aud am con-
vinccd that there was n third great
change involving a depression of the
valley which lies to the
west of Vicksburg, of some 1000 feet,
which admitted The waters of the gulf
Di Mexico up to Cairo. All this i'm
nicnse arm Of the sea has been gradu-
Ally filed up, and Is now the dry land
npon which we cultivate our sugar
md cotton. With kind regards, truly
yours JOSEPH JONES, M. ID.