West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1893-05-25
times south through Mineral and

Some distance above the Medins
sandstone and following its outcror
Is another great limestone called
the Heidelberg. The lower part Of
IL is valuable as hydraulic cemen,
bed and is quarried and manufac.
tured into cement in large quaint
ties ut Cumberland, Md. Tho
limestone is of great thickness and
may be seen well exposed along the
railroads from Cumberland to Key
ssr, W. va. It's expos, d over lar re
mountain tracts throughout the
eastern part OF Mineral, Hampshire,
Hardy and Pendleton counties, and
by burning may be made Of great
use to the farms situated upon the
neighboring sbales. The "Knob-
by" Patterson's Creek, Capon and
North Fork all show extensive
exposures of this limestone. 1t is
very fossilferous. and compact
pieces of it when freshly broken,
give out a strong odor.
The next member Of the series
and resting Immediately upon the
Heidelberg limestone, is the Oris-
kany sandstone. coarse, friable
rock, easily weathering into yellow
ish-white sand and containing an
abundance OF fossils, particularly
Spirifcr arenosus, which is the COM
monest. This rock makes the high
cliffs seen from Keyser, and the
celebrated Hanging Rocks, near
Romney, and continues on through
Hampshire, Hardy, Pendleton and
Pocahontns counties. 1t exhibits
great white patches of bare rock
which attract attention from long
distances, and the arid soil it makes
upon disintegration, and the wild
topography it gives the surface,
show its unsuitability for aglicnl-
ture.
Next above the Oriskany sand
stone are the Hamilton shales that
In this State have an extensive
development and are exposed over
wide areas. They are made up of q
great thickness Of shales alternating
frequently with thin layers of sand
stones which readily break down
into soils and make a gently undu-
lating topography. Wherever ex-
posed, the strata are tilted up and
often highly contorted, which fur
nlshes an explanation of the many
warm springs that occur along their
outcrops. These shales are also
charged with an abundance OF
mineral matters, particularly iron
pyrites, which accounts for so many
Of the springs being sulphur springs.
The soil made by these shn,les is
usually good, but according to Prof.
Fontaiue would be benefited by
applications of lime to correct its
acidity.
The Hamilton shales may be seen
at Elkins, in Randolph county,
making wide valley, and are
largely exposed in Hampshire.
Min eral, Hardy. Pendleton, Poca.
hontas, Grecnbrier al d Monroe.
They form the region about the
White Sulphur Springs.
The Chemung and Catskill rocks
are characterized by great lodges of
massive sandstone, usually reddish
or olive colored that weather into a
red soil. In several places, notably
at Rowlesburg, in Preston county,
they are qaarried for exccllect
building stone. They follow the
western range of the Allegheny
mountains southwark through the
State. aud are not Of groat impor-
tancc from the point Of view of the
agriculfurist.
The next rock OF great impor-
lance is the mountain limestone
which starts IN honongalia county.
on Cheat River, and continues up
that river through Preston. Tucker.
Randolph, Webster, Pocahontas.
into GreeHbrioi, Summers, Monroe
and Mercer, spreading over wide
areas in these southern counties.
From the northern part OF the State
where it is but $50 feet thick. It
develops greatly toward the south.
ern counties whore it is 900 or / 900
feet in thickness. It is Of sum.
Gent purity TO be used for agricul.
tural aud other purposes, as nm
annlvua 81 half a dc,,,, .......t