The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-17

building material, as is also the lime
stone, but the chief Industrial value
of the limestone consists In the fact
that 1t may be prohtably employed in
the manufacture of lime and, together
with the shnle, for making Portland
cement.
Iron Ores and Slate.
The rocks of the Appalachian Noun
tains arc all more or less folded into
arches and basins. and while the same
rock types "a in the valley occur, they
are GeoloEicnIly much younger. The
most important m:nrra! features ot
this section are iron ores in Rich Patch
Mountain, which supply larg" per-
centaSe OF the furnaces OF the state
with raw materials. The limestone and
shale ara also valuable for the manu-
facturc of Portland cement. The larg-
est cement plant In the state is 10.
Gated In this section, ct Fordwick Va,
on the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad.
Adjoining this Appalachian province on
the west Is the region known as the
Cumberland plateau. which is under
lain by rocks oven younger than those
of tho Appalachian. and are so far re-
moved from the mountain making
forces which uplifted and bent the
formation Of tn Appalachian ;hat they
are nearly horizontal. 1t Is in this las
of tho State arc found. The western
boundary OF Virginia, however, IS such
that IL only reaches out into this AREA
in the southwestern portion of the
State. In that section there is a thriv-
| ing iron industry. but the ores are OBJ
tanned from geological formations DIFF
| ferent from those which occur in Rich
| Patch Mountain.
The Piedmont plateau region lies be-
! tween the coastal plane and the Ap-
! palachiun Mountains. 1t extends from
the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge
to the western margin of the coastal
plain. Its width increases from about
forty miles in the northern part. where
! II Is traversed by the Potomac River,
! to nearly l15 miles along the Virginia.
Caroline boundary. Most Of the rocks
in this region are extremely old ana
have hccn intensely folded. Some idea
OF the age Of tho rocks in this region
may be indicated by stating that when
ihey were originally folded they W ere
elevatd into graf mountainous masses.
IN" agencies OF nature, however. nave
$" cut ;Eea down ana :vcllcd them
mat how they represent but the root.
of towering elevations as high. o, even
hle.c. th"n tho Biuc Ridge. In the
+ I"!nhsiiF, en- roots. OF those ancl,n,
,n"uitaHs arc found a create. variety
provinces ~ the state IN general IN,
;niiHcc of the III dmoit plateau ha. a
Se3t'"! southcastwayd slope from al
average nltitNdc uf 1000 fee; ulonr
tGc western margin 10 from 20" 10 400
go; On III Gust where the plateau
f'c'is pays beneath the coastal plair
7f1tdtnis The toppgraphy OF tn,
Plateau IS that OF q more o. les
sa'e3 b.oadly rolling. or unduln tins
upland ~ nplcretc elevation. intt
winch ~ sireams have cut rath,.
ht'r rAsrneia There is nothing now
therefore, unout it's surface which IN
Hi"ateS t'"t Il NlS once q region %
more ~ l"ss elevated mountain ranges
It"t II was. However. once a region oj
mountain rangts Is sho"n hy the wa5
nc - nrc rcsctlol ana folded
Anrus tl more impvrtant minerals o1
iiS section ni thc state are tn, Back.
!HEiau -i'luvnnna sgd otncr slate Ills
trirts soapstpno deposits tmndin.
stones, and, TO q icss extent, iron. COP
pcr and gold deposits. as vel. ms IN.
Richmond coal basin. IN ,h.S connec
ton Il should nc added tia, The aoa
seams occurring here are !nteratrati.
lsd with rocks which are very mucl
yo@Hse! g@o!os ,cn.!y than tbs :yp!ca
P!ednon; forna tons which they over
lie
About the Coastal Plain.
T1c Virginia coastal plain. OF Tide
water province, IS the most nasterlS
OF ~" three larger hysiograFhic al,
Visions mentioned. 1t comprises ap
proTimateiy one-fouyth o: the tota
area Of. the State. differentiated from
The htgnsr- Wing pi1Ip,nnt nJ1t,an "a,