At the southwest oomer of section thirty, Kmorock appears at
the surface and in the bed of Halfway creek. This eootmuei at
intervals far a mile west, and in a southwest diraetioii» folldwing
OcUiwa oreek, to Whiteford, in Ohio. It und^lies the inMina-
diate spaces at a depth probably not exceeding five foet A
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HOUSE DOCUMBN T&
tiottitiofi of tte lodge imy also be tmeed norths along the wiuAe
eastern border of toWnalttp of Wbhefc^d The upper portk^s
cnly could b6 observed, which appeared to lie a pure» oompact
liinestooe.
No fossils were found in this range, eioept Terohratula, at
Newport and Stony point
Another range or series of citierop$ passes throegb the oentie
of the county, in a direction parallel to the fonaei*. It must be
etNMidered as the overlapping edge^ of a portion of the limerocfc
formation, superimposed upon that whose outcrop forms the sange
^ first mentioned* This portion of the formation includes several
airata of a very siliceous character, approaching ineevend imtatt-
.eesy almost to puFe sandrock.
Stone of this descriptiott makes its appearance six miles florib-
wiest from Meorbev and was traced over a surface of one balRa
sooare nriile; It disintegrates readily, whwre exposed, into a piise
* iiiiceoits sand, which may be seen to be composed of well formed
quartz chrystals. Where not discolored by oxides of iron, k ia of
/a pure.wfaiiie.
Associated with this stratum, is a gray siliceous liitieslMe
which is fossiliferous.
A similar sandrock appears in the bed of the Raisin, at low
water n^ark, section iwenty-nine, township of Raisinville, where
it forms a ledge of a foot in thickness. Some portions are beauli-
liiUy white and are n^aflv; pure silex. It breaks easily apd is
inclined to disintegrate. It has hot been jus^ ei;cept as a acoifr-
ing sand, .
Near the west line of section 19, rock appears at the surface*
and has been quarried superficially. It is a siliceous limerook, of
dark color, and wben quarried, moist apd soft, and may be dre/f^CKl
with ease to any required form. Owing to its want of compaoi-
ness, it majr be doubted whether it would be permanent, exposed
to the action of the atmosphere* It has been employed as a
building material at Monroe.
Opposite Lawrence^ mill a smooth ledge of limerock fornis the
bed ot the Rarsin, and a quarry has been opened on the upland,
several rods ^mthfrom' the river. The latter furnishes a srliceoQs
litnestone, Varying in color firbm a light to a dark mixed gray.
' In a southwest dhtkstbn from the above^ in town of Ua, reek
is found at the surface over asttiait area, on section four. A su-
perficial sttiatuqn<mly hds been quarried, of a foot thick, wbi^h is
said to afford superior lime.
On section sixteen a siliceous limerock appears in the bank of
ft smaHpoad and has been opened to the depth of four feet. It
iwioves readily in slabs three feet in length with thickness^ of foar
to six inches. Color, light yellowish gray.
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«4 HOUBB DOCUMENTS.
A vwicular limerock fyrmn the bank at the head of OtiMni
hk&i town of Whileford. It affords excetlent liine.
A compact limerock also appears in an iniet at the font of Otta-
wa lake and has been quarried for lime. Portions are titieeoui.
Considerable calcareous spar is- contained*
West of the ran^^ just described, limerock makes its appear*
•intx OB the Maoo I river j«ttt above its mouth, and forms its bed
Ibm mite. It has been qoarried exleosiTely,' but the excavatiooa
liare not penetrated below the first solid layer, a depth of ei^kteeD
ioofaesw It is mostly of n dark gray cokir, sparry, approachiog a
. chrystalline texture, and abounds with ibssils. Portkiiis jfnive cot
a very strongly bituminoiu odor. The stratum expoeed is vary
continuous, and has been removed with wedges in pieeas 10 tet
in kr^h; but the blocks are apt to sever under the chisel.
From this locality are sakl to have been tnroiahadt tha caps and
sills for Che court-house at Monroe. It will compare in appear-
ance with the nouch admired Ohio stone. Thw bcality is said lo
%Sntd the beat lime in the county.
Rock of a similar character forms the bed of tha RaisiB at
Duodee.
More or less has been manufactured at most of the localiti^ of
Kmerock above mentioned.
Three kilns ire maintained, by the quarries at Humb creel.
Probably 900 or 1000 bushels are made annually.
At the Quarry on section 10, Whiteftu-d, five kilns have been
' burned, of 500 bushels each.
At the Macon quarry eight kilns have been burned, of 800 or
1000 bushels each, vtrhich sells at Tecumseh for four shillings per
bushel.
Sand*
The oply locality, partkularly worthy ofmeotigivis thatof the
disintegrated siliceous rock found, as before noticed, in Raiaia-
viUe^oii the fiirm of Mr. Thos. Colwdl. This bed wat aoliaad
by the State Geologist in his report of last year. It is oiosliy
pure siiex, and dx the manufacture of glasi^ superior to any yet
Ibuod in the stata A specimen of ghss jnanufactured from it,
in the possession of the proprietoTi waa^iousaaUy tnuispareol aad
free from flaws.
Much of the saad of the plains ia this vicinity^ and ev^i as far
down as Moaroe,is intermiagled with white ailiceousgsaiDs firapi
tUsrocL.
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HOmK DOGUMl^TSl
Tbe claj^ are in general too calcareoos to be used with ad^n-
tage for bricks or pottery. The upper brown or yellow clay is
VsHSt ao, and m:iy be found coaveuiently for brick at numerous
places throughout the county.
The manufacture has been conducted extensively at French-
town, Oj>p<)site Monroe. But few were made the past season.
Durin<^ the season previous, so far as could be aseertained, about
1,600,000 were burned at the several kilns. The clay is impure
from the linr.e contained.
A single Kiln of bricks has been burned at Brest.
At Mr. White's j ard, Newport, 100,000 bricks have been burn-
ed. The first two feet of the clay only is sufficiently free from
calcareous matter to render it fit for the purpose.
Attempts were made at two places in the town of Dundee to
manu'acture bricks, but were abandoned from the cause alluded
la Good bricks are said, nevertheless, to have been made from
the clay "n Saline river, in the town of London. All the clays
in this region, that were tested» gave very strong indications of
lime, so much so as to deserve the appellation of marly. As the
chiys, even in proximate situations, often differ much in this res-
pect, it is important to test them with a simple acid. Good vme-
Sr win answer an ordinary purpose. Clay may, no doubt, be
and considerably pure ; tiesndes that expense and disapporotment
may often be spared by a previous knowledge of the character of
the material employed.
Mart.
A bed of shell marl (bo^ lime,) underlies the marshy tract bor-
dering the lake, near the city of IVf onroe. It has been penetrated
to the depth of a f(x>: by ditches, for a considerable distance.
The deposite has probably a thickness of several feet, and appa-
rently underlies the whole continuous tract of Marsh, an extent of
about n square mHe.
A tufaceous marl is also deposited in considerable quanthies by
•priogs in the vicinity.
In town of Exeter, section 7, a mari is said to have been
ploughed op, dry, and crumbling on exposure.
A deposite of shell marl was observed in town of Ash, (tovrn •
aooih, range 9 east,) section 9. It occurs in a marshy swale,
overlayed by 2 feet of muck or peat. The bed is about a feet in
thickness and occupies an area of an acre. Similar swales are
nameroQS throughout this section as well as in other parts of the
coonfyt and the proximity of the limerock warrants the conclusion
that tieds of man may be found deposited on low spots, charged
with springs.
The ecoDoosieal vm ^these limrls has been noticed under the
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
B0U6K DOGUMKNTa
report of Wayne county. ProbaUjr maoy of the days may be
fouod i4>proacbiog so nearly to marl as to be of gi^at yalne bb a
stimulant manure to sandy soils.
Sulphur tSprings,
Two miles below Monroe, near the marshy border of the lake»
several springs is^ue from an immense mound. They are stroi^-
ly impregnated with sulphur, and form thin white, deposites of
that substance. This mound occupies an area of 4 to 6 acres»
rising about 10 feet above the ^neral level. Its surface is wet
and boggy. This mound is evidently a deposite from the water
of the springs, which running through crevices in the ^reat under-
lying rock formation, becomes highly charged with Ume, and oq
approaching the surface, deposites that substance either in a soft
plastic mass or as a coatiw upon the moss and surrounding vege-
tation, Thus marl and Urfa result. This process may be observ-
ed now going on. t^arge quantities of moss, still alive, are cov-
ered wim a thin calcareous crust. A pile further south are nu-
merous smaller mounds of similar origin* One of these discharg-
es a considerable stream from a spring occupying a large cavity
in the oentre. Here a foot thickness of white marl is disclosed,
overlived by two feet of crumbling tufa. The spring boils up
tbrougli a cauldron of calcare mxs and vegetable matter, into which
a pole may be thrust manv feet. This mound is circular, 100
ieet diameter and 6 feet high. Most of the other mounds consist
of a very indurated lime, or tufa.
The famous sulphur spring in the Bay settlement, emerges
from a low mound of similar formation, situated in the edge of
the large marsh bordering the bay. It occupies a circular baain
of 150 feet diameter by 45 deep. A stream flows from it which
at its head is 10 feet wide and 3 deep, and has a considerable cur-
rent. The odor of sulphur may be perceived at. distance of half
a mile, though the water is not of extraordinary strength. A
bathing-house was in contemplation at this place, but the ui^usual
rise of the lake caused an abandonment of the project.
Springs occur in ^reat numbers on Sulphur creek, town of
Lasalle. They occasion mounds of the same character as those
near Monroe, and discbarge considerable streams. A few of these
uoiled, formerly supplied a mill.
In. Raisin ville, section 19, is a strongly impregnated springydis-
cbarging water sufficient to form a brook.
Another, on section 25, forms the head of Plumb creek.
A spring of moderate strength issues from the margin of the
Raisin, half a mile below Dundee.
A strong sprint of sulphur and iron is said to be found on Stooy
creek, town of Exeter, section 21.
On Swan creek, town of Ash, are springs imforegnated with
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
House DOCVMSNT& mn
Bulpbttrand iioiu One m leeti^ 36 asoemls hi a cuib. several
feet above Ihe level of tbe stracmk
These sprir^ aU afbrd a aopvdm sop^rfy, aad are Qoaffscted
by a drought which Fetiders dry the chaDiiels- of neighboriag
8lream& Thin faot, with that of their rise above the level of aur-
rounding waters* aiiud their strong impregnation with the miherals
sulphur^ liqae and iron^ proves ttuit they have distant so«irces and
Ibat they proceed from gireat depths below the ^rface*
Streams and Springs. ,
This county is intersected by a number of considerable streams,
following a parallel course to the lake ; but small branches do not
abouod, as m a opuol^y of more broken sorfaco* Moat of the
streams supply a i&ar<2 water.
Water is obtained generally without difficulty from weib and
springs affording a good supply^ ex,tremely hard. It is ocoaakMft'
ally impregnated with sulphur and iron, owing to tbe proxknitjr
of tbe limerook.
Several wells in the towns of AaU, Lasalle and Ida, siiok
twenty feet, to rock, opened veins which filled them suddenly,
causing them to overflow.
WeUs on the plains which do not descend to the clay, are g^e-
rally soft ; so that by proper preoautioos^ water free frdm Hme
may be obtained ia those situations.
Bag Ore. .
Several depositesof this mineral occor in the neighborhood of
Petersburg and Dundee. The ore is mueh mixed with siliceous
mattert and none of it can be considered of the best quality.
Go section nineteen, township of Summerfield, ore is formed
on the borders of a marsh of about ten acres. The nrarsh is fed
by, springs and is unaffected by droughts. The ore is deposited
in lo«i8e, amorpiiotta masses, mingled with shot ore. The sandy
soil of the neighboring plains is much mingled with particles of
shot ore resembling fine gravel. Several hundred loads might
be obtained from this locality.
On section twenty-five, ore was discovered m digging a trench
through a marshy swale« It is found over about an acre, prinoi*
paUy disseminated in the state of shot through tbe sandy peat sdit,
in a stratum not etceoding six inches thickness. In the diy bor*
der some heavy mamillary ore is founds in loose pieces, some of
which weigh several pounds.
On a neighboring farm ore of a similar character was thrown
out in ditchmg. A few loads might be obtained.
SwaJes similar to the above abound^ And other iooaKties of ore
will fto doubt be founds whenever sufficient inducement shall be
offered for its searoL .
62
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
408 HOUaS DOCOMENTSk
NaoieroiK indtcttions of bog iron v^ere leeiv in ti&miiMp «r
Bedford. No valuable deposite <ame wider my obiNnrvatkNi. A
toealky is said to cxisU siipptised to be ia quantity, on stctioo
thrce^ (township nine sonth, range seven east.)
Indications also exist in township o^ I«on%i(»n and elsewhere*
A bed of sandy red ochre is found on section twenty-ane, Bcd«
ford, covering atMiut three square rods, with a depth of from one
to three ieet« It is kntnedlately nnderlaved by limerock. A
small quantity has been applied as a paint 2ind tolerably answers
the purpose.
Boulders.
Nomeroos wateruwom fragments of the primary rocks are
found lodged on the limestone hillookst and accompanying the
fcvoges oflimerodc throughout the eountryt bat seldofn occur else-
where upon the surfoce. Similar boolders are found imbedded
in the blue day dep<iMte«
A large boulder from the limerock formation was noficed on
iectioo Mirv township of Mthm
Phenomena accompanying the Limerock.
Sink'tohs.^^ln the township of Whileford occur a number of
Ihose boi^l'Shnped deprcsaioos, known by the name of ^ sinks.*
The largest that came under my observation is rtenr the northeast
corner of the township. This immense basin occupies nearly one
hundred acres, and at the centre is about fifteen feet below the
general level I found the bed to bo ctimposad of layers of blue
clav and sand, covering nt a slight depth limerock. '
i'hese mak» deritre their name from the fact of tlieir being col-
lects for the waters of the surrounding regicm, which are here ab-
sorbed ; no outlets being discovered. The waters no doubt dis-
appear in a cavernous aperture of the timenx^k below. It is sta-
ted, on good authority, that when the large sink i9 filled^ a whiii*
Ipool nuiy be seen of sufficient force to draw in mils floating near
the vortex.
Marks of Diluvial Action, — Upon the surface of the bmad, Art
ld(^D;es of limerock at PiHnt au IVaox, was observed a beautiful
eiriiibition of the grooves and fcratdtes supposed to be occasioned
by attrition of (mrd bodies moving in a strong current. These
have a uniform direction, north 60 ^ east. In some instanees
the surface has been worn to a finepoliah^ which imparts a beauti-
ful light color to the stone, and exhibits the markings as fresh lA
appearance as if done yesterday.
A similar phenomenon is observable at Brest, and is a fine itlds-
tration of the course and nx>vkig power of the onrreiit. The
•urface, about twenty square feet of which is exposed, is undulat-
ing and worn into curves. Two dinctions nfn base obaarved M
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
ROirSfi DOOUMBNTB.
tl»foriiHrf,oiioon%iiouspmrtioiis,<^ BortkM^
east and noith 65 ^ west
Facta (if (his nature* MrUch singly are of litile imporlanoai are
DOted, because (hey have a bearing upon the nrsolts of sdeniifio
inquiries ; a conaequenr^ which, thuugli lor a tinie unheeded and
** darkly hid/* (ends to throw clearer light upon th^ ultimate piaa
of useful eciJOcmiy»
My aokmmkukgmentB are due to mai^ peraooa in the aheve
eeuntias tor hcispilalitiea aad asaiataoce r^idered in the pFoseour*
tion of the survey.
B£LA HUBBARD.
Atmiant OeobgiMt.
Ikb^ January 26, 1889*
GLOSSARY
Including most of the Geological H^rms used in these reports from
LyelVs Geology, and other sources.
Alluvial, The adjective of alluvium. . ^
Alluvion. A syooniiu of alluvium. ^
Alluvium. Recent depositee of earths sand, gravd, mv^d, stoi|eS|
peat, shell hanks, shell marl, drift sand. &c., r^ujting frpipcftoaes
now in action. This term is generally applied tp (ho^ deposiib^
in which water is tlie pri iciptu agent.
Alum rocks. Rocks which, by decomposition^ form alum. ,
Amorphous. Bodies devoid of rec^ular form.
Amygdaloid. A trap nx^k wliich is porous and spongy, with
rounded cavities scattered thnnj^^h its mass. Agates and pimple
minerals are often contained in tiic;«e cavities.
Anfhradte, A species of mineral coal, hard* shining, black and
devoid of bitunoen.
Anticlinal An anticlinal ridge or aitis is where the at<;a^
along a line dip contrary wise, like the sides of the roof of i|.hou«^
Arenaceous. Sandy.
Argillaceous. Clayey.
Augite. A siaiple mineral of variable color^ from blaok tbrom^
green and gray to white. It is a, constituent of many voleanic
and trappean rocks, and is also {bund m tome of the graottic
rocks.
Avalanche. Thi^ term is usually applied to masses of ice aii4
snow whk^ have slidden from the summits or sides of mountains.
It is now also applied to slides of earth and clay-
Basak, One of the commoQ trap rufiks. It is composed of
atigite and feldspar, is hard,C'Miipact andiark green or black, and
faM often a tegular oolumnar form. The^palisades of the Hud3qo
show ibe 4U>lumnar aspect of trap jocks*^ ^ The Giant's Ca^w/iy
. Digitized by VjOOQ IC
500 HOUSE DO0l7MBl!rrS.
18 Cited as an exampl|» of basaltic roclui,and the cohiimmr struet*
ure is there very strikingly displayed.
Bitumen. Mineral pitch, which is often se^ to ooze from fos-
sil coal when on fire.
BUummous Shots. A slaty rock, containing bitumen, and
which occurs in the coal measures.
Blende. Sulphuret of sine A common shining ^inc ore.
Bluji. High bank9 of earth or rock, mth a steep front. The
term is generally applied to high banks forming the boundaries of
a river, or river alluvions.
Boirymdci. Resembling a bunch of grapes in form.
Boukkrs. Rocks which have been transported from a distance,
and more or less rounded by attrition or the action of tte weath-
er* They lie upon the surface or loose in the soil, and generally
differ from the underlying rock in the neighborhood.
Breccia. A rook composed of angular fragments cemented to-
gether by lime or other substanpes.
Calc Sinter. A German term for depositions of limestone from
springs, and waters which contain this mineral in solution.
Calcareous Rocks. A term Synonymous with limestones.
Calcqfeous Spar. Crystalized carbonate of Kme.
«' Carbon. The combustible element of coal.
Carbonates. Chemical compounds containing carbonic acid,
Which is comtyosed of oxygen and carbon.
Carbonic Acfd. An acid gaseous compound, incapable of sup-
porting combustion, and deleterious to animal life. It is common
m caves and wells, and many incautious persons lose their lives
in consequence of descending, without first ascertaining its pres-
ence by letting down a li^ht^ candle. Man cannot live where a
lighted candle will not burn freely. -
' Carboniferous. Coal bearing rocks. This term has been appli-
ed to fornfiations belonging to an ancient group of secondary rocks,
which contains coal. The term is now used in a more enlarged
sense, and may be applied to any rocks containing coal.
Chalybeate. Impregnated with iron.
Chert. A siliceous mineral, approaching to chalcedony, fKnt
aiW hornstone. It is usually found jn limestone.
Chlorite. A soft green scaly mineral, slightly unctuous.
Chhritic Slate. Slate containing chlorite.
Clinckstone. A slaty feldspathic or basaltic rock, which is so-
norous when struck.
Cleavage. The separation of the laminae of rocks and mine-
rals in certain constant directions. They are not always parallel
to the planes of stratification, but are often mistaken for them.
Cod formation. Cod measures. These terms are consider-
ed synonymous, and refer to the great deposite of coal in the oH-
er secondary rockis, which has been called the ^ independent coal
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
HOUSE DOCUMENTS. 5<H
formiition*'' There are, however^ depb^Rtes of carbonaceous mat**
ter in all the geological periods, and several of them might also
be called coal formations.
ConformaMe. When strata are arranged parallol'to each oth-
er, like the leaves of a book, they are said to be conformable.
O^r strata lying across the edges of these may be conformable
among themselves, but unconforrhdkie to the first set of strata.
CmghmeraJ^ or Paddingstone. Rocks composed of rounded
masses, pebbles and gravel, cemented together by a siliceous, cal*
Careous, or argillaceous cement.
Cretaceous, Belonging to the chalk formation.
Crop out and oat crop. Terms employed by geologists and
mining engineers, to express the emergence of rooE ki place, 09
the surface of the earth, at the locality vrhere it is said' to crop
out
Crystdine. Arf assemblage of imperfectly defined crystals^
Jike loaf sugar and common white marble.
IMUiu Alluvial land formed at the mouths of rivers.
Denudation, A term used to express the bare state of the
rocks over which currents of water have formerly swept, and
hid the rocks bare, or excavated them to form valleys of denuda-
tion.
Deooddisce, To separate oxygen from a body.
Detritus. Broken and removed portions of rock which have
been operated upon by waters or the atmosphere ; frequently
transported by currents to great distances.
Dykes. A kind of vein intersecting the strata, and usually fill-
ed with some uostratified igneous rock, such as granite^ trap or
iava; Tbes^ materials are supposed to have been injected iit a
XaAmA state into great rents or fissures in the rooks.
DUuinum and Viluvion. Deposltes of boulders, pebbles and
gmvei, which many geologists have supposed were produced by
a diluvial wave or deluge sweeping over the surface of the earth.
• D^^ Where strata are not horizontal, the direction in which
Ifaeir planes sink or pluncie, is called the direction of the cKp, and
dieangle of incKnation, the angle of dip.
Dohmite. A magnesian limestone belonging to the primary
€iass. It is usually granular in its structure, and of a firiable tex-
ture.
Dunes. Sand raised into hills and drifts by the wind.
Earih^s Crust. The superficial parts of our planet which are
accessible to human observation.
Eocene. The strata deposited during the oldest of the tertiary
epochs, as, for example, the Paris Basin.
: Estuaries: Inlets of sea into the land. The tides and fii'esh
wiler streams mingle and flow into them. They include not on-
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
MS HOUSB 00CUMBNT8.
ly the portiDD oTUie sea ftdjaoenC to the mcniiutidnreirn^ bvl ex«
tend to the limit of tide water on these t treams.
ExuvitB. In Geology, fossil remains.
Fault. A dislocAtion of strata, at which the layers on one mde
of a dyke or fissurehave sliddcn past the eurrcspooding ones, oo
the other. These dislocatioos are often acoooopaniod by a dyke.
They vary froin a few lines to aevertti hundred feet
Feldspar. One of the simple miaerali^ aodt nett to qoarti* one
of the most abundant in nature.
Ferruginous. Containing iron.
Flmnatile. Belonging to a river.
Formation, A group ot* rocks which were formed during a
particular period, or which are raferrtd to a commoo origin.
fbesih. The remaios of animats and plants found buried in
the earth, or enclosed in rocks. Some of these are but slightly
ehaoged, others are petrified and the organic replaced by mineral
matter ; some have decayed and left the impression of the bodiei;
while others have been formed by mineral matter deposited in the
cavities left by the decay of the organic foody* These Jast are
called OitsUf. The term petrifaction is applied t^ those cases in
wMch organic matter has been replaced by mineral tubstanoesL
The form and structure of the oiiginal body both remain. lo
casts the exterior form alone is preserved. Fossils are also call-
ed organic remains.
FosiUtferous. Containing organic remains.