A Reprint of Annual Reports and Other Papers on the Geology of the Virginias |
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Common terms and phrases
Alumina Alumina and oxide anticlinal Appalachian argillaceous axis band basin beds belt beneath Blue Ridge bluish calcareous Carbonate of lime Carbonate of magnesia Carbonic Acid character Cheat river clay coal measures coal region coal seams coarse colour compact conglomerate containing creek cubic inches deposit distance district east eastern Eocene Epidotic exposed extensive feet felspathic ferruginous flexures formation fossils fracture fragments furnace geological Gneiss grains green sand grey gypsum hills Hornblende James river layers limestone localities lower lying magnesia margin marl mass materials Mica micaceous middle secondary miles mineral Miocene mountain mouth nearly numerous observations occurs oxide of iron points portion Potomac present quarry quartz region rocks sandstone sandy seen shales shells side Silica slate slaty specimens springs strata stratum structure Sulphate surface synclinal Tertiary texture thickness thin tion trace tract upper valley variety veins vicinity Virginia western
Popular passages
Page 721 - Jlint, which is wholly composed of that earth. French geologists have applied it as a generic name for all minerals composed entirely of that earth, of which there are many of different external...
Page 719 - A series of sandy and argillaceous, and often calcareous strata the prevailing color of which is brick red, but containing portions which are greenish grey. These occur often in spots and stripes, so that the series has sometimes been called the variegated sandstone. The European, so called, lies in a geological position immediately above the coal measures.
Page 812 - Leaving the dry and technical details of science, which are of chief concern to specialists, to the journals devoted to them, the...
Page 609 - ... horizontal direction, there being. . .little or no cohesion between one stratum and another. The part of the earth that is first raised, being bent from its natural form, will endeavour to restore itself by its elasticity, and the parts next to it, beginning to have their weight supported by the...
Page 603 - We assume, that in every region, where a system of flexure prevails, the crust previously rested on a widely extended surface of fluid lava. Let it be supposed, that subterranean causes competent to produce the result, such, for example, as the accumulation of a vast body of elastic vapors and gases, subjected the disturbed portion of the belt to an...
Page 717 - An unstratified or igneous rock, generally found inferior to or associated with the oldest of the stratified rocks, and sometimes penetrating them in the form of dikes ..and veins. It is usually composed of three simple minerals, felspar, quartz, and mica, and derives its name from having a coarse granular structure ; granum, Latin for grain.
Page 714 - BITUMEN. Mineral pitch, of which the tar-like substance which is often seen to ooze out of the Newcastle coal when on the fire, and which makes it cake, is a good example. Etym., bitumen, pitch. BITUMINOUS SHALE. An argillaceous shale, much impregnated with bitumen, which is very common in the coal measures. BLENDE. A metallic ore, a compound of the metal zinc with sulphur. It is often found in brown shining crystals, hence its name among the German miners, from the word blenden, to dazzle.
Page 811 - Diet, etc., are treated with the thoroughness which their great importance demands. The department of Biography is full and complete, embracing the lives of all eminent persons, ancient and modern. In American biography, particularly, great pains have been taken to present the most comprehensive and accurate record that has yet been attempted. In History...
Page 262 - One of the stratified rocks belonging to the primary class. It is generally fissile, and is characterized by being composed of mica and quartz, of which the former either predominates, or...
Page 811 - It will be completed in sixteen large octavo volumes, each containing about 800 pages, fully illustrated with several thousand Wood Engravings, and with numerous colored Lithographic Maps.