Gibson County, Indiana - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 3 of those read), 1884

Geology

'OPOGRAPHY, SOIL, ETC. - The surface in the western parts is level or agreeably undulating; about one-half is bottom land nnd a small portio barrens. East of the center sun slong the eastern and northeastern boundary are elevated plateaus pierced by deep valleys, and covered with ex cellent timber. The soil is generally alluvial loam und is everywhere fertile. The alluvial "bottoms" along the streams originating from the ordinary floods, are made up of sands and clays spread out by overflow, and rest upon or against the sides of the gravel terraces. Y The terraces are consequently next in ago and rest upon or against the sides of more ancient alluvium or sand bills; these in tarn are more recent the loess clays, which superimpose the true boulder or glacial drift. From the terminus of the conglomerate spur which pierces the county like a promontory from the 'east, a ridge of yellow loam sets in and continues westward forming the present, as it probably formed the 'ancient line of demarkation between the waters of Patoka and White Rivers. This ridge was dothed with a magnificent. growth of oak, poplar and other valuable timber, and, from the quality of soil was formed at atime when the head" waters of the rivers were rapidly cutting their channels in the sub-carboniferous limestones to east, constituting a rich calcareous loam. 'This ridge, with like characteristics as to soil and timber, is continued from northeast to southwest county, constituting a broad belt of fine agricultural lands about Princeton and Owensville. Outliers of this poplar soil are seen even west of the Wahas southwest of Mt. Carmel, which indicate the wayward 'course of the river currents then flowing through a broad Inke-like sheet of water at an elevation from 120 to 150 feet above their present channels, At Buena Vista on White River extensive mounds surround the village. Outerops of the rash coals were observed in the vicinity, and the companion limestones develop' thickness of from two to five feet. The high ridge and tableland south of town has a rocky skeleton, covered with Incustral loans, But above and against the bluffs of loess are extensive bars or beds of duvintile sand, some of which attain in different localities an elevation of 285 feet above the present bed of White River. 'These indicate the high water level of the ancient river. On the sides of the bluff are occasionally found small ig a few specimens of the harder glacial drift, surviving on account of the obduracy of material, but notably containing geodes and cherts from the mountain limestone at the headwaters of the river. The last mentioned mark tho and plainly indicate the former presence of the river at these points, South of the Patoka, powerful erosive forces have swept ncross the eastern part of. leaving isolated knob and hills, of the ancient surface; but generally excavating the rocks to a depth of fifty to 160 feet, and creating lroad valleys or valley plains now waterless or used by insignificant brooks. "This epoch is dated back to the time of the glacial river, and the to the Incnstral, for we find that on the hill sides an nah gray soil prevails, very sensitive to drought or moisture, the modified or washed residual sands of the latter epoch,

Rast Mazleton Bore

'The thin rash coals outerop are found in wells at several places in the neighborhood, and an opening was made on H. J. Brown's land northwest quarter Section 31, bat at no point do they exceed eighteen inches in thickness, 'There is little doubt that coals M. and L. will yet be found developing a workable thickness at several points in this vicinity, although the present showing is unfavorable with many disappointments, wa extensive quarry of sandstone half miles from town» The stone is easily obtained 'and worked, and is useful for building purposes.

Near the county lino east of Dongola the limestone nccompanying the upper rash coal is well developed. It has been calcined by Mr. Hargrove, near the east line of Section 8, Township 2 S., Range 8, furnishing a strong, dark colored lime. At the steam mill in town the following section was noted, viz:

Tn digging the public well at Oakland Ciy, net the center of the town, at a depth of thirty feet coal seam was struck, Unfortunately a sufficient vein of water

'was found, and the thickness of the coal was not ascertained. The rubbish thrown out, consisting of soapstone and argillaceous sandstone, indicates the shales of coal L., which shows in outerop a mile and a half eastward.

A valuable stone quarry occurs west of town on the southwest quarter of Section 18, Township 2 8., Range 9, where the following section was obtain

'This rock has been quarried to some extent, and bears a good character for endurance. Coming soft from the bed, it changes to a brown color and hardens; it may be obtained in blocks of great size. Other beds of a similar nature are found occurring in the uplands north and south. Coal M has been worked on the northwest part of the same quarter section, and is a bright, glossy, fat caking coal, which burns with much smoke and flame, leaving a red ash. At outcrop also oeours on 'adjoining land in the same section, On Vanxds's land, southwest quarter Section 14, Township % Range 9, the following outerop occurs:

Continuing mes, at the old Beara fa outcrop of coal and stone is seen, denoting persistence in the seam and strata. The surface dips gently to the south from Oakland. In that direction a coal is found in nearly every well, at a depth of from eighteen to twenty-five feet from the surface, and reported to range in thickness from three and a half to five feet

Coal in wells south of Oakland reported us follows: George B. Arnold, Section 24, Township 2, Range 9, reported three feet. Andrew Gudgel, Section 25, Township 2, Range 9, reported five feet. Also on Yeager and Robinson's lands on Section 80. Most of these coals are probably L, as the strata rise in thet direction, which would, bring L nearer to the surface. At Ken- Knob, Section 35, Township 2 8., Range 9, heavy bands of argillaceous limestone are found near the top of the peak, the companion strate of the rash coals. 'The coals themselves are absent or not found. The {following is the only section attainable:

Sand and loess ...... T Hard argillueeons Umestone..... 5 " Place of upper rash conl sj a lento: [10 7 00 Place of second rusli eval Covered siliceous shale Co] X Slope to valley' plin

150 ft, 00 in. 'There is also outerop of limestone represented in this section, which is reported to have thickness of near thirty feet. MeGregor Hill and Snake Knob, near the southeast corner of the eounty, ure surviving masses of the former surface rocks, surronuded by valleys of erosion, whieh give them prominence. As at Kennedy Knob, they are capped with the argilluceons limestone accompanying the rash conls, here brought together or separated only by marrow spaces. The rash conls are recognized by thei igraphie p their fire clays, aud a thin carbon vet The following section continued along the slope into Pike Count shows the conl and strata which occur in the south: eustera part of this county. Limestone, argillaceous and elinky Clay shale place of fist rash coal, din. to Limestone, compact 'with ironstone nodules. Place of lower rush coal Fire elas. Course sandstone Siliceous shale, b Argillaceous shite 'Buck elod - sof siat Con X, white ast Fire day. shale und Covered space, 40 feet lo... Coal M. 1 foot © à pue, by barometer 60 fi o La Space. by barometer 90 ~ Coal K, 2

'The argillaceous lime-rock in the above and Kennedy Knob sections is of greut interest us a horizon from 'which to measure down to the lower conls, Compact and not easily reduced by action of water, it formed at 'afew stations a bulwark which withstood the ancient currents of erosion. To its protective endurance we owe the existence of the surviving knobs found here and to the south along the divide which separates Ohio and Wabash waters. Going west it dips ut the rate of about eighteen fect to the mile; is just caught on the sides and tops of the high hills near Somerville and Bucksktn, and descending below the surface is seen in

Near Somerville and Buckskin the quarry sandstone overlying coal Mis found in the foot of the hills in the valleys, and M is reported in many wells in thi vicinity having a thickness varying from two to five feet, at a depth below the surface varying from twenty to fifty feet. The only rocky outerops near Fort Branch 'and Haubstadt are the rash coals and their companion strata, They are of no economic importance, and only of interest because they fix the geological position of the surface and indicate the great depth at which the lower workable coals must be sought. At and around Owensville the soil is a rich ealcuronlluvial loum, aud very productive. This is n prolongation of the poplar ridge mentioned as dividing the ancient Hood waters of White River and Patoka deposited at a timo when th id its channel by way of MeGarry fint between u and Fort Branch. The brown and mulatto lois owe their calcareous riches to detrital mutter Drought from the sub-carboniferous limestones by th former stream. This ridge northwest of town presents a boldly escarped bluff of Merom sundstone such as cun be found on the southwest quarter of Section 33, Township 2 S., Range 12, where the following section was taken:

'The face of the cliff is ridged with wave marks, und pierced with rock bores driven by ancient currents Which, having removed the main body of the sund rock, left this elit to tell the story of the past. From the top of the cliff an interesting view is sprend out, rang: over the broad level bottoms to the bluffs in Ilinois- "To the south the * Upper and Lower Rocks" rise like sharp cones against the sky. "The Mound Builders, with 'hurueteristic appreciation for the picturesque and a. wide outlook, erected their tumuli on the summit of the cliff. The following boring exhibits the

Bald Hill, two miles north of Princeton, is a lofty | knob which attains an elevation of about 180 feet above | the town, and about 220 feet above the Wabash. | Its summit, which was probably rounded into shape by the Mound Builders, affords a wide view over the Wabash and Patoka Bottoms. Near Severn Bridge, ou the northwest bank of Patoka, Section 28, Township 1, Range 10, the rocky strata are locally depressed and thickened up to such a degree as to afford guarry beds similar to those east of Hazleton near the horizon of the rash coals

'The stone is laminated, varying from thin fags to heavy or massive beds. It in a grayish yellow color, | and hardens on exposure, weathering brown. | surface deposita endow the county with a variety of fer- | file soils, and insures a variety of pursuits so necessary for the and pecuniary development of the community. Stone suitable for building purposes is not common. The" Merom Rock "is generally friable, and | will esemdisintegrateon exposure. Fair quarry stone is found east of Hazleton, at Sever Bridge on Patoka,

'and near the county line in 1 8, Range 9, all from th space between the rash coals. Stone indicating superior quality is found in the vicinity and south of Oakland.

of excellent quality in abundance sufficient to supply any possible demand, it will be seen occurs along the line which separates this from Pike County. Tbe indications observed promise that seams K, L, and M, with an average thickness of four feet euch, may be found generally underlying the eastern half of the county - subject to the interruptions by erosion, horse backs and barrens which are found to exist in the best regulated coal felds.

Cuar, bricks and tile of good quality can be made in all parts and material is abundant. the coals are underlaid, and the places of the barren seams oceupied"by fire clays, which in the future will equal the conls in value. These clays aro suitable for the manufacture tiles, terracotta and potter ware, Are-brick, ete,