Scioto Township (part 1 of 14)

Scioto Township

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And Parts Of Pike, Scioto, And Gallia

My Dear Sir] - I transmit herewith the copy for Bulletin 20, entitled the Geology of Southern Ohio, by Mr. Wilber Stout. The area discussed includes Jackson and Lawrence counties and parts of Scioto, Jackson and Gallia. The territory has large and varied resources whose development will add much to the wealth of our State. Mr. Stout^s investigation has been unusually thorough and he has made the economic phase of the subject his principal theme. I believe that this Bulletin will be extensively consulted and that it will aid in the development of the area.

Chapter

The salt springs near Jackson were utilized for the production of salt by the aborigines long before the advent of the white man, as is shown by the remains scattered throughout the region. During the early history of the state this was one of the important localities for this article, which was carried by the early settlers on pack horses for long distances. Next, the region located in the rich Ferriferous ore belt became known for its charcoal furnaces. This was followed by the opening of the valuable Sharon and Quakertown coal deposits which increased the activity and wealth of the region. At present, the county is of interest chiefly for its coals, clays, and iron ores.

Jackson County is situated in the southern part of the state in the second tier of counties firom the Ohio River. It is bounded on the north by Vinton, on the east by Vinton and Gallia, on the south by Gallia, Lawrence, and Scioto, and on the west by Scioto, Pike, and Ross. Its area, according to the latest measurements and estimates of the Federal Government, is 410 square miles.

The entire county is decidedly hilly and rough excepting the valley floors of the old preglacial streams which traversed the region. It is a part of the Appalachian Plateau which has been highly dissected by both the old and present streams. The former streams had reached the advanced stage of comparatively broad valleys, with the. adjacent hills low and well rounded, when the deflection from glacier agencies modified and changed their courses thus producing the present streams, some of which have cut new, gorge-like valleys, adding considerably to the already broken character of the region. From Jackson northward the deep entrenched valley of Salt Creek with its bold escarpments, very picturesque indeed, is an example of the work of the present streams in modifying the topography. The rugged surface relief of the western part of Jackson County is due partially to the erosive action of the streams on the soft, massive, Sharon conglomerate, often more than 100 feet in thickness, which outcrops in this section. This region is marked by the steep slopes of the main ridges whose projecting spurs

On account of the character of the surface, and of the shale or sandstone soils, the county ranks low in agricultural products. It is better adapted to stock and fruit raising. The outcropping minerals are more easily obtainable in a hilly country, so that this has been an aid in the mining of the minerals. The main county roads and railroads by following the old water courses have low grades, but often

Jackson Coimty is drained by a number of small streams whose waters, flowing from various directions, finally reach the Ohio Riven Symmes Creek, flowing south to the Ohio, drains most of Madison and Jefferson and parts of Franklin and Bloomfield townships. Raccoon with its tributary, Little Raccoon, flowing southeastward to the Ohio, drains parts of Lick and Madison, most of Bloomfield, all of Alilton, and the eastern parts of Coal and Washington townships. Symmes and Raccoon thus drain the eastern part of the county. Hales Creek, a tributary of Pine Creek, flows southward, and drains a small territory in southern Jefferson Township. Little Scioto River, which flows south and empties into the Ohio near Sciotoville, drains Hamilton, most of Scioto, the western part of Jefferson, and the southern part of Liberty. This stream drains the southwestern part of the county. Braver Creek, flowing west to the Scioto River, just touches the western part of Scioto Township. Little Salt Creek, with Middle Fork, Salt Creek and its tributary Pigeon Creek, unite to form Salt Creek proper, which flows northwestward to the Scioto and drains a part of Scioto, most of Franklin, Lick, Liberty, Coal, and Washington, and all of Jackson townships. This stream drains the central and northwestern part of the county.

These streams are all small and during the summer the volume is insuflBcient for any large water supply. This handicaps the region for many manufacturing industries. Small springs, which furnish a sufficient supply for stock raising, are quite common, especially in the eastern part of the county in the limestone belt, and in the western part where the Sharon conglomerate is present. As a whole the county is not well watered.

A. - Jefferson Furnace, near Oak Hill, Jacksou County. The only active charcoal Turoace in Ohio in 191ti. It was built in 1854 and has been in nearly continuous operatioQ since that date.

- Topc^aphy along the outcrop of the Sharon conglomerate, Lil*rty Ton-naliip, Jackson County. Narrow valleys with many bold cUITb are found.

from the j)resent drainage system. Several quite large streams, the valley floors of which are now swampy, and contain only small sluggish streams, existed in the region, and are readily traced across the county. The broad California Valley, described in the report on Scioto County continues northward from Stockdale into Scioto Township, Jackson County, thence swings westward into Pike County near Beaver, and continues to the Scioto Valley near Waverly. Valleys of eastern tributaries to this main stream are found in the southwestern part of Jackson County. For a complete description of the drainage modifications in Jackson County the reader is referred to the work of Tight and also that of Leverett.^

In Jackson County the main stream traced and described by Tight is the Marietta River, which flowed westward from Centerville, Gallia County, and entered Jackson Coimty in Section 24, Madison Township. From here the stream continued west to Symmes Creek, thence northwest with this stream to Section 21, thence past McKittrick, Clay, Banner, and Camba to Keystone, where it was joined by the Albany River from the north. From Keystone the stream flowed northward to Jackson, thence west and southwest through the southeastern part of Liberty into Scioto Township where the valley joins that of the California near Howells Crossing. The Albany River, which entered Jackson County just north of Wellston, flowed south past Berlin, Fairview School, and Ridgeland to Rocky Hill, where it turned and flowed westward to the Marietta River at Keystone.

Cackley Swamps Valley.' - From Centerville the old valley continued northwestward up the valley of Grassy Fork to the open flat lands in the vicinity of the Cackley Swamps, south of Madison Furnace. The valley walls in this region are more completely graded than in the upper sections and at very much lower angles, and the hills immediately bordering the valley rise about 150 to 200 feet above its floor. The amount of silting in this region has been very great, and there are numerous minor modifications in the streams on both the Grassy Fork and some of its smaller tributaries, but these could be shown only on a very detailed map,

Camba, Keystone and Jackson Valleys." - From the region of the Cackley Swamps the old valley extends along the line of the Portsmouth division of the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern Railroad, past Camba Station, and on to the headwaters of the Salt Creek Valley at Keystone. The deposits in the valley at Camba are very deep, and it is back of these that the Cackley Swamps are found, which now are the headwaters of Grassy Fork of Symmes Creek. A well, sunk close to the railroad -n the cut, penetrated 95 feet of blue clays and sands, and struck rock at that depth.

^G. W. Tight, Drainage Modiflcations in Southeastern Ohio and Adjacent Parts 6i West Virginia and Kentucky, Professional Paper No. 13, U. S. Geol. Surv. Frank Leverett, Glacial Formations and Drainage Features of the Erie and Ohio Basins, Monograph V. 41, U. S. Geol. Surv.

'Drainage Modifications in Southeastern Ohio and Adjacent Parts of West Virginia and Kentucky. Professional Paper No. 13. United States Geological Survey, p. 66.

This would indicate the valley floor to be about 650 feet above tide. The surface of the deposits at Camba is about 125 feet above the present surface of the valley at Keystone, the railroad having a grade in this section of about 100 feet to the mile. The valley here is about three-quarters of a mile wide, and its floor is very flat all the way from Keystone to Jackson. Indeed, it is so flat that it was, in the early days, almost entirely swamp area, many thousands of acres in extent, but moist of the swamp has been reclaimed by cutting the timber and laying drain tiles. At Keystone are located the wells for the waterworks system for the city of Jackson. These wells penetrate from 12 to 20 feet of fine silts and then enter an extensive gravel stratum, which, as far as learned, was not entirely penetrated, so that the exact elevation of the rock floor was not determined. At this point also the old valley receives, on its eastern side, a large tributary of about its own size, entering from the direction of Rocky Hill. Beyond Keystone the valley is drained by the South Fork of Salt Creek, which enters it about two miles past Jackson. At this point the creek turns abruptly to the north and cuts through a very narrow valley extending across the high tableland bordering the old valley, while the old valley continues to the west along one of the smaller tributaries of Salt Creek reversed, and enters the California Valley in the vicinity of Glade. The features below Keystone, and also of the tributary which enters this old valley at Keystone, are shown on the map.

Wellston Valley.* - Prom Hamden the old valley passes around a high portion of the tableland which separates it from the present valley of the Little Raccoon; it then bends southward, and is occupied by the city of Wellston. The floor of the valley is here much cut up by the drainage lines tributary to the Little Raccoon, but it is evident that the sections ol these streams between the valley and the little Raccoon are all reversed at the present time. The headwaters of Middle Fork of Salt Creek have also eaten into the old divide, and caused the watershed to migrate towards the old valley to such an extent that the portion of the old divide is represented by a very narrow gorge, through which the drainage passes down Salt Creek.

Berlin Valley.* - From Wellston the valley runs almost due south to the vicinity of Berlin, where the floor of the valley is a water parting for another tributary of the Little Raccoon, Dickson Fork. At Berlin the valley is fully three-fourths of a mile wide, measured on the surface of the silt fillings, which are rather thick, although their exact depth was not determined. Much of tliis area is now represented by swamp lands which have been reclaimed by draining.

From the Berlin Flats the valley continues southward and is drained by Dickson Fork of the Little Raccoon. The old gradation plains along this section of the valley are well preser\'ed, and where Dickson Fork leaves the valley, they stand at an elevation of about 50 feet above the stream. There are also well marked remnants of the old gradation plain on Dickson Fork, and these rise rapidly passing down the creek, showing that the old drainage was exactly the reverse of the present. From this point the valley passes somewhat to the southwest, beginning a great curve which it makes to join the valley already described at Keystone. At Rocky Hill, which is the summit of tlie Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railway, the old valley floor now stands at an elevation of about 700 feet above tide.'^ mum interval of about 000 feet. They consist of thick beds of conglomerates, sandstones, and shales, with thin strata of limestones, iron ores, coals, and clays. The preglacial and recent stream deposits, confined to the valley floors, belong to the Quaternary system, while the great mass of rock belongs to the Carboniferous system which is here subdivided into the Cuyahoga, Logan, Maxville, Pottsville, Allegheny and Conemaugh formations. In Jackson County the general section of the Maxville, Pottsville, and Allegheny formations, as represented in Ohio, is quite complete, for good exposures of practically all the members are found. The region has long been known for the representative beds of Sharon and Quakertown coals. The rocks of the Quaternary System are first described > then those of the Carboriferous, beginning with the oldest. The following general section shows the relation of the beds.

The general dip of the rocks in the southern part of Jackson County, using the Ferriferous limestone as a basis, is 30 feet to the mile east and 33 feet southeast. In the central part of the county the dip is variable, but, measured by the Sharon coal for a distance of 10 miles, the fall to the east is 34 feet to the mile and southeast 48 feet.

In the northern part the dip to the east, measured by the Quakertown and Sharon coals, is respectively 27.2 and 27 feet to the mile, while the dip to the south, using the Lower Mercer limestone as the base, is 10 feet to the mile. The average dip for the strata is about 30 feet to the mile east, and 10 feet to the mile south. In many places the dip of the Sharon coal is abnormal for variations of from 15 to 20

Quaternary System

The deposits of the present streams consist of rubble, gravel, sand, and silt, the amount of each depending primarily on the degree of fall of the stream, on the slope of the adjacent walls, and on the character of the rock. In Jackson County, the streams are small, and, excepting those in the old preglacial valleys, have narrow flood plains with only thin deposits containing considerable coarse material. Ir the western part of the county where the Sharon conglomerate is the wall or bed rock of the streams, the deposits consist largely of quartz sand, and gravel, while in the eastern part, where shales and sandstones predominate, the deposits are made up of clays and sands with some broken stone. The sand and gravel deposits have a local value but the clay beds are too thin to be utilized. The amount of vegetable matter carried by the laterals to the flood plains of the main streams is quite large, so that the land is very good for agricultural purposes; in fact, it is the most productive in the county.

Pleistocene Deposits

These deposits are found in the valleys of the old preglacial streams and consist principally of clays and sands, with some gravel and coarser material, such as bowlders from unknown sources and chert from the Ferriferous limestone. In some localities these deposits are very thick, and as given by Tight,* the deposits in the valley at Camba are very deep. A well, simk close to the railroad in the cut,, penetrated 95 feet of blue clays and sands and struck the rock at that depth. Other well records in these valleys show the deposits to be from 30 to 50 feet in thickness. The interbedded gravels, sands, and silts, found in the lower part of the deposits, represent the materials laid down by the streams during their normal cycles previous to the advance of the glacier. On the water divides and upper terraces, where the deposits have been least disturbed, are found thick beds of very fine-grained clays with exceptionally thin stratification planes, which appear to have been deposited during glacial time when lake-like conditions prevailed in these old valleys. As these valleys are free from glacial drift sands and gravels, they were not the direct water-ways for the floods of the melting ice sheet, yet the damming of the lower courses of the system produced a reversal of the drainage, and also caused a flood period during which the waters

^Professional Paper No. 13, United States Geological Survey, Drainage Modifica» tions in Southeastern Ohio and Adjacent Parts of West Virginia and Kentucky, by W. G. Tight, page 66.

The clays in these old valleys are excellent material lor red brick and drain tile. The beds are generally quite thick and the clays easily mined, aa only a few inches of soil need be removed. The material requires no extensive grinding, but at most only crushing in rolls and thorough mixing with water in a pug mill to produce good working muds which flow through the dies, easily forming ware with but little defects. The ware dries readily and burns to a good red body at a low temperature. At present these deposits are not utilised in Jackson County.

Mississippian System

Rocks bflongipg to this system are found in the western part of the county. In the southwestern part the width of the belt is about 4 miles, and the maximum thickness of the exposed rocks seldom exceeds 100 feet; but in the northern part the width is about 11 miles, and the maximum thickness of the beds is close to 300 feet.

In the Dever Valley an isolated pocket of Maxville limestone goes under cover in Section 14, Hamilton Township, and in the valley to the north of this the sandstones are last seen in the northern part of Section 14. The Mississippian rocks disappear on Bucklick Creek in Section 16, on Sugarcamp Creek in Section 33, Scioto Township, and just west of Petersburg in the central part of this township.

In the old Marietta Valley west of Jackson, Mississippian rocks are found near where Little Salt Creek leaves this old waterway. From here north to Canters Caves, Little Salt Creek marks the most eastern exposures. On Pigeon Creek they go under cover near Glen Nell, Section 20, Washington Township, and along the main line of the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern Railroad they disappear in Section 10.

Between the close of the Mississippian period and the time represented by the Pennsylvanian rocks present in this region is a time interval of considerable length, as denoted by the extensive disconformity between the series. This break at the close of the Mississippian represents a period when at least a part of the region was a land mass and when the work of surface erosion, stream dissection, and shore action was active. In some places the line of disconformity is marked by conglomerate or brecciated masses of stone, shale, and clay, several feet in thickness; but as a general thing this is absent and the Pennsyl- V0.nian rocks ©pst directly but not conformably on the Mississippian. The invading sea worked over or destroyed the primary soil. The stream dissection of this land is shown by the sudden drops in elevation that mark the original valleys which may have remained practically unchanged or which may have been considerably modified by the sea during later submergence, since part of this Mississippian floor was subjected to the action of the powerful currents that laid down the Sharon conglomerate.

Some parts of this land mass of Mississippian rocks remained above water long after the beginuing of the deposition of the Pennsylvanian strata. At the head of the Dever Valley an isolated mass of Majcville limestone stands out in Pennsylyanian deposits like an island in the sea. This remnant of Maxville limestone existed as a land mass until after the deposition of the Quakertown coal, or it was buried just before the Bear Run coal was laid down. It was land during the time required to deposit the thick Sharon conglomerate, and the mass of shales and sandstones with the intervening Sharon coal, Sciotoville clay, and Quakertown coal, or in all, strata representing a maximum thickness in Jackson County of over 200 feet. To this time interval must be added also that representing the erosion stage of the Mississippian prior to the deposition of the Sharon conglomerate. Other irregularities were also noticed but none as pronounced as that in the Dever Valley.

Of the Mississippian series only the Cuyahoga, Logan, and Maxville formations are found above drainage in Jackson Coupty. Drill records show the entire series to be about 500 feet in thickness.

Cuyahoga Formation Portsmouth Member

Rocks belonging to the Portsmouth member of the Cuyahoga formation are found only in the northwesteru part of Jackson County. The beds are exposed along the valleys of Middle Fork, Salt Creek, and Pigeott Creek. The interval is made up of siliceous shales and shaly sandstones. Some of the shale beds are fitted for the manufacture of clay products, but the sandstones have no value worthy or consideration.

Logan Formation

The upper division of the rocks in the Mississippian system is the Logan formation, which has been subdivided by Hyde into three members, Byer, Allensville, and Vinton.* These rocks extend well into Jackson County before they disappear from view. They are above drainage along the valleys of all the larger streams in Jackson Township, while in Washington Township they go below cover near Glen Nell Hollow on Pigeon Creek and east of Richland Furnace on its small tributary. Patches of Logan rocks are found below the massive Sharon conglomerate along the water courses in the northwestern part of Liberty Township, and they appear again in the southwestern part along the headwaters of the Little Scioto River. The f ormation*^ is above cover in most of the western half of^Scioto Township, while][^in Hamilton Township it disappears below drainage along the^waters of Holland Fork near the village of Mabee and in Section 26.*^ The full thickness of the Logan formation is exposed, however, only in Jackson Township.

Bteb Member

The Byer member of the Logan formation is well exposed near the village of Byer in Washington Township and along Pigeon Creek west of this in Jackson Township. The deposit is found also in the western parts of Jackson and Scioto townships. It is made up of shaly sandstones with layers of siliceous shales intervening. The Byer member has no special value in Jackson County.

Allensville Member

The Allensville member which extends across the western part of Jackson County appears in Washington, Jackson, Liberty, Scioto, and Hamilton toT\Tiships. It is composed of argillaceous sandstones, finegrained conglomerates, and siliceous shales. The Allensville and Vinton members are usually well developed in the northern parts of Washington and Jackson to^^nships. The following section obtained north of the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern Railroad near Richland Furnace shows the general character of the member:

The following composite section which shows the relation of the Allensville strata to that of the Pottsville was taken on land of W. M. Muncy in Section 16, Washington Township:

The rocks of the AUensville member are important stratigraphically, for the conglomerate layers are quite distinct from the associated beds, and the sandstone layers contain marine fossils which aid materially in tracing the deposits of the Logan formation. The worth of the beds otherwise is small.

Vinton Member

The Logan age closed with the deposition of the Vinton- member. It is also made up of sandstones and shales which, owing to the presence of iron pigments, have a yellowish color. The member is above drainage in parts of Washington, Jackson, Liberty, Scioto, and Hamilton townships. In northern Washington and Jackson townships the deposit consists principally of fine-grained sandstones, but in its southern extension it becomes more shalv in character. The section of the rocks, made near Richland Furnace and given under the AUensville member, shows the character a)id thickness of the deposit in northern Jackson County. Owing to the extensive erosion at the close of the Mississippian time the deposit in many localities is wanting or very thin. In Scioto and Hamilton townships it is shaly and usually thin. The Vinton member in most of the area in Jackson County varies from 30 to 60 feet in thickness. These measurements are about the same as those found for the deposit in its extension across Scioto County to the Ohio River near Sciotoville. The deposit contains but little material of value in Jackson County."

Maxville Limestone

The Maxville limestone is correlated with the Chester group of the West and with the Greenbriar in the Appalachian region.* It is overlain by an ore bed which is very intimately associated with it, and which was called the Maxville ore by Orton. It is believed to be basal Pottsville and the name Harrison ore is here adopted for it. It is better shown in Scioto County and is described in that chapter. The Maxville limestone is found only in Section 24, Hamilton Township, and the lower part of a record, made on the lands of Amos Canter and Joseph Woods, is as follows : p^ j^

From the Canter quarry the deposit extends only a few hundred yards to the west, or down the valley, while to the east it soon passes imder cover. Thus the total area is unknown but apparently quite small. This limestone was used to a small extent by the old charcoal furnaces for flux stone, and at present is quarried for local use in road building. No chemical analyses are available, but from appearances it has about the same quality as that from the Harper shaft in Scioto County.

Pennsylvanian System

The Pennsylvanian system of Jackson County is divided into three formations, the Pottsville, Allegheny, and Conemaugh. Pennsylvanian rocks are found in every township, and, in fact, in every section of the townships in Jackson County. In this area the entire thickness of the Pottsville and Allegheny formations is exposed, while only the lower part of the Conemaugh division is represented. The thickness of the Pottsville rocks in Jackson County is approximately 356 feet, while that of the Allegheny rocks is about 183 feet. There is only about ^0 feet of the lower part of the Conemaugh formation present in this county.

Pottsville Formation

Much of the present wealth of Jackson County is due to the valuable Sharon and Quakertown coal deposits which occur in this formation^ and which have been mined for many years, but now are rapidly becoming^ exhausted. The Sharon coal is yet an important asset in the manufacture of iron in the district, and the reputation of the Quakertown coal is such that it commands the highest market prices. The Jackson Sand Block ore has also had an influence on the iron industry of the region. While of but little importance at present, the western part of the county is noted for the massive deposit of Sharon conglomerate,, often over 100 feet in thickness, in which the streams have cut many deep gorges with abrupt walls, with projecting cliffs, and with occa^onal caverns that give to the region a rugged beauty scarcely exceeded in the state.

Harbison Ore

The Harrison ore is found only in the southern part of Hamilton Township. The position of this ore is directly above the Maxville limestone when both are present, but the ore is found in a number of places where the limestone is absent. At some places this deposit is regular in structure and constant in thickness and composition, while at other places where it represents the line of disconformity between the Mississippian and Pennsylvanian series, it is very irregular in structure, and is composed of a mixture of ore, flint, sandstone, and clay.

In Section 27, on the property of D. E. Ruth, the ore was seen in the bed of the stream along the road that leads from the Dever Valley to Mabee. The section is as follows: «. .

The ore here is 85 feet below the Bear Run coal, while on the Canter property, where the ore is in its natural position above the limestone, it is only 21 feet below the same bed. The difiference in interval is 64 feet, which gives some idea of the disconformity or the extent of erosion that took place at the close of Mississippian time. Near the center of Section 14, close to the bridge that crosses the Little Scioto, on the land of Phillip Meldick, the strata exposed are as given below:

The quality of the Harrison ore is usuaUy poor as it is more or less siliceous or flinty. Small amounts were mined in a few localities for the charcoal furnaces during their period of activity, but at present the ore is of no importance.

Shabon Conglomerate

The basal member of the Pottsville formation, except the Harrison ore, is the Sharon conglomerate which rests unconformably on the Maxville or on the Logan when the former is wanting. This member is found in Hamilton, Scioto, Liberty, Lick, Coal, Jackson, and Washington townships. The deposit is very thick in parts of Liberty and Jackson townships, while it has good volume also in local areas in Hamilton, Scioto, and Lick townships. A general discussion of the Sharon conglomerate and its relation to other members is embodied in the next few pages.

are found, but north of this stream the bed is very thick. West of the home of Martin Comer, in Section 16, from 30 to 40 feet of Sharon conglomerate are exposed above the bed of Bucklick Creek, while east of his home the rocks are clays and shales of later age, hence the top of the deposit varies in elevation from 30 to 40 feet in less than 200 yards. On Little Bucklick Creek massive cliffs of Sharon are exposed. Scioto Township. - On Sugarcamp Creek the Sharon bed passes from view in Section 27, Scioto Township, while farther down stream the deposit often reaches a thickness of from 40 to 60 feet. Here the irregularity of both the upper and lower surfaces is found. In Section 9, on the lands of Fred Flaker and William B. Pratt, a section taken is as follows :

In the hill to the east of this over 40 feet of conglomerate are exposed. It is also quite thick in the vicinity of Cove School and goes under cover near the Jackson-Petersburg pike in Section 11. A few feet of conglomerate were seen in the creek bed at the cross-roads in the northeastern part of Section 3, but farther down stream the deposit is quite thick. In the northeastern part, of Scioto Township the Sharon is foimd in a continuous bed, but varies considerably in thickness. A section on the Robert Lamb property, in Section 6, is representative of the members, and is as follows:

North of Scioto Township the Sharon swings eastward, going below drainage near the town of Jackson, where this roll or drop of the upper surface is very pronounced.

Lick Township. - The sudden dip of the Sharon coal and conglomerate was observed at the foot of the shaft of the Jackson Iron & Steel Company, at the mine on the next hill north, and at the knob just north of Booth's mine. The dip in each of these runs from 15 to 25 feet.

- V«Dce Rock, a massive cMS of Sharon conglonierate ftbout 200 feet high. In Liberty and Washington townships. Jnckson County, the outcrop of this member is marked by many such exposures.

- Mine of the Jackson Sand Mining Company north of Coalton. The exposure is Sharon conglomerate, but here it assumes a sandstone phase and contains but few pebbles.

coal has been opened, and the massive sandstone, the equivalent of the conglomerate, is well exposed along the stream. A section here is as foll(fWs:

George Palmer reports the coal to dip east rapidly. The continuation of the roll from the Booth mine would throw the coal, which is found at this point, under Jackson, where the large deposit was worked for many years. No records are available showing the thickness of the Sharon conglomerate in the basin under Jackson.

Liberty Township. - The Sharon conglomerate is found in every section in Liberty Township, and in most of the area it is massively developed, often exceeding 100 feet in thickness. Iq the western part of the township it is usually a very pebbly conglomerate, but in the eastern part it is often a sandstone with only occasional pockets of pebbles. The conglomerate goes under cover in Section 35, Liberty Township, near the old Hammertown mine, which is east of the main hollow where the level of the Sharon coal is below drainage. Iq a branch hollow northwest of the mine the bony blossom of the Sharon coal with about 20 feet of conglomerate below was found. Tracing these around the hill to the southeast both beds were foimd to hold about the same level to the point just west of the mine. At this point the coal makes a sudden dip of over 21 feet, and then it thickens and changes in quality, 80 that it was formerly worked for railroad shipment. The dip in crossing the narrow hollow is over 21 feet. Whether the coal here rests directly on the conglomerate could not be determined as the mines have all fallen in. Along the stream north of this the massive conglomerate is well exposed.

In SectJDn 25, on the land of John Scurlock,the heavy dip of the Sharon ooal is also found and the conglomerate was seen in the hollow just a short distance below. On the property of Edward Smith, in Section 13, Liberty Township, a section near Salt Creek is as follows:

The Sharon conglomerate is wanting in some localities in Sections 30, 31 and 32, Liberty Township. In Section 29 the rocks exposed along the road north of the home of Lewis Albert were as foUo^ws:

Along the road west of the house of Martha Lake, in Section 23, the Sharon coal is wanting, and the coarse-grained sandstone above this horizon meets the underlying Sharon conglomerate. The section taken is as follows:

On the land of W. M. Overly, in the northeast corner of Section 22, the Sharon conglomerate is well developed, and its relation to the Sharon coal is shown in the following section:

In this locality the conglomerate is very thick, often exceeding that shown in the section above. In Section 13, in the western part of Liberty Township, on the land of Rush Hartley, the conglomerate is very thick, as shown by the following section:

The bare isolated hill in Section 12, known as Big Rock, is composed of Sharon conglomerate, whose exposure exceeds 100 feet. The massive thickness of the conglomerate, and the relation of the coal above are shown in the section given below, which was made on land of Walter Coy, in Section 17, Liberty Township.

Near this, the gorge-like valley known as White's Gulch is an example of stream erosion in the conglomerate. In Section 16, just north of the gulch, a section taken on land of Samuel White shows the thickness of the conglomerate. The record follows:

In Section 13, on land of Ix)uis Ray, the relation of the Quakertowii coal, Sciotoville clay, and Sharon coal to the Sharon conglomerate is sho^^Ti by the sectioa taken at that place which is as follows:

On land of Isaiah Burnett, in Section 11, the same general relation between the coals and the underljnng conglomerate is shown in the section given below:

Along Rock Run the Sharon conglomerate is very thick and this condition is sho\\ai by the following record taken on land of John Crossin in Section 10:

In the same section, south of the above locality, the conglomerate is much thicker. The measurement of the rocks exposed along the road near the home of J. M. Bower is given below:

The relation of the upper coals to the Sharon conglomerate is well shoA\ai in the following section, taken on land of D. D. Edwards, in Section 2:

A record made on land of James Wilson, Section 1, northeast, Liberty Township, shows the relation of the Quakertown and Sharon coals to the conglomerate below. The section follows:

Coal Tovmship. - The Sharon conglomerate}[is also prominent in some localities in the western part of Coal Township. In the northwest comer of Section 6, on land of C. M. Haslett, there is a roll in the conglomerate with a dip of 32 feet in a short distance. In the low part of this trough there are 2 feet, 6 inches of black shale representing the Sharon coal. Near the mouth of the hollow the conglomerate measured 70 feet in thickness. A composite section, taken from the point west of the Jacob Sells home, Section 32, to the bed of the stream west shows the relation of the conglomerate to the overlying coals aad Mercer limestone. The section taken is given below:

Jackson Township. - ^Th'e Sharon conglomerate is very thick in the southern part of Jackson Township, but thins northward, and in places is entirely waating. In Section 36 on land of William McKinnin a roll of 25 feet was noted in the massive conglomerate. Black shales on the horizon of the Sharon coal lie in the trough or low part of the conglomerate, while on the hill above the Quakertown coal is mined for local use. The section taken at this point follows:

At Canters Caves the maximum thickness of the Sharon conglomerate is about 200 feet, and it is generally pebbly and highly crossbedded. In Section 34, on land of Charles H. Cosby, the following section shows a decided thinning of the conglomerate:

The thickness of the conglomerate exposed along the road that leads from Little Salt Creek to the knob east in Section 21 is shown in the record below:

The conglomerate is much thicker west of the above, but no measurements were taken. The deposit is very thick in Section 24, but in Section 13, just north, it is thin or wanting. A section taken on land of Clinton Harper, given below, shows its absence:

The conglomerate is thin or wanting in sections 14, 15, and 16, but in Section 17 it becomes prominent again, as shown in the following section taken east of the Pleasant Valley School:

Washington Township - The Sharon conglomerate occurs in local areas in the western part of Washington Township. Where present it is usually very thick, apparently filling low depressions in the : Logan shales below. At the mine of the Jackson Sand Mining Company, the conglomerate equivalent, to be 50 feet in thickness. At the old Glen Nell mines the intervals from the Quakerto\\Ti and Sharon coals to the conglomerate below are shown in the following section: deposit of the conglomerate is again exposed, and measurement shows it to be 108 feet in thickness. The upper part is a coarse-grained sandstone, highly interbedded, viiih. fine-grained pebbly layers, while the lower part, although usually sandy, contains zones of both fine and coarse pebbles.

Liberty Township - On Pigeon Creek, south of Eastburn, the valleys are unusually gorge-like, and White's Gulch is probably the roughest and wildest spot in southern Ohio. The valley is narrow, with high massive walls and projecting cliffs of dull gray conglomerate. In sharp contrast to the somber hues of the rocks are the plants growing in the crevices and along the ledges, anywhere that a bit of soil is collected to give them root-hold. Even the sheer vertical cliffs, where they are shielded from the sun, are often green with mosses or liverworts. Many species of rock-loving plants are represented here, each seeming to find its own most favorable environment with regard to moisture, light exposure and other conditions. At the base of the cliff are huge masses of broken rock, among which are various species of hardy trees, growing tall and straight in their efforts to spread their leaves to the rays of the sun. Under the protection of their dense shade numerous delicate ferns and creepers grow in association with other plants that thrive best in deep shady valleys. The abrupt, massive cliffs, and the profusion of plant life along the valley, watered by the meandering stream, unite to form a scene of wild beautv such as is seldom found in Ohio. Along the course of Little Salt Creek the Sharon conglomerate also forms many long lines of rugged cliffs. The small gorge-like valley known as Canters Caves is a cool and attractive place for summer outings. The upper course of Rock Run is walled in with massive cliffs of conglomerate often over 100 feet in height.

A feature of importance also, especially for stock raising, is the large number of fine living springs that are found near the base of the conglomerate. The flow is strong, even in the dry seasons, and the water pure and cold.

In Jackson County the Sharon deposit, markedly cross-])ed(le(l, is very pe])bly, except in the region near Jackson and Coalton, wliere it is a coarse-grained sandstone with only occasional pebbles. The mass is loosely cemented, except the thin ferruginous layers along the bedding planes, which stand out prominently where the weathering of the surface has been severe. The main cementing materials are compounds of iron, but other factors are forms of lime and silica. The pebbles and sand grains, composed of crystalline quartz or quartzite, and thus of igneous origin, constitute the great mass of the deposit. Feldspars, magnetite, bfisic silicates, and other granitic minerals are also present, but only in small amounts. Practically the deposit is made up of various sized particles of quartz or quartzite with a small amount of iron compounds for the bonding material. In general the pebbles have a milky color, numerous cracks, and a high poHsh. They are well rounded and the usual shape is that of a prolate spheroid. The size of tht< pebbles varies from that of a hen's egg dowTi, but the usual range is from that of wheat grains to that of acorns. The proportion of sand to pebbles also varies greatly. In places the deposit, as a whole, exceeds 70 per cent pebbles, counting as pebbles that material above a 20 mesh size, while elsewhere it is a sandstone with a few scattered pel)bles.

The material is of foreign origin, derived probably from the great igneous masses to the north and brought do^v^l b}- strong oceanic currc^nts during the transgression of the sea at the beginning of Pennsylvanian time. I. C. White, Ashbumpr and others, have shown that this con-

There are a number of interesting features in regard to the Sharon conglomerate. In Scioto, Pike, and Jackson counties, in the area in which this member is above drainage, the conglomerate seems to have been deposited in a valley-like depression in the Mississippian strata, the direction of the main axis of which is nearly north and south. In this field the southern terminus exposed is in the northeastern part of Porter Township, Scioto County. From surface exposures and well records the width in Bloom and Harrison townships appears to be from 1 to 4 miles. No thick deposit at least was noted in Harrison Township west of the o'd California Valley, and in Bloom Township it is wanting * near the head of Bear Run where the horizon goes under cover, and was not found in the shaft and drill tests put down on the Harper farm south of Bloom Furnace. In the southern part of Madison Township, Scioto County, and Hamilton Township, Jackson County, the main deposit is 5 or 6 miles in width. In Madison Township only a few thin sandy deposits were found west of the California Valley, while in Hamilton Township it is wanting in the eastern part of the Dever Valley. In the northern parts of these townships the width is somewhat greater. The eastern edge of the deposit is not known, as the conglomerate continues under cover, but the rate of thinning indicates that it does not extend far eastward. The sheet expands to 12 miles or more in Union and Marion townships, Pike Coimty, and Scioto Township, Jackson County. The deposits in western Union Township, although in places reaching 50 to 60 feet in thickness, appear to be somewhat local in character, for the conglomerate is poorly represented south of Owl Creek or north of the Beaver Valley in Western Beaver Township. In Scioto Township the stratum is generally thin where it goes under cover on the headwaters of Sugarcamp Creek, near Petersburg, and near Cove School on Buckeye Creek. In Beaver and southern Jackson townships, Pike County, and in Liberty, Lick, and southern Coal townships, Jackson County, the conglomerate is massively developed and the width of the main sheet exposed is approximately 10 miles. In Beaver Township the conglomerate is found principally in the eastern tier of sections, although there is a small isolated area near Rock Springs School in the western part, which also extends into Seal Township. In southern Jackson Township, Pike County, the thick deposits are confined to the main ridge with its eastern spurs that separate the headwaters of Cars Run from those of Pigeon Creek. In Liberty , Township the stratum, usually very thick and pebbly, extends across the were not laid down in the direct line of the main currents. No drill records were obtained showing how far the stratum extends under cover, but, from the nature of the deposits seen along Pigeon Creek north of Coalton, it extends apparently no great distance. The width of the sheet exposed in northern Jackson Township, Pike County, southern Jefferson Township, Ross County, and in Jackson, Coal, and Washington townships, Jackson Coimty, is also about 12 miles. In northern Jackson and southern Jefferson townships the stratum, usually massive and containing thick layers of very coarse pebbles near the bottom, continues westward with few wants to the Scioto Valley. In Jackson Township, Jackson Coimty, the conglomerate is generally very thick along Pigeon and Little Salt creeks, but it is either wanting or thin and generally sandy in the northeastern part south and east of Ray. In Washington Township in the vicinity of Byer the conglomerate is generally wanting, but south of this along Pigeon Creek in sections 17 and 18 it is present in thick local deposits which are very sandy. Apparently these deposits are close to the eastern edge of the field.

Some idea of the main trend of the current action may be obtained from the general thickness and character of the stratum. If the stratum continues from Porter Township, Scioto County, the trend is eastward, for the conglomerate is not represented, at least in any considerable thickness, along the Ohio River from Portsmouth to near Hanging Rock where the Mississippian rocks go below drainage. From northeastern Porter Township, the general direction of the main axis of the deposits is north to the Scioto County line in Section 1, Madison Township. It tollows closely the general course of the Little Scioto River. From this point the deposits seem to divide, one extending westward through southern Marion and Union towaships. Pike Coimty, and the other through central Scioto Township, Jackson Coimty, into central Liberty Township. The lower part of the stratum in Marion and Union townships is generally very pebbly, indicating strong current action. West of this the horizon passes above the summits of the ridges. In central and western Liberty Township the conglomerate is very thick and pebbly, but in Lick Township it becomes sandy, especially in the vicinity of Jackson, while in Beaver Township, Pike County, it thins and is wanting.

From central Liberty Township the main bed swings northward through Jackson Township, then westward through northern Jackson Township, Pike County, and southern Jefferson Township, Ross County, to the Scioto Valley. On the main ridges from Richmondale south to Hog Hollow the conglomerate is very thick, and the lower part is made up of very coarse pebbles, some larger than a hen's egg. The size of the pebbles here would indicate that this was the main line of current action. Southern Harrison and Richland townships, Vinton County, were not thoroughly examined, but in the area covered the conglomerate

J 42 Geology Of Southern Ohio

The eflfects of the Sharon conglomerate on the topography of the region are also of interest. In the western part of the county, where the conglomerate is very thick, and especially where it is well above drainage, the ridges are unusually wide; the areas above the conglomerate are rather level, or only moderately rolling. Many good upland farms are located on these ridges.

In this region the valleys are usually narrow, and in many cases very gorge-like, conspicuously so along the headwaters of the small laterals. The high cliffs on the points of the hills along Pigeon Creek, north of Limerick, are attractive features of the topography. Along Poplar Run the weather resisting conglomerate forms long lines of projecting cliffs. Big Rock, an isolated point which is over 200 feet in height, and which is composed of Sharon conglomerate, is one of the special features of western Liberty Township.

packed, but it then forms a good road which lasts for several years, especially where the traffic is not heav3^ It is us(k1 only in the western part of the county where this material is at hand, and where tlie limestone is obtained only by transportation. The quartz pebbles, cleanly washed, finely crushed, and properly sized, will niak(^ excelh^nt abrasive material for sand blasts, and for other pui7)oses where sharp cutting edges are . desired. It is used in concrete work by simply crushing the soft conglomerate and then mixing with cement. The amount of coarse gravel in the deposit is small, so the usual method practiced is to use crushed limestone for the coarse material and then enougli sand and gravel with cement to fill the voids between the stone. For the best results the sand and gravel should be separated and tlien proportioned to the proper amounts, as one or the other is generally in excess. The use of the Sharon conglomerate for concrete is restricted to small pieces of local work, as the thick beds of clean loose grav(4 and sand along the Scioto River are available. An attempt was made to use the gravel for silica brick by crushing and bonding, but the results were not satisfactory, as the gravel is Hard and thus required considerable grinding to reduce it to the proper fineness. Further, it carries considerable iron as a surface coating.

Near Jackson, and along Pigeon Creek north of Coalton, the Sharon conglomerate is a sandstone with but few pebbles, and is worked for local use and shipment. On land of the Star Fiunace Company in Section 24, Liberty Township, sand is prepared for railroad shipment. The deposit worked at this place is about 45 feet in thickness. The sandstone is loosely cemented and contains only scattered quartz pebbles. The material is shot loose, crushed while fresh with sledges and shovels, and then screened. The sand is shipped over the Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railway for foundry and other general purposes.

Another mine is operated by George Palmer on land of S. G. McKittrick, one mile north of Jackson. This deposit is 60 feet in thickness, very massive and contains practically no pebbles. The sandstone in the lower part of the deposit is quite pure. It is light colored, quite free from iron oxides, mica or argillaceous material, and was used at one time by the glass plant at Jackson. The upper part of the deposit is stained more or less with iron oxides, and near the upper surface contains some clay. The sandstone is quarried by blasting and then pulverized by hand. It is sold for general molding and foundry purposes, pig-bed sand, and for use in setting brick. Mr. Palmer states that he employs three men steadily. It is also worked in a small way just west of Jackson along the switch to the plant of the Jackson Iron & Steel Company. It has been worked at some time at other places in this region, but only in a small way.

The piost important mine of this type in the county at present is that of the Jackson Sand Mining Company in Section 20, Washington Township. The Sharon conglomerate here is also a sandstone with but few pebbles. Above this, and separated from it by a thin clay, which is close to the horizon of the Sciotoville clay member, is found another sandstone stratum. Both are worked. Mr. E. B. Mathews, president of the company, reports as follows:

The Jackson Sand Mining Company owns and operates sandstone quarries in Washington Township, Jackson County, Ohio. The part worked consists of two strata of sandstone. The lower stratum, measuring from the level of the valley, is 60 feet in thickness, while the upper one varies in thickness from 20 to 25 feet. There is a difference in the texture of the two, the lower one being coarser grained. The tw'o deposits are separated by a thin stratum of soft fire clay. In both, the rock is made up of quartz sand, \\ith only a small amount of cementing materials. The sandstone is drilled by compressed air drills and shot with powder, after which it is then selected, crushed, and sized, ready for the market. The power plant consists of one horizontal tubular boiler, one engine and one air compressor. The crushing plant consists of one crushing mill with hoisting drum, small steel cars, etc. The plant is located on the WeUston and IrOnton division of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Da3rton Railway. Two grades of sand are produced, distinguished by color as white and light yeUow. The products have a wide repHtation as molding sands for steel and iron castings and other foundry uses. This plant has been in continuous operation for twenty years.

' The next member above the conglomerate is the Sharon coal, which is the lowest workable bed found in the state, and which is well developed only in a limited area in Jackson County. The existence of the "Shaft coal" was first revealed by boring for brine at the time salt was made at Jackson.* Although discovered in 1863, and soon afterwards opened and mined, the deposit is not yet exhausted, but the best of the field is gone. See Map I.

The Sharon coal lies either directly on or only a few feet above the Sharon conglomerate when both are present. In many places the conglomerate is found with no coal above, while at other places the coal is present with no conglomerate below. Starting in the southern part of the county the stratum will be traced northward.

Haipilton Township. - In Hamilton Township only traces of the Sharon coal were seen. Its absence in the eastern half of the township along the Little Scioto River and Holland Creek is due evidently to the Mississippian strata remaining a land mass during the deposition of this coal. This point has been discussed und(T Mississii)pian series. In the western part of the township the Sharon conglomerate is found in massive beds, but no coal was seen above it. The strata here resting on the conglomerate are those higher in the scale than the Sharon coal. Whether this is due to a disconformity, or to a lack of deposition owing to unfavorable conditions, was not determined, but apparently this --* condition results from the former cause.

above the conglomerate at other places where the conditions were more favorable. In Section 28, near the road to Shinar School, and just south of Jacko Run, the dark shales, associated with the Sciotoville clay, and only about 10 feet above the conglomerate, are expos(»d iii the bed of a small stream. The flint clay, with the associatcul black shales on this horizon, was seen about three-fourths of a mile north on the land of Harvey Gahm. In Pigeonroost Hollow, Section 34, on the land of William Engle, clays and dark shales, similar to those seen at GfahamsviUe, except that no flint clay is present, were found lying directly on the Sharon conglomerate. Thus in this part of Scioto Township the Sharon coal is apparently absent, and the conglomerate lies close to the Sciotoville clay. In the western part of the township the Sharon coal is generally wanting, but in .a few localities it is represented by thin coal or carbonaceous shales.

South of Cove the Sharon coal is present. On the lands of Fred Flaker and William B. Pratt the Sciotoville flint clay has been worked. Below this bed the stain of the Sharon coal was found, which, across the hollow to the east, shows on the outcrop a thickness of 3 feet. A section here is as follows:

The strata are well exposed up the road from Buckeye Creek to the top of the ridge north in sections 11 and 2, but^no trace of the Sharon coal was seen. The rocks exposed Are as given below:

The conglomerate goes under cover near where the pike crosses Buckeye Creek. A thin black shale, which probably marks the horizon of the Sharon coal, was observed here just above the conglomerate. In the hills northwest of Cove the Sharon coal thickens and is quite persistent. In Section 6, on the property of J. C. Farrell, the bed has been opened and worked, but the coal was not seen when the place was visited. The thickness reported is 2 feet, 9 inches, but no section was

In the northwestern comer of Section 6, on the Robert Lamb property, the Sharon coal, the Sciotoville clay, part a true flint, and the Sharon conglomerate are all exposed. The following section was taken at this place-:

Near Mountain Ridge Cemetery in Section 6, on land of Joseph West, a heavy blossom of bony Sharon coal was seen ne*ar the level of the road, while on the hill above, the outcrop of the Sciotoville clay is exposed. The clay is part flint and part ^'piiik eye*' or ferruginous clay. The section measured follows:

Liberty Township. - The Sharon coal is very persistent in Liberty Towiiship as the bed is represented in nearly every section. Although it has been mined in a large way for railroad shipment along the preglacial valley west of Jackson, and in a small way for local needs in parts of the remaining territory, there are yet larger quantities of this fuel available for future use. In fact the best areas of Sharon coal in Jackson County now knowTi are in Liberty Township. The coal is generally of good quality, and at many places the deposit is of sufficient thickness for ease and economy in mining. This field will now be described in more detail.

Li Section 36, Liberty .Township, on the land of Charles Edward, the coal is being mined at preseat, and the section obtained is as follows:

On the land of E. G. Swan, just north of the above, where the coal has also been worked, the bed is reported 30 inches in thickness In Section 25, west, the Sharon coal is thin or wanting, and in Section 31 the exposures noted indicate the same conditions. The blossom of the coal was seen at a few points in Section 30, but the surface exposures indicate that the deposit is made up largely of bony shales. The following section was taken on land of David Hively near the head of Buckeye Creek:

The coal is also reported near Bethel Church on land of D. N. Rutledge. On land of J. W. Apple, in Section 32, the bed has been opened, but is reported shaly. An expbsure along the road i i the northern part of Section .29 shows the character of the Sharon coal here, and its relation to other members. The following measurements were taken :

In the eastern part of the same section the coal is of good quality and is worked for local use. A section taken on land of David C. Jones is as follows:

Here the bed shows irregularity of deposition as it dips some 15 feet in a short distance and then rises again to about the original level. The coal has much the same thickness throughout, but is generally somewhat heavier in the trough. Coal is mined for local use on land of Oscar Behem in Section 28. The bed is reported thick, but part somewhat shaly. At the mines of the Jackson Decatur Coal Company the section obtained is as given below:

One-half mile north of the above, but just east of Salt Creek, on the land of Edward Smith, the Sharon coal is mined at present (1914). A section here is as follows:

Just east of this, on the property of David Nicholls, the Sharon coal has been worked just below his house, and the Quakertown on the knob to the northeast. A section here is as follows:

This section is important as both coals, separated by an interval of 81 feet, and the Sharon conglomerate below, are shown. At the Armstrong mine in Section 26 the strata measured are as follows:

A roll or sudden dip of about 21 feet of the Sharon coal occurs at this place. East of this line the coal is thick and has been mined, while west of this it is shaly and thin. The next section in the hollow to the south of Hammertown mine, where the Sharon coal is represented by a thin black shale with a few inches of coal, thus shows this condition. A section from the coal to the Jackson Sand Block ore, on the point just north of the Kom mine, is as follows:

In the hollow just west of Pleasant Grove Church, Section 26, the coal has been mined, but no section was obtained. East of this a section, taken along the road from the property of John Scurlock to the church, is as follows: p^ j^^

The line of dip from the Hammertown mine passes through this point and was seen in the creek bed southwest of the house. At the abandoned Decatur No. 2 mine the following strata were seen and measured: p^^ in^

111 Section 13, on land of Louis Ray, both the Sharon and Quakertown eoals were exposed in the same hill. The Sharon coal here was formerly mined by the Star Furnace (.'ompany, and is reported to have a thickness varying from 2 feet 10 inches on the north pide of the hill to 4 feet on the south side. The Quakertown coal, lying close to the summit of the hill, is reported, where opened, to be 2 feet 6 inches in thickness. At the point where the section was taken tlie Sciotoville clay lies on the Sharon coal, but at another point there was 5 feet of shale and sandstone intervening. Miners reported that in some places in the mines the clay lies directly on the coal. The Sharon coal here is reported to be irregularly deposited showing many dii)s and rolls. The section measured is as given below:

At the Sunshine mine, in Section 23, the Sharon coal is reported to have an average thickness of 2 feet 6 inches and to be quite steady in volume. The bed lies close to the underlj'^ing Sharon conglomerate and has shales for the roof material. The Sharon coal was not found in good thickness in Section 14, and in part of th(^ region it appears to be completely wanting. It has been worked in a small way at a few places in S(»ction 22. On land of John Cogar tlie following rocks were exposed :

On land of Washington Johnson coal is mined for local use. The bed is reported by Mr. Johnson to average about 2 fe(^t 3 inches in thickness, and the fuel to be of good quality. In the northeastern comer of the section, on land of W. M. Overly, the deposit has excellent thickness, ranging from 2 feet 6 inches to 4 feet, and the quality of the coal is very good. The section measured is as given below:

North of this, on land of T. L. Bennett, the coal has been opened by entry. Mr. White reports the thickness of the bed where opeaed to be 1 toot 8 inches. Here below the coal there is a s^jiiceous, flinty clay, much resembling that on the Sciotoville clay horizon. On land of James Bryan mines have been operated for many years. The coal is of exceptionally good quality and has excellent thickness, but lies somewhat irregular. A section taken near the head of the entry with measurements of the strata below the coal, which were exposed on the hill to the west, is as follows:

This deposit has also been mined in a small way in the northeastern part of the section on land of William Yerian and Margaret Coyl. On the Yerian property the coal is reported to vary in thickness, from 2 feet 4 inches to 3 feet and to average about 2 feet 6 inches, while on the Coyl property it is reported to vary from 2 feet 4 inches to 3 feet 6 inches and to average more than 2 feet 6 inches. A section taken at the mouth of an old mine is as follows:

North of this in Section 16 the coal has been opened in a few localities. It appears to thin somewhat in its extension northward, but to be quite persistent. The following measurements were made near the mouth of a new mine on land of Albert Harper:

The coal i n this locality has been mined for local use. It has also been mined at a number of places in Section 17, where it generally has good thickness. In the eastern part of the section, on land of W. S. Greene, the thickness of the deposit near the outcrop is sho\^Ti by the following measurements taken at the mouth of a new mine:

North of this the coal is worked for local use on land of Wm. Landrum. The bed varies in thickness from 3 to 4 feet, but is reported to average 3 feet 4 inches. It is irregularly bedded as it conforms to the wavy surface of the conglomerate below. The section taken here follows :

At this place, as sho^vn above, the coarse-grained sandstone lies on the coal, while at the other mine there is 2 feet 6 inches of shale intervening. In the southern part of the same section, on land of John S. Grover, the coal, seen on the outcrop, and the associated rocks are as follows:

In the northern part of the section, on the property of Walter Coy, the Sharon coal was at one time nuned ih a small way for local use. The thickness reported is from 2 feet 6 inches to 2 feet 8 inches. The section taken there follows:

From surface indications the Sharon coal in Section 19 is generally thin and in places wanting. In Section 18 it is somewhat thicker, but rather uncertain. A composite section which shows the relation of the coal to the rocks above and below was taken along the road in the southwestern part of the section, and is as follows:

In the central part of the section, on property of Herbert Vance, the Sharon coal was exposed for measurement. The section recorded is as given below:

Wm. Ragland reports that on his property 2 feet of coal was found when digging a well. The coal lies close to the conglomerate, about 90 feet of which is exposed. The following measurements were obtained on land of Belle Weese in the eastern part of the section:

From surface indications the Sharon coal is wanting or thin in most of Section 24, west. On land of Christopher Rapp the coal has been prospected and is reported to be about 1 foot in thickness. In

Section 13, west on the property of Rush Hartley, a section showing the coal, which is mined at present (1914), and the conglomerate, very thick and pebbly, is as follows:

On the main ridge in Section 1, west, the Sharon coal appears to be somewhat local. It was opened at one time on land of Neal Austin who reported the thickness to be about 3 feet 7 inches. The section taken at the mouth of the old mine is as given below:

The coal areas in sections 6 and 7 are small, confined to a few high hills. In the southwestern part of Section 6 Sharon coal was formerly mined on land of W. M. Baihs. The section there follows:

In the same section, just west of Pigeon Creek, coal was mined for local use on land of Green Bailis. The rocks exposed there gave the follo^ving measurements:

The surface exposures indicate that the coal is wanting or generally thin is Section 5. On property of J. M. Vance, on the main ridge in Section 8, coal is mined for local use. The section taken there follows:

In sections 4 and 9 the coal is wanting or generally thin. In the central part of Section 4, on land of CUfiford Mercer, the bed was formerly mined for local use. It is reported to be 1 foot 8 inches in thickness.

In the southern part of Section 10, on land of B. Stevenson, the coal has been mined along the outcrop by stripping. It lies close to the conglomerate, which on the hill west measured 90 feet in thickness. The thickness of the deposit is reported to be 1 foot 6 inches. In the eastern part of the section the surface exposure shows the coal to be thin and shaly. On land of John Crossin the following measurements were made:

From the evidence observed the Sharon coal is also thin or wanting in Section 11. Near the old Pine Hill School, on land of W. B. Steffy, the interval from the Sharon to the QuakertowTi coal was obtained. The measured section follows:

The Sharon coal was not seen in any considerable thickness in Section 2. The interval from the Sharon coal to the Quakertown bed was also obtained here on land of D. D. Edwards. The record follows:

Where seen in sections 12 and 1 the Sharon coal was shaly or thin. In Section 12, on land of Isaiah Burnett, the following rocks were exposed:

Lick Township. - In Lick Township the Sharon coal reaches its maximum thickness in the basin imder Jackson where it has been worked for 60 years. The following section was taken at the mine of the Jackson Iron & Steel Company:

At the head of the west entry the thickness is 31 inches, and at the head of the north entry 33 inches. The dip east, according to the mine foreman, is 19 feet in 2,300 feet, or about 44 feet to the mile. Near the mouth of the shaft the coal suddenly dips eastward at a high angle, but, as the old works were filled with water, the amount of this was not obtained. From this mine the roll runs northward and then eastward to

Salt Creek. Core drill records, kindly furnished by this company, showHhat westward from the shaft the coal holds good thickness, as it was from 3 feet to 3 feet 3 inches. In Section 31, south of this, a test made on the ridge near John Mapes' house shows the coal to be wanting. In the hollow just east of the furnace a section of an air shaft, on the land of the Jackson Iron & Steel Company, and of the hill to the north, is as given below^: ^

The sandstone rises to the coal in places. In the isolated hill just north of this the coal rises fast and thins or goes out in the sandstone, as it is not foimd in the northern part, but has been worked in the southern part facing the Booth mine. This is a continuation of the roll noted at the mine of the Jackson Iron & Steel Company. The sandstone on this hill continues westward into 4;he northern part of Section 25, Liberty Township, but here also no coal is found above it. Boone Rock, and the sandstone cliffs east of Salt Creek, are evidently a part of the same formation. In a small territory here the coal is thin or wanting, but appears to the west in Section 24, Liberty Township, on the land of the Star Furnace Company, and north in Section 13, Liberty, on the lands of Edward Smith and David Nicholls, sections of which have been given. In Section 20, Lick To\\Tiship, on the land of S. G. McKittrick, the Sharon coal, although thin, is again found. This coal lies directly above a heavy sandstone that can be followed directly to Boone Rock just north of Salt Creek. The sandstone below the coal south of Salt Creek is evidently a continuation of this, as it agrees in texture and appearance, and it is seen also in the bed of the stream, thus apparently crossing the valley. The section on S. G. McKittrick's land is as follows:

It thus appears that the roll noted at the shaft of the Jackson Iron & Steel Company continues northward and crosses Salt Creek in this vicinity, and agrees with that found by Orton and Andrews, which is as follows:^

On the land of Mr. McKittrick, lot 44, Lick Township, we find a seam of coal which is evidently the same as the lowest seen at the "Pine Tree Hill" on Charles Walden's land, not far from Buffalo-Skull Creek. It rests upon a coarse white sand-rock, with well marked conglomerate at the top. This rock constitutes the ledge seen a half mile north of Orange Furnace. This ledge is forty feet in height. So far as we could learn, no seam of coal has ever been found below the white sand-rock. Mr. McKittrick once opened a bank and mined a little of his coal,which he reports to be 1 foot 4 inches in thickness of seam. About 200 yards from the opening spoken of, and in a northwest direction, we found another old coal entry, the elevation of which showed that the dip of the coal seam in that short difitance is 10 feet. No sample of the McKittrick coal could be obtained for examination, but I have no doubt that it is the geological equivalent of the "Shaft seam." The rapid dip seen between the two points on the MclCittrick's land would take the seam below the surface of the valley at the town of Jackson. Bj' examining an exposure of the strata along the bank of Salt Creek, between the bridge on the Chillicothe road and the "old mill" in the town, it is found that the shales, including a very thin seam of coal, all dip uniformly in a southern direction. If the data given us respecting the depth of the shaft coal near the bridge obtained by boring, and at the "old mill,'' in the shaft, are to be relied upon, the coal has dipped about 15 feet towards the latter point. The reports give the increase of thickness of the coal seam from 1 foot 8 inches at the bridge to 3 feet 4 inches at the mill.

In Section 17, on the side of the pike just south of Mrs. J. G. McKittrick's house, was seen the thin blossom of a coal with some bluish clay below, which is on about the same level as that on the S. G. McKittrick farm, and thus on the Sharon horizon. The Quakertown coal here has been mined on the hill, and the interval between the two beds is about the same as that on the Nicholls land in Section 13, Liberty Township. The section seen is as given below:

The Sharon coal horizon can be traced northward from the S. G. McKittrick farm into the southeast comer of Section 18, where the thin stain wdth clays below may be found in a number of places along the pike. The main basin of the Sharon deposit is under Jackson, but the available coal here has been practically all taken out. The thickness of the bed in the old slope, and three shafts formerly worked, is taken from the early reports.^

Qeoioqy Of Southebn Ohio

Exline, it has been opened and worked for local use. The bank had fallen in when visited, but the thickness of the coal is reported as follows:

Just north of this, on the land of Louis Mapes, it is present also, and on the hill to the west both the Sciotoville clay, a true flint of good quality, and the Quakertown coal were found. A measured section is as given below:

At this place the two coals are separated by the Sciotoville clay, which is found above the Sharon coal in the western part of Liberty and Scioto townships. On the hill just south of Bierlytown, on the land of Arthur Howe, the following strata were seen:

The horizon of the Sharon coal is above drainage along the stream courses in the western part of sections 6 and 7, along that of Pigeon Creek, north of Coalton, and possibly in the northwostern part of Section 30, Coal Township. T\liere exposed the deposit is thin, or it is made up of bony coal and dark carbonaceous shales. In Section 6, on land of C. W. Haslett, 2 feet 6 inches of dark carbonaceous clay shales, representing the Sharon coal, were found in the bed of the small stream. There is a roll of some 32 feet in the Sharon conglomerate here and these shales lie in the trough of the roll. Near the mouth of the hollow the conglomerate is about 70 feet in thickness. At one place above it dark carbonaceous shales were also observed.

A composite section taken from the hill just west of Jacob Sell's home, in Section 32, to the bed of the stream west, shows the intervals from the Lower Mercer limestone to the Quakertown coal, and from this to the Sharon coal. The section measured follows:

Washington Township - InWashington Township the horizon of the Sharon coal is above drainage along the valley of Pigeon Creek, and for some distance up the valleys of its main tributaries. In a part of this region both the Sharon coal and Sharon conglomerate are wanting; the heavy sandstone above the coal horizon lies directly on the Logan sandstone below. At Glen Nell and near Primrose School small local pockets exist in which the coal is of workable thickness. In other localities a thin or shaly blossom of the member was seen. At the old Glen Nell mines, in Section 20, the following record was obtained:

Mr. 0. C. Sells, who operated the mines here, reports that the coal varies in thickness from 2 feet 8 inches to 5 feet, and that in places part of the bed was cannel which had a maximum thickness of 2 feet 6 inches. He reports the thickest coal at this place is worked out, but that there is yet an area of thin coal.

to the point near the Town House, near the line of sections 21-22, gives an idea of the relation of some of the important members. The section follows : '

The Sharon coal has been mined for local use on land of W. M. Muncy in Section 16. The Sharon conglomerate is wanting here, hence the coal lies close to the Logan sandstones. The section obtained follows :

Near Primrose School, on land of J. L. Goodrich, the Sharon coal has also been opened and worked in a small way. The structure of the bed seen at the mouth of an old mine is as follows:

In the vicinity of Byer and Richland Furnace no trace of the Sharon coal was found, for the Logan sandstone rises close to the horizon of the Sciotoville clay.

Jackson Township, - In Jackson Township, although the Sharon coal is due on nearly all of the high hills and ridges in the township^ coal of workable thickness is found only in a few localities. In a part of the area it is entirely wanting, while in other parts it is represented by black, carbonaceous shale or thin, bony coals. In Section 36 the Quakertown coal is well developed, but the Sharon bed, where seen, is made up of dark, carbonaceous shales. The following section taken at the mine of Wm. McKinniss shows the relation observed:

There is a roll at this place in the conglomerate of about 25 feet, but the blossom of the coal was found at the highest part of this, the coal conforming to the irregularity of the surface of the conglomerate. On

Near the head of the hollow the horizon is represented by black shales. The interval from these to the Quakertown coal on the ridge to the west is approximately as given below: ^^ ^

In this locality also there is a disconformity below the coal. The Sharon coal was open on land of Reuben Meacham in Section 26. The following section gives the thickness reported: ^ ^

On land of Thomas Jones, in Section 34, the coal was opened at one time, but no measurements were obtained. There is a large area in Section 27 above this horizon, but at no place was the coal found in any thickness. The coal areas in sections 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, and 33 are confined to small tracts on the high ridges and knobs. No coal of any importance was found. The coal is present with variable thickness in a few localities on the main ridge in Section 21, west. It was worked in a small way for local use on land of James Bryan. The section obtained there is given below:

' The coal is wanting or confined to small areas on isolated knobs and ridges in sections 17, 18, 20, west, 19 and 20, easd/. In Section 21 the rocks exposed along the road that leads from Little Salt Creek to the hill east are as given below:

The Sharon coal was not found in Section 16. On land of John Temiant, in Section 22, the structure of the coal, with its associated rocks, is given in the following section:

In Section 15, on the property of A. A. Cooper, the impure deposit of Sharon coal was on the outcrop 1 foot 2 inches in thickness. The coal which lay close to the underlying conglomerate had a few feet of shale and a heavy sandstone for the roof. The following section

The Sharon conglomerate is wanting here and the coal horizon lies close to the sandstones of the Logan. The deposit has been opened at a few places in Section 23. A heavy blossom of the coal was seen below a massive sandstone on land of C. D. Harper. In the central part of the section under a thick sandstone, on land of J. M. Ray, the coal was fomid as follows:

The coal from this place dips rapidly to the north and the partings vary greatly in thickness. Just north of the above, C. D. Harper reports that he found 2 feet 4 inches of coal when digging his well. In the eastern part of the section, on land of J. M. Ray, coal is mined for local use. The structure of the deposit shown near the outcrop is given by the following record taken:

In Section 14, from surface exposures, the Sharon coal appears to be wanting in most places, and the conglomerate is also thin or wanting. The coal was not found in any considerable thickness in Section 24. Dark, carbonaceous shales, representing the horizon, were seen at a few places in Section 13. On land of Clinton Harper the following rocks were exposed:

In sections 1 and 12 both the Sharon coal and conglomerate ar3 seldom present. The horizon of the Sciotoville clay lies close to b'i3 Logan sandstones below. Along the road that leads from Ray to t'i3 ridge in the northern part of Section 12, several members or their equiv^jilents are represented. The section taken there follows:

Potisuille formation. Ft lo. Sandstone, highly cross-bedded, coarse-grained, with fine pebbles, red-colored. Same as seen at Richland Furnace,

The Sharon coal was not fomid in sections 3, 4, 9, and 10. In fact, both coal and conglomerate are largely wanting. In Section 8 about 23 feet of conglomerate was exposed on the high ridge in the southwestern part, but no coal was seen above it. Along the main ridge in Section 5 from 30 to 50 feet of conglomerate were found, but the coal, at least

The position of the Sharon coal is thus seen to be close above the Sharon conglomerate. It is laid down in irregular beds, which in a general way, conform to the uneven surface of the underlying conglomerate. This is especially noticeable north and west of Jackson where the coal follows the abrupt dip of the conglomerate which amounts to from 15 to 25 or more feet. In the southern part of the comity the bed is either wanting or occasionally represented only by thin coals or bony shales. This condition appears to be due to parts of the Sharon conglomerate existing at that time as a land mass from which the pebbles in strata above the horizon of the coal were derived, and to parts of the submerged region being under conditions unfavorable for the formation or preservation of thick coal deposits, but conducive to the deposition of bony shales with occasional thin bands of coal and of peculiar darkcolored clay. The deposit is of workable thickness only in local areas, which are confined principally to Lick, Liberty, southern Jackson, and Coal townships. The Sharon coal is normally from 30 to 50 feet below the Sciotoville clay, while the Quakerto^^^l coal is from 25 to 40 feet above this bed. Thus the two coal deposits are separated bj^ an average interval of from 70 to 90 feet, which is made up largely of sandstones and shales^ with the well-marked Sciotoville clay intervening. Consequently they cannot be one and the same deposit as claimed by some.

The Sharon coal, which is dry-burning and low in sulphur, was discovered during the active period of the charcoal iron industry; hence it was immediately used for the smelting of iron, and thus has been of great value in maintaining this industry, especially in the Jackson region where large quantities are still used by the three blast furnaces now in operation. This bed also supplies a part of the fuel used locally for steaming and domestic purposes. The amount shij^ped at present to outside markets is small, as only a few mines are o))erated for this purpose.

It is a hard, bright, lumpy coal, ^nth a more or less laminated structure, due mainly to very thin shaly partings. The sulphur averages low, seldom exceeding one per cent. It is a dry-burning, short-flamed coal with good heating value. The ash, usually white and non-clinkering, varies in amount from a few per cent to a high percentage, or, in fact, to the point where the material should not be classed as a coal, but as a carbonaceous shale. The moisture in the coal is high, which materially decreases its heating value. In the better grades of this coal the fixed carbon is high, exceeding that of the other main coals of the state, while the volatile matter is thus proportionately low.

The coal breaks down on weathering by partmg along the bedding planes, and consequently is npt well suited for long storage. The shipping qualities are good when freshly mined. All things considered it is as good as the other coals of the state. In Jackson County the Sharon coal has its maximum thickness and quality in the territory under Jackson, which at present is almost worked out. The quality of the Sharon coal is very good, as shown by the analyses given below; *Two samples of the coal have been analyzed by Professor Wormley. No. 1 was taken from the Fulton shaft and No. 2 from the Star shaft.

The coal from the mine of Charles Booth, just west of the corporation line, is of excellent quality, and is a fair representative of that taken originally from the basin directly under Jackson. It is used for steaming coal at the Jackson Light Plant and for local domestic purposes.

Mr. J. F. Morgan, secretary of the Jackson Iron & Steel Company, reports as follows concerning their mine and the quahty of the Sharon coal:

This coal is reached by a shaft about 60 feet deep. The equipment consists of a tip house, hoist engine, screens, boilers, pumps and cars for mule haidage. Circulation of air in the mine is produced by fans. The double entry system of nuning is used while the coal is mined by pick exclusively. The bed, known as the No. 1, varies in thickness from 2} to 4 feet. As a general thing the thinner the deposit the better the quality of the coal. The amount mined per year is about 24,000 tons, providing the furnace is in operation, as it is used exclusively for furnace purposes. The quality of the coal is excellent for smelting purposes, owing to its low sulphur content. The comparatively high ash is not detrimental for furnace work, as high silicon iron is made. The analyses given below show the range and average composition of the coal :

James B. Paine has lately (1913) opened a slope to the Sharon coal. Most of the output is used locally, but some is loaded for railroad shipment as the mine is located on the Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railway. Concerning the mine Mr. Paine reports as follows:

The mine is equipped with boUer, engine, and drum for hoisting the coal, and pumpe for removing the water. The maximum thickness of the bed is 4 feet 2 inches -nd the minimum about 3 feet, with an average of close to 3 feet 6 inches. There is a lajrer of bone coal in the lower part of the stratum. The roof is a thick shale with sandstone above. The bed is rather irregular with a big dip just south of the opening. The analysis of the coal is as follows:

The number of men employed depends somewhat on the season of the year, but the average is about five. The coal is well liked for domestic and steaming purposes.

The coal we are mining is the No, 1 bed. Our syetem of mining is by double entry and by cutting with electrical machines. The main haul is done by electric locomotive, but the gathering is done by mule power. We produce on an average 200 tons lump coal per day. As our blast furnace was only in blast three months the amount mined last year was only 10,480 tons. All the lump coal mined by this company is used in our blast furnace for smelting purposes, and the fine coal is used for boiler purposes, both at the mines and at our blast furnace. On account of the coal being open biuning, non-cementing, and low in sulphur, we find it valuable for blast furnace purposes. In fact, it is the only coal that we know of in this state that can be used as such. The average analysis is approximately as follows:

In Jackson County the known area of the Sharon or No. 1 coal field, in which the deposit is of workable thickness or in which it may be present in workable thickness, approximates closely 25 square miles. Owing to wants, thin places, shaly conditions, and weathered outcrop, not to exceed 50 per cent of this is workable. Of this area that near Jackson and along the line of the Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railway west of Jackson is rapidly nearing exhaustion. There are some ver>' good small areas yet in Liberty TowTiship, which will supply the future local demands for many years. Coal for railroad shipment is mined by the Sun Coal Mining Company, Wood Coal Company, and Armstrong Coal Company.

Sharon Iron Ore

The horizon of the Sharon iron ore is close above that of the Sharon coal. In some cases the ore lies directly on the coal, while at other places it may be 15 or 20 feet above. The member is very uncertain and is found only in a few localities in Jackson County. A9 a usual thing the ore is fossiliferous, which character is thus of some aid in the correlation of the members near the base of the Pottsville. In a local area, west of Jackson, a black band ore is found on this horizon. In Section 28, Liberty Township, at the Decatur No. 1 mine, on the N. B. Wood property, the section obtained shows this ore and the relation to the coal below. The record follows: