Plaster (Gypsum.)
On the waters of the north fork of Holston River, in the Counties of
Smyth and Washington, there are many miles in length of an immense
ledge of gypsum, as pure as that brought from Nova Scotia. It has been
penetrated to the depth of nearly 600 feet, and no bottom found. We
have here a quantity of this valuable fertilizer, that is practically exhaustless
for centuries to come.
This massive deposit of gypsum, more than 600 feet thick, at Stuart
and Buchanan's Cove, in Smyth County, shows conspicuously; also, at
the Pearson Beds, and at Saltville, in Smyth County, and at Buena Vista,
in Washington County. Many explorations and long continued examinations
led to the belief, at last, that these vast gypsum deposits, showing
for about 20 miles in length, really compose two or more regular strata of
the sub-carboniferous rocks, and have a width, exposed and concealed, of
one mile or more from the fault northward. It has been mined to the
depth of about 180 feet at Saltville and Buena Vista, and its general composition
by analysis is as follows: Lime, 32.50; sulphuric acid, 46.50,
and water, 20.50, showing traces of magnesia, alumina, and iron.
Plaster for clover, grass, and tobacco is universally used by the
farmers of the Valley, Piedmont, and Upper Middle Virginia, sowed
directly on the land—preferring ground plaster to calcined. Grinding
plaster gives a number of mills to the State. Even the Nova Scotia that
comes to the Eastern section is ground in the State. Smyth and Washington
Counties could furnish plaster for the country if they had deepwater
transportation.
