The Mississippi Geological Survey A Centennial EUGENE A. SMITH EPHRAIM N. LOWE WILLIAM C. MORSE FREDERIC F. MELLEN FRANKLIN E. VESTAL FREDERIC F. MELLEN and WILLIAM S. PARKS WILLIAM T. HANKINS WILLIAM S. PARKS BULLETIN 100 MISSISSIPPI GEOLOGICAL, ECONOMIC AND TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEY FREDERIC FRANCIS MELLEN Director and State Geologist JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI 1963 The Mississippi Geological Survey A Centennial EUGENE A. SMITH EPHRAIM N. LOWE WILLIAM C. MORSE FREDERIC F. MELLEN FRANKLIN E. VESTAL FREDERIC F. MELLEN and WILLIAM S. PARKS WILLIAM T. HANKINS WILLIAM S. PARKS BULLETIN 100 MISSISSIPPI GEOLOGICAL, ECONOMIC AND TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEY FREDERIC FRANCIS MELLEN Director and State Geologist JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI 1963 STATE OF MISSISSIPPI Hon. Ross R. Barnett Governor MISSISSIPPI GEOGRAPHICAL, ECONOMIC AND TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEY BOARD Hon. Henry N. Toler, Chairman Jackson Hon. Don H. Echols, Vice Chairman Jackson Hon. William E. Johnson Jackson Hon. Dan T. Keel (resigned November, 1963) Oxford Hon. N. D. Logan (appointed November 21, 1963) Abbeville Hon. Richard R. Priddy — Jackson STAFF Frederic Francis Mellen, M.S. Director and State Geologist Marshall Keith Kern, B.S Geologist William Halsell Moore, M.S. Geologist William Scott Parks, M.S Geologist Jean Ketchum Spearman Secretary Mary Alice Russell Webb, B. Sc Secretary (Part-time) LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL Office of the Mississippi Geological, Economic and Topographical Survey Jackson, Mississippi September 4, 1963 Mr. Henry N. Toler, Chairman, and Members of the Board Mississippi Geological Survey Gentlemen: The Survey has in its archives many manuscripts and items of worth which have not found their way into the growing sphere of published knowledge. Among these items are two reports of value, not only because of their intrinsic worth, but also because of the outstanding men who wrote them while employed by the Geological Survey of the State of Mississippi. Perhaps no State has had as distinguished and talented an array of geologists as has Mississippi; and few states, if any, can measure up to the economic production of the Mississippi Geological Survey when years of existence, manpower and appropriations are taken into account. The results of geological research in Mississippi have been remarkable. These geological researches have resulted in the publication in the Bulletin series of 99 reports. The next ensuing publication would be Bulletin 100. It is appropriate, perhaps, that the hundredth Bulletin be a centennial volume, honoring our distinguished predecessors, reviewing the accomplishments of the Survey since its original organization by the Mississippi Legislature in 1850 and outlining, briefly, the projected work of the Survey in the years ahead. The reports of Dr. E. A. Smith and Dr. E. N. Lowe, now published posthumously, give insights into the early work of the Survey. Dr. W. C. Morse's memorial to E. N. Lowe, and Prof. F. E. Vestal's memorial to W. C. Morse summarize the two longest periods of the Survey's history, each 24 years; for, in fact, the Survey was life itself for these two gentle men and they, in their time, were looked upon and thought upon as being the embodiment of the Survey during their respective and respected tenures. In keeping with our policies of concentrating on Economic Geology, contrasted to Academic Geology, we have been reviewing the work of the Survey, as reflected in the 99 Bulletins, and as reflected in the statistics on mineral production contained in the U. S. Bureau of Mines 4 MISSISSIPPI GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Minerals Yearbook, in the compilation of which we collaborate. This analytical examination lends itself, in many instances, to graphical pres entation. This we have attempted to do, and have been rewarded and pleased by what we see in the maps and graphs that have been produced. One of the far reaching and beneficial effects of the minerals produc ing industries is in the employment of people, principally male, the type of industry most needed in the State of Mississippi. The Survey requested the Mississippi Employment Security Commission to prepare a chapter on this and through the enthusiastic cooperation of Director John E. Aldridge and other members of his Staff, Mr. William T. Hankins pre pared the excellent summary article on Employment In The Mining Industry In Mississippi. In order better to collate the 11,781 pages of geological and related data contained in the 99 bulletins (averaging 121 pages) Mr. Parks has set about the preparation of a comprehensive index of these materials. This work is not only of inestimable value to him, as a staff geologist becoming better acquainted with the past works of the Survey, but should be of great use to all researchers who want to find—in the shortest space of time—where, within these Bulletins, specific information may be found. In short, the availability of the index will help other geological researchers in their quest for economic data. Finally, the law under which the Survey now functions, Senate Bill 2012, Laws of 1958, is included for the purpose of acquainting the Public with the duties, responsibilities and authorities of our Agency. It is recommended that this compilation of works be printed as Bulletin 100, The Mississippi Geological Survey, A Centennial. Respectfully yours, Frederic F. Mellen Director and State Geologist CONTENTS Title Author Page Report of a geological reconnaissance of parts of the Counties of Yazoo, Issa quena, Washington, Holmes, Bolivar, Tallahatchie, Coahoma, Mississippi, dur ing the months of October and Novem ber, 1870 Eugene A. Smith 9 History of the Mississippi Geological Sur vey Ephraim N. Lowe 37 Memorial to Ephraim Noble Lowe (1864- 1933) William C. Morse 51 Address at recognition dinner honoring Dr. W. C. Morse and Prof. F. E. Vestal, upon their retirements Frederic F. Mellen 55 Memorial to William Clifford Morse (1874- 1962) Franklin E. Vestal 59 Employment in the mining industry in Mississippi William T. Hankins 68 The present course of the Mississippi Geo- Frederic F. Mellen & logical Survey William S. Parks _ 75 Senate Bill 2012, Laws of 1958, "An Act to establish a Geological, Economic and Topographical Survey; etc." 114 State Geologists of Mississippi 117 Index to Bulletins 1-99 William S. Parks 119 ILLUSTRATIONS FRONTISPIECE Mississippi Geological Survey's Sample Library _ 7 FIGURES 1. Dr. Eugene A. Smith 10 2. Yellow Bluff, Holmes County _ 13 3. Section in Mississippi (River) bottom _ 31 4. Col. B. L. C. Wailes 38 5. Dr. Eugene W. Hilgard - 41 6. Dr. Albert F. Crider 50 7. Dr. Ephraim N. Lowe 52 8. Dr. William C. Morse, Mr. Franklin E. Vestal, Dr. John D. Williams - 56 9. Dr. William C. Morse 60 10. Publication frequency of Bulletins — 78 11. Union Producing Company's No. 1 Green C. Woodruff 80 12. Agricultural lime used in Mississippi 82 13. Publication of Bulletin 46, "Mississippi Agricultural Limestone" 83 14. Values of minerals produced in Mississippi, by counties— 90 15. Chart of Mississippi's 1962 mineral production 93 16. Comparison by states of support versus production 95 17. Mississippi Geological Survey's appropriations compared with production, etc 97 18. Detailed county mineral surveys 99 19. Detailed ground water surveys . 102 20. Old Library Building at the University 106 21. Clay County plant of Division of Lime — 106 22. Commercial clay bed, Panola County 107 23. "Dixie Bond" plant at Smithville, Monroe County 107 24. "Miss-Lite" aggregate plant at Cynthia, Hinds County 108 25. Filtrol bentonite activation plant at Jackson 108 26. Howell-Southern Products plant at Ripley, Tippah County 109 27. Mississippi Valley Portland Cement Company plant 109 28. Misceramic Tile Company's plant at Cleveland, Bolivar County.— 110 29. Cranfield Field Unit, Adams County _ 110 30. Marquette Cement Manufacturing Company plant, Brandon, Rankin County Ill 31. Mississippi Geological Survey's drilling rig 112 32. Standard Oil Company of Kentucky's refinery at Bayou Casotte, Mississippi's largest mineral industry 113 Frontispiece—Mississippi Geological Survey's Sample Library, 2525 North West Street, Jackson, Mississippi, the present headquarters of the Mississippi Geological Survey. Photo by Perry Nations, August, 1962. REPORT OF A GEOLOGICAL RECONNAISSANCE OF PARTS OF THE COUNTIES OF YAZOO, ISSAQUENA,WASHINGTON, HOLMES, BOLIVAR, TALLAHATCHIE, AND COAHOMA, MISSISSIPPI, DURING THE MONTHS OF OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER, 1870 EUGENE A. SMITH Assistant State Geologist ABSTRACT A geological reconnaissance of the lower Bluff Region and the Alluvial Plain of the Mississippi River and its tributaries was made dur ing the fall months October and November of 1870. The bedrock strata, underlying the loess and stratified drift, are in angular unconformity to the overlying sediments. Throughout Yazoo County strata of Jackson age are exposed and can be identified by the same species of fossils and characteristics as are found on Moodys Branch and in the environs of Jackson. No characteristic Claiborne nor Buhrstone (Tallahatta) expos ures were found through Holmes County, even into Carroll County. The physical aspects of the Alluvial Plain are described in detail, including depositional and physiographic features, soil types and their utilization, natural vegetation, water supplies, and culture. A number of chemical analyses of soils and measured sections of sediments are contained in the report. F. F. M. The object of an excursion in the fall of 1870 was the exam ination of the geological relations of as much of the Yazoo Bottom as could be visited before the setting in of the winter rains. A short trip through parts of the Lignitic, Cretaceous, Clai borne and Jackson groups, was undertaken first in order that I might see for myself the position of the strata of those parts and obtain some little experience in observation. The Yazoo Bluff: Yazoo City was the point at which I entered the Valley. The Loess Bluff from Vicksburg as far north as Town ship 19 presents in its upper portions very much the same char acters.