15', ic^%-l-30 MARYLAND GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CECIL COUNTY MARYLAND GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CECIL COUNTY BALTIMORE THE JOHNS HOPKINS PRESS 1902 %-(>( jfrubcnwafti Company BALTIMORE, MD., U. S. A. t 88401 COMMISSION JOHN WALTER SMITH, Peesident. GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND. JOSHUA W. HEKING, COMPTROLLER OF MARYLAND. IRA EEMSEN, ..... Executive Officer. PRESIDENT OF THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY. K. "W. SILVESTER, ...... Secretary. PRESIDENT OF THE MARYLAND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. SCIENTIFIC STAFF Wm. Bullock Claek, ..... State Geologist. SUPERINTENDENT OF THE SURVEY. Edward B. Mathews, . Assistant State Geologist. George B. Shattuck, Chief of Division of Coastal Plain Geology. L. A. Bauer, . Chiee of Division of Terrestrial Magnetism. Arthur Bibbins, .... Assistant Geologist. Benj. L. Miller, . • • Assistant Geologist. Frederick B. Wright, .... Assistant Geologist. Also with the cooperation of several members of the scientific bureaus of the National Government. LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL To His Excellency John Walter Smith, Governor of Maryland and President of the Geological Survey Commission. Sir:—I liave the honor to present herewith a report on The Physical Features of Cecil County. This volume is the second of a series of reports on county resources, and is accompanied by large scale topographical, geological and soil maps. The information con- tained in this volume will prove of both economic and educational value to the citizens of the county as well as to those who are con- sidering residence therein. The report calls attention to many eco- nomic deposits not yet utilized. I am. Very respectfully, Wm. Bullock Clark, State Geologist. Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, June, 1902. CONTENTS PAGE PREFACE 19 INTRODUCTION 25 DEVELOPMENT OF KNOWLEDGE CONCERNING THE PHYSICAL FEATURES OF CECIL COUNTY, WITH BIBLIOGRAPHY. By Geokge Burbank Shattuck 31 Introductory 31 Historical Review si The History of Geographic Research 32 The History of Geologic Research 36 The Crystalline Rocks of the Piedmont Plateau 39 The Potomac Group 41 The Upper Cretaceous Formations 44 The Tertiary Formations 45 The Columbia Group 46 BlBLIOGRAPHy 49 THE PHYSIOGRAPHY OP CECIL COUNTY. By George Burbank Shattuck Introductory Topographic Description 64 The Atlantic Coastal Plain Region 64 The Topography of the Atlantic Coastal Plain Region 64 The Drainage of the Atlantic Coastal Plain Region 66 The Structure of the Atlantic Coastal Plain Region 68 The Piedmont Plateau Region The Topography of the Piedmont Plateau Region 69 The Drainage of the Piedmont Plateau Region 70 The Structure of the Piedmont Plateau Region 71 Topographic History ^1 The Crystalline Rock Forming Stage 71 The Schooley Peneplain Stage 72 The Lafayette Stage 73 The Sunderland Stage The Wicomico Stage 75 The Talbot Stage 76 The Recent Stage 78 The Origin of the Streams op the Piedmont Plateau 78 12 CONTENTS THE GEOLOGY OF THE CRYSTALLINE ROCKS OF CECIL COUNTY. ' ^ Br F. Basoom gg Inthodxjctort gg Geographic and Geologic Relations g4 Areal Distribution and Character of the Crystalline Formations 87 Mica-Gneiss gg Igneous Intrusives qq The Granite-Gneiss gn Gabbro and Meta-Gabbro ■ ' ' 92 Meta-Pyroxenites and Meta-Peridotites 93 Dike Rocks and other Intrusives in the Granite-Gneiss 97 Intrusives in the Gabbro Belt 100 Diabase Dikes jqq Pegmatite Veins 101 Structural Relations and Age of the Crystalline Formations 103 The Mica-Gneiss ^03 The Eruptive Rocks 108 Peteography of the Crystalline Formations 113 Mica-Gneiss Granite-Gneiss ^ Biotite-Granite (Quartz-Monzonite) Hornblende-Biotite-Granite (Quartz-Monzonite) 11 q Gabbro ' 121 Meta-Gabbro or Quartz-Hornblende Gabbro and Hornblende Gabbro Norite and Hypersthene-Gabbro 125 The Southern Gabbro Belt 128 Non-Feldspathic Rocks J32 Pyroxenite J32 Peridotite 233 Serpentine ^ Dike Rocks 232 Meta-Rhyolite ^35 Micro-Granitic Dikes 139 Meta-Gabbro 140 Diabase 140 SUMMABY ^2 Glossary of Geological Terms 143 THE GEOLOGY OF THE COASTAL PLAIN FORMATIONS. By GEOBGE Bubbank Shattttck 14g iNTBODtrbTORY ^ The Potomac Group 252 The Patuxent Formation 151 The Patapsco Formation 153 The Raritan Formation 155 The Upper Cretaceous Formations 157 The Matawan Formation 15g The Monmouth Formation 159 MARYLAND GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 13 PAGE The Eocene 164 The Aquia Formation 164 The Neocene 165 The Lafayette Formation 165 The Pleistocene 169 The Columbia Group 169 The Sunderland Formation 170 The Wicomlco Formation 171 The Talbot Formation 172 Interpretation of the Geological Record 173 Sedimentary Record of the Crystalline Rocks 173 Sedimentary Record of the Potomac Group 174 Sedimentary Record of the Upper Cretaceous 176 Sedimentary Record of the Aquia Formation 177 Sedimentary Record of the Lafayette Formation 178 Sedimentary Record of the Columbia Group 179 THE MINERAL RESOURCES OF CECIL COUNTY. BY Edward Ben- nett Mathews 195 Intboddctort 195 Building-Stone 196 Port Deposit 196 Frenchtown 203 Clay 304 Brick and Terra Cotta Clays 206 Stoneware Clays 207 Flre-Clays 210 Kaolin 211 Flint and Feldspar 217 Iron Ore 218 Chrome 221 Gold 222 Road Materials 223 Gabbro 224 Granite 225 Gravel 225 Oil 225 List of Operators in Mineral Products in Cecil County 226 THE SOILS OF CECIL COUNTY. By Clarence W. Dorsey and Jay A. Bonsteel 227 Introductory 227 AGRicuLTtnaAL Conditions 227 Soil Formations 229 Cecil Loam 230 Cecil Clay 233 Cecil Mica-Loam 235 Conowingo Barrens 236 Conowingo Clay 238 14 CONTENTS PAGE Sassafras Loam 239 Norfolk Sand 241 Susquehanna Gravel 243 Elkton Clay 245 Susquehanna Clay 246 THE CLIMATE OP CECIL COUNTY. By Oliver L. Fassig 249 Introductoby 249 Tempebature Conditions 250 Normal Temperatures and Departures therefrom 252 Extremes of Temperature 254 Rainfall _ _ 257 Snowfall 260 THE HYDROGRAPHY OF CECIL COUNTY. BY H. A. Pressy 263 Octoraro Creek 266 Susquehanna River 272 THE MAGNETIC DECLINATION IN CECIL COUNTY. By L. A. Bauer 289 Meridian Line 290 THE FORESTS OF CECIL COUNTY. By H. M. Curran, with AN Intro- duction, by Geobge B. Sudwobth 295 Introduction 295 Location 296 Topography and Soil 297 Drainage 297 Woodlands and Forests 298 Forest Types 298 Barrens Timber 298 Shore Timber 300 Forest Trees 302 Conifers 302 Hardwoods 303 Distribution 304 Important Commercial Trees 304 Inferior Commercial Trees 305 Use of Material 305 Building Material 306 Pulpwood 306 Ties and Telegraph Poles 307 Fencing 307 Charcoal and Cordwood 308 Forest Fibes 308 Fibe Pbotection 309 Future of Forests 310 Early Condition 310 Producing Capacity 311 Improvement 312 Index 315 ILLUSTRATIONS I. View from Wildcat Point, showing Gorge and Islands of the Susquehanna River 25 11. Views of Cecil County 32 Fig. 1.—View Susquehanna River from below Port Deposit... 32 Fig. 2.—Gilpin Rocks, near Bay View 32 III. View looking northeast from Grays Hill, near Blkton 40 IV. Map showing Physiographic Divisions of Cecil County 64 V. Views of Cecil County 68 Fig. 1.—Topography of Elk Neck, Cecil County 68 Fig. 2.—Turkey Point, from Maulden Mountain 68 VI. Views of Cecil County 72 Fig. 1.—A young valley in unconsolidated Coastal Plain Deposits 72 Fig. 2.—Wave-cut cliff on west shore of Elk Neck 72 VII. Views of Cecil County 30 Fig. 1.—Susquehanna from Wildcat Point, showing side valleys 3® Fig. 2.—View of rocky side-stream near Bald Friar 80 VIII. Views of Piedmont Plateau 88 Fig. 1.—Wildcat Point, showing depth of gorge out in Pied- mont Plateau by Susquehanna River 88 Fig. 2.—Level Surface of Piedmont Plateau away from main drainage lines 88 IX. Views of Piedmont Plateau 96 Fig. 1.—View showing barrens underlain by serpentine 96 Fig. 2.—View showing farmlands underlain by granite- gneiss 96 X. Views of Piedmont Plateau structure 104 Fig. 1.—Railroad cut in contorted gneiss, above Bald Friar.. 104 Fig. 2.—Nearer view showing character of folding 104 XI. Views of Piedmont Plateau 136 Fig. 1.—Gilpin Rocks (metarhyolite), near Bay View 136 Fig. 2.—Falls over Gilpin Rocks, near Bay View 136 XII. Geological sections in Cecil County 152 Fig. 1.—Patapsco and overlying Raritan formations. Lower White Banks 152 Fig. 2.—Nearer view of Raritan formation, Maulden Moun- tain 132 XIII. Geological sections in Cecil County 156 Fig. 1.—Raritan formation overlain by Matawan 156 Fig. 2.—Raritan formation overlain by Pleistocene, Northeast River 156 16 ILLUSTRATIONS PLATE FACING page XIV. Geological sections In Cecil County igO Fig. 1.—Cliff showing Matawan Monmouth contact, Sassa- fras River Fig. 2. Bluff showing Eocene, at Georgetown 160 XV. Geological sections in Cecil County igg Fig. 1.—View showing Sunderland terraces with Lafayette in the foreground jgg Fig. 2.—Top of the Wicomico formation at Turkey Point.. 168 XVI. Geological sections in Cecil County -^g Fig. 1. Fossil tree stump in Talbot formation, Bohemia River 176 2. Section in Talbot formation, near Perryville 176 XVII. Mineral Resources of Cecil County igg Fig. 1.—View showing location of McClenahan granite quarry Port Deposit ' 19g Fig. 2.—Kaolin-washing plant, Maryland Clay Company, Northeast ^gg XVIII. Map of central Cecil County !!!!!!! 204 XIX. Mineral Eesources of Cecil County ai6 Outcrop of kaolin in Sutton cut, near Perry ville 216 Fig. 2. Flint mill and kiln, Conowlngo 216 XX. Agricultural views in Cecil County 228 Fig. 1.—Weathering of granite into Cecil loam, near French- town 228 Fig. 2.—Crystalline rocks overlain by gravel 228 XXI. Agricultural views in Cecil County 232 Fig. 1.—Characteristic topography in Susquehanna gravel *rea 232 Fig. 2.—Typical farm in central Cecil County 232 XXII. Agricultural views in Cecil County 240 Fig. 1.—Farm-lands, Elk Neck !! " 240 Fig. 2.—Farm-lands, Sassafras Neck 240 XXIII. Hydrography of Cecil County 264 Fig. 1.—Bohemia river, with thin fringe of shore-timber!" 264 2. Little Elk Creek with river birch and sycamore 264 XXIV. Charcoal-burners' camp 295 XXV. Map of Cecil County showing wooded areas 296 XXVI. Barrens timber ' 298 Fig. 1.—A thin stand, due to fire 298 Fig. 2.—An area recently cut 298 XXVII. Shore timber ' Fig. 1.—A good stand.