Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.djvu/51

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES Mount Pleasant—The Chemung, Lower Helderberg and Salina formations predominate here. The limestones are slightly magnesian and would make good Portland cement. Others can be burned for lime. At the forks of the road near Little Fishing creek the highest point above sea sea, just above Mordansville, is 535 feet.

Hemlock—Almost a complete section from the Catskill formation down to the basal beds of the Clinton is found in this township along the banks of Fishing creek. A large quarry was formerly operated in the Hamilton shales, from which a fine grade of slate for mantels and tables was sawn, by the Thomas Slate Company. At this quarry the Marcellus slates were also mined for roofing and school slates. The lower Helderberg limestone was mined at this place for the Bloomsburg furnaces, also about a mile cast of Buckhom. The Bloomsburg Iron Company and William Neal & Sons quarried (he fossil iron ore in the Montour ridge. The highest elevation in this township is 975 feet.

Montour—Catskill, Chemung and Genesee shales are the range of rocks in this township, covering a section of 4.784 feet. Between Catawissa bridge and Rupert the exposures along the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railroad, at the end of Montour ridge, are the most complete In the county. A student of geology will find much of value to observe here, and the lover of the picturesque will be gratified by the varied scenery to be found at this spot. Indications arc found here that the Susquehanna once flowed in a channel directly westward lo Danville through the valley north of Montour ridge. The Rossardville limestone has been quarried for agricultural uses by several persons in this vicinity, but was found too impure for building uses. The fossil iron ore was also at one time mined about a mile and a half west of Fishing creek. The highest point of Montour ridge in this township is 755 feet.

Bloomsburg—The Clinton, Salina, Lower Helderberg and Hamilton formations are exposed along the banks of Fishing creek beside the Bloomsburg & Sullivan railroad tracks. At many places outcroppings of fossil iron ore are found and have been almost completely mined out in the past. The town of Bloomsburg is located on three terraces composed of deposits from streams in the past. The highest terrace in Bloomsburg is on Second street, where the altitude is 575 feet.

Main—Cutting through Nescopeck mountain, Catawissa creek here exposes all of the Pocono and Catskill formations. The Catskill sandstones here were at one time quarried for building purposes. About 1,500 feet is the height of the mountain at this point.

Catawissa—All of the different formations characteristic of this county are shown along the Susquehanna from Catawissa to the Bloomsburg bridge, along the bluffs of Catawissa (or Nescopeck) mountain. None of the limestones here have been commercially worked. The height of Catawissa mountain is estimated at 1,600 feet.

Franklin—Only a few of the characteristic formations of this county arc exposed in this township. A dividing ridge, part of Catawissa mountain, separates the Susquehanna from Roaring creek in the central part of the town¬ ship. Elevations range from 900 to 1,400 feet above sea level.

Locust—Little mountain, along the southern border of this township, has an elevation of 1,040 feet, and exposes the Pocono formation to some extent. Other strata are shown at various gaps in the hills and mountain, made by the branches of Roaring creek.

Montour County

Cooper—In the tunnel cut to drain the old quarry of Grove Brothers, at Grovania, the exposures of Catskill and Chemung rocks are very complete. The Lower Helderberg limestone is the one quarried here now for lime, as it was for furnace uses in the past. Some fossilifcrous iron ore w.as also mined in the past, but is now exhausted. The ancient valley of the Susquehanna, through which that river once flowed before it carved its way through the Montour axis, is shown in the center of this township, and forms the basis of the best farms in this vicinity. The elevation of the ridge here is about 700 feet.

Mahoning—The formations characteristic of Montour ridge arc to be found in this township. A number of limestone quarries were former y operated in this township to supply the furnaces at Danville, but arc now idle. Iron ore was also extensively mined, but has long since been exhausted. About 700 feet is the height of the ridge here.

Liberty—The lowest beds of the Clinton slates form Montour ridge here, while the Oriskany chert and the Lower Helderberg limestone make Lime Ridge in the northern border of the township. The Hamilton and Bossard¬ ville limestones have here been extensively quarried. Montour ridge stands 900 feet above sea level, while Lime Ridge is about 100 feet lower.