A GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE; BEING THE AUTHOR'S First Biennial Report. PRESENTED TO THE THIRTY-FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF TENNESSEE, DECEMBER, 1855. BY JAMES M. SAFFORD, A.M., STATE GEOLOGIST; PROFESSOR OF NATURAL SCIENCE IN CUMBERLAND UNIVERSITY, LEBANON, TENN., ETC., ETC. with map. NASHVILLE, TENN.: G. C. TORBETT & CO., STATE PRINTERS. 1856. PREFACE. FOR a series of years, previous to the organization of the present Survey, the late Dr. Gerard Troost, a gentleman of high scientific attainments, occupied the position of State Geologist. We had intended to give an outline of the results of his observations, but we are reluctantly compelled to defer it to a future occasion. His reports, however, have been published, and can be referred to if necessary. In February, 1854, the General Assembly passed an Act creating again "the office of Geologist and Mineralogist of the State," "said office to be filled by the joint vote of both houses of the General Assembly." It was made "the duty of said Geologist and Mineralogist to commence and carry on a geological and mineralogical survey," "with a view to discover the order, relative position, and comparative magnitude of the several strata or geological formations within the State, and to discover, analyze, and assay all beds of deposits of ores, coals, clays, marls, and such other mineral substances as may be deemed useful or valuable, together with such other duties as may be necessary to make a full and complete geological and mineralogical survey;" "and to make a report to the Legislature which shall meet next after his election or appointment, of the progress of such survey, accompanied with such maps, drawings, and specimens as may be necessary," etc. Soon after the passage of this Act, we were selected to fill the office thus created, and immediately upon the reception of our commission from his Excellency the Governor, entered upon the task assigned us. At the time of our election, we were prosecuting our professional duties in Cumberland University; these, however, being temporarily |