NJDEP - NJGS - First Annual Report of the Geological Survey of the ...

61,ture_ and also.for i_numereu_ .and remarlkable fossils; bones,shells, sharks' teeth,'&e., being common in .it. Its geologicalcharacter was first distinctly shown by Professor L. Vanuxem,Dr. Morton, and Mr. Conrad, Ofphiladelphia, in eighteen hundredand twenty.seven. In eighteen hundred and thirty-five,the legislature ordered a geological survey of the State to bemade. This was done by Professor H. D. Rogers, and his finalreport was presented in eighteen hundred and forty. Thisreportincluded avery full account of the marl, both geologicaland chemical. Numbers of analyses ofthe varieties of it havebeen made by other chemists; some of these arc important,and will be referred to again. Under such cireumsmness, thepresent examination w.as'entered upon with a good deal ofdistrust ; and nothing but a knowledge that the openings intothe marl were much more numerous and extensive than whenProfessor Rogers dosed his survey, and that thus an opportunityfor study was new presented which was not then available,could have induced an attempt to re-examine what hadalready been so walt done."DESCRIPTIVE GEOLOGY. _From examinations in the field, the following facts areproved :--• 1. The clays and marls, which constitute the basis of mostof this part of the State, are in regular and continuous layers.2. These layers are not level, 13utincline or di/_towards thesoutheast. They hav.e boca observed to descend from twentyto fifty feet in a mile.8. Since these layers were formed, the action of water, orother eauses_has worn away and changed the surface of thecountry.In passing across the country.from the north towards thesouth, we come upon the different layers in orderly succession ;in examining the pits which have been opened for marl, thesuec.ssive layers are always found in.the same order ; exami-NEW JERSEY GEOLOGICAL SURVEY