The country on James' river, from 15 to 20 miles above Richmond, and for feveral miles northward and fouthvvard, is replete with mineral coal of a very excel- lent quality. Being in the hands of many proprietors, pits have been opened, and, before the interruption of our commerce, were worked to an extent equal to the demand.
In the wellern country coal is known to be in fo many places, as to have indu- ced an opinion, that the whole trad between the Laurel mountain, Miffifipi, and Ohio, yields coal. It is alfo known in many places on the north fide of the Ohio. The coal at Pittfburg is of very fuperior quality. A bed of it at that place has been a-fire fincethe year 1765. Another coal-hill on the Pike-run of Monongahela has been a-fire ten years; yet it has burnt away about twenty yards only.
I have known one inftance of an eme- rald found in this country. Amethyfts have been frequent, and cryftals common;
yet not in fuch numbers any of them as to be worth feeking.
There is very good marble, and in very great abundance, on James' river, at the mouth of Rockfifh. The famples I have feen, were fome of them of a white as pure as one might exped: to find on the furface of the earth: but moft of them were variegated with red, blue, and pur- ple. None of it has been ever worked.
It forms a very large precipice, which hangs over a navigable part of the river.
It is faid there is marble at Kentucky.
But one vein of lime-ftone is known below the Blue-ridge. Its firft appearance, in our country, is in Prince Wil- liam, two miles below the