Box 15, Folder 3: Geology of Wisconsin 1869

Some layers of this limestone upon being burnt proved to be hydraulic lime; would not stack but when pulverized and made into paste would harden under water as readily as the best hydraulic cement from N. York. The geological position is the same as that found at Louisville Kentucky, being a little below the black shale. Its general appearance is the same, and several of the fossils are the same that are found at the Louisville quarries.

[list of stones]

The sulphuret of iron in the geodes is occasionally found in accircular crystals extending across the cavity. These needles are sometimes grouped in bundles crossing each other in the middle, thus apparently exhibiting the first stages of the formation of radiated pyrites.

Shaly limestone

On the north half of the south east quarter of section one town 7 range 21 (Wawatosa) the bed of mud creek is on a ledge of lomestone of slaty shaly nature which from its position probably lies between the coniferous limestone of the Milwaukee river and the Geodiferous limestone of the Menomonee. No fossils could be detected. The layers are only about one eighth of an inch in thickness; and separat on exposure. Between the laminie are found dark colored markings occasioned by the seeping in of impure water resembling (and by some supposed to be) vegetable impressions. Specimens of this kind of rock are often found in the drift especially on the Menomonee where the Watertown plank road descends into the valley. It does not make good lime & is worthless as a building ston. This ledge lies about 55 feet above L. Michigan.

[list of stones] The rock has a light gray color very full of minute cavities occasioned mainly by the decay of minute fossils. There is a strong dip from the water of the river ie in a south west direction. The quarry has been opened several feet in depth and the stone is more compact towards the bottom. Large quantities of lime are hauled to Milwaukee (8 miles) from here.

Limestone half a mile above the vilage of Saukville, and at Grafton thence to Cedarburgh in Washington County, appears to be much like that of Racine, Furlon's and the lower part of the quarries at Browns on the Menomonee. At Grafton the top of the bluffs approach in general appearance at Pettibone Limestone which is undoubtedly the Geodiferous of Eaton (Niagara of Hall). The porous limestone half a mile below Grafton is extremely [illegible] for building stone and is called by some sandstone, although it contains no proper sand. Its soft porous nature makes it easily worked, this will not add to its value as a building material. There are some reasons for the belief that this is the equivalent of leadbearing rock of the western part of the state. (But it is not)

The following fossils are from these places.

[list of fossils]