The New Albany Knobs

Dr. R. T. Brown is now engaged in a geological survey of this State, and is publishing his observations in the Indiana Farmer. From his last communication we extract the following in regard to the geological formation of the Knobs immediately back of this city. It will be of interest to many of our readers: March 17. This morning finds me in the city of New Albany, and I regret that the high water will prevent me from making any personal observation of the rapids known as the "Falls of the Ohio." The true geological position of this rock has been a subject of discussion among geologists for several years past. Sir Charles Lyell and M. de Verneuil both deciding from observations made on the spot, have classed it with the Devonian group, yet several American names of high authority would refer it to the Carboniferous group...From a collection of fossils in possession of Dr. Clapp of New Albany, obtained from the falls, it cannot be denied that there is rather a strange mixing up of species rarely found in such close proximity. "The Knobs" in the rear of the city rest on a base of Aluminous Slate...[description of layers]...This is succeeded by 40 feet of buff colored sandstone in regular strata from 2 to 4 feet in thickness. It weathers well and becomes harder on exposure, and is not inclined to spawl with frost. For all architectural purposes where stone is not required to sustain a great weight, I regard it as a valuable building material--The New Albany Branch of the State Bank of Indiana built their banking house of this material, nearly 20 years ago, and had a little more judgment been exercised in selecting blocks for exposed situations, the building would have exhibited no signs of decay...A remarkable peculiarity of this region is that of every thing in and around the knobs is impregnated with iron.