Page:Report on the geology of the four counties, Union, Snyder, Mifflin and Juniata (IA reportongeologyo00dinv).pdf/219

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20.West Beaver Township in Snyder.
F³. 191

have been sparingly quarried and burned in open ricks and are said to have made a strong field-lime. These beds are fully 100′ geologically below the quarries opened near the top of the ridge and while of better quality they are still not so good as beds which might be opened midway between the two.

Weiand’s quarry alongside the public road a short distance west has been opened in the same strata and stripped for 100′ along the road. Some of the beds are merely lime-shales, but they are quarried and burned on account of their accessibility in preference to going higher on the ridge for better but more expensive stone.

Half mile further west and beyond the brick school house there are several quarries opened well up the ridge as follows: 1. Middlesworth, now abandoned; 2. John Felker; 3. I. & M. Middlesworth; 4. R. & J. Smith and P. Knepp; 5. Unknown; 6. Fisher; 7. H. Ulsh. The ownership of the last three quarries is uncertain as all the quarries were idle and very little information could be obtained concerning them. In common with all other openings in this part of the range they are only operated from time to time for farm use, and are generally opened where the stone can be most readily developed, regardless of its character.

Quarry No. 1 shows 25′ of the top of No. VI limestone and has no bed in it over 2′ thick. The stone is blue, but soft and shaly, weathering roughly and the dip about 25° N. W. The Felker quarry is small and but slightly opened in the same bed.

The Middlesworth quarry No. 3, is one of the best on the hill. It is 50′ long and shows about 30′ of limestone, none of them very thick or massive, but furnishing a good firm stone, especially in the bottom 10′. The quarry only needs a little development in lower stone to insure a good series of beds.

The No. 4, or Bennerville quarry, as it is best known, is on the west side of the road crossing the ridge and also shows an equally good section and quality of stone; but it has not been worked for some time and therefore presents a rather unattractive appearance. The other quarries