Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1858-09-11

pear, but so rare is their occurrence or.
rather, so insignificant is their bulk, that
their supply of this fertilizer is very incon
Siderable The value of the limestone is
thus greatly heightened.
The itacolumite, by whose beds the lime
stone stratum is enyelopcd, is itself the real
mother rock of the diamond in every coun-
try where this precious mineral occurs, and
Indeed, in Georgia aud North Carolina, it
has already been discovered in connection
with this very belt, AS yet none have
been found in our State, but so small a body
as even valuable diamond can escape de-
lection so easily that the absence of an ac-
tual discovery is,no proof whatever of the
| absence of the mineral. 1t was long after
the probability of the existence of the diu-
mond i'll the Ural had been pointed out bv
! humboldt and others, that diamond was
actually found. Since then the production
there has been regular.
After alluding to some fine son3,sfonc &C.
currcnccs, one of which is within a few
miles of Fort Hill, while another is seen ON
Mr. Parsons place, near Salubrity p. O.,
! would call your attention to the presence
of tcispdr in workable quantities on the
farm of Mr. Labah Mauldin, near Pickcns-
villc,
Felspar is mineral employed in the
manufacture of porcelain, and at the estab-
lishment at kaolin, in Edgcfcld, the com
pany have hitherto been forced to procure
their supply from New England. On
visit to their works last winter my atten-
| ton had been urged to the careful search
for extensive occurrences of this mineral,
and it was therefore with great pleasure that
was enabled to acquaint them with this
| discovery.
At the locality in question, search had
been made for 9old-a little blue quartz
occurring with the felspar. No gold was
found, and the felspar had been thrown
aside as "worthless rock" In the pit open
cd it occupies almost the entire space of
vein five feet in diameter, and some of the
single crystals are upwards of foot in
length At the next agricultural fair sam
pies of this very useful mineral substance
will be exhibited The supply appears to
he almost cxhaustlcss, for numerous other
unexplored veins show themselves on this
and the adjoining lands
In reference to valuable or useful metals,
Dickens is not as well supplied as we might
at first sight anticipate HE most con-
splcuous mineral or metallic belt of our
State crosses it farther down the country,
entering from the rich mining regions of
Charlotte, Concord and Union, in North
! Carolina, and extending thence across the
State to Edgcfcld and Abbevillc, being.
however, interrupted by tic dcnudng in
fluenccs of the Saluda and its tributaries
Nevertheless, there are some important oc-
currences IF useful metals in Pickcns Dis
trict. Gold is extremely often met within
branch deposits, though no very productive
auriterous veins occur. Some of these de-
posts have been worked a long time since,
as at the "Keowcc place" and at AIr. Raw
eneFs, for instance. Only one ofsuch gray
el beds is now operated upon. This is sit
uated in Chcohec valley, and a Mr. Kuht-
mann is employing a considerable force at
this spot. While working his deposit he
is also actively engaged in exploring some
veins close adjoining, containing orycntG
ocsgoleno. The quality of these veins
is exceedingly promising, aud although the
size is too small to prove remuneratiye at
the depth hitherto attained, would remind
you that this, like excessive youth, is fault
which is likely to. diminish daily. Besides,
tofurnist you with practical instance of
such improvements in our State, | would
direct your ati ition to the Mary Copper
Mine, in York, wlerc at the surface the
vein never exceeded foot, and at depth
of thirty-fvc or forty feet had increased to
-four, or five feet in width. Other instances
ofa similar nature you will find in my last
report.
These veins belong to type which con-
tains gold above, copper helow, and some
times lead between. Here The auriferous
portion has been removed by aqueous ac-
ton, and has furnished the gold of the de-
post. The copper region has not yet been
reached.
Every one interested in the developments
of our mineral resources viii join me in
cordially wishing success to these mining
explorations, and to all similar ones in the
State.
! haze not mentioned above rich but
ycry little gold vein ON Mr.. Lay IS place in
Cheohee, which might be rendered some
what productive for a time, in reference to
gold, aud will afterwards probably lead to
copper, and previously, possibly, to lead. 81
Scnia smnll deposits might also be profit
ably worked for q confined period, gravel
deposits being 90 fpso .Gniie Such aurif-
crous beds ere found OH ar Parsou' place,
near Salubrity, and at Mr.. I@y's, in Cheo-
lice. and along numerous waterconrses else
where in the District. But will de-
tain you with other cnumeratione, as fear
II IL. q A. a. 4