The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-09-09
TO THE 0EOGNOSY OF AB,
BEVILLE DISTRICT.
&s..ts IL
CAIFGE0L. SURVEY So. CL.,
August 1863

MR. EDITOR:
Having cursorily noticed the various rocks
OF the Savannah half Of Abbeville. we may
now uevote few words to the minerals Of
economic importance.
Gold is SO satisfactorily represented by
Dorn's mine, that although there are number
of other occurrence! of that metal. it is scarce
ly necessary just ne to sllude to them for
this article has alreSdy ontgrown it's intended
dimensions. A des1iption of this mine was
given some time since in the Farmer and
Planter. and 1 believe you have furnished
your readers with extracts. The only matter
in connection with gold to which should adj
dltionafly desire to call Your attention, is the
fact that Immediately south and south east of
Lowndesville there occurs body of precisely
the same slate as at Dorn's mine. striking some-
what north Of east OF course my time is too
limited to have been able to institute any un-
derground explorations sufficient to settle the
economic question suggested beyond dispute
To enter into any mining operations for the
purpose OF actually determining the facts as to
the quantity Of gold present must be left to
those whose interests are more Immediately
concerned. My services in such cases must re.
main indicative: or the duties. Iabors and ex-
Penses would be incalculable. mention this
on account Of those misconceptions which &C.
cur now and then. In the case here referred
to there are siliceous beds or veins resembling
those of Dorn's and similar mines. They
abound too in the cubiform remains of iron.
pyrites. and are thus of promising appearance,
although do not know that nny attention has
been paid to them at this point though in
the same rock formation gold has been worked
to small extent north west, or rather west of
Lowndesville.
Lead is found in a vein near Parsons Noun
tain on the land of Mr. Isaac Kennedy. This
vein belongs to class which invariably in
depth leadsto copper.
Copper will expect also be found in vein
of Mr.. VIM. Halls in the extreme northern
part Of your diatrict not far from Rocky River.
This vein also belongs to the Carolina Type
(see Report Ill., and az far as it was possible
to judge from the mere outcrop is of very
promising nature. Mr. Hall has commenced
underground explorations.
While on the subject of copper, I would beg
you to permit me through the columns of your
paper to correct an erroneous impression-to
me. admit, difficult to understanl-which
observed in recent notice of my last Report
in another journal BY some very unaccount-
able mistake it was sup posed that had assert
ed our State to be separated from the cuprfer.
Gus region by the Blue Ridge. while haze en-
braced every single occasion, which was afford.
ed me to express my conviction that good COP
per veins on our side of the Blue Ridge are far
more reliable than those which are worked on
it's western side. The Blne Ridge is the divi-
ding line between two grand types Of cupre.
hrous veins, which described as the Duck
town (Tennessee) and the Carolina types
classes especially different, although both con.
tanning the same metal The Ducktown veins
as far as 1t is possible tn judge. of local forma-
tfon and limited downward extent, while the
Carolina veins belong to the class Of persistent
or permanent veins. The latter closely RESENT
bles the most Of the European copper veins,
which have been worked for centuries. AS
yet the real ore which has been exported from
Ducktown in large quantities is merely deri-
we'd from that portion of the veins. where the
action of the atmosphere and Of water has
concentrated with q compare lively email space
the entire quantity of copper. which was orig.
nally diffused through a much greater spnce
1t Is what may be called q secondary ore. Be-
low the action of corrodine influences the un-
altered copper ore is so intimately mixed with
iron pyrites, that they have not been able to
make it available. Nor is it at all likely that
even this poor ore will continue onward for
any great depth. The Third Report fers to
Greenville and Pickens Districts. and it was
stated only with regard to them. that cop.
per hadsnot yet been found in quantity. The
search for copper in those portions of our
State, where the metal is most likely to
abound has been exceedingly limited-gold
usually engrossing the entire attention of those
interested in mining operations-so that we are
forced TO defer to the future almost all practi-
cal knowledge Of the commercial resources of
our State in this respect. The prospec. is how
ever very promising.
Iron occurs in magnetic, specular and hydra
ted ore in the vicinity Of Calhoun's Mills, not
in sufficient quantity however to be worked.
Nevertheless. even il the ore were sufficient
ly abundant. the still unabolshed fence laws
would Prevent'its being refdered available.
They have already proved fatal to the once ex-
tensive iron production of Spartanburg, and
certainly no iron production dependent .on
charcoal could in its struggling infancy resist
their baneful influence.
1n'Northern Abbeville occurs a fine porcei.
which may some day be rendered
serviessble, especially as the fsld.par needed in
the manufacture Of The better kinds of crock.
cry. abound in it's immediate vicinity. Some,
very beautiful ametbysts are found not far from
the same spot; but I have already detained
your attention too long to desire to extend
70 sso oosss farther: and
Very respectfuliy,
OSCAR M. LIEBER,
State Geologist 8. G..
RATES OF TUITION NORTH.
DR.. Buist, Of the Lsurensville Female Col.
lege, is spending his vacation travelling among