The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-05-23
EFrom tie Ashevilie Nwes.
LETTER FROM MACON COUNTY. Z
FRANKLIN. N. e. NAV g. 19f


Mr. EDITOR AT your request, and that
of other friends, ! propose to write few
brief articles for your paper, the first of which
will be devoted to the Geology and Miner
alogy of the transmountainc counties of North
Carolina. It is due to myself to state that
served under the late Dr. Enlmons as Assist
ant Geologist in this part of the State sur
vey. My report was placed in the hands Of
Dr. Emmons, which, he informed me was
with his own manuscripts, placed in the
hands of the Governor for publication. Du
ring the excitement incident to the breaking
out of the war the whole of the manuscripts
were lost. And as there now is much in
terest felt about the resources of this section
have concluded to make some general state
ments, reserying to myself all discussion OF
the economical value of particular mining
districts as the parties interested may re-
quire
The Blue Ridge from the head waters OF
the French Broad to the head of Nantalee is
composed principally of Granite of rather
Gneissoid structure. On the Northern slopes
it is regular Gneiss with Mica and Talcose
states but about equidistant from the sum-
nit Of the Blue Ridge to the summit of the
Smoky mountains commences the Talconic
series of Emmons The Smoky mountain
chain is made up of arenacious clay states,
with interfoliations of argillacious shades,
and a sort of Porphyritic Gneiss The Gneis
| of the Northern slopes of the Blue Ridge
contains excellent beds of yellow copper ores,
which commences in Towns county, Georgia,
and passes through Macon, Jackson, Ilay-
wood and Buncombe in North Carolina. Of
the economical value of this metaliferous belt
have not doubt 1 have investigated it
thoroughly, and risk nothing in the state
ment This belt is marked by Serpentine
range which have traversed for the distance
of all hundred and sixty or seventy miles,
At some points on this range there are beds
of valuable chrome ore. There are also on
this central Gneiss belt out-crops of an ex-
cellcnt quality of Magnetic Iron, which with
Railroad facilities could be made valuable
This same central belt furnishes fine spec
linens of Kyanite, Quartz, Christials Trem-
olite, Rutile, black Tourmolin, Hornblend,
Blend, beautiful white Feldspar, Picrolite,
Actinolite, Asbestus, Tale, both black and
greenish. Excellent cabinet specimens of
these minerals may be had.
There is also small cubes of argentiferous
Galena found in Gneiss. 1 also found fine
specimens of massive Ilmenite, on Little Ivy.
The copper ores of this belt are different
from the ores of Duck Town, and are found
in different class of rocks. Here they &C.
cur as Copper Pyrites with Green Malachite.
The ores of Duck Town are black copper
smut, partially oxidized, in the first BEDS
Under this lies cupriferous ArsenicaI Pyrites,
and at greater depth an excellent copper
Pyrites. In this belt the ores are free from
all Arsenical combinations, and are most !
admirably located for economical mining, |
being found in high mountain slopes and |
ridges; so that the mines may be Drained by
adit levels and the ores stopped and brought
to the dressing yards 1t is worthy of re-
mark, also, that these mountains abound in
the best material for fuel for smelling works
l hazard nothing in saying that with Rail-
road facilities for transporting the metal, |
these mines will produce an immense amount
of copper at as cheap cost as any other min
ing district can do. Nothing, indeed, is
wanting but capital and Railroads to make !
this one of the most successful mining dis |
tricts in the States.
In addition to what have said of the
value of these metallic ores
Copper, Magnetic Iron and Chromium, I
may say that more delightful climate can
NOT be found from Canada to the Gulf of
Mexico. There is balmy freshness in this
air which is unsurpassed and the
pure waters of our mountain springs furnish
;he most delightful beverage that benif-
cent Creator has ever given to mankind. In
Iced, people who cannot be contented.
md thrifty, and honest in this climate and
~ the use of this sparkling beverage of ma
ure must be born with very decided moral
'bliquities. Yours truly,
C. b. SMITH.