The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-06-11
From the Asheville News.
GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY.
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t 80 FRANKLIN, N. c., May 6, 1867.
f Mr. Editor:-At your request, and that Of
| other friends, propose to write a few brief ar
ticles for your paper, the frst of which will be
devoted to the Geology and Mineralogy of the
transmountain counties of North Carolina. 1,
is due to myself to state that I served under
the late DR.. Emmons as Assistant Geolosist in
this part Of the State survey. 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 publ
cation. During the excitement incident to the
breaking out of the war the whole of the manu-
scripts were lost. And as there now is much
interest felt about the resources of this section,
| have concluded to make some general State
ments, reserving to myself all discussion of the
economical value of particular mining districts
as the parties interested may require. u ..z,..
The Blue Ridge from the head waters of the
French Broad to the head of Nantalee is CON-
posed principally ofaGTanite Of rather Gneis-
sold structure. On the Northern, slopes it is
regular Gneiss with Mica and Talcose states;
but about equidistant from the summit of the
Blue Ridge to the summit of the Smoky moun.
tains commences the Talconic series of Emmons.
The Smoky mountain chain is made up of are.
nacious clay states, with interfoliatons of argyll
laeious shades, and sort of Porphyritic Gneiss.
The Gneiss of the Northern slopes of the Blue
Ridge contains excellent beds Of yellow copper
ores, which commences in Towns county, Geer-
gia, aud passes through Macon, Jackson, Hay
wood and Bubeombe in North Carolina. O.!
the economical value of this metalferous belt
have not a doubt. have investigatedEit it tho.
roughly, and risk nothing in the statement
This belt is marked by a Serpentine range
which have traverse1 for the distance of an
hundred aud sixty or seventy miles. At some
points on this range there are beds Of valuable
chrome ore. There are also ont this central
Magnetic Iron, which with Railroad facilities
could be made valuable. s< ;a's ~ %
This same central belt furnishes fine speci.
mems of Kyanite, Quartz, Ghristials, Tremolite,
Rutile, black TourmoIin, Hornbiend, Blend,
beautiful white Eeldspar, Picrolite, @Actinolte,
Asbestus, Tale, both black and greenish Ex-
cellent cabinet specimens of these minerals may
be had. .@ --5 - =
There is also small cubes of argentiferous
Galena found in Gneiss. Also found fne speci
mems Of massive flmenite, 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 occur as Copper Py-
rites with Green Malachite. The ores of Duck
Town are a black copper smut, partially oxi-
dized, in the first beds Uuder this lies cupri-
ferrous ArseDicai Pyrites, and at greater depth
an excellent copper Pyrtes. La this belt1th
ores are free from all Arsenicai combinations,
and are most admirably located for economical
mining, being found in high mountain slopes
and ridges; SO that the mines may be braiDed by
adit levels and the ores stopped and brought to
the dressing yards. It is worthy of remark
also, that these mountains abound in the best
material for fuel for smelling works. hazard
nothing in saying that with Railroad facilities
for transporting the metal, these raiues will pro-
duce an immense amount of copper at as cheap
cost as any other mining district can do. Moth
ing indeed is wanting but capital aud Railroads
TO make this one of the most successful mining
districts in the States. .,-.. =
In addition to what have said of the econo-
mical value of these metallic ores-Copper, Mag
netic Iron aud Chromium, | may say that q
more delightful climate cannot be found from
Canada to the Gulf Of Mexico. There is a
balmy freshness in this mountain air which is
unsurpassed; aud the pure waters of our noun
tain springs furnish the most delightful bever-
age that beni6cent Creator has ever given to
mankind Indeed people who cannot be con-
tented and thrifty and honest 10 this climate
ana By the use OF thts sparkling beverage et Va
tare must be born With very decided moral OBJ
liquities. ~.r..-... - y.
80 Yours truly, G. D.SMITH.
TAKE HIM OUr.-A scrub headed boy hay-
ing been brought before the court as witness,
the following colloquy ensueG:
"Where do you Iive?" said the Judge.
"Lise with my mother"
ssWhere does your mother live?" l.
"She lives with my father"
"Where in the thunder is their homer" roars
the Judge.
$, "That's where I am FROM" says the boy,
sticking bis tongue 10 corner of his cheek
and slowly closing one eye on the Judge.
"uere, Mr Constable" says the Court, stake
the witoess cut and tell him to travel; he evi-
IDENTIFY does not understand the nature Of an