Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-05-31
From the Ashville News.
Letter from Macon County.
FRANKLIN, n. c., May 6, 1867

FRANKLIN, n. T., May p, 1857.
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
Mineralogy of the transmontane counties
of North Carolina. It is due to myself to
state that L served under the late Dr. En-
mons as Assistant Geologist in this part
of the State survey. My report was placed
in the hands of DR.. Emmons, which he in
formed me was, with his own manuscripts,
placed in the hands of the Governor for
publication. During the excitement Incl
dent to the breaking out of the war the
whole of the manuscripts were lost. And
as there now is much interest felt about the
resources of this section, [ have concluded
to make some general statements, reserving
to myself all discussion of the economical
value of particular mining districts rs the
parties interested may require.
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 North
ern slopes it is regular Gneiss with Mica
and Talcose states but about equidistant
from the summit of the Blue Ridge to the.
summit ofthe Smoky mountains commences
the Talconic series of Emmons. The Smoky
mountain chain is made up of arenacious
clay states, with interfoliations of argilla-
cious 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, Georgia, and passes
through Macon, Jackson, Haywood and
Buncombe in North Carolina. OF the eco
nomical value of this metaliferous belt 1
have not a doubt. [ have investigated it
thoroughly, and risk nothing in the state
ment. This belt is marked by a serpen-
tine range which | have traversed for the
distance of an hundred and sixty or seven.
| ty miles. At some points on this range
there are beds of valuable chrome ORE
There are also on this central Gneiss belt
outcrops of an excellent quality of Magnet
ic Iron, which with railroad facilities could
be made valuable.
This same central belt furnishes fine spe-
cimens of kyanite, Quartz Crystals, Trem
olite, Rutile, black Tourmolin, Hornblend,
Blend, beautiful white, Feldspar, Picro-
lite, Actinolite, Asbestus, Tale, both black
and greenish. Excellent cabinet specimens
of these minerals may be had.
There are also small cubes of argentifer
Gus Galena found in GneisS. i also found
fine specimens of massive IlmenitG, on
Little Ivy. The copper ores of this belt
are different from the ores of Duck Town,
and are found in q different class of rocks.
Here they occur as Copper Pyrites with
Green Malachite. The ores of Duck Town
are black copper smut, partially oxidized,
in the first beds Under this lies cuprifer
Gus Arsenical Pyrites and at greater depth
an excellent copper Pyrites. In this belt
the ores are free from all Arsenical comb
nations 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 remark,
also, that these mountains abound in the
best material for fuel for smelling works
[ 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 mining district can do. Nothing, in
deed, is wanting but capital and Railroads
to make this one of the most successful
mining districts in the States.
In addition to what I have said Of the
economical value of these metallic ores
Copper, Magnetic Iron and CHROMIUM
may say that more delightful climate cam
not be found from Canada to the Gulf OF
Mexico. There is a balmy freshness IN this
mountain air which is unsurpassed and
the pure waters of our mountain springs
furnish the most delightful beverage that a
beneficent Creator has ever given to man
contented, and thrifty and honest, in this
climate and by the use of this pure, spark
ling beverage of nature, must be born with
very decided moral obliquities.
| Yours truly, G. D. SMITH.