The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1876-11-17
NORTH GEORGIA.
Its Mineral Resources.

partial examination of this section
goes to some extent to show how
rich are its mineral and agricultur
al resources, and what a favorable
effect the development of these re-
sources would have upon the pros
perity of the State. At present, it
distance from the railway prevents
progress in this direction. Wher
the Merietta and North Georgi'
Railroad furnishes an outlet, las i
unGoubily will if the people show
themselves in earnest trying to ge
it. the mountain country of North
Georgia will make astonishing ad
vances in material prosperity. The
wealth is here--it only likes a mar
ket:
son the morning of the 18th oil
January, 1875, accompanied by
Col. IL. r. Foote, of Ellijay, an en-
thusiastic friend of the road, and
who seemed conversant with the va
rious localities of mineral deposits,
and to whom | am under many OBJ
legations for information thereto, we
repaired to a point near the county
line between Gilmer and Fannin,
on the farm of Mrs. Catharine Holt,
where | found an inexhaustible vein
of tale, or pyrophyllite. A shaft
some twenty feet deep has been
sunk upon the vein for the purpose
of testing for silver ore. The PEG
pie were entirely ignorant of the
uses made of this mineral. They call
it cotton rock or, more vulgary,
'soapstone.' This mineral is highly
valuable in the arts and manufac-
lures. Some of its uses are applied
to the adul.oration Of flour, paint,
soap, candy and for making cray>
ons. The ladies use it as a cosmetic
which gives a beautiful facial cons
plexion. 1t is an invaluable lubri>
Gator for all kinds of machinery
used by boot and shoe Makers
When prepared for crayons it is
worth twenty-five cents per pound
cosmetics, fifty cents. 1t is worth
in New York and Boston two cents
per pound, of forty dollars per ton.
On Deep river in North Carolina
an extensive mines of this mineral
is now being worked. 1t is called
agalmatolite," or "fgurestone," but
it is the same as the Georgia tale
The essential difference between the
Gag almatolite" and the Geor-
gia pyrophylitc consists in the for
mer being composed of silica sixty
three and alumina thirty whereas
that of the pyrOphylite is silica six
ty, and magnesia thirty three.
This chemical combination rem
ders it valuable as lubricator for
heavy machinery and wagons, car
riages, go. Much of the medium
qualities are used for stove linincs,
lamps and furnices. 1t pays very
we'll, from the cheapness and facility
of procuring it. Ofthe "fgurestone"
the Chinese make their gods for
! family worship; but the more intelli
gent Yankee turns it to better ac~
count.
Water power is amply near this
deposit for running any amount OF
machinery to manufacture it into
flour, which commands a ready mars
ket in the Northern cities.
In juxtaposition with this mineral
is rich lead or iron ore, which will
yield from fifty to sixty per cent
The distance from the proposed
railroad is two miles.
The second examination made
was on the farm of Abner Watkins,
two miles south of Mrs. Hollis,
where | found iron, slate and marble.
The outcrop, or surface ore, over
lies a large area of land. an inex~
haustible quantities. This ore will
yield from sixty to seventy per cent
Water>power sufficient, throughout
this valley, for working heavy ma
chinery. Slate is found on the west
ern slope of "ruruip Town" noun
tain the strata rise from the water
level high upon the mountain. This
formation contains the black and
gray states. The cleaverage is un-
form, texture non absorptive, and
does not break, or fracture, when
perforated. There are mountains
of it, and enough to supply the Am
crican continent. This slate has the
same texture or properties as the
Rock Mart slate in Polk county,
which quarry is now being profita-
bly, worked, and was sold, as | am
informed, a few years ago for SlOO-
600. These quarries are worked
by a largo number of Welshmen,
who have followed the business in
their native country. The Welsh
are an industrious and quiet people,
work hard and steadily, and are
good citizens. Their labor COM
mands 81 90 per day.
And SO it may be said of North
Georgia-when the Marietta and
North Georgia Railroad shall have
been completed through the rich al
luvial valleys of Ellijay river,
thousands of skilled artisans will
find their way to that now unknown
region of mineral wealth, and bring
to light hidden treasures which will