Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-11-01
selistellaueuns &eading.
Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquirer.
THE SOUTH CAROLINA MINERAL BELT.
Blacks STATION, October 20.

BLACK 8 STATION, Octooef Zu
Mr.. G. Grady, of Richmond, Va, who
has been mining in Mexico, New Mexico and
Arizona, requested some one, through the
columns of the Charlotte Observer, to give
him the character of the gold mines down
here He was answered, as far as regards the
North Carolina belt. in very able and cor
rect way, by A. C. Cowles, assayer and melt
er of the U. S. Branch Mint, at Charlotte N.
c. The questions asked by Mr.. Grady were
as follows =,
l. Is the ore of a brownish gray or yellow
color, and is it soft or hard3 2. Is the slate
green, black or blue? 3. Do miners meet
with much rotten dirt? 4. Is there much
false gravel, before reaching the slate? D.
Do miners 20 to the bed rock2 6. Are steel
points, or black sands numerous on the sur
facet Z. Is there much, or any pipe clay,
on the surface?
The gold veins Of this State are a contin'
uation of the North Carolina belt. As you
we'll know, the veins of the primitive forma'
ton run parallel. The complete description
you have had of the North Carolina gold
veins answers ours of South Carolina; which
veins are, in general, the brown ores, with
saccharine quartz, accompanied with redlsh
brown slates. They are comparatively soft.
After passing below the water, the states, with
that of the gold vein, are harder and of
lighter color. We have very little rotten
dirt, with frequent dykes, and occasionally
quicksands.
Steel points are not very common, but we
have them. Not great deal of pipe clay.
| MI oh q Ip r0o
cent of gold, are decomposed; but on going
down on these veins, we find that the gold ls
so securely wrapped in the pyrytic ores, that
it shows that the work of decomposition has
not been 80 effective as above.
At certain points within our limits, where
these gold veins have been developed, We will
give YOU their character and extent. The
Kings Mountain mine has been worked on q
more extensive scale than any other mine IN
this section. The vein here was at first OF
brownish, decomposed ores, with dark states.
These ores terminated in solid rock, partial
" impregnated with limestone The same
rock has been found on this bearing to yield
gold as far west as Broad river. This mine
has yielded more than million dollars At
the Wilson mine, FIVE miles northeast OF
Yorkvile, the vein has been gone down on
10 feet The vein is from one to four feet
wide. The ores are brown, with saccharlne
quartz. These ores will average $50 per ton.
There is narrow streak in the vein, one foot
wide, of undecomposed pyrytes, that will
yield $40 per ton.
The states are of dark brown-no rotten
dirt. There are some black sands and lit
tie pipe clay on the surface. At water ieVe
the vein has been run out, 100 feet 10 eact l
direction. This mine has yielded sl25,OOo
The vein here yields large per cent of cop
per. Half mile distant, the same vein II
) worked exclusively for copper, and Is foune
3 to he very rich.
At the Martin mine, which is depos'
> mine, the loose dirt having yielded aoou
!. 10000, no vein has been discovered as yet
f There is a regular vein Of film: running within
this bed of rich dirt, which has been at on
2 day, abruptly thrown at right angles. lnda
: this elbow, there is dyke, that has throw
:, up this part of the vein, which, in its dlslnte
gratons, has thrown of this rich surface de
= posit One lump has been found that wa