The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1892-11-24
GreenYillo,s Gcn,a

Greenville,s Gems.
Whlle much has been said about the pre.
cious metals found in the mountains of
GfeehVille, more can be said OF the precious
stones. f>0'o"'
D. y. Mauldin, q practical mineralogiss
mas Tor several years, been prospecting
ana working along the mountain sides and
across the valleys of this county, believing
mat there were rich deposits Of precious
minerals and stones hidden away from in
experienced eyes. Two years ago he dis
covered to the northwest of Paris noun.
tain indications of y garnet deposit. AT.
yer careful examination he was satisfied
tGat The garnet WAS not there in Quantities
to pay for the labor of mining.
Following the trace, he next went to the
vicinity of Walkersville. While prospect
ing on Gildcr's creek, he discovered a vein
OF gold. Following this he struck garnet
deposit. Disseminating the gold trace, he
q! once commenced careful examination
OF OF tne ground believing that he was on
the right track Tor the garnet deposit which
he felt sure would be found. Continuing
his work, he was rewarded by the discoy
cry or garnet field. lie at once set to
work TO secure good specimens. The fur
tllcr he advanced the richer he found the
deposit.
The garnet Is encascd in fcldspar, each
lump from the size Of an acorn to the size
OF hen egg. The fcldspar is very vulua-
bic, worth $40 ton, and this alone will
pay all TIC expense of mining the garnet.
Inc GiIdcrs creek deposit Is so rich in
quantity and quality that a Company has
been organized for developing the mine.
his work has been going on quietly for
the past two years, citizens in the immc
diatc nclghborhOod hardly suspcc,inr that
prlnccly wealth was buried a few feet be-
10" the surface Of the ground which they
ploughed and hoed. The company is Or
ganizcd u"dcr the name "rhe Gilder's
Creek Mining Company" with a cash can
it"l OF $lCo.O00 and backing Of large
capital not yet invested. The owners of
the business are represented to be men of
sufficient means to increase the capital to
any amount necessary for a successful
working Of the mines.
Arrangements are i'm progress with tho
best American and European manufactrr
ing Jewellers to secure markets for the dis
posal OF the gems mined. There is an in.
lerlOr grade OF the garnet which is used
ior polishing metals. This is valuable
ard marketable article and sells for abeut
so cents II pound.
but the company is working for the finer
grades and these can hardly be estimated
III valuation, as fine specimen the size of
an acorn will sell for from $40 to $50.
1t is expected that the company will be
aolc TO begin work by the lsl OF January.
The Outlouk is so encouraging TINT il il
proposed to build railroad tp the mines
This will give some idea Of the vastncss of
we operations projected by tho company.
Mr.. hlauldm had about fifty pounds of
garnet with him, which he will take to
New York i'll few days. Some of the
specimens arc for shipment to Europc TO
several manufacturing jewelers., who will
probably become interested in the mine.
Mir Mauldm broke several of the gar
nets with a hammer in the presence Of a
Ieiiorler for the News. Snugly encaSed in
lcIdspar covering; rich gems were found of
the purcst quality.
The specimens he has were found about
llitern lee! below the surface These snec-
linens are EOt sclections for fancy cxhjbi. |
tions but just rs they were taken out of the
ground-indccd no one can tell tho quality |
until the casing is broken.
MT hanltln has some very rich, pure
rnDlcS which he found encased in the pur-
nets. Ike Is of the opinion that there will
pe Il ricH harvest of rubiCS, aud the COM
pany vii! give special attention to pros
Pectlng for these valuable stones.
Az an carly day the company proposes To
srt experts TO work in different parts OF
'",s "ia olhef counties prospecting for
Eolu, silver, garnet, rubics and minerals.
WI ME prospecting two weeks ago Mr..
Mat!din broke piece from a flint rock
and discovered VEN Of native silver
about the width Of II case knife. The
metal was very pure. He did not deter
mine the depth of the vein, only making
notes FOR future reference. lie thinks his
will lead TO Il very rich deposit.
1hc company will start mining with
twenty-five or thirty hands, with tue ex-
prclaIlon OF largely increasing the NAM
Der. '''
The central business Office will be To-
Gated III this city.-Grccnville News.