The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1906-10-30
GOLD AND TIN DEPOSITS IN THIS STATE

Washington. u. @. oct 2--That
part of the Caroliuas which lies inn
mcdiately to the southeast Of the Blue
Ridge, III What is known as the Pied
mont region, has long been of both
scientific and commercial Importance
on account Of the variety and abuni-
ancc OF its minerals. In 1904 Nh. J..
G.. Grafton, Of the United States Geo
logical Survey, made a geologic rc-
connaiSSance % the region which
ccnters ut about the middle OF the
North CaTolina-South Carolina bound-
airy line and includes parts Of Cleve-
land, Lincoln, CASTOR and Union coun-
ties in North Carolina, and Of Union.
Cherok &c. York, Lancaster and Chcs-
terfield counties in South Carolina.
His studies have recently borne fruit
in the shape Of a report.
(BuIIetin No 293) on the gold and
tin deposits of the Southern Appara-
chians. Bound in the same volume
is chapter on the DahIonega mines
by Mr.. WaIdeGar Lfndgren, who su-
Iervistd Mr.. Graton's studies.
The geography and geology Of the
region are discussed Dy Mr. Grafton,
but by far the most important part
Of his report IS that which deals with
the two chief mineral resources Of the
region, tin and gold. He has much
to say also that is interesting about
other mineral products such as silver,
copper, lead, zinc, IRON. manganese,
pyrite, graphite, barite, monazite,
lithium, mica, corundum, limestone
and clay.
Tin occurs along a narrow belt
extending northeastward from the
center Of Cherokee county, South car
olina. across Cleveland and CASTOR
counties to the center of Lincoln
county in North Carolina. This belt
represents the distribution Of peg
MATTE dikes and in its position is
dependent on the general geologic
structure of the region. Most of the
| pegmatitc bodies are very irregular In
extent. Tin is present as the mineral
casSiterite, which occurs only as an
| original or primary constituent Of the
pegmatite. This mineral is not evenly
| distributed through the dikes, but is
generally segregated or concentrated
| along certain lines. The ore bodies
| or shoots thus formed generally pitch
| at a considerable angle and are of
| small cross section, but extend indef-
| inite7y along the pitch. They are
| proba bly, irregular in extent, some
| what after the fashion of the dilcs IN
| which they occur. The percentage Of
caSSiterite in the ore shoots may be
| high III places, but the average value
| will probably be under ) per cent.
| This ore may be reduced to It concen-
| trate of good quality. The cost OF
production of the metallic tin ought
not to be excessive. but will certainly
| increase with depth. Placer deposits
| unimportant. The necessity OF
! shipping the concentrates to England
| for reduction is Il serious handicap
| and may prohibit operations which
| would otherwise be successful. The
! production of the Carolina tin belt
| will probably always be very small as
| compared with the amount OF tin con
| sumed in the United States. 1t is
| believed, however, that in the case Of
| some of the deposits, conservatives
| careful and systematic mining Will be
| attended with profit
| Mining for gold has been going on
| i'm this region for SeventN-fVe years
| and much work has been done. The
| effort has been expended at many
| places, however, and there are no eX-