The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1907-10-24
North Carolina Mining
Industry.
The Production of the Various Min
erals Largely Increased in 1906
An Informing Article by Cecil
ogist Joseph Hyde Pratt on the
States Mineral Wealth.
Correspondence statesviIle Landmark.
Chapel Hill n. C., Oct. /, 100

Chapel Hill n. C., Oct. 1,19O7. ,
There has recently been prepared
by the North Carolina Geological and
Economic Survey an elaborate re-
port Oh the mining industry i'll the
State for the year 1906. This report,
which takes up in detail the condi-
ton of the various mineral indus
tries OF the State and describes par
ticuIarly the gold, monazite and mica
deposits, is now in the hands Of the
public printer and should be ready
for distribution within the next few
weeks. 1t contains many illustra-
tions. especially OF mining conditions
as they relate to the production OF
gold.
The total value of-the production
OF the various minerals in the State
during 1906 is largely in excess OF
that of the previous year and
amounts to $2,99S,494 as compared
with $2,439,331, the value of the
production of 1905, this being an
increase OF $3.50, lib.
The most gratifying increase is
noted in that of building stones,
which has Increased from $780, II
i'll 1900 to 1854, 301 i'll 1906. The
stone industry has been constantly
growing for the past ten years.
Granite is by far the most important
building stone in the State and the
four stones which are most extern
sively mined are the Mt. Airy granite,
the Balfour pink granite and the
Rowan grey granite. Besides these,
which are used for all purposes for
which granite is desired, there is
the pearl geay granite OF Rowan
county, which is used exclusively for
monumental work
The production of clay and clay
products during 1906 amounted to
1922 474, which is an increase OF
$14S, 422 as compared with 81, 124,-
O52, the value OF the production Of
1905. This increase in-Yalue was
due principally to the large increase
in the production OF common brick.
All of the kaolin mined in North
Carolina, which in 1905 was valued
at 800, O36, was shipped out of the
State. This kaolin is i'll great de-
mand by the pottery and tile manu-
facturing plants OF Trenton, n. j.,
Beaver Falls, Penn, and East Liv-
erpOol, Ohio AS yet there has been
no attempt made III North Carolina
to utilize its kaOlin in the manufac-
ture OF pottery, porcelain or tiling.
notwithstanding the State is rich III
clays OF good quality, there are but
So g ho nf dn
in the State and thus the many mil
lions that are used in construction
work are imported from South Caro-
lima, Virginia, Pennsylvania and
other States. The utilization OF our
various clays offers a most promis-
ing field of investment for capital
North Carolina mica still remails
the standard mica and during 1906
there was a very large increase in
the production of this mineral in the
State. In value it amounted to $217,-
COG, which is an increase of S113.421
over $1O4 ,275. the value of the 1905
production.
Another mineral for which North
Carolina is especially noted is mona
ute and during the past year there
was 697,27 pounds OF monazite, val
ued at 1925, $40, produced From
this mineral is obtained chemical
compound thoria, which is used in
the manufacture of mantles for i'll
candescent lights. There is a large
demand for this mineral and numer-
Gus inquiries are constantly being
received at the survey office for
sources OF supply of this mineral.
Daring the past year the area of
monazite bearing gravels was ex-
tended into Alexander county and
now mining is being carried on for
this mineral in that county.
There is found in North Carolina
i'll Swain county a quantity of tale
that is unsurpassed and the demand
for this particular variety is largely
in excess of the supply. The total
amount of tale and soapstone mined
in North Carolina during 1906 was
$685. A considerable amount of
this was ground tale used in the
manufacture OF talcum powder.
The production OF heavy metals in
North Carolina is not at the present
time very large Industry in the
Stste, but it has been increasing
steadily for the past four or five years
and there are now a number of mines
that have been thoroughly developed
and ore bodies of considerable extent
have been blocked out SO that an in
crease in the production of these
metals is practically assured for the
next few years. In 1906 the total
value OF the gold, silver, copper and
iron, the four heavy metals that are
mined in North Carolina, amounted
to 1864 900.
Interest in mining in North Caro-
lima is continually growing and there
are many opportunities for mineral
investment in the State, that should
make very profitable investments.
In the following table is given the
value of the production of the various
minerals mined in the State during
1906:
oolu ~, OUU
Silver. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 30.542
Copper. Observation-Disclosures. 49,, S29
lron......... observation-disclosures. 1858
Abrasives OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 1000
Mica, Sheet. ......................... 205.756