The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-10-22

granite and the Rowan gray granite.
Besides these, which are used for all
purposes for which granite Is desired,
there is the pearl gray granite Of
Rowan COUNT. which Is used exclu-
sively for monumental work.
The production or clay and clay
products during 1905 amounted 70
$1,212.474, which Is an increase Of
$148,422, as compared with s1,124.-
052, the value Of the production OF
1905. This increased value was due
principally To the large increase IN
the production of common brick. All
OF the kaolin mined in North Caro-
lima, which in 1906 was valued Mt
S90,036. was shipped out Of the state
This kaolin is in great demand by the
pottery and tile manufacturing plants
Of Trenton, \. J., Beaver Falls, Pa.
and East Liverpool, Ohio. As yet
there has been no attempt made in
North Carolina to utilize its kaolin in
the manufacture Of pottery. porcelain
or thing. Notwithstanding the State
is extremely rich in clays or good
quality, there are but few OF the
finer grades of brick made in the
State and thus the many million
that are used in construction work
are imported from south Carolina.
States. Utilization of our various
clays offers a most promising field Of
investment for capital.
North Carolina mica still emains
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 S217,-
696, which is an increase of $113,421
over s104,275. the value of h 1905
production
Another mineral for which North
Carolina is especially noted is mona
zite and during the past year there
were 697,275 pounds of m~onazite,
valued at $125,510, produced. From
this mineral is obtained the chemical
compound, thoria, which is used in
in the manufacture of nantes for in
candescent lights. There is a large
demand for this mineral and numer-
Gus inquiries are constantly being re-
ceived at the survey office for sources
of supply Of this mineral. During the
past year the area of monazite-bear-
ing gravels was extended into Alex
ander county and now mining is be-
ing carried on for this mineral in
that county.
There IS found in North Carolina
in Swain county a quality 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
Ia ANoiL a III I'LL 1llS IJOO WCo
valued at s66,729. A considerable
amount OF this was ground tale used
IN the manufacture Of talcum pow
der.
The production Of the heavy metals
IN North Carolina is not at the pres
ent time q very large industry in the
State, but 1t has been increasing
steadily for the past -four or five years
n there are now q number of mines
that have been thoroughly developed
and ore bodies of considerable extent
AVE 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 $364.609.
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.