The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-03-10
SOUTH CAROLINA
MINERALS


which contains fund of useful in
formation concerning the minerals
and their values and productlon IN
all the States during 1912 and 1913.
In one table are given the figures
for mineral production from 1880
to 1918, the metals being valued at
185,OOO,O0O, in 1880 and lncreas-
ing to 1888, 100000 in 1913. The
non-metalic minerals increased from
S173,OOO,OOO in 1880 to $1,562, 1000
900 in 1918 and the total mineral
production from S365,000,00O to
S2.446, 100000. This total for 1913
was an increase over 1912 of more
than 100000, The value of the
metals imported for consumption IN
1918 was S237, 100000, and of those
exported $319,0OO,O00. The value OF
eyu production from
1880 to 1913, inclusive, was $780,
100000. ,
These huge figures are of general
interest, but the chief value of the
volume lies in the figures and dis
cussion of the increased production
of each State during recent years.
South Carolina does not show to
good advantage in the matter of pro
duction. AS matter of fact, South
Carolina has mineral resources that
are not properly appreciated. In Abb
beville county is a deposit of copper
known to assay about six times as
abundantly as the lode at Ducktown,
Tenn, where the Guggenheims have
a smelter. There is in Pickens coun-
ty a DEPOSIT of copper, in a sulphur
ore, which is said to be rich in cop
per, and the sulphur itself would
pay for the working of the ore. The
only thing which prevents develop,
ment is the lack of facilities-and
money.
In Abbeville county, again, are
many precious stones. Amethysts
in great profusion and of deep, rich
colors, are found in some sections
also a white maethyst, which when
polished, has every appearance of a
diamond.
The Halle Gold mine in Kershaw
and the Brewer mine in Chesterfield,
are we'll known. Prospectors have
recently reported gold and copper
near Kings Mountain in York coun-
ty. 49,, -, ;.
The Dorm mine in Abbeville is
vet productive. 1t was here in
1849 that William R. Hearst's father
got the gold fever and thence he
went to California, we have been
told.
There is a large deposit of mona
zite in York county-mined for the
purpose of making electric fixtures.
But one of the minerals least re-
garded is limestone, and the value
of limestone to the State would be
more than the value of the gold
mined here for many years. The
soil of the State is unproductive in
many places; is soured and needs a
corrective. The State department
of agriculture for three years has
urged the legislature to put State
convicts to work getting out the
lime and grinding it for manurial
purposes.
A whole year has been lost be-
cause this bill was not reached at
this session. Lime as fertilizer is
no experiment. The alfalfa club
of Rock Hill can testify to the good
effects and it was a Rock Hill man,
Judge w. j. Cherry, who introduced
the bill. The State department. of
agriculture has arranged to get lime
at trifling cost from Virginia, but
the trouble is that the freight rates
are almost prohibitive.
Mining in these days is not the
hap hazard, nugget finding or power
ty meeting game of the past, but is
systematic, business proposition.
There are mineral deposits in Able
vile that, if worked properly, would
no doubt make that the richest coun-
ty in the South, but no one can be
induced to take an interest because
no eldorado has been found and
placer mining is too slow.--l'he
Record.
In addition to the mineral pro-
ducts men+.o led bv Ar. Blrks IN
the foregoing article, attention is
called to the fact that large deposits
of kaolin have been discovered with.
in the corporate limits of the City OF
Abbeville, and on the Hill plantation
near the City limits, within the past
few months. These deposits are
believed to be worth thousands OF
dollars and it is stated that at least
some of this kaolin will be mined
within the near future and used in
the manufacture of crockery. The
deposits within the corporate limits
have been purchased by corpora.
ton in Chicago, and these same par.
ties hold an option on portion OF
the Hill plantation. An article
elsewhere in this paper shows that
these deposits are valuable and
much sought in the manufacture OF
crockery.
Then there is the gold mine OF
Abbeville's mining king, Mr.. w. w
Bradley on the Neel place about
miles below the city. Mr.. Bradley
has had much of the ore from this
mine assayed by several assayers
and with one accord they declare
the ore is worth from about twenty
to seventy-fve dollars per ton, ac-
cording to the location from which
it is removed. When it is remem-