Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1940-12-27
N. L. sNlll1Cli't i: I'll
Resources
Are Valuable
Daliy Dispatch Bureau,
In the Sir WAIVER Hotel
pv HENRY AVER1LL

Raleigh, lee. -I'-->N'>'
1ino'S mineral resources form o'.'
of the States most potentially val
poble assets. though at present ohiy
two of fifteen strategic or t"ltIcai
minerals are being produced IN COM
nercially important quantl'ieS' ac-
cording to 4 recent "m1orhla'lo''
circular" by T. G. Murdock' aSSlS-
tant State geoloslst.
But while only two are now oe"'s
produced commercially. at the o'''et
md of the line only two OF the en-
t;re list of fifteen minerals have
never been found in North CaroI's'''
and more than half are listed as pos
sib1e of commercial Importance.
The biologists circular classified as
..strotesic" minerals for National
defense Chose upon which sources
outside the continental United States
must be largely depended ana
which must be subject to strict con-
seryation and control measures 'he
following: Antimony. chromium III
dustr,aI diamonds. manganese mei-
curry. mica. nickel. quartz crystal
tin and tungsten.
OF these only mercury mas never
been discovered in North Caroilna'
though the thirteen authe:ttlc cases
Of diamonds give no hint OF conf
mercial possibilities.
Classified as critical tthoSs
sIishtlv more easily obtained IN the
U. S. but for which some degree OF
conservation and control would De
necessary are: Aluminium. asbestos
graphite. platinum and vanadIuEn'
OF these all except vanadlum nave
been found in North Carolina.
According to their relative COM
mercial possibilities in TINS state
Mr. Murdoch lists the minerals thus:
Extensive commercial production
at present: Mica and aluminium.
Semi-commerciaI production now:
Manganese. asbestos.
Some commercial production pos
sible: Chromium. nickel,
Commercial production doubtful:
Tin. graphite. ,
occur. but no commercial de-
posts know: Antimony. quartz cry
Stall. tungsten. platinum,
Not found: Vanadtum. mercury m
dustrial diamonds (the Is dlScoF-
cred give no indication that others
are to be foundO
How and where these minerals
are found in N. c.:
hoo,, found IN me
native state from small VEN III
Burke county. There is no CONNER
cial development.
Chromium: Chromite occurs in basic
magnesium rocks of western, n. e.
but only q few localities give any
promise OF sufficient quantities to
Justify commercial efforts.
Industrial diamonds: Those found
were meteorological raritieS.
Manganese: Has been found more
or less sparingly in several n. {.
areas, but few give any promise OF
commercial operations,
Mercury: Not found.
Mica: Since 1903 North Carolina
has supplied more than half the total
mica production of the U. S. The
belt covers twenty counties in the
west.
Nickel: Considerable work is being
done to begin commercial produc-
ton from deposits in western coun-
ties-Jackson, Buncombe, Yancey,
Macon and Clay.
Quartz Crystals: The variety need
ed in radio frequency control has
been found in one Of two N. c. To-
calities, but only as meteorological
raritieS.
Tin: Deposits exist in Cleveland,
CASTOR and Lincoln and much money
has been spent trying to develop
them. A detailed study has recently
been made by U. S. Biologists and
their report is awaited.
Tungsten: Molydenum (from
which comes the metaD occurs in
Halifax county, and these deposits
may prove of commercial value.
Aluminium: No commercial de-
posts of baxite principal ore) exist
in the State, though one of the four
largest smelling plants in the coun-
try is located at Badin.
Asbestos: Is found in Jackson,
Watauga and other western coun-
ties. There has been a revival of
interest and since 1889 about so
deposits have been optioned, and
four or five have entered produc-
ton.
Graphite: Occurs in many areas
of central and western N. C.
Platinum: Has been reported from
a number of N. c. areas, notably
Rutherford, Burke and Yancey. A
belt of platinum bearing rock is re-
ported extending from Cedar Falls,
N. c., to Danville, Va.
. Vanadium: Not found.