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I Accessions ^^hjk Shelf, No.

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GEOLOGICAL REPORT

MIDLAND COUNTIES

NORTH CAROLINA.

BY

EBENEZEE EMMONS.

Illustrated with Engraving*

NEAV YORK:
GEORGE P. PUTNAM & CO,

RALEIGH :
HENRY D. TURNER.

1856.

^

Printed Br Holden & Wilsov,
Kaleigh, N. C.

To His Excellency Thomas Bkagg,

Governor of North Carolina.

Sir:

It would be an omission of duty on my part to neglect to
speak of the interest you have taken in the geological survey
during the period you have held the high office of Chief
Magistrate of North Carolina. Upon myself its influence has
been cheering, and I hope its effects will be seen in the re-
sults of the survey.

The publication of this report has been delayed much
longer than I expected, but it has arisen from causes beyond
my control. It embodies what is now known of the mineral
resources of the midland counties. I have intended in all of
my statements to keep within the bounds of truth, and not to
give them a coloring which future experience will not justify.

I submit it to your Excellency, regretting that it is not
more worthy of your approbation.

I am, Sir,

Your Obedient Servant,

EBENEZER EMMONS.

Kaleigh, October 1, 1856.

PEEFACE.

This Eeport is selected from the matter contained in my field
notes, which has been accumulating during the period the
survey has been in progress. My attention from the first
was directed to the mineral interests of the midland coun-
ties, but at the commencement of the work, I was obliged to
be satisfied with an examination of abandoned mines, and
the indications which the country afforded of those which
had not been observed. Since the second year of the sur-
vey, the opportunities for investigating its mines and mineral
interests have been much greater, and I have improved
them, when possible, for acquiring a more exact knowledge
of their characteristics. Tlie Deep river coalfield has been
carefully re-examined along the outcrop of coal and its bitu-
minous slate, and the results of these examinations tend to
confirm the views I expressed in a former rej)ort. It will be
perceived, that the products of this coalfield are more valua-
ble than the friends of the Deep river improvements had
anticipated. But I believe, if those improvements had been
completed at an early day, the prospects at this time would
be much better than at the present. The mining interests of
this State are worthy of the consideration of the public.
Tlie auriferous ores are remarkable for then* richness. Tlie
silver lead of the Lead Hill or Washington mine, is jDrobably
not exceeded in value by any mine in this country, and per-
haps I may say, in any country. It yields zinc, lead, copper,
silver and gold. The processes for the separation have been
so simplified that all these metals may be preserved.

VI PREFACE.

Tlie fluctuations in mining property, however, have in-
jured its reputation in several notable instances. This has
arisen from speculations. Many mines have been purchased
with that view alone. They have been in the hands of stock
companies; and it was more consonant to the feelings of
parties to make money by the forced rise or fall of stocks,
than by legitimate mining business. But this is now assum-
ing a more permanent character, and the time is not distant
when it will become one of the main sources of the wealth
of the State.

The recorded observations embodied in this Report have
been made by those who have been engaged in this survey.
We havd, it is true, received information from others; but at
the same time it has been made a principle to see for our-
selves, and to base every important inference, or doctrine,
upon independent observations.

It would be unjust, however, to two distinguished indi-
viduals, to intimate that the geology of the State, and its re-
sources, are now^, for the first time, placed upon record. The
Pioneer in these investigations was Prof. Olmsted, of Yale
College. He was followed immediately by Prof. Mitchell, of
Chapel Hill. Their examinations were practical, and highly
valuable. Their reports are extremely scarce. I liave not
referred so frequently to their labors as I should, if I could
liave had access to them at the proper time. But geology
has undergone important changes since their investigations
were made, and these gentlemen would now put an entirely
new phase upon their reports, were they in the field.

It will be seen that I have attempted to determine, more
than had been done prior to the commencement of the sur-
vey, the age of the formations of this State. The use of the
word AGE is comparative, and is always so understood by

PKEFACE. Vll

geological writers. Even in this sense of the word, there are
great difficulties to be met and overcome, inasmuch as there
are no immediate terms of comparison which can be em-
ployed ; for instance, the lower part of the Deep river coal
series which I have called the Permian^ rests upon the Pri-
mary and Taconic rocks. But the Permian is not connected
with the series which immediately preceded it, indeed the
three older systems, the Silurian, Devonian and Carbonife-
ferous, are absent. The long interval during which these
systems were being deposited, is a blank, upon the Atlantic
slope. The regular succession is interrupted, and during
these vastly extended periods, this slope was dry land.

While engaged collecting the matter of this Report, I have
not neglected the agricultural interest; but it was thought
proper to confine the communication to the subject already
indicated. Should another be called for, I propose to pursue
the plan which I have adopted in this. The western section
of the State follows in the order I originally proposed.

The eastern counties embrace a field of great interest and
importance, but it is quite difi'erent in its characters from
the former, as most of the citizens of the State already know.
I hope to complete the examinations of it this autumn and
winter ; and dm-ing the coming spring and summer, to com-
plete also the survey of the western and south-western coun-
ties.

The additional labors which those who are now engaged in
the survey have voluntarily undertaken, has impeded the
common fieldwork which had been laid out, and has pre-
vented its extension to the western and south-western coun-
ties. But this should not be regretted, inasmuch as its ad-
vantages will be increased. The additional work referred to,
consists in the collection and arrangement of specimens of

Viii PREFACE.

the rocks and simple minerals and fossils illustrative of iti^
geology and mineral productions. They have been arranged
in a room provided for the collection in the Capitol. Citi-
zens and strangers visiting Raleigh will be able to form an
opinion of the resources of the State by an examination of
this collection.

It contains, as yet, only the products of the midland coun-
ties; and though it does not make a brilliant show, still it
will be found a valuable depository for many purposes.

I deem it necessary only to add to the foregoing state-
ments, the expression of my desire to complete the survey at
an early day as possible, consistent with that degree of com-
pleteness which shall give satisfaction to its friends, and
especially those who projected it.

It is important also to say, that in the printing of this Re-
port, that several of the forms passed through the press witli-
out my supervision, and it will be seen that in them are ma-
ny errors ; these will be found in the proper place, corrected.

EBEISTEZER EMMONS,

Geologist to North- Carolina.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.
Natural Divisions of the State ; the Three Parallel Belts or Zones ; the Eastern
Western and Midland Lines of Demarkation between them — Characteristics of these
Zones, etc. 5 — 8.

CHAPTER II.
The Catawba — Its Manufacturing Sites — The Great Horse Shoe Bend and Falls in its
vicinity. 8 — 18.

CHAPTER III.
Elementary facts and principles respecting the Igneous or Pyrocrystalline Rocks.
18-^2.

CHAPTER IV.
Origin of the Sediments. — How distiguished from the Eruptive Rocks — thickness of
the Sediments — their Classification, etc. 23 — 27.

CHAPTER V.
Of the ^ru^tive or Pyrocrystalline Rocks of the Midland Counties of North.Caro-
lina — t heir Distribution, etc. 27 — 36.

CHAPTER VI.
Of the Laminated Pyrocrystalline Rocks — as Gneiss, Mica and Talcose Slates and
Hornblende. — Limestone. 36 — 38.

CHAPTER VII.

Of the oldest Sediments — their Primary Character or Aspect — difficulty of distin-
guishing them from the true Primary or Pyrocrystalline Rocks by their Lithologi-
cal Charactei's, etc. 38 — 41.

CHAPTER VIII.

The Rocks referred to, as belonging to the oldest known Sediments, belong in part
to the Midland Counties.— They are Slate and Quartzites mainly, and their Sedi-
mentary Origin is based mainly upon conformably Pebbly Beds. — They are found to
be related to Rocks which are known in the North, and which there constitute the
Taconic system. 41 — 45.

CHAPTER IX.

The Explanation of the term System. — The Determination of Systems did not take
place in the order of their Age. — The Results which have been obtained by the
Determination of their Order. — Species few in the oldest Rocks. — Lithological
Character of the Sediments in North-Carolina. 45 — 48.

CHAPTER X.

Members of the Taconic system — Division into upper and lower — Minerals give char-
acter to the Rock they form in certain cases — Mica and Talcose slates — Agalmato-
lite — Quartz and its associates — Fossils, etc. 46 — 59.

CHAPTER XL

Fossils of the lower Taconic Series. 59 — 64.

X TABLE OF CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XII.
Upper division of the Taconic system and its series of rocks, Clay Slates, Chloritic
Sandstones, Cherty beds, Flag stones, and Brecciated conglomerates. 65^69.

CHAPTER XIII.
On the Quartzite of North-Carolina— Varieties, Geological Relations, etc. 69—73.

CHAPTER XIV.

Origin of Vein Fissures, Dykes, etc. — General considerations relating to them — Kinds
of Vein Stone or Gangue — Their relations to heat, etc, — Metallic Veins — Sulphu-
rets— Oxides. 73—81.

CHAPTER XV.

Characters of a Vein Fissure — Distribution of Metal in a Fissure — Influence of Walls
on the arrangement of the inclosed Ore and Rock, its parallel arrangement — Con-
siderations respecting Iron. 82 — 92.

CHAPTER XVI.
Geological ranges of the Ores or Metals, — Are certain Metals confined to any certain
Rocks? 92—97.

CHAPTER XVII.
Circumstances which favor the accumulation of Ore in Masses — State of the adjacent
Rock, (sometimes called the country,) which appears to favor the accumulation
of Ore in a Vein — Vicinity of Elvans— Passage of a Vein from one Rock to another
—Condition of the Walls of aVein. 97—107.

CHAPTER XVIII.
Directions of the axis of disturbance or the lines of faults and of Dyke Fissures —
Direction of Vein Fissures — General conclusions, etc. 108 — 111.

CHAPTER XIX.
Repositories of the metals in the midland counties of North-Carolina — They belong
to both divisions of the rocks, the primary or pyrocrystalline, and the sediments. —
In the former, they are always in veins, or else in beds of the same epoch with the
rock; in the latter, in veins, and in the condition of sediments. — Of the ores of
iron. 112—123.

CHAPTER XX.
Repositories of the Metals continued.— Gold and its position, relations, etc. 128-5/136.

128-^3

CHAPTER XXI.

Repositories of the Metals continued— Gold associated with Quartzite and Slate and
frequently in irregular veins — Seams and natural Joints. 137 — 141.

CHAPTER XXII.
Repositories of the Metals continued. — Veins belonging to the Slates.^True Veins. —
Arrangements of the materials filling the Fissures. — Right running Veins, or cross
courses. — Conrad Hill Gold Mine. — Description of its Veins — their characteristics.
141—154. \

CHAPTER XXIII. '

Repositories of the Metals continued. — Auriferous Veins. — Gold Hill Gold Mine
154—179.

CHAPTER XXIV.
Repositories of the Metals continued — Gold Veins in the Syenitic Granite of the Salis-

TABLE OF CONTENTS. XI

bury and Greensborough belt— McCuUock Gold Mine— Pioneer Mine— Fisher Hill
•Gold Mine, ete. 170—183.

CHAPTER XXV.
Repcsitories of Metals continued — Silver ; Washington Silver mine ; its prolonga-
tion, etc, — Character of the Veins at different depths, etc. 183 — 196.

CHAPTER XXVI.

Repositories of the Metals continued — Veins belonging to Granite — Copper considered
as one of the Metals accompanying Gold — Copper Veins oi the Granitic formation
— North-Carolina and other Copper Mines of the Granitic districts. 196 — 208.

CHAPTER XXVII.
Repositories of the Metals continued — Lead and its combinations; its Geological
Relations and Associations. 208 — 210.

CHAPTER XXVIII.
Repositories of the Metals continued — ^Zinc, its ores, geological relations and asso-
ciations. 210—212.

CHAPTER XXIX.
Repositories of the Metals continued — Manganese, its ores, their geological position
and relations. 213 -214.

CHAPTER XXX.
Earthy Minerals and Rocks which possess a value in the Arts. — Steatite — Agalmato-
lite — Pseudo Burrhstone — Roofing Slate— Fire-stone — Fire-clay — Porcelain-clay —
Building-stone — Porphyry — Antifriction Rocks, or Rocks which may be employed
for the bearings of heavy wheels. 214^221.

CHAPTER XXXI.
Graphite — Its relations, extent, quality and uses. 221 — 227.

CHAPTER XXXII.
Deep River Coal Field — Masses which compose the formation — considerations re-
specting its age. 227—239.

CHAPTER XXXIII.
Geographical extent of the Coal Measures, together with the under and overlying
Sandstones. 239—246.

CHAPTER XXXIV.
Quantity and quality of the Deep River Coal — Composition, etc. 246 — 254.

CHAPTER XXXV.

The Dan River Coalfield— Division of the beds composing it. — Conglomerates and
Breccia. — Lower Sandstones. — Coal Shales. — Upper Sandstones. — Conglomerates —
and Brecciated Conglomerates. 254—261.

CHAPTER XXXVI.
Economical Products of the Coal Fields, and of the Red Sandstones. 261 — 268

CHAPTER XXXVII.

The Advantages of Deep River for the Transportation of Iron, etc. 248—260;

CHAPTER XXXVIIL
History of the Opinions respecting the Age of the Deep and Dan River Formations.
Division of the Series with Remarks sustaining it, 271 — 283.

XU TABLE OF CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXXIX.
Description of Organic Remains of the lower series of Deposits of Deep river, whicU
have been denominated the Permian system. 283 — 293.

CHAPTER XL.
Of the Animal Remains of the Coal Measures of Deep and Dan rivers,— Notice of
the Vertebral Remains of the Bristol Conglomerate, etc, 293.

CHAPTER XLL
Fossils of the argillaceous blue slates equivalent to the coal shale groups of tht
Thuringerwald, with remarks.

CHAPTER XLIL
The Coalfields of Deep river and of Richmond compared — 1st as to their lithologicaJ
characters; 2d as to their palajontological contents, and, 3d, the indications of their
comparative age.

INTRODUCTION.

The subjects treated of in this Report are mainly those whifch
relate to the natural resources of the midland counties of the
State. It therefore contains a statement of the water power,
an account of the depositories of the metals, the materials
used in construction, and those which are important to the
arts and manufactures.

It is not, however, intended to intimate by the foregoing
statement, that the principles of geology have been entirely
omitted. If the subjects alluded to, were treated of without
reference to principles, they would lose much of their inter-
est and utility ; for geological investigations cannot be suc-
cessfully pursued, or their results understood, unless our
researches are prosecuted under their guidance. It seemed
necessary, therefore, to incorporate so much of the elements
and principles of the science, as appear to be intimately re-
lated to the subjects treated of in this Report.

In its perusal, it may appear to some, that I have occupied
too much space to the consideration of subjects which are
interesting to a few only, or which may have reference to the
author. To such, I will say, that it became necessary to make
reference to what I have said and done at former times ; but
I believe I could not say less and leave the subjects so as to
be understood. Others may not perceive that it is at all ne-
cessary that the elements and principles of geology should be
at all important in communicating facts respecting the re-
sources of the country. On this question, a medium course
should probably be pursued. It is not necessary that every
fact should be explained. It is only the most important ;
those which have a bearing upon practical questions.

I have avoided as much as possible, a discussion of points,
which are purely theoretical, or, which appear to be discon-
nected with questions of utility. But there are connexion.*

XIV INTEODUCTION.

of the practical with, the theoretical, which it is important we
should understand, and which should be stated.

Abroad, where the opinions of men, in a great measure,
must be formed from oral or written reports, it is necessary
that they should be consistent with facts and the commonly
received theories. Consistency of theory with facts, gives a
passport to descriptions, es]3ecially when they are true to
nature.

If a mineral vein is described in language which is equally
applicable to a trap dyke, a belief in its value would be with-
held, for the former diifers essentially from the latter ; or, if
tlie products of a mineral vein are represented as uniform in
all its parts, the statement would be disbelieved, for it would
be contrary to experience. The circumstances attending the
iilling of vein fissures differ from those which attend the fill-
ing of a fissure, containing only trappean matter.

Every newly explored geological field may furnish new
matter, and may also bring to fight new facts, some of which
may be extraordinary, or which appear so to us, because they
are new ; but which in reality do not conflict with the known,
when fully investigated. Thus, the facts elicited respecting
the coalfield of Deep river, present many new facts. It had
become a prevalent belief, that the workable coal seams be-
long mostly to the epoch termed the carljoniferous ', an epocli
already passed when the rocks of Deep river were deposited.

It was also maintained that coal is the product of a peculiar
A'egetation, which belonged to this period, and ceased to exist
with it ; and hence, it was not to be expected that valuable
seams would be found in after periods. This opinion is not
sustained by the facts elicited in the Deep river formation.

It appears that though coal is a vegetable product, it is not
necessarily the product of a particular kind, and cannot be
formed from others ; neither is it necessary that they should
grow in the carboniferous epoch ; for the plants which have
become coal in the Deep river rocks, difler entirely from
those of the carboniferous rocks, they form another group ;
but yet they perform the same office. Tliere is really
jio conflict of old with new facts ; the conflict is with the

nSTTEODTJCTION. XV

new facts and old opinions, or rather, hasty generaliza-
tion. Geologists erred in limiting nature. They introduc-
ed into science a dogma, which she repudiates. Deep river
has a coaliield, with all its appurtenances. They are as large-
ly developed as similar ones in the carboniferous epoch. Its
iron ores in all their varieties, its bituminous slates and fine
clays, its plant beds, etc., fully attest, that the epoch is enti-
tled to the appellation, carhonif&fous.

The statement of the plain facts as to its coal, its qualities,
etc., required, in this case, a full elucidation of its geology.
No other course would be acceptable to a large class of read-
ers. I have, therefore, not only described, with much mi-
nuteness, the beds which succeed each other, but have de-
scribed and figured the organic remains which are found in
them.

There may be details which appear unimportant to another
class of readers ; but they are requested to tolerate them for
the sake of another party, who feel some interest in them,
because they are wishing to compare this series or formation
with another. These details are designed to advance not
only economical or practical geology, but theoretical also.

Among the purely geological questions introduced in this
Report, there is one which relates to the oldest sediments.
In ISTorth-Carolina, the rocks of this epoch furnish a greater
development of chert and porphyry, than the equivalent se-
ries in the Korthern States ; and the general result of this
peculiarity, is such, as to obscure their relations, or rather to
take from them the distinct lithological evidence of the epoch
to which they undoubtedly belong. Indeed, to prove that
they are sediments at all, required a series of observations,
before the fact could be established. Accident may frequent-
ly disclose facts almost immediately after the question for so-
lution is taken in hand ; but geologists in another instance,
may seek for light for years, upon a given question, before they
can be satisfied respecting the ground they ought to take.
The discovery of fossils in Montgomery county, sets the ques-
tion of the origin of the rocks referred to, at rest ; and this
discovery is important geologically. It carries down the ev-

XVI INTROD^CTIOX.

idence of life upon the globe to a mucli more distant epoch,
than geologists had been led to believe. By this discovery,
it appears that life received its introduction upon the globe
in the earliest or oldest of the sediments. It is sometimes
amusing to see the claim set up with an obvious feeling of
pride, that North-Carolina has the highest peak east of the
Rocky mountain range. It will no doubt be amusing to
others, should I claim for ^North-Carolina, the honor of being
the birth place of the oldest inhabitants of this globe. The
fossils of Montgomery county, to which I refer, and to which
I have given the family name, PAT./ROTBOcms, or old messen-
ger, are quite likely to prove in reality, the oldest represen-
tatives of the mysterious principles, life^ the harbinger of
that immortal part which connects man with the celestials,
and who does not feel that the birth place of life, and the
birth place of the projenitor of our race, are interesting spots,
and quite as much so, as the highest peak of the Black
mountain, about which there is now so much contention by
the aspirants for fame.

The repositories of the metals form a most important sub-
ject of inquiry in this State. It is here, that I have found
unmistakable evidence that gold is one of the oldest metals of
the globe, and that it is also a sediment ; facts which I be-
lieve, are now for the first time, established. Mr. Murchison,
one of the most distinguished European geologists, has ex-
pressed the opinion, that it is of recent origin, and that it first
appeared at the surface, during the tertiar}'- epoch. The
facts disclosed in Korth-Carolina show, that it is first found in
the oldest primaries, granites, hornblende, gneiss, mica, and
talcose slate. From the debris of these rocks, it is first trans-
ferred to the sediments of the Taconic system, where it is as-
sociated with fossils. Subsequently it again appears in veins
blended with sulphides of copper, iron, and with quartz. It
is therefore, a product of the earliest pyrocrystalline rocks,
and the oldest sediments instead of the newer.

In connection with the subject of mineral veins or reposi-
tories of the ores, the question, how they have been filled, I
considered worthy of a discussion. It bears directly upon

INTEODUCTION. XVU

their permanence, and although it appears, that there are
many phenomena which remain unexplained, still, we ma}''
be assured, that the forces by which the process is accom-
plished, oj^erated within the earth's crust, and that true veins
were not filled from above. The most indicative of all the
phenomena attending them, point to sublimations and to a
source of material existing beneath ; but like many phenom-
ena, it would be imwise to construct a theory which looks
only to a single class of causes which are concerned in this
process. The source of the metals, is no doubt well deter-
mined ; the great reservoir is the interior of the earth. "When
they are found in beds upon the surface, or bear it in caves
and other places of this nature, it may be maintained, that
they are derived from broken down rocks and veins.

I have described some of the most important and produc-
tive veins, with as much minuteness as the nature of this
Report will admit. I have, however, passed unnoticed, ma-
ny localities, where both copper and gold are known to occur ;
but they are not at present of sufficient importance to require
attention, though I am sure many of them are destined to
become important, when better plans for working them have
been devised, and better roads to market have been opened.

A subject which requires a few words of explanation in
this place, is the reference of certain rocks to the Taconic
S5''stem. Of this system, I would not disguise the fact, that
there exist among geologists differences of opinion. Some
refer the series to the Silurian system. I doubt very much'
however, whether any geologist would be willing, after an
examination of this series in Virginia and North-Carolina, to
refer them to the latter, especially, as they are developed
east of the Blue ridge ; and I believe, that in these States,
they will be unanimous in their opinions, that the Silurian
does not exist in territories designated. But, there seems to
be a disposition on the part of some, to regard the Silurian
as extending to the base of the sediments. They would ar-
bitrarily assign all the lower deposits to this system ; but this
course is certainly as unwise, as it is unscientific. If nature
2a

XVlll INTRODUCTION.

has made a distinct boundary between the lower Silurian and
the Taconic systems, it should be recognized.

At the present time, however, certain distinguished geol-
ogists are satisfied that the name Silurian does not cover all
the older sediments, but they place the older series in the
Cambrean system of Prof. Sedgewick. The adoption of the
latter course, evidently indicates progress : it is an admission
of a great fact, that we have both sediments and fossils below
the Silurian ; yet, the Cambrian system, as maintained by its*
author, really contains a part of what American geologists
regard as lower Silurian. It has this fault, it contains too
much. Tliis fact I pointed out many years ago. A medium
course might be pursued. The lower Silurian as developed
in this country, might be regarded as a distinct system, and
called Cambrian. The lines of demarkation are strongly de-
fined. We have an upper horizon between the Lorrain
shales and sandstones and the Shawangunk grits of New
York, or the Medina sandstone. Below, the series or system
is distinctly defined by the base of the Potsdam sandstone,
or when this is absent, by the Calciferous sandstone, which
rests unconformably upon the Taconic series, when the latter
are present.

The rocks below the foregoing, consist of slates, limestones
and conglomerates, none of which, at first, were supposed to
be fossiliferous, IS^ow, this view is known to be erroneous,
but all the fossils yet discovered, diff'er specifically from those
of the upper and lower Silurian series. The distinction be-
tween the Taconic system and Silurian, is much more strong-
ly marked than it is between the Silurian and Devonian.
There can be but little doubt respecting the propriety of
making this separation I have proposed. It is but the carry-
ing out of those principles which have been acted upon by
Smith, Maclure, 'de Orbiny, Sedwick and Murchison. If
these distinguished geologists have been wrong, respecting
the principles which should govern their views of the char-
acteristics of a system, it is time to abandon them. If on the
contrary, their views are based on principles which commend

INTRODUCTION. XIX

lliemselves to our understandings, let them be followed.
These are four leading facts, which go far towards establish-
ing the Taconic system. Super2)osition of the Silurian^ im-
ronformdbility^ specific differences in the ot'ganie remains, and
a want of correllation of the memhers of one system with the
otfier. Such being the fact with respect to the series in New
York and Massachusetts, and such too, being in the main, the
fact in Korth-Caroliua, it is proper to apply the same name
to them by which they are known or designated in the for-
mer States.

It is, however, time to drop the consideration of a subject,
which cannot directly benefit the majority of the readers of
this Report We may profitably turn to the consideration of
some of the results which must necessarily follow from the
jtrogress already made in the development of the resources
<.>f the State, and also to those which are likely to follow :
I'^irst, there is a source of wealth which must flow directly
from local discoveries ; Second, there are indirect sources of
wealth in the addition of dwellings and the increase of in-
liabitants, which, of course, increase the amount of taxable
property. The agricultural interest cannot fail of being
prosperous, when manufacturing villages spring up, or when
a mine is profitably worked ; they create a home market for
the surrounding country. But North-Carolina contains those
materials which elsewhere, are of sufiicient importance, to
build up large towns and large markets ; I refer to her coal
and iron, and when we take into the account, the fact, that
both are of a superior quality, and inexhaustible in quantity,
it is evident they must become a source of direct revenue and
wealth, both to individuals and to the State ; to the latter es-
pecially, through the increase of taxable property. So also,
in proportion to the development, the North will become in-
debted to North-Carolina, because the North is her market,
and hence the balance of trade will be in her favor, and
Northern exchange will cease to command a premium at he.i
hands. Such are some of the legitimate and certain results
of development of the hitherto hidden resources. I cannot
trace them out through all the ramifications.

XX INTRODUCTION.

Suffice it to say, it is felt in the rise and the vahie ot taxa-
ble property ; in the growth of manufacturing towns, tlie
impulse which will be given everywhere to agriculture, the
improvement of roads, the construction of railways, by which
the avenues to market will be laid open, and imparting
thereby an efficient stimulus to enterj)rise throughout the
State.

REPORT

OF THB

NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY,

PRELIMmARY REMARKS.

Theke are tliree physical conditions of a country which pro-
mote the accumulation of wealth: 1. The existence of the
raw materials out of which the mechanical instruments in
civilized life are made; 2. The existence of the powers which
are necessary to aid the mechanic in their construction, and
3. Cheap and certain means to convey the manufactured ar-
ticles and natural products to a market.

If the foregoing statements are true, then, in conducting a
geological survey of a country, the first enquiries should be.
What materials exist within its bounds which may be con-
verted into useful instruments in civilized life ? Do those
materials exist in sufficient abundance to make it an object
to explore them ? And are there water-powers which may be
employed in their manufacture? and, lastly, can those pro-
ducts, either natural or artificial, be taken profitably to a
market?

In regard to the importance of making enquiries respect-
ing the existence as well as to the amount of raw materials
within the territory of a State, such as gold, silver, copper,
iron, etc., there can be but one opinion ; but enquiries rela-
tive to water-power have not hitherto been regarded as of
sufficient importance to occupy the attention of the geologist.
But, inasmuch as this power is a source of wealth, and, more-
over, as it depends upon the geological features of a country,
or, in other words, dependent upon the operation of geologi-

2 NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL STJEVEY.

cal causes, it slioiild not be lost sight of in a survey whose ob-
ject is to make known the natural resources of a State,

Taking it for granted, then, that not only are the natural
resources of a country worthy of attention, but also that
which is necessary to convert the raw materials into useful
forms almost equally so, I have, in accordance with this view,
made the existing water-power in many instances a subject
of special attention. The propriety of these enquiries may
be made still more apj>arent, when it is considered that even
the most valuable natural products may abound, but for the
want of means for exploration and manufacture they really
may be less valuable than the common stones of a field.
There may be neither water-power nor fuel for exploration
and manufacture; and being in the interior of a country,
they must necessarily remain valueless to the people of a
State. Natu.ral products, then, are valuable in proportion
to the available means of exploring them. We wish, then, to
know the associations under which natural products occurj in
order to estimate their value and determine the bearing
which their existence may exert wpon the prosperity of a
State.

Governed by these views with respect to the objects and
duties of the survey, I propose to state, in the first place, the
facts respecting the water-power of a part of the State which
has thus far been more innnediately under examination —
treating it as an auxilliary power, calculated to promote, di-
rectly, the prosperity and wealth of the State. Water-power,
it is admitted, in a country like that of North-Carolina, is the
cheapest and most convenient which can be employed for
manufacturing purposes, and is preferable to steam, as it
saves an immense amount of fuel and timber which may be
required for other purposes. In order to obtain comprehen-
sive views of the water-power of the State, it is necessary, in
the first place, to direct the reader's attention to the topo-
graphical features of the State, which I propose to give very
briefly in the following chapter. It is only upon such a state-
ment the general adaptation of the country to certain general
purposes can be understood.

NOETH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

CHAPTER I.

Natural Divisions of the State j the Three Parallel Belts ot
Zones ; the Eastern^ Western and Midlaiid Lines of De-
markation hetwee^i them — Cha/racteristics of these Zones ^
etc.

§ 1. ISTortli-Carolma is naturally divided into three nearly
parallel belts. The eastern lies along the seaboard, and npon
that side is irregularly indented by intrusions of the sea upon
the bordering land, but is more prominently characterized by
extensive shallow sounds which communicate but imperfect-
ly with the ocean. The soil of this belt is eminently sandy,
and, aloug the coast, is subject to great changes both by the
force of wind and water. On the west, this belt may be re-
garded as extending as far inland as the ftills of the Roanoke,
at Weldon, and the Euckhorn, on the Cape Fear, and the Yad-
kin, near the Grassy Isles. A wavijig line connecting these
points, passing near Smithfield, in Johnston county, will
mark approximately the western boundary of this belt. But
this western boundary-line is nearly as irregular as the coast-
line itself In the immediate neighborhood of Raleigh, ma-
rine products are distinctly visible, and at many points the
sands project far beyond the west line which I have just
marked as approximately the west boundary-line. This zone
is flat or gently rolling. The latter seems to have been pro-
duced by the action of waves after the sea had become shal-
low. Xear the coast, this flat country is sixteen feet above
storm tides. ISTotwithstanding the general flatness of the
lower countr}'', the Neuse, near Smithfield, has suflicient
fall to create a good mill-site, and numerous living streams,
rising in the rolling hills composed of sand, furnish many
email mill-sites which are of considerable importance to the
country. But this section of the State is by no means re-
garded as adapted to manufacturing purposes through the
the aid of water-power, and hence will not require at this
time further notice.

4r NOETH-CAKOLmA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

§ 2. The midland zone, comprehending the midland coun-
ties, is bounded westwardly b'y a line which skirts the outliers
of the Blue Ridge. In these outliers I place the Saratown,
Pilot and Brushy mountains. The Brushy mountains are
situated about twelve miles east of Wilkesborough, and are
prolonged south-westwardly through Lincoln, Rutherford and
Oleaveland counties. This zone is hilly in all parts of it, but
more so upon its western borders. The direction of the hilla
is about north 20°, 30° east; hence is somewhat variable in
difterent parts of the belt. The streams, as they run south-
east, must necessarily intersect this line, and in some instan-
ces the hills or ridges deflect the streams to the east, by
which they seek a pass around the more formidable barriers,
as in the case of the Yadkin in traversing Wilkes, Surry and
Yadkin counties.

This belt is usually regarded as table-land, inasmuch as its
rise is only in a moderate degree, when its breadth is taken
into account. It may be regarded, too, as rising in a series
of steps till it reaches the base of the Blue Ridge. Consider-
ed as a gently inclined pl^ne, we find it somewhat broken by
the transverse ridges already spoken of. When the rivers
pass these, rapids and fulls are created, which are generally
favorable sites for manufacturing purposes. Those streams,
however, which are deflected by the more formidable bar-
riers, and which are nearly land-locked thereby, become nav-
igable for small craft high up towards their origin in the
Blue Ridge, as in the case of the Yadkin, Dan and Catawba,
or at least may be made so by trifling expenditures.

§ 3. The third zone or belt comprehends the western and
mountainous parts of the State. The principal rivers of
North-Carolina rise in its crest or its numerous spurs, and as
this region is elevated, and j)i'esent8 an extended drainage
surface, the supply of water to sustain the main trunks is
abundant and never failing. This drainage slope of the Blue
Ridge has certain peculiar features in that part immediately
adjacent to the crest. This peculiarity consists in the com-
parative steepness of the ridge. Thus the descent is four or
live times greater than upon the western side. The descent

NORTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 6

is exceedingly great. Beginning at the crest, I find that the
gi'eater part of the entire fall or descent to the ocean is
made in the first six miles. The greater steepness of the
Blue Eidge on the east side, though it may not be regarded
as an anomaly, yet most of the northern part of the ridge,
the west and north-west side, is the steepest. It might be
suspected, from this fact, that the dip of the rocks in North-
Carolina might be changed from south-east to north-west;
but this is not the case. The dip is still to the south-east, and
preserves the same characters as where the greatest steep-
ness is upon the north-west side. The rise in five or six miles
of the east side of the ridge is from twelve to fifteen hundred
feet ; about one-half of the ascent from the sea level to the
lowest passes of the ridge has to be overcome in thiai dis-
tance. These features of the mountain ranges are very un-
favorable to the construction of railways. So, also, the great
inequality of the steepness of the south-east and north-west
sides is a serious bar to the tunneling of it ; for, though the
east side may be approached in a favorable direction, still a
tunnel must pierce the ridge only a few hundred feet below,
because it cannot terminate on the north-west side within
any reasonable distance from the summit, on account of the
slight descent on that side ; or, in other words, a tunnel can
be carried in, but it cannot be brought out, within the re-
quired distance from the top, to make the enterprise of much
consequence in overcoming the high grade of this part of the
ridge. The general slope of the country is indicated by the
direction of the rivers. The amount of the slope is usually
small for the eastern half of the State. From Raleigh to
Cape Ilatteras it is between one hundred and eighty aud two
hundred miles. The slope is about one foot to a mile. The
middle zone is also about one hundred and eighty miles wide.
The descent is about ten feet to the mile, or not far from this
number. As the attention of the reader will be directed to
the midland counties, I do not propose to detain him by a
detail of the features of the west. The farther consideration
of the subject will be deferred to another time. Greensbo-
rough is eight hundred and forty-six feet above tide. The

6 NOETH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY.

summit of the central road west of Greensborougli, eight
hundred and ninety-four. The summit west of Deep river,
nine hundred and lifty-tln'ee feet above tide. The water of
Buftalo creek is ten hundred and twenty-three, and the sum-
mit between the Buffalo and Bull-run, eleven hundred and
twenty-five feet above tide at Charleston.

Taking the foregoing levels as approximations to the ag-
gregate amount in feet of the fall of the principal rivers
which traverse the State, we may form a tolerably correct
estimate of the water-power which they are capable of fur-
nishing, or, in other words, that the midland counties are
richly furnished Avitli this important element of wealth. I
am now prepared to enter more into detail respecting the
advantages certain localities possess for manufacturing pur-
poses. I shall begin with the western rivers of the midland
district.

CHAPTER n.

The Catawba — Its Manufacturing Sites — The great Horse-
shoe Bend and Falls in its vicinity.

§ 4. The Catawba rises in the south-western flanks of the
Blue Ridge. It interlocks with the French Broad and Yad-
kin, and as its waters are collected from so Avide an expanse
of country, it becomes an important river when it has reach-
ed tlie upper table-lands of this district. It is confined to
•narrow valleys by the spurs of the Blue Ridge ; in this part
of its course its current is not so rapid as the streams of Kew
England, but still its rapids are rather numerous. These do
not always afford good manufacturing sites. Its system of
waters is composed of Broad river, Little Catawba, Linville

NORTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY. T

river, and numerous smaller streams, originating in spurs of
the Blue Ridge.

The most important section of the main trunk of this river
for its water privileges, are situated between the Tuckasege
ford and the great Horse-shoe bend, some six or seven miles
above the former. In this limited section, the most impor-
tant site is formed by the Horse-shoe bend itself.

At this place the river makes a circuit .of tw^elve miles, ac-
cording to a statement made by persons living near the
place, or seven or eight, according to the statement of oth-
ers. The extremities of this bend are about one mile apart,
and the river falls, in making this circuit, thirty-two feet, or,
as stated by persons at a distance, only twenty-seven-and-a-
half feet. The lower extremity of this bend is just above the
new bridge for the plankroad leading from Charlotte to Lin-
colnton. This fall may be made available for manufacturing
purposes by a low wing dam and the construction of a race
about one mile long. The river at this place is six hundred
feet wide, and in the lowest stages carries a large amount of
water. The water is sufficient to fill a race one hundred feet
wide, four feet deep, one mile long ; the advantages being
still farther increased, from the circumstance that the water
may be used twice in the lower half of the race, before it
escapes into the river. This location is entirely unoccupied,
and hence, there are no old structures or other incumbrances
to interfere with the most convenient and economical use of
tliis power. The advantages of this location are : 1. The
amount of power afforded by the river ; 2. Its entire safety
and freedom from the danger of freshets ; 3. Its accessibility ;

4. Its good building sites, whether for mills or dwellings ;

5. Its healthfulness, and 0. Its nearness to other sites : Avhich,
when, their advantages are combined with this, hold out to
capitalists great inducements to lay out a manufacturing
town, upon an extensive and liberal plan. I have said that
this location must be exempt from loss by freshets. In high
water, the surplus will find its way around the great bend,
and pass entirely around the structures which may be erected
upon the race, and hence, pass harmlessly away. The condi-

8 NOETH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

tion of the surface along the race and its vicinity is favorable
also to a most advantageous nse of the power for the founda-
tions of buildings for machinery. The site is accessible, and
the cost for the construction of the race will be moderate,
considering the great advantages which will be secured.

It is unnecessary to enter into details respecting the ad-
vantages which would necessarily follow from the occupation
of this great water-power for manufacturing purposes. Situ-
ated as it is in a healthy region, in a country where the agri-
cultural products may be increased indefinitely, and where,
too, steps are being taken to construct a railway to an impor-
tant market near the seaboard, it does not require the gift of
prophecy to foresee that the foregoing proposed enterjjrise
must be eminently successful.

The climate of North-Carolina is well adapted to the man-
ufacturing of cotton in all its branches. The cost of main-
taining laborers is much less than in New England. Fuel is
plenty, its growth rapid ; and into whatever channel a manu-
facturing spirit may be turned, it has the most flattering pros-
pects of success. It is not now as in former years, when ways
to market were unopened. Then, the utmost which could be
done, was confined to the immediate section of country in
which they were located. As it is, this home market will be
retained, while the markets upon the seaboard may be com-
peted for with every reason to expect success ; for the interior
of North-Carolina can manufacture goods cheaper by far
than New England or New York. Her natural advantages
put her upon vantage ground, and it only requires enterprize
and the application of that capital which she now has invest-
ed out of her territory, to place her among the foremost of
the manufacturing States.

In addition to the foregoing position already alluded to, at
the great bend, the river still falls, and creates one mile, or a
mile-and-a-ha]f below the bridge, other important manufac-
turing sites. Both sides of the river are susceptible of great
improvements. The west side is already profitably occupied
in part by Mr. Tate. The opposite side, which, though not
so convenient for taking out the water, may still be used by

NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. i)

erecting suitable wing dams. These positions have more im-
portance, from being in tlie vicinity of the power furnished
by the great Horse-shoe bend, inasmuch as advantages are
secm'ed by proximity in manufactm'ing enterprises. There
is a mutual advantage accruing, by the multiplication of mills
in the neighborhood ot each other. It is something to wit-
ness what our neigbors are doing ; to see their improvements,
and to obtain advice and assistance. But for repairs and the
manufacture of machinery of all kinds, proximity secures the
necessary mechanics for the many purposes for which their
skill and experience are required. There is, therefore, in man-
ufacturing towns, a concentration of skill and experience
which may be relied upon, in cases of necessity. It saves
tlie delays incident to those cases where all dependence is
placed upon mechanics who are located at distant places.
The falls below the great bend, the site of Mr. Tate's factory,
is known as Mountain Island, as the river is divided at this
place by a high island. The fall here is twenty-two feet, suffi-
cient to secure the most important advantages to such manu-
facturing establishments as its favorable position may de-
mand.

If the Wilmington and Charlotte road should be construct-
ed and prolonged to Rutherfordton or Lincolnton, it will
probably cross the Catawba at the Tuckasege ford, six miles
below the great bend. This is now supposed to be the most
favorable point for crossing. From this ford the river may
be made navigable by locks and dams far up the river above
the great bend. Such an improvement would connect the
rich deposits of iron in Lincoln county with river navigation.
This iron belt crosses the river just above Sherrill's ford. 1
may not, however, possess sufficient information respecting
the improvements alluded to, to entitle me to an expression
of an opinion, either of the positition, feasibility of the un-
dertaking, or of its use, provided it were once completed. I
have little doubt, however, of the practicability of improving
the river, as it was proposed many years ago. At the same
time, other modes than those of locks and dams may be found

10 NORTH-CAROLmA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

better adapted to connect the important points wliicli have
been nnder consideration, witli eacli otlier.

Perhaps I have dwelt too long on the importance of the
great bend as a manufacturing site. The ways and means for
communicating with this place have been greatly improved
in a few years. It only requires enterprise and the invest-
ment of capital at this point and its vicinity to create an en-
tirely new state of things in this part of the State ; a new
opening to prosperity and w^ealth, by the simple use of those
natural advantages, which are now lying unimproved. It is
by no means an extravagant expectation that this place will,
at no very distant day, sustain ten thousand inhabitants, who
will be engaged mainly in manufactures. Honor to the man
who dares lead in an enterprise so important. His name
would stand beside the Lawrences of the old Bay State, who
not only became, by their enterprise, rich themselves, but
opened the way for thousands also to enter upon a path of
prosperity and wealth.

§ 5. The south or Little Catawba, though carrying much
less water than the Great Catawba, may be regarded as upon
the whole, the most important manufacturing river. Its
shoals are numerous and accessible, and the aggregate amount
of water-power is immense. Of these shoals and rapids, the
High Shoal is the most important and valuable. The fall is
twenty-three feet over a ledge of gneiss. This site has prob-
ably no equal in the State for convenience and safety, unless
it is the one upon the South Yadkin, which is owned by the
Hon. Charles Fisher. Its capacity is not so great as that
formed by the great bend already described. It cannot, of
course, be compared with the latter, as to its capacity and
power ; but, considering the small capital it requires for using
it, the height of the fall, and its accessibility, and the mineral
property in immediate proximity to it ; it certainly becomes
one of the most valuable in North- Carolina, as I have already
stated. So also it is safe, as no risk is incurred in building,
so far as freshets are concerned, or need not, as the water is
taken out at a ])oint above, which secures all the buildings
from danger. The High Shoal property contains, beside the

NOETH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SUKYET. 11

fall, about ten square miles of land, upon wliicli there are sev-
eral iron mines, as well as gold and copper mines. For-
merly, iron of the best quality was manulactured here. It
could not, however, furnish it, except for home consumption.
The iron ore is inexhaustable, but is not at present sought
for, the company being engaged in working their gold mines,
though not at a profit. The ore is the magnetic oxide, and is
easily wrought, and makes a remarkably totigh iron, being
adapted to nail plates ; and nails which were formerly manu-
factured here on a small scale, obtained a high reputation for
toughness. This location being occupied and well known,
requires no farther notice in this place. Should the "Wil-
mington and Charlotte road be constructed, it will necessa-
rily pass in its immediate vicinity, and hence increase its im-
portance as a manufacturing site.

Below Lincolnton there are ten or eleven mill-sites which
are adapted to manufacturing purposes — some of which pos-
sess remarkable advantages and are still unoccupied. They
are situated along the river for twelve or fifteen miles. They
vary in the amount of fall from seven to twenty-three feet,
rarely, however, less than nine feet. To form an estimate of
the capacity of this branch of the Catawba, I may compare it
with a well-known stream, the Hoosick river, in Berkshire,
Massachusetts. This river, in the upper part of its course,
including that part of it between Cheshire and ISTorth Adains,
and embracing a branch which comes from the Hoosick
mountain, and which joins the Cheshire branch at Xorth
Adams, supplies power for moving thirty large mills, most of
which manufacture cotton. The Hoosick, at Adams, is
about half the size of the Little Catawba ; yet it furnishes
a power equivalent for turning 500,000 spindles, in a space
of about twelve miles ; and at the same time, there is no sin-
gle location which can compare with the High Shoals of the
Little Catawba. L"on, calico, satinetts and woollens are
manufactured, giving employment to between 3000 and 4000
individuals, and making an important market for this part of
the country. The Little Catawba can furnish twice the
power in the same distance, and employ 10,000 persons, and

12 NOBTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL BUKVEY.

create thereby a home market for the produce of all of this
part of the country.

Should the manufacturing capacity of this section of coun-
try be filled, it would become one of the most populous parts
of the State. The diiferent branches of industry would sus-
tain each other, while there would be at the same time an
accumulation of wealth from the use of powers now lying
dormant.

It is by these instrumentalities that public improvements,
such as railways and canals, are sustained, and the facilities
of travel, transportation and intercourse promoted ; all of
which are more or less mutually dependent upon each other.

I cannot, at the present time, make a full estimate of the
capacity of the water-power in Lincoln, Gaston and Catawba
counties. Enough has been said to show its importance and
call the attention of capitalists to a field which promises so
Much to enterprize and investment of capital. Its impor-
tance will only be discovered by the progress of the several
distinct interests which exist in this section of the State ; for
tlie iron and other mining interests no doubt will become
very important, inasmuch as the raw material is abundant.
So also, I find numerous materials required in their manu-
facture, as glass, clays for fine brick and pottery, etc.

§ 6. The Yadkin is another stream which rises upon the
flanks of the Blue Ridge, and which runs a course of three
hundred and fifty miles in the State, including its windings.
It leaves it in Richmond county, a large river, with water
sufiicient for the largest class of steamers. In its course it
forms several most important sites for manufacturing towns.
Its system of waters embraces Uwharrie, the South Yadkin,
Abbot's creek. Swearing creek, Dutchman's and Muddy
creek, and numerous other streams which interlock with the
Dan, New and Catawba rivers. The main trunk of the
Yadkin furnislies water which may be employed for manu-
factures and for navigation. The Narrows present an ob-
struction to its complete navigation, which cannot be over-
come. From a point five miles above the Narrows, plans for
making it navigable to Wilkesborough, have been proposed,

NOKTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 13

and the enterprize is no doubt a feasible one. Above Wilkes-
borongh, tlie Yadkin with its numerous branches furnishes
numerous water-powers, some of which are employed in
flouring grain and sawing timber. The country drained and
watered by the Yadkin, is adapted to wheat and corn, and
might also become a fine grazing country, if the attention of
people were once directed to this branch of industry. Sheep
and cattle would thrive well on the hills of Wilkes, Surry,
Ashe, Davie and Yadkin.

As it regards sites for manufacturing towns, two seem to
be quite prominent. The first is at the Trading ford, near
the great railway bridge of the Central road. Something has
been attempted here, but conflicting claims respecting the
use of the power on different sides of the river prevent, at
present, the completion of works which have been begun by
parties competent to carry them out, and into successful ope-
ration. Thus, unforeseen difficulties have brought to an end,
for the present, the improvements at this place. The shoals
and rapids of Yadkin, below this point and above the Nar-
rows, are in part occupied, but there is always a great sur-
plus of water which is unemployed in the lowest stages of
the river.

Milledgeville, five miles above the l^arrows, and one-and-a-
half miles below Stokes' fei-ry, is probably one of the most
important of the manufacturing sites upon the river ; or
may become so. On the west side of the river there is a
flouring establishment. This side, however, is too much
hemmed in by the hills to admit of its growth into a manu-
facturing village, though there is an abundance of water.
On the east or Milledgeville side, there is room for a wide
race way and the erection of buildings for machinery. There
is a fall of thirteen feet in four thousand, not including a
rapid at the head of the fall, which has been used for a card-
ing machine, but which is, itself, quite sufficient for a large
factory. The middle, or one hundred feet of the river, is re-
served as a public sluice for the benefit of the fishing in-
terest. But sufficient water may be controlled by a wing-
dam for a race eighty leet wide, and carrying four feet of

14 NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

water. This race may extend three-quarters of a mile, and
distribute its waters at intervals convenient for the mills re-
quired. Milledgeville is accessible, and the banks of the
river being low, they present no obstacles to a good road.
Indeed, it is to be hoped that the river may be improved
from Stokes' ferry to Wilkesboroiigh, by which the means
for sustaining the manufacturing interests will be greatly in-
creased.

One mile below Milledgeville, the plantation of Mr. Davis
furnishes another equally valuable site for manufacturing.
It is entirely imoccupied. The fall which is available is
about thirteen feet, and the water can be disposed of in a
race which will be free from danger in freshets. The situa-
tion of these two points, within a mile of each other, in-
creases the relative value of feach, and increases also the in-
ducements to use these naturel powers for manufacturing
purposes.

At Mrs. Locks, at the head of the Narrows upon the west
side, there is another unoccupied water-power. There is,
however, a want of space for a large establishment. The
Yadkin falls rapidly in its passage through the Narrows, and
its channel is narrow and exceedingly rocky. Fish do not
attempt to ascend it during the night.

§ 7. The South Yadkin is one of its principal branches.
It joins the Yadkin in Davie county. It is analogous to the
Little Catawba, and like that, lias a very important water-
power some five or six miles above its junction. This brancli
is navigable to the falls and about twelve miles above them.
The actual descent or fall is twenty-two feet. This mill site
becomes important both from the amount of water which
may be employed, and the quantity of iron ore in its imme-
diate vicinity, and its easy access by land and water. In cer-
tain respects, this fall has advantages over others ; those par-
ticularly wliich have been enumerated. Both sides are
adapted to use, and hence its full power may be employed.
We can scarcely estimate the advantages wliich would be
conferred upon this part of the State by the occupation of
this power for manufacturing purposes. It has all the advaii-

NOETH-CAHOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 15

tages of the great bend so far as clieapness of living is con-
cerned, being situated in a fine agricultural region.

§ 8. The water system of the Cape Fear embraces the
Haw, Deep river, New Hope and Little river, with many-
smaller streams wliich are its tributaries — principally to the
two first named. The Haw is the largest of the two, and is
the most tumultuous stream, and furnishes the largest amount
of water-power. Deep river is tortuous and sluggish up as
far as Hancock's mills, where it becomes a more rapid
stream, and hence it furnishes several important Avater-pow-
ers through its whole course. The tributaries of the Cape
Fear are large below Fayetteville. For manufacturing pur-
poses, it will be conceded that the Haw and Deep rivers are
tlie most important. The Haw, for example, has twenty mill
sites in about sixty miles. These are imjiortant, because the
greater part of the country through Avhich it passes is well
adapted to the growth of the cereals. The first, two miles
above Haywood, has a fall of ten feet. As the volume of
water is large, and inasmuch too as it can be controlled to
advantage, and as the river will be beatable as far as the site,
it acquires very considerable importance. At the present
time it is only occupied by a rickety mill, which might very
well give place to something of greater imj^ortance. A mill
site is formed every three miles in the sixty miles alluded to,
and none of them are fully occupied. From Haywood to
Wentworth, in Rockingham county, this river is truly a man-
ufacturing stream. The country through which it flows is
not so rich in minerals, but cotton and wheat are the staples
of the lower half of its course, and tobacco the upper. Tlie
lowest fall is one of large capacity ; and is, at least, equal to
that required to turn 25,000 spindles ; while the aggregate
capacity of the Haw is equal to that which may be required
to turn 500,000 spindles.

It is impossible to calculate the capacity of Deep river for
manufacturing purposes. It is sujjposed that there will be a
large surplus of water, which may be thus employed, at each
of the dams constructed for the improvement of its naviga-
tion. Jones' falls is one of the most important upon tlie

16 NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

river. The fall in three thousand is twenty-four feet. It has
been calculated that the discharge of water below the falls is
equal to forty-four hundred and eighty-two cubic feet per
minute, an amount which is said to be considerably less than
that above the falls, owing to a loss from evaporating.

Several water-powers have been occupied in part for many
years in the vicinity of Franklinsville. In this part of the
river there are six mill sites in a distance of about six miles.
The whole capacity of these sites is equal to that required to
turn 30,000 spindles during the lowest stages of water.

Tlie Cape Fear has two well known falls ; the Buckhorn
and Smiley's. The first falls fourteen feet in two stages.
Tlie supply of water is sufEcient to meet all the wants of
navigation, and furnish a large surplus for mills. The river
at Smiley's, falls thirty feet in three miles.

New Hope, which falls into the Haw two miles above the
bridge at Haywood, is a sluggish stream in all the lower part,
yet it has two mill sites of considerable importance.

There are several other tributaries of the Haw, which fur-
nish good sites for mills : Back, Sellers and Kane creeks are
mill streams of some importance. The latter, in Alamance
county, is a valuable stream for country mills, and for small
manufacturing establishments.

§ 9. I shall not attempt to give, at this time, any statement
respecting the water-power of the Neuse, Dan, Roanoke or
Tar rivers ; inasmuch as I have not obtained that local and
specific information respecting them, which the subject de-
mands. In general, however, it may be observed that their
descent within the bounds of the State does not diifer from
tliat of the Yadkin and Cape Fear; and if so, they probably
furnish an equal amount of water-power, and an equal num-
ber of sites adapted to manufacturing purposes. The falls of
the Roanoke, at Weldon, furnish a large water-power, in part
occupied ; but capable of moving a much greater amount of
machinery, should not be passed over unnoticed. Tlie place
itself is the most accessible one in the State ; and hence, with
its valuable water-power, it seems that ere long measures will
be taken to use its advantages upon a much larger scale thau
they are at present.

NOKTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 17

§ 10. In the foregoing remarks, my object lias be'en to di-
rect the attention of capitalists to the subject; and I have
mentioned certain points which are especially deserving of
attention. When the whole field is brought under view, all
must admit that this most important power is distributed
over the midland counties in such a way as to give each sec-
tion a participation in all those advantages whicli a power of
this kind is capable of conferring. While the rivers and
their tributaries water the soil and render it productive, they
still furnish a surplus not only fur tlie every day wants of man
to prepare his lumber and grind his grain for domestic pur-
poses, but enough also for numutkcturing the cotton and the
ores for a home or a distant market. The immediate wants
of a neighborhood may be supplied, and enough left to be
used for a more public purpose, which will bring a current of
wealth and prosperity from abroad. An inspection of a map
shows a very advantageous distribution of the rivers of JN^orth-
Carolina. East of the Blue liidge it is traversed obhquely
by seven large rivers, all of which interlock with each other.
Their course secures to each section through which they flow
a great supply for vegetation. Even the hilly and moun-
tainous l^ew England, cannot claim a larger and more ad-
vantageous supply for the promotion of agriculture and the
arts. I^ ew England has not suffered her advantages to go to
waste. iSTorth-Carolina has been too quiet and too indiiferent
to her natural advantages. But the time of her indiiference
has past. Already experience has demonstrated that her
public works, undertaken mainly by the State, secures those
advantages which tell strongly upon the prosperity of the
midland counties.

Experience sets right the public sentiment, and in begin-
ning a system of improvement, founded upon natural advan-
tages, it only requires time for their development, in order to
secure a favorable expression of public opinion.

The principle end in view must always be a market for the
surplus productions. A road to a market not only encour-
ages the cultivation of the soil, but the development and use
of the water-power of the country. If the cereals can be
2

18 NORTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

ground and prepared for market at home, it is better than to
send them abroad. If cotton can be manufactured at home,
the proiits of labor are retained, and the productive property
within the State increased tliereby.

It is to those sections of the State which are supphed wit}i
means and instruments, that these observations apply.

To one who has been familiar with the disadvantages of a
I^ew England soil and chmate, and who has witnessed tlie
disappearance of formidable obstacles in prosecuting exten-
sive public or private works by the force of the will, it will
not seem strange that he should look with surprise on the lit-
tle progress which a people under a better sun, with a better
soil, and numerous natural advantages to encourage, have
made in the last quarter of a century. When, however, a
single public or private enterprise has been prosecuted to a
successful termination, confidence is increased and timidity di-
minished. Every successful enterprise multiplies the friends
of enterprise, and the results are being seen in the growth of
villages, the erection of a better class of dwellings, and the
circulation of money.

CHAPTEK III.

Elementary facts and principles respecting the Igneous or
P yrocrystalline liocJcs.

§ 11. It is no doubt proper that a geological report should
be restricted mainly to the communication of such facts and
observations as relate to the objects of the survey. It caimot
be expected that it will be devoted to the teaching of ele-
mentary geology ; but it may be necessary, where peculiari-
ties exist in the structure of the rocks, to place immediately

NOETH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SUKTEY. 19

before the reader a brief statement of the elements or prin-
ciples of the science ; besides, it will be found that certain
conclusions which I have arrived at will be better under-
stood, by first placing before the reader some of the most im-
portant of the elements of geology, than they can be by
their omission.

§ 12. A.11 that is important, or is worth knowing in geolo-
gy, has been obtained by observation ; it has been worked
out by hard labor in the field.

In this way, and by the aid also of principles and axioms
which are univei-sally received, and among which we may
place the following, viz., that like causes produce like eflects,
geologists have arrived at certain conclusions respecting the
origin of rocks, as well as to tlie interpretation of certain
phenomena, and tlie agents also which have left their impres-
i^ion upon the accessible parts of the earth's crust. Of tlie
agents which have left their marks upon the earth's crust, it
is universally admitted that fire and vxder are the most gen-
eral and important. Tlieir marks are seen in the phenomena
of each respective class, and known to be those which are
fitting and agreeable to the effects which we see every day
to belong to them. In the order of time the former stands
first ; but its agency must still be recognized. Assuming a
very common opinion as true, that the earth has been an ig-
nited mass, we shall not be unwilling to admit the conclusion
that its agency has become much less, and that the marks
which it now leaves Tipon the earth's crust are much more
limited, than in the ancient periods of its history.

If the foregoing is true, water stands second in the order
of time ; but it also acquired its acme of power in the early
periods, and is this day as influential in its proper sphere as
ever; but in its common every day movements its opera-
tions are slow and scarcely perceptible.

§ 13. These agents have given origm to two classes of
rocks, which are known under the general apellations the ig-
neous and the aqueous, each ol Avliich may be separated into
subordinate kinds. In the igneous rocks, structure, or the
peculiar arrangement of the parts composing the mass, forms

20 KOKTH-CAROLmA GEOLOGICAL SLTIVEY.

the basis upon which tlie diyisiou is made. It appears that,
notwithstanding the fact that heat acts upon bodies uni-
forndj, still the results are not uniform, because the circum-
stances which attend the cooling of the heated mass are not
uniform. But as I have not time or space to make a full ex-
planation of these varied results, I proceed at once to give
the subordinate divisions to which I have referred. Igneous
rocks, then, are divided into two general sections : 1. Those
whose structure is distinctly crj^stalline throughout, as granite,
sienite,' gneiss, mica slate, hornblende, etc.; 2. Those whose
structure is massive, or earthy and compact, or which con-
tain in a compact base a few chrystaline particles, and is also
vesicular, and may pass into incoherent particles. This sec-
tion embraces the basalts, greenstone, porphyry, lava, volca-
nic ashes, etc.

Each of these sections, however, may be subdivided ; thus,
tlie section eomprehending the granites and gneiss, and which
have been called j^y^'ocrystciUine^ are farther subdivided into
the massive pyrocrystalline, and the laminated pyrocrystal-
line rocks ; their crystallization being produced by fire, but
having operated under different circumstances, has imparted
to the rock a massive structure, and in another case a lami-
nated one, like that of gneiss and mica slate.

§ 14. The section embracing the basalts, porphyry, and
which have been termed 2W^oi)lastiG^ are also divided into
two subsections, which are founded upon the circumstances
under which the masses have cooled, or condition under
which the heat has operated. Thus, the first section contains
those rocks which have cooled under water or great pressure,
ft contains basalt, greenstone and porphyry. They are called
the s'uhaqueous py7'oplastic rocks. The second contains the
lavas and all other volcanic products which are thrown into
the atmosphere and cooled under the air, and are hence cal-
led suh-cerial.

§ 15. It should be stated in this place, that, although the
foregoing subdivisions are sufiiciently exact for all practical
])urposes, still, rocks are sometimes met with, whose structure
is intermediate, and may not be reterred readily to either of

NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGIC CL SURVEY.

21

the foregoing sections ; and I may add, also, by way of ex-
planation, that the rocks which are denominated Imninated^
are frequently called stratified^ which is no doubt incorrect,
inasmnch as stratified rocks should be placed in the sedimen-
tary class, and belong entirely to another order of phenomena.

It may be inquired, why I have not followed the classifica-
tion of others, and recognized a class which has been called
inetamorjphic. The reason is this : All rocks may become
metamorphic, and hence, by the application of certain agents,
great changes in their structure ; any rocks, therefore, may be
metamorphic, or be metamorphic in part only ; and hence, too,
while we admit that rocks are changed or altered subsequent
to their consoUdation, it is evident the fact is, not a fitting one
to form in part the basis of a classification. The so-called
metamorphic class are mere accidents in the world's history ;
and hence, it will be right to say, that a certain rock is meta-
morphic at a certain locality.

The XQi'm. ])nmary\'As> been and is still applied to the pyro-
crystalline rocks — meaning, simply, that they were consoli-
dated before organic beings were created.

§ 16. But, to make the foregoing classification more clear,
and to show more distinctly the character of the respective
masses,. I proceed to state, that the particles in granite,
though crystalline, are not arranged in parallel stripes or
bands. In fig. 1, A, this peculiarity is represented. It may

Fig. 1.

be traversed by plains or lines, as in the figure ; but these ai-e
the natural joints, and serve only to divide the mass into an-
gular blocks : while in fig. 1, B, the mass is divided into
strips or lamina, each of which is separated from adjacent

oo

NOKTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY.

ones, by the mica or liornblende, whicli is sometimes present.
In gneiss, the lamina are usually thicker than in mica slate,
represented in fig. 1, C. In Talcose slate, the lamina are
usually curved, and the surface may be corrugated.

§ 17. The structure of the pyroplastic rocks, those which
have been moulded by fire, is represented in part by fig. 2,
A, B, C. Basalt is columnar, as in fig. 1, B. An example of
this rock is furnished in the natural walls of Rowan. A por-
phyry is rock which has a compact base, through which crys-
talline particles of felspar are disseminated, as in fig. 2, B.

Fig. 2.

The subEerial pyroplastic is represented in C. The vesicular
structure is often indistinct in the lower parts of the mass
which have been subjected to ]3ressure. So, also, the texture
and cohesion are variable.

There is no determinate order in the arrangement of the
foregoing rocks, neither do they belong to ancient or modern
periods exclusively, except in the laminated pyrocrystalline
rocks, which, as a class, together with certain granites, are the
oldest rocks of the globe; while certain granites, with the
basalts, greenstones, and lavas, may be said to belong to all
periods indiscriminately.

NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SUKVEY. 23

CHAPTEK TV.

Origiti of the Sediments. — IIoiv distinguished from the Erujp-
tive lioclhS—thichiess of the Sediments — their Classifica-
cation^ etc.

§ 18. Sediments consist of abraded particles from pre-ex-
isting rocks. These, in most instances, form consolidated
beds, the consolidation liaving taken place beneath the ocean,
or beneath the waters which have received the transported
matter from rivers. Tliis matter sometimes remains in a
soft condition, like the marls and sands of the low counties.

§ 19. Sediments may be distinguished from the eruptive
or pyrocrystalline rocks, 1st, by the presence of water-worn
particles ; 2d, by the presence of organic bodies, or fossils.
The former is the most common character, inasmuch as fos-
sils are extremely rare in the oldest sediments.

§ 20. Geologists estimate the aggregate thickness of the
sediments at ten or twelve miles, without including in the es-
timate those which are regarded as the oldest. This great
accumulation of abraded matter is not known to exist at one
place, the land not haying been stationary beneath the sea,
so as to receive the sediments all the time during which they
have been accumulating. But diiferent parts of the earth's
surface have been covered with water at diiferent periods.
So that sediments have always been accumulating since wa-
ter has been collected in the great depressions of the earth's
surface.

§. 21. This fact has been useful in classifying these de-
posits, belonging, as has been stated, to diiferent periods ;
for it has been proved, by observation, that the diiferent pe-
riods during which sediments have been accumulating, con-
tain, entombed in them, different kinds of organic beings.
But another kind of evidence, going to prove both the suc-
cession of the sediments and their capability of being sepa-
rated into groups, is derived from the superposition of rocks.

24: NOKTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SLTJVET.

Superposition is, however, the liigliest proof of age ; tlie old-
est occupying the inferior position.

§ 22. The bearing which fossils have to any scheme of
classihcation which has been proposed, can be understood
only by a knowledge of the following laws : 1. That species
or hinds have had a liinited duratio^i ^ 2. That there has heen
a succession of species / and 3. That the species of one period,
and which have become extinct, have . never lived in any fu-
ture period. The utility of the knowledge of fossils is based
on these three laws. This knowledge is particularly useful
in comparing rocks which are widely separated from each
other, or in those cases where direct superposition cannot be
observed. If, for example, certain rocks in Canada furnish a
group of fossils similar to those of a given series in Tennes-
see, the inference would be, that they belonged to the same
period, and hence occupy the same geological position ; or,
if we compare the fossils of the coal formation of England
and America, it will be found that they are almost identical;
and it is proved also, that the position relatively is the same
in both countries, though separated from each other three
thousand miles.

§ 23. From the foregoing statement of facts, it will be per-
ceived, that one great object in geological research is to iden-
tify periods and formations ; for periods and formations have
a similarity of character not only in their organic contents
but also in the minerals connected with them.

We are interested in knowing the life character of the dif-
ferent groups of sediments, as it is from that that the his-
tory of the earth is to be deciphered. It is more than a life
history, it is also a physical history ; for in that, or in the phe-
nomena they present us with, we may read- the physical
changes which the earth's surface has undergone. The life
history and the physical history are often recorded on the same
page of the stone book.

§ 24. In order to see clearly the difference in the different
groups of rocks, we should construct what is known as a geo-
logical column, on which we may indicate the relative posi-
tions of rocks by different colored zones, and adjacent to each

NOETH-CAEOLrN-A GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY. 25

zone place the fossils of each .c:ronp. Such a column would
not only show the relative position of the physical groups,
but it would also indicate the epochs during the geologic
time, the epochs being characterized by groups of different
kinds of animals and plants, l^ut this is not all ; it would
show an advance in rank, or a progress in an ascending scale
represented in the passage of one zone to another upon the
column. At the bottom, molusca, intermingled with low
grades of animals and plants, would occupy the whole of the
lower zone. In the next, we may observe a few lisli Avhicli
are the lowest representatives of the vertebrated class. In
the next, the reptile ; and a little higher, we should find the
bird ; and after this still, the lowest form of the mammal.
The progress in rank seems to continue, till we reach the
liighest zone, or the last and present epoch. The progi'ess is
from a low to a higher rank ; not from the sim,ple to the com-
plex, as some suppose; or from the imperfect to the perfect
.structure ; for perfection of structure has reference to adap-
tation only ; and, in this view, the structure of a molusk is as
perfect as a mammal.

§ 25. Kow in the examination of the rocks of l^orth-Caro-
lina, I have sought to identify them with those of other States
and countries; or, in other words, to determine the relatiye
position which they occupy in the geologic column or scale ;
as such a determination furnishes a clue to their economical
value as depositories of the valuable metals or products ; it
is, therefore, practically useful, while it advances or promotes
the progress of the science.

§ 26. The following scheme or table contains a list of the
systems of rocks, arranged in the order of superposition.

The left hand column contains the names of the general
systems recognized in different parts of the earth's surface,
and the right those systems which are known in Xorth-Caro-
lina:

26 NOKTU-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

General Systems. Systems of North- Carolina.

r',;.,«^„;« ( Recent and Recent and

' { Tertiary. Tertiarj'.

{Cretaceous, Cretaceous.
Oolite,
Lias,
New Red Sandstone. New Red Sandstone ?

( Permian, Permian ?

j Carboniferous, ....

Palaaozoic, ■{ Devonian, ....

I Silurian, ....

[ Taconic. Taconic.

Eruptive or Pyrocrystalline. Eruptive or Pyrocrystalline.

§ 27. The new red sandstone and pennian are inserted
with a query, as it is not satisfactorily determined whether
the coal rocks of Deep and Dan rivers belong to the first or
second, or to both. It will be observed, that several systems
of rocks which are clearly recognized in other States are
wanting in jSTorth-Carolina, as the silurian, devonian, carboni-
ferous, and the lias and oolite ; the two last are probably
wanting, though it should be stated that the opinion has been
expressed, by very competent geologists, that Deep and Dan
river rocks belong to one or both of them.

Of the rocks which belong to the State, the tertiary or cre-
taceous occur in the lower counties ; they are the deposito-
ries of the marls, and never contain the ores of the metals,
excepting the earthy ores of iron and manganese. The rocks
of the Deep and Dan rivers are important, as they contain
beds of coal, ores of iron, fire clay, millstones, grindstones
and freestones.

The taconic system, which belongs to the oldest sediments,
and which will be fully described hereafter, occupies the
midland counties in part, and the extreme western border.
It contains the most important repositories of the ores. The
eruptive or pyrocrystalline rocks are very generally distrib-
uted ; they are also the repositories of the ores.

§ 28. While I believe it is generally true that certain for-
mations are more productive in metals and economic mate-
rials tlian others, still, there are evidentlj' certain exceptions
to the rule ; and it may prove that certain districts are rich
in metals, irrespective of the period to which the rocks of the
district belong ; thus, that part of the taconic series west of

NOETH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

27

the Bine Ridge, and wliich is referred to as occupying the
midland counties, is rich in the ores, while the rocks of the
same age west of the Blue Ridge are certainly very poor.
It would seem, therefore, that the causes which have been
operative in charging the rocks with ores, have been coniined
to certain districts of country. Yet it does not invalidate the
conclusion that the metals or ores of a district belong to a
distinct period ; but in their distribution they have been only
partial, or have rather been limited to certain parts of the
system, which i-epresents the period in question.

There is a general rule, however, with respect to the dis-
tribution of the ores, viz : the}^ belong rather to the eruptive
or pyrocrystalline rocks, and the primary division of the
sediments, the pala30zoic, or are more common to the oldest
rocks of this division. It would appear, therefore, that the
dissemination of the metals through the rocks took place in
the earl}' periods of its history, and prior to the mesozoic and
cainozoic series.

§ 29. Having stated a few of the elementary principles
and facts belonging to the subject under consideration, I shall
now proceed to describe the rocks which belong to the mid-
dle zone of the State ; after which, I shall be prepared to
describe, with considerable minuteness, the veins and reposi-
tories of the ores which belong to those rocks. The rocks of
Deep and Dan rivers, with their rich and valuable contents,
will come up for consideration in the last place, when the
facts which throw light upon then* relative age will be stated.

CHAPTER Y.

Of the Eruptive or Pyrocrystalline Rocks of the Midland
Counties of North-Carolina — their Distrrilution, etc.

§ 80. The granitic formations, which are the subject mat-

28 NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

ters of this chapter, form two continnous belts which cross
tlie State in a north-east and south-west direction, or nearly
so. The first or easterly belt is the widest, having Raleigh
situated nearly centrally upon it. This belt furnished the
stone of which the Statehouse is built, and hence some of its
characteristics will be at once recalled by the reader. It may
be called locally the Raleigh belt, or the Raleigh granite.
The second belt has Salisbury and Greensborough situated cen-
trally upon it in their respective districts. It differs from the eas-
tern in certain particulai's, and may, with propriety, receive
a local name, the Salisbury and Greensborough granite belt.
In some parts of the belt it is syenitic, and is frequently called
sienite / but in other parts it is similar to the eastern belt in
composition.

§ 31. The color of the Raleigh granite is a light gray, pass-
ing occasionally into a dark gray. It is composed of quartz,
felspar, and a very small quantity of dark colored mica; fel-
spar is the most abundant element, and it is the color of this
mineral which gives it its lighter shade. To the presence of
this mineral also is due its disposition, in certain beds, to un-
dergo a chemical change, by which it becomes soft and
worthless as a building stone. The particles of felspar are of
a uniform and medium size ; the grain may be rather fine,
but I believe never extremely coarse. So far as its texture
therefore is concerned, the stable and hard parts of it are fit-
ted for woi-ks of construction, though its defects are some-
times brought out when it is protected from the weather, as
may be observed in the floor of the Statehouse. The defect first
appears in a separation into rather thin lamina usually concen-
tric ; the lamina becoming visible, soon disintegrate and pass
into a powdery condition, which are the first steps towards
the formation of a porcelain clay. These concentric lamina
were no doubt developed during its passage from a fluid to a
solid state. The decomposition of felspar is supposed to be due
to the presence of an alkali or alkaline earth. In the granite
under consideration, it is potash ; indeed, all the granites of
]!^orth-Carohna have a kind of felspar which is technically
called potash felspar.

NOETH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 29

§ 32. It is only from the decomposing granites that porce-
lian clay is produced, wliicli, however, requires a perfect
freedom from the oxides of iron and manganese. The test
for good porcelian clay requires a perfect whiteness when
subjected to the highest heat of a furnace. It is only the most
thoroughly decomposed felspar that gives us a good clay. In
the progress of its formation, and in the ultimate results of
decomposition, we witness a most beautiful example of the
molecular force. First, there is the separation into lamina,
which is properly due to a mechanical force, but w^hich ex-
poses a larger surface of molecules to atmospheric influences ;
then a slight detachment of particles from each other, and
by which the stability of the compound is disturbed, and
Avhich soon results in a complete separation of some of the
potash. When the chemical affinity is so far weakened, the
process of decomposition goes on rather rapidly, until the
mineral felspar is completely disorganized, and is perfectly
resolved into its original elements. But we must look at the
process in another point of view. When certain elements
are being detached in this way, they are by no means inert
or inactive ; they are in a state disposed to enter into new
combinations, or the particles may simply combine together,
kind with kind, and so unite as to produce solid elementary
minerals; or they may combine and form new compound
bodies. It is so in this case ; that portion of the silica which
was in combination with potash combines, and frequently
forms minute crystals of quartz ; but sometimes it is a horn-
stone. The iron ore also collects by itself, and forms balls
consisting of the hydrous per oxide of iron, which may be,
and often are, perfectly well defined and separate from the
white mass of porcelain earth ; while the manganese also,
which is usually present in some form in the granite, com-
bines and forms also concretions of the metallic oxide. Some-
times these chemical changes appear to be completed, and
each new formed body to have become stable again ; but
frequently we may witness the changes in all its stages pro-
gressing slowly to the termination to which I have alluded,
und in \thich they become, for a time at least, fixed bodies.

30 NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

Such changes are M'ell worthy of notice, as they prepare ns
to comprehend other clianges more comphcated, and taking
place, nnder circumstances which Ave might not expect.
Sucli is the case in many mineral veins, to which reference
will be made in its proper place. Similar changes occur in
reducing rocks to a soil, and under certain circumstances re-
compositions take place in the soil, which operates injuriously
on its productiveness. Soils are no doubt generally derived
from solid rocks. In the south there is a peculiarity which
makes the study of rocks, in connection with agriculture,
more important than it is at the north ; for, as was shown as
long ago as 1824— '25, by Prof. Olmsted, the debris from rocks
forming the soil, remains in situ. The elements of the soil
and of the rock therefore, are more alike ; and a knowledge
of the composition of the rock gives us information respect-
ing the composition of the soil.

§ 33. Relation of the Raleigh helt of granite to other mern-
hers of the prirnary roeks. — When granite is spoken of, the
expectation is, that it is an nnder lying rock. I have, how-
ever, intimated that cases are on record, in which it is shoM'ii
that it is an overlying one. In the belt, of granite nnder con-
sideration, there is evidence which goes to show that it over-
lies gneiss, mica, slate, and hornblende. The most important
locality which brings to light this relation, is about one or
one-half miles west of Warrenton, in Warren county. These
laminated rocks crop out from beneath the granite in this re-
gion. The exposure is not extensive, but sufficiently so to
establish the relation at this place. Tliere are still others of
the kind, but less conspicuous. But if the observation is cor-
rect at or near Warrenton, it seems to me that it establishes
the fact for the whole belt.

It follows, from the foregoing, that it was projected through
fissures in the gneiss or mica slate, and that from those it
overflowed the country where it is now the upper rock.

This relation, however, is not new ; for many years since
I observed the same fact respecting the granites of Maine,
which have become so celel)rated in architecture. But in
Maine, the area of the beds is limited, frequently only cap-

NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 31

ping a hill, and from which tlie whole had been removed,
leaving the beds of gneiss and hornblende exposed.

§ 34. This belt of granite is peculiar in another respect, it
furnishes no metalic veins ; and is rarely traversed by trap-
dykes. This negative character is referred to, in consequence
of its being in contrast with the Salisbury and Greensborough
belt. It is of course unnecessary to attempt to explain the
fact. We cannot account for the activity of those forces which
are instrumental in filling fissures with metallic matters in
certain districts, neither for their inactivity in others.

§ 85. The geographical position of the Raleigh belt of
granite may be defined approximately, by giving the names
of the places through which its extreme outer edges pass, and
connecting those places by lines ; thus the western edge runs
three miles west of Henderson, and one-and-a-half or two
miles west of Raleigh, and from thence south-westwardly
through the Buckhorn falls, on the Cape Fear river. From
the latter place it is concealed by sands, but appears to sweep
around towards Rockingham and Richmond county, as it ap-
pears there, and also upon the head waters of Turkey creek.
Upon Turkey creek there are fine quarries of millstone.

The south-east edge passes through Weldon, where it forms
a barrier across the Roanoke ; thence to Belford, at the west
boundary of Xash county ; thence five miles west of Smith-
field, in Johnston county. In this neighborhood it is con-
cealed by sands.

The granite of Rocky Mount belongs to this belt ; but it is
separated from it by a belt of slate which extends from Gas-
ton through Halifax and Belford, where it lies in contact
with the granite. Tlie breadth of this granite is from twentv
to twenty-five miles.

§ 36. In an economical point of view, very little need be
said of this belt of granite. It makes a fine building mate-
rial when it is firm, and resists the action of the weather. It
contains a very few minerals, which, on exposure, weathers
out, and thus impairs its qualities. In the shade it how-
ever often becomes dark and dingy from the growth of
lichens and fungi, whose growth seem to be favored by moif-

32 NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURNET.

ture, and perhaps also by tlie disengagement of potasli from
the felspar. This rock furnishes one of the most distinct un-
mixed granite soils in the State. It will be interesting to
know its agricultural capabilities, and to ascertain whether it
has, in any respects, advantages over the slate soil, in its vi-
cinity,

§ 37. The Salisbury and Greensborough belt of granite. —
This is frequently a, syenitic granite, that is, hornblende takes
the place of mica. • The grain and texture of the rock is not
unlike that of the Ilaleigh granite. It is rarely coarse, and
never contains large particles of quartz, mica, or hornblende.
Felspar predominates over the other elements, and hence,
as this is usually light colored, so the granite is generally a
light gray. The disposition to crumble is greater than the
rock already described, and frequently it is easily crushed by
the hand, and large beds of it occur wdiere it is soft, to a
depth of twenty feet ; indeed, large areas occur, in which we
may not observe the rock at all, except in the form and con-
dition of a debris. But in some places it furnishes a line
firm building material, capable of withstanding the influence
of the weather. The weathering rock frequently exposes
masses which are hard, and resist atmospheric iutiuences a
long time. These hard rocks are nuclei, which seem to
have been formed by concretionary movements. They stand
about upon the surface like boulders. The roads from Salis-
bury and Concord, and from the former place to Gold Hill,
pass through or by fields of these rocks, which have been
weathered out in the course of ages.

§ 38. ]^otwithstanding the great similarity existing be-
tween this and the Raleigh granite, in texture and composi-
tion, still the two belts present a great contrast in other res-
pects. This contrast appears in the numerous metallic veins
and trap-dykes which traverse the Salisbury and Greensbo-
rough belt. Of the former, it will be sufficient to mention
the North-Carolina copper mine, McCulloch gold mine, Phe-
nix & Vanderburgh gold and copper mine, the Pioneer gold
and copper mine, and the Boger & Hill copper mines. Trap-
dykes are numerous at most places where the rock is ex-

i

NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 33

posed, and appear very conspicuons in many of the railroad
cuttings. But, at certain points tliey are so numerous that
the rock is obscured. The dykes are not composed of one
material, but consist of the common amphibolic trap, quartz,
felspar and thin seams of epidote ; forming, together, a net
work of eruptive rocks. "When they decompose, the horn-
blende trap appears in dark green strii^es, and many, when
carefully examined, have assumed the structure of a sedi-
ment or a laminated rock, and which often appears like the
dark green slates of the taconic system. This singular struc-
ture of an eruptive rock is interesting and important, as it
proves that it may be produced in rock^ which have been
regarded as sediments, but which, in these cases, are the far-
thest removed from rocks of this description, and with which
water has had nothing to do. The lamina are sometimes as
thin as paper, and, from their appearance, cannot be distin-
guished from the slates referred to. They are bounded by
walls of granite, and are frequently only from six to ten
inches wide. We see the phenomena in the apparent slate or
killas which border the gold and copper veins when the}'- tra-
verse granite. The slaty structure of the dykes, which has
just been noticed, is in strong contrast with the columnar
structure which frequently occurs, of which instances, the
well Imown natural walls of Rowan and Stokes counties are
familiar examples.

§ 39. I have already alluded to some of the differences be-
tween this and the eastern belt, especially in the existence in
the former of numerous metallic veins. It should be stated
in this place, that the veins referred to are not distributed in-
discriminately through the rock. On this subject, however,
it is sufhcient to state the fact, that they are confined mostly
to the edges of the granite, or to the sides which are border-
ed by slate, of another formation. The veins which I have
already enumerated lie along the south-east border, most of
them within one or two miles of the slate.

The central railroad runs along the central part of the belt,
and although there are many deep cuttings through the
granite, still there is not a single instance in which those cut-
3

34 NOKTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

tings liave intersected metallic veins — tliough, as I have said,
the dykes exposed are very numerons.

The explanation of the foregoing facts respecting tlie oc-
currence and peculiar distribution of the metallic veins is dif-
ficult. We are not in possession of all the facts required, for
a solution of the question. The fact which bears more im-
mediately upon this subject, is the greater thickness of the'
granite mass in its centre, or along the line of railway. Yein
hssures in this part of the rock may not reach the surface —
or it may lie at a distance from the axis of disturbance, or of
the eruptive force.

§ 40. This belt of granite is from ten to fourteen miles
wide. The belt will attract attention wherever it is crossed
by the numerous trap-dykes in all parts of the districts ; thus,
in going from Koxborough to Yanceyville, from Graham to
Guilford, or from Union county through Charlotte to Lincoln
county, he will pass over the granite with its trap-dykes.

§ 41. The eastern border of this belt passes four miles east
of E.oxborough, and from thence southwardly by the North-
Carolina copj)er mine, and about two miles east of Lexing-
ton ; thence one mile west of Gold Hill, and thence a few
degrees west of south to the State line in South-Carolina.

The western border is about four miles east of Yanceyville ;
thence by the High Rock ford, on Haw river ; thence five
miles west of Jamestown, and crossing the Yadkin near
Crump's ford ; thence near the fork of the South Yadkin, and
crossing the Catawba near the great horse shoe bend, and
thence crossing the Little Catawba near Springs' mill, and
passing out of the State, it takes the direction of Yorkville,
in South-Carohna. The belt crosses the State obliquely ; it
takes an easterly sweep after passing north of Salisbury : it
crosses the Dan just above Clarksville, near the junction of
the Dan and Roanoke'.

Notwithstanding the hssuration to which this rock has been
subjected, it is comparatively barren in minerals, except the
metallic oxides. Epidote is common, schorl rare, and the
tourmalines unknown in connexion with it. In this respect
it is similar to the eastern Ijelt.

NORTII-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SITRVET. 35

§ 42. This would be tlie proper place to discuss, at some
length, the age of the trap-dykes and metallic veins of this
formation; but, inasmuch as the subject of the formation of
veins will come up in another place, I shall now leave this
interesting question to a future time, barely observing that
the bearing of the facts upon it go to show that the dykes
were formed subsequent to the deposit of the adjacent slates,
which are, no doubt, sediments of the Palaeozoic age.

§ 43. Granites of Lincoln ., Gaston and Catawba Counties. —
A person, on arriving at Lincolnton in the evening, wovdd
imagine that the streets were covered with snow. This white-
ness of the streets, however, is not so glaring now as former-
ly. The soil is a decomposed white coarse granite, which ex-
plains the peculiar appearance referred to. The felspar is
predominant here, but the mica being very light colored, and
in rather large lamina, the whole rock appears whiter thari
usual. The granite of Lincoln and the counties named, oc-
curs in veins both in gneiss and talcose, or mica slate. It is
therefore a subordinate rock. It forms a network of veins in
this region, and some veins are very wide.

This rock first appears about two miles east of Lincolnton ;
large plates of mica will probably be noticed first by the road
side. The rock to which it belongs will be seen occasionally
in the ditches. It is very abundant in and about Lincolnton,
as if it was the principal rock. It extends over a wide area.
Towards King's mountain the road passes for twelve miles
upon it, or it is very frequently a prominent rock on the
way side. To northwards from Lincolnton it may be traced
ten or fitteen miles. Its breadth is not over three miles. This
belt seems to have been extensively fissured, which circum-
stance gave origin to this eruption along a narrow belt whicli
seems to lie between two systems of rocks ; on the east are
the slates of the taconic system, and on the west gneiss, mica
slate and hoiuiblende rock. I have not been successful in my
searches for the ores in this rock. Schorl and lopidolite are
the only minerals Avhich I have discovered.

This granite resembles tliat whicli occurs at Chester, Ches-
terfield and Xorwich, in Massachusetts — and which there

3H NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

contains iiuiny kinds of rare minerals, tlioitgli the metals are
absent, excepting some exceeding rare ones in minute quan-
tity.

CHAPTER VI.

Of the Laminated Py^'ocrystaline Hoelfs — as Gneiss, Mica
o.ivl Talcose Slates and Hornblende. — Limestone.

§ 44. The individual rocks which fall under the foregoing
denominations occupy only limited areas. Indeed it is rather
difficult to determine, in certain instances, the line of de-
inarkation between gneiss and granite, as frequently there
are passage beds connecting one with the other. I find pas-
.sage beds in belts along the Crabtree, near Raleigh ; but they
are more remarkable near the line of junction with the
:slate;:^, the ancient sediments along the western border of the
granite. These beds are intersected by the road leading
ix*M\y Ilaleigh to Louisburg ; but being quite indistinct, and
inoreover quite limited in the area they occupy, I have in-
tduded them within the bounds of the eastern range of granite.

It nuiy become necessary, on a farther examination, to
separate them from the granite. There is no necessity for it
now, inasmuch as in an economical point of view they are of
little importance.

;^ 45. The most distinct belt of gneiss, and its related rocks
the primary slates, bounds the Salisbury and Greensborougii
granite in Lincoln, Catawba and Iredell counties. The belt
is narrow, and not only extends throngh the eastern part of
the counties just named, but runs on throngh Davie and For-
sythe to Rockingham county.

The locality where the rock under examiiuition presents its
typical form, is at Brevard's furnace, on Dutchman's creek. A

NOKTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. Si

deep cut exposes, at this place, a rather remarkable condition
of the rock ; it is in a concretionary condition, the concre-
tions being npon the largest scale of development. The rock
is gray, fine grained, and obscurely jointed. It presents the
usual character of gneiss in its laminations and passages into
mica slate and hornblende. In Rockingham county the rock
is more schistose and fine grained, or rather approaches in
structure and composition talcose slate, and a thin laminated
kind of hornblende.

It seems unnecessary to dwell at greater length upon tliese
rocks at this time. Tliey have furnished very fe\v metallic
veins. They however lie between the granite and the oldest
sediments ; and as marking a geological as well as a gect-
graphical boundary, their place in the series should not pass
unnoticed. These rocks, however, as they are largely devel-
«»ped along the Blue ridge, will receive the attention they de-
serve in the proper place.

§ 46. Limestone of this serie?,. — Tlie most important rock
which appears in intimate connexion with the foregoing, is a
white granular limestone. The mode in which it should be
described, or how it should be regarded, is not well settled in
my own mind at least. Its position, at several localities, is
certainly among the gneiss and mica slate and hornblende
rocks, and its lamina or beds are nearly parallel with them ;
but still it has many characters which belong only to tlie
eruptive rocks.

Bolejack's quarries in Stokes county is the most typical
form under which it occurs. These quarries are four miles
west of Germanton. The rock is white granular, rather
coarse and firm, is free from magnesia, and lies in beds or
thick laminated parallel masses, which incline at about 10*^
to th^ horizon. At Mr. Martin's beds, the limestone incloses
foreign rocks, as quartz, slate and hornblende ; I'ut the lime
it furnishes is good and strong.

38 NORTII-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

CHAPTER VII.

Of the oldest Sediments — their Primary Characters or As-
■pect — difficulty of distinguishing them from^ the triie Pri-
mary or Pyrocrystalline RocTcs hy their Lithological Char-
acters^ etc.

% 47. A few years only have elapsed since geologists first
attempted to discover the bottom rocks, their labors having
been confined to the superior masses to which they were al-
lured by the innmnerable relics of the past, and among which
they could revel with more pleasure than the antiquarian
among the ruins of cities. It is difficult even now, to satisfy
oneself what the real views of geologists now are of the bot-
tom rocks ; and it is a question which is still in the mouths of
some, can they be distinguished and known, seeing they must
have been sul>jected to many changes from the action of
forces which were then powerful and energetic?

But notwithstanding the plausibility of such a question,
there are still grounds for beheving that the bottom rocks, or
the oldest sediments, retain the marks of their origin, if not
entirely intact, yet, sufficiently distinct and entire for their
recognition. This view is founded on the probability, that
when these rocks began to be laid down upon the sea bottom,
the earth's crust had become stable, the inner forces had be-
come comparatively quiet, and that their activity did not
greatly exceed in intensity what is witnessed in our day.
The time had come when the earth was to be inhabited ; it
had received its two outer envelopes, water and the atmos-
phere. These results had come to pass, or had taken place
in the natural progress of things — were the result of laws
which govern bodies placed in the condition the earth then
was. The forces had died out, or had become weakened ;
and they ceased to be energetic, because the sources of their
energy were spent. If the foregoing is true, it follows, that
in the course of nature, the partially extinct powers could

NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY. 39

not be revived or awakened into life. Locally, they might
still be energetic, but their general force was expended, and
hence too, it would not be in accordance with the general
condition then existing, for forces to act so intensely as to
change sediments into those universal rocks, gneiss, mica
slate and hornblende.

But to turn to the results of observation. A consistent in-
terpretation of the phenomena connected with sediments cer-
tainly old, if not the oldest, prove in this country, and in Eu-
rope, that we reach a sedimentary base, or what appears to
be such, below which, we have no evidence of still older
beds. We find that they rest upon those universal rocks,
gneiss, mica and talcose slate and hornblende, to say nothing
of granite as a substratum. The proof of rocks of sedimen-
tary origin, reaches us from these deep seated beds, below
which we can find nothing deeper or lower, bearing the char-
acter of sediments. Tlie oldest beds are supposed to be azoic,
but discoveries have proceeded downwards, and masses sup-
posed to be destitute of organic remains have been giving
them up to the tireless observations of geologists, so that it is
yet unsafe to declare that the bottom beds are truly azoic.

The older, deep seated sediments, are sometimes distin-
guished with difficulty from the true primary series ; their
lithological characters very often belong to the same order.
We might doubt their being sediments at all, were it not that
they are associated with pebbly beds.

§ 47. The masses which are obscure, are derived from
those containing mica and talc, especially the former. This
is due to the properties of these minerals, they are never re-
duced to rounded grains, but retain their form, or are merely
splits; besides, when subjected to attrition, the size of their
particles are rarely diminished, and hence, when reformed
into rock, the characters of the parent rock are reproduced ;
hence, we find very good mica and talcose slates among the
sediments: even in the coal measures, beds are not unfre-
quently occuring, wdiich retain a decided primary aspect.
But the abrasions in the first instance, and- forming for the
first time sedimentary beds, are still more like the original

40 NOETH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

rocks from wliicli tliey were derived ; and hence, it may re-
quire the most careful observations, in order to arrive at the
conchision that they are sediments at all. It is not, then,
their lithological characters which we seek, for the j^urpose
of determining their origin, but the associated beds with
which tlie}^ are strictly conformable, which gives us the evi-
dence in this particular upon which we may rely ; and to repeat
what has been already intimated, their sedimentary character
rests mainly upon the occurrence of conformable pebble
beds ; yet the presence of fossils may yet come to our aid,
and confirm their origin assigned to them.

§ 49. Another source of difficulty, which meets us in the
determination of the origin of rocks, are changes produced in
them by proximity to. or by the contact with, igneous rocks.
It is, however, real. In many suspicious cases, we have to
consider what change is incident to that order of forces to
which rocks were supposed to have been subjected. In the
case of heat, we know that a rock must become indurated,
according to the degree to which it has been exposed. Sand-
stone and sandy slate may become sonorous or ringing, like
a well-baked brick — and still more so, when clay slates have
been subjected to a strong heat, but short of fusion ; the
sound will be more like the ringing of cast-iron. ISTo slates
or sandstones ever emit a clear ringing sound when struck,
unless they have been heated. The texture in those cases
may be only slightly clianged — it is always short of vitrifica-
tion. This may seem at variance with certain varieties of
quartz, which are apparently vitrified from heat — as flint,
hornstone, and quartz beds, in the granular quartz rock.
The apparent vitrification is due to a chemical combination
of the particles, or to a cause independent of, and distinct
from, heat.

§ 50. In North-Carolina, we have to deal with rocks of an
obscure origin and character ; and hence, I have dwelt upon
principles which appear to flow from the facts we meet with
in its geology. The first questions which a geologist would
ask respecting these obscure rocks would be, to what period
do they belong, and to what series in this country are they

NOETn-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SUETET. 41

related? These are the questions Avhich I put to myself,
(and which have been often repeated,) at the beginning of
the survey. Do they harmonize with the rocks of a known
epoch in our country ? For we want to bring, if possible,
every series into correlation with some other series, both as
physical groups and in their organic contents. Such a cor-
rellation would establish the identy of their epoch. The law
or rule is, that agreement in these respects, constitutes agree-
ment in the most essential characters. I shall treat of the
characteristics of these ancient rocks of North-Carolina, and
show their correlations, in the next chapter.

CHAPTER YIII.

The Rocks referred to^ as helonging to the oldest hiovm Sedi-
ments^ 'belong in jya^'t to the Midland Counties. They are
Slate and Quartzites onainly, and their Sedrmentary Origin
is hosed mainly upon conformable Pebbly Beds. They are
found to be 'related to Hochs which are hnoion. in the North.,
and which there constitute the Taconic System.

§ 51. Tlie formations of the midland counties which occu-
py the largest extent of surface, are slates and silicious rocks
which have been called quartzites. It is a formation which
was described as long ago as ISS^l-'T, by Professors Olmsted
and Mitchell, both of whom fully understood its importance.

The slates are variable in color and composition. They
are mineralogicall}- clay, chloritic and talcose slates, taking
silica into their composition, at times, and even passing into
fine grits or honestones, but still variable in coarseness. In
the order in which they lie, the talcose slates and quartzites
are the inferior rocks, though quartzites occur also in the
condition of chert, flint or hornstone, in all the series.

42 NOETH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

§ 52. But tlie foregoing slates, with their associates, stand-,
ing by themselves, though they might be regarded as sedi-
ments, yet, the proof thereof would be wanting, and geolo-
gists might consistently differ as to their origin. But it for-
tunately happens, that after dilligent search, numerous beds
containing rounded pebbles were discovered ; and h#nce it
follows, that their origin is established. They must have
been formed in the sedimentary period ; and hence, we are
interested in the farther enquiry respecting the true epoch to
whicli they belong ; and therefore the enquiry, can they be
brought into correllation with other known formations, whose
period has been determined, is a question too important to
be passed over.

§ 53. Taking the principles which have been laid down
for our guide, we may lirst try or compare them with several
systems or series of the palaeozoic division, and see how their
correllation will then stand. 1. The carboniferous. With
this system it is scarcely necessar}'' to compare these rocks at
all. The fossils and the formations are so well known and so
well defined, that the analogies, even, are very remote. No
one would admit that the resemblances between the slates of
the two series can bring them into correllation ; and be-
sides, the carboniferous slates always contain coal plants, of
which there is not the remotest semblance in those of North-
Carolina.

The series beneath the carboniferous, the devonian, is made
up of slates, limestones and olive sandstones, in whicli there
are either bands of fossils, or, as in the cases of limestones,
they are highly charged with very conspicuous ones, which
could not escape the notice of the most careless geologist.
The North-Carolina slates and quartzites have no nearer rela-
tion to the devonian than to the carboniferous.

The Silurian system is divided into upper and loAver ; the
upper is rich in limestones, shaly hmestones and slates, all of
which are rich in peculiar fossils. There are no beds in
North Carolina Mdiich have even a remote resemblance to
this division of the silurian system. The lower division,
however, requii'es a very careful comparison with the rocks

NOETH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY. 43

of this State ; besides, there are geologists who assume that
the North-Carohna series are lower siluriau disguised by the
action of heat or metamorphism.

The lower division is composed of sandstone, limestone,
slate, shale and gray sandstones. I have mentioned the rocks
in the ascending order. Mineralogically, the sandstone is not
unlike some beds of sandstone in North-Carolina. The lime-
stones, which succeed and repose upon the sandstone in the
Silurian system, are rich in conspicuous fossils, belonging to
the several orders of animals. In North-Carolina, there are
no fossils, and the relation of the limestones which occur, are
unlike those of the silurian system. The upper beds of low-
er Silurian are also highly fossiliferous, and of peculiar kinds ;
and as they neither occur in them, and as the sandstones and
shales appear to have no existence in the slate, it seems too
great an assumption to regard the North-Carolina slates and
quartzites as lower silurian.

An older system of slates, quartzites and limestones, etc.,
lie beneath the silurian system, which at one time were rank-
ed with the primary rocks, are now well known at the north
as sediments ; and though several distinguished geologists re-
gard them as lower silurian, still the grounds of that belief are
too slender for general acceptation ; and since they are be-
neath the silurian, they cannot, consistently, form a part of
the system. These infra silurian rocks, occupy the western
slopes of the Green mountain range, they repose directly up-
on the primary series, and continue for more than twelve
hundred miles in this country in one continued belt. No
sediments of an older date intervene in all this distance be-
tween them and the primary referred to.

In these ancient infra silurian sediments, I think we can
recognize those of the slate system of North Carolina.

1. In position they appear to agree ; and though they are
not overlaid by the silurian on the east side of the Blue
Ridge, yet we may see the same conformity with certain
talcose slates beneath, as at the north. The quartz rock of
Montgomery, Orange and Randolph counties, gives us the

44 NOETH-CAROLTNA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

base from which may be traced the proteiform beds, which
make up what we may here call the slate system.

2. The great paucity of fossils, and probably absence of all
traces of organization in the lowest talcose slate, makes the
correlation of the rocks in the two sections of our country
quite evident.

3. The chloritic and aluminous slates, with their veins of
milky quartz, are also alike in each district.

4. The passage of slates into cjuartzite, hornstone and fine
grits, are also alike in kind ; but in North-Carolina the fine
grits and hornstones are more common.

5. The quartz rock is identically the same both at the north
and south.

"When, therefore, there are so many points of agreement,
and so few of disagreement, it appears to me the rocks of the
two sections should be regarded as the same ; or, in other
words, as belonging to one and the same system.

§ 54. This system has been named the taconic system,
from a range of mountains lying in Berkshire county, Massa-
chusetts, just west of the Hoosic mountain range, or Green
mountains. It is here, that the rocks of the system, in part,
are so well exhibited ; though the western flanks of the Green
mountain, in their whole length, belong to the series.

Were it not that the rocks under consideration in North-
Carolina can be referred to a series already known, described
and named, I should confer upon them some other title. But
as it is, it is in accordance with the present rule of geologists
to extend a given name to all the rocks of that epoch, how-
ever widely they may be separated. Thus we may recognize
and adopt the name silurian, though the country of the an-
cient Silures formed only a part of "Wales, England. "West
of the Blue Ridge we have the evidence of continuity. The
taconic system which flanks the Green mountain, extends
southwards to the "Warm Springs of Buncombe county. On
the east side, the system, traced in tlie direction of its strike,
extends into Virginia and Maryland. "We see no more of it
till we reach Rhode Island. "Whether it is discontiinied, or is
overlaid and concealed ,by tertiary, is not satisfactorily de-

NORTH- CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 45

termined. I deem it unnecessary to dwell upon this subject.
It became necessary to state those facts which bear upon the
question respecting the period to which these sediments be-
long, and to make such comparisons of them with formations
at a distance, and whose period had been determined as one
calculated to establish a correllation with them. Whether
an exact identity is established or not may not appear per-
fectly satisfactory, yet I think there can be but one opinion
respecting them, viz., that they are among the oldest sedi-
ments of this country, and may be regarded as the bottom
rocks.

CHAPTER IX.

The Explanation of the term System. — The Deterinination of
Systems did not talce place in the order of their Age. — The
Results lohich have heen obtained Inj the Determination of
their Order. — Species feio in the Oldest Bocks. — Lithologl-
cal Character of the Sediments in North- Carolina.

§ 55. The term system denotes a series of rocks which are
linked together by their natural history characters. The ani-
mals and plants of the series are confined to them ; they nei-
ther occur above nor below. This is what I mean by natural
history characters. The rule stated, like other rules, is not
absolute nor stringent. It allows a few species to pass be-
yond the limits prescribed, but limits them as a whole ; it re-
quires that it should be true, in the same country especialh'.
At wide distances, however, for example the silurian of Eng-
land and America, the species may be more variable : and
the identity may be rej^laced by analogous species in part-
While some are identical, others may occur which are analo-
gous only with those at wide distances from each other. The

46 NORTH- CAEOLESrA GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY.

series, however, should occupy the same, or nearly the same
geological horizon, or occur in the same relations. No one
species which lived in the beginning of a period necessarily
lived through it ; they often occupy a given part, or are con-
fined to the T)ase — the middle or superior part. In the same
series at a distance, a given species which occupies the bot-
tom of a system, may appear later in the same system at a
distance.

§ 56. The determination of systems was not made in the
order of their age. Geologists did not first determine the
bottom rocks ; for example, the carboniferous system was
made out long before the devonian or silurian ; and the bot-
tom rocks are really the last which have been made out.
The plainest and easiest cases were first made out and distin-
guished ; but each determination opened the way for subse-
(juent successful labor in another series. The order in which
the work seems to have progressed was in the descending
order.

§ 57. Tlie results which have been brought to light by the
determination of systems and the relations tliey occupy, are
interesting and even important in an economical point of
view. As it regards the order of creation, it is found that
those of the lowest rank only belong to the oldest, while
those of the highest rank are found only in the newest. Ta-
king the whole series together, progress from the low to the
high is clearly established. We may expect to find, then, in
the bottom rocks of North-Carolina, only the lowest forms of
organization.

There is not only the foregoing facts to be noticed, but it
should be mentioned also, that we can expect to find only a
few species. The species in the early stages of life were lim-
ited ; the individuals may have been numerous. Species are
multiplied in the later stages. These are general facts which
have been determined by geologists.

§ 58. Lithological Cliaracters. — I have already spoken of
the difficulty which I experienced in determining the facts
respecting the origin of the slates and certain rocks associat-
ed with them. At first, it seemed that they should be group-

NORTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY. 47

ed witli the oldest laminated rocks, the talcose and mica slates
of the primary series. I foiind, however, many beds among
them which looked like sediments, were porphyrized and
somewhat changed, though not strictly porphj^ries.

I found, after much search too, beds which were unequivo-
cally pebbly ; and finally, to remove all doubt, I was fortu-
nate in discovering that the porj^hyrized beds also frequently
contained pebbles; proving most conclusively that they are
sediments which were partially altered. T am disposed, from
these facts, to place all the rocks not decidedly igneous, or
all which are stratified, wnth the sediments. It is generally
easy to distinguish the porphyritic greenstones from the por-
phyrized beds as they occur in the formations of North-Caro-
lina. When, however, I had satisfied myself of the fact, that
these rocks were changed, as I have stated, the most serious
difficulties in the way of their determination were removed.
I state the foregoing, for the purpose of showing that I have
not been hasty in locating these singular formations. It is
not, liowever, the first time that the clay slates of North-
Carolina have been described as sediments. Profs. Olmsted
and Mitchell took the same view of them, although they did
not deem it necessary to state the grounds on wdiich they
based their opinions. But I have carried the doctrine far-
ther, and place among the sediments the dark bluish green
slates ; those, for example, of gold and silver hills, and the
slates which contain the iron ore beds near Smithfield, John-
ston county — as well as those of Chatham and Randolph
counties. I am now prepared to say that the slates and the
associated rocks may be referred to the taconic system ; be-
cause their lithological characters and their relations to the
older rocks below them require it. Assuming, for the mo-
ment, that they are sediments, we are obliged to look about
and ascertain their relations to other masses ; and finding that
the members of the slate series resemble certain slates at the
north, those for example of Berkshire county, Massachusetts,
and that they, too, hold similar relations, it follows that the
former are the equivalent of the latter. In each district, that
of Berkshire, Massachusetts, and the midland counties of
North-Carolina, the same talcose aggregates, with interbeded

48 NOKTII-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

granular quartz, limestone, etc., form parallel series. So al-
so, the clay slates, beds of cliert, brecciated conglomerates,
belong to each respectively. In certain places too, the asso-
ciated minerals are alike, as the talcs, tremolite, hornstone,
ferruginous, quartz, manganese, etc. The granular quartz of
Xorth-Carolina is undistinguishable from that of Berkshire,
Massachusetts ; examples occur at Cotton Stone mountain,
near Troy, Montgomery county ; Hillsborough, in Orange ;
near King's mountain, in Gaston, and in Lincoln and Ca-
tawba counties ; also in Wake county. In North-Carolina,
these rocks having been derived from sienitic granites, and
having also been changed more than those at the north, ap-
pear sometimes quite differently ; and in certain cases it is
even difficult to recognize them.

§ 59. The basis upon which their recognition rests, is main-
ly their lithological characters, and the relations in which
they are placed to the older rocks, and those which they sus-
tain to each other. We cannot avail ourselves of the evi-
dence which superimposed rocks might give us. It is true,
that rocks belonging to other systems repose upon them, but
they do not belong to a system which immediately succeeds
■^n the order of time, as the silurian ; they belong to the per-
mian or new red systems, which are newer than the carbo-
niferous. I have no doubt all well informed geologists will
unite with me in placing these rocks at the base of the sedi-
ments, and yet it is not safe to inter that the question of age
is entirely settled; for it is not known what may turn up in^
the future, or what change may be required by su1)sequent
discoveries.

Fossils exist in a part of the northern series belonging to
the taconic system, and I have, the last year, discovered fos-
sils also in tlie lower series in I^orth-Carolina. But this dis-
covery does not require a change of opinion respecting the
age of these rocks ; it cannot change their relations ; it is on-
ly extending the boundaries of life beyond what had been
previously determined. This is to be expected ; and it indi-
cated that the field of discovery has not been fully explored,
and that we may hope more light may yet be shed upon the
earliest inhabitants of the globe.

NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SUKVET. 49

CHAPTER X.

Memhers of the Taconlc System — Division into upper cmd
lower — Minerals give Character to the Rock they form in
certain cases — Mica and Talcose Slates — AgalmatoUte —
Quartz and its associates — Fossils^ etc.

§ 60. Having stated the reasons at length, for placing the
slate and its associated rocks in the taconic system, I proceed
to describe the individual members of the series. In the
first place, however, I propose to divide them into lower and
upper series. This division is clearly indicated in the nor-
thern equivalents, but this distinction is less obvious in North-
Carolina. The lower series will contain the talcose slates,
white and brown sandstone, or quartz, which is frequently
vitrified or chertv, and the granular limestone and associated
slates.

The upper will contain the green clay slates novaculite,
the argillaceous, and sometimes chloritic sandstones or grits,
and the breciated conglomerates.

1st. Talcose Slates.— The composition of these slates does not differ materi-
ally from those which belong to the primary series. They are made up of talc and
tine grains of quartz, the talc greatly predominating; this is the rule, but exceptions
occur where quartz predominates, when the rock becomes a friable sandstone. The
color and lustre are silvery when chlorite is absent, bluish green when present.

A peculiarity which may be recorded as confined to this rock, is its wrinkled or
corrugated lamina This variety is always bright and silvery, and is, hence, the far-
thest removed from the common earthy texture which sediments exhibit.

Tlie talcose slates may be regarded as the bottom rocks,
the oldest sediments which we can recognize, and in which,
probably, no organic remains will be found. They preserve
the aspect of the parent rock. This may be easily accounted
for; talc is a foliated mineral, and when it is abraded does
not become firm and granular like a particle of quartz, lime-
stone, or even argillite, and as it does not decompose readily,
it is simply divided or split, and retains its properties. When,
therefore, a rock is reformed from talcose slate, a mass is re-
4

50 NORTn-CAEOLTNA GEOLOGICAI. SIIR\^T.

produced similar to the parent rock wliicli furnished the ma-
terial. So a mica slate reproduces a mica slate, as it merely
splits, and hence preserves all its characters as a mineral, and
transmits them to the rock which it forms.

In each case the only difference which can be detected is
the finer grain of the regenerated rock. It is next to impos-
sible to pulverize or granulate in a mortar mica or talc ; es-
pecially the former. We see, then, why these sediments, de-
rived from the primary talcose slates, must necessarily re-
semble them, though they have been, as it were, pulverized,
and the particles re-united. Illustrations of the flict may be
observed in the schists of the coal series. So perfect are
these imitations in the undisputed sediments, that were the
specimens seen only in a cabinet, they would be referred to
the primary series ; and if they recur in the coal series, it is
by no means strange that they are common to the oldest
known sediments.

In order to distinguish the sedimentary schists from the
primary, we may avail ourselves of the presence of the asso-
ciated rocks in each case. Thus in the sediments the associ-
ated rocks are fine talcose slates, quartz, and conglomerates
somewhere in the series. In the primary, rather coarse tal-
cose slate, with mica slate, horiiblende and gneiss ; without
conglomerates or pebble beds ; it is true, hornblendish trap
may occur among the former, especially where limestone is a
member. Its presence makes the question more difficult to
solve, where pebbly beds are absent.

Many geologists take a different view of these rocks, and
of the phenomiua under consideration. They apply the term
imtamorphic, which means altered 7vcl's. But I believe I
have presented the simplest and plainest view of the subject.
It is unnecessary to encumber the explanation by assump-
tions, when we can give a consistent reason for the phnome-
na in question. •

§ 61. Quarts rod's, white or hrown and gray sandstones. —
The associated rock of the talcose slates is a quartz rock which
occurs under a great variety of colors and conditions.

NORTPI-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SUEYEY. 51

The following varieties have been observed in Kortli-
Carolina :

1. A fine grained coherent quartz — Montgomery and Orange counties.

2. A fine grained friable quartz, which may be crushed in the hand ; when tolera-
bly firm, it is a good fire stone — Lincoln county.

3. A fine grained micaceous and talcose quartz; the texture is tolerably firm, and
as it splits well, it makes a fine fire stone — Graphite Locality, Wake county ; also
Lincoln county.

4. Vitrified quartz, or chert — Montgomery, Lincoln, Orange. Davidson and Ran-
dolph counties.

a. Green blue varielies.

Ii, Agatized.

5. A cherty and apparently porphyrized quartz, which contains felspar, which de-
composes and leaves a rough jjorous mass similar to a burrhstone — Montgomery
county.

6. Pebbly and semi-breciated quartz — Montgomery county.

7. Common brown quartz of various colors — Orange county.

This rock is readily recognized, iirst, by noting its position,
and second, by its mineralogical characters. It is associated
with the primary looking talcose slates. It is repeated two
or three times, the masses being separated from each other
by the talcose slates.

It frequently contains beds of pebbles. But. its most in-
teresting feature appears in its passage into hornstone, chert,
of the English, or Hint of the American miners. The term
flint, however, is applied to many varieties of quartz ; thus,
smoky and milky quartz, as well as the compact cherty vari-
eties, are called flint. The vitrified quartz or chert, cannot
be regarded as always an igneous product, but rather as a
deposit of silica from chemical solution. It is true tlie solu-
tion may have had an elevated temperature at the time the
supposed solution was made ; but, facts do not seem to sus-
tain the opinion that after the silica or sand, it may be one or
the othei', was deposited, it was subjected to a heat sufiicient
to vitrify it. The granular unvitrified quartz, the sandstones
proper, is usually found at the bottom ; w^iile the superior
are more or less vitrified, sometimes losing merely their gran-
ular structure ; in others, the mass has become perfectly vit-
rified.

An intermediate variety, an argillaceous hornstone, has a

52 NORXn-CAROLmA GEOT.OGICAL SURVET.

wide range in North-Carolina. It is known in some parts of
the State as a mountain slate, though its slaty characters are
poorly preserved. It does not necessarily occur upon the
mountains, as its name seems to imply. Its name was sug-
gested by the curious shape of the outcrojjping mass, which
rises up like a military hat, forming a sliarj) arched summit,
and a long narrow base. These are sometimes eight feet
high, and they are frequently so numerous that the fields can-
not be cultivated. It is next to impossible to break theni
down ; they are the toughest of all rocks. Tlie Three Hat
mountain, in*Davidson county, is nearly covered with thern.
But these cherty rocks do not belong to the lower division of
this series exclusively* It is found in all parts of the series.
It is more abundant south, than in the parallel series at the
north. The cherty beds belong both to the lower and upper
taconic rocks, and it is interesting to find tliat they are by no
means local. In Washington county, New York, there is a
continuous bed of black chert more than a hundred feet
thick. It is still more abundant near Troy, Montgomery
county. It is also common on the north shore of Lake Huron.

Burrhstone. — The cherty variety is frequently porphyritic»
The felspar imbedded in the mass decomposes, leaving the
rock in a rough vesicular state. If fine, it resembles the
burrhstone of Paris; and as it is exceedingly tough and hard,
it seems as if it was well adapted for grinding grains, or
might be used for mill-stones. It is very extensive in bed^^
as well as in detached masses, and may be raised cheaply.
Its toughness and hardness combined, indicates that it will
require well tempered tools for working it. Montgomery
county can furnish enough to supply the entire country.

§ 62. Agalmatolite — The White /Slates, or as iisually re-
garded as a Soajpstone — Steatite, etc. — A rock, which occurs
in extensive beds, and known in the localities where it is
found as a soapstone, can by no means be placed properly with
the maguesian minerals. It is truly the figui-e stone of the
Chinese, and is known to mineralogists under the name of
agalmatoliie. This mineral had never been observed in tliis
countrv, or had not been recoo-nized until I made the deter-

NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 53

mination last year. The first beds which I examined are at
Hancock's mills, on Deep river. I have subsequently found
it in fine white beds near Troy, Montgomery county. It is
white, slaty, or compact translucent, and has the common
soapy feel of the soapstones, and resembles it so closely to
the eye and feel, that it would pass in any market for this
rock. It has, however, a finer texture, and is somewhat
harder; but it may be scratched by the nail, so that it ranks
with softest of minerals : it scratches talc, and is not itself
scratched by it ; it is infusible before the blowpipe, and with
nitrate of cobalt gives an intensely blue colored enamel,
proving thereby the presence of alumina in place of magnesia.
§ 63. Agalmatolite and steatite or soapstone, have tlie
tbllowing compositions :

Agalmatolite. Steatite.

Silica, 49.81 42.32

Magnesia, 25.68

Alumina, 29.59

Lime, 6.00 16.96

Prot. oxide of iron, 1.50 9.38

Potash, 6.80

Water, 6.50 Thompson, 1.08 Thompson,

99.10 100.10

The beds of Agalmatolite are frequently snow white, as at
Hancock's mills they are also greenish or yellowish white,
usually with a very close grain and uneven fracture, and dif-
ficult to break, or tough. They are white and greenish white
near Troy. At Hancock's, certain beds are filled with im-
perfect crystals of magnetic iron.

Tlie rock does not split readily with gunpowder; when
quarried in this mode, as at Hancock's, it breaks out in ill-
shapen shattered masses. Hence it should be cut out with a
sharp pick, or an edged instrument of a suitable form. This
mineral no doubt takes the place of steatite in the taconic
system. Although not a soapstone, yet it is adapted and
may be applied to the same uses, and it seems to fulfil all the
purposes of this rock — as a lining for stoves, chimney backs,
mantel pieces, etc. It is not adapted to the business of adul-

54 NORTII-CAKOLmA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

terating paints, as it becomes, when mixed witli oil, translu-
cent and greenish. It is a good substitute for chalk as a cos-
metic, its powder being perfectly white and soft.

Tlie agalmatolite, near Hancock's mills, and sometimes
called Womack's soapsone, is associated with the following
layers, enumerating them from beneath and upwards :

1. Massive green slates. 2. Thin bedded green slates. 3. Sandy slates or quartz
4. Thin bedded green slate. 5. Quartzite. 6. Ferruginous porphyry, or iron
breccia. 7. Agalmatolite beds. 8. The same, with dissemated magnetic iron.
9. Agalmatolite in white massive beds, between five and six hundred feet thick.

The section embraces a series extending about half a mile.
It appears that the agalmatolite belongs to the series very
near the base of the system, coming in very near the quartz.
It occurs in this position in Montgomery county.

This rock, on being heated to redness preserves its hard-
ness, whitens, and scarcely exfoliates when its cleavage planes
are exposed directly to the tire. So far as my experiments
go, it is as refractory in the fire as soapstone. When its
edges are placed to the fire, it is a perfect fire-stone. Its
proportions indicate that it may be a valuable material for
porcelain, composed as it is of silex and alumina, and pro-
vided it is free from iron and manganese.

§ 64. Limestone. — The discovery of limestone in North-
Carolina has been one of the great desideratums of the sur-
vey. Its apparent absence from this series could not be ac-
counted for very satisfactorily, because it is elsewhere present
with very few excerptions. It will, however, turn out, I now
believe, to be present in its true position, though tar less
prominent than it usually is. For example, I have discov-
ered traces of it on a line extending from near the west bor-
der of Montgomery county, towards Ashborough, in Ran-
dolph county. The belt which I suppose may exist has come
to light very recently.* As this rock occupies the lowest

* The limestone which was said to occur near Asheborough, is a soapstone; but
this belt is upon the range in which it should occur.

NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 65

valleys, and as tlie debris of the rocks remain in place, tlie
difficulty of finding it will be understood.

Tlie limestone of King's mountain is dark and slaty at the
jjlace which came under my own observation. In Lincoln
county and Catawba it is white, fine and even grained, and
fit, provided large blocks can be obtained, for statuary. The
King's mountain and Lincoln belt belong to the same series ;
but whether the Germanton limestone at Bolejack's .belongs
to it, I have not yet been able to determine. It is on or very
nearly upon the same range, but I believe, from the informa-
tion I have, that it is a laminated limestone, associated with
gneiss and mica slate, and hence belongs to another series.

The position of the limestone is Variable. It sometimes
rests upon one of the beds of quartz, though a bed of slate
frequently lies between them. Slate resembling that associ-
ated with quartz is never absent. Talc and tremolite are
usually present ; the former always.

• The foregoing rocks make up the lower series of the tacon-
ic system, embracing, 1. Beds of talcose slates ; 2. Quartz
rocks with their alternating series of talcose slates; 3. Beds
of agalraatolite ; 4. Limestone with its interlaminated slates.

It will be seen that slates are associated with all these rocks ;
they predominate, and hence the other masses might be re-
garded as subordinate beds.

In the slates associated with the limestone we find the talc
replaced by argillite, and they begin to be purplish and some-
times firm, and sufficiently fissile to form good roofing slate.

§ 65. Distrihution of the lower masses. — As the rocks are
now arranged in the State, it is necessary to regard them as
distributed in four belts. Beginning on the east, in Johnston
county, I fini a belt of quartz and slates traversing a zone
from JS". 25°-30° E. to S. 25°-30° W. The quartz which is
the most prominent member of the series here, crosses the
road four miles west of Smithfield. This zone extends to
Weldon and Gaston.

The dip is south east. The belt is very much concealed
by the sands of this region, and very limited portions only

56 NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

appear. It seems to take tlie south east dip, in consequence
of its relation to the granite which borders it on tlie west.

The second, is a belt which traverses Wake county. The
quartz is a beautiful white or brown friable sandstone. It dips
north west. It lies immediately above the beds of graphite.
The third, traverses Montgomery, Randolph, Orange and
Granville counties. Pilot and Brogden mountains, Randolph
county,- the range of hills west and north west of Hillsbo-
rough, lie in this range. The fourth belt passes from near
King's mountain, in Gaston county, running on the line of
Cleaveland county, passes on to Lincoln county, crosses the
road about five or six miles east of Lincolnton, in the direc-
tion of Sherrill's ford. It appears, that beyond the Cataw^ba,
in the direction indicated, the series is concealed.

These four belts are founded upon the presence of the
quartz rock, which will be found upon the ranges indicated.
It is not always a prominent rock, and it is easy to overlook
it even at many places where it comes to the surface. These
belts resemble each other in the arrangement of all the indi-
vidual rocks; they are- placed relatively alike. In the first
and fourth belt, there is much less hornstone or flint than in
the second and third, A question may arise respecting the
cause which has disconnected and separated the four parallel
belts belonging to one series and one epoch. It is evident
that there was in operation a uniformity with respect to the
agents connected with their formation, and probably also, as
it regards tlie source from whence the materials were derived.

We obtain some light upon these questions, by finding how
the ranges of the system lie. It appears that the basis rock
of the whole country is granite, which has been described ;
and an inspection of the topography ot the country favors
the view, that all these belts lie in troughs. There is, how-
ever, nothing which is inconsistent with the idea, that these
belts were once connected and continuous ; and that their
separation has taken place in consequence of changes of level
effected through a subterranean agency. The eastern belt is
thrown off so as to dip to the south east ; while the others
dip to the north west. Between the first and second there is

NOKTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 57

a belt of granite ; on the east side of it tlie dip is in one di-
rection, and on the west it is in a directly opposite one. A
belt of granite separates also the third and fourth belts of
the taconic system ; both belts, however, dip steadily to the
north'west.

§ 66. Origin of the materials composing this helt. — An at-
tentive examination of the mineral characters of the indi-
vidual rocks, proves that the materials were mostly derived
from the granite already described.

Particles of felspar are distinguished readily, where the
rocks are coarse. In certain beds of close grained hornstone,
it is evident the rock is not simple, as decomposition shows
the presence of felspar, although, in a fresh fracture, the rock
is homogeneous.

Both the quartz and felspar of the granite are distinguisha-
ble in the breciated conglomerates. Another fact sustains
this view, viz.. That the materials were derived from the
granite and adjacent rocks ; it is the presence of gold in beds,
which of course must have been commingled with the sedi-
ments at the time these rocks were deposited. The gold ex-
ists mostly in the western belt of granite in the veins belong-
ing to the hornblende and gneiss of the Blue Ridge. The
distribution of the gold is, however, unequal. We do not
discover it in the eastern belt, and it appears that this metal
has not yet been discovered in the Wake county belt of
granite, or its associated rocks, gneiss and hornblende. In
the Lincoln and Davidson counties, the belt of the taconic
system, gold is common in the beds of its slates ; showing
that the materials were derived, most probably, from the pri-
mary rocks of the neighborhood.

§ 67. In the foregoing pages, I have scarcely referred to the
taconic system beyond the Blue Ridge ; and now I speak of
it, for the purpose of saying, in general terms, that the series
traverse the western borders of the slate ; and is in part rep-
resented at the Warm Springs, in Buncombe county, where
the massive quartz rock presents a most imposing appear-
ance. The series is composed of the same rocks as upon the

58 NOETII-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

eastern side of the Blue Ridge, but on the west, it is developed
upon a much lai'ger scale.

These rocks will furnish matter for a future communica-
tion. It will appear, therefore, that the taconic system in
North-Carolina really forms five distinct bands or belts; the
most important, geologically, is the western one ; though, in
an economical point of view, those of the midland counties
are the most important.

§ 68. It is important to describe, with greater exactitude,
the boundaries of the belts of this system of sediments.
Their concealment by soil and sands and border rocks, ren-
ders this a difficult if not an impossible task. Thus the east-
ern belt, an outcrop of which appears four miles west of
Smithfi eld. is never elevated into high ridges or hills; it is
generally concealed. Its slates crop out in small and distant
patches. Thus, low ridges of the slates appear near the
Hoanoke at Gaston ; also at Halifax. In crossing the coun-
try from Weldon through Enfield to Beliord, they frequently
apji^ear. This rout crosses the belt obliquely. We know that
Belford is the western limit. On the east the series is ex-
posed in part at Boon Hill, and occasionally appears on the
route to Waynesborough from Smithfield. Enough is exhib-
ited to prove the existence of this series in this part of the
State. The Wake county belt is exposed over larger areas
than the first. It skirts the sandstone of the coal series from
Richmond to Granville county. It lies between the granite
on the east, and the sandstone on the west ; the latter is evi-
dently in a trough of the slates, and both sandstones and
slates in a trough of the granite. On the west it dips be-
neath the sandstone referred to, and emerges from beneath
•it on an irregular line, running north east and south west.
Tlie quartz and lower slates of this belt pass three miles west
of Raleigh. The eastern edge will be found within three
hundred feet of the grapliite deposits. A wide belt of this
series is concealed beneath the sandstone. The. upper mem-
bers emerge from beneath, towards Pittsborough.

The lower members of the third belt may be traced across
the State. Beginning in Montgomery' county, near Ti'oy,

NOETII-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 59

the quartz and accompanying slates pass in the neighborhood
of Frankhnsville, Hillsborough, Eed mountain, and across the
north west corner of Granville county; near and on the east
of Gillis' copper mine, where the slate conglomerates, it is
one hundred and fifty feet thick. South westward from Troy
the formation is again concealed by sandstone and sands.
The dip is north west, and the upper members of the system
make a strong show at the ISTarrows of the Yadkin and five
miles above at Milledgeville. The upper members are re-
peated near Gold Hill. Granite becomes the prevailing rock
in this direction. The Gold Hill breccias which crop out east
of the Troutman mine or vein, well known in the vicinity,
passes onward to Brinckel's Ferry. Tliese singular breccias
pursue the route to the Three Hat mountain in Davidson
county, where the high range of these coarse rocks disappear.
The third belt is wider than the second ; its area is, however,
made up of both the second and third belts.

The fourth belt passing trom the vicinity of King's mountain
through parts of Gaston and Lincoln counties, has been al-
ready traced out. It passes along the iron ore bands, which
accompany the belt just to the east of it. This belt occupies
less breadth than either of the preceding. It seems to be a
spur of rocks which come from a much wider belt in South-
Carolina, and the inferences derived from the most important
facts indicate its discontinuance near the Catawba, in the vi-
cinity of Sherrill's ford.

The geographical distribution, as given in the foregoing
pages, applies only to the great body of these rocks. We
often meet stripes of the slates perfectly separated from the
main body of the belts described in the granite. Thus two
miles east of Salisbury there is a belt of slate, about a mile-
and-a-half wide, crossing the road leading to Gold Hill ; so,
near Roxborough, in Person county, there are two narrow
belts lying in the granite, one on the east, and another on
the west side of the town.

60 NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

\

CHAPTER XL

Fossils of the lower TaconiG Series.

§ 69. A few years only have passed since geologists have
turned their attention to the bottom rocks, with the view of
determining the beds of rocks or the horizon where organic
remains first appeared ; or, if we follow the rocks from the
npper to the lower beds, where they disaj^pear. It has been
supposed that these fossils would possess more interest than
those of subsequent periods, on the ground alone that they
were the first creations ; and hence, bear more directly on
'the solution of questions relative to progress, which may be
observed running through the entire series of fossils of the
sediments from the oldest to the newest. Having before
them the extremes as well as the middle term, the compari-
son would be more exact and satisfactory. All this is no
doubt true, and it is believed that the first created beings
will possess not only an interest for the geologist, but for all
who feel any interest in subjects of this kind.

§ TO. It is now a settled point, that the palaeozoic base, or
the horizon where fossils first appear, is not in the silurian
system. But, as I have already remarked, the progress of
determination of systems has been in the descending order ;
so, it would seem the discoveries of fossils have been in the
same direction ; that is, new discoveries are being made in
the oldest rocks where fossils were not previously suspected.
Discoveries of this kind must of course terminate with the
sediments ; and as there can remain scarcely a doubt of our
having reached the sedimentary base, so we must find in
these lower masses the palneozoic base also.

The discoveries which I have made during the last year are
in accordance with the foregoing observations. I had sup-
posed that the palaeozoic base was in the upper taconic rocks :
but I found in the sandstone and cherty beds at Troy, Mont-
gomery county, two or three species of fossils, which were

NOKTH- CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 61

not only unknown as organic remains, but were in rocks not
before suspected of containing fossils at all. These fossils be-
long to the class of zoopliites, the lowest organization in the
animal kingdom.

In Massachusetts, the lower taconic rocks have been exam-
ined with considerable care, but no discoveries of this kind
have as yet been made. Such a result may appear to con-
flict with what has been laid down respecting the character-
istics of systems ; or that there has been an error committed
in the determination of the rock in which these fossils occur.
That I may throw all the hght possible upon this question, I
shall give the following descriptive section of the rocks and
beds in which I found them. The enumeration is in the as-
cending order :

1. Talcose slates, passing; into silicious slates, and which are often obscurely brcc-
ciated. Thickness uudeteniiined.

2 Brecciated conglomerales, three hundred to four hundred feet thick, and some-
times porphyrized.

3. Slaty breccia, associated with hornstone.

4. Granular quartz, sometimes vitreous, and tilled with fossils and silicious concre-
tions of the size of almonds; two to three hundred feet thick.

5. Slaty quartzite, with a very few fossils, about fifty feet thick.
G. Slate without fossils; forty feet thick.

7. White quartz, more or less vitrified, filled with fossils and concretions ; seven
to eight hundred feet thick.

8. Jointed granular quartz, with only a few fossils.

9. Vitrified quartz, without fossils; thirty feet thick.

10. Granular quartz, no fossils, and thickness very great,, but not determined.

It will be observed that the fossils extend through about one
thousand feet of rock, some beds of which consist almost en-
tirely of them, and intermixed with silicious concretions which
are almond shaped, and which frequently contain the fossil.
I suspect that the silicious concretion may have been formed
in consequence of some organic body, as it is obscurely struc-
tural, but I have attributed it to crystallization, or to a mo-
lecular force.

Tlie fossils are corals of a lenticular form, varying in size
from a small pea to two inches in diameter.

62

jSTORTII-CAEOLINA geological 8UKNEY.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5.

Figures 3 and 4 and 5 liave the form of the smallest. Its
generic character is contained in the following:

Form lenticular and circular, and similar to a flattish dou-
ble cone applied base to base ; surfaces grooved and grooves
somewhat irregular, but extending from near apex to the cir-
cumference or edge ; apex of the inferior side, excavated or
provided with a small roundish cavity, with a smooth inside,
or sometimes marked by light ridges, which may be acci-
dental ; opposite side supplied with a small rounded knob,
from the base of which the radiating grooves begin.

The name which I propose for this new genus is Palceotro-
chis I old messenger. The specific name, minor, will be appro-
priate, as this is one of the constant lesser forms of the fossil.
The name in full, therefore, stands Palcwtrochis minor. Fi-
gures 3, 4, 5, exhibit it in a different position and condition.

Figures 5 and 6, This large A'ari«3ty, or as I believe spe-
cies, differs from the foregoing in the absence of the roundish
apical depression of the lower side, and the knob of the op-
posite side ; both species appear to terminate in obtuse points.
At first, I supposed these forms may have been the results of
age, but as they are constant, or apppear to be, I am now in-
inclined to believe it specific, I propose the name Palcxotro-
cliis major.

A

/

'.Uy/

Fig. 7.

NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SUR'S'^EY. 63

Continued search for
other kinds of fossils have
rcsuhed thus far only in
\ " J>.v} obtaining one or two spe-
cimens of an obscure Bry-
ozoon, and a fragment of
something obscurely or-
ganized ; but so much so
that its determination is
/,/' out of the question. The

latter may have been a
fucoid, as it appears more
like a vegetable than an
,,.-^.^,,-^^J^^^5M!ife^?r#^ animal structure.

For the reasons which
have been already assign-
ed^ these fossils 23ossess an
unusual interest; an in-
terest which arises from
their age. . If ni}- deter-
mination can be relied
upon, they are the oldest
representatives of the ani-
mal kingdom upon the globe, the first of those low grades of
life which were created.

This fossil is a silicious coralline, and not silicious from pet-
rifaction. It seems never to have had a calcareous skeleton
like most corallines ; but, during its existence, to have been
entirely composed of the former substance. The animal was
gemmiferous — the germs being sometimes cast off", in which
case new and independent individuals were produced ; on
others, the germs adhei-ed to the parent. These start from
the circular edge at the base of the cOnes ; their growth pro-
duced a change of form which is illustrated in figures 3 and 5.
These fossils also occur in the variety of quartz or quartzite
which I have described as a hurrlistone^ and which is often
porphyrized.

64: NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAI. SURVEY.

One of the most interesting facts connected with one of the
localities of this fossil is, the rock itself is auriferous. Gold
has been obtained in large amounts from the fossiliferous
beds themselves. Over one hundred thousand dollars having
been obtained by washing the debris of this rock. This sub-
ject will come up again.

The palsBotrochis is found at Troy, Montgomery county ;
at Zion, about twelve miJes south west from Troy, where the
fossils occur in the greatest profusion. It has also been no-
ticed on the road from Troy to Birney's bridge.

It is evident from the foregoing, that the beds which con-
tain the fossils are repeated, that uplifts or fractures of the
strata occur, by which the fossilferous strata are thus widely
separated.

The geological posifton of this most ancient fossil is deter-
mined from the relative position of the quartzite to the infe-
rior talcose slates. Some of the interlaminated slates are
known under the name of soapstone ; it is the agalmatolite
already described. The beds of fossils are also beneath the
common clay slate of the country, which is equivalent to the
clay slate beneath the limestone of Rensselaer county, New
York. It is therefore brought into close relationship with the
quartz rock of Saddle mountain, Berkshire county, Massachu
setts.

If the foregoing determination is sustained by future ob-
servations, the palseotrochis is nearer the base of the sedi-
ments than any one which has as yet been discovered in this
country. The equivalent quartz rock of Berkshire county,
Massachusetts, alternates with three beds of talcose slates.
The same rocks exist in Buncombe county, at the Warm
Springs. Along the whole range of these deposits from north
to south the primary rocks are just beneath. Hence the
quartz is the oldest sediment except the slates with which it
alternates, and which continue below, and form the lowest of
the bottom rocks.

N0RT9-CAK0LmA GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY. 65

CHAPTER XII.

Upper division of the Taconic system and its series of rocks^
Clay Slates. Chloi'itic Sandstonesy Ckeri/y heds, Flag stones
and Brecdated conglomerates.

§ 71. The division of the system is not very clearly mark-
ed even when the entire series is weU developed. In North
Carolina the hne of demarkation is sometimes difficult to de-
fine. But the rocks which I regard at the present time, are :

1. Aroillaceous, or clay slates, with many subordinate beds, roofing slates, moun-
tain slate.

2. Chlorite and argillaceous sandstones, flagging stones, etc.

3. Brecciated conglomerates.

The foregoing rocks are enumerated in the ascending order :

Argillaceous or clay slate and its subordinate beds. — -The
ordinary soft, greenish slates, may be regarded as the prevail-
ing mass of this division. The predominant color is greenish
gray. There are varieties in which shades of yellow, blue
and black occur ; but the dark or carbonaceous varieties are
uncommon. From this circumstance, it appears that these
slates do not contain organic matter, and therefore fossils will
rarely be found in them.

The red varieties are common near Pittsborough, but their
color being rather of a peach blossom shade, seems to have
been developed by decomposition, and is undoubtedly due to
the presence of manganese and iron ; the brick red kind
which is common in New York and Vermont, and which
owes its color to titanium, I believe is unknown in ISTorth-
Carolina. The common clay slate has a wide distribution in
the State. Most of Stanley, Union, east part of Mecklenburg,
parts of Chatham, Eandolph, Orange and Person counties
are covered with clay slate.

The subordinate beds are fine silicious ones passing into
chert or hornstone. The fine sihcious beds make very fre-
5

66 NOETH-CAKOLESrA GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY.

qiiently good lione stones, wliicli are known under tlie name
of novaculite. These hone stones or grits are frequently su-
perior for carpenter's tools to the Turkey oil-stone. The best
are very fine grained, oil green and translucent on their
edges,

Beds of chert, or hornstone, are the frequent associates of
the novaculite or hornstones. The colors are blue, purple
and green, with many shades of each.

The origin of the hornstone in the midst of slate is not sat-
isfactorily accounted for. Sometimes an isolated rounded
hill is chert or hornstone, but connected with the slate on all
sides, as at Mrs. Kirk's ferry on the Yadkin ; but continuous
beds lie also in the same connection as if they had been de-
posited from water.

The theory that these beds are metamorphic, does not seem
to be at all well sustained ; that is, if it is supposed these
beds were deposited in a condition similar to that of the com-
mon clay slates, and have been changed by heat, and have
undergone vitrification or a baking process, the supposition
may well be doubted. There are no phenomena which indi-
cate the action of this agent on the adjacent beds.

Silicious beds, consisting of fine grains of sand are not
common ; in fine, the varieties of slate are too numerous to
require a notice in this place.

§ 72. The slate in the ascending order is more and more
interlaminated with thick beds which have an intermediate
composition between a sandstone and slate. They belong to
the middle part of the upper series. They resemble beds
which occupy the same position in New York, but never be-
come so distinctly sandstones, and are rarely so coarse and
gray. They are finer and more chloritic, and among them
are beds of conglomerate. These beds may be mistaken for
trap, being greenish and tough, and besides, like trap, the
broken strata become concretionary, and exfoliate in concen-
tric layers. These beds frequently disintegrate, and form by
its debris a deep red tenacious soil, suitable for wheat.

Where fine sand or silex is present, and the mass becomes
a semi-hornstone, it forms those masses which are known in

NOETH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

m

the country as mou?itain slate, so common in parts of David-
son, Randolph and Montgomery counties.

JSrecciated Conglomerate. — This is the most remarkable mass
of this division of thq system. It has an argillaceous or chlo-
ritic base. The mass is composed in the main of fragments
of other rocks mostly retaining an angular form, but fre-
quently rounded and worn rocks are enclosed in the mass.
The fragments are sometimes eighteen inches and even two
feet long ; I may cite instances of this kind at Milledgeville,
on the east side of the Yadkin.

Fig. 8.

Fig. 8 shows the character of one variety of this rock, which
is composed mostly of angular fragments of quartz. This
rock is associated in some places with mountam slate, an in-
stance of which occurs about two-and-a-half miles northwest-
ward from Mrs. Kirk's ferry.

§ Y3. The series b}^ which this mass is reached, is through
the thin bedded clay slate, which passes into thicker beds with
conglomerates, imperfect chloritic sandstones, and which pass
upwards into the superior rock. This rock is frequently por-
phyrized ; or is traversed by porphyry more frequently, I be-
lieve, than the inferior beds. The quartz of this r(||^ is rare-
ly granular, and it still more rarely occurs under the form of
a friable sandstone, though varieties not unfrequently occur,
which possess the grauwacke character of the parallel beda
in Renselaer county, ISTew York.

The brecciated rock may be examined at flat swamp moun-
tain, and at Brinkley's ferry ; it extends to Gold Hill, or

68 NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

passes east of this place from one-and-a-lialf to two miles.
At Milledgeville, one mile soiitli of Stokes' feny, the rock
contains the large fragments of chert already referred to ; so
also the same rock u crossed twice in, traveling from Mrs.
Kirk's ferry to Gold Hill. The hrst time it is crossed, is two^
and-a-half miles from Mrs. Kirk's. The rock at the ferry is
the common clay slate, which passes by gradation into the
thicker bedded slate or llaggs ; then into chlorite sandstone*
and linally into the brecciated mass, two-and-a half miles
northwestward, where the rocks are vertical, having previ-
ously dipped to the northwest. The clay slates reappear to
the northwest again on the road to Gold Hill, and finally the
breccia is repeated, or reappears about two miles east of the
latter place ; from this point it continues to Brinckley's ferry,
and forms the flat swamp mountain ; from whence we pass
northeastward to the Three Hat mountain, beyond which the
rock disappears or sinks down, and is lost beneath the soil.

§ 74. Quartz Veins. — The clay slates and breccia, with
their intermediate beds, are traversed by veins ^ of milky
quartz. They are sometimes auriferous, and in some districts
eminently so. They coincide in dip and direction very nearly
with the beds of the rock in which they occur. In certain
districts the veins are rarely auriferous ; or if they contain
gold at all, it is only in small quantities. Thus, the numer-
ous veins between Troy and Montgomery county and Gold
Hill are very poor in gold, and 1 believe are barren in the
neighborhood of the narrows and falls of the Yadkin. The
district of Gold Hill is, however, rich in gold.

The most barren veins of milky quartz, are those which
form the low rounded hills, which are very numerous in
parts of Chatham and Randolph counties. They seem to be
formed Iman immense mass of milky quartz which lies main-
ly upon or near the surface, and only ramifies into the slate
in narrow strings, which are soon lost or run out. The sur-
l^es of these rounded eminences is a mass of angular frag-
rarents of milky quartz, mtermixed with a small amount oi
soil, sufficient only to sustain a scanty growth of blackjack.
As the ores seem to be gathered into districts in which veins

NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 69

are numerous, so it appears that a district may be barren and
improductive in the ores and metals, though, to the eye the
proper repositories may be very nnmerous.

CHAPTER Xni.

On the Quartzite of NoTih-Carolina — Varieties, Geological
Relations^ etc.

§ 75. The quartzite is so pecuhar that it merits a distinct
notice in this report. Its name imphes that it is closely re-
lated to common quartz, which is known to all who trouble
themselves about the names of minerals. It is an uncrys-
talized kind of quartz, resembling as closely as possible com-
mon gun flint. Hence its common name, flinty which it
bears in all the districts of the State where it is found. It is
also called hornstone, and the English miners call much the
same substance chert; and hence the adjective cherty, which
is frequently used in the description of rocks.

Quartzite, however, is a name which includes the many
varieties of silicious substances which have a close or com-
pact structure, and is always amorphous or uncrystallized,
and more or less translucent. It is designed to embrace,
however, the darker varieties of the substance, which have
rather a coarse texture when compared with chalcedony,
opal or cacholong. The deep red and very fine and compact
silicious minerals are generally called jaspers. It is the stone
employed by the Indians for arrow heads. Quartzite may be
regarded as a rock, inasmuch as it is very extensive in the
south, and is by no means absent from the formations of the
same age in the north. Its characteristics may be included
in the following description : — Color, blueish black passing in.

70 NOETH-CAKOLIilA GEOLOGICAL STTKYET.

to purple, grayish, white and green of several shades, and
sometimes banded; textnre, fine when compared with the
finest sandstones ; translucent on the edges ; fracture, flat-
conchoidal and frequently brittle, or it may be tough in the
mass, but small pieces easily chip ofi" witli a light blow. It
passes on the one hand into a fine grit, and on the other, into
the compact slate and a condition like flint. The tough va-
rieties are usually coarse, and not homogeneous. When
struck with a hammer, it is sonorous like cast iron. It is rare-
ly if ever a simple substance like limpid quartz, as it usually
weathers and loses thereby its homogeniety; besides, it is of-
ten porphyritic or porphyrized, and frequently the fresh frac-
ture is dotted with small limpid crystals of quartz, which
crystallized out from the mass when it was in a semi-fluid
state. The development of other crystals or crystalline
grains receive a ready solution, on the ground of the chemi-
cal solution of the silica.

An interesting instance of an analogous kind was observed
by E. Emmons, Jr., in the development of small crystals of
quartz in choysocolla, or the silicate of copper of the Gard-
ner mine.

Crystallizations of this kind is imitated in the porcelain
paste, when the fine material is allowed to stand in the vats.
K the mass is left at rest for a few days, or perhaps for a few
hours only, spicula or crystals begin to form in little clus-
ters, and the material is spoiled. Talc appears sometimes
sprinkled over its surface ; among the most common foreign
minerals disseminated through it, sulphnret of iron is rarely
absent.

In weathering, the surface is usually of a drab color ; and
the rock will not be suspected to be a quartzite until it is
broken.

As a rock, it never forms ledges of jointed masses like
sandstones or limestones, but its outcrop takes the form of a
military hat, the outcropping mass being sharp edged, round-
ed, separate and hatchet shaped. These hatchet shaped
masses sometimes occur in clusters and groups, and stand
thickly over the ground.

NORTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY. 71

As a rock, the strike of the singular outcropping masses is
N. 10° E.; while the rock is N. from 20° to 40° E. Showing,
that in weathering, they stand obliquely to the general direc-
tion of the rock. Their dip is northwest, with an angle of
80° to 85°, This rock, though hard and apparently 'composed
of materials which can resist atmospheric infhiences, yet,
some varieties disintegrate and form a light drab colored
compact soil. It is too silicious to be fertile and easily culti-
vated. In the counties of Chatliam, Randolph and David-
son, the quartzite usually alternates with the greenish slates ;
the latter decompose, and form a red productive soil. Hence,
the rock beneath may be usually known by the color of the
soil,

§ 76. The ridges of these counties are frequently quart-
zite and valleys slate ; a fact which indicates that the val-
leys have been deepened, in the course of time, by the more
rapid disintegration of the soft clay slates,

Quartzite passes into a coarse porphyry and a silicious
jointed slate, which is often used for hones.

The most perfect example of quartzite occurs on the plank-
road leading from Asheborough to Fayetteville, where it
passes along this rock for about twenty miles,

§ 77. The varieties of quartzite are numerous, if color and
texture are made grounds of distinction :

1. Light gray and compact, or very finely granular.

2. Smoke gray, with grains of hyaline quartz disseminated in the mass.

3. Texture fine granular, with a drab color.

4. Porphyrized quartzite.

5. Light green quartzite.

6. Greenish, and full of cavities, and frequently epidotic.

7. Banded quartzite, or coarsely agatized.

§ 78. These forms of quartzite are not confined to rocks of a
particular age, or to a given series. They seem to be distrib-
uted through formations of all ages and epochs. Thus, they
are common to both divisions of the Taconic system ; occur in
the Silurian, Devonian and Carboniferous, and as late too as
the Eocene ; that is, if those clierty beds may be brought un-
der the denominations I have adopted for this mineral or

72 NOKTH-CAKOLrNTA GEOLOGICAL SUR\T:T.

rock of Korth-Carolina. Indeed, in cabinet specimens, it is
impossible to distinguish tlie qnartzites of these formations
from eacli other, unless fossils happen to be present.

§ 79. The qnartzites do not aj^pear to occur in any regular
order, or to form a succession of beds. The beds, too, are
distributed with little regularity in the rock ; for sometimes
rounded hillocks of hornstone occur in the slates. In other
instances beds occur which are parallel with the beds of clay
slate.

§ 80. Origin of Quartzites. — ^The rock or mineral, when
associated with the older sediments, has been, and is regarded
as a metamoriDliic mass ; or one which was originally in some
other state, as that of a clay slate. If however, we combine
all the facts respecting the formations in which this substance
is found, we shall probably reject the metamorphic theory of
its origin. As it occurs in the different limestones of the Si-
lurian system, it seems far more rational to infer, that the sili-
ca of which quartzite is formed was held in chemical solution,
and the material is a chemical product. We cannot know of
course, all the facts which were connected with its formation,
and perhaj)s cannot now conceive how so much silica could
have been held in that state of combination. But though we
are unable to comprehend every thing relating to it, yet the
chemical view seems more rational, after all, than the meta-
morphic. There is no evidence that heat was related to it as a
cause of change subsequent to its deposition and consolidation.
Frequently perfect fossils are made up of the material. Some
of the most delicate oi'ganic structures are preserved in flint or
quartzite. IsTo one suspects the flint of the chalk formation
to have been the result of vitrification by heat. Animal
matter, however, has an attraction for silica. In conclusion,
then, though it is difhcult to comprehend the mode in which
the quartzites were formed, yet I think that we may adopt
the chemical theory in preference to the metamorphic, even
in those cases where the rock is porphyritic. There is only
one variety which occasions much doubt ; it is the epidotic
variety, which seems, by far, more likely to have been subject-
ed to heat, than either of the others.

NORTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAI. SURVEY.

73

CHAPTER XIY.

Origin of Vein Fissures, Di/kes, etc. — General considerations
relating to them — Kinds of Vein Stone or Gangue — Their
relations to heat, etc. — Metallic Veins — SidpMoi'ets — Oxides.

Fig. 9.

^ § 81. Veins and d3''kes re-

^^ quire to be treated of under

two heads, or the subject re-

i cjuires to be separated so as

f to keep in distinct parts that

^ wliich relates to the formation

;;? of the fissure, and that which

t2 relates to the mode in which

.4 they are filled. The matters

,i are entirely separate ; that

% force wliich forms the fissure

I is difterent in kind from that

which subsequently fills it.

Vein Fissures. — Fissures,
though due to the same gen-
eral causes, nevertheless dif-
fer in various respects. There
are fissures which appear to
be deep, or penetrating to un-
known depths ; others are sim- ,
ply cracks, which we know
terminate in the rock, and
are distinctly defined.

Fissures are due to those
causes, both of which may be
said to be general. The first
is due to the coohng of the
earth's crust ; and the second,
to desiccation, and the third,
to the mechanical force of
pressure. The first operates

74r NOKTII-CAROLmA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

externally ; the second and third internally ; but all are
due to one cause, the high temperature of its crust and
internal parts. This view of the matter, supposes a former
incandescent state, and the earth placed in a cooler me-
dium ; and hence has lost its heat by radiating into space.
The eifect of cooling in all bodies is to contract them ; and
hence the process subjects the surface to a tension, which,
in time, overcomes the cohesion of the strata, and the conti-
nuity of parts is severed, and a fissure is produced. The
depth of a fissure must be variable, and the character of the
strata must influence the result.

Desiccation must also produce a kind of fissure. The deep
seated sediments must be exposed to the action of the re-
sidual heat ; the result must be the same as when mud is ex-
posed to the dr3nng influence of the sun. Fissures thus pro-
duced, are frequently filled with granite.

The proof of a heated state of the interior rests on well de-
termined experiments and observations. The temperature
increases one degree for every fifty-six or fifty-eight feet des-
cent, from about ninety-five feet below the surface- So in-
candescent matter issues from volcanic mountains. But I
need not dwell on facts of this kind, as they are incorporated
into the common stock of knowledge.

The origin of fissures are due, therefore, to general causes;
but it should be noted, that the activity of these causes must
have been far greater in ancient, than in modern times. The
force must diminish, in the direct proportion to cooling of the
earth's crust. The present state, or that which is accessible
to observation, must be to all visible efi'ects stationary ; or
have reached that point of temjjerature which no longer cre-
ates a tension. Fissures, then, are not produced in our day,
except in the immediate vicinity of active volcanoes.

From the foregoing, it follows, that fissures must be more
common in the ancient rocks. Observation proves the truth
of the inference. Ilence, the primary rocks stand first in
the order of vein bearing rocks, the oldest sediments stand
next — and in fine, when the whole series of sediments are ex-

NORTH- CAROLINA GEOLOCtICAL SUEYEY. Y5

amined, it will be found that the palaeozoic are much more
frequently traversed by vein fissures than the mesozoic. This
statement, however, is not fully borne ont when dylie fissures
are examined. But it is also true, that for causes not well
understood, that fissures are the products of periods or epochs
more or less well defined ; one of which I will cite in this
place, viz., the new red sandstone period, which seems to
have been one, during which they were formed, the world
over. But these fissures are filled with ston}^ matter ; metal-
lic veins of this epoch are extremely rare, and when they oc-
cur, are usually ill defined.

§ 82, I am now prepared to speak of the modes by which
fissures may be filled, and by which they become veins or
dykes. The first inquiry which requires attention is, what
are the forces which effect this result ; for there are certain
forces in existence which must be regarded either as remote
or proximate causes in the filling of the fissures, and of the
formation of veins. To the former belong, as I believe, the
high temperature of the inferior part of the earth's crust.
This high temperature sets in motion or brings into activity
the properties of matter in' such a way as to produce the re-
sults indicated.

Liquefaction and vaporiiiation are two constants which flow
from this high temperature. Matter is brought into a state
by which it can enter and fill the fissures already made.

High temperature of the inferior part of the crust, sets in
motion also electrical currents. This occurs from the well
known influence temperature has when bodies are unequally
heated, the equilibrium of the electro-magnetic force being
disturbed. Currents thus set in motion, or if set in motion
by any other cause, possess the faculty of carrying soluble
matter from certain points, and depositing it at others, in
obedience to an inherent law.

§ 83. But again, fissures may be formed under circumstances
which makes them closed or sealed cavities. These cavities,
which are usually in the form of fissures, cannot exist long in
a state of vacuity. If at great depths, liquids holding in so-
lution soluble matter, must penetrate and fill them. This,

76 NOETn-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

then, is another force which should not be forgotten, Pres-
sure, simply, does not indicate to us all that belongs to it ; it
requires the cooperation of the properties of matter, to se-
cure the ultimate result.

To the foregoing must be added the pressure of elastic va-
pours or gasses generated at great depths in and beneath the
earth's crust upon the molten matter with which it is in con-
tact, or upon which it operates. Their existence is proved
by their escape from craters and fissures in volcanic districts.

§ 84. I may, with propriety, observe that the foregoing
forces are connected with the earliest arrangements in the
structure and formation of the earth's crust. They are an-
cient arrangements by which the metals are made accessible
to us ; and they are, it would seem, the necessary result of
the constitution of the globe. They are by no means to be
regarded as accidents arising from conditions which might
have been otherwise. They are also general results, and are
not confined to diminutive parts of the earth's crust ; and so
simple is the macliinery by which the grand results are pro-
duced, that it would have required special instrumentalities
to have prevented them.

The formation of veins, therefore, are the results of the
operation of law, and hence certain constants may be looked
for or expected; and ., upon which the practical miner may
rely.

We have no occasion to go farther back in the series of
causes, as that, for example, which caused the high tempera-
ture of the interior of the earth ; it is sufficient for us to
know the fact, and its adaptation to the production of results ;
the fact itself being attested in the phenomena of volcanoes,
and sustained by observations in all parts of the earth.

§ 85. The veins which appear under the simplest aspect,
and which possess a great degree of homogeneity, are usu-
ally called dykes. They are fissures filled with homogeneous
stony matter ; or, if heterogeneous, it is the result of crystali-
zation of parts of the mass ; as the development of crystals
in' a paste of stony nuitter. The rock itself is complex when

NORTH-CAROLI]S^A GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

77

its elements are considered, but homogeneous when semi-
fluid, and when it enters the fissure.

If the force which filled such fissures is considered, we are
ready to admit that elastic gasses or vapors, pressing upon a
liquid mass, may have been the instrument most immediate-
ly active in the result. First, there is the evidence of high
temperature of a mass which has changed the walls of the ad-
jacent rock. The results in these cases are consistent with
what we witness in analogous cases. We must admit that
the filling was in mass, and while it was in a semi-fluid state.
We are not confined to this single cause ; the force of elastic
gasses, the force of pressure, may be produced by the strata
alone acting upon a moveable fluid.

In the consideration of this kind of vein, we may satisfy
ourselves that the other causes are not adapted to the pro-
duction of such a result. We cannot rationally infer that
vaporization meets the case, or thermo-electrical currents.
They truly come under what is usually known as igneous in-
jections^ an expression not very definite or strictly correct.
It is, however, important for us to know, that certain fissures
are filled with incandescent matter, and in mass ; but such a
mode being possible, we should not, therefore, infer that all
fissures are consequently tilled in this way.

There can be no doubt respecting the mode in which
granitic veins are filled, they must belong to the same class
as the trap dykes. Besides, when they traverse chalk, or any
of the limestones, the phenomena indicate that they must have
been in a state of fusion.

Fig. 10.

Fig. 10 illustrates the common mode in which granite veins
traverse the adjacent rock. The figure is designed to show

78 NOETH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SUKVET.

also that the granites belong to diiferent epochs, and that
these epochs are determined by the order in which the dif-
ferent veins enter the rock.

Other veins may, in their respective phenomena, possess
characters which are not explainable in this way. The statics
of a vein fissure may entirely discredit the dynamics of dyke
veins, or the contrary.

Leaving the latter for the j)resent, and considering that we
admit the fact that there are injections of melted rock from
beneath, by the pressure conveyed to it in some way not sus-
ceptible of being determined in a given case, I may proceed
to speak of heterogeneous veins or fissures filled with a mix-
ture of metals in some state of combination and with the
different earths.

§ 86. In this kind of vein the dynamics require a special
consideration of the statics. If ii should be found that the
substances are disorderly intermixed, there would be no ob-
jection to the adoption of the theory already stated, and
which I believe is universally adopted. We must, however,
study the statics of the heterogeneous filling. Now in show-
ing in the general the distribution of these matters, I will re-
fer to fig. 9. This figure is an accurate drawing of the Rossie
lead vein, in gneiss. It will be seen that an irregular thick
black line traverses the middle of the fissure. This is the
lead, or the metal nearly unmixed with gangue. The parts
on each side, and which are white, are belts of crystalline
calcareous spar, intermixed with galena. The middle is un-
equal in width, sometimes it is eighteen inches wide ; in
others only six or ten. liow it is clear that this kind of vein
differs from dyke veins, and we may doubt the justness of
the same theory being applicable alike to the two kinds of
veins, unless it admits of certain modifications. But why is
this vein unlike the dyke vein ? This question can only be
answered, it appears to me, by inferring that the materials
immediately below, and in proximity with the fissure, con-
tained galena, as well as carbonate of lime. This inference
may not possess much force, inasmuch as some maintain that
the materials of the vein are derived from the rock adjacent

NOKTH-CAUOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 79

to the fissures. Tliis assumption, though it may not be
groundless, does not, in my mind, contain as much probabili-
ty as the first. It is advanced to meet certain difliculties
which stand up against the igneous injection theory, which
does not explain the phenomena when applied as it is to dyke
veins. But we want more facts respecting the statics of
veins, the metal is not so regularly distributed in all cases.
It is often entirely mixed with the gangue, being less, how-
ever, in the gangue at the upper part. The metal may come
in only at great depths in the fissure, all the upper part be-
ing entirely stony, or mixed with a few scattering particles
of the sulphurets.

§ 87. In treating of the mode and mannner by which fis-
sures are filled, it is important that the projjerties of the vein
stone or gangue, and the accompanying metal, should be well
understood. The vein stones are not numerous ; but their
properties are quite difterent.

The known vein stones are as follows : carl), of lime, sul-
phate of baryta and strontian, fluor spar, quartz, talc, silicate
of manganese, carbonate of iron, carbonate of lime and mag-
nesia, or dolomite and epidote.

The enquiry respecting these bodies is, can they be carried
up into open fissures by vaporization, ^^t" se, or through the
medium of water, in the form of vapor ; or shall their pre-
sence in veins be ascribed to igneous injections ?

Sulphate of baryta and strontian, fluor spar and quartz are
soluble in water under certain circumstances.

The two first occur in cavities in a decomposing granite in
St. Lawrence county. They line the inside, and are stalac-
tical, as shown in my Geological Report ot New York. So
also they occur in Schoharie, in the Silurian rocks, in beds.
Fluor spar and quartz often line cavities also, and hence are
soluble when the needful conditions are supplied.

§ 88. The salts of lime and magnesia and iron are more
soluble than either of the foregoing. Epidote, which is the
vein stone of the sulp. of copper and iron, is an igneous pro-
duct, and is one of the most common metamorphic minerals
known.

80 NOETH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

But most of tlie foregoing minerals are also found in min-
eral and thermal waters, and being soluble in the vapor of
water, may rise from the interior through fissures to the sur-
face. Hence they may be deposited upon the walls which
bound those fissures, and ultimately fill them. In North-
Carolina, however, quartz and felspar veins, associated with
trap dykes, are very common in the granite belt ; and it is
not uncommon to observe that a granite vein is composed of
quartz, with only a very small proportion of mica and felspar.
At least, nine-tenths is quartz, and as such veins must be re-
garded as igneous injections, it sustains the view that quartz
veins may also belong to the same class of products.

The quartz and felspar veins, which traverse the sienitic
granites of Iforth-Carolina, seem also to have been formed in
the same manner as the trap dykes, which are associated
with them. The igneous origin of quartz veins, however, is
not fully sustained by the phenomena which accompany them.
Of hundreds of veins of this kind, I have never observed
tliat the walls exhibit marks of igneous action. The same
fact, however, exists in the felspar, and many of the dyke
veins of the Taconic system. We have to remark, in regard
to the want of igneous action, that we must consider the
composition of the rock. Limestones, for example, are ex-
cellent rocks for the preservation of phenomena which are
due to the action of heat ; whereas the mica and talcose
slates are far less changed by the same degree of heat. If
mica and talcose slates are heated to redness, their appear-
ance is very little changed. When used for hearth stones in
furnaces, for a few months, they then become columnar and
often vitreous. We may therefore infer that a single ex-
posure to intense heat maj'' result only in a slight change of
texture or structure, which in the end may disappear by the
absorption of water.

From the foregoing facts, it appears that veins, whose vein
stone is quartz, or sulphate of barytes or fiuor spar, may be
filled by these minerals in a state of fusion, or through the
instrumentality of mineral waters. In the latter case, fis-
sures become galleries of subhmation, penetrated by vapor,

NORTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 81

holding in suspension and solntion the minerals in question,
which condenses upon the cooled walls. Whether we adopt
the first or second view, it is necessary to maintain also that
the fissures extend to those parts whose temperature is highly
elevated. It establishes the position that vein fissures pene-
trate deeply into the interior of the earth,

§ 89. In reasoning upon the phenomena of veins, it is not
necessary to restrict the solubilities of the vein stuff to the
limits which it may possess at the surface. Pressure and
temperature, we know, modify the solubility of bodies; and
carbonate of lime, which is almost infusible at the surface,
but under pressure, retains its carbonic acid and fuses. It is
therefore a fact consistent with the j^henomena, which have
been frequently observed in northern New York, with res-
pect to the veins of limestone which resemble so perfectly
granitic veins. No one who takes a consistent view of these
veins, can doubt their igneous origin. Hence, too, there is
nothing inconsistent with the view, that the vein stone, when
a limestone, may be of igneous origin also.

It is, however, better to adopt that view of the mode in
which a fissure is filled, Avhich best comports with the phe-
nomena revealed in any given case. A fissure may have
been a gallery of sublimation, open for the reception of me-
tallic vapors ; or, as in the case of gi-anite veins and trap
dykes, it may be filled by fused matters, in A?liich are min-
oled mineral substances of diverse kinds.

S2 XOKTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SLTIYET.

CHAPTER XY.

Characters of a Vein Fissure — Distribution of Metal in a
Fissure — Influence of Walls on the arrangement of the in-
closed Ore and Eoch^ its parallel arrangement — Consid-
erations respecting Iron.

% 90. The receptacles of ores, thongli tliey possess certain
general characteristics quite similar, still a careful examina-
tion will detect certain important difterences. A vein, for
example, which may be relied npon, must be bounded liter-
ally by walls. If walls are absent, the receptacle is not a
vein. Walls are the only criteria which distinguish a vein
from a seam, a desiccation crack, or seggregation. The walls
are produced by a rent oblique or vertical, and indicative of,
or giving evidence that they have rubbed against each other,
by which their asperities are smoothed off or removed. In
consequence of these and other movements, the surfaces of
the walls are well defined ; they moreover show that the re-
ceptacle is a vein fissure, and not a desiccation crack. It
sometimes happens that only one side is well defined ; if so,
it does not destroy the confidence of the miner with respect
to the nature of the fissure. It still has a selvage on one side
which proves it to be a true vein.

But if the receptacle of the ore is wanting in boundaries
or selvages, or such boundaries as are not indicative of ver-
tical movements of one side or the other, it cannot be re-
garded as a vein fissure, and cannot be relied upon as a per-
manent fund of metallic matter.

I would confine the characteristics of a vein fissure, there-
fore, to the existence of one or both walls; and a receptacle
which cannot furnish the proper walls defined more or less
elearly, should not, in my opinion, be regarded as a vein at
all. I am disposed to insist upon this distinction, and pay no
regard to the terms regular and irregular veins.

NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. S3

Metallic Veins. — Metallic veins differ from dyke veins in
being heterogeneous in their composition. A metallic vein is
a mixture of metal and rock, or vein stone ; the latter pre-
dominates, or, in other words, the vein stone is usually in
great excess over the metallic substances intermixed with it.

The most common combinations of the metal as a min-
eralizer, is sulphur, forming a class of bodies univei*sally
known as sulphurets. In chemical language, they are sul-
phurets of lead, copper, iron, zinc and silver. All these
substances possess peculiar relations to heat. They may be
fused without being decomposed, or they may be volatilized,
and condensed without cliange.

Hence, in regard to the mode by which they are intro-
duced into vein fissures, it will not be inconsistent with any
known fact, or with their properties, to infer that they may
be introduced into fissures in vapor, or in a state of fusion ;
and it will hold good in either case, as has been stated res-
pecting the vein stones, that their origin must be in the deep
seated parts of the crast. So far then as the question res-
pecting ultimate exhaustion is concerned, these facts indicate,
that though the metal may vary in quantity at different
depths, that a vein is not liable to be exhausted, or to be
penetrated to its bottom.

Closed fissures may be filled, and no doubt are always fill-
ed by water, carying minerals in solution ; very few sub-
stances can resist the solvent action of water under pressure
and high temperature. Closed fissures are usually filled with
earths, the carbonate of lime, sulj). of baryta, strontian and
silica, or quartz ; the latter is the most common in slate rocks,
where it takes the form of seams or oval masses. Cracks in
the argillaceous limestones and nodules, as septaria, are
penetrated by solution, and are ultimately filled, when they
present stellated seams. As these fissures or cracks are limit-
ed and closed, they can be filled only by latteral transfusions.

MetaJlic Oxides. — Several metals occur in veins which are
in combination Avith oxygen. Of the oxides, iron is the' most
important. In northern New York, it occurs in veins and
beds. In the latter form, it is equivalent to that of a rock.

84 NOKTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

It is impossible to conceive tliat its origin can diifer from tlic
rock with wliicli it is associated in the western part of Essex
county. Here, hypersthene rock and labradorite encloses it
in immense beds. The rock itself, like other varieties of
granite, is very clearly of an igneons origin, and the iron
rock shows from its relations to it, that it was cotemporane-
ous with it. In the eastern part of Essex, and also in Clinton
county, the oxide of iron is mostly in veins. There are no
serious objections to the foregoing views, and I should deem
it unnecessary to refer to these instances, were it not that a
certain writer has presented another view which is untena-
ble, and which is not sustained by a single fact.

In North-Carolina, the oxides of iron occur oidy in veins,
excepting where the mass has undergone certain changes.

The mode in which ferruginous veins have been filled, is
clearly that which is assigned to trap or granite. Iron, how-
ever, in combination with chlorine is volatile, and is vapo-
rized, and finally deposited in the condition of a peroxide or
specular oxide. Examples of this mode occurs in volcanic
vents. Lava, projecting into the funnel of a crater, is often
incrusted with crystals of specular iron.

In St. Lawrence county, New York, specular iron occmv
in isolated masses in limestone, or it has been impossible to
discover a connection with a vein fissure. It is also dissemi-
nated in quartz crystals.

In this region s})ecular iron occurs in true veins. Its char-
acters, however, are concealed by the change in texture
which it has undergone. In North Carolina, a specular iron
is also found in veins in many places, some of which are
highly important.

§ 91. Those writers who attempt to make a distinction hv-
tween regular and irregular veins, have hitherto failed; both
kinds are productive according to their statements ; the regu-
lar vein being supposed to be more so, or more permanent
than the irregular. But the regular vein lias its irregulari-
ties; it widens out, and it is pinched out and nipped; it is
irregular in the amount of metal it carries, the irregular ilis-

NORTH- CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 85

tribution of it being notorious in tlie best of veins, or in parts
of them.

Good walls, liowever, do not prove that a given vein must
}»'ay a profit ; or that it warrants exploration ; it may be too
narrow, it may be too wide ; that is, the metal is distributed
through a large quantity of vein stuff. But an exposure. of
ore being made in a receptacle, the important question of its
being a vein^ is the first thing to be determined ; for, as I be-
lieve, the question of permanence of the receptacle, turns
on the answer the phenomena gives us ; if no walls, we have
no groimd to expect a i3ermanent fund of metal; if walls are
present, it is a fissure which extends deeply into the interior ;
so much may be regarded as settled, there will be depth at
least. But if there are no walls, the boundaries of the recep-
tacle will close like a desiccation crack or a seam in slates ;
and we should not be warranted in the expectation of a per-
manent fund of metal, as before remarked. To these re-
marks I am inclined to except the auriferous beds, in certain
cases, in the Tacoiiic system.

The veins termed regular and irregular, are worked with
advantage, and sometimes those which are irregular" have
yielded the largest profits. The terms regular and irregular
deposits scarcely admit of distinctions in practice, and hence,
should not be employed. Still more objectionable is the
term unstratijied deposits. A deposit, in its true meaning,
must be stratified ; and it is especially erroneous when it is
applied to igneous products. It would be just as proper to
-9p m.[9; aqj^ 'spoi oi{[i?:;8ra •« SB '^isodsp i? ui8a .oi^iubjS t? [|B.)
posit is restricted to sediments.

§ 92. The distribution of the metal and vein stone con-
tains characteristics of a true vein fissure. There is a regulari-
ty in the parts which show that the process of filling was not
always confined to one operation. The accumulation is sup-
posed to be by successive layers or lamina which are depos-
ited against the walls. Such an accumulation gives the
comby structure, to use a miner's term, and as the lamina
are crystalline, the points or apices are directed towards tlie

86 NOETH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

middle of the fissure. The arrangement of the metal is also
in accordance with the vein stone ; it is distributed in belts
parallel with the lamina, sometimes in continuous sheets, in
others, in interrupted ones. The regular distribution which
has been observed in some of the best characterised veins of
metal in Euroj^e, has been ascribed to successive additions of
new matter to the vein. To this view there seems to be no
objection, inasmuch as the force which produced the fissurti
may be regarded as operative through long periods. Every
time the fissure is widened, it would receive fresh accessions
of mineral matter. Another view of this subject may be
presented, however, which is worthy of a moment's con-
sideration. The arrangement of materials, or their special
disposition in a fissure, may be influenced by a molecular
force. Wherever there is space for particles to move, and a
suflicient degree of fluidity to allow the particles to arrange
themselves, the order in which the distribution is made will
be regular, but the precise order will be veiy much controll-
ed by the form or shape of the enclosing space. In fissures,
the parallel walls will exercise a controlling influence, the
subordinate parts of the enclosed metal and vein stone, will
be arranged ])arallel with the master planes, formed by the
walls. Seams of calc spar furnish, very frequently, instances
of this kind of arrangement, the back of the seam of spar
being implanted against the sides bounding the space; but
the inward faces of the plate of spar will be covered with
crystals directed to the middle of the seam. We may say, to
make the idea plain, that the master planes condense the li-
quid holding mineral substances in solution. Now the term
condense may not be the best, but its use here is analogous t<>
that which is employed in other cases. Stones in the soil
condense water, plates of metal condense moisture, platina foil
is wet by quicksilver, and platina sponge condenses hydro-
gen ; flattened particles of gold condenses the air of the liquid
in which it is immersed when it floats. In veins, the walls
therefore may be said to condense the enclosed matter ; it
may be in vapor or in a liquid state, and the process having

NOKTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY,

once begun in parallel planes, will afterwards continue to be
thus arranged. In dykes the space is too much crowded to
give the free movement of particles. In many cases, how-
ever, the columnar structure is developed, and as it is always
transverse, it shows the influence of the walls upon the ar-
rangement ; though that influence may be due simply to the
mode or direction in which the heat escapes.

§ 93. The walls of a vein may be conceived to control the
order of arrangement of the inclosed matter, giving it the
laminated or comby structure. When limestone is associated
with laminated rocks, its structure partakes of that of the
rock which encloses it. So general is the eft^ect of surfaces
or planes of matter to produce parallelism, that we may wit-
ness their influence in numberless cases.

The efi'ect of the walls in giving direction to the parts of
the vein stone and its metal, does not disprove the view of
geologists already stated. Yeius may be widened at difler-
ent times, as maintained, and yet the walls may control the
disposition of the subordinate parts, and impart to them that
parallel arrangement so frequently noticed in the most per-
fect examples of veins. The master planes in a vein there-
fore, are its parallel walls — the more perfect the walls, the
more perfect the arrangement of its parts. If the foot wall
is the most perfect, the ])arallelism will be the most perfect
adjacent to that wall.

Fig. 11 illustrates the parallel ar-
rangement of* the masses of ore and
vein stone, 1 2 3 4, as described in the
foregoing paragraphs. Parrallel ar-
rangements occur when the vein de-
composes in mass, under circumstances
which differ from those which attend
the fllling of the vein originally. Re-
markable instances have been noticed in
Carrol county, Virginia ; in Ashe coun-
ty, North-Carohna ; and in Polk county,
Tennessee.

88

NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

Fig. 12.

§ 94. Tliese veins contain the sulpliiirets of copper and iron,
witli traces of arsenic. Near tlie surface the sulpluirets arc
decomposed. I^ow, the separated elements, instead of inter-
minghng, seperate ; the oxide of copper, which is one pro-
duct of decomposition, forms a stratum by itself, and the ox-
ide of iron by itself. Thus, in Fig. 12, 4 represents the po-
sition of the oxide of copper,
and 2 oxide of iron, and 3 a
stratum of undecomposed
bell metal ore. These beds
lie in parallel position — a
position which is secondary ;
as, originally, nothing of the
kind appeared. Gravity, in
this case, may have aided
in disposing the materials as
they were found in opening
the vein ; but similar ar-
rangements take place where gravity had little or no influ-
ence. Water, no doubt, plays an important part in arrang-
ing the materials in the new condition in which they are
placed.

§ 95. A variety known as the pipe vein, brings to light a
A-ery curious modification of a vein fissure. Instead of a sim-
ple -fissure, whose walls are nearly parallel, they are twitched
in, so as to form a kind of tubular repository. This tubular
form of the vein plunges deep into the rock ; but it forms a
series of enlargements or contractions, similar to what occurs
in ordinary fissures, none of which have walls perfectly regu-
lar and parallel. Fig. 13 shows the form of pipe vein in
Georgia, near Ducktown, Tennessee.

XORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

89

Fig. Ic

In this vein, notwithstand-
ing; its irregular form or ra-
tlier deviation from the or-
dinary vein fissure, the mas-
ses of vein stuff have a paral-
lel arrangement, as in other
cases. For 25 feet of the top,
the fissure is nearly closed.
A streak of gossan or hy-
drous oxide of iron, served as
a guide to the wide tubular
expansion below, which
plunges obliquely into the
rock, in the direction of the
lamina.

§ 96. It is important, how-
ever, to guard against misapprehension respecting the ar-
rangement of the contents of a vein. If it is expected that
the same phenomena attend the arrangement of vein stuff, it
will sometimes lead to disappointment. The aggregation of
the materials admits of considerable variety. But these va-
rieties throw light upon the mode by which the vein was
filled, or at least indicate some of the conditions. A vein is
sometimes occupied through its whole breadth by one sub-
stance. Thus the Cathey copper vein was filled with a mass
< tf copper pyrites. Passages in the I^orth-Carolina mine are
filled with quartz and carbonate of iron, each occupying
separate zones, to which succeed fine belts of copper pyrites
in its vein stone of quartz.

The most usual condition in which the vein is found filled,
is that where the metal is interspersed through- the veinstone ;
though the favorable arrangement of the metal will be that
of elongated parallel masses, taking nearly the direction of
the vein fissure.

The position of the metal is sometimes in the middle of the
vein, as in Fig. 9. In others it is upon the foot wall, as was
the case at the North-Carolina mine. Where this vein car-
ries both carb. of iron and copper pyrites, the latter occupied

90 NORTII-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY.

the foot-wall, while the former occupied the hanging wall,
with copper pjrites interspersed through it. Even in nests
of ore, as well as in regular veins, the ore takes a regular
position in the mass usually near one of the walls.

The parallelism of structure is verv remarkable in a few in-
stances, in the mines of the old woi'ld. Thus, the Drei Prin-
zen Spat vein, near Freiberg, a section of which shows twen-
ty-one parallel lamina, consisting of four kinds of minerals,
blende, quartz, fluor spar, blende, heavy spar, sulphuret of
iron, heavy spar fluor spar, sulphuret of iron calcareous spar.
These occupy the upper side of the vein ; the lower consists
of precisely the same substances in the same order, two par-
allel bands of calc spar occupying the middle of the fissure,
and each on one side has its corresjionding lamina, or comb,
on the other.

§ 97. Forms of the metal hearing sjxices in lodes. — Those
who have formed their ideas of a lode from books, will proba-
bly perceive, on actual examination, that they have much to
learn. A lode rarely extends continuously downward, with-
out certain interruptions or alternations which are rather uni-
form and of a peculiar kind. It is true, in some instances, as
stated, the continuity is unbroken ; and the threatened break
amounts only to a contraction, as the Rossie lead mine,
(Fig. 9,) shows. But the most frecpient form of the metal
bearing spaces in the lodes of North-Carolina, are tolerably
distinct from each other, and are arranged in lenticular seg-
ments. The segments he nearly j)arallel in the slates to the
planes of bedding ; each segment also has its own investment
of partings around it, which separates it imperfectly from
those adjacent to it. The lower edge of the segment over-
laps or extends beyond the next succeeding one beneath, and
from which it is separated by a thin parting of slate. The
succeeding one, therefore, so far as its upper edge is con-
cerned, lies behind the former, and against the foot-walk If
the entire series of segments are examined, they are found
to lie in echellon ; and sometimes where the lode dips at as
high an angle as 80°, for example, the fissure is vertical, and
the shaft in descending cuts all the segments from top to bot-

NOKTH- CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL BUKVEY. 91

torn. Each segment makes an offset against the foot-wall,
but lies obliquely across the fissure, so that its upper and
lower edges touch or lie against each wall.

In iiiost veins, an arrangement of this kind is more or less
distinct. In the G-old Hill vein is a perfect example of the
kind I have described.

The length of the segments are variable, sometimes ten ot
twelve feet ; and their thickness is of course dependent up-
on that of the vein iissnre. In some instances the segments
are so distinct that on being removed the lode seems to have
run out, but on working back to the foot-wall, another seg-
ment is encountered of the same form. The Pioneer mine,
in Cabarrus county, which is in syenitic granite, is another
fine exhibition of this arrangement. It does not therefore
apj)ear to belong, or to be produced, by the character of the
rock in which tlfe lode is formed.

§ 98. The lenticular masses described in the foregoing par-
agraphs, are frequently called bunches by miners. These
bunches are, however, frequently subordinate to still larger
segments of the lode, through ^?hich the riches are distrib-
uted. The larger segments form bands or belts extending
from the top to the great depths below ; and which, taken as
a whole, are quite uniform in their productiveness. These
rich belts, or as they are usually called, iwekets^ alternate
wtth poor ones. So the lode, therefore, taken as a whole,
has first its greater divisions of rich and poor belts or pock-
ets alternating, which is illustrated in the Gold Hill vein ;
and then these belts, whether rich or poor, are formed by len-
ticular masses lying obliquely across the vein fissure. To the
eye, the poor belts furnisli no characteristics by which they
can be distinguished, with certainty, from the rich ones.
Experiments only bring to light the fact. The foregoing pre-
sents features in a lode which should not be lost sight of,
either in the first explorations or in subsequent worldngs of
it. The theor}^ which we may adopt respecting the mode in
which a vein is filled, must also take in this feature of it, in-
asmuch as it may be regarded as a law in the distribution of
the vein stuff. It is not simply that the metal lies in bunches.

i*2 NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURNET.

but the form of these subordmate masses must be taken into
the account, and it not only affects the bunches of metal, biit
the vein stone also.

CHAPTER XVI.

Geological ranges of the Ores or Metals, — Are certain Metals
confined tc any certain liochs f

§ 99. Although the formations in Xorth-Qarolina are quite
limited when geological epochs are counted, and though this
subject may not be as important as it would if the range of
rocks were greater, still its principles find many illustrations
in the mining districts of the State. It cannot fail to be use-
ful when our knowledge of the range is derived from foreign
lands which have long been explored for the metals.

I have occasion to speak of only a few of the metals in
this connexion, those, for example, which are economically
or commercially important ; and the order in which they re-
quire to be noticed is determined mainly by the geological
relations they hold "to each other.

§ 100. Tin. — This metal is spoken of here for the opportu-
nity it gives me for saying that there is no probability of its
being found in North-Carolina. It belongs geologically to
the oldest quartz or granites, and the oldest slates or killas, as
they are called b}^ Cornish miners. It is associated with cop-
per ; and many of the Cornish lodes contain tin at the surface
and copper belo^^'. The stanniferous rocks of Cornwall, con-
sist of quartzose granites, hornblende slate and clay slate, all
of which are traversed by granitic veins which are mostly
quartz and greenstone dykes, wliich are called elvans by the
minors. They therefore make no distinction between slates
which differ so much in composition as the hornblende and

NOKTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 93

claj slates. The granites of Cornwall contain mucli schorl
and mineral, -which is rather rare in the granites of North-
Carolina. The relation, however, of the granite to clay slate,
and killas and quartz seams, is much the same as in Corn-
wall. But in the latter country the tin ore is and was scat-
tered over the surfiice very much, as our gold ores are here.
There was no difficulty in discovering the tin of Cornwall,
and there has been no impediment to the discovery of gold
here ; and after much search for tin and its indications, it
seems there is little prospect of its discovery.

The ores of copper take a much wider range than tin, al-
though the}^ are almost constantly associated in certain rocks.
Copper is, however, most frequently found in the oldest rocks.
It is in granite and the adjoining slates in the Caroliuas and
Virginia. It is in a native or metallic state in the Potsdam
sandstone and igneous rocks of lake Suj^erior.

Mr. Murchison observed veins of copper in the Devonian
series in Russia. The Triassic or Xew Red sandstone con-
tains copper also, which seems to be the most recent forma-
tion, which furnishes it in workable quantities.

§ 101. The language used respecting the occurrence of
metal in diiferent rocks, seems to be somewhat loose and un-
intelligible. Thus, Sir II, De LaBeche remarks, with res-
pect to tin and copper, that where granite and elvan are near
these metals or their ores, they so abound that they may be
worked, and produce good mines. Hence, he again remarks,
M'e might infer that granite or elvan had considerable influ-
ence in promoting the presence of tin or copper ores, which
either occur in them or in other rocks in their vicinity ; while
the granite influence was not essential to the accumulation of
the ores of lead, antimony, manganese, zinc or iron, as the
case may be, in quantities to be profitably worked. There
are so many exceptions to the influence which is here spoken
of, that it is questionable whether we should continue to re-
gard it of much consequence, although it is backed by high
authority. There is, however, this ; workable veins of ore are
usually in a disturbed district, as I have observed in another
place, or in a district in which elvan and granite dikes

JH NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAI. SURVEY.

abound. The rock of tlie country may be granite, or slate or
limestone ; and each may, or may not be metaliferous ; where
it is disturbed by igneous rocks, the probabihties are much
increased thereby ; if they are absent, the probabilities are
jnuch diminished.

§ 102. The ores of iron and manganese have by far the
widest distribution, both geologically and geographically.
The magnetic and specular ores are widely distributed in the
granitic series, in gneiss, mica and talcose slates, and primary
limestone. Proceeding upwards in the geologic scale, the}^
appear in workable quantities in the Taconic system, as in
Xorth-Garolina and in the Lake Superior district. In the
upper Silurian, in the carboniferous and new red or Triassic
system. Hematites, accompanied with manganese, occur in
the drift, and the bog ores are also widely distributed. Similar
deposits seem to belong to all ages. They are frequently the
products of mineral springs which now cease to flow ; but
which have left thin deposits among the tertiaries and most
recent formations. The silicate of manganese occurs in the
oldest slates in veins.

Antimony ores, according to De LaBeche, are chiefly
obtained in fair abundance in those portions of the granitic
districts, which are much associated with trappean rocks.
Oxide of manganese occurs also in the same rocks contigu-
(lus to the traps just spoken of.

§ 103. The sulphuret of zinc is associated with both tin
and copper, but more frequently with the latter. In the
inining districts of Cornwall, zinc is very widely distributed.
The red oxide of Sussex county, New Jersey, is connected
with the primary limestone, its epoch is not determined.
The sulphuret of zinc in IS'orth-Caroliua, belongs to the Ta-
conic rocks, and is only found in considerable quantities at
the "Washington mine. Carbonate of zinc or calamine, is
confined in England to the carboniferous formation, and is
probably in this country referred to the same or nearh^ the
same epoch. Galena or sulphuret of lead has a wide distri-
bution. It is found in veins in gneiss and granite in this
country, and from these ancient rocks it ranges up to the car-

NORTH-CAKOLTNA GJ:OLOGICAL SURVEY. \)0

boniferoiis series. Galena, zinc, silver, gold and copper are
associated in the Wasliington mine, in Davidson county.
Antimony and galena occur in the gold region of Georgia,
in certain parts of the Gum-log mine.

§ 104. Gold is the associate of the sulphurets of copper
and iron. The sijlphuret of iron alone and quartz, may be
regarded as the true associates of this metal, and it may be
with gold as with silver ; the latter though occurring in the
same vein with sulphuret of zinc and lead, yet is rather at-
tached to the latter than the former ; and so it may be con-
jectured that gold, when it occurs in the same vein w^th sul-
phuret of copper and iron, is mixed with the latter rather
than with the former. Gold veins traverse gneiss and horn-
blende, mica and talcose slates. These are the oldest slate
rocks, and belong to the Blue Ridge. Another set or group
of auriferous veins belong to the Taconic system. Previous-
ly to 1855, I had inferred that the auriferous veins of the two
series belonged to the same epoch. But this position appears
to be untenable now, in consequence of the discovery that
auriferous beds also occur in the Taconic system. The gold
of these sedimentary beds must, of course, have been deriv-
ed from the preexisting lodes of the hornblende, mica and
talcose slates. So far as this country is concerned, no discov-
eries of gold in veins liave been made in rocks of a later date
than those of the Taconic system.

§ 105. Cobalt is found in a hornblendic gness at Chatham,
Connecticut ; it is associated with iron pyrites ; it is called
copper nickel, being a compound of cobalt nickel and arse-
nic. Silver is associated with lead, but it is in this relation
in the older rocks. Small quantities of sulphuret of silver
occur in Montgomery county, in the slates. Cobalt, silver
and arsenic are fo>ind in some of the latest formations in Eu-
rope. , These substances occur in the veins of Joachimsthal
of the epoch of the Tertiary. They are probably the latest
veins, whose age is determinable by the age of the forma-
tions through which they pass. In this instance, the geo-
graphical relation of the veins to igneous or eruptive rocks
is quite manifest, and it may be regarded as due to this influ-

06 NOKTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SirRVEY,

ence, that the vein fissures became charged with the ores of
the metals in question. There are no instances known in
England or France of vein fissures occurring in the lias,
oolite, or any of the later formations. The Atlantic slope
from New Jersey to Alabama, is in part overlaid with Creta-
ceous, New Red sandstone and Tertiary ; but there are no rt--
positories of the ores in that distance, which are connected
with these later formations, excepting that of copper in the
New Red sandstone. .Mercury is said to occur in gneiss and
older slate rocks. In Idria, it is associated with coal shales
in the condition of a sulphuret.

§ 106. The results to which observation tends are, 1st,
That the original repositories of the ores are to be sought for
in the primary and Palaeozoic rocks; 2d, That it is in the re-
gion of the primary that they may be expected ; 3d, That it
is in the vicinity of eruptive rocks, granite, trap and porphy-
ry, that the probabilities of their existence is greatly increas-
ed. Still, many districts where irruptive rocks are extensive,
furnish onlj'^ traces of a metaliferous region, as a part of New
England proves. In these rmarks, iron may be regarded as
an exception, inasmuch as it is common alike to many dis-
tricts, while lead, zinc, copper, gold, etc., are more generally
restricted to certain tolei-ably well defined districts.

§ 107. Are veins of any of the metals confined to certain
rocks? — Whether any of the ores of the metals are confined to
certain rocks, is not to be expected in a restricted sense.
Some are confined, probably, to a limited series, as the pri-
mary schists ; and some others seem to be associated more
frequently with a given rock, as chromate of iron with ser-
pentine.

Several chemical combinations of the metals pass through
a wide range of formations. No mineral substance is more
common than iron pyrites. It is disseminated in most rocks ;
and it occurs, also, in veins. It is found in sandstone, all the
limestones and slates, of all ages, and in the tertiary ; it is a
mineralizer of wood in volcanic and sediuientary rocks.

§ 108, Copper pyrites, though widely disseminated, is
much less so than iron pyrites ; and its quantity is usually

NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 97

Jess where the two occupy the same lode. Copper is res-
tricted rather to tlie older rocks, but is not confined to a
limestone, sandstone or slate.

Manganese is also widely diffused ; but when it is found in
the more recent formations, it is derived, as in the case of the
oxide of iron, from pre-existing repositories. Gold is restrict-
ed in its range, but not confined to one rock. Tin is confined
to the oldest rocks, but not restricted to one. Mercury,
which is restricted to a few districts, is not confined to one
rock. Platina and its associates are referred to the serpen-
tines.

It appears, therefore, that though certain ores have a res-
tricted range; .yet they do not appear to be confined absolute-
ly to one rock. Gold is rarely found in limestone and ser-
pentine, but in North-Carolina it is sometimes found in both
of these rocks.

CHAPTEE XYII.

Circumstances v)}iich favor the accumulation of Ore in
Masses — State of the adjacent Moch, {sometitnes called the
country^ which ajypears to favor the accumulation of Ore
in a Vein — Vicinity of Elvans — Passage of a Vein from
one Rock to another — Condition of the Walls of a Vein.

§ 109. Tlie contents of a vein is often found to have accu-
mulated at certain points. Miners as well as geologists have
ascribed these enlargements to certain causes. When, for
example, two veins cross each other, the ore at the point of
intersection is twice as great as in either of the intersecting
veins. This fact is so common, that when two veins are in-
clined to each other, and if prolonged will intersect, it is
confidently expected that it will yield a much larger amount
7

98 NOETH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAI/ SURVEY.

of ore. Tliis is one of the most frequent and constant facts
in mining which can be relied upon, or which, if it occurs,
may be rehed upon for increasing the product of the lode.
This expectation is carried still farther; when, for instance,
two bunches or pockets of ore in the same vein are approach-
ing each other, at the place of meeting it is expected the ore
will be increased.

§ 110. The same result takes place when a vein crosses an
elvan or dyke. De LaBeche remarks upon this subject, that
the connexion between bunches of ore in fissure, where they
traverse the elvans, is well understood by the practical min-
ers of Cornwall. One of the most remarkable examples giv-
en in illustration of the fact is, that of the Wheal Alfred,
near Guinear. The elvan crossed by the vein is about three
hundred feet thick ; the vein crosses it at an angle of about
25°. The elvan dips N. W. at an angle of 45°. The inter-
secting lode d'ps at an angle of 72°. The lode was in slate,
and produced some ore while in it; but upon entering the
elvan it became much richer and increasing in value, when
it finally yielded an amount of ore which was sufficient to
give a profit of £140,000 sterling to the adventurers. After
quitting the elvan, and again entering the slate below, the
lode became poor, and eventually was abandoned on this ac-
count.

§ 111. Sometimes a lode in crossing an elvan is split in
strings, and though the amount of ore may not be diminish-
ed, it will increase the expense of mining considerably, in
consequence of the large amount of rock which may be ne
cessary to raise and dress. The cases belonging to the kind
under consideration as a whole, furnish a large per cent, in
favor of the increase of ore in the dykes, or while the vein is
crossing them. When the vein passes between the elvan and
the rock, prior to its intersection, the bunch of ore is also in-
creased.

§ 112. Veins are supposed also to be more promising in
the vicinity of elvans and other eruptive rocks. All these
facts seem to point to the influence which igneous matter has
upon fissures, probably in opening passages from beneath

NORTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 99

upwards. The foregoing is in accordance with the prevail-
ing opinions of the captains of mines in Cornwall, where it
is said that the greatest quantities of copper ores are found
in the neighborhood of large elvan courses. This view it is
important to examine; for, in the mining districts of North-
Carolina, large dykes or elvan courses form one of the inter-
esting features of the country, as I shall have an opportunity
for showing in the progress of this report.

§ 113. There are many points of interest connected with
the intersection of lodes one with another, or with dykes,
which are not by any means sufficiently elucidated or estab-
lished. Thus, at what angle is the most favorable for an
increase of metal, or is the angle of intersection only a
secondary point ? Is there any connection between the in-
crease of metal in the lode and the texture of the dyke
which is intersected ? or is there any connection between the
increase of metal and the kind of elvan lithologically con-
sidered ? The foregoing, together with many other inquiries
important in mining, can only be satisfactorily answered by
records duly made by intelligent agents or captains of mines,
who feel sufficient interest in the matter to note all the facts
pertaining to the subject at the time when they come under
observation.

§ 114. The condition of the adjacent rock is also supposed
to influence the production of the vein ; or, as the miner
would say, the richness of the vein is dependent upon the
country. Tlius in certain Cornwall tin and copper mines, the
lodes were rich where the clay slates were of a blueish white
color, and poor where they were black. In another mine it
M-as productive while in moderately hard killas ; but when it
entered a stratum of hard killas, the riches were cut out.
Other instances are given where the same unfortunate change
occurred on passing from softer to harder slates. So in cases
of granite, where it was soft, the lode was rich ; but on en-
tering into a hard part of it, it became poor. These cases,
however, do not seem to be perfectly satisfactory, other causes
may have operated to have induced the change observed ;
or, inasmuch as veins change even when the rock preserves a

100 NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOQICAL SURVEY.

uniform texture, the change may have been only one of tliose
alternations met with in every day mining experience. So,
also, the j)assage of a lode from one rock to another is usual-
ly attended with a change in its value, increasing in some
cases, diminishing in others. Sometimes a lode is rich in the
slate, and becomes poor on passing into granite ; in others, it
is poor in granite, but becomes rich in slate. So it would
appear that the rock itself does not control its mineral
wealth ; or, if the position is too broad, it may be said with
truth that it does not exclusively control it. The value of the
lode in either case may be increased by an elvan course,
which exists in one instance and not in another. The facts
are too meagre, the observations too limited, to enable us to
•predict, with certainty, respecting the nature of the change
which is to be expected in any given case, or whether a
change will take place at all ; though it is pretty well estab-
lished that a change of ground produces a change of metals.
In one or two instances in l^orth-Carolina, a lode, in passing
from slate into granite, continued to be equally rich in the
latter, as in the former rock.

§ 116. The condition of the walls of a vein are also sup-
posed to influence the richness as well as the quantity of ore
in it. A firm, hard, well defined wall, is regarded as the
most favorable condition ; if the walls on the contrary are
soft, they do not hold the metal. So the presence oi flukan
is a favorable omen, according to Cornish miners. Walls,
however, may have been oiiginally firm, but in consequence
of the decomposition of the sulphurets, may be softened
and broken down. Their present state then, does not neces-
sarily decide what influence they have exerted upon the lode,
as in the cases respecting the influence of the rock on its
lodes; so it may be said that the influence of the walls on
the contents between them is not well understood. It is dif-
ficult to distinguish between accidental circumstances and
necessary results or causes ; the relation between antecedents
and consequents. It is not possible to decide what influence
a distant centre of force has, or can have, in the production
of certain phenomena. There are, for instance, a complica-

NORTH-CABOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 101

tion of forces ; a subterranean force in which heat may play
its part, and electrical forces which circulate in the earth's
crust, which play their part also. Observations require to be
multiplied before some of the common and prevalent notions
of miners can be received as decisive judgments. Observa-
tions which are conducted properlj^, and those tabulated, will
lead to judgments which will be useful in a new mining re-
gion, and probably in all mining countries.

§ 117. I have treated of vein fissures and other reposito-
ries of the ores and metals in the preceding chapter at some
length, but it remains to classify and arrange them according
to the characters which belong respectively to each kind.
Now the forces which act upon the rocks within the sphere
of observation, and which break the continuity of strata, are
by no means numerous ; and it so happens, that though the
forces may differ, still the results are quite similar in certain
respects ; thus the cooling of the earth's crust opens deep fis-
sures or rents, and so also the desiccation of rocks must pro-
duce cracks by shrinkage. In igneous rocks, and those form-
ing a greater part of the earth's surface in the era when vein
fissures must have been the most frequent occurrence, the
fissures were the effect of cooling. In the era of sediments
on the contrary, especially those which are calcareous and
argillaceous, desiccation cracks must have been the most fre-
<£uent. Desiccation cracks, however, difier from fissures pro-
duced by cooling, in the depth. By simple drying, fissures
may be confined to a single rock ; and it probably will be
also checked with numerous cracks. In fissures from coohng
of the crust, we may recognize a general force ; in desicca-
tion, a local one. In the former, too, it is probable that fis-
sures would be accompanied with the shifting of the position
.■>f rocks, which would operate to extend them. There is
still one more mode by which the earth's crust may be, and
is fissured, as well as dislocated, viz., the action by the elastic
vapours and gasses, which no doubt become pent up and
confined, until, by accumulation, the force breaks the conti-
nuity of the strata. Sometimes, in the movements produced,

102 NOKTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL 8UEVEY.

the strata subside ; at other times they are elevated or shift-
ed, as represented in fig. 14,

^^^- ^*- The most important forces by which

g the earth or its upper rocks are fissur-

ed, rent or separated, may be reduced
to three : 1. Fissures by secular refrige-
ration ; 2. Drying and desiccation of
sediments ; and 3. The action of elas-
tic gasseous bodies disengaged in the interior of the earth.

§ 118. Notwitlistanding the foregoing statement respect-
ing the nature of the forces which produce fractures and fis-
sures in the earth's crust, still they do not furnish the neces-
sary characteristics for distinguishing the difi'erent reposito-
ries of the metals from each other. Indeed these reposito-
ries scarcely admit of a scientific classification. We may
enumerate, however, certain kinds of repositories which seem
to be distinct from the others, and which it is useful to notice.

(a.) those repositokies which are cotemporaneous with

THE ROCK.

1. The first includes those repositories where the ores are
disseminated in the rock in grains, and small and large
masses, as chrome ore in serpentine ; magnetic iron ore in
the hypersthene rock of the Adirondacks in northern New
York ; the specular ore, in some instances, in pyrocrystalline
limestone.

2. The second, seggregated seams, which present a welted
appearance upon the surface of the rock. Particles and
small masses of metal are arranged in lines along such seams,
but they are usually stony, and are cotemporaneous with the
rock, so far as the materials are concerned, M^hich form the
seggregations. They rarely contain sufficient metal to pay
the expense of extraction.

3. The third, beds or deposits of metal which are formed
(luring the jjeriod when the rock was forming or being depos-
ited. Some of the gold repositories of North-Carolina be-
long to this kind, and all the iron ores which are stratified in

NOKTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 103

the sediments. They belong to all the systems which have
been recognized ; the oolite ore of the upper Silurian in New
York and Virginia, the iron balls and stratified deposits of
the carboniferous system, etc., are among the most important.

(b.) vein fissures which have been produced after the con-
solidation OF the rock, and subsequently filled.

1. The first contains the granitic and trappean veins or
dykes. They are true veins which were filled with stony
matter, immediately after the fissure was formed.

2. The second, fissures wliich remain open and are slowly
filled with stony and metallic matter in aggregations quite
variable in their arrangements and relations. To this kind
belong the veins of workable ores, sulphurets, etc.

3. The third, desiccation cracks^ they are sometimes filled
in part with the ores, but generally with sparry limestone,
sulphate of barytes, etc. Cracks in septaria, in clay slate, in
limestone and other rocks, with lenticular shaped fissures be-
long to this kind, provided they begin and end in the rock.

§ 119. Repositories of ores occur, of which it is difiicult to
ofi'er a satisfactory explanation of their production, or of the
mode in which they were filled ; among which I am disposed
to place the copper ore of the New Red sandstone, and the
lead ores of Missouri in Silurian limestone. The former,
however. Prof. Rogers is disposed to regard as irregular re-
positories, and perhaps filled by cupreous emanations from
beneath ; and so it is not improbable that the repositories of
galena in the western limestones may be regarded as irregu-
lar vein fissures, which were sufficiently extensive and deep
to form connexion with the pyrocrystalline or eruptive rocks.

The assumption may appear unwarrantable; but when we
see so many illustrations of the fact, that fissures are in prox-
imity to eruptive rocks, and very uncommon in those at a
distance, the assumption appears less hazardous. It is sus-
tained also by established principles, and appears more ra-
tional than the theory which ascribes their formation to ma-
terials in the rock, and subsequent to consolidation, were se-
creted into the open fissures. It is true, that in support of

104: NOETH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

the latter there is no question respecting the filling of seams
by spar, and sometimes it is intermingled with the siilphnrets.

The facts show that it is in accordance with known phe-
nomena, and deserves consideration before it is rejected.
Those which are most important in North-Carolina, are the
contemporaneous beds, as the gold deposits. The dissemi-
nated ores, as the chrome ore and the vein fissure.

§ 120, I*^umerous examples of the occurrence of the ox-
ides in such relations as to indicate the contemporaneous ori-
gin of the rock and ore, are furnished in the instance of
chrome in serpentine. Franklin county in North-Carolina,
and Franklin and Hampshire in Massachusetts, furnish many
instances of chrome ore imbeded in the rock. Serpentine is
a rock which is now admitted as of igneous origin ; hence it
may be inferred from the relation of chrome to the rock,
that it is also an igneous product, contemporaneous with the
rock.

Serpentine, in northern New York, contains primary lime-
stone ; and large blocks of serpentine frequently occur in
limestone. Sometimes they form a rock composed of equal
parts of each. These may be supposed to have been acci-
dental; or, that they have been developed in a magnesian
paste by metamorphic action. This view is inconsistent with
the facts revealed in St. Lawrence county. New York, and
western counties of North-Carolina. In New York, the lime-
stone is beneath the Potsdam sandstone, and is an unstratified
rock, and has, in several instances, changed the Potsdam
sandstone by contact. It is with this unstratified limestone
that the serpentine is associated, and it is also in this lime-
stone that the specular oxide of iron is imbedded ; it is as it
were entangled with it, and became so when in a pasty condi-
tion. If the views of geologists are true respecting the con-
nexion of chrome ore with serpentine, analogy may well lead
us to apply the same view to the origin of the specular ore
in the primary limestone. This view, however, must be re-
stricted to certain cases, for it unquestionably occurs in regu-
lar veins. Tlicse may be obscured at the surface by the dis-
integration of the ore which may be spread out widely over

NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 105

the surface in an earthy state, and appear hke an ordinary
bed of hematite.

§ 121. The fact just stated respecting the occurrence of
ii'on ore in beds requii-es a farther notice in this place. Only
two of the oxides of the metals occur in the soil, or in the
modern deposits, viz., iron and manganese. It is scarcely
necessary to remark that these oxides are widely distributed,
and it happens that wherever a rock is undergoing decompo-
sition, we hnd one or both of these oxides as products of the
change. In many accumulations ot debris, we can discover
iron and manganese disseminated through the porous mass ;
it may give it a deep red stain, or red and purple stain,
which indicates the presence of both oxides ; or these oxides
may form black concretions in the soil. But what is of the
most importance, is the accumulation of both in large and
extensive beds. Most of the hematites and black oxide of
manganese belong to deposits of this kind. They are pro-
ducts of decomposition. The manganese, though widely dif-
fused, is far less abundant than iron. Manganese is evident-
ly soluble in water by the aid of carbonic acid. Infiltrations
of manganese and its deposition on the surfaces of sandstones,
porphyries, etc., in dendritic forms, are instances of solution.
But its occurrence upon the surfaces of the natural joints of
rocks seems to be due to another cause.

Iron, in a state of hydrous per oxide, is not confined to the
soil of the present ; it is a deposit in beds in most of the sys-
tems of rocks, the Silurian, Devonian, Carboniferous and
Permian. The same causes, therefore, have been operative
in the distribution of iron in the mode I have indicated,
throughout the sedimentary period. Its source cannot al-
ways be told. One of the most common is the sidphuret of
iron, which is confined to no rock or epoch.

§ 122. From the foregoing facts, it appears that most of
the vein stone and metalic combinations possess volatility in
the presence of water and sulphur. Possessing therefore this
property, sometimes in an eminent degree, it is clear that it
is possible that they may be introduced into the cracks and
fissures of the earth's crust in a state of vapor. In this state,

106 NOKTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL 8UKVET.

they are in a condition to penetrate all the narrow and thread
like seams, as well as the wider and more important vein fis-
sures. In this condition, too, the materials become as it were
incorporated, to a certain extent, with* the rock through the
medium of its pores and open structure. These vapours pos-
sess a decomposing activity upon the surfaces of rocks with
which they come in contact; though it may not be possible
to determine now, in the decomposed vein stuff, and the in-
closed walls, what is due to the contact of vapours, or the
active elements which are subsequently disengaged by the
decomposition of the sulphurets.

It is not inconsistent with known facts and phenomena to
infer too, that veins may be filled in part by igneous injec-
tion, and in part .by vaporization. Phenomena seem to indi-
cate that fissures have been enlarged or widened after they
have been filled ; or that the vein stone has been moved up-
on itself, or has been shoved upwards against the walls. The
evidence of movements exists in the striated surfaces of the
wall and matter filling the vein. These striations are known
by the name of slickensides. The same force which pro-
duce slickensides may also widen the fissure, and give there-
by access to the vapour generated beneath, and at great
depths.

Mineral veins are both complex and compound in their
structure Complexity may therefore be expected to have
ensued in the details of their filling. That these are not al-
ways to be ascribed to one cause is evident, and the recogni-
tion of those forces, of which we have the clearest evidence,
are . developed through the instrumentality of a high tem-
perature beneath the earth's crust, will go lar to explain ma-
ny phenomena which a single force leaves in the dark.

§ 123. Native metals, in the form of deposits in the con-
solidated sediment, similar to the oxide of iron, are some-
what rare. In North-Carolina, however, native gold must be
regarded as a sediment. The deposits in which it occurs
want the essential characteristics of veins; that of walls
showing that receptacles of the metal were never fissures.
The width of these depositories vary from a few inches to

NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 107

sixty or seventy feet. The line of demarkation between the
gold bearing stratum and the unproductive rock is rarely dis-
tinct, and is usually determined by trial ; but to the eye it is
extremely difficult to determine this line.

§ 124. The depositories which belong to this class, are the
Jones & Lauflin mines in Davidson, the Howie mine in
Union, and the mine near Zion, in Montgomery county.
Tliese deposits I had suspected for a long time to have been
cotemporaneous with the rock ; but the evidence that gold
was truly a sediment, might not be fully sustained by the
facts I had to present. But the occurrence of fossils at the
last locality in the midst of the gold, and with the debris of
the rock containing gold, and often visible in it, showing that
it is not derived from an intruded decomposed dyke or por-
phyry, sets the matter at rest. More than $100,000 have
been taken from this deposit. These beds containing gold are
quite numerous and important in North Carolina. These de-
posits are usually in the talcose slates, which are impregnated
with the oxide of iron, derived from the decomposed sul-
phuret of iron. The deposit at Zion is in quartz, which over-
lies a brecciated conglomerate.

I am unable to learn that this fact respecting gold, under
the circumstances I have now communicated, had been sus-
pected. A moments reflection, however, will satisfy any one
that this mode of occurrence presents nothing very remarka-
ble. Other metals occur in this mode in the form of oxides,
while gold being unoxidable, occurs in its metalic state.

108 NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

CHAPTER XVIIL

Direction of the axis of disturbance or the lines of faults and
of Dyke Fissures — Direction of Vein Fissures — General
conclusions, etc.

§ 125. The geological map of l^ortli-Carolina, now in pro-
gress, will show that there are certain lines or axis which are
constantly directed to certain points of the compass, or which
do not deviate materially from those points. These indicate
the axis of disturbance which may have occurred in any giv-
en mineral district.

Taking the direction of the trap dykes, we shall find that
their line of bearing approaches nearly north east and south
west. There is, however, a variation amounting to many de-
grees, so that the limits being given, the result would show
that they run from N. 10° E. to N. 35° E. Of twenty dykes
which occur in the width of twenty rods, the direction is
about 20° E. A group of dykes occurs between Greensbo-
rough and Lexington, about fourteen miles east of the latter
place, upon a remarkable trappean belt between the slates of
the Taconic system and the Greensborough and Salisbury
granite, a sienitic granite, which is remarkably metaliferous.
This belt, wherever exposed, exhibits a cluster of dykes and
veins, which are frequently interlaced with each. The veins
of felspar are intersected by tlie trap in a few instances,
showing that the former are the oldest.

The vein fissures, though they too are intersected by dykes,
pursue a course approaching to parallelism with each other,
and their range of direction N. 10° W. and N. 70° E., by far
the greater number are about N. 30° E.

The ranges of hills are usually parallel with the Blue
Ilidge. In no instance is the direction of the out crop of a
rock or its strike coincident with the ridges, they always cross
them obliquely, while, however, if the strike of the series of
knobs and ridges are taken together, there is a close corres-

NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL STJEVET, 109

pondence between the strike of the rock and that of the
ridges ; but when each is taken by itself, they never coin-
cide.

The axis of disturbance, therefore, and the bearing of veins
and dykes which show the direction of fissures, are parallel,
or nearly so ; though if the subordinate segments only are
taken into the reckoning, as a separate and distinct ridge,
there would be a decided deviation from parallelism.

§ 126. The relation of dylces mid veins to ridges^ or the
the more elevated jparts of the countnj. — The mining district
of !N'orth-Carolina, and indeed of the southern States, occu-
pies the second belt of table land. Throughout this belt, the
vein fissures more frequently occupy those positions which
are only moderately elevated. The highest hills of Davidson,
Randolph, Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, Rowan, etc., are rarely if
ever traversed by vein fissures. The Gold Hill vein runs
nearly parallel to a ridge along its crest. Other examples of
productive veins are as common in valleys as upon ridges.
The highest ridges of Randolph and Davidson are formed of
exceedingly hard quartzite, and though veins sometimes occu-
py some of the highest points, yet, I do not know of a pro-
ductive vein upon those points or ridges. The country may
be regarded as low Mdiere the vein fissures are the most nu-
merous, as near the Pioneer mine in Cabarrus county. Tliere
is, however, no necessar}'- relation between the height of the
country and the frequency or infrequency of veins or elvans.

§ 127. The prevailing dip of the rock is to the north west,
which continues to the line of junction with the gneiss and
mica slate of the flanks of the Blue Ridge. The north west
dips are an exception to the prevalent dips of the Blue Ridge.
I am unable to determine the age of the fissures and elvan
courses by their direction. Tliere is no doubt respecting
the fact, however, that the vein fissures belong at least to
two epochs, as I have elsewhere remarked ; but the lodes or
veins are so nearly coincident, that it is impossible to deter-
mine the fact from the direction of the fissure, seeing they
belong to adjacent districts.

110 NORTI^'OAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL 8UEVEY.

1. General conclusions respecting the distribution of veins,
etc. — Although the dynamics of vein fissures are not as yet
sufficiently elucidated to enable geologists to explain all the
phenomena attending them, still there are certain facts which
throw much light upon the forces which have been active in
their production. Thus it is true in the general, that vein
fissures are near the centres of disturbance, and in the vicini-
ty of eruptive rocks ; when they travei'se the newer forma-
tions, it is proof conclusive that these eruptive rocks are con-
nected, in some way, with their production. Tliis view is
sustained by facts of a negative kind, that where eruptive
centres are unknown, vein fissures are extremely rare.

The foregoing conclusion is consented to by the most dis-
tinguished writers and observers, and observations in North-
Carolina sustain the position. In the region where eruptive
rocks occur, there the most productive mines have been
found ; yet there are tracts or districts where the country in
riddled with trap dykes, which are not known to be rich in
veins of metal. In parts of New England granite veins are
very numerous, yet veins of the metals are scarcely known.
Still the rich districts abound in trap dykes and elvans.

2. Minerals are distrihy.icd in districts. — It is extremely
rare that a single vein is alone, and has no companions. In
ISTorth-Carolina the districts are elongated, or lie in belts.
Tlie slate formation to which Gold Hill belongs stretches
nearly across the State. Parallel with the slate, and close to
its borders on the west, lies the granite belt, which is rich in
metals, and is equally extensive.

Another mineral belt or district extends from King's moun-
tain through Lincoln county to the Catawba, in the direction
of Sherril's ford.

These examples of mineral districts are so distinct, that the
facts have been recognized by many competent observers.

3. As productive veins are related geographically as well
as geologically to eruptive rocks, they must be regarded aa
proximately connected with their filling by the metals. Tliat
they may be instrumental in tlie dry way of producing thip

NOBTH-OAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL BUEVBY. Ill

effect by opening passages to the Zones of incandescent mat-
ter, or of converting fissures into galleries of sublimation,
seems bighly probable. M. Neekar, I believe, was the first
who proposed this theory.

4. I have made no allusion to the electrical theory of Mr.
Fox, a theory which many seem to favor and even adopt.
But it has always been objectionable, on the ground that the
consequent is put for the antecedent. The fact that electri-
cal currents circulate in fissures, is no proof that they were
the efiicient cause which was instrumental in filling them.
The parts of a fissure, considered as a whole, may be regard-
ed as an apparatus sufficiently complete to develop currents,
or to disturb the electric equilibrium. In this view, it may
arrange the materials already in the vein, but not collect
them from a distance. The currents are created, or set in
motion, after the apparatus is put together, but they had no
part in its creation. It is by no means strange that electrical
currents are developed under the circumstances, when, in
fact, every chemical change is attended with the excitation
of electricity. The water of the mine is often charged with
the sulphates and other salts, a condition favorable for elec-
trical disturbance, as well as farther chemical decompositions.

113 NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

CIIAPTEK XIX.

Mepositories of the metals in the midland counties of North-
Carolina — They belong to hoth divisions of the rocks, the
primary or pyrocrystaUine, and the sediments. — In the for-
mer, they are always in veins, or else in heds of the same
epoch with the roch / in the latter, in veins, and in the con-
dition of sediments. — Of the ores of iron.

% 128. Oiir knowledge of the repositories of the ores and
metals has been progressive. The establishment of the fact
that gold occurs as a sediment, was not known prior to the
commencement of the geological survey of this State. The
occurrence of the magnetic and specular oxides of iron in
veins in the oldest sediment of North-Carolina, has also been
established during its progress.

The pyrocrystalline rocks are traversed by veins carrying
iron, copper and gold. The sediments of the Taconic system
are not only traversed by similar veins of a later epoch than
the former, but contain strata also richly charged with metal.
In North-Carolina there are no masses of u'on ore contempo-
raneous with the rock inclosing it, as in the northern part of
New York, where the hypersthene contains masses five or
six hundred feet across, and which are evidently of the Same
age as the rock. The iron here is mostly in veins, whether
in the primary rocks or in the Taconic system. Where the
iron occurs as in New York, the rock is an eruptive one, in
the molten mass of which, the iron it contains, becomes in-
termingled while in a state of fusion.

§ 129. Of the iron ores of the midland counties. — As I
have already remarked, the iron ores occur mostly in veins.
It is true that the haematites or brown ores and bog ores form
beds in the soil ; and near the surface, and to a very limited
extent also, particles of magnetic iron are disseminated in the
consolidated sediment. The black sand, so common by tlie
road side, has been detached very frequently from the strati-

NOETH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 113

fied rocks or tlie sediment. But I know of no strata in any
of the sediments, rich enough in black sand or magnetic iron
to be of any vahie. But its occurrence very frequently gives
us some information resj)ecting the origin of the rocks in
which it is found, or from which it has been detached. It is
an interesting fact, that where a vein of the oxide of iron is
found, it is always in proximity to one or more trap dykes.

As an illustration of this statement, I have inserted fig. 15.
It is merely intended as a general illustration of the fact ;
and is taken from one of actual occurrence.

Fig. 15. * A vein of magnetic iron \d d d d

four parallel trap dykes ; 5, coarse
pyrocrystalline limestone ; c, quartz
vein.

In this diagram the masses all be-
long to the eruptive rocks ; but it
will be observed, that the trap dykes
were formed subsequently to the vein
of iron, because one of them inter-
sects it. The quartz vein is also cut
by the dyke. But I have exhibited this diagram for the pur-
pose of illustrating the general fact referred to ; that the
veins of the metals are accompanied with trap, which is emi-
nently an eruptive rock ; but they are never contemporane-
ous, and the trap is the intersecting rock, and of course runs
in a different direction from the metallic veins.

Trap dykes, although troublesome neighbors to the miner,
yet their indications are favorable ; they are indicative of a
mining district — especially when numerous.

The midland counties are traversed by three parallel belts
of magnetic ore, or, in some places, the ore is changed to a
variety called specular ore.

Beginning at the western part of the midland counties,
the first belt to be described, passes from six to seven miles
east of Lincolnton. It is the prolongation of the King's
mountain ore, in Gaston count}^ The geological position of
this belt is given on plate 14, section 1. It immediately ad-
joins or belongs to the belt of sediments which has been de-
8

114 NOETH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SUEVET.

scribed as passing near Lincolnton. At Lincolnton, tlie rock
is mostly a coarse light gray micaceous gi-anite. Beds of
slate, limestone and qnartzite, succeed it on the east ; but be-
tween this and the gneiss, a little farther east, are the veins
of magnetic ore. The position of the narrow belt of talcose
slate in which the ore occurs, is below or behind the heavy
masses of granular quartz. These masses of quartz, as they
are continuous from the South-Carolina line to the Catawba,
are land marks for the position of the ore. There is no ore
above the quartz, and I do not know that there is any in the
gneiss represented as below the veins of iron in the section
referred to. The careful consideration therefore of such re-
lations, are of great importance ; they furnish the clue to the
actual position of the veins.

The rocks and ore taken in masses stand in this order, be-
ginning our reckoning on the west :

The quartz being a rock easily distinguished, becomes a
guide to the position of the ore.

These ore beds or veins of which I am speaking, are situ-
ated six or seven miles eastward of Lincolnton, and upon the
north side of the plank road. The limestone is a mile west of
the belt of oxe.

The ore is usually near the crest of a ridge, and here it
traverses the parallel ridges, which, however, it crosses very
obliquely. There is no instance in which the vein runs pre-
cisely parallel with a ridge, or follows it ; it makes, in this in-
stance, to the east. This fact should not be lost sight of in
tracing the veins ; they may be exactly upon the crest Jn one
instance, but in the prolongation northward they will be
found to have made to the eastward of the same prolonged
ridge.

NOETH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY. 115

The direction of bearing, as determined by tlie harder
masses of rock, is N. 20° E. — and what is said respecting the
bearing of the ore beds to the east, is true also of the rock
'and strata in which they occur.

§ 130. Certain pecuHarities respecting the veins of mag-
netic ore of Lincoln county require a notice in this place :

1. They are of a flattened oval form, that is, a vein is di-
vided into sections, each of which partake of this form ; the
thin edge, perhaps, not making an outcrop at all, but is in-
closed between strata and slate, which come together at the
surface. This thin edge of ore, with its oval mass, hes ob-
liquely in the slate, widening as it descends, imtil it reaches
its maximum width, where it narrows below to its inferior
edge. The thickness of the upper mass may be less than
twelve inches. This laps on to the west side of another flat-
tened oval mass, which lies behind the first ; but in its descent
widens to a greater width than the first.

Some of the veins increase in width in this way, where, at
the depth of sixty feet, they are six to eight feet wide. In
worldng these veins, it is important to notice this arrange-
ment, and especially the setting back of each oval mass ; it
invariably begins behind the up^jer, and against the foot wall.
An arrangement of this kind is represented in Plate 10, in a
transverse section of the auriferous vein at Gold Hill. It is
not, therefore, peculiar or confined to the magnetic ore veins,
but seems to be common to many kinds of veins of ores.

§ 131. The ore of the veins under consideration is usually
tine grained, or very rarely coarse ; it belongs to the variety
which is termed soft ; that is, it breaks readily, and may be
crushed in the hand. This softness arises j^artly from the
mixture of talcose slate, by which the grains are separated
from each other, and their coherence diminished. This fact
exerts a favorable influence in smelting, as by it the ore
is readily reduced to a size for the fire, and the fluxes to act
readily upon it. It is also very strongl}'^ magnetic. Tlie
upper part of the veins have generally undergone disintegra-
tion, and the mass of ore is frequently in the condition of a
shghtly coherent red mass, which readily passes into the con-

116 NOETH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SUETEY.

dition of a powder. On the outside especially this chatige
has taken place, while the interior of a mass may be still oc-
cupied by a black unchanged ore, in the condition of grains.
These changes are confined to the upper part of the vein, and
only extend to that point where it is constantly wet.

These veins of ore in Lincoln county have been worked
for a long period, and they have been and still are celebrated
for the good quality of the iron which they furnish, especiah
ly when reduced with proper care. The iron has been fa-
mous for its toughness and great strength, and the facility
with which it is made into blooms.

Messrs. Brevard and Johnson, are the principal owners of
the depositories of ore in this belt. Being in the interior of
the State, the only market which this iron finds is a home
market; smiths generally obtaining the necessary supply
from them. A much wider range of sale may be antici-
pated, provided Lincoln county becomes connected with Wil-
mington and the Seaboard, by means of a railway. Tlie ore
being inexhaustible, water power to move machinery being
abundant, and more than all, a sufficiency of fuel for char-
coal, makes the production of iron cheap. By aid of rail-
ways to take it to market, there is no question the iron may
compete successfully with northern iron in a northern mar-
ket. Charcoal iron must always have a preference over all
others ; and, for special purposes, no other can be used. For
all uses where machinery is exposed to great strains, no other
will do ; especially, in those parts of a vehicle which are lia-
lile to break, as the axles of locomotives, etc.

§ 132. The prolongation of the Lincoln county ore appears
in the next place not far from the High Shoals of the Little
Catawba.

It preserves the same relations to the slate, quartz and
limestone, as those veins which have been already described.
The character of the ore, however, in certain places, has
changed. Near the High Shoals, or upon the property known
l)y this name, there are three locations called banks, from
which the ore has been obtained. The first is known as the
Ferguson bank. At this place the ore is brown; it has

NOETH-CAKOLmA GEOLOGICAL SUKVEY. 117

become peroxidated, and has the color of snuff. The un-
changed ore is largely intermixed witli sulphnret of iron.
It is unfit for bar iron, but may be employed for casting along
with better ores ; in small quantities it makes a smoother
casting than the purer ores. When the Ferguson ore is en-
tirely decomposed, it makes a very good iron in the forge.

The Ellis ore bank, is about three miles from the site of
Fullenwider's old furnace. It lies in the direction of King's
mountain. It is a black ore, and the vein is eighteen feet
wide. Its direction is IST. 20° E. It makes good iron, and is
inexhaustible.

The Carson ore bank is the most easterly of the three. It
is the common black magnetic ore, but is remarkably jointed,
and hence breaks into distinct angular pieces. This property,
or the High Shoal property, is well provided with the means
for manufacturing iron ; the water power, the ore and fuel
for coal is abundant on the premises. It contains 14,000
acres of land, and the south east part of w^hich is valuable for
tillage.

The belt of ore with the same series of rocks continues to
King's mountain, in the vicinity of which iron has been made
for more tlian half a century. One of the principal veins is
forty feet thick. The business is carried on by Mr. Briggs,
who supplies the country with iron of an excellent quality.
The general character of the belt is preserved still farther
south. It passes into South-Carolina, extending to the Lime-
stone Springs, in the Spartanburg district ; or to the Broad
river, where iron works have been erected.

In addition to the seams of magnetic ore which belong to
this very extensive belt, there are beds of hasmatite near the
top of King's mountain.

Crowder's mountain also furnishes the peroxide or specular
ore near the top, and is said to constitute a vein six or seven
feet wide. This I have not visited. It is evident, from the
foregoing statements, that this important ore is widely dis-
tributed in Catawba, Lincoln and Gaston counties. There is
no probability, however, that the ore has been discovered at
all the accessible points. There is but little doubt, that upon

118 NORTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURN:^T.

this long belt, extending from the Catawba at Slierrill's ford
to the Broad river in South- Carolina, at the Limestone
Springs, other points not yet foimd will come to light, which
will greatly add to the amount already known to exist.
There seems, however, to be so much which is now accessi-
ble, that the inducements for finding more are not very im-
perative, even with those who are engaged in its manufac-
ture ; besides, the impossibility of taking it to a distant mar-
ket, or one much beyond what may be called the home circle
of trade, must remain for the present a drawback upon this
branch of industry.

§ 133. I have stated in what relation the foregoing belt of
iron ore is found ; that it is in close proximity to a narrow
])elt of sediments. I am not satisfied, however, respecting a
question which might be raised, viz., whether it belongs
strictly to this belt, and to the same epoch. I am inclined
to regard it as an inferior series ; but geologically belong-
ing to the system of sediments whicli overlie those slates.
But it is a qxiestion which is open for discussion ; one which
may be debated, or which is by no means satisfactorily settled.

§ 134. The second helt of i7'on ore iii the midland counties.
It may be regarded as beginning in Montgomery county. It
passes through Randolph county near Franklinville, thence
into Guilford county, and appears again ten miles west of
Greensborough, beyond which I have not traced it ; and in-
deed do not know that on this immediate line of direction
iron ore veins are known.

The ore is upon the land of Mr. DeBerri, and I believe is
six or seven miles in a south west direction from Troy. The
country about it is uncultivated, and covered in the imme-
diate vicinity with the long leafed pine.

The relations of the ore to the surrounding rocks, is as follows :

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NOETH-CAEOLmA GEOLOGICAL SUEVET. 119

The beds are traversed by a narrow bed of hornblende,
which, however, is not in a parallel position.

The mass of ore is about fifty feet wide. It occupies a
heavy knoll or hill of a moderate height. How far the ore
extends in the direction of its strike, I did not determine.
It may be traced a quarter-of-a-mile, but being concealed by
debris, its extent could not be determined without excava-
tions.

At the surface it is silicious ; but subordinate seams of pure
heavy ore attest to the purit}'- of the mass, as it will be found
below.

This ore is a peroxide at the surface. Its strike is N. 30°
E., and dip K. W. at a steep angle. It is jointed, and breaks
into angular pieces. The ore has never been noticed, and of
course no trials have been made respecting the mode in
which it will work, or the kind of iron it will make ; but
being free from sulphuret of iron, it is probable that the
quality of iron will be such as to recommend it to the favor
of iron masters.

About four miles in a northerly direction from Troy, and
in a range with the ore just described, another series of veins
are known, and which lie in the neighborhood of the Carter
gold mine.

This ore is the magnetic variety, and much of it is in mi-
nute octahedral crystals. It is very friable, but is intermixed
with talcose slate and grains of quartz, which contributes
very much to its softness. The beds of ore differ in compo-
sition, but stiU it is no objection to the view which I have
taken of them, viz., that they belong to the same epoch. It
sometimes happens that a vein of specular ore lies by the
side of a magnetic vein, being separated only a few feet.

In this belt or range the iron ore of Davie and Stokes coun-
ties should probably be placed. At rather distant points the
ore of this belt appears in a range so direct, that there is no
doubt of its passing entirely across the State. It lies paral-
lel with the limestones and slates ; but I am unable to trace
these rocks across Catawba and Davie counties. We lose,
after crossing the Catawba, the guides which I have spoken

120 NORTH-CAKOLESrA GEOLOGICAX SURVEY.

of. There is some doubt too, respecting the age of the lime-
stone at Germanton ; that is, it seems to be different from
the King's mountain limestone, and still, if the iron ore is
regarded as an eruptive rock, there will be no objection to
combining the Davie and Stokes belts with the King's moun-
tain belt, which passes through Lincoln county. The conti-
nuity of the belt is preserved better in the south than in Da-
vie and Stokes. The ore of Davie presents great advantages
for working, in consequence of the water power of the South
Yadkin ; and as most of the iron used in this and the neigh-
boring counties is brought from Tennessee, it seems that even
a home market is an inducement sufficiently great for the
establishment of iron works upon the South Yadkin.

§ 135. About three or four miles south west from Frank-
lin ville, in an uncultivated part of the country, I found heavy
black massive magnetic ore in abundance, lying in loose
blocks upon the surface. These masses I found in immediate
proximity to a vein of magnetic iron, which appears to be of
a superior quality. This vein, though not in an exact geo-
logical relation with those of Montgomery county, is still re-
moved only a short distance from the quartzite. Its extent
has not been determined, and cannot be, without the sinking of
pits or uncovering the ore. I feel satisfied that it is exten-
sive ; and as it is near Deep river, its importance is enhanced
by this circumstance.

Specular ore was discovered near Trogden mountain many
years ago. The seam, however, is too inconsiderable to com-
mand attention. A shaft was sunk upon it before the pre-
sent inhabitants settled this part of the country. The bright-
ness of the ore probably deceived some discoverer, who mis-
took the ore for silver. Old crucibles and furnaces still at-
test to the unprofitable industry of some expectant of a for-
tune in the splendid lustre of this specular oxide of iron.

§ 136. Ten miles west of Greensborough, in Guilford
county, on a tract of land formerly owned by Mr. Coffin,
two or more veins of magnetic iron of great purity were dis-
covered several years ago It is black and middling coarse,
and has all the external characteristics of a most valuable

NOETH-CAHOLmA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 121

ore. It is unmixed witli any substance which, injures the
qu^Jity of iron, and at the same time sufficiently soft to work
easily, and make a tough iron. In E^ew York, in the mineral
districts where the magnetic ores prevail, it is regarded as an
evidence, and in fact a proof, that an ore which crumbles in
the hand, or is easily broken, will make a soft iron ; while the
hard tough ores, with a bright and shining lustre, will invari-
ably make a hard iron with less toughness or tenacity, besides
it is not reduced so kindly. The dull looking ores are always
regarded as the best ; those especially which become red up-
on the surface.

The ore which I am desci'ibing is a dull looking ore, but
very heavy and free from rock.

Tlie veins to which the surface ore belongs have never
been uncovered or exposed. The distribution upon the sur-
face indicates at least two distinct parallel veins. The sur-
face masses become what is known as loadstone. They are
not only thoroughly magnetic, but have two or more poles,
and of course repel or attract the poles of a common survey-
or's needle, according as the poles are north or south ; north
and south poles attracting, and north poles repelling. I may
state in this connectiou, that a successful method of discov-
ering veins of magnetic iron, is by means of a needle mount-
ed like a dipping needle, but with one pole only. It is there-
fore made one-half of a thin bar of steel, and the other half
of brass. On passing over a concealed vein of ore the nee-
dle is attracted ; and when immediately over the ore, it
points downwards. Its course of direction may be traced by
the same instrument.

The ore upon the plantation of Mr. Coffin is between Brush
creek and Reedy Fork. It extends north, and appears on
the plantation of Mr. Joseph Harris, and onward to Rock-
ingham county to the Troublesome, upon the plantations of
John S. Morehead, Esq., where it is in great force; and
south, it crops out on the plantations of Mr. Joel Chipman
and John Unthanks. Thus it appears to form either another
belt distinct from those I have mentioned, or a subordinate
one. I mention it here as a subordinate one. The ore of Mr.

122 NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

Coffin's mine, even taken from the surface, worked easily, and
made an excellent iron, which is remarkable, for surface ore.

§ 137. The eastern or Chatham belt of iron ore is the least
regular, as it now appears from my present information.
Four or five miles from the Gulf, on the plankroad leading
north, or towards Graham, the specular iron ore crops out on
a ridge, on land owned in part by Mr. Evans. It is widely
and profusely scattered over the surface, but it also appears
in a heavy vein of rich ore some six or eight feet wide. This
vein is in a talcose slate, and in connection also with a rock
which is regarded as soapstone, but which is by no means
magnesian ; it is properly the figure stone or agalmatolite,
and is known at many other places, in connexion with the
iron ores. This vein I have traced three-fourths of a mile.
It has a compact structure and a fine lively grain when fresh-
ly broken, and is entirely free from sulphuret of iron.

It will be seen from the foregoing brief statement, that this
vein is an important and valuable one, being within a short
distance of the Gulf, upon Deep river. The ground is de-
scending to the river, a short distance only over the sandstone
can be regarded as hilly. The raising of the ore too, will be
attended with less cost than usual, inasmuch as the excava-
tions may be drained for a long time, and will therefore save
the expense of pumping by steam power.

Another seam or vein exists in this vicinity on lands owned
by Mr. Glass. It is the crystallized specular ore, but I have
seen it only upon the surface. Not far distant is the famous
locality of haematite, usually known as ore hill. It occupies
a knob some two or three hundred feet above the surround-
ing country. The ore lies in belts, which traverse the hill in
an easterly and westerly direction. Quartzite forms the pin-
nacle of the hill, and as usual, is associated with talcose slate.
The ore is more immediately associated with the latter rock.

It is from this place that the ore was procured mainly in
the time of the revolution. The old excavations are partially
filled. The ore is in large concretions or masses, which, in
their general arrangement, lie across the hill. It is not, I
believe, in one body, as has been supposed by many. The

NOETH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SUEVET. 123

quantity I am unable to estimate ; but appearances go to
siiow that it must be large.

Some of the first ores of this neighborhood I found upon
the plantation of Mr. Heading. It is magnetic, and resem-
bles ver}'- closely the kind I have already spoken of in Guilford
county, on the plantation of the late Mr. Coffin. I have not,
however, seen the vein from which the remarkably fine spe-
cimens were derived.

Magnetic ore of a fine quality exists also on the plantation
of Mr. Temple Unthanks. It is two or three miles beyond
Mr. Evans' vein, and about three-fourths of a mile from the
plankroad. The vein varies in width from one to three feet.
From the foregoing statement, it will be perceived that in
this part of Chatham county there is a valuable mineral dis-
trict ; furnishing three species of iron ore, the haematite^ mag-
netic and sjpecular. These are the principal ores from which
iron is obtained. These repositories also contain ore of great
purity, difi'ering from each other, however, in richness and
other qualities ; a fact of considerable importance in the
manufacture of iron. It is by a combination of difi'erent
ores, possessing difi'erent qualities, that the manufacture of
this metal is facilitated, and by which one possessing the most
desirable qualities is obtained. I shall have occasion, how-
ever, farther on, to add two kinds of ore to the foregoing list ;
that of the hydrated oxide, mixed with carbonate and the
celebrated ore called the black band, which belongs to the
coal formation of Deep river. It is this first from which
Pennsylvania manufactures her iron principally, though
not entu'ely. Her iron masters also use the magnetic ores.
The two kinds are mixed. Experience proves the value of
the method. But who would suppose that iron masters, in
order to obtain the results they seek for, could afford to trans-
port the magnetic ore from Essex county, in northern I^Tew
York, to Pittsburg? and yet thousands of tons are annually
sent there for this purpose. —

Chatham county, however, can furnish within the radius of
seven or eight miles, five kinds of ore in abundance. It ap-
pears that the ore of this coal field, though less in extent

124 NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGIOAi SURVEY.

than that of the true carboniferous in Pennsylvania; yet,
there has been deposited in this formation, iron ores on as
large a scale as in the true carboniferous. Many are slow to
!)elieve it, but I do not see any way to avoid the conclusion,
seeing that an outcrop of it may be traced thirty miles.
These beds, too, have been cut in the great shaft at Egypt, a
thousand feet or more within the outcrop. But this is not
the place to enter into a statement of details concerning this
great deposit of iron ore. I shall give all the facts respect-
ing it, when this formation comes up in its proper place for
consideration.

But, one word more respecting facilities for the manufac-
ture of iron upon Deep river. It has been supposed that
Penns^dvania must enjoy a monojjoly in the manufacture of
this indispensable metal, in consequence of the extent of her
possessions, and the vast amount of anthracite which she can
employ. Of the extent of her resources in this respect no
one can doubt. She can make iron cheaply by her anthra-
cite, but no cheaper than it can be made on Deep river by
bituminous coal or coke ; and coke-made iron will be as good
as that made by charcoal, in consequence of the purity of
the bituminous coal on Deep river. And in the manufacture
of coke, I believe products of distillation may be obtained
which will more than pay the cost of making the coke. But
this is a matter to be tried, and does not properly come in for
consideration now. What I wish to say is, that in the coal
of Deep river, the manuflicturer has all the material he can
want for this purpose ; and if a better article of iron can be
made from coke than by anthracite, then, in a district of
equal extent, North-Carolina has advantages over Pennsyl-
vania, for the manufacture of iron. In proof of this, I repeat
that she has, 1st. The peculiar ore of the coal fields ; 2d.
The magnetic, specular and htematitic ores of the primary
and palaeozoic rocks in immediate proximity ; 3d. The use of
coke by which to make the iron; 4th. A fine agricultural
region for the cereals, and 5th. A milder climate and rivers
both for moving machinery and transportation, which is un.
obstructed in the winter. The cost of living, and the means

NOETH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. " 125

for conducting the business, will be miicli cheaper. These
advantages are too obvious to require comment or farther
explanation.

§ 138. Iron ore may exist in districts where it can be of
little value only ; there may be a destitution of fuel, or a
want of water-power, though, with respect to the latter, it
can be dispensed with when there is an abundance of the
former.

In the first belt described, that which belongs to the King's
Mountain belt, there is yet timber and wood for a supply for
many years, I know not how many. The country is yet
thinly settled, although it was cultivated before the day of
the famous battle of King's Mountain. Oaks, chestnut, pine
and hickory yet cover the ridges and plane-grounds of the
Great and Little Catawbas. The water-courses furnish all
the power required for moving machinery. It is strictly a
district created for manufacturing purposes, supplying in it-
self all that is wanted to conduct the various manipulations
required in creating what may be termed the raw materials
for the arts.

The second belt, that which begins in Montgomery county,
and passes through Handolph and onwards in a north-
eastwardly direction, is also supplied v/ith timber, and wood
and water-power. The forests of the long-leaved pine, stili
untouched by the boxing-axe and scraper of the turpentine
merchant, are certainly the finest in this or any other State.
The hills of Randolph are still clothed with trees.

The third belt, that which belongs to Chatham county, but
which also passes into Orange in the direction of Ked moun-
tain, to which the belt of iron ore is prolonged, has its forests
of long-leaved pine, as well as its oaks, ash and hickory tim-
bers. Rocky river. Deep river. Haw and ISTew Hope, furnish
all the mechanical power required for moving machinery.

It i^ evident, therefore, after a careful examination of the
premises in each belt, or district, that there is not lacking
any thing, which is necessary for the successful prosecu-
tion of the iron business — except capital. The great high-

126 NOETH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SUEVET.

ways are being opened to market, and I see no reason why
capitalists may not now step in and reap the harvests.

There are still subordinate deposits of iron ore which have
not been mentioned. In Johnston county., four miles west
of Smithfield, there is a large deposit of haematite. It is con-
nected with the quartzite of the locality. It is in the geolog-
ical position in which it is common to find large accumula-
tions of ore. It is in this respect situated like those of Berk-
shire county, Massachusetts, and Cherokee and Lincoln coun-
ties, North-Carolina.

Seven or eight miles south-west from Raleigh, in "VVake
county, the rock is an argillaceous slate and chloritic slate.
jSTear Mr. Whitaker's, a bluff of haematite, in the hydrous
peroxide of iron, is displayed very prominently. The whole
formation is similar to the locality already described, near
Smithfield, Johnston county. A thin seam of copper pyrites
has been noticed in the same formation, in a vein stone of
quartz eight inches wide, but it is of no account. The argil-
laceous slate resembles that of Davidson county.

Two miles south-west from Licolnton, Lincoln county, there
is a fine bed of haematite which was not noticed in its proper
place.

In Orange county, also in the range of Red mountain, ex-
tensive ore beds have been discovered, as I am informed by
Mr. Gillis, of Granville county, who made explorations for
me in this part of the State, and which I state on his authority.

In conclusion of this branch of the report, I have no hesi-
tation in assuming the responsibility of assuring the citizens
of North-Carolina, that the quantity of iron ore in the mid-
land counties is enough to warrant the establishment of fur-
naces or forges, for its manufacture in all the districts
which I have named. It is not so much, however, a question
of quantity or quality as of expediency, at the present time.
The time for moving in enterprizes of this kind, must be left
to the judgment of parties. The great drawback, as all know,
in this business has been the expense of carrying the manu-
factured article to market. This bar to the enterprize it

NORTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 127

is hoped and believed is about to be removed — ^is removed
in some of the districts referred to.

Carbonate of Iron,, or Steel Ore. — The localities of this
mineral are rather numerous in I*Torth-Carolina. It is not
yet determined, however, whether they possess any value as
iron ore, for the production of iron. That it is frequently
valuable as a flux for smelting copper is conceded, or has
been proved by trial. The drawback upon this species of
ore, for the production of iron or steel, lies in the presence of
copper pyrites. It is not in beds, but an associate of other
metals or ores, and is their vein stone, and hence is more or
less intermixed with them. But in parts of several mines,
as the IS^orth-Carolina copper mine, the copper is absent, and
it is only intermixed with quartz.

In the vicinity of Gen. Gray's, upon the head waters of
the Uwharrie, carbonate of iron is a very common substance.
Upon the plantation of Mr. Johnson, a vein composed main-
ly of this substance has been exposed, by sinking two or
three shafts, for the purpose of testing it for gold. This vein
is pure enough for making iron. It carries gold in its quartz,
but the quantity of the sul^Dhurets is inconsiderable. I ob-
served it at several places in this district. It is not however
expected that this ore will be used by itself in the manufac-
ture of iron. But where it exists in the vicinity of other
ores, it will form an excellent addition as a flux, while it will
also control the quantity of reduced iron, in the ultimate
result.

Reca'pitulaiion of the leading facts respecting the Ores of
Iron. — 1. The ores of iron, although they do not make an ex-
traordinary show upon the surface, yet, it will be seen fi'om
the foregoing statements, that they constitute an important
source of wealth.

2. These ores embrace those which are known to be the
most important ones for the production of iron, and embrace
the brown oxides, or hsematites, the specular and magnetic,
or black oxide of iron.

3. They are distributed in the midland counties in belts,
and though it cannot be shown that they form continuous

128 NOETH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SITEVEY.

masses or veins, still tliey lie in certain ranges, throiigli which
they may be traced, and upon which they appear at the sur-
face at intervals.

4. They belong to both series of rocks, the pyrocrystal-
line and sedimentary ; in both they occur in veins, which of
course proves that they belong to a later period than that to
which the rock itself belongs.

5. Those veins which belong to the sediments appear to
hold a fixed relation to the quartzite or sandstone near the
base of the Taconic system, being, so far as yet known, be-
hind or beneath it, in slates which may be termed the bottom
rocks of the sediments.

6. The haematites accompany, in several instances at least,
the quartz rock already referred to ; and they bear the marks
of having been derived from pre-existing ores.

7. Experience has proved that the magnetic ores make a
superior iron. The specular has not been tested in the fur-
nace or forge, but their purity is a sufficient guarantee of
their value.

CHAPTER XX.

R&posiiories of the Metals continued. — Gold and its position,
relations^ etc.

§ 139. The gold of North-Carolina belongs to four differ
ent geological positions : 1. The loose quartz grits beneath
the surface soil ; 2. In stratified layers, which are cotempo-
raneous with the rock ; 3. In connection with seams and
joints of the rocks, and probably also diflused in the mass ;
4. In regular veins associated with quartz, and the sulplni
rets of iron and copper.

NOETH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SUEVET. 129

The quartz grits form loose beds, in "which, as the name
implies, quartz is the characteristic mineral. It is both an-
gular and rounded, and is invariably made up of broken
down quartz veins, which were auriferous. Tliis grit rests
usually on the rocky bed below, it may be granite, slate or
hornblende, or almost any rock.

The origin of this grit and the gold it contains, belongs to
the present epoch ; and the formation of it is due to the ac-
tion, in part at least, of existing forces.

In every region of the State where gold is known, this
formation is known ; it is coextensive with the auriferous for-
mations. It is, however, variable in thickness, depth and
richness.

We do not, however, know when or how long ago the dis-
integration of the gold rocks of this State began. Tlie rocks
themselves are the oldest, and as they have not received up-
on them other deposits than those which are derived from
themselves, it is clear that the process of disintegration may
have been going on from the remotest periods ; and hence,
the oldest of the quartz grits containing gold may be contem-
poraneous with the Silurian system. What I have said in a
foregoing paragraph respecting the age of the auriferous
grits, means merely that the process is going on now.

A large proportion of the gold which has been obtained in
all periods, has been obtained from this formation. Most of
the gold from California and Austraha is taken from it. All
the large pieces come from it. A fact of curious import.
Very few instances have occurred of lumps weighing several
pounds which were still imbedded in the vein, though vein
stone is usually attached to those whicli are found in the
soil. In Catawba county, at the Cansler and Shuford
mine, pieces weighing over a jjound have been taken from
the rock near the surface. It does not appear necessary to
dwell upon these deposits of gold. They are well understood
in this State. It may be useful to state that in forming an
opinion of the richness of a vein, or of the rock Avhicli forms
the deposit, it is necessary to make a great allowance ; it is
not safe to infer from a rich washing that the vein must be
9

130 NORTH- CABOLINA GEOLOGICAX. SUEVEY.

rich also. The gold has been accumulating, it may be, for a
long period ; and a large quantity of vein or rock has con-
tributed to the amount of gold obtained. A sauce pan full
of debris gives a grain or two of gold perhaps, but it may be,
that originally, this gold was distributed through twice the
quantity of material taken for the experiment ; or, to take
another case, it often happens that the gold is unequally
distributed in the rock or vein, a very rich spot may be hit
upon, which was derived from a single spot in the vein. Thin
result would give no criterion by which to judge of the rich-
ness of the whole vein. It is hardly necessary to say that
many experimental tests should be made, before a conclusion
is formed of the richness of the rock from which the gold
came.

§ 14:0. The second geological position in w^hich I find gold,
is in layers or heds in the roch with which it is contempora-
neous. If this view is correct, gold is a sediment ; and be-
longs, as I shall show, to the palaeozoic period. I do not
know that we could infer this from its occurrence in the
quartz grits which have been spoken of, though we might
probably be satisfied that this formation belonged to a distant
epoch.

These ancient auriferous deposits may be distinguished
from veins by the absence of walls ; there is really no line of
demarkation between the auriferous layers and the adjacent
ones. They can be determined only by testing, except by
miners, who have become perfectly familiar with the bed or
layer ; even those are not aware of a change, except by the
absence of gold, or until it is proved by panning. A slide,
for example, has taken place, the auriferous layer is shifted :
yet the miner works along the plane of dip, and only discov-
ers the absence of gold in the mode I have stated. These
facts go to prove most conclusively that a fissure never was
formed, and that the layer has become auriferous by the
deposition of gold, in conipany with the sedimentar}'- matter
which forms the layer.

I am not able, at this time, to state how widely gold is dis-
seminated in the pa]a30zoic rocks; but from indications deriv-

NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 131

ed from a few facts, it appears probable that it may be wide-
ly diffused or contained in most of tlie rocks in North-Caro-
lina which belong to the Taconic system. Tims, in Randolph
county, small qiiantites of gold may be obtained from every
ravine, and frequently from the surface soil in which there is
not a particle of quartz grits ; it seems therefore to have been
derived at large from the rock, and not from broken down
veins. But it should be understood that the strata in which
the quantity is sufficient to pa}^ a profit, are rare.

§ 141. The first de]30sit to which I shall call the attention
of the reader, is known as the Jones mine. It is situated in
Davidson county, about three miles east of Spencer's post
office. It is near the line of Randolph and Davidson coun-
ties, and about three-quarters of a mile from the main road,
and near the dwelling of Mr. Arnold. At this mine, the gold
is disseminated through a mass of soft reddish talcose slate,
sixty feet wide. The auriferous part of the rock may be,
perhaps, more deeply tinged with brown than the rest of it,
but it scarcely differs from it. The auriferous particles are
evidently a decomposed sulphuret of iron, and probably of
fine particles of quartz ; for in the richest part of the mass,
the fine quartz is more abundant than the talc. The whole
has the softness of the talcose slates or a magnesian rock ; a
microscope jiroves that the fine quartz is the most abimdant
material.

The breast of ore as now exposed is sixty feet wide, and
from twenty-five to thirty feet high. This part of the rock
may be broken uj) by the hand, and when it is undermined,
large masses fall of their own weight into the pit. Hence,
it is easily quarried, the mining consisting mainly of cutting
out large slices of the rock by picks, wedges, etc. The main
mass yields from ten to twenty-five cents per bushel of ore.
Fifteen cents is an average, I believe, for the whole breast of
sixty feet. The abundance of ore, the softness of the rock
which enables the owner to work a large quantity per day,
places this mine among the valuable and paying ones in the
State, notwitstanding the small per centage it yields in tlje
mass. Ore of this description pays more than the evpenses

Ida NORTH-CAEoLmA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

of mining and separation of the gold, provided it yields onl}'
ten cents per bushel. This statement will be confirmed,
when it is proven by experiment that six and seven hun-
dred bushels may be worked per day, in consequence of
the condition the ore is in, and the facility with which it is
mined; hence mines of this description, if properly worked
with the few laborers which are required, may become the
most profitable as well as the most valuable of the class.

Although I have classed this mine with the sediments, it is
still important to inform the reader, that immediately adja-
cent to the auriferous mass on the south and south-west, there
is a heavy bed of porphyrized rock. Its presence suggests
the inquiry, whether the agent which changed this mass had
any thing to do with charging the rock with gold ? That fis-
sures are charged with metallic matters by emanations, seems
to be proved. The case, however, under consideration pre-
sents itself under different circumstances; and though I
Arould not deny the possibility of charging a mass of rock
with gold in combination with the volatilizable sulphurets,
still I cannot but regard the idea of its accumulating as n
sediment, as the most simple and probable.

§ 142. Within a mile of the Jones mine, two other mines
of this class have been worked — the Laflflin and Delft mines.
The first yields thirty cents per bushel of ore. The material
is similar to an impure porcelain clay, or it is a pasty mass,
forty feet deep, and mostly contains gold — especially those
parts which contain black sand. It is a decomposed talcose
slate.

It would be superfluous to repeat what has been already
said respecting the Jones mine. Less is loiown of the Delft,
however, than of the Laffiin mine, which is now proving it-
self the best of the three. They are supposed to belong to
the same series of beds. In neither of these mines is it pos-
sible to discover walls which in any sense bound the aurifer-
ous mass.

§ 143. Another in Randolph county, which is similar to
the foregoing, is the Bobbins mine, which is near the plank-
road between Asheborougli and Hunt's store, but is in an

NOETH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY. 133

obscure part of this section of the county. The thickness of
the auriferous mass seldom exceeds two feet. It is, however,
rich only through the thickness of a few inches. It has been
worked sixty feet in depth, but at this point the auriferous
mass is much harder than above ; the sulphuret of iron is un-
decomposed, and the consequence may be foreseen, that the
expenses of mining having become greatly increased, while
the gold obtained is less. The slate, which is brown, reddish
and soft above, is blue and hard below ; and the sulphuret of
iron which carries the gold, is visible and unchanged. Por-
tions of the layers of this mixture yeilded a dollar per bushel ;
but its average is about lift}^ cents in the mass.

§ 144. The well known Sawyer mine in the same county
may be regarded as belonging to the sedimentary class. At
one time it was worked with great success and profit. Cir-
cumstances not connected immediately with the value of this
mine, led to its abandonment several years ago. The bed
ranges N. 50° E., and dips at an angle of 75°-80°. The ma-
terial is a fine grained talcose slate, and disintegrates and
forms a fine white sand. Its beds, therefore, are siliceous.
This mine has five or six parallel beds which are worked in a
single tunnel or gallery. It has yielded six to ten dollars per
bushel of ore, taken from certain parts of the beds. But nar-
row films of ore of reddish color sometimes gave ten times as
nmch. Overlying these beds, is a porous black rock, highly
charged with sulphuret, of iron. Although rich in sulphuret
of iron, which in this district is the principal vein stone, yet
it contains no gold. This mine has always been worked with
profit; but the person who leased it during the last five
years died, and no record of its monthly or annual profits are
accessible.

§ 145. The Howie and Lawson Gold mine in Union count3^
This mine is situated in the hills of Union county, adjacent
to the State line, dividing North from South Carolina. This
is probably ^the most deviated part of the country. The rock
of the county is mostly a clay slate ; but the hills about the
Howie mine are harder, and seem to be intermediate be-
tween a fine talcose and a clay slate. The bearing of the

134 NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

slates is N. 55° E., and the dip nearly vertical. Three dis-
tinct parallel beds have been worked, all of which being de-
posits, are of conrse parallel with the direction of the bearing
of the rock.

The auriferous beds differ from the common slate beds in
their hardness, whicji arises from a larger proportion of
quartz, which is either disseminated or in seams, or inter-
mingled with them irregularl}'-. The quartz is fine, white,
and granular; but on its surface of contact with slate it is
mottled or speckled with brown oxide of iron. It is upon
a surface bearing this peculiar aspect that the gold becomes
visible. Small cavities, partly in the quartz and slate, show
numerous particles of gold ; and some surfaces in the richest
parts of the beds are covered sufficiently to be polished, up-
on which the gold forms a perfect film, as if covered with
gold leaf. The beds are variable in width, but the same seam
is not uniform in this respect. The thinest is six and the
greatest thirty inches. When the seam or bed is only six
inches, it is difficult to follow it in depth, in consequence in
part of the shght difference between the auriferous and non-
auriferous beds; and besides, a slight displacement increases
the difficulty. The thin beds, however, have been followed
in one or two instances to the depth of eighty feet. The
amount of gold yielded per bushel has been variable. Prob-
ably the average amount, when worked by the owners, was
three dollars per bushel. But the statements gave more than
this. The uniform testimony of those who were concerned
in working it was, that there were places where they obtained
one dollar and a half per bushel. I obtained from speci-
mens I procured during my examination at the rate of eleven
dollars per bushel, a bushel weiging one hundred pounds.
The beds are nearly vertical. They have been traced three-
fourths of a mile. An auriferous vein of quartz intersects
these beds, its bearing is !N". 70° E. Some portions yield two
dollars per bushel, but the gold is distributed unequally
through it. At this locality, therefore, we have two kinds of
repositories of gold, each preserving its own characteristics.

Tlie Howie and Lawson mine belongs to two estates. No

NOKTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 135

one fact probably goes farther to prove the estimated value of
these deposits of ore, than the practice of keeping a plumb line
suspended over the exact boundaries, the object of which was
to prevent an encroachment upon their respective premises.
The miserable system prevailed of leasing the mine in small
parcels ; and hence, they were worked without system, and
by excavating an open trench. These parties were usually
men without means ; and hence, vv^hen their trenches extend-
ed to water they were abandoned and another place sought,
where the same plan was pursued. The result which follow-
ed was the abandonment or suspension of the operations.
These valuable mines are, however, now in the hands of one*
who will pursue them with scientific skill.

§ 146. One of the most interesting instances of the occur-
rence of gold in the consolidated sediments, is at a place call-
ed Zion, twelve miles from Troy, in Montgomery county. It
is both interesting and important, because here the fact that
gold is a sediment, is attested by the presence of fossils. This
locality has been already described ; and the geological posi-
tion of the rocks stated. The series consist of sandstones and
chert, wliich rest upon a thick mass of brecciated conglom-
erate, which in its turn overlies talcose slates.

Those parts of the rock which contain gold are brown and
of a loose texture from the presence of the oxide of iron,
which undoubtedly originated from the sulphuret of iron
which is sometimes visible in the rock.

The gold which has been obtained was derived from the
debris of the rock, but the rock itself sometimes shows parti-
cles of gold. The position which seems to have furnished
the most gold is near the bottom of a hollow, or near the
head of a ravine towards which the rock slopes on all sides.
The drainage of these slopes begins in the granular quartz,
and the small stream which originates upon these slopes does
not pass over an eruptive rock of any kind. There is, there-
fore, no doubt respecting the beds from which the gold is
derived.f

* Commodore Stockton.

+ The geological position of these beds is illustrated in Plate 14, section 2.

136 NOKTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

1^0 other locality except this furnishes fossils. With res"
pect to other localities geologists might probably differ as to
the question of the sedimentary origin of the gold, though
there seems to be sufficient evidence, that in those cases al-
ready described, they belong to the same mass. I have al-
ready stated that other localities furnish the fossils in which
the rocks of Zion abound, but I am not aware that they fur-
nish gold also. It is doubtful whether they have been tried.
Notwithstanding the evidence there is of the sedimentary
origin of the gold, it is a curious and interesting fact that it
is visible in seams"^' which traverse the rock. Its relation in
these cases shows, however, that its position has changed since
it was deposited. If the rock was not proved to be a sediment,
its position and relations might be explained by some geolo-
gists by aid of the igneous injection. But this application of
the igneous theory cannot be applied in this case. There is
one fact respecting the distribution of the gold in these sand-
stones in which it differs from that of the slate, it is more
generally distributed in the rock, though it is more abundant
in certain localities than in others. The gold in the slate is
frequently confined to a single bed and only a few inches
thick, and the line of demarkation between the auriferous
and non-auriferous parts is indistinctly defined.

As a mine, the Zion locality has never been regarded of
sufficient consequence to be named, and it is unknown out of
the neighborhood in which it is situated ; yet I was informed
that over one hundred thousand dollars had been obtained
from it.

* These scams are seggregations of quartz which sometimes pass through a fossil ;
they have no connexion with distinct and regular veins.

NOKTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 137

CHAPTEE XXI.

Repositories of the Metals continaiecl — Gold associated with
Quartzite and Slate, and frequently in irregidar veins —
Sea/ms and natural Joints.

§ 147. This class of deposits partakes of the characters which
belong to the sediments proper, described in the preceding
chapter, and those in which the metal is distributed in regu-
lar veins.

The Ward mine, in Davidson county, belongs to this di-
vision or class ; and its description and the accompanying il-
lustration will show what characteristics distinguish it from
those to which it is allied.

The gold of the Ward mine is connected immediately with
quartz seams or irregular veins ; those which do not extend
continuously through the rock but terminate in it, and which
do not pursue the usual direction. There is no direction
which they can be said to pursue in the main. The quartz is
subordinate to slate ; but I am not aware that the latter con-
tains gold, except when it is in contact with the former, or is
distributed in the natural joints, which usually contain a film
of quartz. The distribution of the metal too is irregular, and
is found in pockets or bunches, some of which are very pro-
ductive ; hence, there is more uncertainty in the results, and
the mining operations cannot be conducted in a manner so
systematic as when distributed in regular veins.

The quartz at the Ward mine occupies the crest of a knoll,
and it is so massive, I think, that it is rather one of the prin-
cipal rocks of the formation than a vein. Indeed, it is dis-
similar to the quartz which usually fills a vein fissure ; it is a
mass of quartzite in a drab colored slate ; subordinate also to
the main mass, but separated from it by slate. In fact, the
knoll is made up of reticulations of heavy beds and thin
seams, which intersect the slate in many directions.

138

NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

Figure 16 illustrates the
character of many of the
intersections which occurs,

1, 1, is a vein of quartz
two to three feet thick,

2, 2, seams passing out
from it. Now the main
mass of quartz is too poor
in gold to be worked, and
it is probable that it is

rather confined to its junction with the slate ; but the small
seams 2, 2, are frequently rich. The large vein runs about
east and west, and dips to the north at a steep angle. But
the large mass of quartz upon the summit of the knoll ap-
pears to take the usual direction of the beds of U^is system,
that is north east and south west. The mining has been con-
fined to the south of this great mass of quartz, and hence, as
it is not exposed by cuts, it is still uncertain in what light to
regard it. It resembles, in a few of its characters, the fossili-
ferous quartz of Zion, Montgomery county, and the silicious
slates contain almond shaped concretions.

Fig. 17. The gold of this mine is crystallized.

The crystallizations, however, take the
skeleton form, in which the faces of
the octohedron are represented by
lines and not by smooth faces, as in
the annexed figure. The crystalline
pieces occur in the form of arrow
heads, spears, angular plates, etc. A
very large proportion of the gold is
crystalline. The pockets containing
crystals usually lie in a red siliceous clay, which has been de-
rived from the rock in contact with a seam of quartz. Some
of the pockets have furnished five or six hundred dollars of
crystallized gold.

The greatest quantity of gold, however, has been obtained
by washing the soil, and hence it comes under the usual de-
nomination branch mine. Sevei'al acres have been tested by

NORTH-CAIiOLINA GEOLOGICAI. SUEVET. ISP

panning, and the results obtained show that gold is widely
distributed in the immediate vicinity where the principal
workings have been carried on. The value of this mine is
not jet determined, as it is only very recently that the work
has been conducted with system, and a proper attention to
the peculiarities of the repository.

§ 148. The Hoover Hill gold mine, of Randolph county, ,
may be classed with the foregoing, as the metal is distrib-
uted in irregular bi'anching seams which spring from a heavy
mass of tough quartzite.

The rock is traversed by two systems of joints, and which
may have been developed by a porj)hyrized dyke, whose di-
rection is N. 20° E.

The Hill is intersected by many cuts running in different
directions, which pursue the seams of quartz or the joints by
which it is divided. These joints have frequently given a
rich return, but too frequently the dishonest miner has filled
his bucket with the rich auriferous dust, and appropriated it
to his own use. If reports are correct, no mine has suffered
so much from the pilfering system as this,

Tlie great drawback to a successful prosecution of mining
is the hardness of the rock which has to be encountered in
driving upon a vein of ore. The system of leasing it in parts
too has injured the owners of the property, all of which has
finally resulted virtually in its abandonment, until the obnox-
ious leases shall have expired.

§ 149. Gander and Shuford gold ^nine, in Catawba county, j
This mine is sixteen miles north easterly from Lincolntou, '
and about six miles south from the ford. Both the soil above
the rock and the soft reddish rock itself yields the metal, but
the most productive parts of the rock are the natural joints
and quartz seams. A large quantity of gold has been ob-
tained, and pieces in proximity to the natural joints have
been found, which weighed a pound. These have an entirely
different form from most of the native gold. They are made
up of slightly coherent plates separated by slate or talc, but
the whole so adherent as to require the tearing or rending of
the gold, in order to effect a separation. Small lumps of

140 NOETH-CAROLnSTA GEOLOGICAL SUEVET.

gold of this structure have been quite common. I shall not
attempt to account for this peculiarity in the form of the
gold, when found in the connexion stated. When gold has
been separated from its mechanical combination as it exists
in pyrites, it is cast down on the quartz in the form of a
plate, or lamina. The force employed in the separation and
final deposition upon the quartz, or upon a seam, or in a nat-
ural joint, may have been electro-magnetic. Practically, it
is importaant to be informed respecting the position in which
it is to be found in repositories of this kind.

The Cansler and Shuford mine has been worked profitably
from its first opening. The want of water is the greatest ob-
stacle to a still more profitable result than has yet been ob-
tained.

' § 150. Tlie Portis mine, in Franklin county, (if descrip-
tions can be relied upon,) may be referred to this class. It
belongs to the Taconic slates, and is therefore in the same
geological position. 'No vein has ever been discovered ; and
hence, it is probable that the seams of quartz and seams in
the slate have been broken down, and their contents mingled
in the soil. It has been remarkable for the quantity of gold
which has been found in lumps.

§ 151. The Parker mine of Stanly county I believe should
be ranked in this class, inasmuch as no vein has been discov-
ered which carries gold. The rock is a decomposed mass,
rather tenacious ; but the gold is distributed in seams. Some
deep excavations have been made. Two hundred thousand
dollars in gold have been obtained from this material, whicli
it is needless to say differs from the auriferous quartz grits of
the branch mines. Several masses weighing four and five
pounds were taken from the surface. The whole area, com-
posing three or four acres, seems to be a decomposed slate
through which the metal is distributed.

The Beaver Dam mine, in Montgomery county, may be
classed also with the Portis and others, in which no distinct
or main vein has been, or is likely to be found ; and it is a
matter of considerable importance to know that mines of this
character have the gold attached, or in connexion with, their

NORTH-CAKOLlUA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 141

seams or strings as they are frequently called ; for large ex-
penditures have been made, and are likely still to be made,
in a^^mpting to discover a vein which does not probably ex-
ist. Therefore, it appears to me, that when the gold occurs
in the mode I have represented, it will be a waste of money
to cut deep trenches, or resort to other measures to discover
the vein. At the Ward mine quartz is not wanting, but the
largest masses are not auriferous.

The Beaver Dam mine has been very productive, if the
accounts I have heard of it can be relied upon. It is the tes-
timony of men worthy of confidence ; and it is interesting
to know that all of the mines which I have placed in this
class of repositories have yielded large profits, and none of
them have been abandoned. The Hoover Hill mine has not
been worked very vigorously of late, and I believe has paid
only moderate profits. They have all furnished, especially
those which are slaty and traversed with strings of quartz,
many large lumps of gold. Of this number is the Beaver
Dam, the Ward mine, Cansler and Shuford, and the Portis
mine. This has been rather a common occurrence at the
latter.

CHAPTER XXIL

Hepositories of the Metals continued. — Veins belonging to the
Slates. — True Veins. — Arrangements of the materials Jil-
ling the Fissures. — Right running Veins., or cross courses. —
Conrad Hill Gold Mine. — Description of its Veins — their
Characteristics.

§ 152. Veins are the most productive, as well as the most
permanent repositories of the metals. These I have defined
as fissures in a rock which have been filled with the metals.

142 NOKTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

tlieir oxides, siilplmrets and other cliemical combinations, to-
gether with the stony mass with which they are associated,
which is called gangue or vein stone. w

The metals or their combination with snlphnr and oxygen
are scattered through the vein stone in masses of different
sizes, and when abont to take the form of a vein, become
elongated or wedge form in planes parallel with the walls.
Veins pursue a certain uniform direction in every mineral
district. In North-Carolina this direction is usually east of
north ; and it coincides very nearly with the strike of the
beds. But while this direction coincides nearly with the
strike of the rock, and hence some geologists maintain that
they are merely beds ; it is rarely, if ever, that they coincide
with the beds as they descend into the rock. Tliis want of
conformity to the layers or strata, places these repositories in
the class which are properly termed veins. It is doubtful too,
whether there is a coincidence in their strike with the planes
of beddin*-, or their coincidence can be claimed only for short
distances.

The metal in a promising vein, in addition to its distribu-
tion through the gangue in masses, is also accumulated upon
the foot wall; it may change its position, but its usual place
is there or in the middle of the vein stone, and rarely against
the roof or hanging wall. The most promising plane, as I
have remarked, is its accumulation in a belt or zone against
the foot wall. But this is more obvious in the case of the
sulphurets than in gold veins, in which the gangue is quartz.
If the gangue is sulphuret of iron and quartz, more gold will
be found adjacent to the foot wall than against the hang-
ing wall.

It sometimes happens that more than one set of veins crop
out and form another series, which run nearly a parallel
course among themselves, or they may be divergent from
each other. In determining which should be regarded as the
right running veins, it is necessary to inquire what is the usu-
al direction which the veins of a country or district pursue.
In North-Carolina, this direction, as I have stated, is east of
north, tliough a few instances occur in which the direction is

NORTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SUKVEY.

143

a few degrees west of north. The variation in the extreme
is from N. 10° W. to N. 70° E.; bnt usually only IS". 45° E.
Veins, therefore, which run within the limits I have stated,
may be called the right running or normal veins. Those on
the contrary which clearly intersect these, should be regarded
as cross courses or cross veins. Instances of cross courses,
however, are not numerous in the mining districts of this
State.

§ 153. The mining property, known as the Conrad Hill, is .
situated in the north part of Davidson county, and about six
miles east of Lexington, its shiretoMai. It is favorably locat-
ed, and its reputation as a mining property has stood high.
It has been worked only for gold, though, as I shall show, it
is highly probable that it will be hereafter more profitable for
its copper ore. It has been impossible to ascertain how much
gold this mine has yielded, as it has been in the hands of
several persons since it was discovered.

The surrounding country is interesting, from the character
of the rocks and the number of metallic veins which are
known to exist, and many of which have been profitably
worked. The Three Ilat mountain is upon the south, which
rises probably a thousand feet above the surrounding coun-
try. Its rock is quartzite, and a large portion of its surface
is covered with a slaty chert, exceedingly hard. Between
the mountain and Conrad Hill there is a deep valley, and
upon the ascent towards the hill there is a trapdike running
about north east which is one hundred yards thick. The
veins cross the highest part of the eminence already spoken
of, and in passing onwards in the direction of their strike,
cross a valley about five hundred feet wide ; after which,
they reappear on another eminence called Dodge Hill.

Conrad Hill is elevated only eighty-eight feet above the
plain just south of it, and through a part of which the heavy
eruptive rock passes. It is rounded, and slopes in all direc-
tions ; but the greater slopes are upon the south and south
west sides. The property is divided into two parts by a north
and south line. The east side is Conrad Hill proper. The
veins all crop out on the east side of the division line ; but as

144 NORTn-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

they dip north westerly, those near the line pass beyond the
limits of the Conrad Hill property. This line, however,. has
no connexion with the formation, and hence requires no far-
ther notice.

The repository of the gold is quartz, which carries the metal
intermixed both in the quarts, carl)onate of iron, and in the
sulphurets ; the latter of which are decomposed, and the only
remaining element, iron, is in the condition of a hydrou?
brown oxide as usual.

§ 154. The metal of this hill is collected in quartz veins.'
While the quartz carries gold by itself, we find it also in the
sulphurets which the quartz contains, and probably these sul-
phurets are the true auriferous compounds. To a superficial
observer, or to one who is not fully informed of the facts res-
pecting gold bearing rocks, they would be led to believe that
the quartz, and a brownish or ferruginous substance consti-
tuted the only matrices for gold. But here, as elsewhere, the
undecomposed sulphurets are rich in this metal, although it
is difiicult to obtain it from them. When, however, these
sulphurets are decomposed by atmospheric agency, the gold
is disengaged from its combination, and hence, is obtained by
the simplest processes imaginable.

§ 155. The veins of this hill have been worked only to the
depth of one hundred feet, and in but few places to that
depth. Hence, I am led to believe that large quantities of
ore still remain accessible, and may be raised at a profit by
its proprietors. Shafts have been sunk to the depths of
ninety-eight feet, and in one case to one hundred and seven-
teen feet below the surface of the hill. The deepest shaft, is
that sunk upon the west slope of the hill. The veins which
have been explored at all, have been worked to about the
same extent as to depth and length ; probably the depth will
average eiglit}^ feet, and in length one hundred feet, the maxi-
mum length, I believe, will not exceed one hundred and fif-
ty-five feet.

§ 156. The structure of Conrad Hill is interesting and in-
structing both to the geologist and practical miner. It fur-
aishes those phenomena which are of a decided character,

NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL 8UEVEY. 145

Tlie veins are bold and strong, and yet free from distur-
bances and shifts, which so frequently perplex the miner, and
occasion solicitude and expense to the proprietor ; and which
also sometimes thwart the skill of the most experienced work-
man. Notwithstanding the veins are all bold and strong, yet
differences of opinion exist as to their number as well as to
their relations. This, however, does not arise so much from
the existence of an intricacy in their relation as from a want
of a few suitable cross-cuts at the surface. In describing
these veins, I shall express the views which I have obtained
from a personal examination, though they may differ some-
what from those who have been employed for years in this
group of veins.

According, then, to my own examination, I am disposed to
maintain that upon Conrad Hill six distinct veins may be
pointed out, viz., three normal or right running and nearly
parallel veins, and three cross veins. The fii*st class he di-
rectly behind each other, but do not crop out at equal dis-
tances apart. Their jDarallelisra is confined to their strike,
and they differ in their angles of dip. The three cross veins
do not appear to be parallel with themselves, or with the nor-
mal veins, either in strike or in dip. But it is somewhat re-
markable that five of them are gold bearing ; but the sixth,
which has not been worked by the proj)rietors on either side
of the dividing line is supposed to be barren. The cross vein
which has not been worked, was pointed out to me by Mr.
Camman. If the characteristics are those which he stated,
it is to be numbered among the veins of the Hill. Those
characteristics are direction and dip, the further consideration
of which I leave for the present. The sixth vein which J
have reckoned as distinct, and entitled to a place in this
group, does not appear at the surface — and could have been
cut only at a depth of sixty -five or seventy feet ; yet, as its
course and direction is well defined, and as it is an important
vein, I am strongly inclined to believe that my views are cor-
rect respecting it, and that it should be treated as a distinct,
•ad not as a subordinate mass.

§ 157. The order and relations in which they stand to each
10

146 NOKTH-OAEOLINA GEOLOGICAX, SURVEY.

other are as follows, (see plate 13) : 1. Those regnlar or right
ranning veins standing behind each other, viz., the front,
middle and back veins, or 1st, 2d and 3d veins, reckoning
from west to east ; 2d and 3d cross veins, cutting the forma-
tion in three different directions, not having among them-
selves, or with the others, the slightest parallelism. The re-
lations of these two groups are exhibited in pi. 13. The dia-
gram referred to is in the lower left corner of pi. 13, and the
veins are nmnbered 1, 2, 3, from west to east ; but another
vein, in front of No. 1, and not numbered, is supposed to be
cut in a shaft represented in the margin, at the depth of one
hundred and seventeen feet.

{1st.) Front Vein. — This vein crops out upon the dividing
line, traversing the hill in a north and south direction ; but
as it makes in easting, and is not strictly parallel with this
line, it makes from it, in the direction of its strike. The
strike is N. 10° E. It will be observed that this vein, as it
lies so close to the dividing line, has no value upon that part
of the property which is known as the Conrad Hill. It ap-
pears however upon the Dodge Hill, five hundred feet to the
north, or east of north. This vein dips in the ratio of one to
three, or moves westward one foot for every three feet per-
pendicular descent. It is from eighteen inches to two feet
thick near its outcrop. Considering the position of the 1st
vein, I deem it unnecessary to dwell longer upon its charac-
teristics, than to state in brief, that it has been worked out to
the levels of seventy and eighty feet at the south end, and
that it has been productive in gold.

§ 158, {2d.) The next vein in order is the first cross vein
unnumbered in the diagram. It was pointed out to me by
Mr. Camman, the superintendent of the works just put in
operation by a Company of New York capitalists. Its direc-
tion is north east and south west, with a dip exceeding the
other veins by at least 15°, according to the statement of the
gentleman referred to. (If he is correct,) there can be no
doubt that the vein is really distinct, and not a portion of
one of the others which has been shifted from its place. It
is supposed to be cut at the bottom of the engine shaft ; the

NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL STJKVEY. 147

position, direction and distance may be seen in diagram re-
ferred to. Its wide deflection from a north and south hne,
will carry it rather east of the Dodge Hill, or across its east-
ern slope, and through the low grounds south west of Conrad
Hill. The cutting of this vein, or the front vein, gave rise to
a powerful discharge of water, which iinally resulted in drain-
ing all the veins to a level with the bottom shaft. This fact
proves that the veins have communications by water courses ;
even the tunnel cut many years since at the base of the
southern slope drained both Conrad and Dodge Hill to its
level ; the water fell at the time, in Dodge Hill, fifteen feet.
This vein has not been worked by any of the parties who
have leased this property. It may prove a highly important
vein. The other cross veins are rich in gold. The reason
why this vein has remained untouched is, that it has been
mistaken for the 1st vein No. 1 ; and as all the shafts but one
have been sunk behind it, it could not be cut by them.

§ 159. {3d.) The middle vein appears at the surface, fifty
feet eastward of the front vein, on the dividing line. This
vein runs parallel with the first. I am inchned to believe
that it is parallel, or nearly so, both in its strike and dip. It
has been worked with profit on both sides of the dividing
line, which has been already referred to. Pursuing the
course downwards and northwards, it will not fail to strike
the observer, that upon the south side of Conrad Hill, as well
as upon its crowning part, it dips beneath the dividing line.
It is cut in the shaft at the depth of about eighty-two feet.
This shaft is fifteen feet west of the dividing line. In the
north strike of this vein, it recedes to the eastward ; so that
if it has not been worked out, there probably remains a
quantity of ore before it reaches Dodge's Hill, where it may
be readily traced, and I believe already exposed by a shaft.
It will appear, therefore, that so far as Conrad Hill is con-
cerned, this vein is of but little moment, but remains a good
vein on the west. I was informed that good ore still remain-
ed standing in this vein in the direction I have indicated ;
and as very slight changes of dip may produce an important
change in the relations of certain fixed lines and points, it is

148 NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL 8URVET-

proper to observe in this place, that the dip of this aud it*)
associated veins is influenced, to a certain extent, by the
form and slopes of the hill ; thus, on the north slope, this and
the other veins have a dip nearly north-west. The effect of
this change in the dip is to give to the east side a greater ex-
tent of vein. The same change occurs also upon the soutii
slope ; so that the normal dip to the west is changed to the
south-west. This change of dip is local, but it is not without
its benefits. The west dip, if there is a true west dip, is con-
fined to the crowning part of the Hill.

It would seem from the foregoing facts, that this part of the
veins of the hill was pushed forward to the west at the time
and moment when it was raised above the surrounding plains
by a force which may have been applied beneath. As far as
the front property is concerned, it receives the veins upon
the top of the hill at a level less deep, and upon tlie sides at a
deeper level.

^ 160. The next vein which 1 shall speak of, is the 2d
cross vein. Its strike is ]S[. 75° E. and S. 75° W. It may
vary from this statement 5°. Seventy degrees eastward is
not an uncommon direction. Its dip is about S. 25° E. or S.
!^<>° E. ; the outcrop is limited, and hence I was unable to
determine those facts with precision.

This vein has been worked out on its western range to tlie
depth of ninety feet, and upon its eastern prolongation,
about eighty feet. The linear extent is about one hundred
feet. Its average width is about two feet. Next to the
Back vein, this has probably been the richest in gold. In its
north-eastward prolongation, it passes far to the south of
Dodge's Hill, where it has not been pursued. It should ap-
pear in this valley north-east of Conrad Hill.

j^ 161. The Back vein, or 3d vein, is the most remarkable
of the veins of Conrad Hill. This is true, both as it respects
the amount of gold it carries and has carried, as Avell as its
thickness and amount and kind of matter which composes it.
Its outcrop is 209 feet east of the dividing line, or 159 feet
east ot the middle vein. Its angle of dip is less than that of
the veins already spoken of It is cut iu the Morehead shuft

NOBTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SUKVEY. 149

at the depth of about eighty feet, and this shaft is about fifty
feet east of the dividing hue. At the depth of eighty feet,
where it is cut by this shaft, the middle vein is at least sixty-
five feet in advance, where, as I have already stated, it is cut
by the New York Company's shaft, fifteen feet west of the
dividing line and at the depth of about eighty-two feet.

§ 162. At the depth of about sixty feet it sends oiF a di-
verging branch which has been regarded as the middle vein,
and it is supposed that at this depth the middle and back
veins come together. I have illustrated my own views of the
question by diagram referrea to. It is evident that the mid-
dle vein crops out fifty feet in rear of the front vein, and that
it is quite flat at the surface ; and farther, that it moves to
the w«st in the ratio I have already stated. This fact, there-
fore, p voves that the vein which appears to join the back vein
at the depth of about sixty or sixty-five feet, cannot be the
middle vein. I therefore regard the so called middle vein, as
a branch of the third. Its junction is still fifty or sixty feet
east of the line, and the middle vein has passed (at the depth
of eighty-two feet,) fifteen feet west of the same line. This
branch has been worked out to about the same extent as the
front veins.

At its outcrop, the back vein is about fifteen inches thick ;
as it descends, it soon becomes thicker, and at the depth of
forty or fifty feet is about five feet thick. The thickness is
not however uniform, still it continues to give an increased
amount of matter; and when at the depth of between sixty
and seventy feet, it is from ten to eighteen feet thick. The
vein is quartz above, but at fifty feet carbonate of iron — car-
rying sulphuret of copper and iron, comes in, and finally, at
the ninety foot level, as it is called, it exists in great force,
being at least four feet thick next to the foot wall, which car-
ries gold. This part of the vein has always been rich in gold,
but being overlaid with so thick a mass of quartz, which is
intermixed also with crushed slates, it is more expensive
to mine it at this depth, and on this account, than above and
nearer the outcrop. The part of the vein next the hanging

150 NORTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

wall, consisting of layers of quartz and crushed slates, con-
tains gold ; but is poor, tliougli rich pockets are found.

The rich part of this vein is separated from the poorer by
a line of deinai'kation, and at certain points, appears almost
as distinct as if it were a vein sej^arated from the overlying
mass. This part is four feet thick. Its matrix is quartz and
carbonate of iron, interspersed with sulphuret of copper and
iron, the former of which is far the most abundant.

Between that which is called the ninety-foot level and the
dividing line of the two properties, the depth of ore which
remains in situ, is variable. At the commencement of the
south tunnel in the sloping shaft, the mass is some twenty-
iive feet deeper than at any point farther south. Here it is
over one hundred feet. At the extreme south end of the gal-
lery of the ninety-foot level, it approaches this line, both
from the direction of the workings and the direction of the
vein ; still, at this point, it is twenty feet to the line, measur-
ed horizontally ; for, on measuring from the hole which was
pointed out as under the hne, and measuring along a tunnel
above, which terminates in the shaft fifteen feet on the west
side of the line, I found it to be thirty-five feet, which makes
this hole about twenty-six feet east of the dividing line.
This prism of ore, therefore, is an important part of the min-
ing property situated upon the east side of the dividing line.
To understand the facts relating to the question, it is impor-
tant to consider that the vein dips considei-ably, and recedes
from the dividing line northwardly. So, as the dip north on
the line of strike, turns northward, or becomes nearly north-
west, it will not pass this line so soon as it would, provided
its dip was due west. Now a shaft' sunk upon the line op-
posite or west of the sloping shaft, would not cut this vein at
a lower level than 150 feet. There remains, then, probably
a prism of ore 100 feet deep at this point, and 55 or 60 feet
near the southern termination of the tunnel of the ninety-foot
level. This vein, or that portion of it which is rich, is four
feet thick. Consisting as it does of carbonate of iron, the
blasts which are designed to remove ore are not so efitective
as in quartz alone, but it is drilled with less labor. Being

NOETH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 151

jointed, it splits off from the mass with greater ease, or it
blows out, as the miners call the effect in such cases. The
whole width of the vein at the ninety-foot level, is at least
eighteen feet, and carries some gold throughout iJie mass.
Pockets of rich places are interspersed through it. This
great mass of ore still pursues its way downward, and at the
deep shaft, fifteen feet west of the line, it will probably be
cut at the depth of 130 feet.

§ 163. The last vein wliicli remains to be noticed in this
report, comes in at or near the sixty-foot level. I could not,
however, determine the exact point where it was first ob-
served. Different views might probably be entertained res-
pecting this vein. Taking all the facts into consideration, I
am disposed to regard it as a cross vein entirely distinct fi'om
any of the preceding. It has been regarded as one already
described by some, and which turns back upon its former
course ; but this is probably an incorrect view ; for the cross
vein with which it is compared dips directly south, or in a
contrary direction. It seems, therefore, to be of itself a vein
derived from some prolific source, which gave origin to the
veins traversing Conrad Hill. This vein was cut in the tun-
nel shown in the diagram in the right corner of plate 13.
a. a. represents the course it would take if prolonged upwards.
The vein, however, is in the lower corner of the tunnel, and
does not appear to be of any account above it ; it is a vein
which does not make an outcrop upon the surface.

§ 161. I should remark here that this vein does not dip to-
wards the dividing line. It however swings around slightly
westward in that direction. Its strike is nearly east and west,
its dip south^ and its width about four feet. Eastward, it
passes under props which are placed to support the roof
where the back vein has been removed. Upon this line, ex-
tending from near the hole, as it is called, but to the east of
it, I measured forty-two feet to the point where it passes be-
neath the props. It extends some twenty feet farther west,
beyond the west point where I measured. Its present acces-
sible portion is about sixty-two feet. But if we may judge from
analogy, the vein is prolonged both eastward and westward.

152 NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

This vein is probably the richest vein which has been hith-
erto explored upon Conrad Hill. This fact I was able to test
and prove from the ore which I took from the vein. I did
not determine the amount of gold which it yields per bushel,
but the results obtained by panning, and the fact that visible
grains of gold are common in the mass, was, to me, satisfac-
tory evidence of its richness.

The foregoing statements comprise the most important
facts in my pssession relative to the mining property of Con-
rad Hill proper. I have but little information respecting the
Dodge Hill, in the immediate vicinity of Conrad Hill. The
veins, or at least a part of them, appear there, and carry
gold. The opinion is that they are not so rich as Conrad
Hill ; and still it would be rather an anomaly in mining, if
veins which are so rich should become too poor to work in so
short a distance. The fact is common in I^orth-Carolina, that
veins continue frequently a mile, and carry suiSicient metal
to pay for working the whole distance. It will appear from
the foregoing facts that the two front veins have been work-
ed by the owners and leasers of the property situated upon
the west side of the dividing line ; and that the middle and
back veins have been worked upon the Morehead or Conrad
Hill side, together with all the cross veins except the first,
which has not been worked by either party. The back vein
has not been reached by the shafts upon the west side of the
dividing line.

§ 165. The main rock of Conrad Hill is Talcose slate. Tlie
rocks which are trappean, and which are commonly known as
negro heads^ do not appear in either of the hills ; but I believe
that both upon east and west sides, the country is traversed
by wide belts of traj). The lamina of the slate are not par-
allel with the dip an'd strike of the veins. The intersecting
quartz bands are therefore to be regarded as true veins. The
j)lan upon which I would recommend the working of Conrad
Hill, is to arrange the means for takiug the ore efficiently out
of th€ deep cross vein, and to work out also the rich four foot
stratum of the back vein which lies in proximity to the cross
vein. Tliese two veins are capable of furnishing a large

NORTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

158

amount of ore. In addition to this, I would recommend the
sinking of a deep shaft about two hundred feet to the north
west, which must necessarily cut the three regular veins.
This shaft should he between Conrad and Dodge's Hill. It
will not be difficult to find the several cross veins also, which
crop out upon the surface. Thej have proved rich, I believe,
without exception.

Plate 13 shows the relations of those veins which appear at
the surface ; the three long parallel veins dip westward and
north westward ; 1, 2, 3, are the right running veins, and 4
and 5 cross veins ; a rich cross vein which does not reach the
surface, is exposed and cut by a tunnel driven east and west
at the depth of sixty feet ; it was made for the purpose of
exposing more eftectually the veins b. b. The right rnnning
veins extend across Dodge Hill, about five hundred feet to
the north east of the base of Conrad Hill.

Tlie number of veins which cross Conrad Hill is worthy of
note. The unfortunate ownership being in two properties,
interferes with the most profitable pursuit of these rich veins.
As far as the veins have been taken out, there are no indi-
cations that they are poorer than they were near the surface.
The yield of the lowesit portion of the vein, jSTo. 1, was one
dollar per bushel, but the variations in the product have oc-
curred at difi^erent depths, and difl:erent parts of the same
lode. There remains, unquestionabl}^, a large quantity of
metal below, for it is to be recollected that a very small
quantity only of ore has been taken out below one hundred
feet. At this depth the veins become more cupriferous, and
the probability is, that in the future, instead of being worked
for gold, the westerly and deepest veins will be Avorked for
copper ; but still, above the points where the copper pyrites
begin to come, there are large prisms of auriferous veins
standing; and some of the veins do not, at the depths ex-
plored, contain any pyrites, the vein stone being quartz in-
termixed with some carbonate of iron. This is the case with
the cross vein exposed by the tunnel. It is probable, there-
fore, that a part of the veins will continue to carry gold,
while a part, especially the front veins, will ultimately carry

154 NOETH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY,

copper pyrites. The veins wliicli belong to Conrad Hill pro-
per, have not been worked out extensivel}'' to the north east,
or in the direction of Dodge Hill. There remains, therefore,
belonging to this property, ample space for the prosecution
of the most productive veins.

I have spoken of this mine rather as a property than as a
combination of geological facts of great interest. We find,
in a very limited space, six distinct veins ; and one of them
branching or forking about sixty feet below the surface, and
another rich vein, three-and-a-half feet wide, coming in at
the same depth, which does not reach the surface. This vein
shows gold at man}?^ points where it is exposed. The quartz
is opaque, and stained brown, and is intermixed with decom-
posed and decomposing sulphuret of iron. The vein stone of
all the depositories is shattered and angular, and often in ra-
ther small wedge form pieces.

CHAPTER XXIH.

Repositories of the Metals continued. — Auriferous Veins. —
Gold mil Gold Mine.

§ 166. The history of the Gold Hill gold mine, if it could
be gathered up and compiled from the recollections of the
many individuals who have been interested in its develop-
ment, would show the importance of perseverance under dis-
couraging prospects — sufficiently so, it is believed, to have in-
duced many operators to have abandoned the mine at an early
day. But owing to the persevering efforts of Messrs. Holmes
a6d the Messrs. Mauney, and the late Captain Peters, it has
proved one of the rich mines of the State, and it is believed it

NOKTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, , 155

is an established mine, and fully proved by its depth and the
length of vein along which the workings have been carried.

§ 167. It is only fourteen years since mining began at
Gold Hill. In the progress of the operations required in the
business, and in consequence of the direction of the attention
of the operators to the character of the country, many new
discoveries have been made since the first surface-mine was
worked on the land of Andrew Troutman, in 1842. The
first veins discovered were upon the land of John Troutman.
By this discovery, $400,000 were obtained, the deepest shaft
reaching only to the depth of 100 feet.

The Honeycut vein was discovered in the same year. This
mine yielded $101,665.

The next year, (1854), the mine known as the Earnhardt
was discovered on the land of George Heilick. Its relations
are shown upon plate 9, eastern vein, upon which the shafts,
old shaft Earnhardt and Louder & Co. ; it is the east vein.

Tlie most productive vein remained to be discovered — that
of the Earnhardt vein — which took place in one month after that
of the Earnhardt. It is noted on the map by the Earnhardt
and Handolph shafts, etc., which show its relative position.

Between the Earnhardt and the Earnhardt, there is still an-
other, called the middle vein, which has never been regarded
as a rich vein.

The numerous veins of Gold Hill are an illustration of the
fact, that veins and mineral repositories occur in districts^
and that it would be rather an anomaly to find one vein by
itself — it would be an exception to a common rule. The
veins of Gold Hill have not all proved remunerative, but the
aggregate production of gold from all the veins up to the
present time, 1856, has been $2,000,000.*

§ 168. Gold Hill is on the southern border of Rowan coun-
ty, adjoining Cabarrus county. It is fourteen miles south
from Salisbury. It is situated upon a narrow ridge, j^rolong-
ed in a north-eastwardly and south-west wardly direction. It
is only one mile east of the granite belt upon which Salisbury

* I am indebted to Mr. Ephraim Mauney and Mr. Moses Holmes for much valuable
information in relation to this mine.

156 NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

is situated. The formation is slate, dipping rather westerly,
and with a strike of N. 30° E. The angle of dip is about
80°. The strata are not disturbed by eruptive or intrusive
rocks. It is therefore in a measure free from accidents aris-
ing from faults and dislocations. The principal veins of the
hill pursue a direct course, scarcely deviating at any point
from their general direction. There is, too, a regularity in
the descent, by which the miner may strike the vein at those
points which he desires with great certainty. Tlie principal
variation is that of thickness, a variation which is, however,
met with in all veins ; another which may be alluded to, and
which will be more particularly described hereafter, is that
of richness, which is somewhat regular in its variations.

§ 169. The veins of Gold Hill belong exclusively to a slate
which has usually been regarded as a Talcose slate. Deep
in the shafts it is uniformly blue, while at the surface it is
changed into a soft reddish earthy mass, except that which
bounds the Earnhardt vein. This is blue, rather fine, and
maintains its integrity much longer when exposed to the
weather than most of it upon the hill.

All the slate however should be considered as clay slate,
differing scarcely, if at all, from the clay slate towards the
Yadkin, or which is so common in Stanly county. It occu-
pies, I believe, the same position, and is the same geologically.

At Gold Hill the strike is N. 30° E., and the dip north
west at an angle of 80°. To the south eastward, or toward
the Yadkin, it changes to a south east dip ; but in about two
miles in this direction, the breciated conglomerate is en-
countered ; after which, the rock which succeeds is clay slate
again.

The veius which cai'ry gold are composed of quartz and
quartziferous slate, and the sulphurets of iron and copper.
Of these vein stones, the sulphuret of iron is the richest ; the
gold attaches itself to this mineral more freely than to the
sulplniret of copper. It is an illustration of a fact which has
not been sufficiently attended to in other cases. For exam-
ple, in a mixture of galena, blende and the pyrites, the
silver will be found in combination with the first, perhaps not

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NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

15'

exclusively, but mainly ; the blende will carry the least, and
probably not any.

The vein which represents the series belonging to Gold
Hill, is the Earnhardt. It is the only one which is now worked,
or has been worked since the survey began, and hence the
only one which I have been able to examine. The vein stone
is principally a combination of iron and copper pyrites inter-
mixed with seams and masses of quartz. In these minerals u^
gold is mechanically mixed ; and it is so fine, that even when
rich, it requires great care and attention in grinding and pan-
ning to find it. But surfaces sometimes show gold, when
they have been rubbed in the mine against each other. The
vein may be said to be worked to about four hundred and
ten feet in depth. Its thickness varies from six inches to foui-
feet, and in one part of the vein it is 7 feet.

§ 170 Having stated very generally some of the leading
facts relative to this vein, it is important to notice the manner
in which the mineral matter, particularly the gold, is dis-
tributed.

As a vein, or considered in mass, it may be divided into
sections which are arranged rather obliquely with respect to
the walls. The vein does not form a single sheet which rests
uniformly against, or between the walls, but is divided into
many lenticular segments, which, as it were, overlap eaclr
other at their thin edges ; the lower segment has its upper
edge behind and against the wall, and its lower edge over
the edge of the next segment beneath. Plate 10, diagram
on the left, shows a transverse section of the vein, though the
lenticular masses are not so distinctly connected as here rep-
resented. An arrangement of this kind prevails in most of
the good mines of this State.

§ 171. I have stated the general arrangement of the sub-
ordinate masses composed of segments as they are arranged ;
it now remains to show the distribution of the gold, without
reference to these subordinate segments.

For the purpose of illustrating this part of the subject, i
have prepared plate 10. It is derived from the examination
conducted by the survey, and also from the captains of the

158 NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

mines, who have been for many years engaged in directing
the underground operations. The plate, without explana-
tion, shows the principal facts. The shafts in the order in
which they have been sunk, begin upon the right, and have
been sunk the deepest. In order to understand the diagram,
the reader must suppose himself placed upon the west or
east side of a sheet of ore, with the wall removed, and as he
looks, he will see the vein before him in the direction of its
strike ; it presents, therefore, a longitudinal vein with the
vein restored, and the good and poor parts standing in the
order in which they were found when the vein was stoped
out, or taken doM^. Beginning on the right, there is rep-
resented a belt of good ore extending obliquely to the right,
and connecting itself with another good belt towards the bot-
tom, and which extends to the depth of three hundred and
ninety feet ; and between each, and in the fork, there is a
triangular mass of poor ore. It is proper to state here, tliat
the poor and good ores are relative terms ; the gold of course
is not absent, but much less, and in some of the belts thus
marked, after the expenses of mining and extraction of metal
were paid, the profits remaining were very small. Tlie lines
of demarkation, however, are very clearly defined, and can
be determined at once by the miner; the transition fi'om
good to poor is rather abrupt than gradual. Tlie miner's
phrase with respect to these rich and poor belts, is rich and
poor pockets.

Towards the north east the vein seems to be all poor, it
continues north east, but, for some reason, it has not been
thoroughly tested; but the explorations which have been
Tnade are supposed to indicate a poor vein throughout in this
direction.

Towards the southwest, however, the shoots, belts or pock-
ets of good ore are decided, and the best pocket ever open-
ed is the Randolph, which is penetrated by the Randolph
shaft farthest to the south west. This pocket is now being
taken out. It expands downwards, and at the three hundred
and thirty feet level it is extending both ways, and will, it is
supposed, become connected with the adjacent pocket on the

NOKTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL STJBVET. 159

right. The ore which was used in lS54-'55 was regarded as
poor ore. All of the sheet of ore represented and marked as
good and poor ore has heen taken out, on the right to the
depth of four hundred and ten feet, and on the left in the
Randolph pocket, to the depth only of three hundred and
thirty feet. There is, therefore, a sheet of ore standing, from
which the water is drained, of about eighty feet in depth and
two hundred and fifty in length. The diagram is made on a
scale of eighty feet to the inch ; and the part exposed and
represented as worked out, includes all the stoping and ex-
ploration which have been made in this vein since it was first
discovered. In length, this extends about five hundred and
sixty feet. This is but a limited extent compared with other
veins in this vicinity, or in the slate district. In the prolon-
gation of the pockets downwards, this expansion is indicative
of a union of all of them at no great depth. It is useless to
speculate upon the probability of an increased richness should
a union take place. How far, too, the vein may be expected
to continue is not determinable ; and hence, useless also to
express an opinion; only, a vein so well defined and regular
is usually prolonged much farther,

Diflerent opinions prevail upon the question of the con-
tinuance of metal below ; especially with respect to the dimi-
nution of or increase of gold. This vein has been exposed
to a greater depth than any other mine in the State ; but its
workings are shallow, compared with many mines in other
countries. There is, however, no diminution in the amount
of gold obtained as yet at the bottom, compared with the
more superficial parts. When the lithological characters of
the poor and rich pockets are compared, the diiferences are
scarcely perceptible. The mineral is in each case a sulj^hu-
ret, and intermixed in the same proportion with flint or
quartz. To the eye therefore, if only inspected in the gen-
eral, no difl'erence of structure or composition will be ob-
served. This appears diflicult to account for on the common
views which are entertained with respect to the mode in
which vein fissures are filled. If we adopt the view that they
may have been filled by gasseous emanations, the difficulties

160 NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

in the way of understanding the mode seem to be less than
if it is supposed the fissure was filled by the eruptive mode,
and in a mass, and in a state of incandescence. There are
apparent objections to the latter theory ; there is, for instance,
no appearance of a change upon the walls denoting an igni-
tion of the vein materials. How much weight should be
given to a negative, is impossible to say.

§ 172. The machinery employed at Gold Hill for separat-
ing gold, consists, first, of the Chilian mill for crushing and
grinding after being broken by hammers, the Tyrolese bowls,
the Burke rockers, and the Drag mill. Amalgamation is al-
ways resorted to, though it has been frequently suggested
that the ore is sufficiently rich to be reduced in the furnace.

The work for a Chilian mill of this ore is seventy bushelw
per day ; and our mills run for twenty- four hours, with one
or two short interruptions. They are all moved by steam
power, and all the water used in the mills is pumped from
the mine. The Burke rocker is the principal and best saving
machine employed. The Drag mill is also a good machine,
is cheap, and easily kept in repair. On inspecting these
operations when going on, it is impossible to resist the con-
clusion that much of the gold is wasted along with the mer-
cury. I believe this is admitted by the proprietors, and yet
it is allowed to go on day after day, and still they show some
good sense ; the amount of gold which is obtained by the
methods now in use is very respectable ; and if not wholly
satisfactory as to method, the determination seems to be to
keep the wheels in motion and save w4iat they can, instead
of stopping and changing, for the purpose of trying all the
new proposed methods which are continually thrust upon
their notice by New York machinists, who know nothing
practically about the matter. I say th€(te is a fund of good
and practical common sense in the methods now in use ; they
do well by their use, and hence they have succeeded in ma-
king money, when many of their neighbors, by changing
their apparatus and adopting the untried or cheating con-
cerns, wliich were hatched by mere meclianics, have lost
monev.

NOKTH-CAUOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 161

§ 173. The only change for the better which can be
adopted at Gold Hill, for the separation of gold, is by smelt-
ing. The Chilian mill has a sliding or slipping motion as it
turns on its short axle, which flattens the particles of gold.
A machine which will divide without flattening, is the deside-
ratum in all mechanical methods. The consequence of the
thin condition of a particle of gold, is to give it buoyancy in
the liquid, which is of course charged more or less with earth
or clay. But flat gold, where it approaches gold leaf, con-
denses upon its surface the air diffused in the liquid ; and
hence, although the heaviest of substances is often found ab-
solutely floating, especially where there is a gyratory motion,
or much motion of any kind in the liquid. For example, it
is difficult in a tub furnished with stirrers, and which of course
impart a circular motion to the water, to move them slow
enough to prevent the passing off" of the gold, and at the
same time keep the dirt from caking at the bottom. If the
latter is kept evenly diffused through the liquid, the gold
will pass off'; if the motion is slower, it will subside at the
bottom, and the gold will have no opj)ortunity to come in
contact with the mercury. So with respect to the Chilian
mill; a certain rapidity of motion must be obtained. If the
stones make two many revolutions in a minute, the gold
floats away and does not come in contact with the mercury
in the channel. The movement for all kinds of ore is within
a limited range ; they should make from seven to ten turns
in a minute ; some ores require seven, others nine, and it is
very rare that ten can be made without a loss both of gold
and mercury.

§ 174. The force employed at Gold HiU, for working the
Earnhart vein, consists of sixty-six miners paid by the mouth,
and thirty-nine negroes hired by the year. The day of
twenty-four hours is divided into three shifts of eight hours
each, for underground work. The expenses per month for
the whole year amount to four thousand and thirty-eight dol-
lars and forty-five cents, ($4,038 45.) In the expenses for
the year (1854), five hundred and ninety-two dollars were for
construction, The average mining expenses, leaving out the
11

162 NOETH-CAUOLIKA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY,

item for construction, amount to three thousand four hundred
and forty-five dollars and seventy cents, ($3,445 70.) Hence,
for the year, the mining expenses amount to about forty-one
thousand three hundred and forty-eight dollars and forty
cents, ($41,348 40.) Tliis includes the negro hire for the
year, which amounted to four thousand one hundred and
twenty-four dollars and thirty cents, ($4,124 30.)

§ 175. The amount of gold obtained in 1854, in the follow-
ing months, as derived from the books of the company, was as
follows :

December and January, $ 16,697 66

February and March, 13,614 75

April and May, 13,379 23

June and July, 11,014 95

August, 7,000 00

September and October, 7,015 05

November and December, 9,881 96

1S55. January, 10,625 16

February, 3,336 76

March, 11,230 92

April, 13,696 61

May, 11,642 61

June, 7,051 OS

Gold obtained in 13 months, $ 136,636 76

Expenses, 60,331 07

$ 76,305 69

Expenses for the following months in 1854-'55 :

1854. October, 8 2,857 16

Novembei , 4,356 07

December, 4,406 90

1855. January, 4,692 26

February, 4,076 77

March, 4,245 83

April, 6,734 00

May, 4,384 01

June, 3,430 13

July, 2,57« 76

August, 4,736 54

September, 3,653 61

October, 2,269 69

November, 2,145 04

December, 3,778 30

Expedses in 15 months, $ 60,351 07

NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 163

By adding to the foregoing the expenses of four months,
$16,084, the amount which would be expended in nineteen
months would be $76,429. Total expenses incurred for nine-
teen months, thus :

Gold obtained, I ] 36,636 76

Expenses incurred, 76,429 00

Remaining over and above expenses, $ 60,207 76

§ 1 76. But it should be stated that during the time which
includes the foregoing record, only the ore taken from the
poor pockets was worked ; and it is only since January last,
(1856,) that the ore has been taken from the rich Randolph
pocket- To ascertain what the rich ores would yield, the
mills were put in order, and they were allowed to use the
richest ores for one day ; which gave fifteen hundred dollars
for the time. But specimens were taken out of the office
and ground uj) and turned into gold, a mercantile transac-
tion, and worthy of the President. It results in the loss oi'
very fine specimens for exhibition. I have entered into a
more specific statement of the mine and the affairs of this
Company, because it is not known in the State what profits
are reaped from this mine. It is generally known that it is
rich, and pays ; but how much, I never have met with the
person who could tell me, except those who managed its af-
fairs. I have entered into these particulars also, because the
credit of the North-Carolina mines has suffered from mis-
management, and have obtained an unfortunate notoriety in
"Wall Street ; that of being almost worthless. There are suf-
ficient and good reasons why this has happened : 1st. The
capital stock is too large ; 2d. Attempts to speculate in them.
and of course the double game is played by the Bulls and
Bears ; and 3d. The cross purposes of the knowing stock-
holders to oust out the more ignorant, and get possession of
the prize. But there has been no substantial reason why the
Gold Hill stock should have declined at all. It has been
reaping a harvest of gold during the whole ihve r.f -t^ rV -
|re:>si<i:i in the stiX'^ ;:iarl<ct : ;;ild whcu itwai ^

164 NOETH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

the mining journals when its stock came down to "cypher,''
" the last rose of summer is gone ;" it was still one of the
most productive and paying mines of this country.

§ 177. In working the ore of this mine, certain difficulties
' are encountered. The greatest appears to be the fineness of
the gold, and its mechanical mixture with the heavy sulphu-
lets. In consequence of this state, the ore must be ground
extremely fine, or the gold cannot be separated; and the
consequence of grinding fine, subdivides the mercury to
an injurious extent. But even when ground finely, only the
largest part of the gold is obtained. Plence, it is now cus-
tomary to save the sand and work it over after it has been
exposed ten or twelve months. In the course of this time
the sulphurets are decomposed, and liberate the metal.

These difficulties met the first miners. It was the inexpe-
rience in this kind of ore which led to losses, and which might
have resulted in its abandonment, had not the gentleman
whom I have named possessed a large degree of skill and
enterprize. Tlie ore of the Earnhardt vein, while it was
worked at the time the Earnhart was less prosperous, was in
a state of disintegration to a considerable depth ; and hence,
its metal was separated with less difficulty. Experience in
the ores has been gradually acquired, and now the desidera-
tum is a method by which to extract all the metal at a single
<jperation ; a desideratum which will be found only by dis-
pensing with mercury and resorting to the furnace.

§ 178. The middle vein of Gold Hill is eighty-three yards
east of the Earnhart vein, and runs nearly parallel with it.
It has been explored by three or four shallow shafts sunk on
the vein ; very little is therefore known of it, though it is re-
garded as too poor to work. The ore which has been tested
gave twenty-five cents to the bushel of ore. It passes imme-
diately by the road side.

•j} 179. The Earnhardt vein lias been productive, but I was
u(it able to ascertain why it has been abandoned. Its vein
stuft' is decomposed to a great depth, and the material raised
becomes in a short time a reddish earth. Its ore and its slate
brousi'lit froiir one luindred and fiffv feet, is rather coai-ser

NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY. 165

than the Earnhart, but in other respects it resembles it. The
most important difference consists in the greater amount of
sulphuret of copper and less gold. The copper and iron py-
rites is from eighteen inches to four feet wide at the bottom
of the deepest shafts. The ore yielded eight per cent, of
copper. If as abundant as represented, the per centage
would give a profit, if worked for copper, provided it was
smelted on the ground.

This vein at the south end is divided in strings which pen-
etrate the rock extensively in the old field south east of the
village, where the surface is perforated by many shafts and
tunnels. Of the three veins which occupy the crest of the
verge on which the works are built two have been rich, but
the middle one is poor. It sometimes occurs in parallel veins,
that when one is poor in places, the other is rich in the same
relative position, and vice versa, an interchange apparently of
metal occurring in each respectively.

The Honeycutt vein was worked at the south west extremi-
ry of the village, where the old shafts are still visible. It
appears to be a prolongation of the middle vein, or perhaps
of the Earnhart. This vein is from fifteen inches to two feet
wide. It was profitably worked by A. Honeycutt, Gulps &,
Co. It yielded one hundred and one thousand, six hundred
and sixty-five dollars, (101,665.) A shaft was sunk to the
depth of one hundred and eighty-five feet. This mine is dis-
turbed by a cross course, or as it is usually called, a mud slide.

§ 180. Miners frequently meet with unexpected changes in
the character of the vein ; it may become very rich and pro-
ductive, or it may become suddenly poor. An instance oc-
curred of a sudden change in the Icyhour vein, on the the
west side of Buifalo, and two miles from Gold Hill. In prose-
cuting the usual mining operations the vein changed from
poor to rich, that is, it ordinarily yielded from fifteen to twen-
ty cents per bushel of ore. A longitudinal pocket was struck
which yielded one dollar and a half per bushel. Tliis rich
segment of the vein was extended some seventy or eighty feet
in length, but was entirely taken out ; and it was found that
it had no connection by strings with the mass below, but was

166 NOETH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

perfectly isolated in the midst of ore, yielding the amount
very uniformly, as I have stated. The vein stone is slaty,
but contains line quartz, and is a regular vein, but free, in u
great measure, from the sulphurets. It is difficult to account
for isolated masses of rich ore situated in the midst of poor,
and marked out by lines so distinct.

§ 181. Reed mine is in Cabarrus county, and was brought
I to the notice of the public in consequence of the large pieces
which have been found upon the plantation. Tlie weight
and dates when these remarkable specimens of gold M^ere
found, are taken from Wheeler's history of North-Carolina,
p. 64:. The following is a copy of the statement referi-ed to :

WEIGHT OF DIFFERENT PIECES OF GOLD FOUND AT THE REED MINE.

1803 28 lbs.

1804, 9

" 7 "

" 3 "

" 2 "

" 1^ "

1826, 16 "

" m "

" 8

1835, 13% "

" 4K "

" 5 "

" 1

1153^ lbs. steelyard weight.

One large piece had been found in 1799, that must have
weighed three or four pounds, which Avas sold in Fayetteville
for three dollars and a half, I believe this is the earliest re-
cord of the discovery of gold in North-Carolina.

The vein is in the slate near the dividing line between the
slate and granite. Tlie direction is east of north. A shaft
has been sunk upon the vein to the depth of ninety feet. At
this depth, the vein was followed ninety feet; and is repre-
sented to have yielded one dollar and fifteen cents per bushel.
A cross vein intersects it, whose direction is N. 40° E.

I have been unable to obtain any information respecting
this mine from personal examination of its interior. If testi-

NOKTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 167

mony may be relied upon, it cannot but be regarded as a
valuable mine. Operations were suspended at this mine at
the instance of Mr. Keed, who procured an injunction against
the lessees for an alleged fraud in their returns.

Upon this property a lead vein (galena) has been discover-
ed, whose strike is IST. 25° E., and dips slightly to the north.
It is eight or ten inches wide. A shaft sunk upon the vein a
short distance shows that it is broken into vertical segments,
but the explorations are too superficial to furnish much infor-
mation respecting its character.

§ 182. The Phifer, Davis and the Pewter mines form a
cluster in a soft, reddish and purplish slate in Union county,
on or near five mile creek. The first was a rich mine, and
was sometimes called the mint, and the second paid very
handsome dividends, and the third, the metal obtained from
it was an alloy of silver and gold. It contained from forty to
seventy per cent, of silver ; its white, and rather dull white
color, gave the name Pewter mine. They have all been
abandoned ; it may be temporarily. Tlie Davis vein was di-
vided at the depth of ninety feet by a dyke or horse, be-
came poor, and was afterwards abandoned.

The Ilearne gold mine, in Stanly county, is two-and-a-half
miles west from Albemarle. It is on high ground, and asso-
ciated with hard iron colored trappean rock. But the rock
of the country is clay slate. It is a strong vein. It is three
feet wide, and has been traced a mile. The vein stone is
quartz. As an evidence of its richness eight quarts of se-
lected ore yielded eighty dollars. The mine is now worked
successfully.

§ 183. Long Creek mine, upon the High Shoal property,
has been very extensively worked in former yeare under
leases, which, when they expired, the explorations were dis-
continued until the property passed into the hands of a Kew
York Company. It traverses slate in a direction N. 20° E.
It dips westerly. It is from four to ten feet wide. The vein
stone is quartz, containing bunches of iron pyrites often fine-
ly crystalized. The vein has been taken out usually four
feet in width, ; when ten feet, it is too poor to take the whole

168 NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

vein ; or, if taken out, it should be selected ; the richest part
contains the most pyrites. The vein has frequently yielded
three dollars per bushel ; the poorest about fifty cents. The
average yield has been one dollar per bushel. When it is
worked down below fifty feet, arsenical pyrites is intermixed
with the iron pyrites. "When these sulphurets coexist in the
ore, or form it, the mercury is excessively divided, which
leads to a loss of the metals. This explanation has been giv-
en to account for losses which the Company has sustained in
working the mine. The vein fissure is wide, and carries a
great quantity of good ore near the surface, and hence, has
been trenched at many places for nearly a mile.

It frequently happens that the mercury is divided minutely
in the process of amalgamation, and so much so, that it ap-
pears like foam or froth ; in cases where it is divided to this
extent, it is extremely diflBcult, if not impossible, to collect it ;
and hence it is lost, together with the gold which has been
taken up. To effect a re-union of the minute globules of
mercury, soda ash may be added in small quantities. It is
the most effective means which can be devised for this pur-
pose.

§ 184. Reynolds' gold mine is about six miles north east of
Troy, in Montgomery county. It is in slate, which is back
of or below the quartz and porphyritic beds in which those
remarkable fossils occur, the palasotrochis, major and minor.

The slate is rusty, not bright, and is traversed by seams of
quartz ; and it is also stained Avitli manganese. It rarely
yields over fifty cents per bushel of ore, but as the slate is
comparatively soft, it gives, at the present time, a moderate
profit. E^ests of the sulphuret of copper and sulphuret of
silver came in at the depth of sixty feet. This vein furnishes
occasionally the telhiret of gold. The vein is rather obscure,
and it is unsafe to form an opinion respecting its value. I
have been informed since I left Montgomery county, that the
vein is increasing in width, and has yielded, very readily, fif-
ty cents per bushel of ore.

§ 185. The King's mountain gold mine is west of the range

NOETH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 169

of that name. It is widely known, having been worked suc-
cessfully for many years by Mr. Briggs.

The vein is from six to eight feet wide, its direction north
west, and its dip north east. It differs from most mines by
an intermixture of limestone with the quartz at the depth of
ninety feet. But the vein above this level was found to be a
porous brown quartz ; the gold in it being frequently coarse
and visible. But the upper part originally did not differ from
the lower ; the limestone above the ninety feet level having
been dissolved out, left the quartz in this porous condition.
From the ninety foot level where the engine shaft was sunk,
the undecomposed part rises towards the surface and towards
the north west. In the undecomposed part, seams of quartz
are not uncommon ; the surfaces when separated are spotted
with galena and sulphuret of copper, and small crystals of
carbonate of lime. The limestone in this vein is not unlike
that of Carter mine, in Montgomery county, which frequent-
ly contained that rare mineral, the telluret of gold. I did
not succeed in finding it at King's mountain mine, but was
informed that it was present in the ore. The rock which sup-
ports the vein is the Talcose slate, which lies below the brown
sandstones and limestones of the Taconic system, and is in
the same formation as the heavy veins of magnetic iron ore
of this region. It is from six to seven feet wide, and is capa-
ble of furnishing a large amount of ore. The vein stuff is
rather hard, and would require for working it powerful ma-
chinery. It is believed that the vein has not materially
changed in the quantity of gold diffused through it.

170 NORTH-CAEOLmA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

CHAPTER XXIV.

Rejyositories of the Ores continued — Gold Veins in the Sye-
nitic Granite of the SaUshury and Greenslorough helt —
McCuUock Gold Mine — Pioneer Mine — Fisher Hill Gold
Mine, etc.

§ 186. The success which attended the working of the
McCulloch mine when nnder the direction of Mr. James
Sloan, gave it a high reputation. But it unfortunately fell
into the hands of men who cannot be safely followed in mat-
ters pertaining to this business. It is sufficient to say that
the mine has been mismanaged. It was loaded with debt
and with unnecessary apparatus, and it passed from a jDaying
to a non-paying mine in the course of eighteen months after
the New York owners came into possession of it, and after
having given them seventy-two thousand dollars in one year.

The vein fissure pursues a north east course, but is curved
in the middle. It dips S. 80° E., and at one place south east.
The vein is composed of a column of brown ore resting on
the foot wall, which extends from the outcrop to one hundred
and thirty feet in depth. Upon this rests the disintegrated
ore, containing eight inches of beautiful copper pyrites ; and
then against the hanging wall, quartz rather poor in gold and
frequently eight feet thick. The vein at the surface is about
two feet wide ; at sixty feet, it is four ; at ninety, ten ; and at
one hundred and thirty twenty-four feet six inches. It dips
at an angle of forty-five degrees. At the one hundred and
thirty foot level, it swells out into a rather lenticular form,
and is twenty-four feet wide in the thickest part. Here the
ore is concretionary ; on the foot wall the brown ore is six
inches thick only, then copper pyrites, then a belt of brown
ore containing nodules or concretions of pyrites more er less
changed, the middle of whicli is rich in gold. Upon the
hanging wall is the principal mass of jDorous quartz, which,
though it sometimes shows thin films of gold, yet is general-

NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 171

ly poor. The brown ore is soft and easily crnslied. It is in-
termixed witli fine quartz, and spongy masses of it, which
are rich in gold. The average yield is from one-and-a-half to
two dollars per bushel. It sometimes exceeds five. At the
south west the vein runs into the Lindsay property. Towards
the north there is a ravine into which the water of the mine
at the sixty foot level flows through an adit. Beyond the ra-
vine in this direction, and about one-third of a mile from the
engine shaft, is Jack's Hill, a little higher than the McCid-
loch's Hill. A shaft sunk in the top of this hill cut the vein
at the depth of seventy-seven feet, where it is seventeen feet
thick. There is exposed at the bottom of the vein a base of
three thousand feet, in the limits of which is stored a vast
quantity of valuable ore.

The copper is the purest sulphuret, yielding by analysis
thirty per cent, of copper. It decomposes rapidly even at the
depth of one hundred and thirty feet. The walls are often
colored blue by the sulphate of copper by the decomposition
of the jDyrites.

I have been unable to ascertain how much gold the mine
has yielded, excepting for a single year — the last eighteen
months the matter pertaining to have been in an unsettled
state. That it is a payii:g mine, and may be worked with
profit, is probably true ; but when a mine is frequently ad-
vertised for sale, every one suspects that it has run out, or
else certain schemes are in progress which are intended to
benefit only a small part of the stockholders. At this mine
the sulphate of iron and copper, oxide of copper, limonite,
cacoxenite, specular oxide of iron, earthy oxide of manga-
nese, and occasionally crystals of limpid quartz are found.
The gold and copper mines rarely contain fine minerals, ex-
cepting those of common occurrence.

The McCulloch vein carries its gold in combination with
the sulphurets. When, therefore, the veinstone is made uj>
of quartz, gold will not be found in it ; and when, on the con-
trary, pyrites reappears, after having been absent perhaps for
a hundred feet, the gold reappears. It is a mass of quartz
which is under foot at the present time ; for the time being,

172 NOKTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

therefore, it is too poor to pay tlie expenses of mining. But
it will probably return to its former value. A mine so well
developed and maintaining its width of vein, extending, in-
cluding the Lindsay vein, not less than a mile in length, may
be expected to continue to yield in the future as much gold
as during the past.

As quartz in this mine is unproductive, it is in vain to
work this material. The course which may be regarded
then as the most likely to be a successful one, is to sink the
Colby shaft to the depth of 300 feet, where it is expected to
intersect the vein, and then drive each way, if necessary, for
the rich ore. That unproductive spaces are encountered, is
not rare in the experience of miners, and a change of this
Idnd should not deter the capitalist from pursuing the vein,
for there can scarcely arise a doubt of a final successful ter-
mination of the project proposed.

In making the foregoing remarks I wish it to be distinctly
understood, that I do not mean to back the doctrine that the
McCulloch mine may be expected to pay the interest upon its
capital stock ; for although it has done so for a short period,
yet this fact does not warrant an investment in its stocks,
even at par value. All mines have their periods of adversity,
and to meet the expenses which accrue during those periods,
there should be a surplus capital. The earnings of the mine
during the period of its prosperity should be laid by in part
for use when required,

§ 187. Fisher Hill Gold Ifine. — This vein has peculiari-
ties which require a passing notice. It lies very flat, its dip
is between fifteen and twenty degrees ; and its vein stone
quartz, in which a white sulphuret of iron is mixed irregu-
larly through it. I have not observed a trace of copper. To
the eye, before it is burnt, the ore appears poor ; but this is
a deception.

In consequence of its ])erfect freedom from copper pyrites,
it may be burnt to great advantage. If this vein should not
change, it must be regarded one of the first class of mines.
Its thickness is from two to four feet near the surface. The
quartz is brittle, and when burnt is easily pulverized.

NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 173

The 3^ield of gold to the bushel averages three dollars, and
it is worth ninety-nine cents to the pennyweight. The north
west end of this mine the ore is worth only eighty-six cents
to the bushel. It has changed its dip at this point, and has
become very steep.

In consequence of the slight dip, the vein lying just be-
neath the soil, it has been frequently perforated by shafts by
the lessees ; it is therefore much exposed to surface water,
which, in some locations, would be detrimental to the future
prosecution of mining. It is known for rather more than a
mile in the direction of its strike, and to be equally rich in
its south western prolongation.

If the mining was prosecuted vigorously, this vein might
furnish per day from fifty to seventy dollars over and above
the expense of attending its working. The metal is attached
both to the sulphuret of iron and the quartz ; and by being-
heated to redness it breaks and grinds without difficulty in a
drag mill.

§ 188. In the vicinity of the Fisher Hill is the abandoned
Hodge's Hill mine, which I believe never gave results which
were perfectly satisfactory. The gold is distributed unequal-
ly through a heavy vein, whose width varies from six inches
to twelve feet. Not having been able to examine the work-
ings, I can say but little respecting it. It furnishes many fa-
mous quartz crystals. Its gold is distributed through quartz
and copper pyrites ; the latter is pure and handsome, and
may furnish an inducement to some capitalist to reopen the
mine.

The minerals taken out of the vein are peroxide of man-
ganese, limonite, carbonate of iron, hornstone, very large
quartz crystals, carbonate of copper, and its earthy red oxide.

§ 189. The Lindsay mine is supposed to be a continuation
of McCulloch ; it is less rich, was formerly worked with suc-
cess, but was badly excavated, according to reports. It is re-
opened, and I am informed with fair j^rospects.

It has been said that the McCulloch vein ia split into strings.
If the two forms one continuous vein, then the branches unite
and form a consolidated lode which, in the Lindsay mine, is

174 NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURATEY.

from eighteen to ten feet wide. It is distant from the McCiil-
loch engine shaft about one hundred rods.

§ 190. The veins in the mining district of Jamestown are
iquite numerous, all of which are worked only for gold when
first discovered. The McCulloch, which has been noticed,
the Lindsey, the Beason, the Harlan and Gardner mines, and
the Beard mine. The four last are not worked. Gold having
been the only metal sought, they were pursued down to wa-
ter, where their characters were materially changed by the
sulphurets of copper and iron, and the easy method of ex-
tracting the gold no longer existing, they were mostly aban-
doned. They are all true veins in the sienitic granite, and it
will be an important question to determine whether they
may be reopened with a fair prospect of success. In the
mean time a few mines are being pursued, which probably
have in their time presented equal obstacles to a successful
result, and indeed have, in their turn, been abandoned also ;
but which on farther prosecution, with better means and
more exj)erience, are likely to become lasting sources of
wealth.

, § 191. Among the mines of this cluster, near Jamestown,
/ in Guilford county, is one known as the Gardner mine, and
I propose to make at least the usual statements respecting its
character ; and besides, there are certain interesting facts
worthy of note, which require this brief notice. It is in the
sienitic granite. It is a true vein, whose direction is IST. 20°
E., and with a westerly dip. It was worked for gold, and the
lessees, who paid one quarter of the gold obtained as toll,
made a profitable undertaking, as their books show. One
hundred thousand dollars have been taken from the lode and
surface mine. The gangue is quartz intermixed with brown
ore which lies against the foot wall, and is from six to twelve
inches thick. It rarely yields over one dollar per bushel, but
the quartz is frequently richer, and hence has j)aid large pro-
fits. The lode is bounded by slate or killas ; but the adja-
cent granite on the lower or foot wall is extremely tough and
hard, while that on the upper side is soft. The arrangement
of the vein stone is shown in figure T^.

NOKTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 175

a. a. the granite inclosing tlie vein fissure,
b. b. killas or slate, c. vein. The vein fis-
sure is rarely more than three feet wide near
the top, and in a part of the lode at the
depth of eighty feet is only eight inches,
\)\\ where the ore is poor.

§ 192. The vein stone is quartz as is com-
monly the case in granite, but upon each
^ ^ side it is bounded by slate, which of course

fills in part the fissure. In this slate I find fine micaceous
oxide of iron, and frequently it exists in connexion with the
quartz where most of it has passed into the brown hydrous
oxide of iron. 'Now the most valuable ore of this mine is a
brown oxide, and to the eye it cannot be distinguished from
that produced from the micaceous oxide ; but the gold bear-
ing oxide is derived from the copper and iron pyrites. It
was noticed in working the ore of this mine that a part of it
was rich, and another part was worthless. I found, on ex-
amination, that the worthless was derived from the micaceous
oxide. It seems, therefore, that gold attaches itself, as usual,
to the sulphurets ; and it becomes necessary in examining
the ores of a gold mine to determine their origin, for the mi-
caceous oxide is not a rare mineral in veins carrying gold.
In this mine we find the killas which have been alluded to.
It seems that under the circumstances in which they occur
in veins, it is difiicult to determine how they were formed.
At the Rudersill mine near Charlotte, and at the Dunn mine
they are very thick, while at the Gardner mine they are thin ;
but in each of these cases they must have been produced in
the same way ; and what is perplexing is, they are similar to
the slates of the country ; and where thick, as near Charlotte,
they have quartz veins which are like those of the sediments,
and have no gold or metal in them. I have in another place
spoken of the laminated dykes or slaty dykes ; these killas of
the veins, except when quite wide, resemble them.

The Gardner mine, at the depth of one hundred and ten
feet, yields, under careful management, about one dollar per
bushel ; the poorest about fifty cents. The ore contains a

176 NORXn-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

handsome quantity of rich sulphiiret of iron and copper ; it
yields about tliirty per cent of copper ; it is not largely inter-
mixed with iron pyrites at any part of the vein. There are
probably three veins upon the Gardner property ; but I have
been unable to determine their relations, two visits having
been made to the mine when it was impossible to examine
the exposed lodes underground.

§ 193. Rudersill gold mine is near Charlotte, Mecklenburg
county, and was at one time regarded as the most productive
mine in the State. In this, as in many other instances, a rich
and productive deposit of gold did not save the property
from sale under execution. An infatuation seemed to have
seized the managers, and extravagance was increased in a
greater ratio than the returns of the mine, which indeed were
known to have been very remarkable. This mine was re-
opened about two years ago, under the management and su-
perintendence of an able, as well as prudent engineer. The
present prospects warrant a favorable conclusion to the en-
terprise. The rock both above and below the two veins
which constitute the mine is the syenitic granite of the Salis-
bury and Greensborough belt ; but the veins are immediate-
ly in killas or slate, or mass which cannot be distinguished
from the slates which predominate in the slate belt; and
there are other points where the slate is in granite, and not
less than one hundred feet thick, which is traversed with
veins of quartz. It is difficult to determine whether the slate
thus situated is to be regarded as the killas of a vein, or as
masses of the slate system isolated by an eruptive rock.

Thus the Rudersill veins are between masses of an erup-
tive rock, and the lower is regarded as the elvan of the Cor-
nish miners. The vein fissure is fifty feet thick, occupied
mostly by talcose slate, which is overlaid by white granite
and underlaid by elvan or a darker trappean rock. In this
fifty feet of slate lie the two principal veins, which, instead
of pursuing a direct course, are frequently curved or rather
turned out of their regular course as represented in Plate 12.
at the one hundred foot level of both the front and back veins.

A vertical section. Plate 1"2, shows the position of two veiii.-^

NORTS-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SUKVEY. 177

lying, one against the elvan, and the other against the white
granite. There is also a branch called the thu-d vein, which
will intersect the back vein. It is mostly quartz. The prin-
cipal veins, front and back as they are called, are from three
to fom' feet wide, with a west dip. The gangue slaty, and
slate with stripes of quartz, carrying sulphuret of iron and
copper pyrites.

The front vein yields, in some parts of it, for sixty continu-
ous feet, one dollar ])6T hushel, and the back vein only fifty
cents. Carbonate of iron is one of the common minerals of
the vein, though not so abundant as in many copper mines.
An important advantage which this mine enjoys, is the
amount of ore which can be commanded. It may be regard-
ed as one of those repositories which, if prudently managed,
will continue to give a very resj^ectable profit at all times.
One or the other of its veins may be depended upon, and it
may turn out that when the one that now gives one dollar
per bushel should be less productive, the loss will be made
up by an increased productiveness of the other, and so vice
versa. The arrangement of ore in the lode is usually in rich
bunches, which are connected by strings. The quartz is brit-
tle, and hence is readily crushed. The whole work of fitting
and pulverizing the ore is by steam power,

§ 194. The Dunn mine is inclosed in a heavy mass of slate
also. It is seven miles from Charlotte, on the plank road ;
but the principal rock is granite. It has been worked for
gold. It is remarkable for the large quantity of limonite
which has been produced from iron pyrites. Imbedded in
masses of limonite, fine and beautiful scales and plates of
specular iron are common. It is of no account as a gold
mine.

Phcenix mine in Cabarrus county furnished good ore in
the quartz, intermixed with the sulphuret of iron. It was
proved to be rich to the depth of one hundred and forty feet.
At this level a white quartz and sulphate of barytes re-
placed the brown ore, and it immediately became poor, and
yielded only twenty-five cents to the bushel. It yielded from
one to three dollars per bushel above the one hundred and
12

178 NOETH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

forty foot level. No company has as yet had sufficient cour-
age to undertake to cut through the barytic part, and deter-
mine whether the vein stone changes and becomes rich again
or not.

. The Phoenix mine is about fourteen miles south east of Con-

' cord, and its general direction is north east. It belongs to
the sienitic belt of rocks, and at the depth of one hundred
and eighty feet is one foot wide. It is nearly vertical. This
vein prolonged about one-and-a-quarter miles, takes the name

f of Yanderburgh mine, where the vein stone is sulphate of
barytes and quartz. Its contents differ from those of the
Phoenix mine. Copper pyrites prevails to that extent, that
it has been in market as a copper mine.

One-and-a-quarter miles south west of the old Phoenix
mine it has taken the name of Barrier mine, which is rep-
resented as a productive gold mine.

The Orchard mine is one-fourth of a mile east of the Phoe-
nix, and runs parallel with it ; it carries copper pyrites, but is
not supposed to be rich enough to work.

Between the Vanderburgh and Phoenix locations a heavy
trap dyke intersects the vein. This fact may throw some
light upon the change of material which has taken place

, north of it.

^ The Earnhardt gold mine of Cabarrus county is in granite,
and pursues a northeasterly direction. It is a well developed
mine ; its gangue of quartz, taken near the surface, contains
coarse gold. It is without doubt a rich mine, and well wor-
thy the attention of capitalists.

I Pioneer gold mine is in a cluster of interesting, and which
I believe will turn out to be valuable mines. This is the on-
ly one in the district which is worked at present. It is twelve
miles east of Concord, and situated upon the eastern border
of the sienitic granite, and in a belt upon which there are
numerous veins carrying both gold and copper. The vein
fissure in the granite is between sixteen and seventeen feet
wide. Its direction is N. 70° E. The true vein stone is
quartz from eight to thirty inches thick, both sides of wliich
is bounded by the killas.

NORTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 179

The vein stone is usually stained with carbonate of copper ;
it is brittle and not difficult to pulverize, and the gold is con-
tained both in the pure quartz and the sulphurets, intermin-
gled with it.

The following items will show how the mine yields. There
is only one pair of ChiHan mill-stones in operation, whose
movements were not graduated to the proper speed which
the ore requires. The revolutions were too many for this ore,
making, 1 beheve, eleven in a minute. The defects of the
machinery were too obvious to escape notice ; but with these
defects, the mine was proving itself a valuable one. I state
the results according to the amount of ore used. Thirty to
forty bushels of ore ground per day with the aid of a single
)iiill. Thus :

BUSHELS. YIELDED IN GOLD.

147 $ 364

92 123

118 361

103 408

127 570

131 496

38 201

143 618

121 456

138 301

139 352

134 417

154 447

S2 560

Bushels, 1677 $ 5,674

The yield, therefore, for the whole amount, is three dollars
and thirty cents a bushel.

The labor is performed in, and at the mine by from tifteen
to twenty hands, working from eighteen to twenty days in
the month ; and the whole cost amounts to four hundred dol-
lars ($400) per month. ISTow under a certain plan of man-
• agement the mine did not pay expenses, and became in debt
in various ways, and would have been sold by the company,
but the present agent, by proper attention to the manage-
ment of the machinery, and particularly by using mei'ciiry

180 NORTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

iQ the Chilian mill, made the handsome profits shown above,
by the use of the same kind of ore which before did not pay
the expenses of mining. It is impossible to make money by
working a gold mine without the closest attention; every
leakage must be found and stopped ; the revolutions of the
Chilian mills must be timed to suit the character of the ore.
If the ore of the Pioneer mine yielded only twenty-five cent;i
per bushel with proper attention and economy, and the use
of sufficient machinery to grind one hundred bushels per day,
it would give a handsome profit.

Very few persons have been economical in working gold
mines, and fewer still have thought of timing the movements
of the machinery to suit the character of the ore ; if this is
not done, the gold and mercury is lost ; for of all things yet
discovered, gold is the most difficult to catch, and the easiest
to slip away.

The vein stone is arranged in the fissure much as it is in
the Gold Hill mine, viz., in lenticular segments ; which over-
lap at the lower edge, and set back against the foot wall at
the upper. The great quantity of ore at this mine, and the
ease with which it is obtained, confers great advantages
upon it.

I have observed that the Pioneer mine is in the immediate vi-
cinity of several other mines ; thus, upon the Morrison planta-
tion there are four veins, all of which carry gold. The first is
one mile south west of the Pioneer mine. Around an old shaft
the refuse ore I found rich in gold. The vein stone is quartz,
interspersed with the sulphurets. The second is one mile
east. It resembles the first. In the third, the gold is in com ■
bination with copper pyrites. The fourth is a quartz vein,
situated at the north east part of the plantation ; it is com-
posed of quartz and iron pyrites. The general direction of
these veins is north east. In addition to the foregoing, there
is a valuable vein carrying quartz and copj^er pyrites upon
the plantation of Dr. Cosby. The part of the vein which ha^
been tested is rich in gold, but the indication favors the ex-
pectation that it will prove rather a copper than a gold bear-
in 2 vein.

NORTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SUE\'EY. 181

The Long mine is two miles nortli west from the Pioneer.
It is nearly vertical, is two feet wide, and carries lees copper
than the Pioneer, and contains a larger amonnt of decompos-
ed ore. The vein fissure is from eight to ten feet wide, and
bears IST. 10° W. It has been explored to the depth of
fifty feet, the ore steadily improving in quality. It was re-
garded as rich as the Pioneer mine, and in certain respects,
as having advantages which the latter does not possess.

A vein of quartz passes also through the plantation upon
which the Pioneer mine is situated, which will intersect it, if
both are prolonged a few hundred yards beyond the present
worldngs. In itself, it is of no consequence ; its presence
shows the extent to which this smaU mineral district has been
fissured. Its direction is N. 10° W.

Rymer gold mine is six miles east of Salisbury, Rowan
county, and one mile to the left of the road leading to Gold
Hill. Direction north east, and nearly vertical. The vein
stone is seven feet wide. It is a prominent mass of brittle
quartz. The immediate repository is a pale colored sulphu-
ret of iron, which lies mostly against the foot wall. Tlie ore
is three feet wide. The sulphuret is sometimes crystallized
in cubes. There is no copper pyrites intermixed with it. It
resembles the Fisher Hill gold mine. As it contains no cop-
per, the ore admits of roasting, which favors the discharge of
the gold from the sulphuret, and the pulverization of the
gangue. It is subordinate to granite. It has been opened
but a short time, and the returns of gold have not been ob-
tained. It is spoken well of by persons who have informa-
tion upon the subject.

RECAPITULATION OF SOME OF THE LEADING FACTS RESPECTING THE

GOLD ORES.

1. I have shown that gold belongs both to the pyrocrystal-
line and sedimentary rocks. In the former it is always in
veins ; in the latter, in both veins and beds.

2. The gold repositories, therefore, belong to two geologi-
cal periods. The first and oldest must be assigned to those

182 NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

which belong to the pyrociystalline rocks, gneiss, mica and
talcose slates, etc.

3. From the debris of the auriferous veins of these rocks
the beds are formed which have been already described, and
which belong to the oldest palaeozoic rocks.

4. I have also shown that auriferous veins exist in the pa-
laeozoic rocks as well as beds. There are, therefore, two pe-
riods to which the auriferous veins of this slate must be as
signed ; the first prior to the creation of organic beings, and
the second one bears a subsequent date, or comes within the
palaeozoic era.

5. As yet no veins are known of a later date than those
which have been described as belonging to the Taconic sys-
tem ; that is, we have no auriferous veins belonging to the
Silurian, which succeeds the Taconic system.

6. Gold is associated with quartz and the sulphurets of cop-
per and iron — ^l^ut sulphuret of iron ajDpears to be the sub-
stance with which gold is more immediately associated.

7. Gold, hke other substances, has been subjected to mo-
lecular movements, by which it has been transferred from
the interior of a mass to its surface planes. Thus, in the
slates it is more abundant upon the planes, or between two
parallel planes, than in the lamina of the slate. So it often
occurs in seams which were formed perhaps during the slow
consolidation of the rock.

8. Gold is mechanically mixed with the quartz and the
sulphurets, and rarely occurs in any chemical combination,
except with tellimum. Its separation is therefore effected
mechanically.

9. The amount of gold which can be obtained depends ve-
ry much upon the means employed. All the machinery for
the separation of gold is defective. The Chilian mill, which
is probably the most effective, flattens the gold too much :
the consequence of this is, that the surfaces condense air,
which aid in buoying it up in the pasty fl.uid in which it is
immersed, and hence it floats off with the escaping fluid. 11'
the process were conducted in a heated fluid, less air would
be condensed and more gold saved. A mill which operates

NORTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 183

like the flouring mill may be more successful than the Chilian,
or like the eccentric plates of the Bogardus mill. Whatever
form of apparatus is selected, it should be with reference to
the preservation of the rounded form in which the coarse gold
exists. In some cases and indeed in many it is already flat,
and approaches the condition of gold leaf; it is therefore dif-
ficult to save. Much gold is lost by the haste in which the
difierent processes are conducted, and the slight attention
which is paid to the movements of the machinery ; for it is
to this point that the attention should be especially directed.
The condition of the gold should be ascertained, whether it
is fine or coarse, as those points must be determined before
the movements of the machinery can be properly adjusted.

CHAPTER XXV.

Repositories of Metals continued — Silver ^ Washington Sil-
ver mine / its proli)ngation, etc, — Character of the Veins at
different depths, etc.

§ 195. This metal is much rarer in the United States than
gold, f Silver is combined, it is true, with the galena of many
of the repositories of this metal ; but it is not often that its
per centage will warrant the expense of its extraction. The
Washington silver mine has passed through the usual vicissi.
tudes which attend all mining operations. It has had its day
of partial success, when it seemed that its owners were just
upon the point of realizing their hopes, when some unfortu-
nate occurrence took place which set them afloat upon a tide
of uncertainty. Various methods were resorted to to sepa-
rate the silver and gold from the sulphurets by difierent as-,
sayists, but the results more frequently proved so near a
failure, that they amounted in the end to the same thing ; for

184 NORTII-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

more money was expended by the company than was re-
ceived, thongh tlie returns came within a thousand or two
dollars per annum of the expenditures, so that the company
lived, because it was wealthy. It would happen that the
amount of metals received was about eighteen thousand dol-
lars, but it had to expend twenty thousand to get it ; and the
consequence was, that the operations at the Washington mine
were suspended for several years ; still it was estabhshed that
a much larger per centage of silver and gold existed in the
mineral than was ever obtained by any furnace operations.
It was therefore a question of skill, whether the mine should
be abandoned or not. There was ore enough, it was rich
enough, but all who had 1 >cen employed to smelt the ores
succeeded only partially. Money, it is true, was made, while
certain surface ores continued ; but when they gave out, and
greater skill was required, then the failure became too plain
to be denied. It was precisely like working the surface of a
gold mine which consists of brown ore, where the sulphurets
were thoroughly decomposed. Any person with only ordi-
nary skill could perform the work successfully, but when the
undecomposed sulphurets were to be dealt with, it was an-
other thing, and required skill and knowledge combined, in
order to be successful with them, and as both were frequent-
ly defective or totally wanting, most of the gold mines of the
State were abandoned. The ore of the Washington mine is
a mixture of the sulphurets of lead, zinc, copper and iron, in
which there is gold and the sulphuret of silver. The sulphu-
rets of lead and zinc predominate, the sulphuret of u'on
stands next, and the sulphuret of copper and iron is the
least. Zinc predominates over the lead. In some pieces
they seem to be in nearly equal proportions. But almost all
the lumps of much size contain the four sulphurets, with the
gold and silver besides. There are, therefore, five metals to
which the attention must be directed, and all of them should
be saved ; the gold, silver, lead, copper and zinc. The ore it
will be seen is very complex, and it is no wonder that succe'Ss
did not crown the eiforts of the owners until and after sev-
eral years of trial and the expenditure of a large capital, es-

NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 185

pecially wlien one of those metals wliicli formed nearly half of
the mass is one of the most refi*actorj metals to deal with. In
the first attempt to separate the metals composing this com-
plicated ore, the silver and gold were of course the principal
objects songht for. The lead in the ore was one of the agents
or means by which this result was obtained, and the compa-
ny I beheve w^ere enabled to save small bars as long as the
carbonates of lead were abundant ; but when this gave out,
then litharage was purchased to aid the process of separation,
and much of the lead added to the ores for this purpose was
dissipated and lost. The difficulty encountered arose from
the presence of so much zinc, which, in attempting to volatil-
ize, dissipated the lead also, and which no doubt carried in its
vapours some of the silver and gold with it. But I have
dwelt perhaps too long upon this branch of the subject.

The rock of the country is a clay slate, reddish, striped and
greenish, totally or partially changed into a hard rock. It
often contains beds of extremely fine silex suitable for hones,
and also masses which are porphyrized. Beds also of breccia
and brecciated conglomerates are common. The formation
belongs to the sedimentary series, and to that system which
I have denominated the Taconic system. The evidence
which I have been able to gather respecting the age of the
vein fissures of this mine is, that it is of the same period as
the auriferous veins in the same formation. There is a paral-
lelism and a general resemblance in the characteristics of all
these repositories ; and there has not as yet come to light any
fact which discredits the foregoing conclusion. For these
reasons, therefore, I have been disposed to look upon the au-
riferous veins of the slate, and those which carry the com-
plex combinations, as all belonging to one epoch. Upon the
east side of Silver Hill, or the Washington mine, the heavy
bed or porphyrized breccia passes on to the north east ; it is
the same mass wdiich is so perfectly developed near the Nar-
rows upon the Yadkin, and passes within two miles of Gold
Hill and forms the Flat Swamp mountain, and from thence
passes Silver Hill, leaving the mine upon the West. Four-
and-a-half miles farther north easterly the same rock passes

186 NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SUR^TIY.

through the plantation of David Beck, near the Headrick
copper mine, and from thence passing in the same direction,
forms the Three Hat mountain south of Conrad Hill. This
persistent porphyrized rock would be expected to preserve the
same relations to the mines or veins upon its west side, but
this does not occur ; for at the distance of about six miles
north easterly, I found the Washington silver lead mines to
reappear upon the east side of this singular belt, in which I
have rarely found productive mineral veins, though quartz
veins are very common. So also I may notice the fact in this
place, that the Headrick copper mine is a slate which cannot
be distinguished from that of Grold Hill, and the mineral mat-
ter of the vein resembles so closely that of the Earnhardt
vein, that they cannot be distinguished. It appears, there-
fore, that these veins reappear on the east side of this breccia,
but never appear in it — or they come up to the surface from
six to twenty miles from the most important points where
they are now worked. These facts are well illustrated in the
Washington mine, near the residence of Mr. A. J. Moore, on
the fork of the Salisbury and Lexington roads. The zinc, lead
and copper were struck in a shaft designed to be sunk upon
a gold bearing vein, and accompanied with the peculiar slates
and minerals of the Washington veins, so perfect that no one
would have suspected that they were taken at a point six
miles to the north east.

The veins of the Washington mine traverae the crest of
a low rounded hill, from fifty to seventy-five feet above the
adjacent valley. The veins were exposed by the plough, or
in the cultivation of this field, and their outcrop was scarcely
observable ; they presented nothing prominent or striking,
and were accompanied with the usual quartz veins. Upon
the west side of the vein, the rock is also rather thick bedded
and hard, but not porphyrized. The slates adjacent to the
vein are soft, and of various colors. The immediate rocks
of the mine, or those which may be said to invest it, are uni-
formly hard rocks. The mine consists of two heavy veins,
f)ur3uing in depth a nearly parallel course ; and the smaller

NORTH-CAKOLmA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 187

reins less perfectly developed, and which have been discov-
ered by the underground workings.

As this mine is one of the most important and valuable in
North-Carolina, and as it is geologically important, I shall
state with as much minuteness as possible the numerous
changes which it undergoes or has undergone during the time
it has been worked. These changes do not, however, differ
in character from those which have been observed in other
mines, and as they indeed correspond, the idea is sustained
that all these repositories are more or less regular in their
structure, and conform to certain rules.

The two principal veins are explored by three perpendicu-
lar shafts. They are sunk in the rock of the country, and
hence furnish information respecting the rock adjacent to the
lodes as well as the structure and composition of the lodes
themselves., of which the two principal are termed the east
and west lodes. Upon the east lode, the first shaft of sixty
feet was the first which penetrated this rich metaliferous for-
mation. It begins upon the outcrop of the east vein, and
hence passes down behind it. At the depth of forty feet a
cross cut was made to the west which intersected both lodes
at this depth. This cross cut extends to the west side of the
west vein, and is thirty-eight feet long ; from this it appears
that the veins had made to the west twenty feet in forty.
Tlie shaft passes through soft rock, or that which is disinte-
grated, and it is not until the sixty feet level is attained that
the rock becomes hard and firm. The distance between the
two veins is twenty-eight feet. The underlie or dip is sixty-
eight feet, and to the west.

The next shaft is sunk twenty-eight feet to the west of the
west lode. It intersects the west vein at one hundred feet,
(100.) The appearance of the lodes in the upper part is that
of yellowish white or frequently silvery substance, both soft
and friable, in which the mineral matter is not very distinct.
The vein stone is a talcose slate more or less disintegrated,
which envelops or conceals the metal, though its weight is
perceptibly greater than that of common stone or rock. It
was however in this material that silver was first recognized ;

188 NORTII-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

it was found both in the native state, and in combination with
galena. It was also in this level, or near it, (60 feet) that
gold was first detected in both veins. In a, state of purity
the quantity has not been exceeded. The east vein has car-
ried more silver than the west, and the difference in this res-
pect between them has been so perceptible, that the east has
been called the silver, and the west the lead vein. The space
between is occupied for one hundred feet by soft slate, but
traces of mineral matter pervade this mass, though somewhat
disguised by the soft and pasty talcose slate. The spaces be-
tween the hanging wall of the west vein, and the foot wall of
the east, is twenty-eight feet in both the forty and sixty feet
levels. The ground becomes gradually firmer as the shafts
descend.

The working of the vein along the sixty foot level, disclos-
ed an interesting geological fact ; the approximation and in-
deed coalescence of the two lodes, which gave a width of
twenty feet. This conjunction sustains the common belief,
that where two lodes come together their richness is increas-
ed ; it was so in this instance. The lodes, however, though
they come together do not cross, they soon separate, and
then resume very nearly the same relations and distance they
had prior to their junction. But at the junction the silver
was in part transferred to the west lode ; it became richer for
the time than the east lode. At this point also manganese
appears in the space between the veins, and the beautiful
carbonates and phosphates of lead were also abundant here.
These were associated with the silicates and carbonates of
copper, and foliated native silver.

At the depth of one hundred feet, the volume of the lodes
and the included metals has perceptibly increased. The walls
of the veins and the rock have become firmer and harder.
The lodes assume a more permanent cliaracter. Besides
these indications of a favorable land, another vein is disclos-
ed, which contains also silver in connection with lead, accom-
panied as usual with zinc, twelve feet to the east of the east
vein ; it first appears at about the depth of eighty feet. It is
not parallel with the two larger veins, but may be regarded

NOETH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SUEVET. 189

as a cross course wliicli will intersect them. Another small
vein also was disclosed by the workings upon the one hun-
dred feet level containing the usual metals of the main re-
positories on the west side of the west vein, it was intersect-
ed by the cross cut from the engine shaft in the west vein ;
it dips to the eastward. It is called the little west vein.

Levels have been driven at the sixty foot levels two hun-
dred and forty-seven feet on the east, and three hundred feet
upon the west vein.

The west vein between the sixty and one hundred foot
levels expanded and yielded also rich silver ores, and below
the one hundred foot level, the working results were uncom-
monly favorable, owing to the presence of the massive car-
bonates which yielded thirty per cent, of lead comprising the
silver. So also the vein stuff of the west lode from sixty to
two hundred feet level changed from the light and rather
earthy looking mass, and small specific gravity, to the heavy
and crystalized carbonates and phosphates, and to a black po-
rous argentiferous galena native silver and blende. The
lead was, however, much less than the smelter of the ore de-
sired. This admixture was unequal. The lode in this neigh-
borhood has become from ten to fifteen feet thick ; but the
expanded portions are not so well defined as the narrow parts,
and the cavities in the walls become what the miners term
" ■yw^s," in which, however, there are valuable accumulations
of metals.

At the one hundred and sixty foot level, it is perceived
that the dip of the vein has changed, having become steeper ;
its underlie is now 63*^ from the horizon ; and this underlie
continues to increase in its descent, and both veins preserve
their relations, tliat is, both become steeper, though they are
now thirty two feet apart. A change of dip of this kind has
been regarded as favorable to the increase of metal in the
lodes ; and such is the fact in this instance. The lodes at this
level expand also into vugs, which are occupied with black
steel grained zinc ore, with galena interspersed with arbores-
cent foliated and filiform native silver, as well as that which
is still in combination with the lead. The black ore of this

190 NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

level contains from forty-nine to fifty-two per cent, of silver-
lead ; which yields from fifty to one hnndred and eighty
ounces of silver to the ton of metal. A variety still richer,
called the hlue ore^ and which is interspersed with the other
ore unequally, gave Prof. Booth,

Of Lead, 38.

Of Silver, 2.875 per cent.

This astonishing result, it must be recollected, cannot be
obtained from the great mass of ore, it is obtained only from
comparatively small masses, unequally distributed through
the vein at certain places.

The most important facts disclosed in these lower levels are,
that the lodes have become more decisive m their tone and
character, or in their general features. They are wider, the
mineral matter heavier and more solid, or less intermixed
with gangne. The mineral matter has increased, and the
precious metals, gold and silver, have by no means diminish-
ed in quantity, but have rather increased in the same ratio
with that of the lead and zinc and copper.

At one hundred and sixty feet, the east lode has regained,
us it were, its predominance in silver. Arborescent silver is
frequently obtained, and the south end of the lode con-
tained better silver-lead than had been seen in the upper
levels. Tlie east lode is now ten feet wide, but at one point
it is split into two parts by intervening hard rock. This dis-
appears before it reaches the two hundred foot level. It is
singular that the west lode is also sjDlit at this level in the
."^ame manner, and disappears at about the same time. In
the west lode, the mineral contents consist of an admixture of
zinc and argentiferous lead ores. The vein fissure has ex-
panded about seven feet more. The lower parts of both fis-
sures is filled with hard blende mixed with lead and silver.
The minerals are also contorted and twisted.

The east lode at two hundred feet has increased in argen-
tiferous galena, and the ore consists of from

40 — 50 per cent, of Zinc,

15—20 per cent, of Lead,
25 per cent, of Sulphur,
20 per cent, of Iron ISilica and Alumina.

NOKTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SLTIVEY. 191

The east vein has maintained its character for gi*eater ricli-
ness in silver between the one hundred and sixty and two
Inindred foot levels. Next to the foot wall the zinc and sil-
ver-lead is hard, and more abundant there, bnt at the same
time both are distributed through the vein.

The west lode at two hundred feet is from ten to sixteen
feet thick, and it is said that the amount of silver and galena
has increased, or is increasing, as the last ten feet yielded
better results than had been obtained before from this lode.
Both veins, it appears, are becoming steeper at the lowest
points at which they have been explored, being at the depth
of one hundred to one hundred and sixty feet — as one to two
in inclination ; an indication which, as has been already
stated, is to be taken as a favorable omen.

It appears from the foregoing statements that it some-
times happens, when two lodes are in such close proximity,
that one is rich and the other poor alternately ; but in this
case, both seem to go on increasing slowly in richness at the
game time, for the eastern vein between the hundred and
seventy foot level and the two hundred contained the most
silver ; and a j)0cket, as it is called, was found at this depth
which had a breadth in the vein of two feet, which gave more
silver than any part which had been before met 'svitli.

The Symonds vein as it is called, which w^as struck twelve
feet to the east of the east vein, scarcely differs from the pre-
ceding one in its general characteristics. It contains speci-
mens which show that it has undergone the same changes —
the transformation of galena into carbonate and phosphate of
lead, where the needful conditions existed ; as at the more
superficial parts of the vein. Both galena and carbonate of
lead exist together in the same specimen. Although its ca-
pacity is less than the old veins, it is still competent to supply
a large quantity. It is supposed by some geologists, that in
tlie existence of vugs^ or cavities, a black color and a porous
slaggy slate denotes the action of fire. These conditions,
however, are often the results of decomposition which has
slowly taken place, and water frequently produce changes
which similate those of fire or heat.

192 NOETH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SUKVEY.

I alluded in the beginning of this chapter to the imperfect
results which were obtained in the smelting of the complex
ores of the Washington mine. In order to illustrate this im-
portant matter, I shall quote a paragraph from a report made
to the stockholders of this mine by H. Schoonmaker, Esq.,
Chairman of the Board of Trustees. It shows the loss which
the first company were obhged to sustain in attempting to
separate the silver and gold ; and so common was the result,
that the public lost confidence in the enterprise, and regarded
this valuable mine as another failure in this branch of bu-
siness.

It appears that on the 4th of August, 1851, the furnaces
were charged with 9,600 lbs. of roasted ore, equal to 20 per
cent., or 1,920 lbs. lead ; and 900 lbs. litharage— 93, or 837 lbs.;
and the production of the week was 513 lbs., or by the ope-
rations, a loss had been sustained of 324 lbs. of lead less than
the litharage which had been put in the furnace, and also the
1,920 lbs. contained in the ore, making in the aggregate a
loss of 3,214 lbs. of lead in one week's operation, in addition
to the bullion that accompanied it. On the 8th of Sept., there
was put into the furnace 9,750 lbs. of roasted ore equaling 20
per cent., or 6,950 lbs. of lead and 975 lbs. of litharage,
equaling 93 per cent, or 905 lbs., amounting to 2,855 lbs.
The production was only 513 lbs., from which a loss was sus-
tained of 2,342 lbs., with its bullion.

The effect of these losses required the labor of 60 men, a
steam engine of 60 horse power, 5 horses, the consumption of
14 cords of wood, and 400 bushels of charcoal per day. The
foregoing are perhaps extreme examples, but with much less
loss, the influence would be at once ruinous, had it not been
for the extreme richness of the ore, which gave in the 513 lbs.
of lead a large quantity of silver. It was' knownj long
ago that zinc and lead could not be smelted together, as one
requires only the heat of fusion, while the other, zinc, re-
quires that of volatilization. It follows, therefore, that it is
indispensable that the lead and zinc should be separated be-
fore they are put into the furnace, and it is a fortunate fact

NOETH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL StTRVET. 193

that the precious metals in the mixture are not attached to
the zinc.

The present mode of operating at the Washington mine
gives much better results than those I have just alluded to.
The favorable returns obtained at present depend upon a me-
chanical separation of the zinc from the silver, prior to its
introduction into the smelting furnace. This is effected by
Bradford's Separators, which, after the pulverization of the
sulphurets, is detached from the galena by a simple shaking
movement of a plate of copper, aided by water, over which
the metals are passing. The separation is possible, in conse-
quence of the slight difference in the specific gravity of the
compounds. When the zinc is separated, the process of re-
duction in the furnace resolves itself into an easy and certain
operation. The old process attempted the entire volatiliza-
tion of zinc by heat, which of course was lost, and which, too,
carried off the bullion as well as the lead. By the new
method, the zinc is saved by a much cheaper process than
that of volatilization, while at the same time the other metals
are not wasted. The blende which is saved, can be converted
into a white paint.

As the processes are now only in their incipient stage, I do
not propose to give in full the results which have been ob-
tained. It is, however, estimated, that the expenses for min-
ing, the engine work, including the use of six cords of wood
per day, two engineers, the roasting of ores, breaking and
pulverizing, etc., will amount to seventy dollars per day.

As the ore is abundant, and as the means now at hand will
enable the proprietors to smelt three tons of the silver-lead
ore per day, which is worth one hundred dollars per ton, con-
taining also bullion amounting to one hundred ounces to each
ton of lead, and which is worth ten dollars per ounce, it is
evident that very handsome profits must be realized from the
AVashington silver mine.

§ 196. The north-eastern extremity of the Washington Sil-
ver mine. — ^Three miles west of Spencer's Postoffice, and near
the residence of A. J. Moore, Esq., a vein of metal, identi-
cal in appearance with that of the Washington mine, was ex-
13

194 noWh-cakolina geological survey.

posed in sinking a shaft for the recovery of a gold-bearing
vein, by tlie late John Ward, Esq. It does not appear at the
surface; the slate is closed above, and hence there was no
appearance of a vein, nntil the shaft had penetrated into the
rock six feet. Its discovery was therefore accidental; but
may be regarded as a fact interesting in itself, independent
of the economical value of the discovery. The ore is the sil-
ver-lead ore, of a fine grain and texture, intermi:xed with
blende. The vein stone appears to be talc, or a soft white
earthy substance, in which scaly talc abounds.

The ore, so far as it is known, scarcely differs in composi-
tion from that of the Washington mine. Even a porous lava
looking vein stone, which is often seen at the Washington
mine, is also present at this locality. Indeed there is the
same singular mixture of blende, galena, copper and iron py-
rites, carrying gold, as at the mine already referred to ; the
similarity extending to the numerous varieties of minerals
which also occur at the Washington mine.

The vein fissure is distinct and well developed in the rock,
and contains a large amoimt of n\etal, arranged in lamina, in
which talc is frequently the most prominent substance. The
vein is from three to six feet wide ; but as the shaft is shal-
low, it is impossible to gain the information required to form
an opinion respecting its value.

McMackin silver mine is one mile and a-half south-west of
Gold Hill, and in the same formations. The minerals however
which accompau)' the metals are quite different. The vein con>
sists of sulphuret of lead and zinc intermixed in the same man-
nei'as in the Wasliington mine at Gold Ilill. The grain of each
is fine and sparkling. The pieces lying about the mine con-
tain more zinc than lead. IIow, or in what proportions they
are distributed in the mine I was unable to learn — the old
shafts having fallen in. The rock is talcose slate; the vein
stone a massive dolomite, colored with nuinganese, and often
of a delicate rose color. The manganese changes the appear-
ance of the rock after having been exposed to the atmos-
phere a few years: it becomes brown, and often black. Sil-
very talc is disseminated throughout the vein, and often di-

NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 195

vides the sulphurets into laminated masses. It appears that
the vein was earthy at its outcrop, the metals having been
removed, or their place occupied by eartliy substances.

At the depth of sixty feet in the shaft sunk upon the vein
the sulphurets are said to form a solid mass two feet thick in
the middle of a six foot vein, the sides being occupied by the
manganesian dolomite. The information respecting the ore
in the shaft was derived from Mr. Idler, a mining engineer
of note residing at Gold Hill.

The amount of the sulphurets upon the surface corroborates
his statement. Some of the pieces were mostly a silver lead,
resembling that of the Washington mine. Others were mix-
tures of galena and blende, resembling also that of the lo-
cality referred to.

The probability therefore is, that this mine is a very valu-
able one ; and as success attends the operations at the Wash-
ington mine, an ore like this, it is hoped that it may be tested
in a large way. The phosphates and carbonates of lead, to-
gether with sulphate of barytes occur at this mine, though
not as beautiful as those of the Washington mine. Among
the eartliy minerals I observed stealite, and a fine variety of
it equal to French chalk for marking, and fine green talc;
a fine variety of columnar flesh colored dolomite, and the
earthy black oxide of manganese. The dolomite is upon the
walls of the vein, and is concretionary, or in the form of
ovoid tough masses coated with talc, which is also dissemi-
nated in the interior.

No attempts have been made to smelt this ore, but the in-
dications are so promising that it is desirable that the pro-
prietor of the mine should undertake the task, seeing that the
zinc which accompanies the metals may be separated from
them mechanically, and at trifling expense.

190 NOKTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVET.

CHAPTER XXYL

Repositories of the Metals continued — Veins belonging to
Granite — Copper considered as one of the Metals accompa^
nying Gold — Copper Veins of the granitic formatiorh-^
North-Carolina and other Copper Mines of the granitic

districts.

§ 197. Tlio establisliment of the fact that copper ores may
be profitably worked in North-Carohiia, formed a new era in
the mining enterprises of this State. It is scarcely second to
that of gold. The salphnret of copper and iron, or copper
pyrites, or which is the same thing, the yellow sulphnret of
copper, had been encountered in many of the mines which
were worked for gold ; but it was always an unwelcome at-
tendant of the gold ores, and when it formed a considerable
proportion of the lode, it led to its abandonment. Tlie sepa-
ration of the gold became more difficult and expensive, and
indeed, the process pursued for the separation of gold, as it
was usually or frequently conducted, only a small part waw
obtained ; and if any process was resorted to to aid the ope*
ration, as heating or roasting, some of the pyrites was re-
duced to a metalic state, and an alloy of gold and copper was
obtained, which migkt or might not pay the expense of sepa-
ration.

The first attempt at working a mine for its copper was the
Fentress, or the North-Carolina Coppermine, Guilford county.
It was recommended as a test mine to determine the ques-
tion whether this ore could be profitably worked by the per-
sons having charge of the geological survey. Much anxiety
was felt upon the subject, for it was supposed that its success
would operate favorably upon this branch of industry, and if
it failed, it was expected that it would put it back, and retard
for a time this most important branch of mining. The fear
expressed, however, did not arise from a want of confidence
in the resources of the mine, but in the mode in which it

NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 19T

might be conducted ; and it turned out that the feeling was
not groundless. The beginning of the enterprise seemed to
be highly successful ; it was indeed too successful in one
sense, for it raised expectations which could not be realized.
It fell into the hands of persons who knew how to make for
themselves the most of a good thing. The success, however,
eeemed to forsake the mine after six or eight months, and the
consequence was, that its stock went down to a mere nominal
sum ; and yet there was no time when confidence in its re-
sources should have been lost ; that is, it possessed those char-
acteristics which were sufficient to sustain it — not at the high
and extravagant value which had been set upon it, but to
fiustain it at the price which was paid for it. For a time it
did not farnish copper, but there could not be entertained a
doubt but that it would be struck again. But to a stock-
holder, one who had paid twice as much for it as it was worth,
it was disastrous ; he must submit to a loss ; and so it ever
will be under similar circumstances. Those who first issue
stock at an enormous price, reap the benefits as far as they
can sell ; and those who buy, in expectation of making mo-
ney by the earnings of the mine, must lose — not because the
mine has no resources — not because it is worthless — but be-
cause it is only half as valuable as it is represented by inter-
ested persons.

§ 198. Tlie IsTorth-Carolina Copper mine has been traced
at least three miles, by the remarkable show of quartz which
range in the direction of its strike. The parties which have
been interested in this property have sunk upon the vein six
shafts. The two extremes are about three-fourths of a mile
apart. The south-western is called the "Worth shaft, the north-
eastern was sunk under the direction or superintendence of
Mr. Fentress. At each of those points where the vein is cut,
it may be known by its common characteristics. The direc-
tion it pursues appears to be jST. 25° 30' E. The vein is rather
flat, but its dip is variable at different levels, having an un-
derlie of 38°, 45°, 50° and 60°. So also the strike is known
to be variable, and to be governed apparently by the slope of
the country above. Thus as it passes from the south-west-

198 NOKTH-CAROLiNA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

ward to the north-eastward beneatli a sloping snrfacc, it takes
the curve of the hill. This surface influence is not uncom-
mon in the veins of North-Carolina, especially where the
veins are flat. An example of this kind of curve, influenced
by, or rather I should say coinciding with the surface slopes,
exists in one of the veins of Conrad Hill. In all flat veins a
departure from a straight or direct course is more perceptible
than it can be in veins nearly vertical. Flat veins, it may be
said in this place, are not regarded with so much favor as the
steep veins. The miner uses this language respecting them,
" they are lazy veins," or, in other words, they are not so well
filled with metals as the steeper ones; and when one of this
character becomes steep, it is found to become richer than
when it was flat.

It must be well known by the dear results of experience
in cases of this kind, that the fall in nominal value cannot be
arrested at the true point of value; but it must go as much
below, as it was above, its value. Tliis forms the basis of
Wall street operations; and it is to be hoped the stock of this
mine never will go above its par value. The mining inter-
ests require that the profits should be made out of "the mine,
from legitimate earnings; and this mode of making money
by copper or any other metal, is perfectly incompatible with
that of stock jobbing. The mining interests of this State
suffered from the mismanagement of this and two or three
others; but it had one good effect, it drove out of the State
for the time the mere sjieculator. It only requires the return
of sufficient confidence in its mines to place this interest on a
good footing, a better footing tluin if no disasters had occuri"ed.

§ 199. The North-Carolina copper mine is upon the eastern
verge of the sienitic granite. It is, therefore, on a geologi-
cal parallel with several others which have been opened in a
south-westerly direction. Tins granite, however, does not
pureue a dh-ect or straight line. As it approaches Gruilford
county from the south west, it bends to the east; still it occu-
pies the same relative position as several mines in Davidson,
Rowan and Cabarrus. All these mines seem to have been
formed in the thin edge of the granite. It is along the thin-

NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

199

est parts of the rock, tliat trap dykes are the most numerons,
as well as other eruptive rocks; and very few vein tissnres are
known in the central and thicker part of it. I state this as a
fact; leaving it to be accounted for by those who are better
acquainted with the etKcient causes which have been instru-
mental in producing geological phenoinina. The width of
the vein in the different levels and at different shafts is ex-
pected to be variable. In this mine the following statement
of these variations may be interesting:

At the Worth shaft, at the extreme south west, the vein is
from three to four feet thick, at the depth of forty feet. At
the extreme north east, it is three feet thick, at the depth of
fifty-five feet. At the Colby shaft it is about one foot thick
at forty feet. It is nearer the outcrop than the preceding.

In the lowest level, three hundred and ten feet, the fissure
between the walls is fi-om seven to eight feet, and in parts of
the level expands to twelve and thirteen feet, There is, how-
ever, no improvement in the vein when it is thus expanded ;
it carrier about the same quantity of copper as the vein of
Beven and eight feet, and it has this disadvantage, that it is
more scattered through the gangue — more vein than requires
removal ; and hence the expense of stoping is increased.
The vein shows no tendency to close in at either of the levels ;
it rarher, thus far, widens in its descent, and it is compactly
filled with vein stone throughout, though, unfortunately, it is
often but vein stone poor in copper. As in most cases of
mining in this State, there is a timidity in prosecuting the
work. It is well known that copper is not a surface metal.
In an instance where a vein is so well developed, there can
be but one successful plan of working, that of sinking shafts
to the proper depth, or to that point where experience has
proved in other mining districts that this metal is generally
found. While it is notorious in this mine that the fissure is
compiictly filled, it is quite singular that the lode of copper
shifts its position. It lies, for example, upon the foot wall for
thirty or forty feet, when suddenly it curves upward, and fol-
lows for a distance of twenty or thirty feet again, the hanging

200 NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

wall ; or without a curve, it suddenly leaves one wall and
takes to the other.

Tlie foregoing statement applies to the shiftings of a solid
shoot of ore. In addition to these shoots, the copper is dis-
tributed in masses through the vein stone, which has been at
times very equable ; in others, less so ; occasionally it is in
nests or solid insulated masses eighteen or twenty inches
long, and seven or eight inches thick.

§ 200. The vein stone consists of two substances, quartz
and carbonate of iron. Or it may be, that the carbonate of
iron should be regarded not as a vein stone or gangue proper,
but one of the metallic substances carried. But the copper
is intermixed in it, or often distributed through it, as in other
vein stones. Spaces have been filled with quartz and carbo-
nate of iron, which contained only traces of copper pyrites.
These intervals which are marked by the total absence of
metal are rare, but in one irstance it extended sixty feet in
length. In those spaces where the copjjer is absent, the
quartz may be regarded as the vein stone, and the carbonate
of iron as the metah These spaces seem to alternate ; for in
the lowest level the quartz carries the metal, and the carbo-
nate of iron is absent.

§ 201. The foregoing statements respecting the North-
Carolina copper mine presents the most important peculiari-
ties which I have been able to observe, as well as those which
are common to the veins which traverse the granitic forma-
tion. I say granitic formation, for I conceive there are strik-
ing differences existing between those which belong to the
granite and those of the slate formation ; for although quartz
is a vein stone common to each, yet there are associations of
other minerals which seem to be peculiar to each. Thus car-
bonate of iron is at least a more constant associate of copper
in the copper veins in the granitic district, than with those in
the slate. Conrad Hill, which is really in a slate district, con-
tains, it is true, carbonate of iron ; but its presence seems to
be due to an enormous mass of eruptive rock, which tra-
verses the southeastern side of the hill. This mine is, there-

NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL STJKVEY. 201

fore, placed in a position wliich makes it quite analogous to
those belonging to the belt of granite.

§ 202. Considering the time during which the North-Caro-
lina mine has been worked, the metal which it has produced
cannot be regarded as very extraordinary ; at the same time,
when the circumstances which have attended the working of
the mine are considered, it is at least worthy of note, and
probably as great as could be expected. The whole amount
in barrels which have been sent to market is three thousand
and five hundred. The aggregate weight is between four-
teen and fifteen hundred tons (1,400 and 1,500 tons.) The
per centage of copper has never exceeded twenty-three per
cent., and none has been shipped which yielded less than
fourteen per cent, of copper.

The cost of transporting a ton of copper to Boston by way
of "Wilmington is thirteen dollars, ($13,00.) The twenty per
cent, ore is worth, at the present time, in Boston, four dollars
and seventy-five cents per cent, per ton, or ninty-five dollars
per ton. The mine, therefore, seems to have yielded one
hundred and thirty-three thousand dollars, ($133,000,) save
expenses of mining, transportation, &c. But it should be re-
collected that a fifteen per cent, ore must be included in the
aggregate quantity which has been shipped ; and hence the
amount of cash received for ore will be considerably dimin-
ished. The estimate, however, is hard on the present value
of ore ; its value has been greater than it is now. We can-
not, therefore, state the exact sum which has been realized
from the sale of ore ; but it would seem that the mine should
have made something, notwithstanding its early bad man-
agement.

The present shoot of ore in the three hundred and ten foot
level is between eighty and ninety feet long, mostly of solid
copper ; its thickest part is about thirty-four inches. The
mass lies upon the foot wall. To reach the shoot of ore, be-
tween sixty and seventy feet of barren vein had to be pene-
trated. This shoot came in in October last, and it still holds
out, giving to the proprietors a very fair prospect of remu-
nerating returns.

202 NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

As tliis mine is still regarded as a test mine for North-Caro-
lina, its affairs are watched with a good dea'l of interest
Other veins which resemble this may he opened on the east-
ern border of the granite formation. If it shonld prove a
paying mine, adventnrcrs will not be wanting to try their
fortunes in several which are already known in Guilford, Da-
vidson and Cabarrus counties. Tlie encouragement for pene-
trating this lode still farther is found in the regularity of its
formation, in which i-espect, it is as perfect as Wall Street it-
self The fissure is well developed, and is wide enough to
satisfy the oldest and most experienced miner. The ore comes
in at intervals in gi-eat foi'ce, and the quantity is increasing
in each shoot. The drawback or the discouraging features of
the mine lie in the long intervals of barren vein stone be-
tween the productive shoots. These varieties, however, are
by no means uncommon. They are not indicative of a fail-
ure of the mine. Indeed, there has been no mine but has
precisely this kind of irregularit}^ and therefore its occur-
rence here should not be dislieartening. Should this mine
fail to give fair returns to its proprietors, it would be an ex-
traordinary occurrence in the annals of mining. But stoping
ground should be prepared in anticipation or beforehand, to
meet the probable barren spots, which may be expected to
occur at intervals. A shaft should reach a six hundred feet
level at an early a day as possible, and if at this level it ia
not productive, it should be abandoned,

§ 203. Upon the western border of the slenite in Cabarrus
count}', and about eleven or twelve miles from Gold Hill,
there are three promising veins, carrying the yellow sulphu-
ret of copper, viz., the Ludowick, Boger and Hill mine. The
Boger vein intersects the Concord I'oad near the crossing of
the Mount Pleasant road, at a distance of about eight miles
from Concord. Upon the Ludowick property there are two
veins traversing a hard sienite. Direction N. 70° E., gangue
quartz, and from twelve to eighteen in width.

The Boger vein runs N. 2U° W., and is nearly vertical ;
angle of dip 80° ; gangue quartz ; the yellow sulphuret pre-
sents a line appearance.

NOKTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL 8UEVEY.

203

The yellow snlphiiret on the Hill property is contained in
a vein from eighteen inches to two feet at tlie outcrop. The
Beam of copper is about four inches tliick in the middle of a
quartz gangue, in which carbonate of iion is disseminated
and intermixed also with copper. This mine is one mile
south west of the Boger vein ; its strike N. 40° W.; angle of
dip 80°, and to the west. These veins have not been tested ;
their characters at the surface areas promisingas, if not more
80 than, those of the North- Carolina copper mine ; indeed the
ore with the vein stone clearly resembles it.

These veins were not particularly noticed until the copper
mines of North-Carolina wei'e below par in market; and
hence, there was no attempt to expose them at a proper
depth.

The indications at all of these mines belonging to one
neighborhood are, that they will prove to be good mines, be-
ing traceable from one-half of a mile to a mile by their vein
stones, and showing handsome ore at their outcrops; and
which is arranged apparently in continuous sheets. The yel-
low suli)huret is solid, and is unaccompanied with iron pyrites.

§ 204. The Twin mine is six miles south west from Greens-
borough. Its name came into use from the circumstance that
two pai'allel veins are exposed in one tunnel. Their direc-
tion is N. 40° E., with a southeasterly dip. The slate be-
tween the veins is four feet thick, and the veins about
eighteen inches, consisting of quartz thickly interspersed
with yellow sulphuret of copper, at the depth of sixty feet.
At this depth the sulphuret assumes the form of a vein, the
masses being connected together by strings.

The rock and walls are hard and firm, and at the depth of
forty feet the rock required to be excavated is tough. Still
the vein, at the depth of sixty feet, contains considerable
stamp ore, and is not intermixed with iron pyrites.

This mine is in the vicinity of three veins running nearly
parallel with this, upon which attempts were made to open
and expose their contents. These veins traverse the Guilford
granite, and may be traced over a mile. Indeed, the Twin
mine is a continuation of one of these, which is known in the

204 NOETII-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

neighborhood as the Raleigh mine. These mines are situat-
ed upon the highest point of land in the vicinity.

Should farther developments put a favorable aspect upon
these veins, which, by themselves, constitute a mineral dis-
trict in Guilford county, their position near the Central Rail-
road would give them important advantages so far as convey-
ance to market is concerned.

§ 205. Veins of Co'ppcr Pyrites lelonging to the Slate for-
rnation. — Headrick copper mine belongs to this formation ;
its color is dark blue, and might be denominated chloritic
slate. Those who are acquainted with the slates of Gold
Hill would recognize it at once. I am satisfied that these
dark slates are merely varieties of clay slate, which may be
colored by chlorite.

This mine was opened for a gold mine, but the persons to
whom it belonged were imperfectly prepared for conducting
the business, and failed to obtain remunerating returns.
They obtained about thirty-seven cents per bushel. Consid-
ered as a gold vein, the vein stone is quartz and copper and
iron pyrites. The gold, however, is distributed principally
through the sulphurets.

The direction of the vein is N. 21° E. and S. 21° W. Its
course scarcely varies for one mile. The dip is N. 21° W.,
and makes westward seven feet in seventeen in its descent.
The metal is a mixture of copper and iron pyrites. The vein
was six inches wide at its outcrop, and consisted of quartz
intermixed with brown ore, some of which was worth one
dollar per bushel. At the depth of twenty feet the lode of
copper pyrites was thirty inches thick, and furnished several
tons of copper pyrites, which gave fifteen per cent, of copper.
The solid ore diminishes below this point, and is only about
six inches thick, but is still scattered through the slate for
two feet. The vein fissure does not appear to be confined to
this space, inasmuch as two thin veins and a sheet of slate
carrying gold and quartz are closely connected together.

NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

206

Fig. 19.

/

The diagram will
serve to explain the
arrangement of the
masses composing
the vein. 1, Lode
consisting of copper
pyrites adjacent to
2, blue slate ;

A 5 6 7 8 9

the foot wall eighteen inches to two feet thick
3, mucky quartz, with some pyrites ; 4, slate ; 5, slate which
Weathers brown, and contains gold three feet thick ; 6, con-
torted slate ; 7, vein of copper pyrites and quartz, between
three and four inches thick; 8, slate; 9, vein of copper py-
rites and iron three to four inches thick — terminating in slate.

Twelve hundred feet northeasterly, or K. 21° E., a shaft of
sixty feet cuts the vein where it is six inches wide in a solid
mass, but distributed through the quartz and slate two feet
wide. Southerly twelve hundred feet the same vein has cop-
per very much the same character as in the other shafts.
The vein has been traced more than a mile in length contin-
uously. Although this lode has not been fully developed by
shafts sunk to a proper depth to secure that end, still there is
very little doubt but it will prove a valuable mine. Its
length and regularity, the two strings of four inches, which
are intersected at the two principal shafts, distant from each
other twelve hundred feet, are favorable indications, and go
far to sustain the view I have taken of the Headrick copper
mine.

§ 206. The Barnhmxlt vein of Gold Hill, at the depth of
between one hundred and seventy and two hundred feet, or
at the level at which the lessees suspended their operations,
contains considerable copper. The lode is equal to eight or
ten inches, but is intermixed with iron pyrites. It yields, by
trial, eight per cent, of copper ; but as the expenses of min-
ing and transportation on waggons are too great to warrant
an attempt to work it for copper, nothing has been done far-
ther than to test it for the per centage of copper. Still, pro-
vided there were smelting works upon the ground, this per
centage of copper would give a fair profit.

206 NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

I have hopes that the time is not far distant when all the
ores (gold and copper) will he smelted, and the use of mer-
cury dispensed with. A large amount of copper is annually
lost at Gold Plill, and it will probably turn out that the losses
in various ways will pay the cost of smelting, were proper
works erected,

§ 207. Remarks similar or in keeping with the foregoing
may be made with respect to the copper lodes of Conrad
Hill. The reguhir front veins of this mine change their char-
acter, and at the depth of one hundred and seventeen feet
copper pyrites take the place of the brown ore. These veins
are remarkable for their regularity, width or strength, and it
is by no means to be supposed that the fissuies will be found
closed, or cease to carry mineral matter.

A vein of pyrites of some promise exists on the lands of
Leonard and Young. At its outcrop it is five feet thick,
mostly quartz ; but upon the^ foot wall there is from three to
four inches of copper and iron pyrites. The vein dips at an
angle of from twelve to fifteen degrees westward, and hence,
is very flat, but it soon becomes steeper. It has been traced
more than half a mile, and was formerly worked for gold.

§ 208. SpeiiGer CopjJer Mine, in Randolph county. — It is
upon the upper branches of the Caraway, near the south
boundary of Guilford county. It is from four to six feet
wide, and nearly vertical. Its direction is N. 20° W. The
vein stone is quartz, through which the yellow sulphuret is
dissemmated. I have seen very handsome ore fiom this
mine, but have not examined it in place. The sulphuret is
interspersed through the quartz near the outcrop, but at sixty
feet is collected in masses nearer the foot wall.

§ 209. Standard ^property near Gold Hill. — This property
at one time was regarded as very valuable. As the mineral
now appears, I should esteem it more important for copper
than gold. It is traversed by a net work of veins, or by sev-
eral veins, whose direction is N. 20° E. The mineral at the
Burface is cjonf^an, or the hydrous oxide of iron, and resembles
the cap which covers some of the copper mines at Duck-
town, Tenn. The veins which appear below this mass of gos-

NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAI. SURVEY. 207

Ban are more or less siliceous, and show the carbonates of
copper and small masses of the black oxide. A place known
as the big cut exhibits the vein to the best advantage. It is
in a small cluster of veins, the relative position of which is
ehown on Plate 9, upon the left. Six or seven veins traverse
the slate of this district, some of which are, no doubt, the
prolongation of the veins which are worked at the village of
Gold Plill.

§ 210. The Townsend vein is supposed to be upon the
range of the Earnhardt mine. But the slate is rather coarser
and harder, and somewhat concretionary.

Upon the surface and in the rubbish from this abandoned
mine, I found a mixture of copper pyrites, or the sulphuret
of iron and copper. The vein is one foot wide, and has
regular walls. Although it yielded gold when worked sev-
eral years ago, it is evident that if pursued at all it should be
for copper. The same remark is applicable to the Standard
and Idler veins, which, at the time they were worked, the
presence of copper pyrites was disregarded, or considered
rather as an injurious mineral.

§ 211. Tlie Conrad Hill. The front veins at the depth of
one hundred and ten feet carry the yellow sulphuret of cop-
per. Tiie upper part of the veins have been worked profita-
bly for gold, but at the lowest levels which have been ex-
plored, copper fonns the most important metal. But as no
attempts to raise tliis ore have as yet been made, I do not
propose to speak farther of its value.

In this vicinity several other auriferous veins are known to
carry copper at between forty aud fifty feet. They remain
however untried, and their shafts are fallen in or filled with
water.

208 NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

CHAPTER XXYII.

depositories of the metals continued — Lead and its Comhina'
tions I its Geological Relations and Associations.

§ 212. Galena or lead, cannot be said to abound in Kortb-
Carolina ; yet, at three localities it may be regarded as an
important metal, viz., at the Washington silver mine, which
has been already described — the McMackin silver mine in
the vicinity of Gold Hill, in Cabarrus county, and near the
residence of A. J. Moore, Esq., in Davidson county.

The rock in which lead is most frequently found is the ar-
gillaceous slate of the Taconic system. The localities already
noticed belong to the slate formation. Others are also known
which bear the same relations ; for example, the Hoover and
Boss lead mines in the neighborhood of the Headrick copper
mine in Davidson county. Lead is not known in connection
with the copper mines of the granitic districts ; at least the
quantity in connection with the copper or gold mines in this
formation is too small to merit even a passing notice. AVhat
may be discovered in the copper and gold veins at deeper
levels cannot of course be predicted. In the North-Carolina
copper mine, carbonate of lime has made its appearance in
the vein stone, and indeed forms, in one of the levels, a con-
stituent part of it. This fact is in itself an indication that
galena or a silver lead may come in also, an occui-rence which
would be injurious, rather than beneiicial to the mine.

The Boss lead mine, in Davidson county, is scarcely enti-
tled to a notice as a mine. It has furnished handsome cabi-
net specimens of galena, which were taken from a very dis-
tinct vein of quarts. The mineral is associated with copper
pyrites. The metal is scattered through a very tough vein
stone, but has been exposed only near the outcrop. The most
favorable fact which this depository presents, is the develop-
ment of a very distinct vein fissure, which, at several places,
carries metal in small quantities both of copper and lead near

NORTH-CABOLDSTA GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY. 209

the outcrop ; but these metals appear in different parts of tlie
vein, and are not mixed together.

The vein is from four to six feet wide, and takes the course
of the majority of the metallic depositories of the country.

The Hoover lead mine is two miles south from the Boss
mine ; and was formerly owned by a Mr. Williams, on whose
plantation it was discovered. The galena is coarser and more
crystalline than that of the Washington mine. The vein
is promising at its outcrop, but at the depth of ten feet dwin-
dles to mere string in its calcareous vein stone. It furnished
two or three tons of metal which seemed to form a pocket or
bunch merely, in its gangue.

This place, however, offers one inducement to pursue the
metal in the direction of the vein ; it is the calcareous gan-
gue of the lead which bids fair to pay, in part, the expenses
of testing the depository more thoroughly than has as yet
been done. Limestone is extremely scarce in this part of the
State, and as it is six or seven feet wide, enough would be ob-
tained to be employed for a flux in smelting the ores of the
Washington silver mine, or other metals of this mineral dis-
trict, while the vein itself would be sufficiently tested to de-
termine its value.

The only important depositories of lead of the midland
counties which may be regarded as important, are those al-
ready referred to, and which are associated in each instance
with blende. They are all silver lead ores, and their value
as mines is only beginning to be appreciated. Their value
has been evolved by the discovery that the blende with which
the lead is associated may be separated by a mechanical pro-
cess, after which, the whole of the silver and lead may be
obtained by the usual process of smelting and cuppellation.
The lead becomes valuable in these cases as an instrument,
or an agent in the process of reduction.

It is an interesting geological fact that the silver lead ores
all belong to the Gold Hill belt, and the different localities
lie in a range Avith each other. The extreme points of the
belt, at which these interesting combinations of metal have
been discovered is about thirty miles. The most southwest-
U

310

NORTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY.

em point is the McMackin silver mine, and the most north-
easterly one is that near the residence of Mr. Moore, in Da-
vidson county.

The enquiry will no doubt be raised whether the same vein
of metal may not be found between these extreme points.
This expectation may, perhaps, be realized ; but the inter-
vening country is crossed by an overlying brecciated con-
glomerate, into which this vein of metal does not probably
penetrate. The Gold Hill part of this belt is on the west
side of the conglomerate, and the Davidson extremity is up-
on the eastern side of it. The facts respecting the relation
of these silver lead veins, induces me to adopt the opinion
that they would rather pass beneath the conglomerate than
through it. "We have no evidence, it is true, that the veins
of silver lead are continuous, only they are upon one line of
strike, and the ores resemble each other externally, as well
as in their chemical constitution. Admitting, however, their
continuity, which is hardly credible, the overlying brecciated
conglomerates will conceal them throughout most of the dis-
tance between the points which I have named. As it re-
gards the galena or lead of the Washington mine, the Mc-
Mackin and the Davidson mine, enough has been said under
each respective head ; inasmuch as the two last require far-
ther exploration to establish their true value.

CHAPTEE XXYm.

Repositories of the metals continued — Zinc, its ores, geological
relations and associations.

§ 213. So far as the investigations have been made, it ap-
pears that zinc is found in this State only in combination with

NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. ^ll

siilpliur. I have already noticed it as a mixture with galena
and copper at the Washington mine in Davidson, and at the
McMackin mine in Cabarrus counties. At both of these
mines it is found in masses which consist almost exclusively
of blende. Its color is brown, and its texture fine grained, and
often quite compact. At the McMackin mine it is yellowish,
and always of a lighter color than at the Washington mine,
and at this place also it is often distinct from the galena. At
the Davidson zinc and lead mine, near the residence of Mr-
Moore, it resembles that of the Washington mine. With
respect to this metal, it is important to recollect that neither
gold nor silver may be expected to be found in it, either in a
state of mechanical mixture or chemical combination, not-
withstanding it is in contact with lead and pyrites, in which
both silver and gold are intermixed. Perhaps it is going too
far to assert that neither of these may exist in the blende in
ver}^ minute proportions. In all the trials which have been
made, it has not been detected in sufficient quantities to
make them objects worthy of future search, with a view to
secure economical results.

An interesting locality of the sulphuret of zinc exists at
the Jacob Troutman gold mine, one mile south east of Gold
Hill. The ore is of an ash gray color, with a low metallic
lustre. It is fine grained, and rings like cast iron when struck
with a hammer. It is also quite hard. It becomes coated
with a yellowish powder when heated to bright redness, and
exhales the odor of sul]3hur, the latter of which is readily dis-
charged, or volatilized in a capsule over the flame of an al-
coholic lamp.

It is uncombined with lead, bismuth, cadmium, copper,
gold, antimony or arsenic; as it appears when fused with
nitre or carbonate of soda, and afterwards dissolved in mu-
riatic acid, which leaves silica in a gelatinous state. The acid
solution, tested with sulphurated hydrogen, gave no precipi-
tate which indicates, as I have remarked already, the absence
of the foregoing metals, some of which were suspected, es-
pecially antimony and arsenic.

The principal metal present in this gray compound was

212 NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

proved to be zinc, by passing again siilplinretted hydrogen,
through a neutral sohition, and to which caustic soda was
added, which gave a white precipitate ; this was also easily
soluble in muriatic acid.

A small quantity of iron is also present, which exists, dif-
fused sparingly through the mineral in small grains. This
form of sulphuret of zine first appears in the Troutman vein,
at the depth of one hundred feet, where it is only two inches
thick. At the one hundred and fifty foot level it is six inches
thick, and exists in a solid mass. It is attached to the quartz
of the vein, which, at a higher level was very porous and
(;arried gold, yielding, near the outcrop, at the rate of fifty
dollars per bushel ; gave at the one hundred feet level only
one dollar per bushel. After the shaft had been sunk one
hundred and fifty feet, the vein was regarded as too poor to
work, and was abandoned. The zinc which had come in at
this depth was disregarded, and indeed the nature of the
metal was not suspected ; it yielded neither gold nor silver,
and the operators were unable to extract lead from it ; and
hence it appeared to be worthless. The readiness with which
this variety of sulphuret of zinc is decomposed, proves that it
may be converted into a valuable white paint, provided the
quantity of metal should be sufiicient for this purpose. This
is the most easterly of the veins belonging to the Gold Hill
mineral district ; its course is east of north. It appears to be
a strong, well defined vein, and belongs to the slate forma-
tion ; ])ut in its progress north-eastward will pass beneath the
brecciated conglomerate. It is known only at the Troutmai*
plantation.

NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 218

CHAPTER XXIX.

Repositories of the metals continiiecl — Manganese^ its on-i^.
their geological jyosition and relations.

§ 214, Manganese is widely diffused in the rocks of North-
Carolina, and next to iron it is the most common of the
metals. The sm-face is frequentl}'' nearly covered in certain
places with black nodules or concretions about the size of a
pea ; these are composed of the black oxide of manganese
and iron — their dark color is due to the presence of the for-
mer. The natural joints of the slate rocks are generally cov-
ered with a film of manganese which has escaped from tlie
interior of the rock to the surface. Tlie only ore of this
metal which has a commercial value, is the black, or perox-
i;le of manganese. It is usually associated in this country
with the limonites or brown haematite, and occurs in beds, or
as a deposit in the soil. I have not, however, been so fortu-
nate as to discover this species of ore in the connexion I have
named, in the midland counties, in sufficient quanty, and at ,
any place, to be regarded as possessing a commercial value.
Tlie use to which it is put, is to form in the chloride of lime
which is employed in bleaching.

The species of manganese which has fallen under my no-
tice is the silicate of the metal. Of this there are three veins,
each of which may be traced a half a mile or more upon the
surface ; and which are from five to seven feet wide.

A vein of this mineral is referred to in Prof Olmsted's re-
port, and which was regarded by him as the black oxide. Ir
forms a superficial layer of the black oxide, but the quantity
of it in this condition is too small to possess a commercial
value. The vein I have reference to is about three-fourths
of a mile south-west from Gold Hill. It is four or five feet
wide, and is mixed at the surface with the oxide of iron.

Another vein crosses the plankroad about ten miles east of
Lincolnton. It forms a conspicuous black stripe by the road

214 NORTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVET.

side. The first impression is, that it is produced by the pre-
sence of coal. It is black upon the surface in consequence
of oxidation ; it is traversed by seams of a reddish substance,
and by seams of quartz.

The third vein of this substance crosses the road at Mr.
Briggs' iron works, in Gaston county.

This mineral has not been applied to any useful purpose.
But manganese is frequently associated with silver ores, and
hence, the veins should be examined for the purpose of as-
certaining if there exists any valuable metal in connexion
with it.

At the McMackin silver lead mine manganese enters into
the constitution of the vein and forms m part the vein stone,
or perhaps may be regarded as one of its metals.

CHAPTER XXX.

EojHhi) Minerals and Rocks which possess a value in the
Arts.— Steatite — Agalmatolite — Pseudo Burrhstone — Roof-
ing Slate — Firestone — Fire-clay — Porcelain-clay — Build-
ing Stone — Porphyry — Antifriction Rocks^ or Rocks which
may he employed for the hearings of heavy wheels.

§ 215. Steatite or Soapstone. — This important material is
common in several of the midland counties, in Wake coun-
ty it occurs on the plantation of Mr. Lewis Nippers ; it is
rather coarse, and contains upon the surface too much quartz.
It is associated with slates containing veins of quartz carrying
the specular ore of iron, which seems to be a very common
association in this State. Two miles north-east from this
place, and probably also at intermediate points, soapstone ex-
ists in large beds or mountain masses, which, though rather

NORTH-CAitOLINA GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY. 215

coarse, is of a very good quality, and is suitable for hearths,
jambs and other purposes. Its color is green, and the mass
is rather crystalline. It may be sawn into blocks of any re-
quired size. It is in inexhaustible quantities. Where soap-
stone is to be employed in the construction of hearths, backs
or jambs for fire-places, too much caution cannot be observed
in exposing the stone to heat for the first time. It often hap-
pens that water is inclosed in the rock, and if heated rapidly,
it is converted into steam and explodes ; and the breaking of
the stone might be followed with fatal consequences. Hence,
the rock should be dried in the first place, and all its water
expelled slowly, which saves the stone from flaking oflF subse-
quently.

Soapstone occurs three miles west of Ashborough, and
five or six miles north-west of Franklinville, in Randolph
county.

The use of soapstone is generally known. Its valuable
qualities are dependent upon its softness and refractory pow-
ers. It enables the mechanic to give it form and shape at a
very trifling expense. It is true it is not handsome in itself,
as it is not susceptible of a polish ; still, when planed and var-
nished, it makes a very handsome mantle-piece. The var-
nish brings out lively light green tints which give the sur-
face the appearance of a variegated marble.

The most valuable soapstones are free from flint and horn-
blende spar, and other foreign minerals. "When present,
they diminish more or less its value. The most important use
of soapstone is as a lining for stoves, and its employment in
the formation of registers in houses heated with hot air.
The fine compact varieties are selected for these purposes.
In quarrying soapstone, gunpowder should not be used — in-
deed its use is not attended with much success — and when it
breaks out a mass, it produces shakes or invisible cracks
which greatly damage the stone, and which open, on expo-
sure to heat and frost. The only safe method of quarrying,
is to cut out rectangular masses by means of suitable tools.

Soapstone, as a rock, belongs to the pyrocrystalhne series,
and never occurs as a sediment : it is associated with ser-

216 NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

pentine, hornblende and talcosc slate. It frequently con-
tains, in isolated crystalline masses, dolomite, or magnesian car-
bonate of lime, sparry iron, or carbonate of iron — brown spar,
asbestos, etc. In Massachusetts it passes gradually into ser-
pentine. I have never seen it passing directly into serpen-
tine in North-Carolina.

Agalmatolite belongs to the sedimentary class of rocks.
As such, it may be regarded as a white variety of argilla-
ceous slate. The most remarkable locality of this rock is
near Hancock's mills, in Chatham county. It is also asso-
ciated with the massive specular ores of iron, both in Mont-
gomery and Chatham counties. It is also in immediate con-
nexion with quartz rock in Montgomery county. It is often
useless, from the presence of fine granular quartz, or from
disseminated grains of magnetic iron.

In foreign countries this stone is cut into pagodas or im-
ages, and hence, has been called Jigure stone.

As its grain is very fine, and its texture compact and at the
same time soft, it is adapted to a variety of useful or orna-
mental purposes, as ink-stands, paper-weights, etc. When
exposed to heat, it does not become as hard as soapstone. It
liowever receives something of a polish which may be height-
ened by varnish ; and hence, may become rather handsome
for mantle-pieces. This use of it is important in North-Caro-
lina, as marbles are extremely scarce. The soapstones and
figure stones are important also, in consequence of their com-
bined strength, softness, and their ability to stand the weather ;
the latter property enabling the artist to quarry and shape
them readily, and when placed in a building, they are more
durable than granite.

§ 216. Marble.— Theve is probably no material so scarce
in North-Carolina as limestone, when its actual quantity is
compared with other States of the Union. Limestone, how-
ever, forms an interrupted belt across the State. At one or
two localities in Catawba county it has a fine, even, granular
structure, combined with a lively lustre, which equals in
beauty any of the Italian marbles. But these qualities are
too limited, at the surface to be of any use. The question is,
is it probable that beds possessing these fine properties may

NORTH- CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 217

he obtained by deeper explorations. It is not at all im-
probable.

Agalmatolite. — ^Tliis rock has been already noticed. It re-
sembles steatite, and so much so, that it has always been con-
founded with it. It is, however, quite different in composi-
tion, though it has the soft soapy feel, and the light greenish
white colors. In North-Carolina it is much finer and whiter
than its soapstones, and hence, it has been regarded as a bet-
ter kind of this rock. In the arts and as a fire-stone it is not
as valuable, as it is more likely to split and flake off when
exposed to the fire. If carefully dried, this defect may be
partly overcome ; but when used as a fire-stone, it should be
exposed endways to the flame or fire. It splits like an argil-
laceous slate ; indeed it is a white variety of this rock. In
addition to its use as a fire-stone, it is supposed to be employ-
ed, when ground, for adulterating white paint or white lead ;
but for this purpose it is not adapted. When mixed with oil
it becomes translucent, or loses its opacity ; and hence, in
common language, it has no body. But the use to which the
powdered rock is employed, is to adulterate hard soap ; that
is, I suppose adulteration is the right word, inasmuch as it is
designed to increase its weight. It has, however, other pro-
perties which may justify, in part, its employment ; it is re-
tentive of odors, and hence, in fancy soaps, it may serve a
useful purpose ; besides, it no doubt assists in absorbing grease,
and in cleansing surfaces. It may not be, therefore, an abso-
lute cheat in soap, as it has certain useful qualities. Large
(quantities hare been ground the last year in Chatham county
for the New York market. It is necessary that it should be
free from grit. "When pure, it is suitable for antifriction pow-
der, and may also be used as a cosmetic, in place of chalk,
lead, etc., without injuring the skin.

The composition of this variety of Agalmatolite is as fol-
lows : —

Silex, 75.00

Alumina, 18.75

Potash, 2.00

Water, 3.50

Traces of iron,

99.25 Jackson.

218 NORTH-CAJIOLINA GEOLOGICAL SITRVEY.

An analysis may give an excess of silex in conseqnence of
its mechanical intermixture, as it is not unfrequently dissemi-
nated through the mass as a foreign mineral. It will make,
according to Dr. Jackson, a very refractory material for pot-
ter's stone- ware and crucibles. The oxide of iron is an acci-
dental mixture, varying very much in quantity at different
localities. Sometimes octahedral. iron abounds in certain lay-
ers in thick and heavy beds ; it is apparently absent, and be-
comes snow white in the furnace.

Burrhstone or Pseudo-hurrlistone. — This rock, upon its exte-
rior, is exceedingly rough and ragged , and as it is an ex-
tremely tough siliceous rock, it may probably possess the same
valuable properties as the Paris burrhstone. But I do not
speak confidently ; for the fact can be known only by apply-
ing a stone suitably prepared to this use, that of a millstone.
The material of the rock is in the required condition at the
surface. It consists of a porous chert ; or, originally, it was
a porphyrized chert, the felspar having disintegrated, leaves
rough cavities bounded by a tough sharp edged material,
similar to that of the Paris burrhstone. One difficulty may
materially interfere w^ith the introduction of this stone for
the purpose proposed, viz., the expense of cutting it, in con-
sequence of the toughness of the material ; and besides, the
stone has not weathered deeply, except when detached from
the parent bed. But the formation is extensive, and the va-
rieties or kinds are quite numerous ; and hence, it is expected
that localities will occur suitable for the purpose I have ]3ro-
posed.

The most extensive beds of the Pseudo-ljui'rhstone occur in
Montgomery county, near Troy. It is the fossilliferous mass
which is intimately connected with the granular quartz. A
rock possessing characters quite similar to the foregoing exists
in large masses at the Flat Sw^amp mountain, in a part of
Stanly and Davidson counties. So far as they have fallen un-
der my observation, they are not so good as those of Mont-
gomery county. The whole range too, from a point near
Gold Hill to the Flat Swamp mountain is traversed by a sili-

NOETH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 219

ceous porous rock, wliicli possesses many of the characters
required for a good millstone.

§ 217. Roofing Slate. — In the slates of Chatham county there
are beds which are firm, hard and strong, which may be em-
ployed for roofing. The colors are blue and purple. Of the
former, the most important beds are near Eocky river. The
purple beds were observed •the plantation of Mr. Ileaden.
The best were brought up in sinking a well. The slates ex-
tend, I believe, across the State — but the debris of rocks con-
ceal so frequently the outcrops, that they cannot be traced
continuously. The only drawback which seems to exist
respecting the roofing slates, is the depth of the beds, or the
want of a sufficient extent of outcrop. It is not so accesible
as in the more elevated parts of this country. Quarries of
slate require an elevation above the general level of the
country in order to obtain depth, and at the same time space
above ground, so as not to be obliged to incur much expense
in draining.

Fire-stone, and Stone for Furnace-hearths. — The sandstone
of the Taconic system furnishes fire-stones which may be rehed
upon ; also, for the hearths of furnaces. It is a white and
rather friable rock, with some mica. Specimens of it would
be called arenaceous quartz. There are two ranges of this
rock, one passes through Wake county, and runs parallel with
the veins of graphite — the other through Lincoln and Ca-
tawba counties. The latter have been proved by experience
to be valuable for the purposes I stated — those of Wake do
not difier from them, and hence may be regarded as equally
valuable.

§ 218. Fire-clay for Fire-hric'k — Pijye-clay. — Clay for fire-
brick is abundant in Gaston county. It is free, I believe,
entirely from lime and the alkalies, potash and soda. It ex-
tends through the county. It is inexhaustible in the vicinity
of King's mountain, and appears at numerous places between
the iron-works and Dallas, as well as at numerous places in
and about the latter place.

Pipe-clay occurs in Forsyth county, and is employed ex-
tensively for the bowls of pipes. In Davidson county, also.

'220 NOKTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

this variety of clay exists in the depressions of tlie surface,
l^articularly in the vicinity of Spencer's Post Office. When
exposed to high heat, the bowls lose the whiteness of the
clay, and change to a drab. These clays are also suitable for
jugs, pans and other vessels for domestic use. These clays,
however, are employed only to^ very limited extent.

§ 219. Porcelain-clay. — Thidlpubstance exists at numerous
localities. In Lincoln county, at Lincolnton, it appears to be
abundant, and of good quality. In Davidson it is also said
to exist, but it is probably a pipe-clay. White clays are
abundant ; but whether they will retain their w^hiteness wdien
heated intensely, has not been determined by myself, except
in a few instances. A large tract of country, forming part of
the plantation of Mr. Bryant, at Jones' Falls, is underlaid
by a white clay.

§ 220. Building Stone. — The granites of North-Carolina
are frequently in a disintegrated condition. But the quarries
near Raleigh furnish a very good granite for construction.
The micaceous sandstone of Wake also furnishes a good ma-
terial for building, which is easily quarried. There is, how-
ever, no want of building material in any part of the State.
Tlie best, however, is the freestone of Deep and Dan rivers,
of which I shaU have occasion to speak hereafter.

§ 221. Porjpliyry. — There is a belt of porpliyry extending
from Jones' Tails, some seven or eight miles north-east. Its
base is black, purple and green of different shades — some of
it is equal in beauty to the porphyry of the ancients. There
is, however, little probability that it will be brought into use
as an ornamental stone, though it is susceptible of a high and
beautiful polish. It is also well adapted for mortars, being
very hard and tough.

The porphyry passes by insensible shades into hornstone,
which frequently is very iine-grained or compact. It is green,
gray, blue, purple and green, and purple in stripe, and some-
times spotted. The compact varieties are highly valued for
the bearing of gudgeons and axles of wheels. Years elapse
before it can be seen that they are worn in the least. For all
heavy wheels, therefore, they are as important in diminishing

NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 221

friction as the diamond and other gems in the wheel work of
time keepers.

These admirable antifriction stones abound in Chatham,
Kandolph, Davidson and Montgomery counties. They ma}'
be selected from the finest varieties of hornstones and por-
phyries, which are frequently found in extensive beds in the
clay slates of these counties.

CHAPTER XXXL

Grajjhite — Its relations^ extent., quality and uses.

§ 222. The occurrence of this substance in North-Carolina
has been known for more than a quarter of a century. Not-
withstanding the length of time it has been known, its trut-
value has not been determined. The works, however, which
are now in operation will probably settle the question res-
pecting its value. The best known locality is in Wake coun-
ty ; it is a few miles west of Raleigh, and it crosses all the
roads running south-west, west, or north-west. It is much
more distinct in the gullies or the road side on a wet day,
than when it is dry. On the Hillsborough road there are two
belts rather less than half a mile apart.

The whole formation consists of three or perhaps more par-
allel veins ; they are apparently variable however in number
at different points of exposure.

The feature which this mineral presents, most worthy of
notice, is its great persistency ; for there are, I believe, no
mines on record, whose extent can be compared with the
graphite of Wake. It is known to occur fifteen miles soutli
west of Raleigh, on Black creek, in a hill by the road side
discoloring the soil forty feet in width ; and it is explored

222 NORTH-CAEOLTNA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

seven miles north-west of Raleigli ; and from tliese distant
points it shows no signs of giving ont. Its veins, therefore,
extend eighteen or twenty miles, thongh I do not assnme that
they are absolutely continuous, yet I have little doubt that
they may be traced upon the surface throughout this entire
range. Enough is not known of the exact relations of these
depositories of graphite to enable us to speak with certainty
of their relation to the enclosing rock. With the facts which
are now in my possession, I am disposed to regard them as
veins and not as beds. Their strike is a few degrees (about
10) east of north. The general range of the slates is N. 25°
30' E.; and besides, the graphite has a veinstone of quartz,
or is accompanied with quartz ; hence, from facts of this kind,
I look upon or regard them as deserving the name of vein, as
much as any of the auriferous depositories of this State.

The dip is north-westerly at an angle of 65° to 70°. Shafts
have been sunk upon them to the depth of one hundred feet,
and a single vein has been stoped out to the depth of seventy
feet. The distance of the continuous stoping is about one
thousand feet. Tliis ground furnishes the most reliable infor-
mation respecting the character of these repositories of gra-
phite. The level of the tunnel or drift referred to, shows a
vein varying in width from six to eighteen inches, with regu-
lar walls, showing friction and triac, or slickensides, proving
thereby the existence of a A-ein fissure. Intermixed with the
graphite we frequently find lenticular masses of quartz, be-
sides the quartz in fine grains more immediately disseminated
in the metal itself. It rarely contains sulphuret of iron.
The graphite, though confined mostly to the seam, yet
spreads more widely in the rock, and stains it black for sev-
eral feet, and hence the vein appears wider than it actually
is. The adjacent parts which are colored resemble the com-
mon plumbaginous slates of which there are many examples
in the Talcose slates of New England.

The following beds accompany the veins, and they lie in
the following order :

NOKTH-CAKOLTNA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 223

-5 O

S O cu

o"

^

CQ O

tj aj

a) o

TJ

"3

O o

S 11

■a^

O
b

>■

M

'=' s

g.S

fc .

O

o

•^ o

1-

0)

o

^1

1^

O

o
-O a5

<M

o35

OS »

u cd

The grapliite, wherever it occurs in North-Carolina, is not
far beneath the sandstone referred to. Hence the veins of
graphite occupy a position quite similar to the iron ore veins
of Lincoln county. This sandstone is near the base of the
Taconic system in some places, indeed in most it is underlaid
by a conglomerate and a few beds of slate.

The graphite belongs to the primary slates ; it is a mineral
which differs in its origin from coal, that is, there is no evi-
dence that it has been in the condition of organic matter.

§ 223. This question respecting its origin is one of the most
interesting in geology. Coal, without doubt, is of vegetable
origin. In composition it will be perceived that it is not
greatly dissimilar to anthracite, by a reference to their res-
pective constituents; but anthracite, however near it ap-
proaches in composition to graphite, is derived from organic
matter. "We cannot, however, under the circumstances in
which the graphite of Wake county occurs, assign its origin
to the same source. "We are necessarily driven, therefore, to
account for its occurrence on other grounds. To do this sat-
isfactorily, we must ascertain whether there are any phe-
nomena in nature or art which are illustrative of those chemi-
cal changes, which may throw light upon its formation. Up-
on this ground we may confidently refer to the production of
artificial graphite in iron furnaces, which, when working well,
and under the full and advantageous a]3plication of heat, in-
variably produce graphite both in the metal and in the slag.
The artificial graphites contain, I believe invariably, a small
per centage of iron ; and in its formation it involves the pro-
cess of a combination of the vapor of the two elements.
"When, therefore, it is an established fact that graphite is
formed under favorable circumstances from any substance

224 NOKTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

which contains carbon, it does not appear difficult to account
for it as it occurs in the veins of AVake and Lincohi. All we
have to assume, is the existence of the carbonates in the in-
terior of the earth. These, when exposed to heat, being sus-
ceptible of decomposition, undergo the needful changes for
the production of this carbonaceous substance. It undoubt-
edly rises in vapor, and is condensed in the fissures in the
form in which it is now found. We have no occasion to call
to our aid the metamorphism so frequently alluded to, and so
frequently employed in accounting for phenomena of a kin-
dred character. That carbon of a coal seam is susceptible of
being converted into graphite may be admitted ; but when-
ever carbon occurs in rocks of a sedimentary origin, it is ac-
companied with other phenomena which form a conclusive
argument respecting its origin. Here, in Wake, we have a
rock distinctly primary in its character, showing no traces of
sedimentary origin, or at least of having been dej^osited with-
in the organic era ; and as graphite is formed artificially un-
der the needful conditions, it cannot be regarded as an un-
warrantable assumption that it may also be formed directly
in the interior of the earth, and independent of any preexist-
ing organic matter.

Its occurrence in veins or fissures is also accordant with
facts which are established in the case of metallic bodies.
Any substance which can be vaporized may be found in and
filling the preexisting fissures.

Graphite is a very important substance ; it has become an
indispensable article ot commerce — but it very rarely occurs
in that state of purity which is required for the purposes for
which it is employed. Silex or quartz in fine grains is the
most common impurity, and the most difficult to separate.
When crystahzed and pure it still requires the aid of art to
bring it to a state in which it can be employed. In its pure
laminated state the mechanical condition produces singular
changes in its molecules, or rather particles; it is almost im-
possible to pulverize it and impart to them that form whicli
seems essential for its employment in the arts. These, when
mechanically separated, are split almost ad infinitum^ or in y-

NORTS-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY. 225

mode similar to talc and mica, and become thereby liglit as
down, and difficult to recombine. The variety known in
Wake has a rounded form ; and hence, it is susceptible of a
mechanical division, and of assuming readily the state re-
quired in the arts. The impurity of this variety is silex in a
state of minute subdivision ; and before it can be applied for
certain purposes, this must be separated from it by mechan-
ical means. It cannot be used for pencils, or as an antifric-
tion agent in its natural state. It is, however, not so objec-
tionable M'hen it- is emploj^ed upon wood, as wagon axles,
ifec; but where iron is employed, it wears the surfaces rapid-
ly— hence it is common for farmers to employ it in its native
state upon their wooden axles, mixed with grease, with good
effects.

The experiments which are being made by Mr. Miller, at
Raleigh works, will probably test most thoroughly the ques-
tion respecting its value and uses for various purposes.

It should however be stated, that for certain purposes, as
for paint and its application for stoves there can be no doubt
of value, with only an imperfect separation of silex. For the
presence of fine silex cannot be injurious when used for a
paint for roofs ; its presence is rather beneficial, as it thereby
becomes less combustible, and renders the wood in a measure
fire-proof; it is far more valuable for paint than any of the
stone paints in use, having, when in combination with fine
silex, all the incombustible properties which they are suppos-
ed to possess. It is not only with respect to the use of gra-
phite as a paint for roofs, but also in an equal degree as a
paint for ships. I believe, for these purposes, the separation
of silex is not required ; it should be as fine as possible, free
from slate, and contain simply graphite and silex. Graphite,
notwithstanding its lightness, has a body unequalled for
strength, by any substance. A minute quantity indeed is suf-
ficient to give color to a large quantity of fluid, and cover a
large surface of w^ood. Graphite must also protect wood in
H certain degree from decay. Old roofs, for example, where
it has been employed, have, as it were, been renewed by its
use, and rendered durable for years, when, without, they would
15

226 NOETlI-CAROLriSrA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

have been useless. It protects most thorouglily from the air,
and when of a good quahtj is adherent. It is, therefore, one
of the most vahiable of paints ; but it has not been sufficient-
ly common in market to supply the demands ; but it appears
to me that the depositories of Wake, when brought properly
before the public, and the great value of the article becomes
known, can supply an immense amount of material ; in-
deed, it is only in this country that graphite is sufficiently
abundant to meet the wants of the public, and it is singular
that so little should have been done up to this time in intro-
ducing graphite into the commercial world as one of the most
valuable paints for roofs and shipping. The value of gra-
pliite for crucibles is well known ; but as it regards the adop-
tion of it in its partially pure state, I am not well informed
/enough to speak with confidence ; but inasmuch as in the
manufacture, clay of a fine quality is required to form the
body of the utensil, it seems that it may be all that is wanted.
In addition to the remarkable depositories in Wake county,
the old county of Lincoln also furnishes, or will furnish those,
which are probably equally pure ; but they are not so exten-
sive. The formation is the same, and the mode of occurrence
the same ; that is, it is in veins in a talcose slate, whose dip
and direction closely conform to that of the rock. It is, how-
ever, proper to observe, that the graphite of Lincoln, (or it
may be within the limits of Catawba) county, has not been
explored except superficially, but the surface indications are
favorable both as to quantity and quality.

Although the graphite of Wake county is beneath the mi-
caceous sandstone, it does not necessarily foUow that it will
always occupy that position in Korth-Carolina. We can see
no reason for limiting it to any of the older rocks, including
the palaeozoic slates and sandstones. In most cases, whether
in the paljeozoic or hypozoic strata, the direction or course of
the depositories may be expected to pursue the usual course
which prevails in the formations of the slates.

In New York the grapliite is connected with the primary
limestone in which it occurs in irregular veins or disconnect-
ed masses. It is always, however, crystalline, and in many

NOKTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY. 227

instances perfectly pure ; but as in the case of other sub-
stances which occur as ores, it is uncertain in its continuance.
In ]^orth-Carohna, however, the depositories appear to be
permanent or persistent in depth, and the great desideratum
is to free it from sihca. The partial failures seem to have
arisen from not having employed more extended vats, and
the use of too little water, for the amount of fine graphite
which had to pass through them.

CHAPTEE XXXII.

Deep River Coal Field — Masses which compose the forma-
tion— Considerations respecting its age.

§ 22J:. IS'o formation has excited more attention than that
of Deep river. In Connecticut and new Jersey it has been
known under the name of New Red Sandstone, and has been
carefully examined by Dr. Dean of Greenfield, and President
Hitchcock of Amhurst College, Mr. Redfield of Xew York,
and Prof Eodgers of Boston. Tlie most remarkable discov-
eries which have been made in connexion with this forma-
tion, are the foot prints of birds ; and probably their discove-
ry has given as much celebrity to Korth American geology
as any which have been made. The age however of this
series had not been determined to the satisf^iction of all par-
ties, prior to the commencement of the Geological Survey of
JiTorth-Carolina. The difficulties which beset this question
are uncommonly great. Resting as it does in the northern
and southern States, upon granite or pyrocrystalline rocks, its
geological relations gave no clue to the epoch of its deposit ;
and then, to add to the- obscurity, most of the fossils which
had been discovered, were equivocal in their meaning. So

228 NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

that, neither its position in the series could be deciphered by
its relations, nor indicated with certainty by its organic re-
mains. During the progress ol" the survey of North-Carolina,
evidence has been gradually accumulating respecting its age ;
but it is only during the last two years, or since the publica-
tion of my report in 1852, that the evidence has taken a more
positive form. It is true that I had in my possession fossils
which pointed to the Permian system as its equivalent ; but
this evidence became neutralized in part by the occurrence
of fossils which belonij to the Triassic type ; or may be re-
garded by other geologists as Triassic. I was led, in view of
all the facts know'u to me at the time of the publication of
the report referred to, to express the opinion that the Dee};
river coal series belonged to the Triassic, or New Red Sand-
stone epocli. The reader will see in the sequel what changes
this opinion has undergone since that time. Waving the geo-
logical question for the present, I shall proceed to describe
the series as it is developed upon Deep river.

§ 225. A natural division seems to exist when we take in-
to account the physical characters of the formation only :
and indeed it w^ould be disregarding important features, were
these to be passed by unnoticed. According then to these
features, the series should be divided into three great depos-
its, the loioer red stcmdstone and its conglomerate ; the coal
measures including slates, shales and drah colored sandstones,
with their subordinates ; and lastly, the upper red saudstoneti
and marls.

These three parts of an apj^arent unbroken series, so far as
succession is concerned, seem to be continuous deposits with-
out breaks or unconformability, with one exception ; but
when their organic remains are taken into the account, we
cannot avoid doubting the correctness of the foregoing view.
The low^er sandstone has nothing in common with the uppeE
excepting its lithological characters ; but there is a gradual
transition of the lower into drab colored sandstones, and the
obscure fossils belonging to the vegetable kingdom extend
from one to the other, though there Is a want of certainty ir,
the exact determination of those forms. When, however, the

NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL STJRVEY. 229

)ipper red sandstone is examined, its fossils are found to be
entii-elj diiferent from those below ; and hence the necessity,
as will be seen in the sequel, of separating it from all the in-
ferior masses, notwithstanding its apparent conformability,

I have said the series is conformable and without breaks
excepting in one instance. I here refer to a conglomerate
lying between the upper drab colored sandstones and the up-
per red sandstones and marls. It is not clear that there is a
decided unconformability, but I am inclined to adopt the
opinion that there is.

§ 226. The lower sandstone is red or purplish red, often
deep red, or the color of a well burnt brick. It is made up
of grains of quartz, which are rarely coarse ; its texture is
even, and many beds are firm, free from marly layers, and
constitute an excellent free stone.

The lower beds are made up of pebbles of quartz strongly
compacted together, without the intervention of a cement.
So firm are these beds of conglomerate that they make an
excellent corn stone, which, when broken from the quarry,
split across the pebbles without removing them from their
beds. The pebbles are derived from the adjacent and infe-
rior Taconic slates, or the auriferous slates, with their serie?
of imbedded minerals.

Tlie most conspicuous part of the conglomerate is quartz,
which is rounded by attrition, and has often assumed a flat-
tened or oval form.

The origin of these pebbles is, without doubt, from th^
slates ; particularly the veins which traverse them. The slate
itself is largely intermixed with disintegrated matter, which
sets fi'ee the undecomposable milky quartz, and hence, when
exposed to the action of water upon a sea beach, they are
rounded by the attrition to which they are subjected. It re-
quires afterwards that they should be consolidated b}^ pres-
sure, when they form a solid mass of conglomerate.

The thickness of the beds varies from six inches to two feet.
These solid beds are parted by soft or marly matter, which
gives an opportunity to split them horizontally from the
planes upon which they were de]3osited.

230 NORTH-CAEOLTNA GEOLOGICAL SFRVET.

The color of the conglomerate is usually gray ; but ^vheIl
the pebbles diminish, and the marly matter increases, they
are red. These are perishable masses, and hence are not
suited for millstones. The lower conglomerate is full sixty
feet thick, and rests, as has been already observed, upon
slates and other beds of the Taconic system ; but as the rock
extends north-east and south-west, or obliquely across the
slate, it reposes upon certain pyrocrystalline rocks, and has
its conglomerates made up, in part, from them. Hence we
may find pebbles from the quartz veins of the slates which
carry gold, as well as from the gneiss, hornblende and granite.
The two systems, it is scarcely necessary to say, are strictly^
unconformable — the slates having been tilted up prior to the
deposition of the sandstone with its conglomerate. Hence,
the formation rests upon the upturned edges of the inferior
and older rocks. Tlie conglomerates, though instructive, re-
quire no farther descriptive details, except, it is proper to say
liere, that they are destitute of fossils, excepting the occa-
sional occurrence of lignite, and perhaps near their junction
with sandstone, that of silicified trunks of trees, as at Ger-
manton, in Forsythe county. I have not been able as yet
to detect a leaf of a cycad, or a fern ; though the silicified
trunks of a conifer are very common. This fact is of consid-
erable importance ; for, at the beginning of another stage,
these remarkable vegetables are very common. I cannot,
however, say that they will not be found ; but only mean to
assert, that after many diligent examinations, they have not
as yet been discovered.

The statements which have been made relate to the quar-
ries of Moore county, which furnish the millstones. It is not
present everwhere beneath the sandstone in so much force;
unless it is concealed by soil. Thus, at or near the junction
of the sandstones with the slate, at tlie Gulf, I have not ob-
served the conglomerate in place ; it is there, but in thinner
l^eds.

§ 227. The lower red sandstone which succeeds the con-
glomerate, is made up of both angular and rounded grains of
(piartz, which are always coated with peroxide of iron. This

NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 231

coating may be washed off when the grains resume their
common color and histre. The upper part of this mass, how-
ever, is frequently of a drab color, and has line grains. The
hyaline quartz, with its red coating, is absent. The point
where these drab colored beds may be observed, is on the
north side of Deep river, at Egypt. So also near the Gulf;
but this mass is variable in thickness, and it is common for
the red sandstone to continue, until it is replaced by coal
shales ; but the coal shales are invariably succeeded by the
drab colored sandstones, where they become an important
mass.

The lower sandstones, as they exist, extending from Evans'
Mills to the slates bordering the sandstone on the north, con-
sist of,

1. An inferior conglomerate too much concealed by the soil to admit of measure-
ment.

2. A hard dark brown freestone.

3. A softer thick bedded brown sandstone.

4. Gray sandstone.

.5. Hard red sandstone.

6. Soft red sandstone, frequently passing into a mai'ly sandstone.

7. Gray and olive green sandstone.

The foregoing description of rocks or strata which succeed
the conglomerate, and lie beneath the coal slates, will apply
to this part of the formation. Some of the strata are soft,
others hard, and a few occupying the upper part are gray
and drab. Red sandstones predominate over the rest; and
besides, they are generally hard and durable.

§ 228. The dip of the sandstones is somewhat variable in
direction as well as in amount. In direction it is about S.
25° W. The amout of dip varies from 10 to 22 degrees. It
is frequently steeper near the bottom beds than near the
slates. The thickness of the lower red sandstones at the Gulf
and Egypt is at least fifteen hundred feet, (1500,) and proba-
bly is nearer two thousand, (2000.) West of Carthage, in
Moore county, it is greater. But as the rock approaches
Jones' Ealls, in Chatham county, it evidently becomes thin-
ner, and, as I believe, nearly thins out. If my observations
are correct with respect to this change, important conse-

232

NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

qiiences must flow from them ; for in that case it is tlie npjier
sandstone whicli is prolonged north-eastward into Granville
country, and that whicli is connected with the coal, or beneath
it, thins out. At Jones' Falls there is less than forty feet of
sandstone and conglomerates, whicli is probably the lower
part of the sandstone. Following, however, these lower beds
from Jones' Falls northwardly, it appears that the lower
masses become thicker, and about six or seven miles east of
Chapel Hill the black slate of the coal measures reappears.
Tliere seems to be a deep depression upon the strike of the
lower beds, in which the inferior rocks come in again, which
may also contain seams of coal as at Farmville and Eg^^pt.
But still farther north or north-eastward the black slate dis-
appears, or is concealed by an overlying red sandstone. I
have said all that appears to me can be useful to the student
respecting the lower mass, so far as it is required when its
composition only is to be considered. That which relates to
its organic contents will be noticed farther on.

§ 229. The coal measures consist of two principal rocks ;
the drab and gray sandstone, and the coal slates or shales.
The sandstones are rather fine sediments, and rarely if ever
very coarse. They are even and rather thin bedded rocks,
and some of them are suitable for grindstones. Frequently
they are defective from excess of clay, and when exposed to
the air crumble and fall to pieces.

The sea in which they were deposited was probably shal-
lower than when the lower red or upper red sandstones were
deposited. Ripple marks which are rare in the latter are
common in the former, the drab colored beds ; so also their
surfaces are marked with marine plants, which grow in the
shallow water. The dip of this middle mass corresponds to
the lower red sandstone. The thickness of this part of the
series at Mr. Mclvers' plantation, near Egyj^t, is twelve hun-
dred feet, (1200.) This measurement excludes the black and
green slates and the drab colored beds beneath them ; or, in
other words, it embraces the series of the continuous beds of
this color up to the conglomerates of the upper red sand-
stone.

NORTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 233

It is worthy of notice tliat the surfaces of these rocks, when
exposed to the atmosphere, become covered with an efHo-
rescent salt during the dry weather of summer, whicli con-
sists of chloride of sodium, or common salt ; and the water
at many places, which is obtained by sinking wells, is brack-
ish. No well?, however, are sunk more than 30 or 35 feet.
They are therefore shallow, and do not give us the necessary
information respecting the quantity of native matter with
which the formation is charged. It is evident that there is a
change in this respect, for in the deep shaft of Egypt, (460
feet,) the water is entirely free from foreign matters, and is
an excellent water for domestic use. There are no brine
springs worthy of note issuing from this formation — which is
contrary to what might be expected considering the constancy
of the salt which appears upon the surface rock.

§ 230. The coal measures of Deep river form a distinct belt
of rocks between the two red sandstones. The drab colored
beds of the middle series has been described ; the slate, which
is an important member, will come up for consideration in
this place. Of the belt which is occupied by slate, it may be
said that it is extremely variable in the character of its beds ;
yet is l)y far the thickest mass, or most important in quantity.
The great shaft of Egypt passes through slates and calcareous
shales, 423 feet, while there is also a heavy bed of slate above
the shaft, or where it begins, probably amounting to 150 or
200 feet ; but below the 423 feet level the red strata are nu-
merous.

The first 233 feet of shaft is black slate aiid calcareous
shale of a greenish color, which is always more or less crust-
ed. There are seven (7) alternations of these beds ; and what
is worthy of particular attention, is the constant occurrence
of fossils in the former, while the latter are entirely destitute
of them. The cypris, which is so common in the black slate,
never appears in the greenish calcareous shales. The princi-
pal interruption to the continuance of the slates is the inter-
position of the beds of argillaceous oxide of iron, which are
not far from 223 feet from the surface, or 200 feet above the
first coal seam. The beds of iron balls and layers are about

234 NORTH-C^UIOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

six feet thick ; beneath, slates and shales continue, with only
a few important interruptions, until the coal seam is reached
at the depth of 423 feet. The shaft is sunk about 1,000 feet
from its outcrop. The first thirty feet is soil. The last two
feet is made up of coarse gravel, large rounded rocks, trap,
and pieces of coal, all of which rested upon the black slate.
The overlying soil is, evidently, at this point, made up of
transjjorted materials ; though at a greater distance from the
river the debris of the rocks remains in place. Below the
first coal seam, the black slates reappear ; but the princijDal
bed is a gray sandstone which partakes of the character of a
fire-clay, which is some fifteen feet thick. At the depth of
thirty feet below the first coal seam another thin seam of coal
comes in from twelve to fifteen inches thick, accompanied
with black band. The slates still continue, and probably two
liundred feet deeper. The body of slate at Egypt is probably
thicker than at any other place in the coal field. At Evans'
mills it is scarcely greater than six hundred feet thick. Four
miles farther east from Egypt the slate is divided into four
distinct beds by drab and gray sandstone, which are frequent-
ly covered with ripple marks.

There is, therefore, considerable diversity in the formation
of the slate and shales with which the coal seams are imme-
diately connected.

The slates are more or less charged with sulphuret of iron
when near the coal ; and hence, on exposure to the air, disin-
tegrate or decompose, and become covered with saline efflo-
rescence, which consists of the sulphates of iron and alumina.
The black slates are highly bituminous, and take fire readily,
and burn with a white flame. The greenish calcareous shales
are destitute of bitumen, although they are equally, if not
more fragile than the black slates. As a whole, these slates,
on an exposure of a few montlis to the air, fall to pieces and
decompose, and become an incoherent heap of fine slate, in-
termixed vAth a grayish ash or earth. The dip of the slate
in the shaft of Egypt, at the depth of three hundred feet, is
nineteen degrees. Tliis angle is very constant from near the
top to the bottom of the shaft. There is a slight change,

NORTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 235

whicli indicates that the dip will become less towards the
middle of the trough, inasmuch as at the outcrop of the coal
seam at the Taylor plantation the dip is twenty-two degrees.

§ 231. The number of seams of coal which have been
recognized are five. The first or upper is the most important.
Its width is six-and-a-half feet. It consists of two seams, sep-
arated by a seam of black baud similar to the celebrated
Scotch black band, which is celebrated for its valuable prop-
erties in the manufacture of iron. This variety of iron ore I
observed at Farmville, soon after the slope had extended one
hundred feet. At the surface or outcrop it is indistinct, and
would pass for the common black slate ; but it becomes heavy
and perceptibly rich in iron when it is beyond the reach of
atmospheric influences. The black band I beheve accompa-
nies all the coal seams, and as the connexion of this mass is
such that it may be raised with the coal, it becomes a valua-
ble addition to the resources of the coalfield.

§ 232. The fire-clays, though they are not found at the bot-
tom of every seam, still are quite common in the slates.
They are traversed by organic remains vertically ; but con-
tain an entirely different series of vegetable from those of
the older coalfields. Stems of sigellaria or stigmaria are un-
known. Those plants v/hich do occur, are so closely inter-
laced and matted together, that it is extremely difficult to de-
termine their forms. We find, therefore, the slates and the
coal measures to be made up of beds which are' perfectly
analogous to those of the coalfields of Pennsylvania and Ohio.
This tact is quite interesting, as it furnishes a refutation of a
geological dogma, that all the valuable coals belong to the
carboniferous period. 1. We find the black bituminous slates
so highly charged as to burn readily. 2. The coal seams
which in the aggregate are nearly seven feet thick. 3. The
black band, an ore supposed to be peculiar to the carbonife-
rous epoch. 4. Bands of argillaceous iron ore both in balls
and beds. 5. Fire-clays abounding in vegetable fibres and
stones, the former of which appear to be roots ; one bed of
fire-clay is fifteen feet thick ; and beds occur which are not
accompanied with a coal seam. We find, therefore, all the

236 NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

concomitants of a coal series wliicli belong to tlie carbonife-
rous epoch. The seams of coal which have been exposed to
the greatest extent are bituminous ; but semi-bituminous seams
are known, which are separated from the former several hun-
dred feet. For example, there is a seam of anthracite near
the junction of the slate with the upper red sandstone at the
Gulf. Its extent is unknown. Another is known as the Wil-
cox seam. The latter is one mile south of the Murchison
seam, and I have at times entertained the opinion that it is
near the inferior sandstone, but still have doubts respecting
its position, and should not be disappointed if it turned out
that it holds a position above the bituminous seams. It is
probably a local change, although I have not observed any
local cause which is competent to dissipate the bituminous
matter. At the Gulf, and also at Evans' mills, the semi-bitu-
minous seams are near a heavy trap dyke, which apparently
accounts for the condition of the coal.

§ 233. The upper red sandstone diifers slightly in aspect
from the lower. It is more marly ; and although hard beds
occur frequently, yet by far the greater part of the rock is
soft and perishable. Its color is the same ; and a geologist
might pass from the lower to the upper sandstone without
being aware of the fact. Still, an inspection of the fossils
which have been obtained from each respectively, demon-
strates clearly the importance of regarding them as two dis-
tinct sandstones, belonging to two distinct epochs.

The upper may be characterized by saying that it consists
of hard brown beds, alternating brown, or red, and mottled
marls or clays, or those which are variegated. The spots are
green or greenish, and usually distinctly circumscribed. The
beds are frequently marked by cavities of an iri-egular form,
which are evidently caused by the former presence of some
salt, as the chloride of sodium, which is invariably dissolved
out. The lower part of this sandstone is pebbly; indeed it
may be regarded as beginning in a conglomerate, which is
another fact which goes to prove that it is separated from the
lower by a change in the physical condition of the country.
The beds of conglomerate rest upon a gray or drab-colored

NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY^ 23Y

sandstone. The conglomerates are below the greenish shales,
which are some ten feet thick, and in which I have found
cycads, ferns and certain forms of conifera belonging princi-
pally to sycopodiacca. Above this plant bed, the rock is a
sandstone of a reddish color, with a very few beds which are
gray.

We may, therefore, enumerate the beds which form the
upper series, as follows, beginning with the inferior beds :

1. Gray or drab-colored sandstones, which probably belong to the coal measures.

2. Beds of conglomerate, from ten to fifteen feet thick.

S. Green and dark colored slates, with plants, consistmg of cycads, ferns, &c.
4. Red and gray sandstones and marls, more or less mottled with green, green-
ish and white, somo of which contain the posidouia.

The most important localities for examination of the con-
glomerates are : 1. Mr. House's quarries, upon Haw river,
at Haywood; 2. Jones' Falls; and 3. A locality about six
miles south-west from Jones' Falls, on the plantation of Mr.
Ellington.

The conglomerates which crop out at the two first localities,
have been mistaken for those at the base of the lower sand-
stone ; for at Jones' Falls it is evident that the whole thick-
ness of rock belonging to the sandstone series is less than
thirty feet. It is not so distinct at House's quarry, upon the
Haw river. At Mr. Ellington's, however, the same con-
glomerates are far above the bottom rocks of the series. The
thickness of the sandstones beneath, at this place, cannot be
less than eight hundred feet.

The identity of these beds of conglomerate is proved by
the presence of the plant bed, which occupies the same rela-
tive position to the conglomerate, and furnishes the same spe-
cies of plants.

I have been particular in stating these facts, for they
change the whole aspect of the question respecting the age
of this formation. If it were true, as most of the geologists
who have visited Jones' Falls on Deep river have asserted,
that the conglomerates there were at the base of the lower
red sandstone, it would be necessary to group in one system
the whole formation whose age or epoch would be that of the

238 NOETII-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

new red sandstone, being determined by tbe vegetables con-
tained in the plant bed ; bnt, when the facts are presented as
in tlie foregoing paragralips, we are satisfied that the plants
belong to the upper beds, and it is to this age and epoch only
that they belong. They have nothing to do with the age
of the lower, being separated from it by the coal mea-
sures, and also by beds of conglomerates. It will be seen
from the foregoing, also, why I have taken the position that
it is the lower sandstone and coal measures which thin out
as the series passes from Mclver's to Jones' Falls. For
at Jones's Falls, the beds below the plant bed cannot ex-
ceed forty feet ; while at Ellington's, only six miles from
Jones', the thickness of the rocks beneath it is at least eight
hundred. This fact, of itself, proves that the conglomerate
at Jones' Falls is not the conglomerate of the lower red, from
which the millstones are taken, six miles from Carthage, and
which I have stated are about sixty feet thick. These lower
beds of conglomerate sometimes enclose lignite, or stems of
wood which are carbonized ; but I have not been able to dis-
cover in connexion with them beds of slate or shale equiva-
lent to those I have already described. I have carefully
sought for them near Egypt and the Gulf, without success.
Beds of conglomerate, occupying about the same horizon as
those of Jones' and Ellingtons', traverse, T believe, the whole
length of the formation. They may be observed at Benjamin
"Wickers, and near the saw-mill of Mr. Mclver, from which
place they may be traced to Egypt. The plant bed has not
been observed west of Ellington's ; but the rocks pass mostly
through a forest, where the debris of the sandstone conceals
a large part of the formation, and hence, it is highly proba-
ble it may be covered up.

I have now stated those facts relative to the sandstone se-
ries of Deep river, which are necessary for a correct under-
standing of the divisions which have been proj)Osed, and
which may be recapitulated in a brief form at this place.

1. Lower red sandstone with its conglomerate.

2. Coal measures, consisting of drab colored sandstones, bituminous slates and
calcareous shale, coal seams, fire-clay, and bands of iron stoue.

NOETH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 239

3. Upper red san dstone, with mottled sandstones and marls, together with its
conglomerates at the base, green shales with plats belonging to the order cyca-
dacea, ferns and sycopodiacea, etc.

In a country which is only slightly disturbed, and where so
much of the rock is concealed beneath its own debris, it is
extremely difficult to obtain certain facts which bear upon
the conformalities of the series. There seems to be a slight
unconformability of the upper red sandstone and marls with
the lower ; but it is slight, and a geologist might honestly
question the accuracy of the opinion. If the coming in of
the upper conglomerate marks the position of an unconfor-
mability, that, together with the fossils of the plant bed, would
indicate the commencement of the series which, in Germany,
is known under the name of the Keuper sandstone, which
usually succeeds the Muschelkalk. But in Shuringia the
Keuper rests upon a plant bed which consists of slates con-
taining cycads, ferns, etc., not unlike those of Deep river,
and which stand apparently in the same relation as those be-
longing to the foreign locality already referred to.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

GeograpJiical extent of the Coal Pleasures, together with the
under and overlying Sandstones.

§ 23-i. It is evidently important to determine the area over
which a coal series extends. Their importance or value rests
upon such a determination when their value to the public at
large is to be decided, and especially when large expendi-
tures are required to convey it to market. It has been main-
tained that this coalfield is of little value to the immediate
country in which it is situated. This view is undoubtedly er-
roneous, though the fact upon which it is founded may be

240 NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

true. For the warming of houses, for example, it may not
be necessary, in consequence of the forests which still re-
main, and the rapidity with which they are renewed, when
removed for tillage ; yet, coal is important in the arts, it is
important as a fuel everywhere in conducting most branches
of manufacturing industry. It is so, because it is cheaper
and better adapted to many pursuits than M^ood or charcoal.
The coal, therefore, is important in the immediate neighbor-
hood where it is found, inasmuch as it is the best or cheap-
est fuel which can be employed in the manufacture of iron.
It is taken for granted, that the people require additional
means for getting their produce to market. The time has
come when the ordinary means of transportation of the pro-
duce of the plantation must be superseded by those whicli
are more rapid and certain, and which can be relied upon fur
quantity ; so also, those which cheapen taansportation must
be constructed, if the country wishes to prosper. The manu-
facture of iron, therefore, by means of coal, does not presup-
pose that new and expensive means of transportation to niar^
ket for its own accommodation. It comes in, however, in aid
of those means which the planter and farmer require,
whether manufacturing projects are devised and carried into
execution or not.

The coal of Deep river will be useful at home, and may be
explored for domestic manufacturing v/ith profit, although
the country in its immediate neighborhood is well wooded.
When this view is taken in connexion with the fact that it
may also be transported to market with the ordinary profits
of this business, the value of the coalfield begins to assume
its importance.

§ 235. The first statement respecting the geographical ex-
tent of this series with which the coal stands connected, is
that relating to the sandstones, which occupy a much larger
iVea than that part of the series which contains the coal, or
which has been called the coal measures.

The rocks occupy a deep depression in the oldest sedimen-
tary slates. In whatever direction the series is approached,
this fact becomes perceptible ; the outer border is always be-

NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 241

loM" the surrounding country ; and to reach the sandstones,
there is a descent both on the north-western and south-eastern
sides. This long valley, prior to the deposition of the rocks
which now occupy it, must have been very deep. This is
evident, from the fact that the series is very thick.

This valley is now isolated or cut off from those in which
similar formations are known to exist. It is therefore an in-
dependent one, so far as the Dan river or the Richmond se-
ries are concerned. The long axis of this va,lley is parallel, aj)-
proximately at least with both, though it has no connexion with
either. I have traced tliis valley, with its sandstones, from a
point about six miles from Oxford, in Granville county, across
the State in a south-westerly direction. It passes into South-
Carolina, about six or seven miles, where it terminates.
Within the State its length is about one hundred and twenty
miles. Its breadth is variable. Where it terminates near
Oxford, in Granville county, it is very narrow, or indeed runs
to a point. The widest part is between Raleigh and Chapel
Hill, on the line of whicli it is eighteen miles wide. On the
Neuse it is twelve. On the Cape Fear, between Jones' Fall^
and the Buckhorn, it scarcely exceeds six miles. This is one
of the narrowest places of the series, it widens rapidly in a
north-easterly and south-westerly direction, till, toward^^
Chapel Hill, or rather eastward of that place, it becomes
eighteen miles, as stated, from which it soon diminishes in
breadth. From Capt. E. Bryan's, at Jones' Falls, the direc-
tion of the western margin, for about six miles, is about soutli-
west. Soon afterward its course is more westerly, and even
s\^eeps around and takes a northerly course ; but afterwards
resumes a south-west course into South-Carolina, after cross-
ing the corner of Union county. The auriferous slates may
be observed at numerous places on the north-western border.
The exceptions which have fallen under my notice show the
series in a metamorphic condition. At Capt. Bryan's, a belt
of chert and porphyry rises from beneath the sandstones, and
extends seven or eight miles in a north-easterly direction.
A similar belt also rises up from beneath the same series one-
and-a-lialf miles northerly from the Gulf, on the plankroad,
16

242 NOETH-CAROLmA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

and pursues a course parallel with the former. This is proba-
bly a repetition of the series at Jones' Falls. But the un-
changed slates emerge in an unconformable position at nu-
merous places in Chatham and Moore counties, among which
I may mention the millstone quarries on the waters of Rich-
land creek, the tributaries of Indian creek within one mile of
Evans' bridge, and on the road leading to Salem, and again
about a mile above the mouth of Line creek, which enters
Deep river not far above the same bridge. An important
point which exhibits the junction of the series is about one-
and-a-half miles from Farmersville, on the Pittsborough road,
where a deep ravine divides the lower conglomerate and red
sandstone from the slates of the Taconic system. The slates,
as usual, dip nearly to the north-west at a high angle, while
the sandstones dip from them, or southerly, at a very moderate
inclination. An interesting exposure of the inferior beds of
these sediments, resting upon the slates, occurs at the quariy
of Mr. Seawells, where the conglomerate or millstone has
been entirely removed, by which an intervening stratum of
clay which rests upon the edges of the slate is exposed. The
conglomerate or millstone grit is about *forty feet thick. It
dips at an angle of seventeen or eighteen degrees, and to the
south-east. On the north-west side it appears, from observa-
tion, to repose upon the gold slates, especially all of it south
of Orange county ; or upon rocks of the same series, and
which have been changed, or have been porphyritic. The
width of the lower sandstone on tlie north-west side, beyond
its junction with the bituminous slates, varies at different
places ; it is from three-fourths of a mile to three mjles.
Small fields are still farther removed, but they are usually
isolated, and cut off by projecting ridges of the older slates.
The largest field which is thus isolated, is in Anson county,

§ 236. The south-east margin is concealed through all that
part which lies south-west of Cape Fear river but at several
points near the margin where the auriferous slates make
their appearance. In Anson county, one mile-and-a-half
sout-east of Wadesborough, the red sandstones dip gently to
the west. But the characters which these rocks exhibit in-

NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 243

dicate that it is the upper sandstone which is thus prolonged.
It resembles that of Brassfield's, sixteen miles from Raleigh,
on the Hillsborough road, where the sandstones become cal-
careous and somewhat nodular. But neither place furnishes
fossils, and hence the criteria by which to judge of their
identity are indecisive. I would not make the statement res-
pecting this question without reservation. Yet, those calca-
reous concretions seem to belong to the upper mass at Brass-
fields, and those near Wadesborough closely resemble them.
The south-east side, from its crossing of the Cape Fear to the
Pedee, is usually covered with the tertiary sands. We are
unable, therefore, to learn the character of this margin,
whether it is horizoptal, or dips away or towards the axis of
the formation. There is no exposure by which the position
of the coal measures can be determined ; this part of the se-
ries does not appear on this side ; there is no positive fact
from which we can judge of its existence at all ; and this be-
comes still more obscure, in consequence of the facts which
have been already stated, which have led me to believe that
it is the upper sandstone which is prolonged, and forms the
extreme points of the formation. Hence, it is not improba-
ble that the upper sandstone extends beyond the coal mea-
sures, and conceals them from observation. If so, there are
no inducements of suliicient value which would warrant the
expenditure of capital in attempting to obtain them upon the
south-east side, l^orth of the Cape Fear, as the formation
passes onward through Orange into Granville county, the
south-east side is equally unpromising for coal ; while on the
north-west side, about six miles from Chapel Hill, in the neigh-
borhood of Mr. Mooring's, in Chatliam county, there is an
exposure of black slate, containing the common fossils of this
part of the coal measures. But this exposure is limited ; and
from this locality the indications of the presence of coal can-
not be discovered, or they are merely lignite beds, which are
the products of a single coniferous tree. It is not difficult to
distinguish these appearances from those which accompany
the coal seams. In the former, its speedy removal from its
bed should be sufficient to satisfy every reasonable mind.

244 NOETH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY.

though many still persist in seeing a coal seam in a flattened
stem of an ancient tree, provided it is fully carbonized.

AVe find the coal measures confined mostly to the central
part of the sandstones, where they traverse the counties of
Chatham and Moore. The formation pursues a westerly
course, parallel with the general direction of Deep river.
The outcrop crosses the river between Evander Mclver's and'
the Hornville property, thence by Farmersville, it crosses
the river obliquely at Egypt, and soon recrosses it again near
the fish-trap, and passes into the Taylor plantation. It con
tinues on the north side of the river until it passes the plan-
tation of Mr. Murchison, from which it crosses it again for
the last time into the plantation of Mr. Fooshee, where the
coal series is well developed, three or four seams of good coa)
having been exposed by several excavations directly over the
outcrop of the seams. The direction of the outcrop of the
coal seams from Murchison's to Fooshee's is S. 54° W., whicli
may be taken as the direction Avhich the north-western mar-
gin pursues for the next eight or ten miles ; after which the
direction is about S. 45° W. The extent of the coal seams in
this direction is not determined. The features of the forma
tion are still favorable for their continuance. The coal seams
upon the plantation of Mr. Fooshee are equal in thicknes;^,
and possess qualities of the same nature as those of Egypt.
There is, therefore, grounds for the expectation of its contin-
uance still farther in this direction. But the outcrop of tht^
series is concealed, and requires the expenditure of capital to
test the correctness of this expectation.

The whole length of the outcrop, follov/ing its windings, is
about thirty miles. The extreme point beyond Evander Me
Ivor's, where the coal seams have been discovered, is at Martii^
Dyer's, where a boring cut a seam near the outcrop ten inches
thick. The locality still farther north-eastward in this direc
tion, known as the Rhiney Wicker's pro})erty, but owned l\v
Mr. Ellington, does not belong to the same series as the Egy]>i
and other seams, whose value has been tested. The Ellington
seam is in connexion with the plant l)ed I have spoken oi\
and undoubtedly belongs to the upper sandstone. It is i''^^

NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 245

than three inches thick, and therefore of no importance. I
have spoken of this locality in former reports, but had not
visited it. When, however, I had an opportunity to examine
the character of the beds in which it occurs, I was satisfied
it was wholl}'- unconnected with the true coal measures of the
lower series. The existence of coal seams has, therefore,
been determined by the auger, and by excavations from Mar-
tin Dyer's to Mr. Fooshee's, on the south side ot the Deep
river, in Moore county. The coal slates are known to be pro-
longed in each direction from these points ; and though the
existence of the coal seams in the prolonged slate may be
«luestioned, still, there are no reasons for their immediate dis-
continuance. It should, however, be stated here, that the
slates beyond Martin Dyer's are known only for about two
miles, where they are accompanied with fine beds of argilla-
ceous oxide of iron. But they extend much farther to the
south-west, and nearly to the Great Pedee. But their thick-
ness is diminished at Drowning Creek, and there are no ex-
posures of iron ore. Beyond the Great Pedee, in Anson
county, the black slates, if they occur at all, are feeble or
thin ; though this plat of the formation may be concealed by
the deep soil of the valley, still the prospects for finding coal
are not encouraging. My opinion with respect to the extent
of the coal is, that it will be prolonged about ten miles ; that
it will turn out that the continuous outcrop will be, ultimate-
ly, about forty miles ; that it will be extended farther in a
south-west than in a north-east direction is rendered probable,
from the fact, that in the latter direction I am unable to per-
ceive that the seams show any signs of giving out ; and it is
in this direction that the black slate is extended much farther
than in the othere I have referred to.

I do not deem it necessary to enter upon a discussion re-
specting the probable extent of the coal seams in the direc-
tion of their dip. Circumstances have changed since the
publication of the first report, in which I made certain condi-
tional statements of the probable quantity of coal in the Deep
river formation. At that time doubts were entertained, and
freely expressed, whether Chatham and Moore contained a

246 NOKTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL STJEVET.

coalfield at all. Believing, as I had a right, that those were
erroneous views, and calculated to injure the interests of the
State, I felt bound to make tliose statements which would
place in its true light the value of this coalfield ; for, if those
interests were abandoned at that time, the prospect for im-
proving this property would be delayed necessarily for a long
time. I believed that the most important interests of the
State were centered upon Deep river. Those interests were
not confined to a single product, nor a single enterprise.
There were two great interests at stake, that which related to
the production of coal, and that which related to the produc-
tion of iron. Here were the raw materials. Here were the
elements which, if properly used and employed, would in-
crease tlie wealth of this section of country more than four-
fold. But more than this, I saw in it a stimulus to enterprise
and mental activity. Industry would be promoted in every
branch of pursuit which the products of this section of the
State could foster. It did not confine itself to coal and iron,
but extended to agriculture and home manufactures. The
stimulus arising from success would pervade the whole com-
munity, and put a new aspect on society.

CHAPTER XXXIY.

Quantity and quality of the Deep river Coal — Com^yo&i-
tiwi, etc.

§ 237. I have stated that it seems unnecessary to express,
at the present time, an opinion respecting tlie quantity of ac-
cessible coal in the Deep river district. I believe the devel-
opments are now sufficient to establish its character, and that
the deep shaft at Egypt contains what we had a right to ex-
pect, or were justified in expecting. It has established this

NOKTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 247

position, that the known quantity demanded the construction
of means to carry it to market ; and these means are now so
far completed, that there is no danger the pubKc will take a
retrograde course. Times hare been, when there was danger
that all the works for developing the resources of this coal-
field would stop, and the public are indebted, in a great mea-
sure, to the exertions of Mr. McLane, for the completion of
an enterprise which imparts confidence where it was want-
ing, and at the same time infuses new energy in the few who
were always confident of ultimate success.

§ 238. The quality of the coal is of a high order ; it is
true it is not equal to the Breckinridge coal for its volatile
matters, but it equals it in its combustible products. For the
purpose of giving a greater publicity to the excellent charac-
ter of this coal, I shall make use of the analyses which have
been made of it, together with others which are well known,
and which will serve as standards for comparison. ISTo one
had pursued a plan so thorough as the late Prof Johnson,
whose experience in this line of investigation was equal, if
not greater, than any of whom we could boast. They are
characterized by thoroughness, which gives confidence in
their accuracy. I shall, therefore, deem it proper to put in
circulation again the analyses which were issued in a report,
the circulation of which has been extremely limited, and
which it is now difficult to procure.

The first analysis of this order was made of the coal of the
lower seam, at Farmersville, and recently mined. The com-
position was found to be as follows :

Volatile matter, 30.91

Fixed carbon, 50.70

Earthy matter, 18.32

99.93

The specific gravity of the specimen 1.416. Tlie coke of
this coal is light and pufij", ashes purplish gray.
A second specimen gave —

248 NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURTET.

Volatile matter, 28.47

Fixed carbon, 64.70

Earthy matter, 6.83

100.00

Specific gravity 1.497. Coked very slowly. Aslies brown-
ish red.
A third specimen from the lower seam, gave,

Volatile matter, 30.85

Fixed carbon, 63.90

Earthy matter, 5.25

100.00

Specific gravity 1.415. Ashes white and very light.
The fourth specimen gave.

Volatile matter, 31.30

Fixed carbon, 64.40

Earthy matter, 4.30

100.00

Specific gravity 1.308. Coked slowly. Ashes nearly white.

The foregoing analyses were made of coal taken only a
few feet from the surface. They are designed to show, in
part, the effect of meteoric infiuences which had necessarily
diminished the amount of volatile, and increased relatively
the earthy matters, as well as to increase also the quantity of h}'--
grometric water. This coal at greater depths is found to sustain
this veiw, as will be seen by analyses of coal taken from great-
er depths, and farther removed from atmospheric influence.

Coal taken from the deep pit at Egypt, and analyzed for me
by Dr. Jackson, gave,

Fixed carbon, C3.6

Carb. Hydrogen gas, 34.8

Ashes, 1.6

99.0

Color of the ashes reddish brown.

NOETH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

24:9

This coal, it is true, was not takeu from the same place as
those whose analyses have been given in the preceding para-
graphs ; but the Egypt and the Farmersville coal cannot be
distinguished from each other, when taken from about the
same depth. The analysis of the Egypt coal shows a better
quality and an increase of volatile matter, and less earth or
ash ; probably no analysis shows a better composition for all
the purj)oses for which coal is employed. Another mode of
testing the value of coals, is to determine the amount of
steam which a given quantity of coal will generate. Thus
Johnson found, by experiment, that the steam producing or
evaporating power of this coal, was equivalent to 8.1 ; or that
one pound of coal would convert 8.1 pounds of water into
steam ; and also, that one part, by weight, of dried coal, will
reduce twent^^-six and ninetj^-seven hundredths times its
weight of lead.

The following table of comparison is quoted from Pvof.
Johnson's report, showing the evaporative and lead produc-
ing power of coals taken from the different pits of the Rich-
mond basin, and certain foreign bituminous coals, which hold
about the same rank as to reducing and steam producing
power. In an economical point of view, this comparison is
interesting; showing that the coals of the Richmond and
Deep river basins do not differ materially from each other, or
from those of the carboniferous period :

Names of Coal.

Lead reduced\Steam gener-
by one, part ated hy one
of Goal. part of Coal.

Chesterfield mining Co. Va.,.

New Castle, Eng.,

Clover Hill, Va.,

Liverpool, Va.,

Pictou, N. Scotia,

Midlothian, Va., (screened,).

Midlothian, (average,)

Pittsburg, Pa.

Farmersville, N. C,

25.78

8.99

26.78

8.65

26.96

7.67

27.07

7.84

27.24

8.41

27.28

8.94

27.34

8.29

27.54

8.20

26.97

8.10

Other foreign, and particularly British coals, produce simi-
lar results ; the reductive and evaporative powers do not ex-
ceed those of Deep river. Thus, according to the results ob-
tained by the British Commissioners on coals, the following

250

NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

kinds yield the following numbers, expressive of their power.
as in the foregoing table :

Names of Coal.

Broomhill coal,

Coleshill,

Dalkeith Jewel seam

Three-quarter rock vein,.

Pont j-Pool,

Bedwas,

Cwm Frood rock vein, . . .
Grangemouth,

Averages,

Lead reduced.

25.32
26.14
27.42
2t5.G2
27.46
28.20
28.30
28.45

27.11

Stem gener-
ated.

8.85
8.00
7.08
8.84
7.47
9.97
8.70
7.40

8.09

The composition of the Farmersville coal, in a raw state, as
determined by organic analysis, is as follows, the water be-
ing determined by a sei3arate process, and, as equal to 1.71
per cent.:

Sulphur, 8.30

Carbon 68.41

Hydrogen, 4.64

Oxygen, 8.37

Earthy matter, 13.60

Water, 1.71

100.00

The excess of hydrogen which the foregoing analysis ex-
hibits, over and above that which is necessary to form water,
is equivalent to 3.5T per cent.

The earthy matter in the better specimens of the Farmers-
ville coal, though taken near the surface, where it is less ex-
posed to meteoric influences, is only 3.81 per cent., instead
of 13.60, where it is still more exposed ; and an analysis of
this coal gave Johnson :

Moisture, 2.35 per cent.

Sulphur, 0.22

Carbon, 80.20

Hydrogen, 5.45

Oxygen and other vol. matter, 7.97

Earthy matter, 3.81

Hydrogen in excess, .

100.00
4.4C

NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 251

The fixed carbon of thiS variety, when coked slowly, is
G4.57 per cent. The volatile carbon of the 80.20 per cent, is
15.63 per cent.; which leaves the 64.57 as the fixed carbon of
the specimen. Three thirty-seven hundredths per cent, more
passes off in vapour when the coal is coked rapidly.

Tlie qnestion respecting the presence of injm'ious matter
in this coal, is also determined by the foregoing analyses.
Thus, sulphur is injurious in various ways. If present in a
large quantity when burnt in grates, its odor is extremely
offensive, and it blackens the several articles of furniture which
are often used. Twenty-five grains triated for sulphur gave
3.3 per cent. Another analysis gave 3.20 sulphur. It is evi-
dent, both from experiment and observation, that the sulphur
diminishes as the depth increases ; or as other foreign matter
diminishes, the sulphur also becomes less. The sulphur in all
the pits appears disseminated, and sometimes in lumps, in the
slate, while I have observed it in the coal seam, only in one
or two instances, in a visible mass in the coal. The impure
coals, those which contain slate, contain the most sulphur.
When the coal is therefore pure and free from the foreign in-
termixture of slate, coprolites, animal and vegetable matter
only partially changed, then the sulphur is in excess.

§ 239. The combustion of this coal, and the case with
which it can be ignited, are important qualities. It burns
Ijriskly with a brilliant and free combustion. It therefore
gives a pleasant and agreeable fire in parlor grates. In this
respect, I believe it is not excelled by any coal now in market.
This brilliant combustion is attended with a swelline: of the
whole mass, by which a good hollow fire is maintained, ag-
glutinating as the combustion proceeds, and ending in the
production of a light porous coke. It is for these qualities,
that it is so well adapted to the use of smiths ; and it is inva-
riably remarked by them, that they wish for no better coal.
In market it sells to Blacksmiths for forty cents per bushel.
The amount of sulphur in the iron of the coal produces inju-
rious effects in iron which is heated and welded by it. It is
stated by Johnson, that the sulphur will not injure it on ship-
board or on shore.

252 NOKTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

Sometimos in a rapid combustion of the coal in a grate, it
melts partially, and exhibits a tendency to flow. This fact
shows that its volatile matter or bitumen is in large propor-
Hons. This tendency, however, does not exhibit itself in
slow combustion.

The Breckinridge coal melts and flows when ignited.
This, however, contains nearly twice as much bitumen or vol-
atile matter as the Farmville coal. The Breckinridge has
about 61 per cent, of volatile matter, while that from the
Egypt pit has only 34.8, or nearly 35 per cent. Whether
the Deep river coal can be profitably employed for the pro-
<luction of co(d oil and other matters for light, has yet to be
determined by a series of Avell conducted experiments. It is
desirable that its value for light should be determined, but it
is probable that it cannot compete with several richer coals
now in market.

The value of the bituminous coal for the common furnaces,
seems to be well established ; there can be no doubt of its
value for warming parlors, or for grates, for smith's work of
all kinds, being both cheaper and more economical than char-
coal ; that is, at forty cents per bushel, it is more economical
than charcoal at five cents. The value of the semi-bitumin-
ous coals is not so well determined. From several analyses
by Johnson, its composition near the outcrop has been deter-
mined. Thus the per centage of volatile and fixed matters
gave, in

No. ], Fixed carbon, 83.12

Volatile matter, 8.28

Earthy . 8.60

100.00

The ash is purplish gray. This specimen had been long
exposed to atmospheric influences; its specific gravity 1.45.

No. 2, Fixed carbon, 83.70

Volatile matter, 6.64

Earthy, 9.60

100.00

Ashes reddish gray. Specific gravity 1.54,

K'ORTH-CAJJOLtNA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 253

Xo. 3, Fixed carbon, 87.18

Volatile matter, 7 35

Earthy matter, 5.4?

100.00

Specific gravity 1.47. Ash reddisli gray. Obtained from
a fresh openiug, and taken from the 2| foot seam.

In this semi-bi^ininoiis coal of Geo. Wilcox's seams, it ad-
pears that the votatile matter is less than one-foiirth of that
which belongs to the Farmville or Egypt coal. The value of
this variety has not yet been determined ; it is doubtful
whether the semi-bituminous coals can be carried to market,
where they will have to compete with the Anthracite of Penn-
sylvania. They have their place, however, and will be em-
ployed tor warming apartments in the large villages and
cities of the State, both in grates ^and coal stoves. These
coals would be vi-^ll adapted for the Kaleigh and Wilmington
markets, or for home consumption ; and it is probable, may
be employed economically ili the manufacture oi iron. But
the question is not yet settled whether these semi-bituminous
seams are permanent, or may not prove to be locally anthra-
cite or nearly so ; but which may become bituminous at
greater depths upon the dip of the seams, and perhaps evei>
at comparativel}^ small depths, the semi-bituminous seam may
become a bituminous one. As the value of the latter is
greater, such a result is to be hoped for. If the loss of bitu-
men was to be attributed solely to the local action of trap
dykes, such a result appears highly probable ; but as a gen-
eral disturbance of the coal strata seems to be connected as a
cause with the loss of bitumen, a change can scarcely be ex-
pected where this disturbance is excessive at the surface.
The escape of steam through fissures in the broken coal strata
no doubt carries oft' bitumen, while the dry heat of a melted
rock would operate only through a limited extent. This re-
sult arises from low conducting power of rocks. It fre-
quently happens that a rock, in immediate contact with traji,
is vitrified only a few inches ; while on the other hand, where
rocks are broken up and twisted, or their layers bent, the

'254: NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

nietamorphism is very extensive, tlioiigh trap is nowhere visi-
ble in the altered series. Hence it is, that miners are rarely
alarmed when they see trap dykes passing through a coal-
iield; provided the strata are not much disturbed. They
know that the heat of a trap dyke, at the time of its injection,
cannot alter or change the coal extensively. They look more,
therefore, to the changes which the strata have undergone,
and become alarmed only, when they see they have passed
from a continuous plane into interrupted ones, in consequence
of faults. It is doubtful whether dykes have much effect in
deranging the condition of rocks. It is to be attributed rather
to a force which acted in a stage prior to the one by which
the dyke fissure is filled. But this view does not affect the
reasoning of the miner. With him it is a question how much
the strata are disturbed, without reference to the agent, act,
or time. «

CHAPTER XXXV.

The Dan River Coalfield — Division of the Beds Composing
It. — Conglomerates and Breccias. — Loioer Sandstones. —
Coal Shales. — Upper Sandstones. — Conglomerates — and
Brecciated Conglomerates.

§ 24:0. The counties of Rockingham and Stokes contain
within their respective areas a series of deposits, which do
not differ materially from those of Deep river. They contain
coal, but the seams are less known ; and, judging from the
depths of the works which have exposed them, they seem to
be less promising than those of Deep river. While all the
beds which are connected in this formation, or which stand
together, are much the same as those of Chatham and Moore,

NOKTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 255

the coal seam is mostly semi-bituminous, or similar to the
George Wilcox seam which has been described.

There are certain peculiarities, however, worthy of notice,
which do not exist in the Deep river formation. Those pe-
culiarities will be recognised in the following division of the
Dan river series :

1. And at the bottom, conglomerates and breccias.

2. Lower sandstones, including Ihe soft and hard.

3. Gray sandstones, with bituminous shales, fire-clays, &c*

4. Upper sandstones and marls.
.T. Brecciated conglomerates.

Tliese parts are all distinct and separate at Leaksville, where
the system is probably more perfect than elsewhere. They
lie in a trough in the primary series, or in the laminated py-
rocrystalline rocks, whose direction is about north-east and
south-west. The axis of the trough runs parallel with a line
which connects Leaksville with Germanton. The system dips
to the north-west ; the angle of dip is variable, and ranges
between 15° and 40°, it is usually greater than 20°.

The whole extent or range of the Dan river series is about
forty miles, thirty of which is comprised within the bounds of
iSTorth-Carolina. The north-east extremity extends into Vir-
ghiia, about ten miles. The breadth of the series is not less
than four, and not greater than seven miles.

It has no connection with the Richmond coalfield, thouojli
it is prolonged in that direction ; neither is it connected or
continuous with another small coalfield in Halifax county in
Virginia. These several troughs are, all of them, isolated de-
pressions in the primary series. Those geologists who are fa-
miliar with the northern parts of our country, may infer that
these troughs were once connected, and that diluvial action
lias removed intermediate j)arts of the series. This view
does not, however, seem to be sustained. There is no evi-
dence of diluvial action at all ; there is no drift proper in
North-Carolina. But all of these isolated troughs were con-
nected at a comparative recent period with the ocean. We
are notified of an approach to these troughs by the pebbly

256 NORTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

beds which border them, which overlie the series, and which
appear to bound them. These beds of pebbles, while they
surround the coal series, are still distributed along the line of
drainage towards the ocean.

If a correct geological map of the United States is consult-
ed, and the positions of the coal fields to which reference has
been made is noted, we cannot fail to notice the singular fact
that there are four small troughs formed in the primary rocks,
or slates, all of which lie with their axes directed to the south-
west and north-east — a direction which, in this region, is
nearly parallel with the present coast line. Tliese troughs,
as I have already said, are disconnected ; and an examina-
tion of the series, their outcrops, &c., goes to show that each
was formed in a trough by itself, and entirely separate and
independent ; each series of sediments was deposited in its
own deep sea, or arm of the sea : and furthermore, consider-
ing the limited area of each, the depth of these seas or estu-
aries was very great. These areas have been only slightly
disturbed, though they are traversed by many dykes. The
Eichmond trough has been disturbed the most, the inclina-
tion or dip of the beds often exceeding forty degrees.

The lowest mass of the Dan river series is conglomerate ;
but it is badly developed. It is not exposed at Leaksville,
tlie north-east extremity ; but at Germanton these beds con-
sist of angular fragments of granite and gneiss, intermixed
with a few imperfectly formed pebbles. This mass might be
mistaken for granite, were it not that it contains here and
there the pebbles referred to ; or it may be fragments of sili-
cified wood. In this mass I have also found the roots of the
silicitied trunks penetrating and branching into it, showing
that the trees grew upon the spot where they are now found.
Above the conglomerate, or brecciated conglomerate, tlie
silicified trunks of coniferous trees are sufficiently numerous
to be regarded as an ancient forest. The roots are sometimes
changed into lignite. What appears to be trunks are always
silicified. These, sometimes, exceed two feet in diameter ;
segments of which stand out from the sandstones at an angle
of 45° ; but they are usually prostrate. Jt is remarkable.

NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 257

that at this locality, the trunks and roots only remain. All
the tender and leafy parts are destroyed. The beds contain-
ing the siHcified trunks extend half a mile. In immediate
connexion with the soft sandstones which contain the vegeta-
ble products already referred to, I found a concretionary clay.
Large concentric circles mark the boundaries of the concre-
tions, some of which are four feet in diameter. Above the
argillaceous concretionary mass, we find the regular bedded
red sandstones, consisting of variegated strata in part — but
mostly red sandstones, of various degrees of coarseness.
These terminate in the black and green shales and slates.
which contain the seams of coal.

At Leaksville, where the series is the best exposed, they
consist of the following strata :

1. Shale or black bituminous slate below the coal ; thickness undetermined.

2. Slaty micaceous sandstones two feet.

3. Shaly coal at the outcrop eighteen inches.

4. Micaceous shale two feet.

5. Semi-bituminous coal from two to three feet at the outcrop.

6. Shale one hundred feet.

7. Strata of a semi-concretionary limestone more or less silicious, from four to
six feet. This is probably an equivalent of the argillaceous iron ore.

8. Soft green, blueish and black shales with posidonias, sixty feet.

The shales, however, still continue ; but being covered with
soil, their thickness remains to be determined. The calcare-
ous strata are above the coal seams ; as no others are known,
and as they extend through the coalfield, they become way
boards for the discovery of the seams of coal beneath them.
These layers are well preserved at Madison, and contain sep-
taria.

The dip of the slates at Leaksville is N". 35° W.; angle of
dip 25°.

A section of rocks between Eagle bridge and Gov. More-
head's factory, consists of the following strata :

1. Sandstones and conglomerate, mostly concealed, at the bridge.

2. Flinty black slates, two hundred feet thick.

3. Coal slates, consisting of green and black slates, with posidonia and cypris in
great abundance.

4. Red and gray sandstones.

IT

258 NORTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

5. Conglomerates.

6. Shalj and green variegated sandstones.

7. Conglomerarates and brecciated conglomerates at least three hundred feef
thick.

They contain many angular fragments, some of which are
very large.

The upper part, which may be observed at Morehead's fac-
tory, presents the following strata, which I state more in de-
tail, and in the ascending order :

1 . Greenish brecciated trappean mass.

2. Coarse, breccialed mass, intermixed with pebbles only partially rounded, eigh-
ty to one hundred feet thick.

3. Greenish slate and shale.

4. Greenish slaty sandstone.

5. Coarse decomposing sandstone, one hundred feet thick.

The first, or 'No. 1. of this npper part of the series is made
up of various rocks, as talcose slates, granite, and masses of
feldspar and trap. The size of these angular fragments is
from seven to eight inches long, and four to five thick. It h
a decomposing mass.

The coarse brecciated mass immediately above this, is a
tough, durable, building stone, of a gray color, and looks like
granite at a distance. It contains a large amount of quartz,
and the ground or paste in which it is imbedded, is less dis-
posed to disintegrate. Tlie dip of this series is N. 30° W.

The upper part of the Dan river sandstone is unlike that of
Deep river, unless it is parallel with the rocks at Jones' Falls,
which I am disposed to regard as probable, and as the inferior
beds of the New Red sandstone. There is evidently a change
in the deposits indicative of a more important one, connected
with a change of tlie organic remains. This remains to be
determined.

The series of sandstones again, which are exposed on Fac-
tory creek, four miles from Madison, on the road to Martin's
lime-kilns, are interesting, as they are exposed by the denu-
dation of the stream. They are enumerated in the ascending
order, and probably begin near the coal shales :

NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 259

1. Soft greenish slates.

2. Coarse sandstone, with pebbles.

3. Red and brown sandstones.

4. Porous red sandstones, or sandstone with angular cavities, similar to those of
Deep river, which may have contained a soluble salt.

5. Green and gray hard sandstones.

6. Coarse sandstones, with pebbles.

7. Conglomerates resembling those at Morehead's factory.

8. Marls, reddish and mottled, beneath which are the primary slates in an unc<>n-
formable position.

The dip in this series is very regular ; the angle of dip is
twenty degrees, and the distance across them is about half a
mile, and every stratum being exposed, there is no danger of
committing an error in the succession, or being misled by
rej)etitions. This series is probably equivalent to that which
begins at Jones' Falls, upon Deep river ; or, in other words, is
the upper part of the Triassic system. At the time the ex-
amination was made, I noted the succession only, omitting
even the approximate thickness of the strata composing the
series. Obscure fucoids were observed, but not obtained.

The Thecodont saurian remains were obtained far below this
series ; and hence, though we find apparent differences in the
groups, we may be confident, I think, that the upper and
lower parts of the formations upon Deep and Dan rivers, are
the equivalents of each other.

At Madison, the series below the coal slates, as exposed on
the east side of Dan river, is made up of the following strata.
They rest upon gneiss :

1. Soft variegated micaceous sandstones, two hundred feet thick.

2. Green, shalyand drab colored sandstones, about five hundred feet thick.

3. Red sandstones, with small angular cavities.

4. Green and dark colored coal shales, the latter bituminous.

At Madison, the fossils of the slate are the same as those at
Evans' Mills, on Deep river. The conglomerate, which is so
conspicuous a member of this formation on Deep river, is
very imperfectly developed upon the Dan.

At Germanton, at the extreme south-western extremity of
the formation, coal has been obtained. The series is not well
exposed, but the relations of the beds are as follows :

260 NORTH-CAROLINA. GEOLOGICAL SUKVET^

1. Slate below.

2. Fire-clay.

S. Coal eighteen inches.

4. Slate, one foot.

.5. Coal, eighteen inches. *

C. Black bituminous slate, five feet.

7. Sandstone and slate.

Semi-bituminous coal was first obtained about four mileB
from Germanton. Subsequently, only two miles. This coal
is not pure at the outcrop. Coal is known at several places
between Leaksville and Germanton ; but no new discoveries
have been made since my report was published. Tlie Leaks-
ville seam has been explored deeper; the slope has been
sunk about one hundred feet. The seam had increased ; the
thickness now being from three-and-a-half to four feet. But,
as yet, the investigations of these coal seams have not been
sufficiently extended to allow us to express a positive oj^inion
of their value. The coal itself is less valuable than upon the
Deep river, inasmuch as it ranks only with the anthracite
coals. But the exploration on the plantation of Mr. Wade,
at or near Leaksville, becomes more favorable ; the coal seam
having increased in thickness and improved in quality. But
as the means for transportiug the article to market were in-
sufiicient and defective, no decidedly favorable results could
have been anticipated.

§ 241. When the lower sandstones and conglomerates of
the two rivers are compared, it is evident that the beds below
the coal series are less important upon Dan than upon Deep
river. In the latter, the lower sandstones, with their con-
glomerates, are remarkably thick ; and we have seen that the
conglomerate is very feebly developed upon the Dan at Ger-
manton, and wanting at Madison ; and it appears that in Vir-
o>inia, the lower sandstones, with their conglomerates, are en-
tirely wanting.

The slates of the coal measures of tlie two districts art-
probably equal in thickness ; but it appears from facts thus*
far developed, that the coal, and the argillaceous iron ores,
are less in quantity in the Dan river district.

The series above the coal slates, however) are either better

NOKTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 261

exposed, or else are actually thicker. There is no locality
where the upper rocks are so well exposed as upon Factory
creek. Of the identity of the two series there can be no
doubt. The fossils of the Dan, difter in no respect from those
of Deep river. I have obtained a much larger number from
the latter than the former. I found it necessary to confine
my explorations for the time being to Deep river. It must
be understood, that while explorations are in progress, is the
best time to obtain the evidence of the age and epoch of the
formation. It has happened that this evidence was frequent-
ly lost to myself, in consequence of the decomposition of the
materials which were taken out of the shafts which were be-
ing sunk, as well as dispersed by the hands of visitors, who
were frequently present. Hence, it has required much time
to obtain a class of facts essential and necessary to decide
certain geological questions of real importance.

CHAPTER XXXYI.

Economical Products of the Coal Fields, and of the Red
Sandstojies.

§ 242. Industry never lacks materials upon which to ex-
pend its exergy. It is not cupidity which always seeks the
useful, in the rough quarries of nature. The occurrence of
one valuable product is but a step towards the discovery of
another ; and we are frequently surprised at the numerous
wants which are supplied in a single series of sediments. In
addition to the coal, which is the lirst object of pursuit, and
the discovery of which has opened the way for others, and
which probably would be useless, were there no coal, iron
':)re, free stones, grindstone grits, and lire-clays, may be enu-
merated.

262 NOKTH-CAEOLmA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

The iron ores belong to tAvo or three distinct kinds :

1. Tlie ordinary hydrous peroxides, with arg-gillaceous mat-
ter, which are undoubtedly the altered products derived from
the argillaceous carbonate.

2. The same kind in appearance, but which is magnetic.

o. The black band of the Scotch miners, and which is re-
garded by a gentleman well acquainted with this ore, as the
BlacJdjest of the Scottish miners.

All these kinds appear to be abundant, or to be coexten-
sive with the coal slates. I am not able to speak of the ex-
tent of the brown magnetic ore which occurs upon the plan-
tation of Mr. Tyson. It is an interesting anomaly in the way of
iron ores, to find the brown ores, with their ordinary aspect,
strongly magnetic. I suspect this kind may be confined to
the surface, inasmuch, as under the action of light, and per-
liaps certain atmospheric influences, the black ores of the older
rocks become very strong magnets.

The argillaceous carbonate, when exposed to meteoroic in-
fluence, the hydrous peroxide, with argillaceous matter, oc-
curs at the depth of about two hundred and thirty feet in the
shaft at Egypt. It is frequently found outcropping above the
coal seams, in nodular masses of different forms and sizes,
and may be employed as a clue to the position of the coal
seams; inasmuch, as there are no knov/n bituminous seams
above the iron ore beds. The principal seams are below ;
but inasmuch as there is another outcropping of iron below
the seams, about thirty-four yards distant, it is necessary to
be on guard, so as not to be led astray by the inferior beds of
iron. These outcropping beds of iron ore at the Gulf, are un-
doubtedly the seams of black band, belonging to the next
seam of coal below- the main seam, which at Egypt is thirty
feet below in the shaft. But this ore, though traces of its
outcropping may be seen at several places, is not always to
l)e found upon the surface. It is rarely as strong at any place,
as at the Gulf.

The argillaceous carbonate occurs in balls, and in continu-
ous beds. They are adjacent to each other. The color of the
ore is gray or drab ; it efiervesces with acids, and is some-

NORTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 263

what silicious ; and certain parts of the seams of ore are
tough. It difiers in no respect from the argillaceous carbo-
nate of the carboniferous series. It contains about thirty-
three per cent, of metallic iron. The surface ores being al-
tered, the carbonates contain fifty per cent, of metallic iron.
This is not too large a per centage to be estimated for the
magnetic ores of the Tyson plantation. Of the quantity of
these carbonates there can be no doubt ; since they occur
along the entire outcrop of the slates of the coal series. A
very beautiful and rich kind is found at Benjamin Wicker's,
beyond the known limits of the coal seam ; so, at the other
extreme, at Murchison's, it is still in place, and holding the
same relations as at the Gulf, at Egypt, or Mclver's.

I am unable to distinguish the black band from the argilla-
ceous carbonate, where it has been subjected to meteoric in-
fluences. I have, heretofore, maintained and exj)ressed the
opinion, that there were two bands of the ore under consid-
eration ; one above, and the other below, the main coal seam ;
but the shaft at Egypt proves the existence of the black band
accompanying the little coal seam ; and hence, it is probable
that what appears to be argillaceous carbonate, is the black
band, changed by exposure to the air. There is, probably,
only two bands of the argillaceous carbonate — the continuous
band or seam, and the band of iron balls in ]3roximity with
each other.

This is mined with great ease and facility. Although hard
and difficult to penetrate with the augur, yet, Avhen the slate
beneath the band is taken out, tons of it fall into the pit at
once. The expense therefore of mining, is trifling under the
circumstances ; and hence, there is no reason for doubting
the feasibility of making iron from it at a profit.

The black band invariably accompanies the coal seams.
There are now known three seams of it ; one between the
main coal seams, another immediately below, and a third,
equally important, accompanying the little coal seam thirty
feet below the former, and from which it is separated by
slates and gritty fire-clay, fifteen feet thick.

The black band owes its high value as an ore, to the facili-

264 NORTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

ty with which it is converted into pig, and the quality of tlie
pig produced from it. The ore itself is black and somewhat
massive, as a slate; fracture compact and even, or only
slightly conch oidal. It would be mistaken for a heavy mas-
sive slate.

This ore was first discovered at Farmersville ; but it was
not suspected to be the Scotch hlach 'band\ but that it would
prove available ore there could be no doubt. Mr. Paton, a
gentleman of great experience in iron making, first suggest-
ed to Mr. McLane the character of the ore. Examination
proved the correctness of the gentleman's opinion already
referred to. "When roasted it is strongly magnetic, and prob-
ably the brown magnetic ore of Tj^son's, is only an altered
black band, as it occurs also in layers, or in the form of a fis-
sile ferruginous slate.

The composition of the black band was determined for me
by my friend Dr. Jackson. It is composed of,

Carbon, 31.30

Peroxide of iron, 47.50

Silex, 9.00

Bitumen and water, 8.81

Sulphur, 3.39

100.00

The roasted ore yields only 0.89 per cent, of sulphur. Sul-
phur, as in the case of the slate, seems to attach itself to the slaty
parts of the mass ; but I should have expected also a small per
centage of phosphoric acid, seeing that coprolites are very
common in the black band. The fossils of the black band
too, are more abundant than in the slate ; it is at the junction
of this ore with the coal, that the saurian teeth occur in the
greatest abundance, especially in that stratum which inter-
venes between the coal seams.

This ore becomes important, in consequence of the facility
of its conversion into pig. I am not able to say whether the
89 hundredths per cent, of sulphur in the roasted ore is sufli-
cient to exert much influence in the furnace product ; proba-
bly not. In the progress of mining, the black band is so

NOETH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 265

closely connected with, the coal, that it will necessarily be
raised ; and hence, a valnable ore will be obtained at the
surface, with only a trifling additional cost, over that which
attends the mining anfl raising of the coal only.

From the occurrence of this ore, the mineral resources or
the wealth of the coalfield is very much increased. We may,
therefore, congratulate the friends of the Deep river improve-
ment, s|||d those of the mining interest of the country, of this
accession of valuable products; which must secure for this
region important establishments for the manufacture of iron.

§ 243. In connexion with the subject of iron ores, I may
very properly introduce those which are denominated mate-
rials for construction, such as free stones and fire-clays. The
red and purple sandstones abound, in the lower red sand-
stone, with beds suitable for building stone. The color of
these beds, whatever it may be, is lively and inviting. In-
deed, no difference can be discovered between those of Deep
river and those of the Hudson river, or the Connecticut river
sandstone. As these beds are extensive, they furnish, at ma-
ny points, stone of a suitable quality for any purpose which
may be required. Xo quarry has been, as yet, opened ex-
tensively enough to prove the value of the material. These
remarks are made without reference to the state of the peo-
ple, and their present wants or means to get the material to
market. In the event that the improvements upon Deep
river turn out as the friends of improvement expect and hope,
the free stone will be in demand. It should liave its value as
in other parts of our country where means of intercommuni-
cation are provided, which lead to the cultivation of a good
taste in building, and hold out inducements to construct dura-
ble structui-es. Where, on the contrary, the temptations to
change place and emigrate for bettering their condition, no
improvements in construction are made. But the opening of
the navigation of Deep river, the commencement of manu-
factures, etc., will put a new phase on society, and lead ulti-
mately to the construction of durable residences.

§ 244. 1\\Q fire-clays, though they are not found beneath
every coal seam, still are common in connexion with the

^66 NOETH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

coal, and between the main and little seams. It is well
known that tliey are important for iire-brick and other kin-
dred purposes, where a refractory article is required. When
exposed to atmospheric influence at *he outcrop, they have
all the characters of an argillaceous stratum. When deep in
the interior, and removed from atmospheric influence, they
appear like a fragile sandstone. When taken up with other
materials and exposed, they soon disintegrate, beccuiie soft,
and pass into another form. Vegetable fibre penetrates the
mass, vertically as well as horizontally. These singular beds
are regarded as the soil upon which the coal-producing plants
grew. Whether this view be true or not, the fact is well ac-
counted for by this theory. The vegetable matter, however,
of these beds, is not all of it the remains of roots. Prostrate
stems of calamites, and the foliage of vegetables are easily
detected in the network, or mesh of roots. There are no
stems of sigilloaria or stigmaria in these fire-clays, as in all
the beds which belong to the carboniferous system. Their
absence proves the epoch of the series not to belong to that
referred to. It proves, however, that coal can be, and is pro-
duced from a vegetation quite different from that which pre-
vailed in the ei^och of the true coal, it proves too, that ge-
ologists have been too hasty in claiming from the so named
coal period, the only one which has produced coal in suffi-
cient quantity to make its exploration for a distant market a
business from which profits, and even wealth, are likely to
flow. We find not only coal, but also fire-clay, bands of iron
both nodular and in continuous beds, but oven the rarer ore,
the Mack hand, which is found only in the coal measures of
Europe.

§ 245. Millstones. — Beneath the red sandstone, the con-
glomerate is so perfectly consolidated that it forms a valua-
ble millstone. This is made up almost entirely of compacted
quartz pebbles, which are so firmly imbedded that their frac-
ture is often directly across the axis of the pebble, where it
would be expected to break out. These pebbles are derived
from the quartz veins of the Taconic system, and hence, con-
sist of milky quartz.

NOKTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 267

The beds vary in thickness from six inches to eighteen, or
even two feet.

The stone is adapted to the grinding of indian corn. They
are said to be better cofnstones than the French Burrhstone ;
for grinding wheat, the latter have been always preferred, as
they are far less liable to heat the flour. Several quarries
are opened in Moore county, and from them the country is
principal supplied. The conglomerate at or near the base
of the upper sandstone is less consolidated, and is not so well
adapted to the formation of millstones. The thickness of the
beds is from forty to sixty feet ; but it is a mass which thins
out, and hence its thickness at several points is extremely va-
riable. The lower sandstone, with its conglomerates, is bet-
ter developed in the south-west part of Moore county than
elsewhere. We find, even at the Gulf, the conglomerate
ceases to be an important stratum,

As a whole, the mass is made up of rounded pebbles in
beds of variable thickness, which are separated from each
other by finer and softer varieties. The conglomerates rest
almost immediately and uncouformably upon the slates of the
Taconic system. A circumstance worthy of note, is the fact
that the pebbles are auriferous ; hence, the opinion expressed
by distinguished geologists, that gold is a recent product,
probably of the Tertiary period, is erroneous. It must have
existed at the time of the laying down of the bottom rocks of
this coalfield ; indeed, long before. So that instead of its
being a recent metal, it is one of the oldest, being certainly
coeval with copper and iron pyrites.

§ 246. Grindstone Grits. — ^In the midst of the gray stone
beds, more particularly those which occupy a place between
the two red sandstones, I have frequently observed valuable
grits, which are suitable both for coarse and fine grindstones,
(xrindstones have, however, been frequently made from the
reddish bed as well as the drab and gray grits. These stones
have been made to supply the wants of the citizens in a
neighborhood far removed from the means of transporting
heavy materials. Ko systematic efibrts have been directed
steadily towards the business of preparing these stones for

268 NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

market. It is only when manufactures are established, that a
demand will arise out of the interests and wants of the com-
munity, that these lesser products of industry will take their
place in the regular trade of the country.

§ 247. Bitumiiious Slate. — The slates of the coal series, es-
pecially where they are very near the coal seams, are highly
bituminous. They are known to contain 28.6 per cent, of
volatile matter, and 19.55 per cent, of iixed carbo|[^ Slates
are employed for illumination in Europe, when they are near
a large population. It would seem, therefore, that the slates
of Deep river may, under favorable circumstances, be em-
ployed for this purpose. It is evident that they cannot be
transported far for any purpose. They ignite readily in the
fire and in a candle, blaze and burn with a good flame, emit-
ting a white light. The question may be entertained, wheth-
er it is not possible to obtain the bitumen or volatile matter
in a portable slate. The importance of light and fuel certain-
ly warrant trials for this purpose. Even the slate far remov-
ed from the coal seams is combustible, and highly so. It is
doubtful whether such a mass or bituminous slates exists
even in the carboniferous series. It is impossible to esti-
mate the amount of combustible matter locked up in them,
and which it is possible may be turned to some account.

CHAPTER XXXYII,

The Advantages of Deep River for the Manufacture of

Iron^ etc.

§ 248, It is the centralization of materials which creates
an important manufacturing locality when combined espe-
cially with a power to move machinery, and an aggricultural
(;apacity to sustain a large poi)ulatiou. These give impor-

KOKTH-CAROLI!SrA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 269

tance to any location for establishing a manufacturing inter-
est upon a large scale.

Assuming tne doctrine as true, we may proceed to ascer-
tain whether there is such a centralization of means upon
Deep river, sufficient to build up the interests alluded to.
First, it has already been proved that the products of the
coalfield make good the assumption. The hydrous peroxide
of iron, the black band and coal, need not be spoken of again.
The fuel and the material productions are abundant for any
projects in this line of operations.

But the additional means in other ores in striking distance,
add to and greatly increase the means for the purposes in
view. Thus, the inexhaustible specular ore, four miles from
the Gulf, the magnetic ore a few miles farther, the hematite
of ore will make an addition of three kinds of ore to those
ah'eady known in so much abundance in the coalfield. There
is, then, the water power, if it is wished to employ it for
moving machinery ; or what is better, the employment of
steam may be substituted for it ; and still this power should
not be lost.

The next important material is timber. The timber of
Deep river and vicinity furnishes a variety not excelled in
the State, or anv State, First and foremost is the long: leaf
pine, of which forests line its banks. The growth is large,
the wood mature, and is unimpaired by age or by the wood-
man's axe. The next most important timbers are the oaks
and hickories. The manufacturing interests have been scarce-
ly encouraged hitherto ; all the materials in the line of wood-
work remain as in a new country

The next article of importance is stone for construction.
These have been spoken of already. The free stone is not
only well adapted to the construction of durable or imperish-
able buildings, but it is adapted to the construction of elegant
ones. Whether strength, durability or beauty, or all of these
characteristics are combined, there is ample room for obtain-
ing all that can be wished.

The last essential qualification for manufactures, is an agri-
cultural coimtry ; one whose soil is adapted to the production

270

NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SUR'VTET.

of the cereals ; for if these can be grown, every other neces-
sary is provided for. The adaptation of Chatham county to
the growth of the cereals cannot be doubted ; past experi-
ence may be cited in proof, or rather the testimony of the
whole community confirms the position.

But climate should not be overlooked. Tliere is a temper-
ature suited to the constitution, which, while it favors lon-
gevity, favors also the sustenance of life at the lowest ex-
pense ; while it preserves the strength, and does not weaken
the body by a high summer range. Such, I believe, is the
favorable climate of ISTorth-Carolina. The moderate range of
the thermometer, the freedom from long and excessive heats,
or long continued cold, favors the cheap sustenance of la-
borers, both as to food and clothing, and adds several num-
bers to the per centage of advantages over a climate which
is subjected to either extreme of temperature. But an ac-
cessible market is indispensable to j)rosperity. "We do not,
and cannot rely upon what has hitherto been done ; it is what
may be, or what improvements the country admits of. The
outlet for trade is not restricted to one direction. It is not
Kaleigh, nor Norfolk, Fayetteville or Wilmington, but it is
in all these directions ; and so also a route may be opened to
Charleston and the West. The position of Deep river is cen-
tral. If the manufacturing interest is fostered, intercommu-
cation with distant towns follows of necessity. A town will
grow up with greater rapidity on Deep river than at Beau-
fort. Here are the elements M-hich always draw together an
active and intelligent community. These elements have ever
created wealthy and flourishing towns. If, then, we require
a concentration of means and interests to build up large
towns, I do not know where a greater number of the requi-
feite elements can be found in the interior of any State.

NOKTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

271

CHAPTEE XXXVIII.

History of the opinions respecting the age of the Deep
and Dan River Formations. — Division of the Series with
7'emarks sitstaining it.

§ 249. I have spoken of the formations under consideration
in general terms. It is now necessary to place before the
reader those details in which I find those facts which go to
establish the views which have been forced upon me respect-
ing the age of the Deep river coal measures, and the sand-
stone upon which they repose. I shall, however, give, in the
first place, a brief statement of the opinions which have been
expressed by several eminent and distinguished geologists,
who have investigated the question at issue.

Maclure, in his geology of the United States, referred this
series to the old red sandstone ; being misled by the close re-
semblance of the two formations in their lithological aspects.

Reo-ardino; the sandstones of the Connecticut vallev as
equivalents in part of the ISTorth-Carolina series. Prof. Hith-
cock, in his earlier reports, adopted the opinion of Maclure.
Leaving out of view, however, these distant equivalents, I
shall limit my statements to those formations which belong to
Xorth-Carolina and Virginia. Of the latter, those which are
known as red and gray sandstones of the Atlantic slope, and
particularly those which belong to the Pichmond coal basin,
the late Richard C. Taylor expressed the opinion, in his firet
examinations, that they belonged to the regular coal measures.
This opinion was founded, upon an error, to which Mr. Taylor
was not a party.

Previously, Mr. Kuttall had discovered Zamias, or Zami-
tes, which have since been regarded as evidence that the
Richmond series were cotemporaneous with the Oolites of
Brora. Mr. Kuttall, however, was not the author of this de-
duction, he was the first to discover this order of vegetables.
This deduction was not, at this time, thought of; but it wa«

272 NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

left to tlie sagacity of Prof. VVm. B. Rodgers, who, after ob-
taining additional information, communicated a memoir to
the American Association, in 1843, in which he addressed a
body of evidence bearing upon, and sustaining this view,
which has been regarded by most geologists as satisfactory in
its evidence, that the Richmond series was cotemporary with
that of Brora in Scotland, and on a parallel also with that of
Whitby in Yorkshire, England, This opinion was ably sus-
tained by its author, and has been approved by some of the
most distinguished men of this country.

But, after all, it does not appear to be fully established ;
and Prof. Bunbury, who has examined critically a series of
fossils from this formation, leans but slightly to that side main-
tained by Prof. Rodgers ; regarding the evidence almost as
conclusive, that it is cotemporary with the Trias, as with the
Oolite. These remarks I regard as appropriate ; inasmuch as
the Richmond basin, that especially which contains the coal
seams, is supposed to be cotemporaneous with that of Deep
river. It is this bearing of the question which makes it ne-
cessary to establish the age of the Richmond basin first. I
have maintained this position myself, having seen, as I sup-
posed, sufficient evidence that the two belonged to the same
epoch. This view is now also sustained by Prof. Wm. B.
Rodgers. But in the course of my later examinations of the
Deep river coal series, certain facts have come to light which
diminish my confidence in my former opinion.

Other geologists place these formations at the base of the
Liassic series. Prof. Agassiz, relying on the testimony of the
remains of fish, supports this view. In this conflict of opin-
ion, it is plain the question is not yet at rest ; it is not settled ;
the evidence which bears directly upon it is conflicting, be-
cause the facts themselves are too few and too meagre to sup-
port an opinion. As for as they go, they may be indicative,
but other facts more direct may set them aside.

In 1853, I expressed the opinion that the Deep and Dan
river series were cotemporaneous with the Trias. I have,
however, often spoken of the Permian rocks of Korth-Caro-
lina, without communicating the ground upon which this^

NOKTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY. 273

opinion rested, or tlie facts whicli seemed to warrant such a
deduction. Having stated thus much respecting the views
of others at different times, as well as my own, I shall pro-
ceed to state the divisions which I now propose, and which are
drawn from a careful examination of facts. In doing this, I
shall exhibit a concise view of the epoch to which the parts
of this series belong ; and in thus condensing as it were the
whole subject with their subordinate parts in the simple divi-
sion I propose, certain conflicting facts will be at once recon-
ciled. It will be perceived why and how certain opinions
have been derived, which have caused their authors, some to
lean to the side of the Lias or Oolite, and others to the Trias.
According then to my present view, the Deep and Dan
river series admits of the following divisions :

A'ames. Foreign Equwalents.

f 1. Red sandstones, marls, etc., f Kenper sandstone & marls,

m j 2. Black or blue slate, with plants and a coal J coal shale, group of the

IRIAS. ^ ^^.^^^^^ i Thuringerwald.

l^ 3. Conglomerate. l^Muschelkalk absent.

f Drab colored sandstones, f

I Calcareous and bituminous shales, | pgrijji„Q

Permian, i Coal, fire-clav, argil, oxide of iron { ^^^^ ^^■^^ liegendse.

I Red sandstone, semetimes gi ay and drab, | °

[ Conglomerate. t

In the foregoing schedule I have placed the beds in the or-
der they stand, or according to the order of super]30sition.

As a physical group, their true relations are represented
in the foregoing scheme. But it remains to be seen whether
it is what some call a natural history grouping ; whether its
natural history characters will conflict with the arrangement
of the masses as they stand and are named, or whether it can
be sustained by the evidence of fossils at all, which geolo-
gists regard as the test, and the only one by which to try
physical groups. But, it should be said that we must first
make out these groups ; fossils cannot, and should not, over-
ride the testimony of superposition. Having made out the
arrangement, having determined the order of superposition,
we are then prepared to see what we have got in the line of
fossils, and having seen that, we may then look abroad, and
see what series the great masses, as well as the component
18

274 NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

parts, are cotemporaneous with. This I conceive to be the
use of fossils.

Admitting, however, that the testimony of fossils will be
required to sustain the division and the names I have aflBxed
to those divisions, it should certainly be recollected that we
are drawing a parallel between a series of rocks and their
fossil contents, which are separated from each other three
thousand miles ; and that it cannot be expected that systems
so wide asunder should admit of that direct evidence which
those do which are nearer to each other, and upon the same
continent. We cannot reasonably expect that many species
will be common to two groups so widely separated.

Our conclusions, too, will probably stand some chance of
being embarrassed by the presence of new species, or new
genera, which, in themselves, unless they are analogous to
those of supposed cotemporaneous strata, cannot help us in
making up the results. It may occur, too, that certain spe-
cies which in one country are confined to certain distinct well
determined bauds, will, in another, pass beyond the limits in
which they are supposed to be confined, especially at distant
localities. When the number of embarrassments are likely
to be multiplied, it is wise to avail ourselves of all the lights
which may shine from any source ; and hence, we should not
entirely neglect lithological characters ; we may give them
weight when taken in connexion with others of more impor-
tance, and to which they should be subordinate. We should
allow generic relations their share in the evidence ; in-
deed, it is unreasonable to expect full specific evidence, by
which I mean, that which arises from the presence of many
identical species. It should be recollected, too, that this for-
mation comes in at the close of the Palaeozoic period, and
that specific affiliations are diminishing, and have diminished
materially since tho beginning of the Silurian epoch.

In the formations under consideration, many species have
been found, which are at present unknown in the same par-
allels in Europe ; but, provided their analogies are known, or,
in other words, their generic afiiliations can be made out, we
should be satisfied. Mr. Agassiz's determination of the age

NORTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 2Y5

of tlie Richmond coalfield rests on the remains of fish which
are only generically related to those which in Europe belong
to the Liassic group ; they are not identical species. Hence,
if we find the Thecodont saurians in the Deep river coal
measures, we are justified in adopting the opinion that it is
of the age, or nearly parallel with, the Bristol conglomerate.
We find the analogies of the Bristol conglomerate, and not
the identical species. It would be evidence sufficient to de-
termine us to place it in tlie Permian rather than the Triassic,
where another order, the Batracian reptiles are found, or in
rather parallel planes with the Lias, where Ichthyosaurs and
Pleisiosaurs constitute the most striking part of its saurian
fauna. Labyrinthodonts belong to the Triassic, and Theco-
donts to the Permian epoch.

In order to substantiate the coi'rectness of the preceding
division, as well as to sustain the views which I have express-
ed, I propose to place before the reader the palseontological
evidence in my possession, and upon which the whole is
based. In the first place, I shall succeed better in presenting
the palseontological evidence in an intelligible form, by sta-
ting certain facts which have a direct bearing upon the right
or wrong of the proposed division.

The division proposed, I acknowledge, grew out of palae-
ontology. I had observed the constant occurrence of certain
fossil vegetables in certain relations, which seemed incompati-
ble with the true geological position these fossils were sup-
posed to occupy. This observation led to an investigation of
the facts pertaining to their supposed position, when it was
found that this position, or the supposed position and relation,
was erroneous. This investigation finally led to the correct
determination of the position this plant bed occupies. Tlie
plant bed in question is the one I have placed in a parallel
position with Lettenkohle group of the Thuringerwald.

1. The earliest discovery which led me to entertain the
opinion that the lower sandstone and Deep river coal meas-
ures were cotemporaneous with the Permian system in part,
was the existence therein of a class of saurians which Prof.
Owen, of London, has denominated Thecodonts, from the

276 NORTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

mode in which their teeth are connected with the jaw. The
teeth of these saiirians were found on my first visit to the
coalfield. By sections, I have been able to determine that
these canine looking teeth did not belong to Sauroid fishes,
neither were they the teeth of the Labyrinthodonts, frog like
aaurians which belong to the New Eed sandstone. I have
found also, that they do not occur much above or much be-
low the rocks which immediately invest the coal seams.

2. At Ellington's, which is usually known as the Rhiney
Wicker place, and so named upon the map, I found a pecu-
liar plant bed formed of dark blue slates, in which there is a
seam of fine bituminous coal about two inches thich. Tliese
blue slates or shales rest upon a coarse conglomerate. This
plant bed I afterwards traced to Jones' Falls or Lockville,
where it also rests upon a conglomerate, which, to all appear-
ance, is equivalent to the conglomerate below the lowest red
sandstone ; and which, in Moore county, is used for mill-
stones. To determine the question whether it is or is not
this lower conglomerate, I have examined the lower part of
the red sandstone at the Gulf and elsewhere, but have never
discovered this plant bed in the position it occupies at Jones'
Falls. It is only forty feet above the porphyries of the Ta-
conic system at this place ; but when traced to the Ellington
plantation, six miles south-west, the sandstones below the
conglomerate have come in in great force, and their aggre-
gate thickness is not less than eight hundred feet. Here,
then, we have proof that the plant bed which is connected
with a conglomerate cannot be that conglomerate which be-
longs to the base of the lower red sandstone. When traced
still farther south-west, I found that it rises apparently in the
series ; and we find it in the next place ov^erriding the whole
of the carboniferous series.

3. This bhie slate containing plants is again exposed about
three miles north-east of Jones' Falls, on the plantation of
Mr. House, on the banks of Haw river.

This plant bed, then, may be traced nearly ten miles. It
is always accompanied by the conglomerate, which is thirty

NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 277

or forty feet tliick, if we'embrace all the beds ; some of wbicli
are interlaminated with drab colored sandstones.

To the south-west, after leaving Ellington's, most of the
rocks are concealed by the debris ; and where the conglome-
rate appears at Evander Mclver's mill, I have been unable,
as yet, to find the blue slates. To the north-east again, after
leaving House's quarry upon the Haw river, the lower sand-
stones increase in thickness again ; and in the neighborhood
of Mooring's, six miles from Chapel Hill, the black bitumin-
ous shales or slatas make their appearance. At this place,
there is probably another deep depression in the primary
rocks, where it is possible we may discover a limited coal-
field. But in attempting to trace the outcrop of these lower
rocks farther north-eastward, we find it is soon lost, and they
are entirely discontinued or concealed beneath the njDper red
sandstone. We soon find ourselves in the red and greenish
marls, which we suppose may be the Triassic of English wri-
ters ; or more correctly, it may be regarded as the Keuper of
the German. The plant bed lies beneath the Keuper, and
its plants are certainly analogous to those which are found in
the Lettenkoble group of the Thuringerwalds. I can see no
objection to regard the blue slates as its equivalent. This
bed contains no' fish scales, or any animal forms; and I be-
lieve there is no plants in it which belong to the bituminous
shales of the coal seams. These are certainly strong facts,
and they go to establish the doctrine, that these beds and
their overlying red and green marls should be separated from
the bituminous beds of the coal series. If this plant bed was
beneath the coal measures, it would establish the doctrine,
that the whole series belong to the Triassic period.

But as this plant bed occurs high up in the series, and after
the deposition of a conglomerate, it only efi'ects the age of
the series above it. Now as the conglomerate at Jones' Falls
rests on the porphyries and porphjn-itic slates of the Taconic
system, it is evident that there is wanting at this place a vast
series of rocks, consisting of the lower red sandstone, and
the whole of the coal measures, as they are developed at
Egypt and elsewhere. Their absence is a fact, and that fact

278 NOETH-CAEOLmA GEOLOGICAL StJEVEY.

proves tliat all of their seams thins out in this direction, and
that the sandstones about Haywood and onward towards
Granville county, are no less and no more than the upper
sandstone which I have ventured to regard as equivalent to
the Keuper of European writers. The lower sandstone, if
the foregoing views are correct, is the Rotheliegendes, the
lowest mass of the Permian system, while the middle is iden-
tified as Permian, by its Thecodont saurians.

It is, I think, evident, from an inspection of the rocks, dis-
regarding the evidence of fossils, that they should be divided.
The two red sandstones are widely separated by intervening
rocks ; and I am inclined to believe that there is a slight un-
conformability between them. Their fossils, too, are dissimi-
lar. It will be found that the upper is fossilferous, while the
lower is extremely poor in organic bodies. In whatever light,
then, we view the members of this series, we are forced to
come to the conclusion that it consists of members belonging
to two different stages, and that we cannot consistently, with
known geological principles, place the whole series under one
head, with one name and denomination. We cannot call the
lower sandstone Triassic or Liassic, because it has none of
their characters ; but in the upper sandstone there are Trias-
sic fossils, and the beds which contain them are separated
from those beneath by conglomerates, as well as by thick
masses of other sediments. The foregoing facts place in a
strong light the danger of hasty generalizations where the
series of sediments are complicated, and where their position
and relations are obscure from the absence of the necessary
terms, for a correct and immediate comparison ; especially,
those generalizations which are founded or drawn from one
or two organic facts.

It is with considerable diffidence that I have proposed the
separation of the upper sandstone from the sediments be-
neath, and it is only after a careful examination, and mature
deliberation, that I have ventured to adopt the plan, and pub-
lish it under the circumstances I am placed in, knowing very
well that it is not in accordance to the published opinions of
our most learned geologists. I find, however, that the phe-

NORTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 279

nomena do not admit of any other interpretation, in the light
of facts now known. It may turn out, it is true, that other
discoveries will put upon the questions at issue a different
geological aspect ; but until other facts with other bearings
are brought to light, I shall adhere to what I now publish,
beheving it is more consistent with the received geological
principles of the day, than those views and opinions which
have heretofore been promulgated.

In forming or making up a judgment respecting the epoch
of the deep and Dan river formations, it is necessary to deter-
mine, if possible, what weight each class of fossils should of
right possess in the balance. It is clear, in the first place,
that we are obliged to rely upon the testimony of fossils
which belong to analogous formations in Europe, their sys-
tems having been established both on the ground of super-
position and the presence of certain organic bodies, before
our formations had received that attention which is necessary
to determine the exact period in the world's history, which
they represent. In this respect, we are obliged to follow the
lead of European geologists. We are obliged to determine
at what period some of our formations were laid down, by
the assistance of European tests. We cannot now take an
independent course. Yet we are bound to make out a strati-
graphical series correctly, when possible ; but where a forma-
tion is deposited upon the rocks of the primary or Taconic
series as is the fact with the Deep river coal series, we have
no stratigraphical clue to base our opinions upon ; and hence,
we are left to grope our way slowly by the aid of fossils ; and
it cannot be expected that in a formation so peculiar, so bar-
ren in these products the world over, that we can at once

Note.— The Bristol conglomerate, Eng., which contains the teeth and bones of the
Thecodont saurians, is supposed by Prof. Phillips to belong to the lower part of the
Trias. Should his view prevail, it will change also the position I have taken; for it
is the presence of these saurians in the Deep and Dan river formations which induces
me to place a part of this series in the Permian system. I have been sustaind in this
view, by the fact that these saurian remains are found upon the continent in the un-
disputed Permian beds. I think I am warranted in this course by the opinions of all
other European geologists, who have invariably regarded the presence of this order
of saurians as the best test of age ; and besides. Prof. Phillips stands alone in locat-
ieg the Bristol conglomerate in the Triassfc system.

280 NOETH-CAJROLINA GEOLOGICAL STJRVET,

make those comparisons with Em'opean standards which will
give lis results upon which we may rely. The comparisons
which had been made prior to my investigation of this series
of sediments, it had been settled that they were formed in a
period subsequent to that of the true carboniferous, as devel-
ed in Pensylvania and Ohio.

The series which succeed the latter is known in Europe by
the name of Permian^ a system which has been separated
from the ISTew Ked, with which it had been grouped. This
was done only recently. Then, in going up to the next beds
of the upper part of the messozoic series, we find the green
sand. Now, it was well settled that the Deep river and
Richmond coal basins, together with the red sandstones of
New Jersey and Connecticut valley, were deposited at some
period between the close of the carboniferous period and the
green sand. The known European rocks which are interpos-
ed between these perods, are, the Permian, Triassic, Liassic
and Oolite, with certain other limited or local formations,
which it is unnecessary to notice in this place.

But it does not satisfy the requirements of geology to de-
termine simply and only that our formations may lie some-
where in this wide interval. This wide interval is filled with
stirring: events, it is not a blank ; but we find in it the closing
up of the palajozoic account, and the entry upon a new book,
the messozoic ; and among the first entries, we have to note
the foot marks of warip blooded animals ; the animals which
had lived before were all cold blooded. This is one of the
first entries upon the messozoic book ; and here we find the
feathered biped, whose footmarks are seen in all countries
where the ISTew E.ed sandstone or Trias is known. The next
page in the messozoic book is the record of the creation of
the mamiferous types, which then is another important stage
recorded in oolites of Solenhoffen.

We see, therefore, if we would bring ^x^ our geological
dates with those of Europe, we must localize our formations
more closely ; we must draw the parallels in lines which shall
be nearly coincident. Prof. William B. Bodgers, in carrying
out the objects which I have thus designated, has recently

NORTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 281

drawn certain parallels by which he makes' the formations
under consideration coincident with the Liassic of Europe.
This conclusion rests on a few fossils only, and those which
are equivalent in their nature. Thus, the Equisetum Colum-
nare is a fossil, which is eminently characteristic of the Keu-
per sandstones and marls of the Trias. The Cypridos referred
to, of themselves, possess but little weight ; they exist be-
fore this period, and would go equally as far to identify the
Deep river series with older formations, as w^ith the Liassic
or the Jura. At most, there are but two species yet known
in the Deep river rocks, though one of them is very com-
mon. The Lycopodites is, manifestly, quite a different spe-
cies from the L. Williamsonis. Kone of the Zamites have
been identified with species of the Jurassic age. But the
conclusion that certain parts of the formations under consider-
ation belong to one age, and certain to another, there remains
scarcely a doubt ; a view which I had adopted several years
ago. I have already stated the facts upon which I rely for
establishing the Permian age of the lower members of this
series, and more evidence remains to be brought forward
respecting the identity of the upper members with the Keu-
per sandstone and marls. But I may, for the benefit of the
general reader, dwell a little longer upon the saurians I have re-
ferred to. I do this, not so much for the sake of argument or
the bearing the facts may have upon the settlement of the
question at issue, as for the sake of the history they furnish ;
but in passing, I have one remark upon another point, it is
this, that the higher grade of fossils should have more weight
in deciding a doubtful question than the lower ; that an ani-
mal should have more weight than a vegetable ; that a Palse-
osaur should be regarded as more important than a Pecop-
teris, a cypris, or posidonia ; and a vertebrated animal should
have more weight than an invertebrate. This, I believe, is
the doctrine of Prof. Agassiz.

The Thecodont saurians of the Bristol conglomerate, to-
gether with those of this type in other Permian strata upon
tlie Continent, were Lacertian reptiles provided with four
members for locomotion, and which were adapted for swim-

382 NOETH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL BUEVET.

ming as well as progression upon land. They would rank in
tlie same grade as the highest reptiles of the present, the rep-
tilian characters being developed in full, unless indeed the
ichthyic type remained recognizable in the biconcave form
of the vertebra. With the double headed rib, we see the
reptilian heart and circulation taking precedence over that of
the fish, and with this advancement in rank we find, most
probably, the most perfect representation of this mode of cir-
culation to which any order of animals had attained in this
early period. Reptiles, then, of the highest rank, are the
representatives of the Permian epoch ; and without doubt
should be placed in the front rank of its characteristic fossils.
If to this, however, is added the subsequent introduction of
Triassic fossils, and the discontinuance of those belonging to
the beds in which these peculiar saurians occur, it seems to
me the evidence is as complete as possible, that in the lower
members of the Deep river series we may claim the exist-
ence of the Permian system. Should this conclusion be sus-
tained, it will add to our sedimentary systems an important
member, which most, if not all geologists of this country,
have hitherto supposed was wanting. It fills up an impor-
tant gap in our series, and supplies in this country a continu-
ous chain of the history of our planet ; and if the discoveries
of Prof. Marcou in the far west are also confirmed respect-
ing the existence of the Jurassic series, it will probably turn
out that geologic time is as fully represented in the American
as in the European S3^stems. It will then be confirmatory of
the great doctrine which has been taught, that there has been
an uniformity the world over, in the operation of nature, in
both the oraranic and inorganic worlds.

Thus, in Europe, the Sauroid fish appear in the Devonian
system ; then a class of saurians in the Carboniferous ; then
the Thecodonts in Permian, followed by the Labyrinthodonts
or frog like saurians of the Trias, and the Ichthyosaurs and
Pleisiosaurs in the Lias or Jura. In the latter, however, we
have something to do to complete the analogies. But in the
upper messozoic we have, as in Europe, the Mossosauru^;
and finally, in the Pre Adamic period, a parallel in the ma-

NOKTH-CABOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 283

malian fauna, especially in the general distribution of the
the family of Elephants and Mastodons.

CHAPTEE XXXIX.

Description of the Organic Remains of the lower series of
Deposits of Deej) I'iver.^ which have heen denominated the
Permian system.

% 250. The fossils will be described in the order in which
they occur in the beds, beginning with the inferior ones.
Tliese fossils consist of plants and animals. In the older or
lower red sandstone, but few fossils of any kind exist. Those
which have been found are marine vegetables, whose char-
acters are obscure ; yet they are so well preserved, that it is
not difficult to recognize them. ISTo animal remains have
been discovered in the lower red sandstone.

1. Remains of vegetahles in the lower sandstone, or Rothe-
liegendes. — ^The most important vegetable remains are the
silicified trunks of trees belonging to the order of conifera or
cone bearing trees. The fragments of the stems are well
known as petrified wood. These stems and trunks occur of
various dimensions, and seem to be found at, or to belong to,
tlie inferior part of this rock. They are usually brown, some-
times black, as if penetrated by manganese. The bark is al-
ways absent, unless in certain obscure parts, which appear
like roots when the outside surface is charred. The texture
of the wood is usually vissible, and the structure peculiar to
coniferous trees can be made out with a good lens.

The stems are always broken, but some of the pieces are
five or six feet long. The place of a branch is often visible
by the growth around the part. Of the silicified trees, the

284 NOKTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

locality, where tliey exist in the greatest numbers, is in Ger-
manton, in Stokes county. They are so numerous as to have
received the name petrified forest. They are not confined to
this place, but are found strewed upon the surface of the
ground at Haywood, in Chatham county ; near Wadesbo-
rough, in Anson ; and also some fifteen miles south-west of
Troy, in Montgomery. At Jones' Falls, I found a rolled
fragment of one in tlie conglomerate of that place. Frag-
ments have also been transported to the east, when they are
found in Wayne county, in the alluvial covering of the
Meiocene.

As it regards the precise period to which these silicified
stems belong, I believe it is not yet satisfactorily determined.
Stems of this description are found along the edge or borders
of the upper sandstone ; but 1 have not found any which I
could say belonged to the rock. I can see no difi^erence, ex-
ternally, between those bordering the upper sandstone, and
those which are inclosed in the lower. The rolled fragment
in the conglomerate is older, of course, than the beds of which
it formed a part ; and as tliese beds underlie the upper sand-
stone, it is evident they do not form a part of its organic re-
mains. And those which lie upon the surface, on the bor-
ders of the upper, may have been transported there by
streams which have ceased to fiow. From the foregoing facts
and reasoning, I am disposed to regard these stems of conife-
rous plants as having grown during the deposition of the
Rothe todthe Liegendes. It appears from circumstances,
however, that tliese trunks have been subjected to violence ;
and though we find some standing upon end, yet it is to be
proved that they grew in the position which they now occupy.

§ 251. Yegetables which are sometimes Tinoimi under the
name offucoids. — As in most countries, so in North-Carolina,
the lower sandstone and conglomerates which represent the
beds known in Germany as the Rothe todthe liegendes, are
quite barren of fossils. The conglomerate contains hgnite in
a bad state of preservation ; but the plants which grew while
the rock was being deposited, were certain marine plants ;
and the most common one which I have observed in the

NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, 285

sandstone, and which is distributed through it, generally be-
longs to the genus Ciiondkites. It penetrates the rock verti-
cally, is somewhat branching ; but what is quite peculiar, is,
that its main frond* is double, or appears so, and these stems
are usually twisted or winding. It enlarges and contracts ir-
regularly, but is never inflated or much swollen. It has no
foilage, of course, but it sends off subdivisions of the main
frond, which alternate with each other. The sub-divisions go
off nearly at right angles to the branches from which they
proceed.

It is impossible to trace this fucoid far enough to determine
its length. I have observed some parts of the plant which
are four inches long. I believe it is coniined to the lower red
sandstone, and is the most abundant in its middle part. The
name which I propose for this plant is Chondrites, dupli-
catus.

It should be observed that it is probable this rock will be
found richer in fossils than I have rej)resented. As yet there
are no quarries opened, and as it i^ generally concealed be-
neath, its own debris, few opportunities are furnished for test-
ing or determining its organic wealth, Ko animal remains
have been observed in this rock.

This sandstone has the texture of the red and purplish free-
stones of Pennsylvaniiv, New Jersey and Connecticut ; and
much of it is well adapted to construction. It however con-
tains marly beds, which are undergoing disintegration. Peb-
bly beds are not unfrequent ; bat it has no inq3ortant bed of
conglomerate excej)t that upon which it rests. Hence, it ap-
pears to have been deposited in waters which were compara-
tively quiet and undisturbed by violent currents. Hence,
too, we cannot attribute its paucity of organic remains to this
cause ; but must probably look to the presence of the oxide
of iron which gave a turbid slate to its waters, and which ul-
timately invested the gi'ains of quartz of which it is mainly

* The term frond applies to that part of the plant which would usually be regard-
ed as the stem, or main support ; but it also applies to the whole of the plant, as it is
destitute of leaves, or the common forms of floral organs.

286

NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SUBVEY.

composed. These may be washed and freed from its coating
when they become either white or hyahne.

§ 252. (2.) Fossils of the Goal Measures^ including the drab
colored sandstones. — A. Vegetable remains. — As there is no
distinct Une of demarkation between the shales or bituminous
slates and the drab colored sandstones, I shall describe the
fossils of each as if they formed one rock. They, however
alternate, and finally the slates give way, and the sandstones
predominate. These are often marked by the waving ridges
and furrows which are known under the name of rijypl-e
marks, proving, as is suj)posed, that the sandstones were de-
posited in shallow water. The annexed figure illustrates the
phenomenon I have described.

Fig 20.

Tlie gray or drab colored beds begin or appear in some
places below the slates, and perhaps the red always disap-
pears before the thin lighter colored rocks appear in the se-
ries. Indeed, there are drab colored beds intermixed with
the lower red at various places.

The coal measures are made up, therefore, of gray and
drab colored sandstones, black bituminous shales and green-
ish calcareous shales, which also contain bitumen, but no fos-
sils, argillaceous oxide of iron, black baud, fire-clay and coal
seams. There are no less than seven alternations of these
nonfossilferous beds with the bituminous beds, which are
loaded with cypris and many posidonia, fish scales, etc. The
coal slates and shales proper, which do not alternate witli

NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 287

beds of sandstone, are about eight hundred feet thick at
Egypt, embracing a few beds of drab colored sandstone be-
low the slate. Tlie drab colored sandstones above the coal
slates are about twelve hundred feet thick at Evander Mc-
Iver's plantation. The whole series then which I have de-
nominated for the sake of convenience, coal measures, (per-
haps improperly,) is nearly two thousand feet thick. These
upper beds of gray or drab colored sandstones, are often par-
tially covered with an efflorescence in summer which consists
mostly of common salt, hence this part of the series has been
denoted as the salines in one of my sections ; and probably
it will be found necessary to make a wider distinction be-
tween the upper gray mass and the beds below it than I have
hitherto made. This upper drab colored mass ends with con-
glomerates below the Keuper sandstone and marls, the up-
per member of the Triassic system.

The chemical composition of the calcareous shales is as fol-
lows:

Carbonate of lime, 35.50

Carb. of magnesia, 9.25

Alumina and protoxide ofiron, ... 15.70

Hygrometric water, 2.59

Insoluble 36.38

99.42

The shale is traversed by soft gray seams half an inch wide,
which are richer in lime, probably, than the more shaly part.
The examination proves that these beds contain magnesia,
which is a fact common to these localities. The beds are, no
doubt, variable ; but probably magnesia is a constant con-
stituent.

SUB KINGDOM, CKYPTOGMIA.
The, plants belonging to this sub-kingdom form two classes,
which are known under the names, Thallogens and Acrogens.
They are characterized thus: structure cellular, stems and
leaves undistinguishable. — Lindley.

288 NOETH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL STIRVET.

The Tballogens contains the Algales, Fungales and Lin-
clienales of Lindley.

SUB CLASS Algales. — Llndley.
The fossil vegetables belonging to this division of the vege-
table Kingdom, are generally known under the name of Fu-
coids, or plants like the present sea weeds.

genus, Ciiondkites. — Steenberg.

Chondrites interruptus. — E. n. s.

Frond smooth, irregularly interrupted, branching, dichoto-
mous; angle acute. Smaller branches constricted where
they leave the main frond, generally short and acute, rather
thick in the middle, clustered together at the upper extremi-
ty, prostrate.

The fronds are never twisted nor double, as in the one in
the lower sandstone already described. Large surfaces of the
thin bedded drab colored sandstone, interlaminated with the
black bituminous slate, are often covered with this fucoid. The
beds alternate a few times with a fragile slate which abounds
in a minute Posidonia. This fossil is found upon the planta-
tion of Evander Mclver, Esq., about four miles east of Egypt,
beneath the coal seams ; but being upon or near a line of dis-
turbance, it is uncertain at what depth below the coal seams
these fucoid beds occur.

Chondrites gracilis. — E. n. s.
Plate 2, Fig. 4.

Frond slender and smooth, gently tapering, and apparent-
ly branching, branches distant.

This fucoid forms a coiled mesh of delicate cordlike fronds
upon the drab colored sandstones. They appear at first sight
like a matted mass of roots, but on close inspection they turn
out to be the fronds of a marine plant. It is sometimes lar-
ger than I have represented in the figure ; but it is found un-
der a lens, to be interwoven with many delicate threads.
These, no doubt, are the extremities of the branches. The

NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 289

numerous crossings of these threads and cordlike fronds ob-
scures the characters of the plant, and especially the mode
in which it branches. It occurs upon the plantation of Mr.
Forshee, about two miles west of Egypt, where the sand-
stones have suffered a dislocation, and rise up from Deep
river in a high bluif, about opposite the Taylor plantation.
Tliis fossil is in the drab sandstones above the bituminous
slates. At the place where they occur, the fracture is more
prominent than at any other point upon Deep river. The
displacement is, at least, five hundred feet.

Chondrites ramosus. — E. n. s.

Stem or frond interruptedly ridged, or coarsely striate,
tapering branches alternate.

The ridges of the stem or frond may have become so by
pressure, though, to all appearance, the ridged surface, to-
gether with the interruptions, is due to the natural growth of
the plant. It is flattened and prostrate. Its appearance is
indicative of its having been a land plant ; but its minute
branches are destitute of foliage, and it is evident that it is
not a fern. This plant is briefly noticed, as it is quite com-
mon at Egypt, in intimate relation to the coal seams. This
specimen was taken from that part of the shaft which lies
between the six foot and the little seam thirty feet below. It
is associated with an Equisetum and a Cheilanthites.

GENUS, GyMNOCAULUS, 11. g. — E.

Plate I. Fig. 4.
Frond tapering and branching, branchlets dichotomous,
the main branches forming with each other, or with the main
stem, an angle of 70°.

Gymnocalus, alternatus.
Stem or frond apparently smooth, tapering; branches al-
ternate, naked, dichotomous.

The figure referred to gives all the information respecting
this plant of which I am in possession. The structure is
shown in the main stem, where it appears rather coarsely
19

290 NORTH- CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

cellular. The condition of the plant is similar to half de-
cayed vegetable ; and hence, is not silicified, or in any way
mineralized. The largest of the stems are half an inch in
diameter. It has some resemblance to the Cryptomeritus,
but is, notwithstanding, a different plant.

It is found in the black bituminous slates of the Dan river,
at Madison, Stokes county, and on the Deep river at Evans'
bridge. It is very common in some places, the most so of
any fossil except the cypris of the shales.

CLASS, CrYPTOGAMIA, CONTINUED.

sub class ii. acrogens — muscales.

!Nat. order Equisetacea of Horsetails;

Equisetum columnaroides. — E. n. s.
Plate 2, Fig. 3.

Cuticular surface very finely striate reticulate ; articula-
tions indistinct, uniform, obscurely marked and linear ribs,
composed of two alternating kinds, the ligulate and acutely
tapering; the latter, grooved in the middle, sometimes the
groove is obsolete.

The articulations are from one-and-a-half to two inches dis-
tant from each other. In the specimen from which the de-
scription is drawn, which is nine inches long, there are four
joints, and half of another ; and there are twelve or thirteen
ribs in a width of two inches.

This specimen of Equisetum occurs at Egypt, and is (piite
abundant in the materials taken from the deep shaft, espe-
cially in that part of it between the six foot and one foot seam.
It is mostly in a gray sandy fire-clay, which disintegrates
rapidly by exposure to the air.

The specimen from which the figure was drawn occurred
in the black bituminous shales, upon the plantation of Mr
Mclver, and was taken from the mass above the coal seam.

It therefore probably ranges through this series ; but does
not occur in the drab colored sandstones, above these slates.

NOETH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 291

It resembles, in certain points, the Equisetum columnare,
for which it might possibly be mistaken ; but the points are
twice the distance apart, at least, and at uniform or nearly
uniform intervals, though in the columnare they are more dis-
tant toward the middle of the stem than at the base ; but it
more especially differs from the Equisetum columnare of
Brogn. in the linear form of the points, and the absence of
teeth or pointed terminations of the ribs at each of the joints.

Remarks. — ^The specimen from which the figure was taken
was perfectly flattened, and resembles a leaf rather than a
stem ; but it appears to be sufficiently exact to lead the col-
lectors aright ; it was figured before the better specimens of
the plant were brought to light at Egypt,

I have not yet observed, in the coal slates of Deep river,
specimens of the Equisetum columnare described by Prof.
William B. Eodgers, and which is regarded as one of the
characteristic fossils of the Eichmond series. In a specimen
which I obtained from this series, the tuberculations at the
joints are quite distinct, and hence I have no doubt respect-
ing ^the accuracy of the observations of M. Brogniardt re-
specting his plant from the Eichmond coal field ; but it is not
as distinct in its tuberculations as some specimens of the C,
Suckowi.

Lycopodales. — Lestdley.

ISTaT. ORDEE, LvCOPODLA-CEiE, OK CLUBB MOSSES.

Plate 3, Fig. 3.
§ 253. Plants belonging to the Lycopodiaceae occur in the
bituminous slate and gray sandstone of the coal measure.
All the specimens which have fallen under my notice are too
obscure to be successfully compared with Fig, 2, of the same
plate. The specimen figure was taken from the most perfect
I have seen. It appears to be a smaller plant, and with a
stem supporting fewer branches ; indeed, I have not seen one
which branched at all ; whereas, the other by its side, is
profuse in giving off branches.

Filicales. — Lindley.

^^2 NOBTH-CAHOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

POLIPODLA^CE^, OK FERNS.

The fern8 of this country are always small plants, with
under ground steins, while in warmer climates they are pro-
vided with aerial stems which rise to the height of fifty or
sixty feet. They are then called tree ferns. Of this descrip-
tion were many of the ferns of the carboniferous system, a
fact which is indicative of a moister and warmer climate, and
one in which an extreme cold was probably unknown. The
leaves of these plants are termed fronds^ and the organs
which are necessary to reproduce the plant, and which are
analogous in these functions to seeds, grow upon the back of
the leaflets of the frond, either upon the small veins or upon
the margin. The organs are microscopic, though in mass dis-
tinctly visible. The spores or the reproductive organs, when
mature, become visible where the plant is agitated, or shaken,
in the form of a darkish cloud. This appearance is pro-
duced by the detachment of millions of spores or repro-
ductive grains, which in mass have received the name of
Sorl. The grains resemble more than anything else the pol-
len of plants. Some plants bear no organs of fructification,
and hence are termed barren.

Upon Plate 4, Fig. 9, I have figured a fertile fossil fern,
which shows the Sori in the form of dots arranged in lines
upon the back of the pinnules. This arrangement, together with
the organs themselves, is a perfect exhibition of the fructifi-
cation which may be frequently seen during the summei-
and autumn, in many recent ferns. Indeed, the original
type of this beautiful class of plants is perfectly preserved :
and may be seen in all the geological stages at present known,
since ferns became the inhabitants of earth.

ChEILANTHITES. — GOEPPJEET.

Frond bi-pinnate ; pinnae oblique, sessile lobed ; lobes,
acute, rather than rounded, proximate alternate.

This plant is poorly preserved except in its firmer parts, as
the stem and midribs of the leafets, which may be distinctly
traced; but the parenchyma is obscurely defined, and ii
was difficult to obtam an exact outline of it.

NOETH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 293

This plant occurs abundantly in tbe deep shaft at Egypt,
associated with the Equisetum columnaroides, in the fragile
gritty fire-clay between the coal seams. It is a large fern,
the stem of which is sometimes half an inch in diameter.

Family tindetebmined.

DYCTUocAm.us STRiATus, n. g. — E.
Plate 1, Fig. 3.

Frond, or stem thick, tapering below, somewhat triangular,
lobed ; lobes striate, from the base or divergent from it —
growth often parasitic.

The stem appears to have been succulent, and to have re-
sembled some of the varieties of plants commonly known un-
der the name of prickly pear. This plant was at one time
very commQn in the coal at Farmville, indeed it is always in
the form of a soft bituminous coal which preserve the stems
in a state in which it was possible to detach them from the
mass. They always exhibited two or three tiers of growth,
each stem starting out from the summit of an older one ; as
represented in the figure. This plant apparently throws some
light upon the kind of vegetation from which the coal itself
originated ; but a soft succulent stem, when subjected to the
pressure which a coal seam has to sustain, must be generally
obhterated, or crushed into one homogeneous mass.

CHAPTEE XL.

Of the Animal Remains of the Coal Measures of Deep a/ad
Dan rivers. — Notice of tde Vertebral Remains of the Bris-
tol Conglomerate, etc.

§ 254. The organic remains which I have discovered in the

294 NOETH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

formations under consideration, in tlie course of tlie geologi-
cal survey, and which are confined to the coal measures pro-
per, belong to three classes, the vertehratct, molusca and ar-
ticulata. All are important, although there are only a few
species under each class. In the molusca only one or two
species are known, and the same may be said of the articu-
lata. Of the vertebrata, which really contain the most in-
teresting and important of the discoveries, there are proba-
bly four species or kinds. They belong to a peculiar order of
saurians, of which but few only are known to have existed,
or of which at least, but a few discoveries have been made in
any part of the world. They belong to that order of reptiles
which have received, for certain reasons, the name of Theco-
donts, which were supposed to have inhabited seas or estua-
ries ; but at the same time, to have been provided with ex-
tremities suitable for walking, or for progression upon land.
They ranked higher in the scale of organization than others
of the same order which lived nearer our own times ; and
hence, seem to break up that regularity in progressive rank
or development which is claimed by many geological writers.
As I propose to describe the vertebrate animals first, I may
here state in this place that they belong to two great families ;
the 7'e2)tiles and fish. Of these the former are the most impor-
tant, as the discoveries now stand, inasmuch as their charac-
ters are preserved better, and their presence furnishes the
most decisive test of the age of the rocks w^hich contain them.

The common reader who has not turned his attention par-
ticularly to natural history, may form a tolerably correct idea
of the reptiles which are to form the subject of the following re-
marks, by reference to the Aligator of the Southern rivers, as
in their form as well as in their habit they resemble these extinct
or lost saurians of the Deep and Dan river rocks. They were
not, at any rate, very unlike each other in these respects. In
the smaller details of the construction of their bodies they
differ ; but still, when their general forms are compared, they
were probably as much alike as the Aligator of our Southern
rivers and the Gavial of the east.

The first discoveries of the remains of these extinct rep-

NOKTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL STJEVET. 295

tiles of the order termed Thecodonts, and which are so close-
ly related to those of the Deej) and Dan river formations,
was made by Messrs. Kyley & Scutchburg in a rock known
in England, under the name of the Bristol conglomerate,
whose age is supposed to be the same as the inferior part of
the Permian system, to which allusion has been frequently
made. This fact seems to require that I should state in de-
tail, some of the characters which belong to these remains, in
order that the reader may be put in possession of the facts
which will enable him to form his own conclusions respect-
iug the inferences which I propose to draw from the facts
themselves ; for their truth, or correctness of the inferences
respecting the age of the Deep and Dan river coal measures,
turns mainly upon the affinities which belong to the fossil re-
mains of the Bristol conglomerate, and those I have discov-
ered in the rocks just referred to. If the affinities are as in-
timate and close as I suppose, then my inferences respecting
the age of the rocks under consideration will be regarded as
nearly parallel with those of the Bristol conglomerate, and
my deductions respecting their contemporariety, will be re-
garded with favor. We may not, however, expect that the
reptiles of the rocks of Deep and Dan rivers will possess a
nearer resemblance than to furnish strong analogies, that is,
it cannot be expected that separated as the formations are, a
distance of three thousand miles, that these reptiles Vvall form
one species. It will be sufficient to sustain my deductions,
provided I can establish a close analogy between them, or
that there is a close family resemblance.

The reptiles of the Bristol conglomerate, (Eng.,) belong to
two distinct genera, the Thecodontosaurus and the Palaeo-
saurus. These genera were founded by their discoverers up-
on the characters of their teeth, and the mode of their inser-
tion or attachment to the jaw, and being very peculiar, and
differing from any which had been at that time discovered,
they became important representatives of the time or epoch
of their creation. I therefore extract from various publica-
tions, an account of these remains, in order, as I have already
said, of putting in possession of the reader those facts which

296 NORTH-CAEOLmA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

will enable him to make the proper comparisons between the
fossils in question.

The first genus, then, and which was called Thecodonto-
8AURUS, was founded upon the structure and implantation of
their teeth in the jaw in distinct alveoli, or sockets. Prior to
the discovery of this peculiar mode of attachment, all rep-
tiles had their teeth soldered to a plate or parapet of the outer
face of the jaw, like that which prevailed in fishes. But in
this extinct genus, the inner parapet of the lower jaw is near-
ly as high as the outer one, and the teeth are arranged in a
close set series, slightly decreasing in size towards the poste-
rior part of the jaw. Each ramus of the jaw is supposed to
have been furnishied with twenty-one conical slender teeth,
which were compressed, acutely pointed, and finely serrated
with the serratures directed towards the apex of the tooth.

In the latter respect, it resembled the genus Rhopalodon of
G. Fisher. The outer surface was more convex than the in-
ner, and the apex was slightly recurved, making the anterior
edge more curved than the posterior. The base of the crown
was contracted, and the fang at this point became rounded,
or sub-cylindrical. The pulp cavity remained open in the
base of the crown. The body of the tooth consists of com-
pact dentine, in which the calcigerous tubes diverge from an
open pulp cavity at nearly a right angle, to the surface of the
tooth. They form a slight curve at their origin with the con-
cavity directed towards the base of the tooth, then proceed
straight, and at the periphery bend ui)ward in a contrary di-
rection. Tlie crown of the tooth is invested with a thin coat
of enamel.

Only one species of the foregoing described genus is known,
the T antiquus. The most important parts of its remains con-
sist of a ramus of the lower jaw three-and-a-quarter inches
long, and one-and-a-half in the greatest depth, consisting of
the dental bone containing twenty-one teeth, with the sub-
angular and complimentary bones. The teeth resemble a
surgeon's abscess lancet, being acutely pointed and flattened ;
the middle are the largest, rising above the alveoh only about
one-fourth of an inch.

NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 29T

The other genus, the Pal^osaurus, has a different tooth,
being carinated, lateraly and finely serrated, but with the
serratures at right angles to the axis of the tooth, instead of
being directed towards the apex, as in the former genus.
They are curved and slightly compressed, and were inserted
into the jaw in distinct alveoli, or sockets. The breadth, as
compared with the height or length of the tooth, is much
greater than in the Thecodontosaurus.

To the foregoing account I propose to add an extract from

the Report of Prof. Owen, at the eleventh meeting of the

British Association, which contains some additional matter

respecting bptli genera, which is both interesting as well as

necessary, for a full understanding of the characters of these

reptiles: — ''Their vertebrae are biconcave, with the bodies

' more constricted than their articular ends, and deeper than

' the Teleosaurus ; but they are chiefly remarkable for the

' depth of the spinal canal, at the middle of each vertebra,

' where it sinks into the centrum ; thus, the canal is wider

' vertically at the middle than at the two ends ; an analogous

' structure prevails in another saurian, the Rhynchosaurus of

' the New Red sandstone, but is less marked. Besides devi-

' ating from existing lizzards in the Thecodont dentition, and

'biconcave vertebra, the ancient saurians of the Bristol con-

' glomerate also differed in having some of their ribs articu-

'lated by a head and tubercle to two surfaces of the verte-

' bra, as at the anterior part of the chest in Crocodiles and

'Dinosaurs. The shaft of the ribs were traversed, as in the

' Ichthyosaur and Rhyncosaur, by a deep longitudinal groove,

* for the protection of the blood-vessels. Some fragments of
" bone indicate obscurely that the pectoral arch deviated from
'the Croccodilian and approached the Lacertian type in the
' presence of a clavicle, and in the breadth and complicated
' form of the Coracoid bone. The humerus appears to have
'been but little more than half the length of the femur, and
' to have been like that of the Rhyncosaurs unusually ex-

* panded at the two extremities. The tibia, fibula and meta-
' tarsal bones manifest, like the femur, the fitness of the The

' codout saurians for progression on land. The ungual pha-

29S

NORTir-CAROLTNA GEOLOGICAL SURVET.

'•langes are sub-compressed and curved downwards, pointed
"and impressed on each side with the usual curved canals."

The most important facts communicated in the foregoing-
extract on the peculiar characters of the vertebrae, which are
represented to have been biconcave, the double articulation
of the ribs, the groove beneath, the presence of a clavicle,
and a probable complicated coracoid, and particularly the
implantion of the teeth in distinct sockets. These are impor-
tant points to be recollected when we come to compare w^itli
them the fossil bones of Deep river.

The first discovery which was made in this coimtry of anal-
agous saurian remains, was by our distinguished countryman
and naturalist, Mr. Isaac Lea, of Philadelphia. Several frag-
ments of vertebrae and teeth having been brought to light in
cutting a road through beds of conglomerate in the town of
Upper Milford, Pa. Mr. Lea undertook this investigation,
which resulted in the discovery, that they were Thecodont
saurians with biconcave vertebrre, such as have been describ-
ed, and which were strictly analogous to those of the Bristol
conglomerate. But those of Milford, Pa., seem to differ
from them genericaly ; and hence, Mr. Lea instead of refer-
ring them to the Palffiosaurus, found it necessary to construct
a new genus which he has named Clepsisaueus, in allusion to
the hour glass form of the vertebrse. Tiiis genus will hereaf-
ter be found to bear the type of one or more of our Deep
river species. I propose merely to allude to this discovery
in this place. I shall have occasion to make frequent refer-
ence to it hereafter ; but in the mean time, I shall take up
my own discoveries, and lay before the reader figures and
descriptions of these reptile remains, beginning with the
teeth.

NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 299

Fig, B.

The first series of teeth belong, I believe, to the Clepsisau-
Rus, of Lea, figure B., 1, 2, 3, 4 ; the largest of which, is one
inch and thirteen-sixteenths of an inch long, and three-eighths
of an inch wide at base. It projected from the jaw about one
inch and a half. The base contracted when it entered the
socket, and where it is usually compressed as if it were pinch-
ed off; showing, that it was hollow, at this part of the tooth.
The largest tooth is bicarinate, as shown in the annexed trans-
verse section E., Fig. , the carina dividing the tooth into
two unequal parts : Towards the tip, the carina or ridges
become serrate with the serratures standing at right angles
to the axis of the tooth, as seen in Plate 5, Fig. 3. The sur-
face of the compact dentine is covered with a thin enamel
which is prone to scale o& and leave the dentine smooth and
bare. The enamel is marked by fine, rather oblique wrinkles,
which are not impressed upon the dentine. I^o. 2. of this
series, Fig. B. has the same characters, but for a fuller illus-

300

NOBTH-CABOLINA GEOLOGICAL 8D11VET.

Fig. 21. tration, I annex Figj. 22, as they show the
peculiar wrinkles of those adjacent to the
sharp lateral ridges or carina of the tooth.
There is a fine feathery arrangement here
which seems to be characteristic of this kind
of tooth. No. 2, also of the series of which
there are four, shows the character of the
dentition in the existence of a point of a
young tooth entering the pulp cavity of an
old one. No. 3 and 4 belong evidently to
the same series, being smaller, but exhibiting
the same markings as well as forms. The carinoe, however,
are less distinct than in the larger ones, and while the sharp
ridge may be present, the serratures towards the base become
obsolete, but are more distinct towards the apex of the tooth,
or upon the upper half of the crown. These teeth are beau-
tiful and glossy on the outside, when not in contact with a
rock containing sulphuret of iron. This substance frequently
destroys the tooth, especially when it enters into its texture.
In this case it is impossible to preserve them by external ap-
plications, and in the end they split, and are perfectly de-
stroyed. Others seem to be perfectlj^ carbonized, and though
perfect to the eye, yet are so brittle, that a slight blow breaks
them transvei'sely, and it is impossible to polish them down
sufficiently thin to obtain a knowledge of their structure.

The teeth represented in Fig. B. appear to have belonged
to but one species, and probably to the one described by Mr.
Lea under the name of Clepsisaueus Pennsylvanius. This
opinion is founded upon the form and markings of the teeth
and their insertion into the jaw. The jaw in both cases was
not grooved for the reception of the teeth, but provided with
distinct alveoli or sockets. The proof of this fact is derived
from the distinct markings near the base of the crown, which
show the depth to which the tooth was implanted in the jaw.
This mode of dentition goes to show, that this saurian approx-
imated the alligator as has been suggested ; for in this reptile
we find the teeth implanted in separate sockets, and the
young tooth to displace the old one by entering into its pulp

NOETH-CAKOLmA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 301

cavity represented in Fig. 2, or else into its side where its
pressure creates an absorption, and the final formation of a
round or oval hde, through which it passes into the pulp
cavity. It is also probable that inasmuch as the teeth differ
in size, the place of insertion of the jaw of the Clepsisaurus,
had the same irregularity as that we now perceive exists in
the Alhgator, The first and largest of the teeth in the series
B. was found at Farmville, in the black bituminous slate. It
is the largest I have seen, and it difi'ers somewhat from the
smaller in its bicarination. All the pits along the whole out-
crop of the bituminous shale, furnish teeth, but few bones.
They are common at Egypt and Farmville, the Taylor plant-
ation and the Gulf. They are more common at the junction
of the black band with the coal seam. I have also found
them in the Dan river coal field, but I have not as yet in the
calcareous shales between the bituminous beds, above or be-
low the coal seams. These teeth remains, seem therefore,
restricted to this part of the formation ; but of this, I can
only speak of the discoveries which have been made up to
this time. Certain bones of saurians have been found in
the drab colored sandstones which lie in proximity with the
carboniferous shales, but as they have not been accompanied
with teeth, a direct comparison cannot be instituted between
those of the sandstones and those of the black slates. Bones
too, as will be seen in the sequel, have been obtained in the
upper marls and sandstones, but these differ in form and size
from those of the coal series, and must belong to saurians
quite different ; and which may probably turn out to be Lab-
yrinthodonts ; but these too are unaccompanied with teeth.

I am nnable with certainty to connect the teeth described
in the foregoing paragraphs with the bones of the skeleton ;
but as these teeth seem to be identical with those found in
connection with the vertebra at Milford — Mr. Lea's Clepsi-
saurus Pennsylvanius — it may be regarded as highly proba-
ble that this series of four teeth belonged also to a skeleton
whose vertibruB were biconcave and constricted in the middle,
or had the form of an hourglass. In consequence, however, of
the scarcity of information upon this point, I prefer regarding

302

NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

these of Deep river provisionally as the same as Mr. Lea's
found at Milford. Its name, will therefore, be the same as
that conferred by this distinguished naturalist.

§ 255. The saurian remains which I shall next describe, are
so far perfect, that I am able to show the relation of the teeth
to the skeleton, or to certain parts of it, particularly the ver-
tebra. They will be found, as the reader will see, to be dif-
ferent from the preceding, not so much in the actual form of
the tooth, as in the peculiar plaits of the enamel as well as of
the dentine itself. From these important differences, I am
disposed to regard the animal to which they belonged, as dif-
fering generically from the Clepsisaurus, and as the teeth oc-
curred in connexion with the vertebrae, and as these differ
considerably in details from this genus, I am strengthened
in my belief that it should be regarded as a different genus.
In accordance with this belief, therefore, I propose for it a
name which is expressive of the peculiar external appearance
of the teeth and their plaited or slightly grooved surface.
The name proposed provisionally is, Rutk>don, from Rutis,
plaits^ and odoits^ tooth.

Fig. A.

I u

These teeth are represented in the series A., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
which show the form and relative size. Ko plaited tooth lias
been found as large as the largest in the first series.

KoTB. — An account of these reptiles of the Deep river formation was read before
The Albany Institute in March, 185G ; but, I had on many occasions preyiously com-
municated my views to several individuals both orally and in writing.

NORTH-€AKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SUEVET. 303

Of the latter, tlie largest is one inch and three-eighths Ions',
and five-sixteenths of an inch in diameter at the base. The ex-
ternal characters, as I have said, differ from the former in
having plaits or flutings upon their surface which extend to
the dentine beneath. The enamel i^superficially wrinkled as
iu the hrst series, but more so. Laterally the tooth is niarked
on one side with a sharp ridge or carina, and in the larger,
faintly on the other side, but the serrations are wanting. The
ridges when present divide the tooth into two unequal parts.
The flutings never extend to the apex : only about two-fifths
of the crown is thus ornamented ; the rest is nearly smooth.
The smallest tootli of the series is five-eighths of an inch in
length and one-eighth in diameter. Like those composing
the series B., they are slightly compressed, some more, and
others less. At the base of the crown, they become more
rounded, but flattened in that part which is inserted into the
jaw, in consequence of the tooth having been hollow. When
the two series are compared, it will be admitted that there
are important differences between them, which however, ap-
pears in a more striking hght when the individuals are placed
side by side, than when veiled through the medium of figures
and descriptions. They never pass into each other ; the pat-
terns alwa^'s remain distinct.

^'•^- ^- The structure of the fluted teeth is

s0?^^i,( ,j»j,. ^ shown in Fig. C. The calcigerous tubes

'^^^iiitl/l '^f ^'''I'^f ') ^^ ^^®" under the microscope start fi-om
H^,,t«*(MV''/i/!iy/)/if'iijg^ the pulp cavity, rise a httle upward
then pass to the outside nearly at right,
angles to the axis of the tooth, turning
a little upwards as they approach the
enameled covering. There is seen, al-
so, light belts crossing the section, as
represented in the accompanying figure ; but there is no ar-
rangement approaching that which has been so frequently
illustrated as existing in the Labyrinthodonts of the IS'ew Eed
sandstone. This conclusion is also borne out by the structure
or outward form of the vertebra, with wliich the teeth are
associated.

304 ' NORTir-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

Reference having been made to the form of the accompa-
nying vertebra, I propose in the next place to furnish a de-
scription of them, annexing also a figure of one of the most
distinct in my possession.

^'"- 22. This vertebra is slightly

^ compressed obliqnely from

^'^^^y.^ its articular surfaces ; its pro-

portions, however, are pre-
served. It is biconcave and
its concavities rather deep,
and bordered by a broad
rounded ridge. The cen-
trum or body is compressed
/ or constricted, which gives

.4 . it the hour glass form of the

Clepsisaurns and Thecodon-
tosaurns of the Bristol con-

fe / glomerate. Its diameter

\, , throngli the centrum from

side to side, is only seven-
eighths or an inch, and one inch and five-eighths from the
upper to the lower edge.

The longest, or the vertical diameter of the anterior or ar-
ticular surface, is one inch and a half; the transverse, one
inch and two-eighths of an inch. Its form, (articular surface,)
is orate, as represented in Plate 7, Fig. 4, the widest part be-
ing the lower half.

The vertical, or greatest diameter of the anterior articular
surface is one inch and seven-eights, (1 in. ^). Tlie trans-
verse diameter through the middle is one inch and five-
eighths, (1 in. |-). The diflference is owing in part to the pro-
tuberances seen in the figure towards the lower side of the
centrum. Length of the vertebra one inch and five-eighths,
( I in. f). In this vertebra the spinous process is evidently
broken off ; but in a mode which has left the surfaces com-
paratively smooth. Its form, particularl}^ its constriction in
the middle, its excavation between the articular ends in the
line of the spinal marrow, giving to the latter a monilliform

NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SLTiVET. 305

sliape, its biconcave structure and its teetli places the animal
among the Tliecodonts, and its microscopic structure shows
that it could not have been a Labjrinthodont. But while its
type is saurian it cannot escape our notice that it also departs
but slightly in certain respects from the ichtliyic type, as all
fish liave vertebra v»rhicli are strictly biconcave, and the junc-
tion of the processes to the body of the vertebra seem to be
iess firm tlian in others related to this family, the suture re-
maining distinct ; in consequence of which the processes may
be separated, as in the young of the mammiferous class.

Tlie neural arch being broken in this case, the groove pro-
tecting the spinal marrow is brought to view. It consists
simply of two sharp ridges of bone which begin at about half
nn inch from the articulating border, and the canal widening
towards the posterior extremity, it becomes about one-fourth
of an inch wide, and about one-fifth of an inch deep.

From the anterior lower half of the centrum there rises a
ridge of bone which terminates on the edge of the articular
border, in a rounded protuberance against which the head
of a rib rested. Beneath the compressed body or centrum it
lias another sharp ridge extending from one articular surface
to the other.

The other vertebrae v.hicli belonged to the same skeleton
have preserved essentially the same characters. In some of
these there is exhibited a j)eculiar, broad, expanded form of
the articular surfaces, which may be described as hell-form^
only the concavities are too shallow to admit strictly of the
comparison. (See plate vi, fig. 8.) The processes of these ver-
tebrae, as usual, are broken, having been imbedded in a yield-
ing or compressible bed of bituminous coal. The two verte-
brae which are represented here in juxtaposition are four
inches and one-eighth of an inch long, (4|- in. ;) greatest
diameter, two inches and one-eighth, (2-|- in.) The figure
shows also, besides the vertebrce, several ribs which are more
or less crushed, but some of which preserve the grooves for
tlie transmission of blood vessels. At the lower edge of the fig-
ure there projects the end of a spinal process, which shows itself
©n the inferior side about two inches. It is one inch and three-
20

306 NOETII-CAKOLTNA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

quarters wide, and half an inch thick at its exposed ex-
tremity. Six vertebrae were found in two or three clusters,
imbedded in the lower seam of coal at Farmville. The clus-
ter contained vertebrae, ribs, and portions of the sternal arch,
and several teeth, whose surfaces were plaited. It may
therefore be inferred that the teeth belonged to this skeleton,
along which they were found, inasmuch, too, as no other kind
than these were found along with it, though they were com-
mon in other connections.

Some of the ribs show that they were doubly articulated,
and one in particular, whose inferior surface was exposed,
shows a wide, shallow groove for the protection of blood ves-
sels and nerves.

Among these clusters of bones I found in one mass a por-
tion of a cranium, wliich I have referred to the frontal bone.
There are no curious sculptures or markings, as is sometimes
the case in cranial bones of saurians and sauroid fishes, but
simple striae, as represented in plate v, fig. 5. The striations
referred to seem to be common to all the bones of the skele-
ton, especially the ribs, and even on the articular surfaces of
the vertebrae they may be seen.

§ 256. The questions which may be properly discussed at
this stage of our examination of these remains, would proba-
bly be, are they known to the scientific world — or have they
been described, and is there any doubt respecting the family
to which they belong? I have already had occasion more
than once to refer to the discovery of Mr. Lea and to his
Clepsisaurus. It is stated that this genus has bi-concave ver-
tebrae and a constricted centrum, and a carinated tooth much
resembling the first described series, and a double-headed rib.
There is, therefore, as will be seen by reference again to my
descriptions, a close relationship between those of Deep
river, Milford, Pa., and Bristol, in Englr.nd. They form
one family, or a group, in which there is a strong family re-
semblance. They all belong to the order Laccrtilia, of Owen,
which have teeth implanted in distinct sockets, forms of ver-
tebrae and ribs alike. \V^hen we compare the minor details
of structure and of form, we find certain dissimilarities which

NORTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 307

ffo to show that they may belong to different genera, as is the
case with the Tiiecodontosaurus and PAL^osAURrs, though
found together in the same bed. The teeth, for example, in
the Eutiodon, are always smaller, but more especially should
it be observed that they are plaited, while those described by
Mr. Lea, as well as those of the Bristol conglomerate, are
smooth.

In Mr. Lea's saurian the diameter of the articulating sur-
faces of the vertebrae is only one inch and six-tenths, (1 6-10
inches.) In the Deep river saurian, last described, it is rather
over two inches. In the smallest of the vertebree, however,
the diameter is about the same, but the vertical diameter
through the middle of tli^ centrum is one inch and seven-
tenths, (1 7-10 in.,) while in Mr. Lea's it is only one inch
and one-tenth, (1 1 10 in.) Although we are not able in this
case to compare homologous parts, yet I think there can re-
main but little doubt that the genera are different, as has been
laid down. But though there may remain an amount of
uncertainty, still I believe I am justified in regarding the
RuTiODON as distinct, and hence should receive also its speci-
fic name, and hence I propose Carolineusis, which will be a
suitable name to distinguish it farther from Mr. Lea's Clepsi-
saurus Pennsylvanicus. There can be no objection in making
a provisional distinction by name, seeing the fossils belong to
similar formations in different States. It enables us to speak
of them without circumlocution, and should it prove that the
denomination has been hasty, the synonims are not likely to.

Note. — Since the foregoing was written, fragments of the skull of a saurian, with
beautifully sculptured surface, have been found at Egypt. As the simply striated
skull bone must have belonged to the Rutiodou, it is possible that the sculptured one
may have belonged to an Archegosaurus ; it cannot be a Palaaosaurus. I have
to add, also, that since ihe foregoing was written, Mr. Lea has communicated
to me the fact that he had discovered a tooth in the red sandstone formation of New
Jersey, the locality of which is not recollected, and which, on its being shown me, I
recognized as one which belongs to the last series of five, the plaited teeth of Deep river.
lie had given the name of Centemodon, from Kentema, awl, and odous, tooth, with
the specific name, sulcatus. This discovery proves the existence at the North of the
two genera which have been described. Mr. L. has communicated bis discovery to
the Society of Natural History of Philadelphia.

308 NOETH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SUEVET.

be SO far multiplied as to occasion any inconvenience. Bui
there are differences, as I have shown, and the only question
which can arise is with respect to the genera, and whether
they belong to and shonld constitute but one. Kit should
turn out that they constitute but one genns ; the names will
stand very well beside each other. They will then read
Clepsisauetjs, Pennsylvanicus, and Carolinensis.

§ 257. The nearest living representative in our country of
the genera Clepsisanrns and Rutiodon, is the Alligator, so
well known in the southern part of North-Carolina. But the
Alligator has a different form of vertebras. The articulating
surfaces are concave before and convex behind ; or, in the
technical phrase often employed, the ancient Saurians were
Amphicmlian^ and the Alligators are procoilian / their verte-
briie being, really, ball and socket joints.

In comj)aring the size of these genera, and taking the skele-
ton of the Alligator as the standard, one which is eleven feet
long, I find the Butiodon must have been both longer and
larger. Thus the vertical diameter of a dorsal vertebra of
this Alligator is only one inch and an eighth of an inch^
(1 in. "I,) and the length one inch and five-eighths, (1 in. |-),
The Rutiodon it will be seen, on referring to the measure-
ments already stated, must have been more than two, proba-
bly three feet longer than the full grown Alligator of our
rivers, though probably the Alligator may acquire a length of
fourteen or fifteen feet. We have, however, no positive data
as it respects the length of the tail and of the neck, as no
vertebras belongiug to either of these parts have been found.
The relative form of the vertebrae of these two reptiles was
evidently somewhat different; thus, the transverse diameter
of the vertebra? of the Aligator is greater than the vertical^
while in the Rutiodon the vertical diameter is the greatest,
Tliis fact seems to indicate a greater height in proportion to
tlie length and breadth. In the size of the teeth, the Alli-

t^iur 18 a niatcn for the Rntiodon, and, like the former, the
x/.e is as variable, while generally in the ancient saurians the
t,ize or length of the teeth is more uniform.

i'roni the foregoing facts, we may infer that the soil of

NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY. 300

ITortli-Carolma has been trod, and its waters have swarmed
with reptiles from the remotest ages. They are common to
all the formations, from the Deep river coal measures down
to the tertiary beds, and they are still the formidable inhabi-
tants of its waters. Those which I have from the tertiary
are considerably larger than those from any former epoch, or
those which belong to the present.

While engaged in the examination of the formations upon
the Dan river, I discovered the vertebral remains of another
saurian, closely allied to those already described. They were
imbedded in the black slate near Leaksville, at a point near
the bridge over Smith's river. This part of the formation, it
is now well known, is between the red sandstones, and is very
near the coal seams. These remains are more perfect in some
respects than those which have been discovered upon Deep
river, at Farmville. Three of these vertebrae are delineated
upon plate 8, Fig. 1. It will be observed that these are also
biconcave, or belong to the Amphicoelian type, and have the
hourglass form of vertebrae ; that they have two articulating
surfaces for a double headed rib, that their processes are unit-
ed to the body by suture. In the union of the process by
suture, and in the existence of two articulating surfaces for a
double headed rib, Plate 8, Fig. 3, we see the same arrange-
ments as now exist in the Alligator. As these vetebrae have
lost only a part of their spinous processes, they are proper
parts for comparison and measurement. I obtained the fol-
lowing dimensions of the vertibrae under consideration :

Vertical diameter of the posterior articulating surface, 1 iuch and

Transverse diameter, 1 "

Length of body, 1 "

Height of body and spinous process, 4 "

Width of spinous process,

Distance of the articulating surface of the head of the
rib to the upper part of the articulating surface of
the oblique process, • 2 "

H

of

an

inch,

^

"

%

"

%

«

X

u

The body of each vertebrae is traversed longitudinally by
three ridges, two lateral and one inferior : concave surfaces
bound these ridges, or they may be regarded as longitudinal

310

NOKTH-CAUOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

depressions. These vertebrae are strong and rongli, and the
spinous processes wide and high, more so relatively than the
homologous parts of the Alligator. To the eye, there is the
same disproportion between the articular ends, as in the ver-
tebrae of the Rutiodon. The anterior articulating surface is
the smallest. In the line specimens figured, the rock will
not permit the measurement of bone so as to verify what is
apparent to the eye.

Fig. M.

NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 311

Another dorsal vertebra of tliis series, Fig. M., the spinous
process of which is nearly perfect, has the following dimen-
sions :

Vertical diameter of the anterior articulatiug surfixce, 1 inch and % of an inch.

Transverse, 1 " }^ "

Vertical diameter of the concavity, 1 " 1-16 "

Transverse, % "

Distance from the lower edge of the vertebraj to the

end of the spinal process, 4 " 3^ "

Width of the spinal process near its base, 1 " 00 "

Width at the top, X "

Depth of the concavity, 6-16 "

The anterior edge of the spinal process of this vertebrae is
grooved, and the posterior edge is provided with a sharp
ridge.

Another dorsal vertebra of this series, measures from
the upper edge of the articulating surface of the
centrum to the top of the spinal process 3 inch, and % of an inch.

From the end of the transverse process to the top of
the spinal process, 3 " J^ "

Length of the transverse process, 1 " % "

From the inside of the ridge surrounding the concavi-
ty to the outer articulating surface of the oblique
process, 1 " 5-16 "

This vertebra is anterior in the spine to those referred to
in Plate 8, Fig. 1 ; buc its exact position, or its number, I am
unable to determine.

The Leaksville series contain fourteen pieces, more or less
perfect ; and all appear to be dorsal.

Among these vertebrae are fragments of ribs, one of which,
minus the head and neck, is six inches long. It is rounded
at the proximal extremity, and flattened at the distal end,
where it is 1|- of an inch wide. The inner edge is grooved.
From being nearly round at the proximal end, it first be-
comes somewhat triangular, and then flat and expanded,
sending off on one side near its extremity an oblique flat-
tened branch, which joins its fellow rib below, something
like the plan which prevails in birds. The whole length of
the rib was probably 7^ inches. This rib is about half an
inch thick at the proximal extremity.

312 NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

Tlie question whicli it is important for us to determine
is, whether the Leaksville Saurian is identical with one
or the other of those which have been already described.
While it is true that we are yet deficient in information re-
specting certain parts of the skeleton to enable us to satisfy
the demands of the question, still we may avail ourselves of
all the facts within our reach ; and probably this course may
give us something which will be a clue to a correct de-
termination which we require, and enable us to form at least
a rational conjecture. For this, I propose to compare the
parts of each species with one another, and, in the first place,
I will take the Clepsisaurus for comparison 'with the Leaks-
ville specimen. The measurements of Clepsisaurus which
bear immediately upon the question, are the distance from
the centrum to the top of the vertebral spine, etc.:

1. The measurement is, . 2 inch, and 1-5 of an inch.

2. Length of vertebrae , 2 " 1-10 "

3. Vertical diameter of the constricted part, 1 00

4. Transverse S-10 "

5. Length of the transverse process, 2 00

In the Leaksville saurian,

1. The height from the centrum to the top of the spi-

nal process)is, 3 inch, and }{ of an inch.

2. Length of vertebra;, 1 " % "

These measurements difiPer ; and of the fourteen vertebra
from Leaksville, none of their measurements agree with those
of the Clepsisaurus.

The length of one transverse process, is one and an eighth of
an inch. The length of this process in the C. Pennsylvanicus,
as will be seen, is two inches ; but this is variable, and we can-
not affirm that we are measuring homologous parts. There be-
ing however, considerable difierence in the relative propor-
tions of parts, it must appear probable that the Leaksville
and Milford saurians are different, or belong to different spe-
cies, admitting that the individuals were adults ; and admit-
ting that one of them was an immature individual, we should

NOETH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 313

have a right to expect that the proportions would tally more
closely. The probability is, when the character of the bones
are considered, we need entertain scarcely the shadow of a
doubt but that both individuals were mature, especially when
the teeth are taken into the account ; that is, when the teeth
and bones of the C. Pennsylvanicus are brought together,
there can remain scarcely a doubt that this belonged to an
adult individual ; and as this is the smallest of the two, little
doubt should be entertained respecting the Leaksville speci-
men. The difference in the proportions of these species is
considerable ; and as proportions are the most reliable char-
acters for the determination of questions of this kind, I shall
regard them as belonging at least to different species. It
seems probable from the proportions which have been obtain-
ed by measurement, that the Leaksville saurian was higher
than the Milford, the latter was also lower and broader of the
two.

We may now compare the Leaksville with the Deep river
saurian.

The only points of comparison which lie within our reach,
must be drawn mainly from the vertebrae and its appendages.
As to the height of the spine, the Leaksville is the highest,
and the vertebrae comparatively more slender. The teeth
which have been found in the Dan river slates, resemble
those of the Clepsisaurus, but no teeth occurred in connec-
tion with the bones : we are left in ignorance respecting these
important organs. Upon the whole, I am disposed to regard
it as differing only specifically from the Clepsisaurus : I pro-
pose for the Leaksville saurian the specific name, Leai, out
of respect for the high standing of the discoverer of the first
of the Thecodont saurians in this countr}^

We may before we leave this subject, sum up the charac-
ters upon which each of the foregoing species and genus now
stand. In the first of the discovered genera, the Clepsisaurus,
the characteristics were derived from the teeth. They difiered
both from the Thecodontosaurus and Palaeosaurus of Riley
and Scutchbury, while it resembles them in the biconcave
form of the vertebrse. The Clepsisaurus could not harmonize

Sl-i NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

with the genera which liad been estabhshed ; hence the ne-
cessity of founding a new one for the reception of the one
discovered in this country. In subsequent discoveries of
similar types in our formations, it becomes necessary to
make tlie comparisons with all the genera which have been
established. In comparing, therefore, the Rutiodon with
known genera, it is found that the outward form and structure
also of the teeth, differed from any which had been previous-
ly described. It was in consequence of these differences, that
I have ventured to propose the genus referred to. The fact8
respecting the Leaksville saurian, it is evident, do not wholly
clear up the question as to genus ; though it is quite plain
from its proportions, that it cannot agree specifically with the
CLEPsisAURrs or Rutiobon ; but to which of these genera it
actually belongs, cannot be decided before we obtain more
information respecting its teeth. I have supposed it more
probable that it is a Clepsisaurus, as teeth belonging to this
genus have been found in the slates of Dan river, and none
which belong to the Rutiodon.

§ 258. If the foregoing statements and conclusions are
founded in principles of Natural Ilistory, we have three spe-
cies of Thecodont saariaus existing cotemporaneously, whose
remains were entombed in the slates of the coal measures of
Deep and Dan rivers. It Mall be seen that they are found in
a well-defined geological horizon ; hence their remains be-
come available for the purpose I have used them — that of de-
fining the age of this series of deposits. The remains of the
Clepsisaurus Pennsylvanicus seems to be farther removed from
this horizon than either of the three species belonging to
North Carolina. The epoch of the conglomerate in which
they are embedded, may be near the beginning of the Per-
mian system, or later ; the deposits at and near Milford, Pa.,
are not so clearly defined as those of North Carolina. In
view of all the facts presented, it seems I am justified in
expressing the opinion that the older sandstone and coal
measures are correctly located in the Permian system. I
have, however, still more testimony which supports this opin-
ion, and I shall now proceed to lay before the reader this tes-

NOKTH-CAKOLH^A geological StTKVET. 315

timony which is contained in another discoveiy of saurian re-
mains apjDroxiniating closely to the Pal^osaukus platyodon,
found in the Bristol conglomerate, and which lias been
already referred to. These remains are better known by the
teeth, which are compressed and serrate, with the seratures
standing at right angles to the axis of the tooth. Now the
teeth are the only organs which I have found, but these agree
so well with the figures of those of the Palieosaurus that no
one can doubt of their being generically related. The annexed
Fig. f. three figures, showing the tooth in

different positions, will convey a cor-
,^ ml rect idea of the form of the Palseo-

i\\ J/''//i! saurus tooth. Fig. 1, side view, but

! \ §4 1 It''

m \ M I too narrow at base ; No. 2 is an edge
^j=^ apl view, showing that though apparent-
i*'' * ly quite flat when its broad planes
^- 2- *• are seen, that it has considerable

thickness ; fig. 3, enlarged, shows the serratures of the edge.
A corrected outline of the shape of this tooth is given in
Fio. G. Fig. G. No. 1 is an exact outhne of its form. No.
2 represents its transverse section at its junction
with the jaw. It is bicarinate ; serrate on both sides
from its base to the apex. The tooth is lancet-
shaped, being compressed, but the crown becomes
thicker towards the base, especially on one side,
2. J''~\ whence its transverse section is obliquely gibbous.
— "^ The serratures are not simply notches in the edge,
like those of a saw, but impressions which extend beyond the
edge into the margin of the enamel. The outer face of the
tooth is more convex than the inner, and the anterior edge
also the most convex of the two. Below the enamel the
tooth is slightly constricted, perhaps only apparently so by
the discontinuance of the enamel, which is rather thick and
strong, and adheres firmly to the dentine, and at the place
where the tooth enters the socket it is nearly cylindrical. The
calcigerous tubes, as seen under the microscope, ascend a lit-
tle from the pulp cavity, and then pass off at right angles to

316

NOETir-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL S"UK^'EY.

Fig. H,

tlie axis of the tooth. Fig. H. represents
the apiDearance of the calcigerous tubes
under the magnifying power of 350
diameters. The following dimensions of
the tooth will convey a more accurate
idea of its form and characters than can
be obtained by description alone :

Length, J^

Width at base, 5-16

Thickness at base, '^

inch.

Fig. I.

The inner face, adjacent to the edge, has a flat groove, or
rather the tooth becomes flattened, or is brought to an edge
I'apidly, and which is rather thin, as if an edge was made by
scooping out a piece longitudinally from a cylinder by a small
gouge. The tooth appears quite flat when imbedded in slate,
and in this relation it has the exact form of the Palseosaurus
tooth figured by Sir Charles Lyell, in his Elements. P. 306,
fig. 348.

A small tooth belonging to the genus Pal-
?eosaurus has the following proportions and
dimensions : (Fig. I.) ISTo. 1.

Length, 5-16 of an inch ; breadth at base,
nearly \ of an inch ; thickness, 3-16 of an
8 12 inch.

ISTo. 2 shows the serratures as they appear on both edges
of the tooth enlarged. The smallest tooth which has fallen
under my notice, is one-fourth of an inch long ; it preserves
in its measurements the proportions of those which have been
already given. There is, therefore, no doubt, but that these
flattened, bi-carinate teeth, belong to one species of saurian,
though they difter in size. From the foregoing figures and
descriptions, it will no doubt be admitted, that the genus
represented by them, diff'ers genericaily from the Rittiodon

NoTK.— The tooth No. 3, fig, I, belongs to the Rutiodon. It is one of the smaller
fluted toeth, but is a good figure of this kind, showing very clearly, the difference
between the Clcpsisaurus and the Rutiodon.

IfORTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SUEYEf. 317

and Clepsisaurus. The form, and especially tlie structure of
the teeth is very different. They have no resembance to the
Lahyrinthodonts of the New Red sandstones. The other
genus, the Thecodontosahkus, with compressed teeth, the
serratures point to the apex of the teeth.

"When these compressed teeth, therefore, are compared
with those of the Palsbosatirus, a genus established by Riley
and Scutchbury, it is difficult to resist the conviction, that our
Saurian is closely related to it. The figures of the teeth,
however, do not give all the information respecting them,
which is necessary for an exact determination ; but as far as
they go, they sustain the opinion I have expressed of their
generic affinity. I should infer from the figures of the Pal-
ajosaurian teeth that they were thinner than ours, while the
latter must be shorter and stouter ; those of the Bristol con-
glomerate being nine lines long and five wide. These pro-
portions do not differ from those of Deep river.

From the foregoing facts, I am disposed to regard the teeth
under consideration, as belonging to the Palseosaur, but dif-
fering specifically from that of the Bristol conglomerate. I
propose naming it Pal^osaueius Caeolinensis, as North-Car-
olina is the onl}^ State in which these remains are found. Of
its vertebrae we are yet ignorant ; but I am disposed to be-
lieve that the fragments of its cranium may yet be found at
Egypt.

§ 259. Tliere is still another kind of tooth which I am un-
able to refer to any species which has been described.

Fig. n. Its form reminds one at once of the Pal?eosaur,

\but an attentive examination of its character will
convince any one that it differs from the foregoing
^ j species. Fig. N. are outline figures ; No. 1 shows
the curvature of the tooth, and 2 the form of the
transverse section near the base of the crown.

2.

O

318 NORTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

Fig. (1^0. 3,) shows tlie convex fluted surface; the
flutings however, are somewhat irregular, but are
not to be regarded as accidentah Fig. No. 4,
sliows the serratures of one edge ; those of the op-
posite edge are obsolete, and exist only faintly to-
wards the apex of the tooth. The figures are of
the natural size.

The following measurements show the relative
proportions between their length and breadth :

Length rather greater than J^ of an inch.

Breadth at base 5-lt5 " '•

Thickness, rather exceeds 3^ " "

The foregoing description and figures of teeth, prove that
the length ana breadth differ from the P. Carolinensis, and
that their proportions also differ ; 2. that the transverse sec-
tion is different, and 3, that the serratures exist principally on
one edge ; that though the transverse section is gibbous, yet
it is not obliquely so. It is therefore specifically different
from that, or appears to be. The texture of teeth, and the
character of the enamel also appears different ; it is less com-
pact and the enamel is thinner ; and hence, so far as my dis-
coveries go, they appear to warrant the establishment of a
species, and 1 therefore, propose the specific name, Sulcafus,
from the furrows upon the convex face of the tooth, when it
will stand, Pal/eosaurus Sulcatus.

From the foregoing determinations, (which may be re-
garded as provisional,) it cannot fail to strike the person who
is conversant w^th the discoveries in palfeontology, that this
period was rich in the Thecodont saurians, and that the}^
characterize the Permian as clearly as the lehthysaurus and
Pleisiosaurs do the Liassic e})Och ; and so far as discoveries
now warrant, our conclusions are sustained that they are
probably confined to the Permian epoch.

§ 260. 'Of the Bones found in the Gray Sandstone. — In
Germanton, I found a cluster of bones belonging to a saurian
in close proximity to the coal slates, but beneath them.
Those which I regard as the most important, consist of a

NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 319

femur and tibia ; both, liowever, imperfect. There were
many small bones more or less mutilated, and hence, too
imperfect for determination ; but what was quite as unfortu-
nate for the bones and my discovery, was that the rock itself
had become concretionary, and was quite refractory in break-
ing, being both tough and massive. The large bones refer-
red to, are represented on Plate 7, Fig 1 , 2. These bones,
though not propej'ly mineralized, yet they seem to have un-
dergone a change in structure. Parts of the more compact
bones are crystalline and brittle, and hence the difficulty of
exposing them in their matrix is increased. The tissue of the
bones is fine and close ; color black, except where they have
been long exposed to the weather.

The femur, Plate 7, Fig. 1, is broken towards the proximal
extremity ; but the outline of the head is imprinted in the
rock, and portions of the bone remain in situ. The distal ex-
tremity is removed just above the condyles.

The tibia has two gentle curves, but its extremities are
marred, and a large notch is broken out of the front of the
condyles. A side view presents somewhat the shape of
letter S.

The preserved portions have furnished me with the follow-
ing measurements :

Femur. Length preserved, 7 00 inches.

Distance across the proximal end, inchiding a part of

the head, 3 inch, and }{ of an inch.

Diameter of the bone four inches from the head, 1 " ^4 "

Thickness rather greater than, % "

The form of the cylinder of bone, or its transverse section,
is represented on Plate 7, Fig. 5. This flattening or com-
pression appears to have been natural, and not due to me-
chanical pressure in the rock. At the point where it is bro-
ken, it begins to widen ; the fracture, therefore, is just above
the condyles. It was probably nine or ten inches long when
perfect.

The tibia is more broken, though the general form appears
to be preserved. It is thick through the condyles, and be-

320 JJORTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

gins to form a curve as it passes down towards the middle of
tlie bone ; and the curve exists at the distal extremity.
I have the following dimensions ;

Length of the tibia, 10 inch, and }4 of an inch.

Breadth across the condyles, 2 " ]4 "

Diameter below the condyles, . ; 1 " % "

A metatarsal bone? is figured, Plate 6, Fig. 3. Several de-
tached ones were found in the rock, its surface is striated.

All the small bones are black and crystalline, and extreme-
ly brittle. I was unable to discover in this mass of bones
any teeth or vertebras, and hence it is impossible to deter*
mine whether they belong to the Thecodont Saurians, with
biconcave vertebrae, or not. The size of these bones belong
evidently to a larger individual than any which I have de-
scribed. ISTone of the bones are provided with medulary
cavities ; or those cavities are wanting where the bones are
broken.

A remarkable cluster containing sixteen curved bones, five
inches long, and from one-fourth to one-half of an inch thick,
was found in this group in the sandstone. They are black,
compact, and disposed to break into oblique prisms. The
first impression they convey is, that they are short ribs.
They taper towards both extremities, and are neither
provided with tubercles or heads, or any process. They
are flattened on one side, and rounded and striated lon-
gitudinally on the others.

I speak of them in this place, more for the jDurjjose of di-
recting the attention of geologists to these singular bones,
than for the purpose of describing them in detail ; in hopes
thereby that some one more fortunate than myself may yet
discover other facts which will throw some light upon their
position in the skeleton.

The metatarsal bones, I should remark before leaving the
subject, is nearly straight.

Several other bones were discovered at this place, but &»
they are imperfect, I omit for the present a farther notice of
them.

mm

north-caeolika geological suevet. 321

Class Pisces, or Fish.
The remains of fish are numerous in the black bituminous
slates. They consist entirely or almost so of small shining
rhombic scales, and belong to the ganoid order. A few parts
of the fins rarely occur. Uones also of the head, and in one
case, a temporal bone, about four inches long, was taken from
the Egypt shaft. When I found the mass of slate to which it was
attached, it had so far disintegrated that on lifting it, though
carefully, it fell into many pieces, and the relict was de-
stroyed. The fish, which seemed to have swarmed in those
days, after dying, were completely broken up by decay, leav-
ing nothing except the harder bones and the scales. The
fish scales appear in the upper beds of slate, but I have never
observed any in the sandstones below or above.
Fig. p. The next most common remains to the fish-scale is a
defensive bone, probably belonging to that kind usu-
ally called Ichthyodolerite. The annexed figure P
shows its size and form. Like the scale, it is confined
apparently to the bituminous slate.

It belongs to the front part of the dorsal fin of
the genus catopterus, Redfield, or Ischypterus of
Sir P. G. Edgerton. But as it has not been discov-
ered in connection with the fin, I am under the ne-
cessity of expressing myself doubtfully respecting the
genus to which it should be referred. In the srenus
Ischypterus I have not been able to discover in the fin
itself a line of demarcation through which the front part could
be detached and leave it as perfect and distinct as it is usually
found.

There are evidently two kinds of fish teeth in the Deep
river slate; one slender and terete hke the point of a needle,
and slightly flattened at the larger end. It is rather more
than one-eighth of an inch long, and scarcely ever exceeds
one-fourth.

The other is a small, short, conical tooth, with a compara-
tively large base, and seems to have been set directly upon
the jaw.

21

322 NORTH-CA.ROLraA GEOLOGICAL SLTIVET.

I am aware that the foregoing very brief statement respect-
ing the fish of this formation is too meagre and too indefinite
to be of much service in determinino; the ag-e of this forma-
tion. I prefer to wait the result of discoveries before attempt-
ing to make use of the present knowledge, which is evidently
too scanty upon which to form a geological opinion.

It is now well known to geologists that two genera of fish
have been found in the slates of the Richmond coal basin —
the Tetragonolepis, Agassiz, whose scales are rather large,
(pi. 9, fig. 3 ;) the other is a slender fish, with scales more re-
sembling those in the rocks of Deep river, (pi. 9, fig. 1.) But
none of the large scales indicative of the existence of the Te-
tragonolepis have been found with those smaller rhombic
scales in the formations of Deep or Dan river. It may be
questioned then whether the fish may not be difterent in the
two localities, the scales of the Deep river being much smaller
and more acutely rhombic.

The most common body which is connected with animal
remains are coprolites, the excrement of fish and saurians.
They are common and abundant in all the bituminous schists.
Their forms are variable, as well as their size. The one most
frequently met with is about one and a half inches long, and
half an inch in diameter ; this kind is never spiral. But an-
other, not differing materially in size, shows a spiral arrange-
ment of parts, (plate 6, figs. 6, 7 and 9, of which No. 7 is the
most abundant.

After having examined critically a large number of beds in
the Deep and Dan rivers coal fields, I am confident the fish
remains thus far differ from those of the Richmond basin.
The Tetragonolepis, which is a liassic genus, has not yet been
found in North Carolina, and I am confident, too, that the
scales, fins and fish bones, found on the deep river, do no tbe-
long to either species of Dictyopyge of the Richmond coal-
field. (See proceedings of the Geological Society of London,
vol. 3, pp. 280, from which the figures were copied.)

Class Molusca — Bivalve Shells.
The genus Posidonia is the only animal of this class which

NOETH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 323

has been observed. It is a small, tliin, bivalve shell, concen-
trically marked with lines or furrows. It is pressed perfectly
flat in the black bituminous slates. It is often abundant, but
it is also frequently absent. It is associated with a cypris,
and the fossils which have already been noticed. The shell
is as thin as paper, and we rarely find one perfect, though a
large surface may be covered with them.

Fig. w. The posidonia of the black slates

appears to be a different species from

■^'y. ^j,—^ those which occur in the upper red

P *^^^' sandstone. Figs. W are accurate

"""--^ ' outlines of the shell — the Posidonia

1. 2. ovahs. The smallest, Xo. 1, is the

natural size, and 2 is enlarged.

Class Aeticulata. — Ordek, Ceustacea.
Family Cypridce. — ^This singular fossil, the cypris, composes
entire strata among the bituminous slates. It is a very small
fossil, the largest individual scarcely exceeding one-thirtieth
of an inch in length. Their form is much like that of beau,
though infinitely smaller. In the midst of this multitude of
small carapaces of this family, it is usual to find two sizes, one
about half the length of the largest, but the small ones
scarcely difter in form from the larger ; both are smooth, and
the only marking which they exhibit is an oblique groove,
which may be due to pressure. The great interest which
attaches itself to these curious fossils, is their abundance. In
the shaft of Egypt it was very singular also to observe their
sudden disappearance from the green calcareous shale, and
their sudden return again on the reappearance of the black
bituminous slate. Prof. Rogers speaks of one species with
a granulated carapace, which I have not seen.

Note. — Scales of the Tetragonolepis have been found since the foregoing Wi.s
written.

324 NORTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

CHAPTEE XLI.

Fossils of the Argillaceous Blue Slates. — Equivalent to tKe
Goal Shale group of the Thuringerwald^ with remarks and
descriptions.

§ 261. The plant bed reposing upon the conglomerate at
Jones' Falls or Lockville, as the place has recently been
called, is one of the most remarkable, as well as the most
characteristic bed in the whole series upon Deep river.

After the deposition of the conglomerate the beds were
quietly formed. The accumulation began in dark blue slates
or shale, perhaps not more than ten feet thick, to which suc-
ceeded a soft gray sandstone, which is probably equally rich
in plants as the slates themselves ; but the latter has not been
examined with much care, and an examination which was
continued for half an hour, gave several new plants, is all
that has been done. These beds have furnished only plants,
consisting of ferns and cicadeous ones, which seem to be
quite abundant. Tlie importance of these beds in a geologi-^
cal point of view, consists in giving us a clear and well de-
tined boundary to the Keuper sandstones and marls, which
overlie the beds in question. The Muschelkalk were it pres-
ent, would occupy a position immediately below the plant
bed.

It may be well to recur in this place, to the chain of evi-
dence which supports the view which I have presented.

1. The lithological characters of the lower sandstone,
agree in these respects with the formation in other parts of
the world.

2. The series next above it, are shown to belong to the
Permian system, by the existence of Thecodont saurian
remains.

8. The Trias succeeds the Permian, and as we have found
several plants which in their localities represent the system,
there can remain scarcely a doubt that the view I have pre-

NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 325

sented, is supported by a class of facts, wliicli in other cases,
would be regarded as decisive. The upper part of the series
which I have placed with the Permian, the drab colored
sandstone beneath the conglomerate, may be found hereafter
to be Triassic. I have placed them in the upper Permian,
because I have yet seen no line of demarkation separating
the lower, from the upper, until we reach the conglomerate
referred to. But the series which is composed of drab col-
ored sandstones, is so much concealed, that a clear line of
this kind may exist, and may have escaped detection. The
Muschelkalk is wanting ; that central limestone so rich in fos-
sils in Germany, and which is a well defined fingerboard in
the geological horizon ; but the Iveuper-scheifer of the Ger-
mans may be represented by our calcareous shales and bitu-
minous coal shale bands.

Our evidence is not confined to the existence of certain
saurian remains ; it is also found in the succeeding beds,
whose fossils I shall now proceed to describe.

FlLICITES OK FERNS.
ORDER, PeCOPTERIDES. — GoEPP.

Frond, simple, pinnate, bi or tripinnate, or bitripinnatified ;
pinnules, equal or dilated at base, midrib or main nerve,
strong and not evanescent towards the apex; secondary
nerves dichotomous and sometimes twice or thrice forked, or
anastomosing with each other.

Strangerites.

t^niopteris.
Frond, many nerved, middle nerve thick, side nerves par-
allel, dichotomous. — Boi'neman.

Strajstgerites obliqtius. — E. n. s.
The nerves or side veins go off at first at an acute angle,
when they soon become nearly at right angles with the mar-
gin of the frond. Some of the side veins divide near the
mid rib ; others do not fork until they nearly reach the mar-

326 NOETH-CAHOLINA GEOLOGICAL SUEVET.

gin. Those whicli bifurcate low down or near tlie mid rib,
usually fork twice. This fern occurs at Ellingtons, but is rare.
Another species also belongs to this locality. It is much
longer, and not so wide, and is a much more delicate plant ;
the mid rib is less robust, or more slender.

ACEOSTICHITES OBLONGUS. GoEP. 11. S.

PECorTEEis Whitbyensis.
Plate 4, Figs. 8 and 6.

Frond bi-pinnate, primary pinuse going oif nearly at right
angles, prolonged and tapering ; leafets ; oblong, obtuse ; close-
ly placed, but not united ; adherent by the whole base, and
slightly widened ; edges nearly parallel ; midribs rather faint,
especially near the apex ; side veins making rather an acute
angle, anastomosing, but frequently fork towards the margin,
primary rachis, thick strait, as in Fig. 6, Plate 4.
The fern just described, I had supposed was the P Whitbyensis,
described by Prof. Wm. B. Eogers, in the Transactions of the
American Association. A critical examination of the side veins
of the leafets, seems to throw considerable doubt upon the cor-
rectness of my first impression. I was moreover confirmed in
that view for a time, by a remark of this gentleman on seeing
the plant, that it was the one I referred to ; but Prof. P. saw
it at a distance, and is not responsible for an opinion express-
ed under the circumstances. It difi'ers from the Whitbyensis
as stated in the peculiar distribution of its side veins, and be-
ing anastomising, throws it into Goepeets genus Aceosti-
CHiTES. The leafets of the P. Whitbyensis are falcate and
acute. It is true the general appearance of the plant, thick
rachis is much like Brogniarts figure, but differs from it es-
sentially in the details. It agrees much less with Lindley's
and Ilutton's figure of this fern. In their figure, the rachis
is slender, and the laafets decidedly acute and falcate.

This fern, so far as my examination has extended, is im-
descril)ed ; and hence, I have proposed the name ohloiigus,
from the form of the leafets. If it should prove that this is
the plant which has been taken for the Whitbj^ensis, it will
(change somewhat the evidence which has been adduced in

NORTH-CAKOLIlsrA GEOLOGICAL, SURYET. 327

support of the views tliat tlie Riclimond coalfield is of the age
of than of Whitby, in England.

That the distribution of the side veins may have been over-
looked, appears possible from the fact that Prof. Bunbury,
who alludes to it, speaks of the obscurity of the side viens ;
indeed, in most specimens the midrib becomes very obscure
toward the apex of the leafet and the lower leafets, the mid-
rib is so evanescent that it might pass for a neuropteris, to
which genus it undoubtedly has a close affinity. This fern
occurs at Ellingtons in the blue slate, associated with other
species of Pecopteris, Equisetum Calamites, &c. It does not
appear to be very common.

Pecopteris faloattjs. E. n. s.
Plate 4. Fig. 9.

Frond pinnate, or bi-pinnate ; secondary rachis smooth,
channeled ; leafets long, rather distant than approximate ;
obtuse, somewhat falciform, slightly protracted at base, and
adherent their whole width ; midrib distinct to the apex ; side
viens go oif at an acute angle, fork once, and also twice ; sori
round, in two rows, with from twelve to seventeen in a row.
The standing of the leaves vary as to closeness. They are
approximate on parts of the frond. I have never seen an en-
tire frond. It is evidently as large, or nearly so, as the P. in-
signis.

It is rather common at Ellington's in the blue slate ; I have
also seen a poor specimen at LockviUe in the same kind of
slate ; and also in a decomposing, light-colored slate at House's
quarries on the Haw river.

Fig. 5, of the same plate, seems to be closely allied to the
preceding. It may be a barren frond, or the leafets may bB
variable in length, towards the base of the rachis. It is pe-
Quliar in the variable form of the leafets. It is more common
at Ellington's than any which I have noticed at that locality.

Pecopteris Carolinensis, E., n. s.
PL 4., Fig. 1, 2.
Frond pinnate, or bi-pinnate, leafets long, tapering when

328 NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOaiCAL SUEVET.

beyond theii' middle, sub-acute, close, apices only, seem to be
free ; slightly dilated at base ; midrib perceptible near the
apex ; side veins going off at an acute angle, dividing once
or twice. Fructification spots, arranged singly and in a row,
on each side of the midrib ; large, round, scolloped, elevated
it the middle, and radiate.

The leafets of this fern are rather more than an inch long ;
they are thin and delicate, and taper from near the middle to
an obtuse point. Fragments only of this large fern have been
found, some six or seven inches long. It might be mistaken
for the preceding ; the sori, however, are quite unlike those
of the falcatus, resembling those of the Phlebopteris, but the
side veins are not reticulated as in that genus. It occurs at
Ellington's, in the blue slate,

Pecoptekis (AspiDnEs) Bullatus.-— Bunbury.
Plate. 2, Fig. 8.

" Frond bi-pinnate ; leafets contiguous, widening at base,
" obtuse, nearly entire ; veins, oblique ; sori, sunk in round
"pits, and thickly implanted, or approximate, and in one
" series on each side of the midrib.

" The stem is smooth, and the primary pinnse go off at right
" angles. The leafets are very nearly perpendicular to the
" partial rachis, closely placed, but not united at their bases,
" and about three-tenths of an inch long, more or less obtuse,
" and their margins apparently entire ; the midrib scarcely
" reaches the extremity of the leafet ; side veins obscure, but
" when distinguishable, oblique and pinnated, with three or
" more alternate branches. The peculiar distinctive charac-
" ter of the species consists in the round pits in which the
"sori are placed. Bunbury. This species belongs to the
" Richmond coalfield."*

From proceedings of the Geological Society, London, p. 282,

north-carolina geological sukvet. 329

Keuropteredes.

NeUROPTERIS LINN^FOLIA. BUNBURY.

Plate 2. Fig. 6.
"Frond bi-pinnate, pinnae, siib-opposite alternate, sessile
" contignous, sub-imbricate, orbicular, entire sub-convex ;
' veins dichotomous, flexuous, diverging from the base of the
' leafet. Primary pinnae, nearly opposite, long, narrow, nearly
'linear; leafets numerous, opposite or alternate, or placed
' closely to each other so as to touch ; slightly cordate, one-
' quarter of an inch in length ; no distinct midrib ; veins rather
' strongly marked, numerous, and radiate from the bases of
'the leafet, and repeatedly forked; surface of the leafets
' granulated between the veins — considered as intermediate
' between the Neuropteris and Odontopteris. Bunbury. It
' belongs to the Richmond coalfield."*

Cyclopteris.
Plate 4. Fig. 10.
Frond sub-orbicular; sessile, veins throe or four times
divided, flexuous. The imperfection in the outline of this
fern renders it impossible to give the general form. Tlie
veins or nerves are strong and radiate from the base. There
are some indications that what appear to be nerves and de-
scribed as such, may be thread-like bodies, as some of them
appear to cross the others ; so, also, there are round dots like
sori between the veins, consisting of impressions which are
nearly obliterated ; but these are too doubtful to allow a
change of name. It occurs in the blue slates at Ellingtons ;
only two specimens were obtained. This fern being obscure
and not presenting to the eye any strong marks by which it
is easily recognized, may be quite common at this locality and
yet escape detection. I have met with only two specimens
of it.

* Proceedings Geological Society, Loudon, vol. iii, p. 281,

330 nortit-cakoltna geological survey.

Cycadeace^, or CYCADS.

Pterozamites decussatus. — E. n. s.
Plate 3, Fig. 1.

Pinnate, petiole strong, striate, leaves opposite elongate,
many nerved, parallel, at right angles to the petiole, obtuse.

There is no doubt that the position of the leaves upon the
petiole, as in the iigure, represents the mode in which they
were attached ; but as there is no opportunity for determin-
ing their length, and whether obtuse or acute, the description
must remain defective. The probability is they are obtuse,
and hence I have placed it in this genus.

It occurs at Ellingtons in the blue slate, and appears to be
rare.

Cycadites acutus, — E. n. s.

Petiole, strong and striate ; leaves thick, narrow, supplied
with a single thick nerve in the middle of the leaf, rigid,
acute ; margins revolute ; leaves about two inches long and
standing nearly at right angles to the petiole. This is no
doubt a true cycas.

It occurs in the dark slates of Lockville or Jones' Falls.

Cycadites lomgifolius. — E n. s.

Stem or petiole, channeled ; leaves opposite, thick, acute,
and apparently supplied with a single mid rib ; margins rev-
olute, or thickened ; leaves standing at an acute angle with
the petiole. Frond was probably fourteen or fifteen inches,
if not two feet long ; leaves about three inches long.

The specimen adheres by the back side of the frond. The
upper shows a channel in the middle, which indicates a mid
rib, but no side veins can be discovered.

It occurs at Lockville. Fragments of the leaves are not
uncommon.

ZaMITES GRAMINIOroES. E. 11. S.

Plate 4, Fig. 11.
Frond pinnate, midrib, rather coarsely striate ; leaves op-

NOETH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 331

posite, long, narrow, acute, slightly constricted at base, many
nerved, parallel.

The figure represents the leaves as not constricted at base ;
better specimens show that they are slightly constricted.
This grass like Zamites differs from the gramineus proposed
by Prof Bunbury in the length of the leaves, they are
shorter and not as wide. The longest are about an inch and
a quarter, and they are supplied with about six nerves, one
of them becoming more prominent than the rest.

Zamites obtusifolius. — Kogees.
A species agreeing with the obtusifolius as described by
Prof Rogers, is found in the blue slates at Ellingtons.

PODOZAMITES LANCEOLATUS. — E. n. S.

Plate 3. Fig. 7.
Stem or midrib, strong, striate ; leaves nearly opposite, or
rather alternating ; lanceolate, contracted at base ; nerves
many, parallel, converging towards the apex. The detached
leaves of this plant are very common in the blue slate at El-
lingtons ; some are half an inch wide.

PODOZAMITES LONGIFOLIUS. E. Th. S.

Leaves linear, lanceolate, acute, constricted immediately at
the base ; nerves, fine parallel, converging towards the apex.
The P. longifolius differs from the former in the proportion of
the leaves ; they are narrower in proportion to their length
than the lanceolatus ; the base is wider and constricted less,
and the nerves are not so strong and distinct. The frond is
seven inches wide, and was probably two feet long.

It occurs at Lockville in the blue slates ; it is a more robust
plant than the former.

At Ellingtons, in the blue slate, I have found an apparently
singular fruit disk, which I believe is entirely new. I sup-
posed at first, it might be the fruit of a cycadeous plant ; but
it is quite evident, that it differs in toto from the fruit of this
family, as it is usually represented ; besides, there are certain
facts connected with the specimens which go to show, that it

332 NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL STJUVEY.

is in itself a complete plant. I have called this singular pro-
duction, Lejyacy dotes, from its being composed of a circle of
scales, having a distant resemblance to the scales of a cone of
a pine. It is one of the most common plants at this locality,
the detached scales occurring throughout the slate.

{Natural order Undetermined.)

Lepacyclotes.--«-. g.
Disk circular or elKptic and formed of numerous scales ar-
ranged in a circle or in that of an ellipse ; scales terminating
outwardly, in triangular points, which form a border outside
of a circular ridge,

Lepacyclotes circulaeis. — E. n. s.
Plate 3, Fig. 4.
Disk circular and formed of numerous triangular pointed
scales, which radiate apparently from a centre. This species
appeared to be furnished with a thin fleshy disk, most of
which broke in detaching it from the rock. A portion how-
ever, still remains as represented in the figure.

Lepacyclotes, ellipticits. — E. n. s.
Plate 3, Fig. 6,

Disk elliptic, scales inserted or standing around an elipti-
cal area, which is marked by an elevated line ; scales with a
ridge upon the back, bounded by two shallow furrows or de-
pressions.

The thin triangular expansions outside the ridge, are varia-
ble in length.

This species is by far the most common, and it furnishes
some anomalous forms which it is diflicult to understand on
the assumption that it is a coniferous fruit. Thus, I have one
specimen less than half an inch in its longest diameter, and
another, if complete, more than eight inches, and formed of
three concentric circles, as if it were an entire plant ; one
circle growing upon another. When I first observed this
species, I supposed its elliptic form was due to pressure ; but

NOETH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 333

I am persuaded tlie form is constant, whether the disk is small
or large. I believe too, that its form marks a specific difference.

The latter, L. ellipticus, is sometimes furnished with a stem
which traverses the disk in the direction of its long diameter,
or its longest axis. At first, it appeared to me, that it was
an accidental accompaniment ; but having seen it already,
three or four times, and always lying in this direction, I be-
lieve it should be regarded as a stem, or support of the disk,
and that it is a part of the plant.

Both species occur at Ellingtons ; the ellipticus is by far
the most common.

Lycopodiace^.

Walchia dittusus. — E. n. s.
Plate 3, Fig. 2.

Stem and branches thickly covered with small recurved
lanceolate leaves, clasping at base ; larger upon the main
stem than branches ; branches numerous, and irregular
often elongated, leafy.

This species is quite abundant at Ellington's, in the blue
slate. It does not occur in the carboniferous slates at all.
There is one in this lower formation, however, which is only
seen in fragments, but which I believe is quste different. It
has been referred to.

Walchia longifolius. — E. n. s.

Leaves pointed or acute, beginning to taper about one-
third their length from the base ; clasping and decurrent ;
main stem large, leafy, and supplied apparently with simple
branches.

The leaves are three times as long as those of the W. dif-
fusus, and their length is very uniform. This species occurs
at Lockville, in the blue slate. The stems are sometimes half
an inch in diameter.

Another species occurs at Lockville with slender elongated
branches, with leaves about the length of those of the W. diffu-

334 NORTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

BUS, but more pointed. It may be a variety of the former. The
W. longefoHus resembles veiy closely the Yoltzia acutifolius.

EQUISETACEiE.

Calamites DisjimcTus. — E. n. s.
Plate 4, Fig. 7.
Joints distant, ribs distant with the surface between, mark-
ed with fine parallel lines.

Tlie outside resembles that of the C. Moutgeottii, and may
belong to that species ; but I have never observed the inter-
nal stem which is like the C. arenaceus.

Calamttes arenaceus.
The dark cuticle is without markings ; beneath, finely rib-
bed ; specimens occur in which the joints are enlarged. Num-
ber of ribs in an inch about forty. This is the most common
calamites at Lockville and Ellington's.

Equisetum columnabe.
Plate 2, Fig. 9.
A specimen from the Richmond coal basin. It has not
been discovered as yet in connection with the series upon
Deep river.

Fossil plants of the Kjeupek sandstone and marls.
{Natitral m'der undetermined.)

Sphenoglossum. — E. n. g.

§ 262. Leaves short, wedge form ; or sub-triangular, mark-
ed with striae radiating from the centre, arranged in twos or
fours around the stem or support.

I have seen specimens with two opposite leaves in place.
In the one from which the figure was taken there are three,
and one is restored.

NOETH-CAKOLIKA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 335

Sphenoglossum quadkifolium. — E. n. s.
Plate 1, Fig. 2.

Leaves witli divergent margins, and marked with unequal
divergent lines. Stem quadrangular? The softness of the
stone and the slight abrasion it has suffered at the centre,
renders it uncertain respecting the shape of the stem.

This fossil plailt occurs in the soft reddish marls near Ilay-
wood. It is associated with Fig. 1, on Plate 2. Mr. Lea of
Philadelphia, has a similar plant from Turner's Falls, Mass.,
a locality which has furnished so many fine foot prints of
birds and saurians.

Pecoptekides.

Pecoptekis ?
Plate 2, Fig. 1.
This plant which occurs in the Keuper sandstone near Hay-
wood, Chatham county, is too indistinct for the determina-
tion of the genus to wdiich it belongs. The outline of the
frond, with its leafets, are easily made out, but the more im-
portant characters are too much obliterated.

Animal Remains of the Iveupee Sandstone and Maels.

Description of a Tibia of a Saurian.
Plate 5, Fig. 1, one-half natural size.
The specimen is not altered or changed in its composition,
but is still bone, and bears a resemblance to a grave-yard
bone ; hence, its texture or structure is visible to the eye, and
is seen to be coarsely cellular throughout, with broken cylin-
ders or canals traversing it in an oblique direction. The tex-
ture appears as coarse and open as any bone belonging to the
mammiferous order. In this respect it is in contrast with the
bones figured on plate No. 7.

Note. — I have several other plants from the Keuper, which are too imperfect for
determination ; among them is a large Zamites or cycadeous plant.

336 NOETH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL StIRVEf.

The bone is very thick at the proximal extremity, or at its
articulation with the thigh bone. Its articulating surface is
well preserved. It is divided into two unequal parts by an
elevation which fits to the space between the condyles of the
femur. This surface is very oblique, the greater has a width
of two and a half inches ; the lesser of one inch, measured
transversely.

At the distance of about seven inches from the proximal
extremity it has a strong curve, or such as represented in the
figure. The upper part is obliquely quadrangular. The an-
terior surface of this part has a deep broad groove, which ex-
tends nearly to the curvature, but becomes flattened or shal-
low near this part of the bone. The outside is narrower than
the inside. The inside surface is broad, slightly convex. The
posterior side shows the deep longitudinal depression between
the condyles for the transmission of its vessels and nerves.
The inferior part, which is seven inches long, is straight from
the curvature ; just at the bend it is oval in a transverse sec-
tion, but as it proceeds towards the lower extremit}'-, it is
flattened ; the anterior edge is only about half as wide as the
posterior. It is broken at this end, and there is probably a
loss of two inches in length. It continues to widen to the
broken extremity, and its surface is injured ; none of the natu-
ral unbroken surface remains, but the form is preserved.

Dimensions of the bone, etc. :

The whole length measured over the curvature to the

articulating surface 13 inch, and K of an inch.

Thickness of the condyles fro?>i dde to side 3 " }£ "

Circumference of the condyle 10 "

Thickness through the inner condyle 3 "

Thickness through the bend • 1 " ^ "

Thickness through the flattened extremity from the an-
terior to the posterior 2 " % "

Thickness from side to side.. 1 " /4 "

This bone has a small medullary cavity, which is brought to
view by a fracture near its curvature.

The bone is stained throughout with a reddish tint, which
was derived from the rock inclosing it, which, when ground

IfORTH-CAROLtNA GliOLOGICAL SURVEY. 337

down, is white, and its structure is as easily brought out as
the recent bone.

Another bone from the same sandstone as represented upon
plate 5, fig. 2, was found near the locality of the former.
It is a fragment of a cervical vertebra. If a vertebra, its spi-
nous process must have been very long, as the piece remain-
ing is still four and a half inches. It is flattened, and its trans-
verse section oval, and is provided with sharp ridges on each
edge for the attachment of muscles. It is three-quaBters of
an inch wide, three-eighths of an inch thick. The portion of
the centrum remaining has two large articulating surfaces,
the one above fig. 2 is more than one inch across and runs
parallel with the flattened faces of the bone ; it must have
been two inches long. The other is oblique, and is concealed
in the figure under the triangular process, and the broken one
on the right. There is also a deep groove running in the di-
rection of the spine, but which terminates in a sharp ridge.

The bones w^ere discovered by Mr. Leadbetter, of Anson
Co., I^. C. The position is near the upper part of the red
sandstone. I visited the place and know from personal ex-
amination that it belongs geologically to this formation. I
regarded the bone as a remarkable one, and hence was cau-
tious not to leave the question of place in uncertainty,
although for myself I put perfect confidence in the observa-
tion of the gentleman who found it.

POSTDONIA.

§ 264. The posidonias of the sandstone and marl are very

abundant at a locality six or seven miles south from Mr. Mc-

Ivers. There seem to be two species. One represented by

Fig. X. Figure X., upon which the ribs are fine

and numerous, amounting to twenty,

having the external form of an Edmon-

dia, with a nearly straight hinge line

which I have named P. multicostata.

The other has fewer but stronger ribs
and a more triangular form ; the repre-
sentation indicates a thick shell like an astavte^ but it is thin ;
2^

1

338 NOETH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

the ribs are strong, but the ei7-oneous impression arises from
the enlargement of the figure.

Fig. v. Tliis form of the shell suggests the name

triangularis^ should it prove to be a new spe-
cies. They are associated with a calamites,
the characteristics of which are rather obscure,
Plate 1, Fig. 1.
Tlie stem appears as if it was angular, but as neither the
equisetum or calamites are angular, it is probably due to
pressure.

A species of cypris also ocXiurs in the red shales, in Anson
county. They were discovered by my friend Mr. Leadbetter,
who also discovered the fossil bones of the red rocks which
have been described.

CHAPTEK XLII.

The Coalfields of Deep river and of RiGhmaad., compared^
1st, as to their lithological characters, 2^, their paloBontolog-
ical contents, and Sd, the indications of their comparatire
age.

§ 365. The rocks which stand connected immediately with
the coal seams, lie between two red rocks or masses ; the
Rothertodthe liegendes below, and certain beds of the New
Red sandstone above, which I suppose may be cotempora-
neouswith the Keuper sandstones and marls. The coal seams
themselves are connected with, or embraced in a black bitu-
minous slate, the whole thickness of which at Egypt, I have
estimated at eight hundred feet. Immediately succeeding
the slates, we find drab colored sandstones, then beds of con-

NOBTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SUBVET. 339

glomerate, followed by a thin plant bed, composed of blue
slates whose flora is peculiar ; and finally, the upper red sand-
stone already alluded to. Such is briefly the character of
the Deep river rocks.

The Richmond coal formation, it will be seen, is quite dif-
ferent. In the first place, the inferior red sandstone is ab-
sent. In the second place, the mass of beds are mostly grits
and gray sandstones, with only intercalated beds of slates and
the coal seams, and near the bottom of the series, and in
some instances repose almost immediately upon syenitic gran-
ite. We perceive then, at once, that as physical groups, they
are unlike each other, which will become more striking by
stating somewhat in detail the nature of the rocks which
overlie the coal seams. Thus we have the following series of
beds :

FEET. INCHES.

Sandstone with shale 570 00

Slate with ealamites 8 01

Sandstone and shale 43 00

Sandstone with ealamites 8 10

Sandstone with shale 48 08

Slate with long vegetable stems 2 06

Sandstone 6 06

Slate with many ealamites 5 06

Sandstone t 14 00

Carbonaceous rock .- 13 00

Slate 5 00

Main Coal Seam 36 00

Sandstone 5 00

Slate 4 00

Coal 1 00

Slate 3 00

Sandstone and grit 7 00

Granite 00 Wt

773 10

Here we perceive the coal seam is within ten feet of gran-
ite, and the main seam within twenty. In other shafts the
coal is found resting upon an uneven mass of granite. Tliere

* Copied from Mr. Lyell's paper, read before the Geological Society of London, en .
titled " Structure and probable age of the coal of James river near Richmond, Vft."

340 KORTH-CAEOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

are others where the coal is thirty or forty feet above the
granite. There is, however, no red sandstone interposed be-
tween the granite and the coaL It is certain the lower sand-
stones of Deep river, and the foregoing slates and grits, are
not cotemporaneous beds, inasmuch as the fossils are totally
different, and indicate a different epoch. We have, therefore,
a period represented by the rocks of Deep river, which are
older than the coal seams of the Richmond trough, and which
are not represented at all in this series.

But this fact alone would not prove that the rocks which
represent the two systems which inclose the respective seams,
differ in age. It is proved only that long before the rocks
near Richmond had begun to be deposited, the country where
Deep river now flows had been for a long time beneath the
waters of the ocean, in which there had accumulated by the
slow accessions of matter, an immense thickness of sandstone.

But then the fact that subsequently coal seams were
formed, does not prove that they must necessarily be cotem-
poraneous. I have shown that the coal seams of Deep river
belong probably to rocks of the Permian epoch. But those
inclosing the coal seams of Richmond may belong to the Tri-
assic, Liassic, or Oolitic epochs. The exact epoch must be
determined by the fossils which have been or may yet be dis-
covered in the rocks of this district.

The determination of the age of the Deep river formation
may aid us in determining the age of the Richmond basin.

In fixing upon the age of the former we have a base from
which to start. We have reason to believe that the formation
of these rocks went on continuously. But it is also proved
that during the time they were forming, very important
changes took place in the races of organic beings which lived
during that time. Thus, the fossils of the coal shale group
at Lockville and Ellington's, are totally different from any be-
low the group, or prior to it in time. There is not the slight-
est resemblance between the fossils of the beds connected
with the coal seams and those of the beds at Lockville and
Ellingtons. There is not a species in common.

Havins: ascertained thus much relative to the series of

\

NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 341

rocks on Deep river, we can hardly avoid the enquirj,
whether we find anything in common in the coal shale group
and sandstones above the carboniferous beds and the Rich-
mond basin. I can answer, that there is a very close generic
resemblance at least, and to a limited extent, a specific re-
semblance also. Thus, the Tseniopteris magnifolius, Zamites
obtusifolius and the Calamites arenaceus, are identical from
these two localities. If fossils are to be relied npon as tests
of age, the Richmond coalfield is formed of rocks which were
deposited cotemporaneously with the npper series on Deep
river, beginning with the upper conglomerate ; or, in other
words, the Richmond coalfield is Triassic, and the Deep river,
Permian, The latter represents, it is supposed, the last of the
Palceozoio period, the former, one of the first stages of the
Mesozoic period. This generalization may appear to be too
bold in the minds of some Geologists, to be true. But the
idea, that the Richmond coalfield may be Triassic, has been
suggested before ; for Prof. Bunbury, after examining criti-
cally a series of fossils collected by Mr. Lyell, remarks, "that
there is about as much evidence of its being Triassic, as
Oolitic."

It appears that most of the fossils relied npon by Pro£
Rogers for his determinations, are Ibnnd in the Triassic
group, and some of them are eminently Triassic fossils, as the
Calamites arenaceus, and there is but one among them
which could be claimed as exclusively Oolitic, viz : the Pe-
€opteris Whitbyensis. Of the correct determination of this
plant, I believe we should entertain- strong doubts. If there-
fore, the plants of the Richmond coal series are mostly Tri-
assic, I cannot see that we need object to the view presented,
sustained as it is by a conijiarison with the Deep river fossils,
which belong to rocks above the middle conglomerate or the
' »ne immediately below the coal shale group at Ellingtons.

It is interesting to find that there is so much probability
or proof existing, which sustains certain general conclusions
respecting the carboniferous eras or formations in this coun-
try. The carboniferous epoch proper, has been regarded as
fhe only one which we could rely upon for coal. The coal-

342 NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

field of Richmond was looked upon as an anomaly after it
had been determined to belong to a more recent epoch than
the former. But if our conclusions respecting the epoch of
the Deep river series are sustained, we have in this country
the true carboniferous ; and in the next stage, the Permian
comes in with its coal, and then the New Hod sandstone in
the next stage with workable coal seams, so that it is proba-
ble we have coal seams occurrin": in three consecutive stases.
A.S coal originates from vegetables, it is also interesting to
note, that these three consecutive stages, are characterized
by peculiar vegetations; that each stage differs in its coal
plants, or the plants from which the coal is produced. So
also, it is probably true, that the Oolitic coal of Brora, Scot-
land, had its peculiar vegetation, or its peculiar plants from
which the coal was derived. But the physical phenomena
attending the carboniferous epochs, must have been quite
similar in each ; they must have been accompanied with sub-
sidences, and other necessary changes and conditions, in or-
der to have secured results so similar in each respective
epoch.

Note. — The Palmotroehis of Montgomery county, is closely allied to the Oldhainift
of Ireland, the oldest known fossil of the Briiish Dominions; both are Zoophitea of
the same order.

APPENDIX.

1 WISH to supply in this appendix some omissions without
a special division into chapters and sections, which I have
made in the body of the report.

§ 1. The first omissions relate to the water power of the
Roanoke at and near Weldon.

This power occupies an important position in consequence
of the intersection of rail ways at this place, making it an
accessible point from the north, north-west, south and south-
west. It is also in the midst of fertile and productive lands.

I have not attempted to estimate the amount of this power
at or near this place ; but it Avill be seen, that it is very great.
Let any one examine the locations along the canal for five or
six miles, and he will be surprised that a power so vast, so
convenient, so controllable, is still unoccupied by mills. If
the canal itself should take the place of a mill race, and there
can be no objection to this position, it furnishes sites for man-
ufactories for five or six miles, with the whole power of the
Roanoke to support them. Weldon should become a large
manufacturing town ; at least, I can see no reason why it
should not.

§ 2, Jones* Fall or LochviUe. — The alterations which have
been made in the locks and canal at this place, will greatly
improve it as a manufacturing site. The whole river will be
controlled and commanded. The site itself is convenient and
free from danger during high water. On the south-west side,
one mile and a qarter above the Falls, there is another valua-
ble water power owned by Capt. Bryant ; the amount of fall
and its advantages I am not able to state.

These water powers are near the deposits of coal and iron,
or near the centre of an important and growing district. It
is connected with Pittsborough by a Plankroad, and will un-
doubtedly be connected with Raleigh by a Railway ; and

344

APPENDIX.

being upon the river, it is connected witli Fayetteville and
Wilmington and the ocean, by navigable waters ; hence this
point is one of great importance. Tlie village of Haywood
near by, though now dilapidated, is built upon a pleasant and
healthy site in the forks of Deep and Haw river ; its position
is beautiful and furnishes eligible sites for country residences,
scarcely equalled by any in the State.

Tliere are many locations in this State, with advantages for
manufacturing, which recommend themselves to I^orthern
companies who require more power than they can command
at home. Of these, Weldon, Jones' Falls, the Horseshoe
Bend of the Catawba, the South Yadkin, are among the best
unoccupied sites. Weldon is the place for the manufacture
of cotton ; Jones' Falls is adapted to cotton and iron ; the
Horseshoe Bend and the South Yadkin for iron.

GILLIS COPPER MINE.

§ 3. Tliis mine is near the east line of Person separating it
from Granville county. It is in the north-east corner of Per-
son, and only about five miles from the Virginia Hne. The
country is rather elevated, being probably eight or nine hun-
dred feet above Henderson.

The rock immediately investing the mine is an altered
slate belonging to the Taconic system. About a mile east,
the conglomerates form a very prominent part of the series ;
but they are beyond the influence of the forces which chang-
ed the slates referred to.

On the west, slates which I have usually regarded as tal-
cose, but which I now believe are argillaceous, succeeded
the metamorphic ones ; but another altered belt is encoun-
tered in about five miles to the west, in which there are also
veins which carry the ores of copper. I refer to the belt
which traverses the land of William Gillis. The altered belt
in which the Gillis mine occurs, pursues a direction nearly
north and south, or nearl}^ if not exactly on the parallel of
the line dividing the two counties ; but the strike of the vein
isN. 10° E., with a steep easterly dip, amounting to about 70°.
It is however, slightly variable at different depths in the shaft.

APPENDIX. 345

The metal wliicli the vein carries, is known as the vitreous
copper ore, which yields when properly dressed, about sixty
per cent, of copper. Two shafts have been sunk upon the
vein, both of which have been carried to the depth of eighty
feet. The lode continues all the way down, but is variable
in width. At the present time, at the dejDth of eighty feet,
it is eighteen inches in the south shaft, and about five feet in
the north. The vein stone is a porous quartz, stained and
impregnated with the green carbonate of copper. In the
north shaft, calcspar has accompanied the quartz, though it
is mostly in bunches.

The vein carries in addition to the vitreous copper, silicate
of copper, green carbonate, red and black oxides of cop-
per, the latter rare ; and the red oxide first appeared in the
eighty foot level, where the vitreous ore is in a continuous
belt running across the shaft. The width is from two to four
inches nearly pure vitreous copper. On each side the quartz,
gossan, etc, is impregnated with the carbonate intermixed
Avith chrysocolla.

This vein was examined about eighteen months ago. I
expressed a favorable opinion of it which was based partly
upon the ground, that it carried a rich metal in a continuous
depository, which extended according to my own examina^
tion, at that time, almost a mile. It is noM^ known to extend
about five miles. The vein I found well formed and regular.
Subsequently a contract was made by a party who proposed
to work it. This party, however, reported after a brief trial,
that the vein had disappeared, and that it was entirely worth-
less. This unexpected report was scarcely credible, but be-
ing unable at that time to make a farther exploration, I could
not say that the report was untrue. I omitted, therefore, a
reference to it in the proper place ; but fortunately, the own-
ers having employed a gentleman of intelligence and capac-
ity, to open the mine properly, it turns out a rich and valua-
ble depository of metal. Encouragement has followed the
sinking of the shafts referred to, and I now feel confident that
it will prove better than I was led to expect on my first ex^

346 APPENDIX.

amination. It now bids fair to become one of the rich mines
of the State.

It was expected when Gillis' mine was first opened, the
vitroiis copper would change, or be repUiced by the poorer,
the yellow sulphuret, but as yet there are no indications of
change, very few particles of the yellow ore having been
observed.

The indications which the rocks furnish, taken in connec-
tion with the fiict that there are other veins than the one de-
scribed in this neighborhood are that this part of Person and
Granville will prove a mineral district of considerable import-
ance.

§ 4, One remark which may be properly made in this place
respects the chemical composition of the copper ores : it is
this, that they cannot be regarded as definite chemical com-
pounds, but mixtures which may have the following range :

2 Cu, S., Fe. S., but are generally represented by Cu. S., Fe.

2 * ' 2

S. or 3 Cu. S. Fe. S. There are ores or sulphides (sulphur-

2 2 3

ets) which are definite in composition, or uniform in their
proportions of sulphur and metallic elements, especially when
crystalized, or ciystaline, but there is more which is promis-
cuously commingled, and which consists of several sulphides
in various and indeterminable proportions, and those which
are richest in gold have a;i excess of sulphur. Selenium
sometimes occurs also in some varieties of sulphides.

§ 5. Iron ore of a fine quality is another product which is wor-
thy of note, but this ore is more abundant in the region of
Mount Tirza and Eed Mountain.

This series of sediments continues westward from fifteen to
twenty miles. Upon Hyco, about five miles north of Kox-
boro, I found its northern termination in a mass of felspar-
tliic quartz rock at Marlow Mountain, on a ridge of hills show-
ing some very bold features where they are traversed. Two
prominent naked pinnacles crown the summits of this moun-
tain. They are highly picturesque objects, and well worthy
of a visit by the curious and by geologists. They seem to be
metamorphic, and consist of a compound of albite and quartz,

APPENDIX. 347

or else of the prismatic felspar. Associated with those
singular pinnacles are beds of argillaceous slate, agalmatolite
or argillaceous soapstone, silicious slate, approaching a sand-
stone. Some of the beds are highly charged with magnetic
iron ore, in imperfect crystals, and it is highly probable that
it will be found in beds of considerable magnitude.

This formation in Person County is identical with that of
Montgomery County, not far from Troy. It is there accom-
panied with veins of iron ore. The stellated talc of Cotton
Stone Mountain occurs in a similar formation. It may prove
that this mineral is not magnesiaii, and may be one of the
forms or varieties of Agalmatolite. These rocks rest upon the
primary schists, hornblende slate, talcose slate, etc., with fels-
pathic veins, some of which are white and pure.

§ 6. Lalnjr'mthodont of the Deep River Coal Measures. — Al-
lusion has been already made to this fossil under the name of
Archegosaurus. The iirst saurians of this type were found in
the coal of Saarbruck, in Germany. The cranial bones of this
singular lizard are beautifully sculptured, and ornamented
with pits. It is readily distinguished from the Thecodont sau-
rians by these characteristics. It occupies the same position,
being imbedded in the coal of the lower part of the six foot
seam.

In conclusion, I find it necessary to say that the animal re-
mains which have been described in the foregoing pages have
been submitted to the examination of Joseph Leidy, Prof, of
Anatomy in the University of Pennsylvania. Prof. L. is one
of the ablest comparative anatomist in this country, and it was
expected that he would have been able to have furnished a
descriptive catalogue of the interesting fossils of deep and Dan
rivers in season to have been inserted in this rejDort. But in
this expectation I am disappointed, and have occasion to re-
gret it, because, if I have fallen into errors, those errors would
have, been corrected in this volume.

Fig. e. g Y'. Omission. — ^The figure of the transverse section

Oof the large tooth of the Clepsisaurus Pennsylvani-
cus was omitted. It is now placed in the margin.
It is bicarinate near the base and unequally convex.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATES.

Plate I.

Fig. 1. Supposed to be an Equisetum. Its stem, however,
appears to be angular, and if so it belongs probably to an un-
described genus. It belongs to the upper Sandstone of Deep
river.

Fig. 2. Sphenoglossum quadrifoliuni. Upper sandstone.

Fig, 3. Dyctuocaulus striatus.

Fig. 4. Gymnocaulus alternatus,
Plate II.

Fig, 1, Supposed to be a Pecopteris,

Fig, 2. Neuropteris. (?)

Fig. 3. Equisetum column aroides.

Fig. 4. Chondrites gracilis.

Fig. 5. Leafet of an undescribed plant.

Fig, 6, Neuropteris linsefolia.

Fig. 7. Diaphragm of the Equisetum columnare.

Fig. 8. Pecopteris bullatus.

Fig. 9. Equisetum columnare. — Richmond coal basin.
; Plate III.

Fig, 1. Pterozamites decussatus.

Fig. 2. Walchia diftusus.

Fig. 3. Lycopodites.

Fig. 4. Lepacyciotes circularis.

Fig. 5. Undetermined, in consequence of the obscurity of
the side veins.

Fig. 6. Lepacyciotes ellipticus.

Fig. 7. Podozamites lanceolatus.

Fig. 8. Pterozamites of the upper sandstone.
Plate IV.

Fig. 1. Pecopteris Carohnensis, showing its sori, nat. size..

Fig. 2. Sori enlarged.

Fig. 3. Pecopteris?

Fig. 4. Calamites disjunctus.

Fig. 5. Pecopteris falcatus. ? Barren frond. ?

Fig. 8. Acrostichites oblongus.

Fig. 6. Enlarged view, showing the reticulated side veins
and their distribution.

Fig. 7. Calamites.

Fig. 9, Pecopteris falcatus.

Fig, 10, Cyclopteris,

Fig. 11, Dir^nites graminoides.

350 DESCRIVnON OF THE PLATE8.

Plate V.
Fis:. 1. Tibia of a saurian found in the upper sandstone, or
the Keuper sandstone. "

Fig. 2. Fragment of a cervical verteba. ?
Fig. 8. Tooth of tlie Clepsisaurus Pennsylvanicus.
Fig. 4. Fish scale enlarged ; natural size below.
Fig. 5. Portion of the frontal bone of the Rutiodon Caroli-
nensis.

Plate VI.
Fig. 1. Fish scale, natural size.
Fig. 2. Supposed ichthyodolerite.

Fig. 3. Metatarsal bone, or it may be a short rib. Taken
from the sandstone at Germantown.

Fig. 4. Undetermined. Found in the bituminous shale at
Farmei'sville.

Fig. 5. Undetermined. From the black bituminous shale
of Farmersville.

Figs. 6, 1 and 9. Coprolites from the bituminous shale,
Farmersville.

Fig. 8. Two lumbar vertebrae, in position and natural size,
Avith the crushed ribs, and beneath showing a portion of the
spinous process. From the bituminous shale, Farmersville.

Plate YII.
Fig. 1. Femur of a saurian from the gray sandstone, Ger-
manton.

Fig. 2. Tibia in juxtaposition with the former.
Fig. 3. Showing the form of a transverse section near the
distal exti'emity.

Fig. 4. Form or shape of the articular extremity of the ver-
tebra of the Rutiodon.

Fig. 5.. Longitudinal section of the same vertebra, showing
its concavities and constricted centrum.
Plate VIII.
Fig. 1. Three consecutive dorsal vertebrae, showing tho
articulation of the ribs.

Tiio form and relation of the rib to the vertebra.

Coracoid bone.

Supposed to be a part of the humerus.

Plate IX.
and 2. Dictyopyge from the Richmond coal forpia-

•
Tetragonolepis, from the same.
Genus Ischypterus, Sunderland, Mass.
"Platio 9. (Map.)
Plan of the veins at Gold Ilill, showing their relations and
directions.

Fig.
Fig.
Fig.

2.
3.
4.

Figs

. 1

tion.

Fie;.
Fig.

3.
4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATES.

351

Plate X.

Plan sliowinsj the arran2:ement of the pockets, as they are
called, in the Gold Hill mine, and on the left the regular off
sets of the vein as it descends.

Plate XI.

Exhil)its a plan of the working of the North Carolina cop-
per mine of Guilford county.

Plate XII.

The underground workings of the Rudersill mine at Char-
lotte, Mecklenburgh county.

Plate XIII.

Plan of the veins of the Conrad Hill mine, Davidson
county.

Plate XIV. — Section.^.

Sec. 1. Extending from Lincolnton to Wadesboro', running
nearly east and west, showing the position of the Taconic sys-
tem near Lincolnton, and the relations of the Trias, near
"Wadesboro, Anson County. The numbers below indicate the
distance in miles.

Sec. 2. Showing the relation of the rocks from Gold Hill
to Troy, Montgomery county, and the position in which fos-
sils occur in the older rocks at the latter place.
Plate. {Sections.)

Sec. 1. Showing the series of sandstones and slates with
the coal seams at the Gulf

Sec. 2. The same section prolonged north-west, showing
the relations and position of the veins of iron ore in the Ta-
conic series, together with the position of the brecciated con-
glomerates. S. I., specular iron. H. I., ha3matitic iron at
ore knob. Con., conglomerate. T. S., Taconic slates.

Sec. 3, extends across the coal series at Murchisons, Moore
county. F. C, tire clay.

Sec. 4, extends across the coal series at Evander McTver's.
The Salines consist of drab colored sandstanes, which, in dry
weather, are coated with salt. The Breccia marks the boun-
dary here between the Keuper sandstone and the coal meas-
ures, though the term breccia would be more properly re-
placed by the term conglomerate.

EBBATA.

Page XV., 6th line from top for ^\fine" read "fire."
Page XYI, 16th line from top, for "prqjenitors" read "progenitors."
Page 20, 12th line from the top, for " chrystalUtie" read " cri/s(alline.''
Page 21, 4th line from the bottom, for "plains" read "planes."
Page 96, middle of the page, for " in'uptive" read "eruptive."
Page 154, 2nd line from the bottom, for "Maury" read " Mooiuy."
Page 216, 4th line from the top, for " Asbestos" read " Asbestus."
Page 219, 7th line from the top tor " Ileaden" read " Headhig."
Page 201, 14th line from the bottom, for " Jmrd" read "based."
Page 205, 9th line from the top, for '' mttrkey''' read "milkey."
Page 228, for " Triassic" read " Liassic,"
Page 291, for " Clubb" read " Gbib."

Page 295, for " Ryley and Scutchhnrg" read " Riley and Scntchbury."
Page 292, for " Polipodiacea" read " Polypodiacea."
Page 233, Sth line from the top, for " Native" read " Saline."
Page 233, 10th line from the bottom, for "crusted" read " crushed r
Page 235, 17th line from the bottom, for " Sigellaria" read " Sigillaria.'
Page 235, 3d line from the bottom, for " Stone" read "Stems."
Page 269, 14th line from the top, tor "hemaUte" read "haematite."
Page 239, 2nd line from the top, for "plats" read " plants."
Page 239, 3d line, for " Sycopodlacea" read " Lycopodiaeea."
Page 233, 15th line from the top, for " Suringia" read " Thuringia."
Page 244 and 245, for " Fooshee" read " Farshee," and for "Dyers" read "Jjye's."
Page 251, 11th line from the top, for "trlated" read " tested," and for "case" read
■ ease."
Page 290, 4th Hue from the top, for " Cryptomeritus" read " Cryptomeriles."
Page 300, 11th line from the bottom for " Pennsylvanius" read " Fenneylvanicm."
Page 337, for " Syco podiacea" read " Lycopodiacea."
Change Zamites, Plate 4, fig. 11, to Dionites.

<5 o"

SECTION N" I

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