of mica from the cutting of the large sheets are re-arranged and cemented together into larger sheets, which are cut into various shapes and are known as micanite. For some purposes the large sheets of micanite answer as well as the perfect sheets and are of course much cheaper. The waste or scrap mica, which is not suitable for any of the above purposes, has a value when ground to a flour as in the manufacture of wall papers, lubricants, etc. Another use for scrap mica that has been devised during the past few years is in the manufacture of a covering for boiler-tubes and steam pipes in general. The scraps of mica are not ground but are broken to approximately the same general dimension-about one-half by a quarter of an inch. These are arranged with their longer direction and face parallel to the length of the coil, which consists of a wire net, pressed into the shape of the pipe or tube and against which is the layer of scrap mica kept tightly in place by means of heavy canvas. This kind of boiler-tube covering can be cheaply made and as mica is a non-conductor of heat, it should give good satisfaction, if not equal to or better than the asbestos coverings. North Carolina offers a very favorable location for a plant to manufacture these as it can produce a large supply of scrap mica and has also an abundant supply of available water-power. It is the commercial value of this scrap mica, which is from $8 to $10 per ton delivered at the railroad, that has made it possible to work some of the mines that would otherwise have been unprofitable; for it must be remembered that this waste mica represents 75 to 95 per cent. of the mica mined.

The value of the plate mica per pound varies with the size of the sheet, which is from 15 cents for the smaller sizes to $3 and more for the larger.

LOCALITIES.

During the past year, many of the mica mines throughout the State have been worked quite vigorously, and the result is a larger production of sheet mica than for many years past. The production, however, of scrap mica was less, this being due to the fact that for a number of years the old dumps at the mica mines have been a fruitful source of scrap mica; but as these have been more or less thoroughly culled over, the production is now largely the waste from

present mining. There have been a large number of small producers (from $50 to $500) in the different counties that have worked their mines a few days at a time. There are but few that have been worked continuously throughout the year. A number of new properties, and also old mines, have begun to be worked during the past year, as the mines of the Carolina Mining Company on Beaver creek, near Jefferson, Ashe county; the Mattocks mine near Canton, Haywood county, which is being operated by Mr. J. E. Mattocks; and the Reeves mine near Montvale, Transylvania county. The mica that is being produced in the State does not begin to represent what it should be. By the consolidation of many of the mica mines they could be put on a paying basis and would be profitable to the investor, while by the present method of mining many of them do not more than pay expenses. There are many good deposits of mica in the State that can be worked to advantage and as these are taken up and mining operations for mica are carried on to the same extent as in other kinds of mining, they will be found to be as profitable.

There is no method by which it can be accurately determined from the appearance of a pegmatitic dike at the surface, whether or not at greater depths it will contain large blocks of mica and make profitable mining; but if there is a considerable exposure of the surface dike, and if in this distance there are indications of large blocks of mica, or of mica in paying quantity, it can usually be considered that this represents what will be found deeper. There are a few facts, however, regarding mining and prospecting for mica that can be used to advantage which have been enumerated by Prof. J. A. Holmes as follows:

"Deposits of commercial mica are most likely to be found:

"(1). In regions where the country rock is either mica schist, hornblende schist, or a somewhat schistose gneiss.

"(2). In such of these regions as where the crystalline schists and gneisses contain numerous fairly large and coarsely crystalline pegmatite dikes.

"(3). In a region where these pegmatite dikes have not been greatly crushed or sheared in connection with great earth movements, such as accompany the result in the formation of mountains, it

will probably be found that these movements have destroyed in large measure the value of the mica.

"(4). Where on some portion of the exposed surface of these dikes occasional blocks of good mica may be observed several inches in diameter, the outlook may be regarded as favorable to development. Of course the size of the blocks exposed on the surface of one of these dikes cannot be taken as a positive indication as to what the size of the blocks will be at any considerable depth below the surface; but as a rule it has been fairly assumed that when along the surface of one of these pegmatite dikes which is exposed for a considerable distance no large blocks of mica are to be observed, none are likely to be found at greater depths.

"(5). When after a limited excavation it is found that practically all or a large proportion of the mica discovered at that point is extensively ruled or generally specked with iron, the probabilities are that these defects will continue in depth, and this will of course greatly diminish the value of the product and consequently the chances of successful mining."

PRODUCTION.

In 1901 the production of mica was $79,849 of plate mica, and 1,775 tons of scrap mica valued at $14,200. Compared with the production for 1900, which was $65,200 of plate mica and 5,945 tons of scrap mica, valued at $36,262, there is an increase of $14,649 in value of plate mica and a decrease of $22,062 in scrap mica. The approximate value of the production of sheet or plate mica by counties is given in the following table, together with that for 1900:

VALUE OF PRODUCTION OF SHEET MICA IN 1900 AND 1901 BY COUNTIES.

Although so many of the mica mines throughout North Carolina have been closed, it has not been for want of good mica; for many of them were shut down with a quantity of good mica in sight. The reasons for this are that the owners had no capital with which to equip their mines so as to be able to contend with water or to carry on deep mining; nor in many cases were they able to bear the expense of blasting when the harder rock was encountered in depth. Then again, as their mine became a little difficult to work, they would abandon it, and take up another prospect where the mining was easier, and keep on in this way. There are hundreds of small openings that have been made for mica throughout the State and it was this method that led to the term of "ground-hoging" for mica which is often applied to mica mining. There is mica of the best quality and in quantity in North Carolina that will make profitable mining propositions.

QUARTZ.

Quartz, an oxide of silicon, or as it is sometimes commercially called, silica or silex, is one of the commonest minerals and is very widely distributed in nature, being a constituent of many of the crystalline rocks, and the main constituent of all sandstones. It is also found in quantity at widely varying localities, notably as a constituent of pegmatitic dikes. The uses of this mineral are quite varied, it be

ing used in the manufacture of a paste that is used for wood finishing; in the manufacture of pottery and tile; of sand-paper; in certain scouring soaps and powders; in the manufacture of a wood filler, and in glass; and in certain instances it is mined for a flux in copper smelting. Where it is colorless and perfectly transparent it is of considerable value for cutting into spheres, cubes and other forms for ornamental purposes. There are also many varieties of quartz that are of value as gems, see page 51.

There are large deposits of quartz in the mountain counties of North Carolina, some of which should be available for some of the first purposes enumerated above. It would not pay to ship the rough quartz, but by utilizing the available water-power, it does seem as though the ground product could be marketed at a profit. As a byproduct in mica mining, its cost of production would simply be in the grinding, and with favorable transportation rates, it should be able to compete with quartz produced in other localities. The completion of the railroad in Yancey and Mitchell counties will make this a more feasible proposition for the quartz deposits of those counties.

The only quartz that has been mined in North Carolina during 1901 was in Cherokee county and was used for flux in the copper smelter at Ducktown, Tenn. This amounted to 3,000 tons valued at $7,500. During 1902 this production will undoubtedly be very materially increased.

FELDSPAR.

Inquiries have been received regarding the occurrence of feldspar in North Carolina, that would be suitable to grind and use in the manufacture of pottery. There are two classes of feldspar that can be used for this purpose, the potash and soda feldspars. Of these the potash is the more valuable and more in demand. Orthoclase and microline, the two potash feldspars, have the following theoretical composition: