86 JOURNAL OF THE 



Per Cent. 



Silica II-075 



Metallic iron.. 58.930 



Sulphur - - 0.068 



Phosphorus - 0.033 



In explanation of the formation of these deposits of 

 "soft" ore, snch as occur on the Black, Red Hill, and 

 other properties to be described hereafter, it may be said 

 here that all indications go to show that they are undoubt- 

 edly due to the breaking down of the original outcrops 

 of magnetite and magnetic rocks, subsequent to the erosion 

 of the more readily decomposable surrounding strata, and 

 their consequent spreading over large superficial areas of 

 comparatively limited depths. At the same time their 

 replacement may have been so regulated by nature that they 

 still exist in workable deposits, and the original beds 

 might be expected either directly beneath or in close prox- 

 imity to them; but this can only be definitely settled by 

 further exploitation. 



As shown in several places much of this "soft" ore can 

 be concentrated to a comparatively high-grade material by 

 simple washing alone, and there is no reason why, by 

 means of magnetic concentration, a highly desirable prod- 

 uct should not be obtained. Even the hard ores, high in 

 silica, are susceptible of concentration, after previous 

 crushing by this process ; and at the well-known Cran- 

 berry mines in Mitchell county experiments are being very 

 successfully carried on in this direction. 



By means of the dipping-needle the ore was traced 

 across the summit of Helton knob, which rises to an alti- 

 tude of 3,410 feet above sea-level. On the south-western 

 slope of Helton knob several small openings on the prop- 

 erty of Joseph Jones expose the ore-bed, but not sufficiently 

 to furnish much definite information. On the western 

 foot-hills of Helton knob, on Robert's branch, a tributary 

 of Helton creek, an opening on David Blevins' land 



