191Ji\ Certain Mineral Resources 



l^orth Carolina, and Georgia. The better and more valuable 

 variety has been found in Xorth Carolina. 



The Virginia deposits are for the most part the stealtite 

 variety of talc, and this State is the most important producer of 

 soapstone in the United States. Seventy-eight per cent of the 

 product that is mined is manufactured into laundry tubs and 

 similar objects. 



In ]^orth Carolina and Georgia, especially in the mountain 

 areas of these states, there are large areas of soapstone ; but on 

 account of their distance from railroads, they have not been de- 

 veloped. Recently a deposit of compact talc was found in Ashe 

 County which gives promise of producing a talc that can be used 

 for talcum powders and other purposes that require a ground 

 talc. 



The Georgia and !N^orth Carolina deposits of talc are some- 

 what similar in their occurrence. Those in the latter state fur- 

 nish the finest grade of talc produced in the United States. The 

 formation in ISTorth Carolina in which this talc is found begins 

 in Swain County, about 6 miles east of the Valley River Moun- 

 tain, follows up the valley of the Xantahala River to near the 

 Macon County line, thence ascends the Xelson Creek ravine 

 and crosses the mountains at an altitude of 2,800 feet at Red 

 Marble Gap. Entering Cherokee County, it follows Valley 

 River, broadening out near Andrews to a width of about one- 

 half of a mile ; then crosses the Valley River and the Hiwassee 

 River and Valley in the vicinity of Murphy, and follows the 

 ISTottely River Valley, crossing the State line into Georgia. 



All the deposits are located either alongside the railroad or in 

 close proximity to it. The Murphy branch of the Southern 

 Railway passes over the formation for almost the entire distance 

 from its eastern end to Murphy. To the west of Murphy the 

 Atlanta, Knoxville and ISTorthern Railroad follows close to the 

 talc and marble outcrops. Facilities for railway transportation 

 at nearly all the deposits are of the best and but little hauling 

 by wagon is necessary, 2 miles being the longest distance from a 

 shipping point on the railroad. 



The rocks of the talc-bearing region in these southwestern 



