lOlJf] Ckhtaix Mi^teral Resources 11 



between the marble and the quartzite, although at times entirely 

 enclosed bj the marble. Xo pockets, however, have been ob- 

 served that were inclosed by the quartzite. These pockets, which 

 resemble in shape flattened lenses, always follow the dip of the 

 strata in which they occur, and are therefore encountered in all 

 positions from horizontal to vertical. 



These pockets of talc were once much more abundant than 

 now. At the present time the only evidence as to the former 

 existence of many of these is the occurrence of a bluish clay con- 

 taining a few scattered flakes of talc. Wherever the quartzite 

 capping of the pocket of talc has remained the talc is in a good 

 state of preservation, but, on the other hand, wherever the 

 quartzite has been removed by disintegration and erosion the 

 talc has been either partially or wholly decomposed into the 

 bluish clay. In places the talc is found wholly surrounded by 

 the marble, as at the Kinsey mine where small pockets or lenses 

 of it are in the marble, but still close to the contact. 



The beds of limonite iron ore are found closely associated 

 with the marble and talc deposits between the Valley River 

 mountains and the i^ottely Valley. The iron ore, which always 

 lies to the south of the talc, is sometimes almost in direct con- 

 tact with it. The yellow stains observed upon so much of the 

 talc in this region are undoubtedly due to its proximity to the 

 iron ore. Although there are a number of iron-ore deposits in 

 the I^ottely River Valley, they are not in close proximity to the 

 talc and marble, and have exerted but little influence upon the 

 character of the talc. It is in this valley that the most beautiful 

 talc has been found. 



Folding and subsequent erosion of the strata have brought 

 the marble and talc to the surface at a number of points along 

 the valleys of the Kottely and Valley rivers and on the slopes 

 of some of the adjacent ridges. In the broader portions of the 

 valleys the marble and talc are often covered by an alluvial soil 

 which in places reaches a depth of from 20 to 30 feet. 



In Georgia the talc deposits are practically limited to Mur- 

 ray, Fannin, Gilmer, and Cherokee counties. In all, except 

 Murray, the deposits are associated with Murphy marble. Soap- 



