1915] Magnetic Iron Ores 181 



cut bj the cross-cuts. Results are given in analyses I and II 

 of Table of Analyses. 



The ore is very much mixed with gangue, but the magnetite 

 can readily be separated from the gangue and largely concen- 

 trated by hand cobbing. 



On the side of the hill cou trolled by the Virginia Iron, Coal 

 and Coke Company sufficient crosscuts and tunnels have been 

 made to show that the vein is continuous across the property. 



POISON BRANCH BELT 



The first property examined in this belt is known as the 

 PoisO'D Branch mine, the mineral interest of which is owned by 

 Mr. Uriah Ballon and Mrs. Davis. The ore was encountered 

 near the summit of a hill dividing the waters of Old Field and 

 Silas creeks. Considerable work has been done on this proper- 

 ty, part of which was to obtain ore for an old Catalan forge. 

 This ore was obtained from two open cuts on the northeast side 

 of the road, one on each side of the divide. Fifty feet below the 

 summit a tunnel 181 feet in length was run into the hill, from 

 which crosscuts were made: one at the extreme end of the tun- 

 nel; another 45 feet towards its mouth; and a third 114 feet 

 from the end. The strike of the vein is approximately 'N. 40° 

 E., and the dip about 45° S. E. Both the first two cuts cut 

 across the vein for a distance of a little over 9 feet, which would 

 give a vein of an actual width of 414 to 5 feet. A third cross- 

 cut was run for a distance of over 33 feet, but this was as far 

 as it could be entered at the present time, as if had been filled 

 up with waste material from some other part of the mine. ISTo 

 ore could be seen in this crosscut. Average samples of this ore 

 were taken, and the results are given under III in the Table 

 of Analyses beyond. 



The foot wall of this deposit is a mica schist, while the 

 hanging wall is a hornblende gneiss. 



This ore belt has been traced in a southwest direction from 

 the Poison Branch property for a distance of about 3^/2 miles 

 crossing the McClure, Blevins or Falls, Uriah and Graybeal 

 properties. It is questionable whether the deposit itself is con- 

 tinuous, and it is more than apt to be made up of lenses of 



