184 Journal of the Mitchell Society [March 



vin Grajbeal property on lands owned by the Patton family 

 and Calvin Graybeal, a cut exposed magnetic iron ore mixed 

 somewhat with the country schist. This may be part of an ore 

 deposit that is known in that section as the "North vein," which 

 extends approximately parallel with the regular ore formation, 

 and approximately 200 to 300 yards north of the larger vein. 



It is about one-fourth mile from the top of the Calvin Gray- 

 beal hill to the Joseph Graybeal property in a general northeast 

 direction. The vein has a strike across this property of an ap- 

 proximately northeast direction, and it is dipping toward the 

 southeast. The ore deposit has been prospected and developed 

 by means of open cuts, pits, and tunnels for a lateral distance of 

 at least 800 feet and a vertical distance of over 100 feet. A 

 drill hole was made by the Pulaski Iron Company at a point 

 about 700' to the southeast of the first open cut, and 75' below. 

 It is reported to have encountered the ore at a depth of about 

 200'. The dip of the vein would bring the ore body to this 

 point. The width of the ore body as encountered varied from 

 4 to 15 feet. 



The first cut examined was partially filled, so that the extent 

 of the vein could not be determined. Good ore is exposed in 

 the cut, thus showing the continuance of the ore body. This 

 work was done by the Virginia Iron, Coal and Coke Company 

 in 1907. Three hundred feet to the northeast another cut ex- 

 posed the vein, which had a width of at least 15 feet of nearly 

 solid ore, there being a little of the ore mixed with finely divided 

 gangue rock. An analysis of this ore showed 63.50 per cent 

 metallic iron. At the mouth of the cut, about 30 feet from the 

 vein, another small seam of ore 12 to 15 inches thick was ex- 

 posed. Most of this work was done about 1890 or 1892. Part 

 of it was done in the early days of iron mining in the county, 

 when the ore was obtained for Catalan forges. 



Still further to the northeast a long open cut or trench was 

 made by Mr. Sturgill in 1903 across the ore deposit. At the 

 time of my visit, however, it was nearly all filled up, and the 

 ore was only exposed at the east end of the cut. 



Float ore has been found between all the cuts referred to. 



On the opposite side of the hill several cuts and tunnels have 



