1882. 103 Trans. N. Y. Ac. Sez. 
the purpose of drainage, 261 feet long, mostly through rock, was cut 
to this vein, and a shaft sunk down upon it. At this time the 
work on this vein has reached a depth of 36 feet, at which point it 
proved its pocket nature by pinching out—closing together. 
Thus far, twelve of these pockets have been found within an area of 
forty feet square, carrying emeralds, four of which pockets contained 
also the spodumene-emerald. 
All these veins maintained nearly the same character of dip, thick- 
ness, length and associations. 
Other pockets were found that yielded Quartz, Rutile, Monazite, and 
Mica crystals of great beauty. Others yet, whose walls were covered 
with finely crystallized Dolomite, Calcite, Apatite (transparent and pel- 
lucid) Rutile, Pyrite, Quartz and Mica. 
In one instance, a small pocket that contained two beautiful emerald 
crystals, had its walls covered with large crystals of Albite (twinned 
parallel to the basal plane). Another pocket contained only Mica crys- 
tals and one small pellucid colorless beryl that had both ends brilliantiy 
terminated with many planes. I mention the above associations, that 
you may learn the diversity in these pockets, although they are so near 
together. 
In the rock-mining, and while prospecting on the surface, the sign of 
a vein is the presence of small streaks of massive quartz, or of mica, in 
a counter direction to the strike of the country-rock, either of which lead 
to open pockets not many feet off. The gems have thus far been 
found loosely attached to the rock. Not over nine emeralds have 
been found at any one time. Mineralogists have a great treat in store 
for them, when deep rock-mining is accomplished here. Then the 
gems will be found firmly attached, and they will shine with all their 
primitive crystalline beauty. 
The largest emerald found in this mineis 8% inches long, and weighs 
nearly 9 ounces. It was one of nine fine crystals contained in a single 
pocket ; their color was excellent, and they were transparent, though 
somewhat flawed. 
The locality is situated about 35 miles, air-line measure, S. E. from 
the ‘Blue Ridge”’ mountains. The contour of the country is low rol- 
ling, and its altitude is about 1200 feet. The soils are chiefly red 
gravelly clays, of not much fertility. The prevailing rock is gneiss, 
with more of a feldspathic than a micaceous character: the trend of 
the strata is N. N. W. and S.S. E. with a dip nearly vertical. 
The gems and crystals occur in open pockets (miniature caves ), of 
very limited extent, these are cross fractures or fissures in the rock. 
These fissures, lenticular in shape, are usually nearly perpendicular. 
There being no glacial drift here, the soils are necessarily the result 
