80 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 
heard any doubts expressed as to the age of the gold region. Mr. Schrieber describes this rock as 
“interstratified with talcose and mica slate ;” precisely the position which it occupies in South 
Carolina. In Spartanburg it occurs near the junction of the mica slate and gneiss, having an 
immense thickness of mica slate resting upon it; and in Pickens it is found in a similar relation. 
The term “sandstone,” -applied to this rock, is calculated to mislead, by suggesting a newer 
formation: it might, with equal propriety, be applied to arenaceous quartz. “ Itacolumite formation” 
is also objectionable. Quartz rock formation is a well known name, an is sufficiently definite ; 
besides, it is the appellation applied by Humboldt to the same formation in Brazil. ‘The itacolumite 
is not at all extensive; it is confined to a few localities. , I have traced quartz rock in South 
Carolina, for miles, but the best locality of flexible quartz in the State does not occupy the space of 
one square yard. It is indeed but small portions of the quartz rock that present this peculiar 
structure. In this respect, also, it agrees with the South American rocks. 
Without advising any one to commence a regular search for diamoads, I have repeatedly recom- 
“mended those engaged in working for‘gold, in branch or deposit mines, to collect and examine the 
refuse gravel, which is seldom noticed, before it is thrown away. The vast deposits in Pickens 
seem to me to offer the most favorable localities for such examinations. 
Iron OREs. 
i 
_ The iron ores of the State that have been explored and used at the iron works are the magnetic 
_ oxide or grey ore, specular oxide or red ore, and the brown species known as hematite, limonite, or 
hydrous peroxide of iron. ‘The magnetic and specular ores are chiefly confined to a narrow belt of 
Biinics in York, Union, and Spartanburg Districts, extending along the northern side of King’s 
“Mountain, crossing Broad River at Cherokee Ford, and terminating on People’s Creek, in Spartan- 
burg, a distance of six or eight miles, being underlaid by the lime rock and surmounted by the mica 
slates of the King’s Mountain range. Strike N. 50° H. dip 45° to 70° S. E. 
» The magnetic oxide or grey ore occurs in a band of talcose slate, which, at its widest extremity, 
scarcely exceeds one half a mile. It is found in a series of beds between the slates, following their 
_ foldings and irregularities—swelling out to a thickness of fifteen or twenty feet, and again contract- 
“ing to the dimensions of one foot, or thinning out altogether. These beds often occur side by side, 
separated by a portion of the slate, and so completely insulated that a bed may be worked within a 
few inches of another without affording any clue to its presence. The thinning out takes place 
both vertically and horizontally, so that the masses of ore are gonerally somewhat lentiform. 
-Through the whole of this range the ore appears to be contemporaneous with the slates, being 
frequently intermingled with them in such a manner as to make it difficult to distinguish one from 
the other, excepting by the greater specific gravity of the ore; a circumstance not readily to be 
explained upon any other supposition than that both slates and iron were deposited together. 
The topography of the country, along the iron region, is quite favorable to mining operations, being 
broken and rather hilly. On the right and left banks of Broad River hills rise boldly, and the ore 
has been traced, on their sides, almost to the water’s edge; yet I have not perceived that any 
advantage has been taken of this circumstance, presenting, as it does, so many facilities, both as to 
