as 
© oF 
OF SOUTH CAROLINA. 81 
drainage and other operations connected with the successful exploration of the mines. On the con- 
trary, the ore is taken out along the surface in an open trench, and, with one or two exceptions, 
only to the depth of a few yards. 
A person unacquainted with this ore, and with its mode of occurrence, would be likely to con- 
clude, on examining the country, that the prospect of an abundant supply of ore was not very 
promising. From the manner in which the ore is mixed with the slates, and its tendency to crum- 
ble and break into fragments, it never appears above the surface in solid masses, but is subject to 
all the causes of disintegration and waste that are constantly acting upon the rocks in which it is 
enclosed: so that a few rusty pebbles, scattered over the surface, are frequently all that appear to 
indicate to the practiced eye the rich beds hidden below. 
Near Cherokee Ford, in the corner of Union, ore has been extracted, to some extent, to supply 
the Nesbit Manufacturing Company’s works. A short distance north of the ford a fine bed has 
been opened, towards the hill top; and following the direction of the slates, the ore may be traced 
along the surface, in parallel beds, some of which have not yet been opened. At one of the beds a 
shaft has been sunk, and ore taken out, below the natural drainage of the mine. Generally, how- 
ever, all operations have been confined to within a few feet of the surface, so that the deeper beds 
remain yet untouched. 4 
On the left bank of the river, at Quin’s, ore has been raised on the hill side, at an exceedingly 
favorable locality. About half a mile farther up the river, on Black-rock Creek, another bed has 
been opened, which presents greater appearance of regularity in its dimensions than any bed that 
I have examined. The walls are parallel and the slates not at all contorted. It has just been 
opened, at the foot of a hill, and should it continue with the same uniformity that it now presents, 
it will afford a supply of ore almost inexhaustible. 
It is probable that this is the lowest level at which ore has been raised in this region, and it is 
the only locality at which I have observed sulphuret of iron in the true magnetic ores. 'The ore is 
black and granular, with fragments that are highly magnetic, and exhibit polarity very strikingly. 
One or two beds have been opened here, of a considerable thickness, but the ore is of the compact 
variety, being hard and tough, having a highly metallic lustre, and is not in repute with the work- 
men. On the top of the hill, near the road, other beds have been explored, to a short depth. The 
ore is compact and massive, and almost unmixed with foreign matter. Ore to any extent may be 
raised at these beds at a moderate expense. 
Farther on, a few miles, several extensive trenches occur, where ore has been taken out. At one 
of these a shaft was sunk to the depth of thirty or forty feet. Other beds are explored here very 
successfully. The ore is of the black and friable variety. The talcose slates extend beyond this a 
few miles, but they contract and occupy a narrower space, or thin out altogether, towards King’s 
Mountain. 
In other parts of the State I found indications of this valuable ore. In Chester District, near 
Cornwell’s large masses of the compact variety are found in hornblende, a rock with which the 
magnetic ores are often associated. Mr. Speiren, of Abbeville, showed me specimens found a few 
miles north-west of the village; and on Hard-labor Creek I saw indications of this ore near the bed 
of peroxide of manganese. Time did not allow me to explore these localities as they deserved, 
but the proprietors, I trust, will examine them carefully. 
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