124 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 
The ridge along the banks of the river continues much broken towards Cherokee Ford. On Guion 
Moore Creek the slates are intersected by large veins of milky quartz, some of which are auriferous, 
and at one time gave great promise of productiveness, but I believe have hitherto disappointed the 
owners. Veins very similar to these were once explored on Allison’s Creek, but are now aban- 
doned. ‘They deserve notice as being among the few places in the State where indications of cop- 
per occur. Sulphate of copper, the result of the decomposition of copper pyrites, is found in small 
quantities lining the fissures in the quartz. 
On Bullock’s Creek trap rocks, consisting of greenstone and porphyry, cover a large space, and 
on both sides of Turkey Creek trap and sienite strew the surface. 
Between the head waters of Allison’s Creek, and Smith’s Ford—the north-eastern portion of the 
District—mica and talcose slate cover the entire region, which, taken together, is one of the most 
interesting portions of the State. 
If we commence our examination of this part of York about five miles south-east of King’s 
Mountain, we shall find a good opportunity of studying the mica slates in a picturesque little moun- 
tain, known as Henry’s Knob. This is not, as I have elsewhere shown, a mountain composed of 
rocks pushed up into their present position, above the surface, but one whose elevation is entirely 
due to the wasting and washing away of the surrounding country—the mountain itself remaining, 
being protected by a stratum of hard, indestructible quartz rock, which extends its whole length, like 
ahuge back-bone. Planes’of stratification are visible, and on the weathered surface crystals of iron 
pyrites and cyanite may be seen; being in every respect similar to the cap-rock of Ruff’s Mountain, 
in Lexington. 
Throughout its entire length it is broken, by seams and bedding planes, into numerous tabular 
masses, which remain piled up, higher and higher, till we reach the summit of the mountain.— 
The angular and rugged aspect of the rocks composing this little knob, causes it to contrast stri- 
kingly with the other mountain masses of the State, which are generally more remarkable for their 
rounded and softened character. 
From the base of the knob a sparkling stream issues, which I find marked on the District map, 
“Mineral Spring.” I fancy, however, that the medicinal properties attributed to it are chiefly due to 
exercise, pure air, and the beauty of the place. 
Between the knob and Dickson’s Meeting House indications of beds of iton are quite abun- 
dant. Ascending King’s Mountain towards the pass, the talcose and mica slates, curiously con- 
torted, are finely exposed on top of the ridge, which slopes away gradually towards the Battle- 
ground, whilst the crest of the mountain is seen on the right, on the North Carolina side, with its 
gibbous outline sharply defined against the sky. So gentle is the ascent towards the peak of tne 
mountain on the west, that it is not before we find ourselves on the brink of the fearful abyss 
below, that we can be assured of our great elevation. The escarpment en the North Caro- 
lina side consists of an enormous tablet of quartz rock, reared up on end, apparently as a but- 
tress to the mountain. The strike is N. 30° E. and dip nearly vertical. It is evidently stratified, 
differing from the other rocks with which it is associated only in the predominance of quartz and 
absence of tale or mica, yet both of these minerals can be readily detected in it. ‘Traces of this 
rock may be found in numerous places between this and Gelkey’s Mountain, in Spartanburg. Fol- 
lowing the ridge into South Carolina, we find the quartz rock passing insensibly into mica slate, 
