126 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 
Black Rock Creek. It is, however, much mixed with the slates—at least where I saw it. Beyond 
the lime-rock, and reclining against the rocks in which it occurs, we have another stratum of mica 
slate containing beds of iron ore, corresponding with those on the South side of the gray ore beds. 
It is in these slates that the Hardin bauk, already described, occurs. The strike of the beds con- 
taining this ore is N. 50° E. and the dip N. W. 45°. On the roof, or hanging side of the bed, a 
coarse, feldspathic rock occurs, with a thin mica slate between it and the ore. It is from this 
source that the white porcelain clay, scattered on the surface, near the mine, is derived. 
The taleose rocks of York differ in some important particulars from those of the other Districts. 
They are, in general, less contorted, contain less silicious matter, and frequently pass into common 
soapstone ; hence the many fine quarries of this rock known in the District, where excellent tab- 
lets and flags are procured, of any dimensions. 
I examined this region in company with A. Hardin, Esq. to whose local knowledge I was 
much indebted. On Carroll’s muster-ground we had the pleasure of finding indication of a bed of 
peroxide of manganese, near the brow of the hill; but as no opening was made we had no means 
of ascertaining either the value or extent of the bed. There are other points along the flank of 
the mountain where similar indications occur, but they are not so decided as at this point. 
Traditions of lead mines, which furnished abundance of that metal, to persons in the secret, 
during the Revolution, are quite common in the upper part of the District. I examined several 
places which were pointed out to me by persons who received the information from those who 
were certain that the lead occurred somewhere in the vicinity. I am far from thinking lightly 
of all popular opinions upon such subjects, and I invariably examined all such localities, for the 
satisfaction of my friends, who could not always see how I could tell what was not there, without 
visiting the spot. I need not say that I found no indications of lead at any of these places. The 
Indians, from whom these traditions were often handed down, were but poor geologists, and fre- 
quently made very unfortunate locations of this and other metals, 
SPARTANBURG DISTRICT. 
A coarse feldspathic gneiss is the characteristic rock of Spartanburg, south and south-east of the 
village. True granite is found in the vicinity of the Court House, in the lower part of the slate, 
on Tyger River; but these exposures are of limited extent, compared with the other rocks. Here, 
as in all the upper Districts, gneiss is seen on the rivers, where the slates have been removed.— 
The rocks forming the bed of Pacolet from Hurricane Shoals to Easterwood Shoals are gneiss, 
which may also be seen on the banks, in wide shelving sheets. Between Glenn’s Springs and the 
village the Fair Forest has scooped out a channel, at the base of a hill, in this rock, forming a wild 
and picturesque little view. Gneiss is also well exposed at the surface, at the quiet and pretty spot 
ealled Cedar Springs, where a bold stream of pure water issues from a fissure in this rock. Hast 
and west of the village hornblende slate alternates with gneiss, as may be seen along the road to 
the iron works on Pacolet. The same may be seen on Thicketty. 
Immediately underlying the mica slates of the northern part of the District, beds of very fissile 
hornblende slates are seen outcropping, and may be traced into Greenville, a little South of 
Dantzler’s. 
