OF SOUTH CAROLINA. 127 
The taleose rocks of Spartanburg are found principally between Cherokee Ford and People’s 
Creek, and have already been described, in connection with the magnetic iron ores of the District. 
Next to gneiss, the mica slates occupy the most prominent place. Nearly the whole of the 
region drained by the branches of Pacolet and Tyger is covered with these rocks. They are coarse 
and silicious, contain lenticular particles of quartz, closely invested with mica, which remain upon 
the surface when the rock is broken down by disintegration—giving it a dry and meagre ap- 
pearance. 
The topography of these mica slate hills is very different from that presented by those Districts 
where feldspathic and hornblendic rocks abound. Instead of the rugged, broken and washed sur- 
face, intersected by ravines, we have a series of gently rounded hills. 
Near the Cowpens Furnace a quarry was opened, which exhibits the character of this rock below 
the surface. It is highly charged with iron pyrites, and along the strike of this stratum some 
mineral springs have their source, which contain both sulphur and iron. Of this character are the 
springs at the furnace, one near Pacolet, and another at Ellis’s Ferry, near the line; and a short 
distance beyond, Wilson’s springs rise from this rock. 
Graphite, or, as it is commonly called, black lead, is found in the slates here. It has been used at 
the furnace, and when selected with care is of good quality. 
But the most valuable product of these slates are the beds of iron that abound in them, nearly 
throughout their entire extent, even as low down as the head of Furguson’s Creek, towards the 
Enoree. This ore is brown hematite, of excellent quality; it is found distributed in the slates, in 
irregular beds of very variable thickness; but which have been no where explored to any depth. 
The Cowpens Furnace, and those on Pacolet, procure ore exclusively from this formation. 
The limestone of Spartanburg occurs in the north-eastern part of the District. The principal 
exposure occurs at Limestone Springs, where the bed cannot be less than 100 feet in thickness, 
although it rises but little above the surface. 
It is, at one extremity of the bed exposed here, a blue, compact rock, presenting distinct marks of 
stratification ; and at the other, it passes into a white, crystalline marble, occasionally clouded and 
marked with gray and reddish bands—forming, altogether, a handsome stone for ornamental pur- 
poses. It is found at other localities between this and the river, which have been elsewhere 
described. 
The strike of the bed is N. 30° E. and dip 30° 8. E. It is associated with the strata containing 
the flexible quartz rock. 
Lime has been burned here more extensively than any where else in the State; it is of excellent 
quality, notwithstanding the disadvantage of badly constructed kilns. A few miles distant, and in 
the opposite direction, this stratum is again laid bare, on the plantation of Dr. Overton Lewis; and 
on the adjoining lands of Mr. Watkins, there are promising localities. It would be very difficult, 
without more time and aid than I had at my disposal, to determine the extent of this rock; yet I 
cannot doubt that it will be found sufficient to supply a very large demand. 
Below Thompson’s Ferry limestone was said to be found, but I could only trace this report to 
some porcelain clay, taken from a well in the vicinity. A spring said to be impregnated with 
lime, was mentioned in evidence of the presence of this reck ; but that is not an unusual circum- 
stance, even where no limestone exists. Most rocks contain lime, though not as a carbonate in that. 
