Prof. Ansted on some remarkable Mineral Veins. 295 



varies from a few inches to 1 8 feet ; but, where tolerably uniform, the 

 average is 4 or 5 feet. Rich bunches of ore are found occasionally. 



The ore, as assayed by Mr. Henry, consists of — sulphur, 29"47 ; 

 copper, 26-73; iron, 26'04 ; quartz, 8"6 ; oxygen and loss, 9'16. 



The yield, on an average of six samples taken carefully from heaps 

 of ore from diflferent mines, is 26'2 per cent, of copper. 



Of the four lodes, the Hiwassee ranges N.E. and S.W., dipping 

 S.E. about 15 inches in a fathom. The gossan has been traced for 

 a mile and a half, the width averaging 30 feet, and the thickness of 

 black ore 3 feet. It is continued by strings of quartz towards the 

 S.W., and also by a kind of contra-lode, which ultimately becomes the 

 Tennessee lode. This latter is irregular and bunchy, but has yielded 

 large quantities of rich black ore and some red oxide. It has been 

 traced as a gossan- lode for about three quarters of a mile, ranging 

 N. 20° E. and S. 20° W. 



The Polk-Countylode is nearly parallel with the Tennessee lode,and 

 of about the same length, as determined by its outcrop. It is asso- 

 ciated with several veins, none of which have yet been found to be 

 productive. Its breadth is from 20 to 40 feet, and the thickness of 

 black ore averages 3 feet. The Isabella lode is only 600 yards 

 long, but as much as 80 yards wide, and generally contains about 

 3 feet of the black ore ; it ranges nearly parallel to the Hiwassee 

 lode. It terminates abruptly, strings of quartz proceeding from the 

 extremities, without much approach to parallelism with the pro- 

 ductive lode. 



The following are given as the points of resemblance found on 

 comparing these lodes with others. (1) They have distinct parallel 

 walls, and their range is independent of that of the " country." (2) 

 They contain veinstone and show gossan. (3) They are limited 

 in length and breadth, but apparently unlimited in depth. (4) They 

 are parallel veins and branches. (5) They are inclined at a high 

 angle. On the other hand they present the following differences :— 



(1) They are generally parallel to the bedding of the enclosing schists. 



(2) They agree with the " country " in dip as well as in strika. (3) 

 They contain within their walls portions of the " country " unaltered. 

 (4) They present a mass of rich black copper ore between the 

 gossan and veinstone, entirely distinct from either and mechanically 

 separated. (5) The widtli and depth of the ore appears to bear 

 some relation to the form of the surface. 



In some of these points of difference there is an analogy with the 

 auriferous veins of Virginia and North Carolina, but the fourth point 

 is peculiar. They are considered to l)e of the nature of stock-works, 

 or gaping fissures filled up at a more recent date than that at which 

 the rocks had become perfectly metamorphosed. They may be 

 connected below with bunches of yellow copper pyrites, obtainable 

 only by mining operations of a more regular character than have yet 

 been undertaken. Analogous deposits are believed to occur in Vir- 

 ginia about 100 mileu to the north. 



