172 . THE ALABAMA OPPORTUNITY. 



not, so far as I am aware, been profitably mined at any place 

 except at Stone Hill and vicinity. 



Pyrites. — Along the eastern flank of the Talladega Moun- 

 tain there is a narrow outcrop of a green schist, which may be 

 followed almost without interruption from Chilton county to 

 the Georgia line. This is known throughout this' section as 

 the Copper-lead, although, as above stated, very little copper 

 has been extracted from any part of it. On the other hand 

 beds of pyrites of very considerable importance occur at sev- 

 eral places along this outcrop. Near Gold Branch, in Coosa 

 county, and in the vicinity of Dean P. O. in Clay county, es- 

 pecially the latter, mining operations of considerable magnituae 

 have been carried on. The old Montgomery Copper Works 

 were upon this lead, and further to the southwest the McGhee 

 copper mine, although from neither was any great amount 

 of copper ever obtained. 



This pyrite bed has recently been reopened at Pyriton, near 

 the site of the old Montgomery Copper Works, and the ore is 

 now being shipped to the chemical works at Graselli and to 

 other points. The extension of the Eastern R. R. of Alabama 

 from Talladega to these mines has made this development a 

 possibility. 



Below the McGhee mine, and apparently not connected ge- 

 ologically with the copper lead, are the Hatchett creek mines, 

 under the direction of Capt. Lewis. The Pyrite of the Hatch- 

 ett creek deposit seems to be free from sand and impurities, 

 and the same is true of that of the copper lead at many 

 points, although in places it is mixed with quartz sand. Near 

 Graphite, in Clay county, there is an occurrence of magnetic 

 pyrite, which contains also a small percentage of copper. 



There s'eems to be no reason why some of these deposits 

 of pyrite should not, with better facilities for transportation, 

 and especially if plants were established for the manufacture of 

 sulphuric acid on the spot, be of economic importance. The 

 copper ores of Cleburne county, above mentioned, might 

 well be used in the same way, in addition to their use as sour- 

 ces of copper. 



Pyrite is one of the commonest of minerals, occurring in 

 geological formations of all ages, and even now in process of 

 formation wherever the conditions are suitable. But unless 

 it is in laree bodies it is one of the most useless. As above 



