MURPHREE'S VALLEY ;, ECONOMIC G-EOLOGY. 73 



strata are flexed upwards, and downwards, with very great 

 irregularity. Some other small beds had been cut on this 

 tract, but they were apparently unimportant. Slight 

 indications of manganese were also seen on this tract, and 

 the one south of it, in the same section. A small body of it 

 probably exists here in the Lower Siliceous strata. Towards 

 the western side of S. 23 the surface show of iron ore becomes 

 much better and extends into Section 22 (S. E. corner.) 

 Several small holes had been dug on it, at several places. 

 At an early period of the mineral excitement, one mile in 

 length of the lode, (or "lead" as it is called,) was sold 

 to a speculator for twenty-five dollars per acre, being a strip 

 one mile long, by a quarter mile wide. 



As this property was considered very valuable, and supposed 

 to contain a great quantity of excellent ore, it received very 

 careful attention. A branch, or little stream of water, has cut 

 through the Clinton near the principal exposures of the ore, 

 and laid bare its entire structure. A sharp backed ridge 

 runs south on the S. W. side of the branch, and E. N. E. 

 on the other. The strike of ore does not conform to the 

 trend of these ridges ; but crosses them at an acute angle. 

 Ore is therefore shown on both sides of the E. N. E. ridge, 

 and on the top of the other. The dip is different on the 

 two sides of the branch. On the N. E. side it is N. W. 18 

 on the other side N. W. 70. Hence there is not only at 

 this point a great change in the dip, but the trend also makes an 

 obtuse angle. But these though peculiar features, do not 

 complicate the structure. The Black Shale shows on both 

 sides of the branch, and from it the Cambrian Limestone is 

 100 feet surface measure. The change in .the dip rendered 

 it impossible to calculate the vertical thickness of the Clin- 

 ton here with accuracy, but it is between 40 and 60 feet. 

 The best show of ore is at the side ot the -branch thick- 

 ness 30 inches 24 inches of this solid, and uniform will 

 yield about 40 per cent, of iron the other six inches infe- 

 rior. Higher up the ridge, the same bed had again been 

 opened on the east side. The bed is here 20 feet irom the 

 Black Shale. It is hence the upper bed or No. 1 measured 



