100 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF ALABAMA. 



occasional chunks for a quarter of a mile. It is probable 

 that the ore here, if it exists, is beneath the surface, and just 

 above the limestone which here occupies a lower level. 

 That it rises again in the N. E. i of Sect. 5 and N. W. of S. 

 4 and E. -J- of 33, is more than probable. The iron ore on 

 these tracts shows boldly on the very top of the ridge and 

 down for a considerable distance on its N. W. side. The 

 ridge is about 200 feet high. Therefore either the limestone, 

 the bed rock of the deposit, (for iron ore deposits always 

 conform to their bed rocks), must be here pushed up, at least 

 100 feet above the base of the ridge, or the iron ore deposit 

 must be assumed to have a very unreasonable thickness. 

 All along this part of the ridge, the S. E. face of the deposit 

 is masked, and the iron ore can only be seen near the top 

 and on the N. W. side. The fault, as already noticed, is on 

 the S. E. face of the ridge, and portions of Clinton and of 

 Sub- Carboniferous strata are lapped up against the face of 

 the Lower Limonite deposit. This effectually conceals the 

 structure, and the probably underlying lime-rock. In this 

 portion of the ridge, the ore is in larger masses, and in many 

 places scattered more thickly over the surface, than toward 

 the S. W. end. The breadth of the deposit exposed, and 

 the quantity of iron seen, give no indication of the termina- 

 tion of the deposit. But the ridge sinks, and the Lower 

 Silurian strata gradually close over it, toward the N. E. It 

 is probable that the deposit extends farther, perhaps much 

 farther in that direction. 



It is much to be regretted that greater exposure or devel- 

 opments have not been made in this great deposit, especially 

 as it is the only one of its age, yet known, in which iron ore 

 is exposed, in this valley. Its ore is good throughout, none 

 inferior ; most of it the best of its class; it will yield through- 

 out from 50 to 60 per cent, of metallic iron. A large per 

 cent, of it is fibrous ore ; in some places it is nearly all of 

 this quality, in others, very little is seen. Taking the de- 

 posit all over, so far as yet seen, 20 to 25 per cent, of it is 

 fibrous, or needle ore. It all carries less silica, and other 



