ALABAMA MICA DEPOSITS ,51 



and other impurities could probably be profitably sold. 

 Samples of fresh run-of-mine kaolin were recently sub- 

 mitted to Trenton potteries, and were so favorably con- 

 sidered that a sample carload was subsequently ordered 

 and is now being worked up at Trenton. 



At the northerly end of its proven extension, the "Big 

 Vein" is intersected by an unusual formation of hard 

 mica forming an angle with it of 50, or having a strike 

 of N.70 W. This cross formation or intersecting mica 

 body, has been opened up by a surface cut for a distance 

 of 90 feet along its N. W. strike from the "Big Vein," 

 and is traceable by outcrops for an additional distance 

 in the same direction of some four or five hundred feet, 

 under apparently similarly micaized conditions. As opened 

 up and developed in the cut to a depth of five to ten 

 feet, it has a width or thickness of about eight feet, and 

 an observed dip S. W. of 70 to 75 degrees, both foot and 

 hanging walls being red mica gneiss. 



The mineralization varies from a hard form of A mica, 

 to a mica schist made up of flake of all sizes, which as a 

 rule, appears to be nearly all mica. Some 50 to 80 tons 

 of this schist have been taken out of the cut and piled up 

 along its sides. Very little quartz or any other form of 

 inclusions appears to be present. A few of the lumps 

 taken out carry a thin plating of botryoidal manganese. 



As a source of ground mica, this deposit has distinct 

 possibilities, if found after proper tests to be of accept- 

 able quality, definite amounts of the above described 

 grade being indicated as recoverable to some extent by 

 economic open cut mining, and by subsequent under- 

 ground methods, with a possible expectancy of alteration 

 to other and better grades at lower levels. 



A second occurrence of this same character is indi- 

 cated by outcrops, striking approximately parallel to it, 

 and located some 70 yards further south, following and 

 underlying the crest of the westerly arm of the hill, and 

 traceable for several hundred feet to the point where the 

 ridge breaks down. 



No attempt has been made to prospect this deposit, but 

 if found to be of equal extent and similarly conditioned 

 to the northerly cross formation, the two deposits, in 



