ALABAMA MICA DEPOSITS 57 



other point in Alabama, more resultant development 

 and actual mica mining has been in consequence inter- 

 mittently carried on there than at any other point in the 

 State, the vicinity of Pinetucky, and of Micaville, being 

 at the present time still the center of greatest activity. 

 Some six or eight new companies have been recently in- 

 corporated, owning and operating mines in the Micaville- 

 Pinetucky group. 



A potential factor in this local mica development, of 

 possible and material future importance, although not as 

 yet taken into consideration as any definite feature of 

 present mine operations, is the clearly proven existence 

 there, of large deposits of china clay, suitable for porce- 

 lain manufacture, which are carried in the mica bearing 

 pegmatite and are as yet only a waste product. Atten- 

 tion was called to this fine porcelain clay by Tuomey* 

 as far back as 1855, and convincing tests were made of 

 them later by the Alabama Kaolin Company, at Trenton, 

 New Jersey potteries, in 1889. 



Arnott Mica Mine. The Arnott Mica Mine, belonging 

 to and at present operated by the Minot Mica Company, 

 of Minot, South Dakota, is located in the S. W. Vi of the 

 N. E. 14, of Section 2, Township 18 S., Range 10 E., 

 about 11/2 miles W. of Micaville, and % mile S. of the 

 Cleburne County line. 



The body of pegmatite developed in this mine has a 

 clearly defined strike of N. 20 E., and a regular dip of 

 45 S. E. It is traceable by surface outcrops for a dis- 

 tance of 300 feet or more N. E., and nearly the same dis- 

 tance S. W., from the main shaft. 



The mine is located in a low flat hill or ridge, having 

 a summit elevation of about 50 feet above the run of the 

 branch or small creek east of the hill. In respect to de- 

 velopment, this mine is one of the few mica deposits in 

 the State which have been competently opened up in ac- 

 cordance with ordinary and customary mining methods, 

 based upon an expectancy of and due consideration for, 

 reasonably permanent and economical mine recovery. 



Original development was initially made by the pres- 

 ent shaft, 15 feet in depth, located on the outcrop, from 



*Second Biennial Report of the Geology of Alabama by M. Tuomey. 1855. 



