88 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF ALABAMA 



At the time of the examination mining was in progress 

 over both slopes with a full plant equipment of hoisting 

 engines, air compressor and drills, etc. By the entry 

 method adopted, two included sections of the pegmatite 

 body, in size 100x75 feet each, had been solidly blocked 

 out to be partially left for roof support, and in part stoped 

 out, which however was never subsequently done. 



Examination of all these exposed faces of the blocked 

 out sections showed mica crystals to a greater or less ex- 

 tent on all of them, mainly carried next the upper con- 

 tact and bedded on and in the included quartz masses. 



Mica recoveries were altogether being made on the low- 

 er breast of the second cross entry, where there was a re- 

 markable concentration of amber muscovite, in flat, gen- 

 erally perfect crystals of large average sizes, running 

 from 2x3, to 8x12 inches. 



During two successive days spent in the mine watch- 

 ing the recovery, 21 boxes, of 100 pounds eacrh were tak- 

 en out, nearly all of which was flat, clear sheet, amber 

 muscovite, carrying few imperfections of any kind. 



A considerable number of fine crystals still remained 

 in the working heading after this recovery, and all indi- 

 cations seemed favorable to the continuation of the mica- 

 ization of the chute to lower levels, which was never sub- 

 sequently done, mine operations being immediately there- 

 after suspended for the above stated reasons. 



The main characteristics of the pegmatite body entered 

 by this mine are a very coarse aggregate of fairly uni- 

 form thickness, in excess of 8 feet; the foot wall not 

 having been apparently reached on the slopes. A gener- 

 al conformity to the enclosing mica gneiss walling is indi- 

 cated as far as developed. Inclusions of quartz masses 

 or horses, micaized with imbedded crystals, are frequent ; 

 the feldspar, being but very little kaolinized. Fine crys- 

 tals of mica were recovered almost from the surface down, 

 there being no evidence of crustal movement in the form 

 of folding, pressure lining, cracks, or imperfections, de- 

 fective crystallization being largely absent. 



In all, and up to the time the mine was examined in 

 1914, the total amount of mica recovered was stated to 

 have been something over 160,000 pounds. 



