92 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF ALABAMA 



from N. W. to S. E., a small water power has been devel- 

 oped in close proximity to the mine, now utilized by 

 the Armstrong mill, which it is proposed to make auxil- 

 iary to it for power purposes. 



The deposit of pegmatite entered belongs to the west- 

 ern section of the mica belt, which is distinguished as 

 before stated from the eastern section, as a compara- 

 tively narrow strip, carrying hornblende and other ferro 

 magnesium schists, with underlying basic and igneous 

 rocks. 



Surface occurrences noted arse the Hillabee green 

 schists, garnetiferous mica schists, and in the form of 

 float, highly crystalline quartz, cyanite, and a small 

 amount of cassiterite. 



Characteristics of the pegmatite are parallelism with 

 the average district rule as to N. E. to S. W. strike, and 

 S. E. dip, and a distinct stratification in the enclosing 

 rocks, which feature in large measure is shared by the 

 quartz carried in the pegmatite itself; as also conformity 

 by it with the enclosing foot and hanging walls, which 

 are mica gneiss. 



The mine has been opened up by means of an open 

 entrycut, terminating in a slope driven down on the 

 dip of the "vein" to water level, at which point work 

 was abandoned for lack of pumping equipment. No tim- 

 bering having been done, the heavy overhang, at the 

 slope head in the cut, has recently fallen in since the prop- 

 erty was first examined, blocking the mine. When ex- 

 amined before, prior to this caving in, mica crystals were 

 observed on the slope, mainly next the hanging wall, and 

 on both sides down to water level, where the grade and 

 size of the crystals showed a marked improvement. 



Small amounts of biotite mica have been occasionally 

 found, and are observable in the quartz on the dump. 



The pegmatite chute as far as developed is quite regu- 

 lar, having an average width of about 6 to 8 feet. 



Practically all the work done here on the mine proper 

 has been in hard rock, no kaolin in any amount being 

 found, although elsewhere on the property in prospect 

 pits at higher points kaolinization particularly under cul- 



