ALABAMA MICA DEPOSITS 93 



tivated area of long standing is to a limited extent pres- 

 ent. 



On this western rim of the mica field, harder forma- 

 tions appear to be the rule with few exceptions, crustal 

 movements are infrequent, and more regular stratifica- 

 tion may be looked for with consequent benefits in the 

 more marked absence of folding and of pressure cracks 

 in the mica crystals. 



In this deposit however, more than the usual amount of 

 rule mica in large sizes appears to have been recovered, 

 of very fine grade. 



Actual mica mining has really never been done here, 

 the operation having been abandoned for lack of experi- 

 enced superintendence just at the point of definite recov- 

 ery of the proper expectancy of the mine, viz: at and 

 below water level. 



No reliable total figures of mica recovery have been 

 ascertainable, which solely consisted of the output real- 

 ized in driving the entry cut and the short slope, approx- 

 imately ICO feet in length. 



Of the considerable mica stock recovered, the best and 

 largest grades were sheeted and disposed of, and there 

 remained in the bins of amber muscovite some 12 tons of 

 run-of-mine scrap, apparently containing a considerable 

 percentage of punch and circle, with some good sheet 

 mica in medium sizes. 



Exhibit sample, serial No. 125, is from this mine. 



Hurst Mine. The Hurst mine is located in the N. W. 

 % of the S. W. % of Section 36, Township 19 S., Range 

 7 E., about 3V2 miles N. W. of Ashland, the county seat. 



Topographically, it is situated on a wide plateau 

 broken by low hills, at an elevation of 1,200 feet above 

 tide water. 



It is the property of the Hurst estate. 



The mica is mainly carried in a large bed of kaolin 

 extending to a depth in excess of 80 feet, or to water 

 level, which feature of the deposit has heretofore limited 

 mica recoveries owing to the difficulty and dangerous 

 character of the deposit without thorough timbering in 

 the shaft and mine workings. Developments have in 

 consequence been largely confined to open surface cuts. 



