AZUCAR TO THE COAST 105 



and a heavy lifeless atmosphere forbode more than 

 the usual downpour. We hastened to cross the 

 streams along the way. The final climb of Mata- 

 hambre and the steep descent on the north side to 

 the mine was accomplished just in time. The very 

 heavens opened as we entered the office building 

 and received a second welcome by Mr. Morse and 

 the mine officials. 



The Matahambre mine represents one of the few 

 successful attempts in western Cuba to extract 

 copper ore in paying quantities from the sandstones 

 of the lomas. The copper deposits of this region 

 occur in faults and are clearly intrusions through 

 the several fault channels which interrupt the 

 stratas of sandstones, shales, and slate composing 

 these hills. Mineralization has taken place on 

 both sides of the central east and west axis of the 

 province, but it is principally on the northern side 

 that ore in workable quantity has been found. 

 Along certain fairly well-defined channels, con- 

 siderable iron ore also occurs as a residual or 

 mantle deposit. According to Mr. Morse — who 

 has made a close study of the subject — there have 

 been in this region three distinct movements 

 which fractured and shattered the sedimentaries. 



