238 Geology of North Carolina. 



The nbvaculite deserves special attention. We give its 

 description in the words of the Report. 



The Hone, or -whet-stone slate, (the Novaculite of Mineral- 

 ogists) is by far the most interesting and important among 

 this collection of rocks. In my examination of this region, I 

 have made it an object to ascertain the localities, and the respec- 

 tive qualities and relative values of this substance. It is found 

 in the greatest abundance in various parts of the slate formation, 

 although the qualities of different beds are various. The most 

 valuable bed that I have met with, is about seven miles west of 

 Chapel-Hill. It is known by the name of M'Cauley's quarry. 

 It has been opened on the summit of a hill, which forms one of 

 three parallel ranges extending from north east to south west, 

 and composed chiefly of a green slate, called chlorite. The 

 hone slate occurs in distinct beds, which present on the top, 

 when exposed to view, a more rounded exterior than the slate 

 rocks usually do. Although many thousand hones have been 

 taken from this spot by travellers and others, yet as the quarry 

 has not been wrought for the market, the excavations have been 

 carried to a very little depth, and are insufficient to enable one 

 to judge fully of the extent of the bed. I think however, that 

 there can be no doubt that its extent is quite adequate to the sup- 

 ply of the market. Being near the brow of the hill, and the 

 bed being perpendicular to the horizon, a large surface on one 

 side might very easily be exposed, and thus the quarrying would 

 be greatly facilitated. Of those specimens which are found at 

 the top of the ground, some are weather-worn and a great dif- 

 ference inequality prevails among those that are obtained from 

 the same spot. The properties which characterize the best va- 

 riety are the following : — 



Color a soft olive green — general aspect, like horn — the thin 

 edges, when held up to the light, transparent. 



The olive green color and the transparent edges are, when 

 they meet, almost sure indications of a good quality. 



The best of these hones answer with great exactness to the 

 description of the genuine Turkej 7 hones, and I have do doubt 

 that they are indentical with them. Some of the best speci- 

 mens, when polished, present a clouded or chequered surface, 

 with a high lustre, and possess no small degree of beauty. Me- 

 chanics, in the vicinity of the quarry, frequently supply them- 

 selves with masses of eight or ten pounds weight. One side be- 

 ing faced, it is used as a hone, and is generally valued in propor- 

 tion to the time it has been in use, for thus it acquires smoothness 

 and hardness. The quality is frequently much improved by be- 

 coming thoroughly soaked with oil, and it probably would be 



