338 CENTRAL MINERAL REGION OF TEXAS. 



of vein structure at this point, and the comparatively slight working has made 

 a good showing. The ore, however, appears more solid than it really is. 

 Assays of my samples do not give as high returns in copper as might seem 

 likely from the rich color and apparently great degree of saturation by the 

 carbonate. But, as will be seen by reference to Table I, No. 18, the grade is 

 such as to encourage development if the quantity can be proved adequate. 



MILLER MINE, PECAN CREEK. 



Farther west and north, upon the west bank of Pecan Creek, the Miller 

 mine was opened in a situation somewhat complicated by faults and broken 

 vein courses. The ores, like those near Babyhead Postoffice, are high grade 

 copper carbonates, with admixtures of silver-bearing minerals. The deposits 

 here have more the character of fissure veins than is the case in some open- 

 enings; but it is very difficult to form a rational judgment as to the size or 

 courses of the ore bodies from such examination as one can make in the 

 flooded incline and drifts. A large excavation of irregular shape was made 

 here, as if the confused structure had made it uncertain in what course the 

 ore body lies. This again emphasizes the urgent necessity for a thorough knowl- 

 edge of the local structural geology upon the part of the worker in this field. 



HUBBARD MINE, PECAN CREEK. 



The ore belt lying south of the massive quartz exposures is somewhat sim- 

 ilar to the one in which the foregoing properties have been worked. The 

 Hubbard mine is the principal excavation, and its output has not been materi- 

 ally different from the products already described, although it and several 

 other shafts to the eastward present features more closely parallel with the 

 McGehee diggings upon the southern belt, between Wolf and Little Llano 

 creeks. 



With all the puzzling questions which it has been necessary to solve in 

 order to get a general idea of the occurrences of economic minerals in our 

 region, it has thus far been impossible to give to any one locality that detailed 

 study which would be requisite for the formation of a business opinion as to 

 the probabilities in the only district where any serious attempt at mining has 

 been made. That the record has not been such as to positively prove the 

 possibility of commercial success is very evident in the abandoned shafts, 

 very few of which are now in condition to be critically examined. Upon 

 the other hand, the existence of rich ores over a well defined area, in deposits 

 which partake of the vein character, especially when considered in connection 

 with the geologic history, affords encouragement to the view that a general 

 source of supply is buried somewhere in the region. 



As a mining engineer, charged with estimating the resources of Central 

 Texas for public purposes, I have not felt it incumbent upon me to make 



