PART I. 



A GENERAL DESCRIPTION 



OF THE 



IRON ORE DISTRICT OF EAST TEXAS, 



BY E. T. DUMBLE. 



INTRODUCTION. 



That part of Texas of which the following pages treat is situated in the 

 northeastern corner of the State, being the territory lying east of the 9Gth 

 degree of longitude and north of the 31st parallel of latitude. From this 

 area we exclude, as being non-iron bearing, the portion north of Sulphur 

 Fork, and also the northwestern corner, in which the black waxy prairies of 

 the Cretaceous are the prevailing formation. 



In this district, so restricted, there are nineteen counties: Cass, Morris, 

 Marion, Upshur, Wood, Harrison, Gregg, Panola, Smith, Van Zandt, Rusk, 

 Cherokee, Henderson, Anderson, Houston, Nacogdoches, Shelby, Sabine, and 

 San Augustine, containing in the aggregate 14,430 square miles. In each 

 of these counties iron ore exists in greater or less quantities and of varying 

 qualities. 



Ores of similar character are reported from other counties west and south- 

 west of this area, but our investigations have not extended further than the 

 limits stated.* 



As will be seen by reference to the accompanying map, the iron ores are 

 very unevenly distributed through this region, and as we have mapped them 

 cover an area of about 1000 square miles. The scale, however, on which the 

 map is published is such that many of the deposits which are really valu- 

 able do not appear at all, owing to their comparatively small size. In addi- 

 tion to the map, the boundaries and location of the ore deposits are given in 

 detail in the various reports, so far as it has been possible to define them. 



* It Las not been found possible to complete the work in this district in as detailed manner 

 as was intended. In Gregg, Sabine, Morris, Houston, and San Augustine counties no attempt 

 has been made to do detailed work, and we Lave had to content ourselves with a recon- 

 naissance of them for the purpose of ascertaining the presence or absence of workable de- 

 posits of ore. In four counties only have we gone over the subject as thoroughly as we 

 intend working the entire area. For these reasons the present must only be considered a 

 partial report. 



