90 THE IRON ORE DISTRICT OF EAST TEXAS. 



1. POTTERY CLAY. 



A small deposit of a light blue clay occurs within the corporate limits of 

 the town of Atlanta. This clay lies under a six foot deposit of yellow sand 

 or clayey sand containing nodules of iron or a ferruginous gravel. It is 

 said this clay was at one time successfully used for pottery business, but no 

 authentic information could be obtained as to its manufacturing qualities. 

 The clay will not make a ware of any other class than black glazed, and is 

 not suitable for fine work. Its areal extent could not be obtained with any 

 degree of accuracy, but it probably covers from ten to fifteen acres in an 

 intermittent manner. The outcrops seen would give it this area. 



2. FIRE CLAYS. 



A good fire clay must be free from any ingredient which would be liable 

 to combine with any of the other materials and form a flux. For this reason 

 it is necessary that any clay intended for fire purposes should be as free from 

 iron and all alkalies as possible. 



The sandy clay lying around the broken edges of the stratified red sand 

 and clay beds is frequently found in a condition free enough from iron and 

 other impurities to render it available for fire clay purposes, and occasional 

 deposits of a comparatively pure siliceous clay are found which may also be 

 profitably used for fire brick making. With judicious washing and working 

 these siliceous clays mny also be used for the manufacture of some grades of 

 earthen ware. 



A deposit of the first class has been found on the southeast corner of the 

 M. Spelman headright. It is seen in a cutting on the Knight's Bluff road. 

 Another and purer deposit occurs on the Texas and Pacific Railway, on the 

 James Howell headright, about half a mile north of Queen City. This de- 

 posit underlies two feet of stratified red and white sand. The following is a 

 section : 



1. Thin stratum of concretionary ore and ferruginous gravel 6 inches. 



2. Brownish yellow sand 2 feet. 



3. Stratified red and white sand 2 feet. 



4. Bed of sandy clay 2 feet. 



5. Stratified red and white sand. 



No. 5 is seen about one hundred yards farther south, and also half a mile 

 east, as well as some distance west. 



Deposits similar to these two are found in many other places throughout 

 the county. 



A deposit of pure white siliceous clay lies on the northeast corner of the 

 Jane Richee survey. It is about five acres in extent and has a known depth 

 in the centre of the deposit of seven feet. From this seven feet centre it 



