644 CENTRAL MINERAL REGION OF TEXAS. 



enormous amount of it in the Central Mineral Region, although the fact of its 

 existence in quantity outside of the Granite Mountain area has not been fully 

 recognized by those interested. As stated in the Report for 1889: 



This type * * * is undoubtedly to be an incalculable source of revenue. Although 

 enough has already been quarried to exhaust properties of important proportions, there are 

 thousands of times as much awaiting easy extraction. Many believe that the " Capitol 

 granite," as the rock is sometimes called, is confined to one large outcrop near Marble Falls, 

 from which all the material for the State Capitol was taken. This is a grave error, for the 

 outcrops extend over an area of nearly one hundred square miles, and there are others far- 

 ther west which cover in all nearly as much more territory. Enchanted Rock and its envi- 

 rons, in Llano and Gillespie counties, expose nearly as much, owing to the great height of 

 the peaks, although the horizontal outcrop is less. There is also an area in Mason County, 

 near Katemcy, where about one thousand acres are exposed in a considerable elevation. 



This granite [referring to the whole extent] is probably as well exposed for working as 

 any similar mass in the world, and for many purposes the material is not inferior to some of 

 the best foreign granites. It has a pleasing appearance, whether used "in the rough," 

 dressed, or polished, and it can be quarried in almost any desired form of practically unlim- 

 ited dimensions. 



The color is red or dark reddish gray, and there is a considerable range of choice. In 

 combination with the other granites, by judicious alternations or different modes of treat- 

 ment, but little is needed to obtain the widest variety of ornamentation of which the darker 

 granites are capable. 



There are other exposures of "dimension granites" in situations which make it possible 

 that they belong to a different uplift from that of the Capitol granites. In the Cat Mountain, 

 north of Llano, in Rabb's pasture, a rock of this character has been locally applied with suc- 

 cess in building small structures. This has features which place it in a transitionary position 

 between the block granites and the Capitol granites. It has an attractive appearance, being 

 more purple or blue in color than its red-gray compeers. 



Dimension granite also occurs in abundance in some variety in the belt which runs through 

 the Archean rocks in Burnet County, extending from Capitol Rock, between Spring Creek 

 and Clear Creek. It is probable that the rough country in this tract is made up of outbursts 

 of different ages. Some quarries have been opened in the area and good material has been 

 obtained, but the demand has not yet caused any extensive development of these resources. 



rt is a mistake to suppose that the dimension granite is restricted to the Post-Carboniferous 

 uplift, to which the Capitol granite belongs, for there are important outcrops in other masses 

 in various parts of the region. 



The investigations of 1890 have fully confirmed these announcements, and 

 more extensive deposits have been discovered which will greatly increase the 

 known resources of this character. 



Beginning upon the east, we have first the Burnet County areas, or what 

 may be regarded for practical purposes as one almost continuous but irregu- 

 lar belt extending from Beaver Creek southward nearly to the Blanco County 

 line. Some of the outcrops between Beaver and Morgan creeks and in the 

 Colorado River near Bluffton may afford building material of average quality, 

 but it is not generally tough enough nor well enough exposed for profitable 

 working as a dimension granite. 



