GEOLOGY OF GILES COUNTY, VIRGINIA 
361 
Manganese-^ 
Historical Sketch 
The manganese deposits of Virginia have been worked at vari- 
ous times since 1834. However, previous to 1917, no work of a 
commercial nature was attempted in Giles County. In this year, 
the Stange mine was first operated and various other smaller 
prospects in the county were exploited, due to the increased de- 
mand for domestic manganese ores on account of the War. 
When the armistice was signed, work ceased at once on most of 
the mines, but the Stange prospect was operated until June 1, 
1919. This mine, which is one of the most important in the 
state, is no doubt the prospect described by Boyd’^ some forty 
years ago as follows : 
“Manganese ores seem to be confined almost exclusively to the 
Oriskany measures. In fact, the iron ore of these rocks fre- 
quently gives way almost entirely to oxide of manganese. 
“At one point in these rocks on Flat Top Mountain, near the 
line between Giles and Bland counties, the ore was found in 
great purity, giving the following measures, etc. : Trend north 
70° east, dip 60° north 20° west, containing valuable quantities 
of manganese disseminated heavily through the sandstone, five 
hundred yards in length, gradually becoming impregnated with 
iron as you approach the eastern end. The apparent width of 
the ore strata here is extraordinary, and may be owing to a 
duplication of strata from end pressure, or flexure, or a mere 
fold. It is 240 feet through. Elevation above the water level 
in Kimberling Creek is 1200 feet ; vein would no doubt strip well. 
“Analysis of Manganese Ore as follows : 
“Red oxide of manganese^ (Mn 203 ?) 84.34 (a) 
Oxygen (0) 3.73 (a) 
Protoxide of Cobalt (CoO) 68 
Alumina (Al.Og) : 1.80 
Lime (CaO) ' 32 
Silica (SiOg) 21 
Baryta (BaO) 7.21 
Water (H^O) 1.71 
(Signed) H. Dickinson.’' 
The material incorporated under this heading has been derived in part 
from Bull. No. 23 of the Virginia GeoL Sur. by Stose, G. W., and Miser, 
H. D. and also from private sources of information. 
“ Boyd, C. R., “Resources of Southwest Virginia,” pp. 147-148. John 
Wiley and Sons, New York, 1881. 
