298 
GEOLOGY OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
Soapstone. 
This is a very common mineral in North Carolina, both in the form of 
- the impure, greenish, massive, or slaty rock, (pofstone), used for grave 
stones, and for chimney and furnace hearths and linings, and in the form 
of a pure massive white steatyte. The most extensive beds of this min- 
eral are found in Cherokee and Macon, in immediate association with the 
marble range previously described, and accompanying it throughout its 
whole extent, on Nantehaleh River, Valley River and Notteley. An 
analysis of this rock, as it occurs at Jarrett’s, on Nantehaleh, gave 23.71 
per cent, of magnesia, which is about the percentage for pyrallolite. The 
variety rensselaerite is found in Forsythe county, and probably also in the 
south mountains, in Burke county. 
Serpentine. 
This mineral is found in large masses in many portions of the state. A 
noted locality in Wake county, was long ago described by Dr. Mitchell. 
The finest beds of it are those near Patterson, in Caldwell county. It is 
dark, almost black, and fine-grained, and polishes well. It is beautifully 
seamed with minute veinlets of amianthus. Serpentine of fine quality, 
sometimes approaching precious serpentine, is found in the chrysolite 
beds of the west, as a result of their alteration. 
Asbestos. 
This is one of the commonest associates also of the chrysolite beds just 
mentioned, and it occurs also quite widely in the Laurentiau rocks of the 
middle and western parts of the state. One of the best known localities 
in the state, is that near Bakersville, in Mitchell county ; in fact it occurs 
in two or three places in that vicinity. It is long, fibrous, white and 
readily reduced to a pulp, or mass of fine lint. An equally fine article is 
brought from the southern part of Jackson county. It is also found near 
Tryon mountain, in Polk county. Another well known locality is in 
Caldwell county, near the Baker mine. This is associated, like many 
others, with a serpentine rock. Specimens have been brought to 
the Museum also from Ashe county, and from Yancey. There is consid- 
erable inquiry for this mineral from various quarters, for sundry new uses 
and manufactures, and it is likely to become very soon an article of com- 
merce of considerable value. 
