APPENDIX. 
109 
lias been extensively worked. At the time of my visit, two companies 
of hands were operating upon different sections of the vein. I was in- 
formed that the yield at that time was from one to one and a half pounds 
of trimmed mica per day to the hand. This vein is an interesting one. 
The fissure is a zigzag up the face of the mountain. At least such was 
the appearance presented by the different openings and driftings upon it. 
None of the works had been carried to any considerable depth. This 
mine has, however, been quite a productive and remunerative one, and 
first and last has yielded a large amount of good merchantable mica, I 
obtained from the rubbish of the mine some very fair crystals of Beryl, 
and was informed by the workmen that the owner, Mr. Garrett Ray, had 
collected quite a number of handsome crystals. Columbite also occurs in 
this mine. My search, however, through the rubbish was rewarded with 
obtaining only two small crystals. 
My impressions in regard to the Ray mine were that the proprietor 
ought to have a deep shaft sunk upon the vein. This would settle the 
question raised in my own mind as'to whether the vein bears Tin or not. 
There are some reasons in my mind for suspecting that Tin may possibly 
exist at that locality. Where the whole operation has been one of profit, 
the proprietor could well afford to settle the question in the way sug- 
gested. 
After leaving Burnsville and following the range South-westward, on 
reaching Madison the rocks become Chloritic and Slaty, and in and 
through Buncombe still more so. I have not been able to find any well 
defined dike fissures filled with granitic matter in these last named rocks, 
and was not therefore, favorably impressed with Madison and Buncombe 
as a district likely to prove a good Mica mining section. Nor have I 
learned that any profitable mine of this mineral has yet been found in 
either of these counties. A party did make an opening near the head of 
Swanannoa with flattering prospects, but the last information I had from 
them they had ceased operations. On reaching Haywood the rocks be- 
come more crystaline and the prospects better for granite dikes. A 
mine has been opened about five miles South of Waynesville and is being 
operated by Messrs. McCampbell & McLung, of Tennessee. I did not 
visit the mine but gathered the following facts from Mr. McCampbell. 
The mine is on lands belonging to the heirs of the late Jas. R. Love of 
Haywood county. There are two openings upon the vein which he de- 
scribed as being one hundred feet wide and one hundred yards in length. 
It is a granite vein. The largest sizes of trimed plates of Mica obtained 
from the mine are 9x11 inches and 6x15 inches. It is but seldom that 
plates of this size are obtained. This fact speaks well for the mine. Five 
