APPENDIX. 
115 
lead me to believe that valuable deposits of it exist at several points. 
The first range to be noticed in the order I propose to myself is the 
Spring creek range. I have not vtsited the Spring creek section, 
but have seen samples of Magnetite from three or four localities 
that were highly magnetic. Some parties were, a year ago, pro- 
specting near the head of Spring Creek, but I have not heard the 
result. I am also unacquainted with the geological relations of the ore 
in that section, but have no doubt it is in or at least in close proximity to 
the quartzite belt that crosses the French Broad river at the Warm 
Springs. The general strike of this range is in the direction of the head 
of Spring creek. A few months ago I visited a locality at the head of 
Fine’s creek, not exceeding a half mile from the head of Spring creek. 
On the western, or Fine’s creek side of the mountain, I found Magnetite 
drifted from toward the crest of the mountain. The specimens picked 
up were quite angular, and bearing other marks of having been detached 
from a vein. I also found fragments of Trap rock with the ore. Passing 
down Fine’s creek some two miles, and crossing a spur of the mountain 
to another fork of the creek, I crossed a large Trap dike where I found 
some fragments of Magnetic ore. There I learned that at the head of 
that fork of the creek towards the head of Spring creek there was a fine 
show of the Magnetite upon the surface. I did not visit this point, the 
day having been nearly spent, I hastened on to obtain lodgings. In pass- 
ing down the creek, the windings of the road crossed the Trap dike at 
several places. I then visited the locality at Mr. Hardy Nolen’s. There 
I obtained specimens of magnetic ore, apparently very pure and strongly 
magnetic. Trap boulders are scattered over the hill where the ore is ob- 
tained. I think that judicious excavations will be very likely to develope 
a vein of ore at that point. 
The Magnetite of Fine’s creek evidently has an intimate relation to 
the Trap dike. No evidence, however sufficiently strong, has been 
brought to light to determine whether the iron occurs in the Trap or in 
a soft friable slate, somewhat Chloritish, that exists on the same hill. The 
most reasonable supposition is, that the ore forms a vein in the slate in 
immediate proximity to the Trap. I was informed at Mr. Nolen’s that 
the dike appears further on and on the west side of Pigeon river, but I 
did not pursue my explorations further than Mr. Nolen’s. 
The second zone passes through Madison a few miles south of Mar- 
shall, crossing the French Broad river a short distance above the mouth 
of Ivy. About three miles up Ivy, from its mouth, there occurs Magne- 
tite on the lands of Mr. Joseph Eller. The prospects are flattering for a 
large vein at this locality. An excavation, a few feet deep, has been 
