34 CORUNDUM, ITS OCCURRENCE AND DISTRIBUTION. 
Soon after the discovery of coriuidiiiii at Buck Creek, Clay Count3% 
N. C, Dr. C. D. Smith," in describing the minerals associated with 
corundum at this locality, stated that he found " chrysolite attached 
as an enveloping matter to considerable masses of corundum.'' But 
neither Dr. Smith nor any other writer Avho has described this locality 
since that time and while mining operations Avere carried on has made 
any further mention of this occurrence. A careful search has failed 
to discover any further specimens shoAving this association ; thus the 
occurrence at the Hayes mine is the only one knoAvn at the present 
time. 
Corundum has been obserA"ed,,hoAve\"er, in serpentine, Avliich is one 
of the most common alteration products of the peridotites. Spec- 
imens of this nature haA^^ been found at the Cullakeenee mine, Buck 
Creek, Clay County, N. C. Some of them sIioav small particles of 
corundum either partly or Avholly surrounded by serpentine, and the 
Avhole mass of corundum and serpentine surrounded by clinochlore. 
In one specimen a streak of corundum about an inch thick lies be- 
tAveen two zones of serpentine Avhich are from one-quarter to three- 
quarters of an inch thick, and these zones are bordered, in turn, by 
talcose and enstatite rock. 
Spinel has been found at a number of the corundum veins, and in 
a feAv cases it is very intimately associated Avith the corundum. At 
the Carter mine, near Democrat, Buncombe County, N. C., the corun- 
dum is found, in masses of a white and pink color, intergroAvn Avith 
a greenish-black spinel. The masses of corundum and spinel are 
partially surrounded by a deep-green chlorite, Avhich has also been 
developed in places between the corundum and the spinel, although 
this contact of the corundum and the spinel is usually very sharp and 
distinct. A massiAT, coarsely to finely granular spinel is found at the 
Corundum Hill mine. Macon County, N. C, Avhich has disseminated 
through it small grains and fragments of pink and Avhite corundum. 
The mineral chromite, Avhich has always been found associated Avith 
these peridotite rocks, occurs sparingly in many of the corundum 
veins. It is a Avell-observed fact '' that Avhere there is any quantity of 
corundum found in the peridotite rocks there is a scarcity of chro- 
mite, and Avhere there is a large quantity of chromite there is a 
scarcity of corundum. The chromite does not occur in as Avell-defined 
A'^eins as the corundum, and is often in masses or pockets Avhich appar- 
ently have no relation AvhateA^er to one another. BetAveen the chro- 
mite and the peridotite there is not developed a large series of 
alteration products, as has been observed Avith the corundum, and the 
chromite is very commonly found inclosed directly by the fresh 
peridotite. 
An occurrence of corundinn Avith peridotite that is very different 
" Report Geol. Survey North CaroUna, 1875, App., p. 95. 
"Am. Inst. Min, Eng., vol. 29, 1899; February meeting. 
