MICA,  GRAPHITE,  ETC. 
MICA   DEPOSITS  OF  WESTERN  NORTH 
CAROLINA." 
By  Douglas  B.  Sterri  i  i 
INTRODUCTION. 
Though  one  of  the  lesser  minerals,  mica  is  of  considerable  impor- 
tance in  the  indusl  rial  world.  Itreceives  its  most  important  applica- 
tion in  the  electrical  industry.  It  is  also  used  in  the  manufacture  of 
stoves,  lighting  apparatus,  wall  papers,  lubricants,  paints,  boiler 
coverings,  fireproof  apparatus,  etc.  About  half  of  the  mica  con- 
sumed in  the  United  States  is  of  home  production.  The  remainder  il 
imported,  chiefly  from  India,  with  smaller  amounts  of  phlogopite,  or 
"amber"  mica,from  Canada.  The  States  contributing  to  the  home 
production  in  1905,  in  order  of  relative  rank,  are  given  by  G.  0. 
Smith''  as  North  Carolina.  Color-ado,  New  Hampshire,  Georgia! 
South  Dakota,  and  New  Mexico.  Of  the  total  production,  amount- 
ing to  $201,155,  North  Carolina  is  credited  with  over  two-fifths. 
During  some  previous  years  this  State  has  contributed  over  two- 
thirds  of  the  domestic  production. 
The  mica  deposits  of  western  North  Carolina  have  been  examined 
by  several  investigators  in  the  interest  of  the  State  Geological  Survey. 
The  subject  receives  only  brief  treatment  here,  as  it  is  expected  that 
a  nearly  complete  report  will  be  prepared  by  the  State  Survey  during 
the  coming  year.  The  present  paper  represents,  in  part,  the  results 
of  field  work  by  the  writer,  under  the  direction  of  the  North  Carolina 
Geological  Survey,  chiefly  during  the  field  season  of  1906.  Cerlain 
data  used,  however,  were  obtained  in  I  !)().">  during  the  joint  survey  of 
400 
«  Published  by  permission  of  the  State  geologist  of  North  Carolina. 
b  Mineral  Resources  U.  S.,  1905,  U.  S.  Geol.  Survey,  1906,  p.  1281. 
