. North Carolina and its resources. s been described as occurring in Chatham —pyrophyllite (silicate of alumina) sometimeserroneously classed with talc (which is a silicate of magnesia) is foundin deposits of considerable magnitude in Chatham, Moore and Orangecounties, where, indeed, it occurs as a white or greenish slate orschistose rock, which can be mined and cheaply. MONAZITE. A few years ago monazite was regarded as one of the rareminerals found at but few places in North Carolina and elsewhere,and of no special economic value; but since the discovery of the fact
. North Carolina and its resources. s been described as occurring in Chatham —pyrophyllite (silicate of alumina) sometimeserroneously classed with talc (which is a silicate of magnesia) is foundin deposits of considerable magnitude in Chatham, Moore and Orangecounties, where, indeed, it occurs as a white or greenish slate orschistose rock, which can be mined and cheaply. MONAZITE. A few years ago monazite was regarded as one of the rareminerals found at but few places in North Carolina and elsewhere,and of no special economic value; but since the discovery of the factthat the small percentage of thorium (i to lo per cent.) which it con-tains is the best material for use in the manufacture of the Welsbachincandescent gas lights, monazite has come to have a considerableeconomic value, and has been mined on a considerable scale in NorthCarolina. The production and value of monazite mined in the Stateduring the past three years was about 1,500,000 pounds, valued atmore than $100,000 at the PRISMATIC AND TWINNED CRYSTAI^S OF MONAZITS—AI^EXANDER CO. The larger part of this monazite has been mined in Burke,Cleveland, Rutherford and McDowell counties. The best sands(highest in thoria) came from Burke and Cleveland counties, thoughsome of special high grade has been reported from McDowell price of monazite has varied from twenty-five cents per pound in1893, to as low as three cents for the poorer grades and six to teneents per pound for the better grades sold in i894-95. I02 North Carolina and its Resourcks. This monazite is found along the narrow valleys near the headwaters of the small streams, mingled with the gravel and sand whichlie directly upon the rock. In some places, however, the soil onthe slopes of the adjacent hills is found to be quite rich in is mined with the shovel and pick, the soil and underlying gravelcontaining the monazite being thrown upon a perforated iron pan atthe head of a sluice box, and
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