The Texas Almanac for 1867 with Statistics, Descriptive and Biographical Sketches, etc., Relating to Texas. Page: 63
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GEOLOGICAL EEBOUECES OF TEXAS. 63
GEOLOGICAL RESOURCES OF TEXAS.
BY S. B. BUCKLEY.
THE Geological Survey of the State having only been in progress during
a portion of the three years immediately preceding July, 1861, little has yet
been done in the discovery of valuable minerals, with the exception of iron
and coal; or toward defining the different geological series of rocks. We
will only briefly allude to the actual and prospective mineral resources of
Texas, and refer those who wish for further details to our preliminary report
of the Survey.
The Azoic rocks of Llano county contain immense beds of magnetic iron
ore-the magnetite of the mineralogists, which, as is well known to manufac-
turers of iron, is the best of ores-yielding the greatest per cent of metallic
iron. This is the same ore as that of the celebrated i'on mines of Norway
and Sweden. It also occurs in the Azoic rocks of the north-eastern part of
the State of New-York, where during the last few years At has been wrought
extensively.
The largest deposit of iron ore known in Llano county is on Jackson's creek,
a tributary of the Llano river. It is near Mr. Epperson's, about twelve miles
west of the town of Llano, and nearly eight miles east of the Smoothing Iron
mountain. It is a massive iron hill, from 25 to 30 feet high above its visible
base; about 800 feet long and 500 feet wide, with an estimated elevation of
from 200 to 300 feet above the surface of the Llano river at low-water mark.
This ore has been tested on a large scale, and found to yield more than 70
per cent of metallic iron ; which was pronounced by some blacksmiths to be
equal to the best Swedish iron. Our route to it was by way of the Smoothing
Iron mountain, over a comparatively level, hard, sandy road; a soil formed
by the disintegration of granite. Nearly the whole distance, (about eight
miles,) we passed through open post-oak woods, interspersed with hickory
and blackjack, (Quercus nigra.) We saw sufficient timber surrounding the
iron hill, and in its immediate neighborhood. for manufacturing purposes
during many years. Iron made by the use of charcoal is superior to that
made by any other fuel; so says Overman, who is a good authority in metal-
lurgy. The limestones of the Paleozoic and Cretaceous rocks are in the vicin-
ity, from whence abundant materials for a flux can easily be obtained. The
Steatites or soapstones of the county can be used in the construction of fur-
naces. The cost of obtaining the ore is little, for it lies already at or near the
surface. Immense blocks of ore lie scattered over the iron hill or near its
base. It is in a dry, healthy climate, where there would be little or no loss
to either the workmen or manufacturer, from sickness or bad weather.
Plenty of provisions can be had from German and other farmers in the sur-
rounding country. It is in a comparatively level country, with a hard,
gravelly soil, over which there are good roads throughout the year. Most of
the mountains of Llano county are isolated, and scattered, at distant intervals,
over the plain. Constant flowing streams are in that vicinity. We make
these statements to show the great advantages here presented for the manu-
facture of iron.
A large bed of magnetic iron ore, of a similar character to the preceding,
occurs eight miles distant, in a north-westerly direction. It lies between two
granite ridges, and is traversed by quartz in all directions. At both of these
localities the ore has evidently been ejected up from below at the same period
with the granite, and by the same igneous forces; hence- these ores are true
metallic veins, and their supply is inexhaustible.
On Comanche creek, near Comanche mountain, in Llano county, are exten-
sive dykes of hornblende rock, inclosing large masses of soapstone. One of
these beds of steatite or soapstone is about three hundred feet wide, and
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The Glaveston News. The Texas Almanac for 1867 with Statistics, Descriptive and Biographical Sketches, etc., Relating to Texas., book, December 1866; Galveston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth123772/m1/65/: accessed April 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.