MINERAL RESOURCES. The southern limit of the mineral region may be indicated by a line passing through Pikeville, Tuscaloosa, and We tumpka to Columbus, Ga. Within this area are the comparatively insignificant gold deposits of Randolph County, and three fields of bituminous coal over 8660 square miles in extent, named from the rivers that drain them—the Warrior, the Cahaba, and the Coosa. Cannel, free-burn ing, lump, coking, gas, and other coals of supe rior quality are found. There are extensive beds of iron ore, including red hematite, limonite, black-band, drift, magnetic, and specular; and the Choceolocco, Anniston, Coosa, Cahaba, Bir mingham, and other valleys are noted for the abundance of their iron ore. Among other miner al products are asbestos, asphalt, copper, corun dum, emery, fire-clay, graphite, granite, litho graphic stone, manganese, white and variegated marble, mar], red ochre, phosphates, bauxite, pottery and porcelain clays, salt (in the south west), slate, soapstone, and small amounts of silver and tin. Natural gas has also been dis covered, hut the supply is inconsiderable.
Mining.—It is not until recent years that the great mineral resources of the State have been extensively exploited. This recent growth of the mining industry has been largely responsi ble for the quickening of the general industrial life of the State, and the creation of a most op timistic spirit concerning her future industrial progress. Coal and iron are the leading miner
als. and the immediate proximity of these con stitutes an advantage not enjoyed in the more extensively developed iron mining districts of Lake Superior. The industry has attained its greatest development in the Birmingham region. The value of bituminous coal mined in the State rose from $2.500,000 in 1886 to $5,000,000 in 1S98 and $10,000,000 in 1900. This gave the State fifth rank in the amount and sixth rank in the value of the output. A large portion of the coal is used in the manufacture of coke, the State taking third rank in the production of that article. The growth of iron mining has been no less striking. In 1880 there were 171,000 long tons mined; in 1889, 1,570,000 tons; and in 1S99, 2,662,000 tons, the value for the latter year be ing $2,600,000, and ranking the State next to Michigan and Minnesota in importance. Sev enty-two per cent. of the product is red hematite and 28 per cent. brown hematite. Virginia alone produces a larger amount of the latter variety of ore. Limestone is quarried extensively, and most of it is burned into lime or used as a flux. The average annual value for the last decade was about $300,000. Bauxite is mined in Chero kee County, and graphite in Cleburne County. Building clays, sandstone, and mineral springs are each of some commercial value in the State.