GEOLOGY AND MIN ERALOGY. The main geo logical surface formations are coincident with the topographical belts described above; in fact, the latter are a result of the former, and the coastal plain is a geological rather than a topo graphical division. It consists of Cretaaccons and Tertiary sands. clays, and marls covering the bedrock of and limestones. The remainder of the State, the Pied mont plain and the mountains, has as its principal feature an immense belt of granites and gneisses running across the State from south west to northeast, and flanked on the east by a narrower belt of erystalline spill-4s and other slates. Between the latter and the coastal plain deposits is a still narrower belt of more recent format ion—the Triassic( red sandstone. The great Smoky :Mountains in the extreme west and the southern portion of the blue Ridge consist of rocks of the Ocoee formation. The red sandstone formation contains coal deposits. and also :6.'1(14 the most valuable building stones. The crystalline rocks, whieh are mu el folded, tilted, and broken, are penetrated in many places by quartz veins, sonic of which are auriferous. Other veins are impregnated with copper ores, and valuable iron deposits are also found both in the granite and slate belts, while ores of silver, lead, and zinc are also found, sometimes associated with gold.
MINING. G011-1DilliDg began early in the nine teenth century, yet the industry shows little signs of extensive development, and the annual output remains small. The State is noteworthy for its production of corundum and mien, there being few other regions in the country where these are found. In 1900 the corundum mined for the year was valued at $102,715. and represented
all that was mined in the United States during that year. Both corundum and mica are found in the counties west of the Blue IndOli. 1111900 the ores mined included the red and brown hematite and the magnetite varieties of iron ore, their re spective outputs being 55,S44 tons, 259,863 tons, and 20.479 tons. Coal-mining has been carried on in Chatham County since 1889, but the output is small. Granite quarried in 1900 was valued at $257,962—inneh in excess of any other year between 1890 and 1900. The production of tale and soapstone is rapidly increasing, the value in 1900 being $75,:308. Some sandstone and phosphate rock are also obtained. In 1900 the value of brick and tile was estimated at $797, 112. A little pottery is also produced.
Fisumms. Fishing is the most important in dustry in the eastern part of the State. North Carolina is naturally adapted for this pursuit by its sounds and other coastal bodies of water, fresh and salt. The annual eaten is more than twice that of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida (Atlantic Coast side) • combined. In 1897, the last year in which fishery statistics were compiled, there were 12.045 men engaged in the industry. The value of the product reported was $1,316017. Shad and oysters are by far the most prominent, the of the former be ing $362,811. Of the many other varieties the more important are squeteague. alewife, mullet, striped bass, clams, and bluefish. The seine fisheries of the Albemarle Sound section are the most important in the State. Vessel fishing is not yet extensive.