Mining and mineral production in Jackson County, North Carolina

Mining and mineral production in Jackson County, North Carolina

Mines and mineral resources

Page, Stephen Leon

1973

Little, Robert D.

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61696

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One of the major interests of American settlers and entrepreneurs was the search for valuable mineral deposits. Jackson County, located in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains of Western North Carolina, became the focal point for prospectors for a period of one hundred years beginning in the 1850's. This paper chronicles the history of the Jackson County mines and the mineral production factories. Although the number of minerals that attracted attention were many, this thesis concentrates only on those that were successfully mined or that proved to cause a lasting interest. These minerals were kaolin, mica, gold, copper, nickel, chrome, corundum and olivine. Interspersed with the treatment on mines and production are descriptions of some of the most influential men who devoted time to mineral speculation. The most notable of those were Charles J. Harris, William F. Tompkins, and S. A. Jones. These men promoted mineral production and attracted much attention to the mountain prospects. Harris was the most successful and soon expanded into many other enterprises using profits from his clay mining. Mineral production generally boomed during periods of national emergency such as the two world wars. Depressions and recessions caused severe declines. Following World War II production diminished to a mere trickle which eventually dried up in the early 1960's. The doom of Jackson County mining can be attributed to two major factors. First, those minerals which were in constant demand, such as gold and chrome, were too poor in quantity to make mining profitable. Secondly, those minerals which were in abundance, such as mica and olivine, have now become obsolete or replaced by synthetically produced material s. Mining was an important economic determinant for the people of Jackson County . It added an outlet for idle labor and attracted outside economic investment which directly and indirectly effected the economic stability of the whole county.

2014-06-26

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Jackson County (N.C.)

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