Wes Houston mine

Mica Mine in Avery county, North Carolina

Wes Houston mine

Principal periods worked WWII
Workings Cut 40, stope 60
Description of muscovite Ruby, "A" structure, biotite intergrowths, ruled.
Production Small sheet, feldspar.
Shape Lenses
Size 0.1-7 T, >90 L
Strike NE
Dip SE
Relation to wallrock Concordant
Wallrock Mica gneiss
Remarks Pl-P-P-Q-M wall zones, medium to coarse-grained; accessory biotite, garnet, pyrite; Q-M core, discontinuous.
Source of information USGS, CMC

Geographic context

Abbreviations

Principal periods worked
WWI World War I
WWII World War II
int intermittent
Production
Small < 500 lb
Moderate 500-10,000 lb
Large > 10,000 lb
Size of pegmatite
D depth
L length
T thickness
avg average
Internal structure
B biotite
F feldspar
M muscovite
P perthite
Pl plagioclase
Q quartz
Source information
CMC Colonial Mica Corporation
DMEA Defense Minerals Exploration Administration
OME Office of Minerals Exploration
USGS U.S. Geological Survey
OF USGS open-file reports and maps