  
The Murphy marble belt extends some 35 miles in North Carolina from Wesser to the Georgia state line, including parts of Swain, Macon, and Cherokee Counties. Talc mining in the area is more than three-quarters of a century old and has persisted in spite of many difficulties. However, in recent years most of the mines and prospects have been abandoned and the utilization of talc resources has been at a minimum.
The North Carolina Department of Conservation and Development and the Regional Products Research Division of the Commerce Department of TVA established a cooperative program as a basis for this investigation of the talc resources in the Murphy marble belt of the tri-county area. Specific purposes of the investigation were: (1) to develop criteria and methods for determining accurately the location of concealed talc deposits; (2) to locate new talc reserves; (3) to assist property owners, investors, and operators in attaining higher efficiency in the exploration and development of deposits; and (4) to acquire and sponsor the applicatin of geologic and economic information that has not been available heretofore. Included is a geologic map, talc deposits of the Murphy marble belt (4 sheets). By Earl C. Van Horn, 1948. 54 pages.
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