Abstract
The possible commercial slates of East Tennessee are associated with conglomerates of the Unaka Mountains which belong to the early Cambrian Ocoee series. These are limited to the SE and NW by faults. The Ocoee rocks can be distinguished from the Pre-Cambrian crystalline rocks to the southeast by their lesser metamorphism.There are three slate horizons in the Ocoee series, but slate of commercial qualities is confined to the Pigeon formation. Much of this is strongly jointed and impregnated with marcasite; consequently quarry sites must be carefully selected. However, there are some capable of yielding good structural slate with a variety of colors, as well as material suitable for rustic shingles and an excellent grade of granules for composition roofing.The first quarrying was on Panther Creek in the Little Tennessee River district, about 1895, for blue-gray and purple slate shingles. Later, others were opened, unsuccessfully, until 1920, when one near the Tellico River was operated for eight years producing granules. In 1932 quarries were reopened on Panther Creek, for structural slate, for various uses. Certain horizons within the Pigeon slate formation are well suited to this type of development and appear to have good future possibilities.
