Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-12-18

form a durable and attractive building
material; the size obtainable is only lin
itel by the wants OF the builders. A we'll
stratified, deep red sandstone is obtaina-
bic in large amounts, and admirably
adapted for sidewalks on account of the
cleaverage. 1t has already been used for
this purpose and found to answer well.
FI~RE-CLAY.
An extensive bed of this material is
found under and in connection with the
coal of Sand Cou1ee. Whenever required
it can be stripped with the coal. AS far
as prospected, used and tested, it is a good
material, averaging from ten inches to
two feet in thickness, free from grit and
stands fire test admirably. Taken in con-
nection with the hornstone so abundant
in Sand Coulee, and which will answer in
the absence of flint, as also the abundance
Of ironstone, the value OF this deposit for
the manufacture Of pottery, tiles, fire
brick, etc, can as yet, hardly be estimat-
ed.
BRICK CLAY.
This clay has, during the past two
years been thoroughly tested by the yards
at Great Falls. Last year a fair, market
able product was manufactured, but this
years manufacture shows an article I'M
surpassed in Montana. The supply Of
material is practically unlimited, and will
form an Important factor in the future.
ERR GOTTA lay
Recent explorations show a stratum of
clay underlying q PORTION Of the townsite
Of Great Falls, and a part Of the lower
basin of Sand Coulee. When first exam
ined, its freedom from grit, and its pecu-
liar appearance when burnt, excited Gu
riosity, and some of it was sent to be an
alyzed. The result shows that it is of
identical composition with the clays of
of New Jersey, used for the manufacture
Of Terra Gotta. The Importance of this
discovery can hardly be estimated, as it
opens a new field for manufacture, which
has not as yet been suspected to exist
here. 1t signifies the presence of materi-
al easily worked, occupying a prominent
place in modern architecture, not only in
production of ornamentation hitherto
supplied by stone or lumber, but also on
account Of its practically being indestruct-
ible.s 1t is not likely that such a valua-
bic deposit will remain undisturbed long.
EMENT
The presence Of this material has long
been known, but the strata has not yet
been examined with such care, as to
determine the quantity or quality. The
deposits are found in Sand Coulee in the
measures, and also on the Missouri
river about four miles above Great Falls.
LIMESTONE.
Limestone is abundant in this vicinity
and in Sand Coulee. L, is Of excellent
quality and remarkably free from miner
ais, which is so common in the mount
aims. Large amounts have been burnt the
past year, (which found ready sale in
The Little Belt Mountains, whose min
eral products are now attracting attention,
are connected with the Great Belt range
by a high divide on the west, which, is cut
by the Smith river canyon, and on the
southeast with the Big Snowies by the
platform Of the Judith Gap.
Throughout its area, are scattered vari-
Gus mining camps, with almost innumer-
able mining locations, many of which are
Of great value, the only impedimentin the
way Of their Development being the want
of cheap transportation. The following
camps have had considerable develop
ment made, viz: Yogo, Sage Greek,
Wolf Creek, Barker, Belt Park, Neihart,
Sheep Creek, Newland Creek and Sand
Coulee. All these localities differ in the
character Of ore found in one shape or an
other, owing to the variance in the coun-
try rock, and the chemical composition of
the filing of the veins. This results. in
the preponderance of some metal in one
camp which is less plentiful in another.
Thus, the gold, silver, copper, lead, graph
tie, and iron belts are clearly defined.
When the limestone comes in contact
with Trachyte, the result has been the de-
position Of carbonate ores, very often be-
rich in lead.
The principal mineral centres of the
range are Yogo Badly, (7,975 feet in alti-
tude) and Big Badly, 5000. A high
about four miles long connects
these W mountains, and it is in their
neighborhood, and the spurs connected
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