The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1889-05-03
Economic Minerals Of San Saba County.

Three and half miles south
west of the town of San Saba
there is an outcropping of an ex
tensive deposit of colored marble
of great beauty. The greater par
of these San Saba marbles are tru,
marbles, having crystalline textur,
and saccharoidal fracture. Their,
is unmistakable evidence of tn,
existence of laccolites or subter
ranean eruptlons of molten matte
from the depths below. The hea
from this incapdescent matter
which in these cases is injected
through dykes TO within a few
hundred feet of the surface, hal
metamorphosed tie limestone bed,
converting them INTO true marble
1t has been proven, by actuEl eSi
pertinent. that a block of common
limestone may b. converted int
beautiful statuary by means o.
heat and moisture undor grea-
pressure. These powerful agents
are capable of effecting remark
able changes in color and texture
All fossils becoming completely
obliterated and the color changed
to pure white, unless iron or some
other metallic coloring matter is
present in the limestone.
There are many varieties of this
marble, all of which are handsome
The greater part are colored with
rich warm tints clorded and vein
ed. One kind has a solid, delicate
flush of peach bloom without
cloudings or veins. Another and
most abundant has a fine, rich
yellowish ground, clouded and
veined with warm colors, pink,
orange and red. Another has a
light, flesh colored ground, with
beautiful cloudings of light red.
South of this deposit some ten
miles, there is an extensive deposit
of white marble only partially
crystalline in texture. 1t closely
resembles ivory in color, and
readily takes a fine polish. This
is stratifed, the layers having a
thickness of from a few inches to
two feet. 1t can be easily and
economically quarried, will wealth
er well, and will be valuable for
most purposes for which white
marble is suited. The colored
marble occurs in massive beds,
some from eight to twelve feet in
thickness. 1t can be quarried in
immense blocks.
Specimens of these marbles
were furnished the National Mu-
scum at Washington, and were
pronounced very beautiful, and in
composition unusually interesting,
by DR.. Halves, who was then cura-
tor in charge of the pathological
department., and probably at that
lime the highest authority upon
rock mineral in the United States.
He said that they were different in
composition from any other speci-
mems in the extensive collection
lnder his charge subsequently,
'hese specimens formed part of
l limited number of blocks selec-
ed from the vast collection of the
National Museum to represent the
iifferent varieties of marbles of
7alue found in the United States
It the Worlds Fair at New Or
cans. The San Saba marbles
we're given a prominent place in
n this Government exhibit.
In the meteorological and geo.
ogical department. of the Texas
xhibit at New Orleans, polished
locks of these beautiful marbles,
ormed an attractive feature. They
ow occupy place in the museum
/ the Texas State Geological and
scientific Society, at Houston,
'exas.
Col. Ii. P. Brewster, formerly
Commissioner of Insurance, Sta
lstics' and History, who was COM
liss.ioned to select the material
Dr. the inscription block from
f5xas for the Washington Monu-
nent, after carefully examining
ock material frem all parts of the
tate, selected the San Saba mar
lie as best suited for the purpose.
In insufficient appropriation and
Tant of facilities for quarrying |
nd transportation defeated his
uTpose to use it.
Want of facilities of the same
prevented its use in place
f the Georgia marbles used in
UT State Capitol.
Within less than a half mile
rom this outcropping of the prin-
pal marble bed, there bursts out
,om the bluff one of the great
brings of San Saba county The
larble is so situated that it can be
laced upon trucks Numerically