The Forrest City times., 1892-03-11
Mineral Resources of North
 Arkansas.

ldSt NtChs HAt. iA. W DHeTmc1 horn of Harrison, gave a most conpre.
 hensive and satisfactory statement of the mineral resources of North Arkansas. He said among other things: "The capitalist seeking q promising field for investment in zinc mines will find the valley of White River 10 possess many ad- vantages to insure profitable min ing that arc not presented in less favored localities: The first of these 10 attract attention of the prospcctor is tho favorable posi-. tion of the ores. Here nature has done what in other localities neces- sitates heavy expenditure. She has exposed the ores. There are no shafts to be sunk to determine whether ore exists in a certain To- cality. The ore deposits lie in the position of coal seams, and the ex- tensivo erosions that formed the valleys leave the orc exposed on inc hillsides. The original level of the country seems to have been an extended plateau, that has been crossed and penetrated by valleys, leaving mountains, ridges and isolated hills.
 Following up the valley on either side we find tho same geo. logical formations, the same out. crop of ores and at the same level, with the exception of several we'll defined faults. In this territory there are no true Assure veins, but more or less extensive crevices and no appearance of volcanic dis. turbances. Crossing the mountain ridge and descending to the level we have left, VIC find the same stra,ified rocks, limestone, sand stone, red marble, all underlying the chcrt, and corresponding out crops of ore. Under these condi- tions is it not moro reasonable to suppose that the ore beds pass through the mountains than that they do notf If this supposition is correct, it is d fficult to realize tho enormous extent of the zinc deposits. l know of eonicaI mountain on the bank of White river that shows m outcrop of car bonatc of zinc over four feet in thickness around it's circumference n distance of moro than half a mile. But do not understand me to say that the outcrops are found on every hill, and the entire length of every valley. In some locali- ties they are missing, in others they are concealed by the wash from the mountain above. On the higher hills three separate and distinct zinc ou,crops arc found, the upper of silicnIe. the middle Of carbonate, and sometimes b!ende, in limestone, and the lower blende, filling the cracks and interstices of a broken, blue silicious limestone, at the present water level, and de- scending to an undetermined depth. l have observed this formation in four different localities in the beds 0t creeks and ravincs, but the To- cations do not determine whether this formation underlies a broad arca, or is on broad lead extend- ing north about 30 degrees east. There is diversity of opinion re. speeding the manner in which this ore was deposited; tho more gen. crully accepted theory being that it was through the agency of hot alkaline water. This hypothesis accounts for con ditions not ex- plained by the theory of sublima- lion.
 This favorable position Of ores enables the miner 10 commence operstions at once upon the ore bed, without the preliminary ex- pense of sinking a deep shaft. and avoids tho heavy outlay incident to hoisting and pumping, as in deep mines. Another advantage that may be justly claimed for the Arkansas zinc fields is the high per cent. of zinc contained in the different ores, reaching as they do almost the maximum. In some To- calities the ore, as taken from the mine, is ready for the smelter, not requiring crushing and washing 10 separate it from the ass ociate rock. This character of ore is found at the Morning Star, Market, Panther Creek and Bonanza mines, and may very probably be unearthed in other localities.
 After obtaining the ore the next most important consideration for tho practical miner is how 10 get 1t to market. As before stated tho larger area of the zinc fields of Southern Missouri and Northern Arkansas, is dependent upon rail way transportation. This, upon the authority of the distinguished gentleman who has addressed you upon the subject of railway exten- sion, Hon. N. H. Chamberlain, of St. Louis, can be readily secured when capitalists are informed re- specting the resources of the coun- try, and convinced from authentic statements that the information IS correct.
 Bat, railway or no railway, the zinc fields of Arkansas will soon