Great Falls weekly tribune., 1896-04-17

| MINERAL METALLIC PAINT.
At least three beds, averaging four feet
in thickness each, Of this article are
found in close proximity to the city of
Great Falls. The deposits are a hydrat
ed sesqui oXid Of iron, and, from prac-
tical experiments made, is found to be a
valuable paint for freight cars, roofs of
buildings, etc. 1t is identical in charac-
ter with that of Rawline, Wyo, Virginia
and Maryland, and occurs in nearly the
same horizon.
No development has been yet made on
these deposits, though they are known
to be of economic value, easy Of access,
and close to the railroad.
| GYPSUM.
The deposits of this mineral in Cas-
cade county extend from near Kibbey
on the northeast to the head of Sand
Coulee on the southwest, being visible
on the surface at several intervening
points. The largest outcrop is near Kib-
hey, which is now being developed by
the Montana Stucco company. At this
place the deposits may be classed as first,
the surface, which is really natural
stucco, and second, the underlying de-
posit, which is gypsum about chemically
pure sulphate of calciume The surface
deposit by assay shows So per cent gyp.
sum, alumina and silica, with small
amount Of calcium carbonate. This is
about the formula adopted in the manu-
facture of the staff so generally adopted
in the construction of the buildings at
the worlds fair at Chicago.
This stucco at Kibbey promises to be
a lucrative industry, there being already
Il large demand locally and also numer-
Gus inquiries from the east Practical
experiments have shown the crushing
tests to be from 2S5 to 33i pounds. 1t
also sets more rapidly than cement, does
not crack, and it has been proved that
two parts Of this stucco to one Of sand ie
harder than a compound of sand and
Portland cement in the same proportion.
SANDSTONE.
In no part Of the state outside of Cas-
cade county is this material found in
such diversified colors and of such on
during qualities. The formations near
the city of Great Falls have the largest
outcrop, being visible over an area of
about eight square miles, and the varie-
ty of shades of color--white, red, brown,
blue, green, etc.--in which it occurs per.
mits of extensive ornamentation of build
ings without having recourse to artificial
means.
The red sandstone is of great density,
has crushing test OF 700 tons per square
foot, and is conceded to be the hand
soonest building material in the state.
The white sandstone has crushing test
of $50 tons to the square foot, and when
first cut in the quarry is soft but hard
ems with exposure. 1t is pure white, of
fine granulated texture, and is 80 6 per
cent pure silica. This makes it highly
important factor in the manufacture of
glass, and rs the quantity is practically
unlimited, when its merits are duly ap-
preciated by capitalists it will be the
primary cause of the establishment at
Great Falls of large glass industry.
Flagstoncs suitable for sidewalks can
be procured of any size suitable for
transportation inside the corporate linn
its Of Great Falls, and also at the town
of Belt.
| LIMESTONE.
At Sand Coulec and also at Belt creek
are huge formations of limestone, tests
of which give as high as 1913 per cent of
carbonate of calcium. The result is, it
makes an excellent lime; also, as tiux
for the Great Falls smcltcrs. Taking
into consideration the purcness of this
limestone, the excellence of the Belt
coke and the enormous water power
which is available for the generation of
electricity at Great Falls, this city would
be a beau ideal for the manufacture of
calcium carbide for the generation OF
acetylenc gas.
Phosphates Large beds of phosphates
have been found to exist in the northern
part of the county. These are associ
ated with beds carrying considerable
potash.
Alum Shalcs carrying a high per
cent of alum have been found in the
lower hills of the Ilighwood mountains,
which will have economic value in the
future.
Hydraulic Cement This valuable ma
terial has been found this spring within
a few miles OF the city of Great Falls. 1t
will be more thoroughly explored and
tested during the coming summer.
FIRE CLAY.
| Valuable seams of this materia! are
found nearly all over the county.
Scarcely creek, river, or valley can be
named but what shows an outcrop of
one or more veins. No bed of coal exists
but what has its corresponding bed of
fire clay undertaking it. A capitalist,
with practical knowledge of making fire
brick, would, in this section, with the
material found here, manufacture fire
brick which, in quality, would be sec
ond to none in the west.
Clays for Brlck-Clay for the manu-.
facture of brick Is abundant. In Lower
Sand Coulee as we'll as within the limits
of the city of Great Falls is bed OF clay
70 feet thick, free of lime and alkali.
Other large deposits are known to exist
in various parts Of the county, go that
there never can be a paucity of mate
rial.
PETROLEUM.
| The writer in 1890 examined over one
thousand petroleum locations in Wyom-
~e..l