The Mena weekly star., 1897-03-17
EXPERIENCED BIOLOGISTS.
GIVE VALUABLE INFORMATION REGARDING MINERAL DE-
 POSITS.
Near Mena The Surface indications are Excellent, but rlust Go
 Deep for Pay Rock.

J' r. Todd, of Topeka, Kansas prob ably the best geologist and mineralo- glst Tn the west, and recognized as good authority on these subjects. re- gently put in two months steady work and careful examination of the terri tory surrounding and adjacent to Mena. He did this work so quietly that but few trusted friends knew of his being here, and his examinations were most thorough and complete.
 He returned home about two weeks ago after making some investments and under date of March l2 writes friend here a personal letter from which by dint of much persuasion we are permitted to quote the following extracts, believing the statements made by so high an authority will prove both interesting and benefcial:
 During the months of January and February of the present year l was en- gagged in making a somewhat extended and careful survey and examination of the mountain region lying south and east of Mena, and find there much to interest the student, the geologist and the capitalist.
 The entire region visited is of erupt- veand semi-volcanlc origin, and though so seeming strange that 1t is unmen- toned in the standard and recognized works on geology, doubtless found it's birth in ages no less recent than the mesozoic, or possibly the paleozoic, an antiquity that is truly venerable.
 The rock formations are at once nu. merous and varied, chiefest among which may be mentioned porphyry, ob- sidian, jasper, white, rose colored and deeomposed quarts-all the latter va- rieties being in nee--carbonate dilke, etc, all, or nearly so containing liberal prospect showlngs of valuable minerals.
 The strata is greatly fexed and dis torted, very little if any being found in place, and in addition to the above, and of non-mineral character, may be mentioned black and red slate, steatite and superior quality of nephelite or hone stone, superior to the best Turk ish importations, as also fine quality of ''Washita Grit or oil stone
 All this region contains a good sur face showing of the precious minerals. and have often seen and examined in the rock and lodes, gold, silver, copper or euprite, galena, zinc, antimony, manganese, etc, with traces of cinna- bar and whitish metal yet undeter- mined.
 All the development work done, so far as I am able to observe, is of a SUI perieial character only, and if my sur mises in the premises be correct, i. e. that the pay rock is deep, then the best results can only be attained by well directed effort. intelligent mining en- gineering AND DEPTH SUFFICIENT TO REACH THE PAY ROCK.
 We are also credibly informed that there is now in this city and vicinity another mineraiogist making quiet and careful as well as extensive examina- tious, who for obvious reasons prefers to remain incog. but who tells trust ed friend that this country is rich in the precious metals but it will require deep mining to reach the best ores He says that there is vast quantities of low grade ores that would pay to work if there was mill here or near to take it to and that the possibilities for gold are unlimited.