The Elbert County tribune., 1899-05-18
AsPHALr DEPOSITS.
n. a. LEO Ds.cr bo. Thore In Mlddlo P.

II. A. Leo Drscr bcs Those In Middle Park
Scn.e !;i;;ss;s.. has i,i.en aroused OF
late In the discovery of asphaltum In
the Middle Park. Grand county, Colo
RADIO. During the pust year IN attempt
has been made To explore the deposits
md considerable work has been done
TO ascertain their character and extent.
Little has been accomplished, however.
IN this respect. The deposits consist,
ms far as discovered. of small flssures
In the crctnceous formation extending
along the 1o6th meridian north of lati-
tudc 40 degrees, MS described by Hay
den.
These assures seem to cut the forma-
ton. which dips to the west, and
seems TO be the eastern extremity Of
the crctnccous sandstoncs of Utah and
western Colorado. The veins have an
inclination of from 20 degrees to 40
degrees. depending on the slope or in
cline OF the surface. The elevation IL
about 10.JOO feet. The country is very
mountainous. cut by deep gulches or
water courses and Is heavily timbered
The snowfall Is heavy and lies upon
the ground late in the spring. The
surface Is completely dislntegrnted and
the formation Is covered with II heavy
wash. in some eases fifty feet deep.
making prospecting very difficult.
The size of the veins discovered va
rics from n mere seam in the forina-
tion to disconnected pockets of from
4 to 6 feet In width. The vein COM
pletely pinches out at about 80 feet he
low the surface. from the weight of
the formation above the incline. The
veins show strong volcanic action, the
formation being heavily stained for
considerable distance either side of the
streak. and action OF the gases emitted
Is noticeable throughout the traverse
seams In the rock for IL distance of
from 80 to 100 feet.
The product. so far MS ascertained. Is
OF two kinds A hard. brownish sub
stance. having n smooth fracture,
though tough and granular in its
structure. readily fusible over flame.
will not melt of itself. but is soluble
under heat in oil and soluble cold in
benzolc. In solution It is dark black
In appearance and Iustrous. This
seems to have been subjected to n very
high temperature, fills the outcrop OF
the vein and seems to be the general
character of the deposits for n distance
Of 30 feet In depth. or down to the
pinch In the vein. Another product is
found IN pockets or swells in the vein,
which seems to have been n secondary
flow. much deeper in appearance, very
brittle. with conchoidal fracture. gran
ular structure with brownlsh powder
and appears TO be similar product to
the uintnite or gilsonite OF the Utah
fields. This. too. Is wanting in volatile
matter. easily fusible under flame. but
Will not melt OF itself. II Is soluble in
oil. hut at 300 degrees Y. This would
appear TO be the character Of the pro-
duet below. though 1t is believed 1t
will become more soluble without cx-
cesslvc heat and contain more volatile
matter Ms depth Is gained.
The basin to the east of these de
posits and IN the country west of
Grand Lake In many places shows an
overflow OF Brea, but its source has
not been found. The deposits so far
discovered are almost inaccessible, ow-
ing to the distance. sixty miles. from
the nearest railroad point. Cost of
transportation by wagon TO railroad is
necessarily great, owing TO the rough
mountain roads and high passes to be
crossed. The deposits can only be
worked during the summer months. IL
the product Is found to he of sufficient
value to work NJ all.
About 1l5 tons of this product was
taken out In 1SDS. A portion OF the
second grade described above was
marketed NJ S3S The cost of wagon
haul was Sis. railroad freight. s12.5o:
cost OF mining and sncking. SIG per
ton: total S4u,5O ton.
II Is doubtful whether the product
can be made available for the market
in whnteycr branch OF trade 1t might
be used until cheaper means of trans
portatiox can be afforded.