The Harrison times. (Harrison, Boone Co., Ark) 1876-1938, 1901-01-26
FUNDAMENTAL GEOLOGY OF THE
OZARK UPLIFT.

1AN 1919 1&+1AaSs - NAH ~ 0ANH Va
considerable quantities at 0ronogo,
Joplin, Galena and is also observa-
BILE in Reynolds county, Mo, and
quite abundant toward the scout hern
portion of Marion county. Ark. In
some instances it forms a compile te
matrix in which are encased ores,
tiff and even quartz crystals of Ii M
pid clearness; is of very light weig hit,
and, when quite hard, has an am
Der lustre; soft, it can be pressed be-
meath the teeth like chewing gum.
This is nothing but a residuary pro-
duct from petroleum, a rich bitumen
or asphaltum.. Under no conceivable
circumstance could it be thus pres
ent except through eiectment from
beneath, at time of rupture. through
ventsthat had been made by the ex-
panding and exploding gas which
may have had it's existence quite re-
mote from the scene of action.
One conclusion sustained by obser-
walton is that certain metallic ores
required more dynamic energy for
their formation than others, thus.
copper more than zinc. and the lat
ter more than lead, consequently the
quantity and quality of minerals.
and their locations, would be with
that conformity. This would rea-
sonably account for the superior
masses and quality of zinc, more es-
pecially in Central North Ark, and
for Southeast Missouri as being the
great lead repository. Again, the
size and perfection in form Of crystals
depend upon the extent OF energy ex-
erted. Those that are very small
were rapidly formed and do not
point to massive bodies of ore at the
particular locality, though mark the
point of intens; action that mineral
lied. Also, crystals abnormally
large are less promising, for they
were very slowly formed and point
toward the edge of mineralization
where deposits are likely to be in
smaller masses. The moderate sized
crystal usually proves to be the hap.
Ply medium that speaks most favor
ably for massive bodies OF ore. If
copper, antimony, cobalt or nickel
are present, they are excellent indi-
Gators of superior qualities of the
other ores. Chimneys and blow
outs do not generally mark the ex.
act sites of masses of mineral, al
though in close proximity to them.
These, together with other signs of
naturalization, such as earth color
ings, peculiarities OF fragmentary
rock and crystaization, have deei-
ded significance and have most tas-
cinating attraction for those who
make such matters a study, In
some instances, even ebert serves as
a valuable Indicator. As the mer-
chant becomes a judge of quality OF
his cloth, the vender of fruit, aud an
old smoker of a choice cigar from its
general appearance, so the observing
mineral hunter, in sense, becomes
an adept in his occupations. To ig-
more such facts would be as unwise
as to hunt for rock or vein gold in
the tertiary formation, or for coal in
GRANTEES.
Having devoted considerable space
to the essential features of the Ozark
elevation and its ores of lead and
zinc which, together with undevel-
oped iron, granite, marble, clay and
other resources about which COM
paratively little has been said and
which combinedlv will compare IA
vorably in wealth with an equal
area in any other portion OF the
! world, we win next consider two
other products that in the near fut-
ure are very sure of receiving fully as
| much attention as the zinc and lead
ores. These are the natural elements
gas and oil. That they exist in
closest proximity to former mention
ed minerals there cannot be a ques-
ton of doubt, nor that they are in
abundance; yet, through their sub
tleness of nature they have almost
succeeded in escaping thought or at
tention. They are liable to be found
anywhere within the areas designa-
ted IA to Is inclusive, but not every
where. Although at the time that
drilling for oil began, and for many
years after, there was no satisfac-
tory accounting tor its origin and
the subject among scientists was n
foot ball, there today is really no
ground for differences of opinions in
the matter. There is not one Of the
regular soft or bltuminous coal ba-
sins but that contains quantities in
greatness of natural gas and petro-
leum. They are not simply accom-
paniments of coal, but are that from
which the latter was formed. The
great Anthracite coal region of Penn
sylvania is not supposed to contain
oil. 1t unquestionably once existed,
and in such volume as to furnish
veins of coal more than 100 feet in
thickness. This basin was OF great
depth and the hydrocarbonaceous
gases that slumbered there, when
dynamically aroused, played with
far greater power than it ever did to
form bituminous coal. 1t produced
a more refined and more valuable
quality, and broke asunder the mas
sive layers of formations which over
lied, so that what gas and oil was
not converted into coal, long ago
found escape. Besides an alteration