The daily sentinel., 1902-01-03
THE GEOLOGY
|0f Grand junction and the Valley
8# Of the Grand.


again tipped up steeply to 45 dsgrses,
dipping in . contrary direction to the
westward. In the lap OF these two up.
lifts the Book Clin plateau was thrown
into . saddls-shaped basin. trough or
syncline between the snticlinal arch Of
the Uncompahgrs plateau on the west
and the Ride Creek anticline on the east.
II W 20 west Of town up No Thor
osghfars canon. we shall there sncoun-
ter the great anticlinal ssch Of red sand
stone resting on dark granite. The ten
sion in the bonding Of the arch was -
great At ono point that the strata, with
the granite below, broke down on the
east flank and . long assure break or
fault extends north and south, parallel
with the snticlins, for many miles west
Of Grand Junction.
ECONOMIC VALUES AND POSSIBILITIES.
The strata OF the region, particularly
the shales, are favorable to the occur
renee Of oil. The Moutans shalss are
the strata that at Florence, On the east
srn slope, carry our oil fields. and the
shalss and their horizon arc in the same
relative position to the coal beds above
- at Florence and Canon City with sp-
psrently the same reasonable chance Of
finding oil In thsm.
Tho lower strata-the Dakota, Juras-
sic and Triassic- also besn found
oil bearing in various parts Of Colorado.
At Grand Junction, however. Q we'll, put
down 1910 feet through the black Colo
RADIO shales, Dakota and Jurassic groups,
did not find oil, but encountered consid-
erabls bodies Of gas. salt wAtsr. and nual-
y good artesian water. It 10 to be re-
gretted that the we'll did not 90 down
500 feet more to the granite in the rcd
Triassic sandstone. which might possibly
have yielded oil, gas and artesian water.
The antislinal structure OF the region,
with its gentle dip eastward, 10 favorable
to the accumulation of oil and still more
favorable to the accumulation Of gas
and the presence Of artssian water.
The valley Of the Grand. from north to
south for many miles. is strueturally and
geologically an ideal one for artssian
boring to a seam Of water which we be-
lieve can be reached almost anywhere
within 1900 feet. The Importance Of
this In horticultural region and in the
support Of small fruit gardens and Or
chards in an otherwise arid section, 10.
We believe. worthy Of the highest con-
sidsration OF the hosticulturists Of the
Grand valley.
The geological and structural coudi-
tions are likewise very favorable 10 the
acsunulation Of that best Of fuels and
excellent illuminant, viz: natural gas.
A good volume Of this gss was found
at moro than ono poirt in the 1010-foot
we'll put down within the city limits. I
am told there was volume enough to
light half the atty, consequently few
wells with proper gas storage might &C
commodste the whole town, and similar
wells might supply it also with artssian
water, and, at q greater depth than the
present we'll, possibly with oil.
With these natural resources within
such easy grasp Of the city. it seems to
behoovs the citizens, ~ we'll - the pso-
ple for miles north and south In the
Grand valley. to try for the possibilities
OF oil and the strong probabilities Of nat
ural gas and the slmost absolute certain
ty Of artesian water. Arthur Lakes.