The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-06-02
ARKANsAs onAI.K nrns
Interesting Result OF an Investigation bi
United states oeoloQis

IT,
enh a. Tan, in part III OF the twenty.
second annual report OF the United
states geological survey. now in press
Nere FIRST described by Mr.. Robert T
hin in the annual report OF the geolog
ical survey of Arkansas for 1888. in
which volume DR.. J. c. Branner. ther
state geologist Of Arkansas, briefly
described the manufacture of Portland
cemeat and showed that the chalk de
posilr compared favorably with tn,
best EnE 'ish chalk as Portland cement
materials. The publications OF tht
Arkansas survey called. attention to
these chalk deposits and as a result
an extensive Portland cement plant
was established at Whitecliffs. fhn
development caused greater interest in
the Arkansas chalk deposits. creating
further demand for information.
The chalk deposits OF Southwestern
Arkansas occur In a low rolling plain
from the vicinity of Rocky Comfort
about fifty miles from the state line
northeastern toward Arkadelphia. II
Is the northeastward part of the sceat
chalk formation which extends from
Central Texas into Arkansas. Tnt
purer chalk outcrops in three separate
areas, U) at Rocky Comfort. in Little
RIVER county; (2), Whitecliffs, in Lit
tie River and Sewer counties, and (3)
eastward from Saline Landing, II
Howard and Hampstead counties. The
chalk In these areas belong to the sans
same formation and are separated by
later deposits Of gravel and sand.
The pure chalk formation has varl.
able thickness from more than 100 feet
in tie western part OF the area to thin
deposits iu the eastern part. 1t occurs
in the midst of fine chalky and clay
marls into which IL grades with grad
ual change. Throughout its occurrence
II Is we'll exposed and suitably located
Tor exploitation. The Rocky Comfort
chalk lies within one mile OF the Ar
kansas and Choctaw railroad, whIcf
extends westward from the main line
OF the Kansas City Southern at Ash
down. The Whitecliiis chalk outcrop,
in cliffs and bluffs above Little river
where II is well and conveniently ex
posed for use in the manufacture OF
cement near the cement works. a
branch road connects the Whitecliffs
deposits with the main line OF IA.
ton. The Saline Landing area lies be-
tween the Arkansas and Louisiana and
West Saline river, aid ten mics from
the main line OF the st. Louis, Iron
Mountain g. Southern railroad Tht
chalk at Saline Landing is at the head
Of navigation for small steamers on
the Saline river. and is separated from
the chalk at Whiteclihs by a space OF
about four and a half miles.
Lying above the pure chalk forma
tion of the Wh.tec1ffs formation and
separated from it by nearly zoo feet OF
marls, there IS a formation of chalk
mari known as the Saratoga chalk
mari. This formation occurs in thu es
separate areas, one extending from the
vicinity of Saline Landing northwest,
ward and beyond Washington, another
in the region OF Okolona, ana a third is
the Deciper creek valleys near Arka-
delphia. This chalk-marl formation
resembles closely the lower and more
sandy portion OF the Whitecli1s chalk.
This formation continues throughout
its known occurrence with little varia
ton in thickness of about forty feet
Mr.. Tan's report discusses briefly
menLs and their methods ot manufac-
ture, giving analysis OF both natura.
and Portland ceuenJ5. also Of tue
various chalks, maris and clays in the
Arkansas region wnIcn show that q
considerable part or the chalk depos,t9
in Arkansas approach very closely IN
eomosition 10 natural and portlauo
cement iimestones which have been
utilized IN rIaAce aAu IN the eastern
part OF the lnueu o.aies. A large part
OF the cnalk, nOweAer, is shown 10
T. the Durest CAalks in England
which have been used in the manufaC-
ture of the highest grades OF Portland
cement 70 t4e pure cnaik for Port
land cement. II as necessary TO uad
clays or marls carrying large Pc,
centage OF Gay. Gays OF the very best
grade are found Ia the territury de-
post lying immediately south OF this
region ana further east along the st
Louis, Iron Mountain 4 Southern rail-
road toward Little Rock. The hns
teAtUred marls which occur here askO-
ciated with the chalks are shown by
their analysis 10 contain clays adequats
when mixed with the chalk 10 produce
a =, oper combination Tor hign grade
Of Portland cement IL is evident THAI
there rs sufficient chalk and mari Ia
the Arkansas region 10 produce an un-
limited amount OF Portland cement
The newest Portland cement manu-
factories occur in North Texas and
kcasag. leaving the whole region OF
Indian Territory, Oklahoma. Arkansas,
la..e part of Louisiana, and other
Southern states east of the Mississippi,
which could be supplied with little
coz petition by the Arkansas ceInents.
Transportation north and south Is ci-
rect ~ the Kansas City Southern.
northeast and southeast by the 81.
Louis & Iron Mountain. and east and
west by the ChoctaS. Oklahoma Gult
md thn MnrnnhIs Al ChOctaM railrOada