The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1902-08-29
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Interesting Result OF an Investigation b.
United Stases Qeologiss.
The chalk aud chalk-marl deposits
Of Southwest Arkansas. said Mr.. Jos
eph A. Tan. Ia part III Of the twenty
second annual report Of the Unitee
states geological survey. now In press
we're FIRST described by Mr.. Robert +
Hin in the annual report Of the geolog
lcal survey OF Arkansas for 1883, In
which volume DR.. J. c. Branner, then
state geologist Of Arkansas. briefly
described the manufacture Of Portland
Hement and showed that the chalk de-
p0slts compared favoEably with ths
best English chalk as Portland cement
materials. The publications OF the
Arkansas survey called attention "a
these chalk deposits and as a result
an extensive Portland cement plant
was established at Whiteclilfe Ihn
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 nna
northeastwafd toward ArkadelphIa- II
is the northeastward part Of the eceat
chalk formation which extends FROM
Central Texas into Arkansas. 'Tnt
purer chalk outcrops In three separate
areas, "a at Rocky Comfort, In Ltttla
River county; (2). Whiteclitfs, In Lit
tie River and Sewer counties, and 90
eastward from Saline Landing. IN
Howard and Hampstead counties. The
chalk In these areas belong TO the sane
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 the western part OF the area to thin
deposits IN the eastern part. II occurs
In the midst Of fine chRlky and clay
marls into which II grades with grad.
ual change. Throughout Its occurrence
II is well exposed and suitably located
for exploitation. The Rocky Comfort
chalk lies within one mile Of the Ar.
kansas and Choctaw railroad. whica
extends westward from the main line
OF the Kansas City Southern at Ash
down. The Whitecliffs chalk outerops
in cliffs and bluffs above Little river,
where Il Is well and conveniently ex-
posed for use in the manufacture Of
cement near the cement works.
branch road connects the WhiteclifG
deposits with the main line OF the
Kansas City Sonthern railroad at VIII
ton. The Saline Landing area lies be-
tween the Arkansas and Louisiana and
West Saline river. and ten miles from
the main line of the st. Louis, Iron
Mountain a Southern railroad Ths
chalk at Saline Landing Is at the head
Of navigation for small steamers on
the Saline river. and is separated froui
the chalk at Wbitecliffs by space OF
about four and half miles.
Lying above the pure chalk forma
tion OF the Whitecliffs formation and
separated from 1t by nearly 200 feet Of
marls, there IL a formation of chalk
mari known as the Saratoga chalk
mari. This formation occurs In thee
separate areas, one extending from tht
vicinity or Saline Landing northwest
ward and beyond Washington, another
In the region OF Okolona, and third if
the Deeper creek valleys near Arka-
delphla. This chalk-marl formation
resembles closely the lower and more
sandy portion OF the Whitecllfis chalk
This formation continues throughout
Its known occurrence with little varia-
tion in thickness OF about forty feet.
Mr.. Tafr's report discusses briefly
the nature OF natural and Portland ce-
ments and their methods Of manufac-
ture, giving analysis of both natura
and Portland cements. also OF tue
various chalks, marls and clays In the
Arkansas region which show that o
considerable part OF the chalk deposits
in Arkansas approach very closely IN
oomositlon to natural and Portlano
cement limestonee which have been
utilized In France and in the eastern
part OF the United States. A large part
Of ths chalk. however. is shown u
rival the purcst chalks in England
which have been used In the manufac-
ture OF the highest grades OF Portland
cement. To the pure chalk for Fort
land cement, 1t is necessary to add
clays or marls carrying a large per
centage Of clay. Clays Of the very best
grade are found in the territory de-
posit lying Immediately south OF this
region and further east along the St
Lows. Iron Mountain 4 Southern rail-
road toward Little Rock. The fine
textured marls which occur here assO-
ciated with the chalks are shown By
their analysis to contain clays adequate
when mixed with the chalk 70 produce
a proper combination for high grade
OF Portland cement. II Is evident thai
there is sufficient chalk and mari ID
the Arkansas region TO produce an un-
limited amount OF Portland cement.
The newest Portland cement manu-
factories occur In North Texas and
Kansas. leaving the whole region Of
Indian Territory. Oklahoma. Arkansas,
q large part of Louisiana, aud other
Southern states east Of the Mississippi
which could be supplied with littls
competition by the Arkansas cenents.
Transportation north and south is cl-
rect By the Kansas City Southern,
northeast and southeast BY the St
Louis & Iron Mountain. and east and
west By the Choctaw. Oklahoma & Gu1
and the Memphis 4 choctaw railroads.