Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1903-12-03

large basin which overfows into the
lake. The analysis of the water from
these springs shows to the gallon, 556
grains of magnesium sulphate; 437
grains of calcium sulphate, 65 grains
of potassium sulphate, 36 grains OF
magnesium chloride, l grain of alumi-
ma and III grains of volatile matter.
Common Salt.
The salt which is formed as thin
crust on the shores Of the Salt Lake
is rather coarse, the single crystals be-
ing often a quarter of an inch along
the edges of the cubes. AS scraped
up by means of hoes and shovels, q
good deal of impurity is collected and
gives to the salt dirty appearance,
the salt being chiefly used for stock
Still, the salt contains as high as 80
per cent of sodium chloride, grains
of magnesium sulphate, less than one
per cent of sodium sulphate and lit
tie over per cent of insoluble matter
which is chiefly in the form of sand
blown into the lake during the fire.
QuSIL uuSC SCOl L AO AL0eoiANnAuhA
sulphate is probably also foreign
Both of these substances are easily re-
movable in the course of manufac-
ture, making the salt exceptionally
pure and equal to the best salt that
can be obtained for domestic purposes.
1t is to be noted especially that the
various detrimental salts containing
the soda, potash and lime, which are
present in such large amounts in the
brines are totally absent in this salt,
showing that in the deposition OF the
salt these substances are naturally
eliminated.
EPSON Salts.
The magnesium sulphate or epson
salt, which occurs in such large pro-
portions in the brine and which gives
the white alkali appearance to all ol
the lakes could easily be precipitated
by proper manipulation. The waters
from the large Dog Lake could be bot
tied and used for medicinal purposes
but of course, would have to be large
ly advertised to find market
Soda.
Material for the manufacture OF
soda occurs in two forms and in large
quantities. 1t may be obtained by
treating the common salt with sulphur.
ic acid. The most important method
of preparation is from the sodium sui
phate, the deposit in the Big Salt Lake
of this mineral being foot thick and
covering the entire bottom of the lake,
at the lowest estimate 100000 tons
being available. A careful examina'
ton of the neighboring lakes will prob
ably disclose similar deposits. BY one
of the methods of producing CONNER
cial soda, large amounts of hydro
chloric acid and bleaching powder are
produced as by.products.
Gypsum.
Among the older lake deposits are
large amounts of gypsum While many
of these beds are alterations of thin
seams of pure gypsum and layers OF
darker, impure gypsiferous clays, the
conditions are identical with those
presented in the great gypsum dis
tricts of the Mississippi Valley, only
there the beds are all hardened and
rock like, while in New Mexico the
beds are still comparatively soft. The
chemical analysis of several of the
more extensive gypsum beds shows
the material to be exceptionally pure
The uses of gypsum are many, includ
| ing the manufacture of land plaster
and fertilizer, plaster Of paris, cement
plasters, Portland cement, terra alba
fire proofing, artificial marble such as
may be seen in the capitol, filler ir
papers and sulphuric acid.
The opportunities for the develop
ment of a salt industry at the Big
Salt Lakes are very exceptional On
account of the high evaporating con-
ditions in New Mexico, the locality
presents an ideal place for establish
ing a plant for producing salt by the
solar process. The necessary watts
may be very advantageously located
and the brine readily pumped into
them by means of windmills. The cost
of such a plant is not great and the
salt produced could be made as pure
as any salt for domestic purposes.
Solar salt is very much more valuable
than that manufactured by the boiled
process. The crystals are larger and
harder and dissolve more slowly; they
are therefore greatly preferred for
M ackinp rnoatS and fish
Professor Keyes goes into the details
as to the manifold uses of gypsum
and attached to the report are several
analysis of the water, the salt and 9th
er deposits taken from the lakes. OF
course, the proximity of the Hagan
coal fields and the nearness of the
Santa Fe Central Railway to these
mineral deposits make their exploita'
tion a certainty and assures good
profit to the enterprising men who
will make the most of these opportun
tiles.