The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1903-09-15
ASH BEDS OF MONTANA.
Where They Are Situated and Rea-
sons for Existence.

""eTe '"ey are Situated anu nSo-
sons for Existence.
The University of Montana has is
sued a bulletin, the first of a geolog-
ical series on Some Volcanic Ash
Beds of Montana" by Jesse Perry
Rowe, NJ. A.. professor of physics and
geology. The bulletin is richly illus
trated and treats of theory of orr
gin. physical properties, chemical
composition economic Importance |
and the distribution of beds in Mon
tana. Professor Rowe is authority |
for the statements that ash beds ex-
ist in the following counties: Beaver
head. Broadwater. Cascade, Deer
Lodge. Fergus. Gallatin. Granite, JEFF !
Park. Powell Ravalli. Silver Bow.
Lewis and Clarke.
Introducing his work the author
says:
Montana located between the for
ty-ffth and forty-ninth degrees north
latitude and the one hundred and
fourth and the one hundred and SIX
teenth degrees west longitude. COM
prising about 10000 square miles or
90. 900. 900 acres of territory is prob
ably one of the best states. geolOgl-
cally speaking in the union. comprls-
ing as it does. the entire geological
gamut from Azoic to the present.
LAS it's mountains are comparative
" new in their formation. the rivers
are quite straight and their banks
steep. and the mountains are preclpit-
GUS and rugged showing lack OF
wear and tear of the agents of disln-
tegration as is shown in the older APP
palachian system.
| Montana was also the home OF
many now extinct. violent volcanoes.
Evidence of this may readily be seen
| in many parts of the state. In the
shape of warm springs. hot sulphur
springs. various acidic volcanic rocks
and last but not least, numerous beos
of volcanic ASH found in almost
every county of the state.
The natural resources of the state
aside from gold. silver and copper,
are not being developed very rapidly.
In mneralogy. THEOLOGY palaeontol-
ogy and photography, the United
States geological survey has done
most of the work Of this kind in the
state. Some work Of minor impor-
lance has been done by individuals
and the University of Montana, IN
the summer of 1900 and 1902 made
some good collections of fossils and
rocks: but the vast portion OF the
state is yet untouched along these
lines.
1T is the writer's purpose in TINS
paner to study not in detail bn'
quite carefully. the volcanic ash beds
or deposits of various counties IN the
state. giving his theory Of their PROB
able formation. their extent. their pc
sition in the geological time scale
and some of the uses to which they
are now put and their future econom
ic value These few pages are t(
serve but as a nucleus around which
wears of future investigation VII
5 build a structure of Montana's seol
p, ogy.
Throughout the entire earth wher
J.. the mind of man has studied and III
vestigated its formations, volcano
evidences are more or less numerous
While volcanoes do not occur every
4 where there are certain violent erul
5 tive ones that send forth into the NJ
: per currents of air, their cinderS
T. steam and finer particles, many hur
l. dreds of feet. which by the action o
e these currents. carry the finer mater
l. ial many miles from the seat OF actlN
: itv-either seward to deposit o
t, the floor of the ocean or over POI
5 lions far inward and thereby deposl
G inc in land locked seas or on the hill
e and valleys: afterward to be washe
l. into the lakes by means of the var
y Gus streams passing through tn