Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-09-05
Subject of a Contribution by Prof.
J. N Boutwell, Of |. S.
Geological Survey.
LARGEST BODY IN THIS STATE.
Results Of Analysis. Contains Large
Pcfccrlagc Of Auhydrte Other
Deposits Mentioned,

Tho character occurrence and
development Of rock gypsum near Me-
phi. Utah. are considered in paper
entitled "Rock Gypsum at NephI Utah
which is Included in bulletin no 225)
recently published by the United states
Geological survey under the title
contributions TO Economic Geology,
1903" The author Of this paper Is MI
j. NJ. Boutwell, who, IN December 1907
visited this immense dposit OF rock
gypsum n Juab county, 1t is the
largest veu-known deposit of rock
gypsum IN Utah, and forms the entire
mass OF a prominent spur at the en'
trance To Salt creek Valley The eN-
posed portions Of this body are about
900 feet thick 500 feet high along the
bedding. and at least 700 feet long on
the strike. The present paper ls a
portion OF more comprehensive report
by Mr. Boutwell, on Gypsum Dep0s'
IT'S I'm Utah" included In Bulletin NO
2g9 entitled Gypsum Deposits IN me
United states" Both bulletins (Nos'
928 and 2g5) are published for gratul-
tous distribution and may be obtained
ON application 20 the director OF tIle
United states Geological survey
Washington, ID. c,
The most important fact known 10y
analysis OF samples taken from TINS
deposit, next to the determination ot
their high gypsum content Is thaV
the hrst-cass rock as wen as lhe
waste rock, includes between " ana
% per cent of anhydrite II IL thouBht
that the presence of anhydrte might
retard the Setting" Of the gypsum, az
the former acts like artihcially deny
drafted gypsum, which takes mp water
very slowly and without hardening
Ii Is highly probable that anhydrite
occurs 10 a large per cent OF otner
gypsum deposits. so that IL would pc
advisable to have further reliable
analysis OF other gypsums that nave
proved suitable for the manufacture
OF plaster OF good setting quality.
Several other deposits OF value are
known in the Salt Greek Valley east
OF the main body. The most important
OF these rs on the north side OF the creek
about one-half mile east Of the Nephl
plaster mil. They include rock
gypsum of good grade and impure
varieties The great body mt the
mouth Of the valley Is, bowever, the
only gypsum deposit In Utah now
exploited to any considerable extent.
It was known before the town Of
Nephi was settled, and has probably
been known 10 the whites for nearly
80 years About So years ago q claim
COO by 1900 feet I'm dimensions was for
mally located and In 1889 this was
patented by John Hague and others
under the name Of the Juab Plaster
and Mining claim. Small intermt-
tent shipments were made TO Salt
Lake City In 1857, under the manage
ment OF Messrs, Hyde, Hague and
Whitmore, and later rock gypsum
WAS quarried and burned In sorghum
pans for local consumption, During
| the following year encouraged 10y the
rapidly Increasing demand. these par
ties INCORPORATED their company and
erected the nucleus OF the present
efficient plant, which, though not
extensive. is very complete It's out.
| put averages 36 tons OF plagter a day
and between 1900 ana 10000 tons a
| year This includes dental, casting
finishing, land, and hard plaster. cach
appropriately prepared for It's special
uses. A large and increasing demand
IA supplied throughout the Great
Basin region, and shipments are made
| as far as Grand Junction on the east
| Los Angeles and Hawaii on the south
and west and Victoria on the north,