Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-04-25
Prof J. N. Boutwell, Describes the
Deposits Near the Duchesne
River.
DISCOVERED FIRST BY INDIANS.
Obtained Their Supply Of Paint There
Declared to be High Grade
Workable Ore.

In reconnaissance study OF tho
general geology OF the region lying east
Of the Wasatch range, Utah, Mr. j. NJ
Boutwell, Of the United States geologi-
cal survey recently visited deposits OF
rich red iron ore (hematte) and obtain
ed significant geologic data concerning
that region In short article publish
ed in the Surveys Bulletin No. 225, en-
titled, Contributions to Economic &C.
ology, 1903" Mr.. Boutwell, presents the
essential facts learned about these
iron deposits OF the Uintah mountains.
The Ulntah range is in the northeastern
part Of Utah, but 1t extends also into
the extreme northwestern part of Colo
RADIO Immediately south Of Wyoming
In about the latitude of Salt Lake City
and the southern shores OF Great salt
Lake, ii reaches from the Wasatcn
range eastward approximately 100
miles, with an average width OF about
IS miles. The range liz In the form OF
an elongated dome composed OF deep
~ dissected central plateau and en-
rircling hills. The iron deposits de-
scribed by Mr.. Boutwell, occur In lime
stone near the inner margin OF the Delt
OF encircling hills, and thus immediate
~ outside OF the interior plateau region,
The narrow divide In which they occur
overlooks eastward the broad glacial
amphltheater OF the upper Duchesne
and It's canyon, and westward the
corresponding amphitheater OF the ba-
sin OF Soapst0ne creek The locality
is easily accessible from the west by
way Of Provo river and Soapstone
creek. II is reported that the contlnu-
alton Of the same route leading by other
deposits, farther south, may also be
taken from the Duchesne on the east,
The iron was probably discovered and
first used by the Indians, who are re-
ported 10 have looked with favor on 1t
as source Of paint. About 25 years ago
the most promising deposits were locat-
ed by a party from Heber. II is be-
lieved that they did the first actual de-
velopment work on the property and
hauled few loads OF ore TO the smell
ters in Salt Lake valley. II Is known
that shipments were made amounting
In all to at lest 800 tons. About 1882 the
ground was surveyed for patent, and
seven claims, each 800 by 1900 feet, were
eventually patented to Z. r. Ferry.
Some further prospecting has since
been done In the vicinity, and as re-
suit few more claims may have been
staked. In the fall OF 1902 other crop
pings were prospected, additional
claims were laid out, and some assess
ment work was done.
The ore Is red hematite Of two
varieties, the red Of the ooherous, and
the gray Of the massive, semispecular
type. II varies in purity from samples
Of high grade, which are solid, pure
iron, to those In which the barren cOun-
try rock incl0ses mere patches Of lean
ore. An analysis Of a selected sample
Of the high grade massive, semispecu-
lar variety reveals not only high con-
tent 0f iron G9,34 per cent? and suit
able amount OF silica 1855 per cent?
but also most desirable absence OF the
deleterlous elements, titanium and sui
phur, and only trace OF PHOSPHORUS.
II indicates a high-grade workable iron
ore. So little development work has
been done. however, that there Is mea-
ger basis for estimating It's quantity.
A surveyor who ran a line for a rail-
road through this region In the early
days reports an extensive body OF
iron, apparently on this same divide,
several miles to the north, and others
state that promising outcrops occur
TO the south along this divide at inter-
walls Of several miles. A good wagon
road, now out OF repair, was built IN the
early eighties from the main road
along the Provo river up Soapstone
creek, past a sawmill, to the ore pits
at the crest Of the divide At present
the nearest railroad point Is Park
City, about 80 miles west. Standing
timber is plentiful and small creek
flows across the property. II on thor
ough investigation of these deposits and
the others reported to occur in the vi.
clnity, II should appear that the
amount OF ore warranted operation Of
the property the chief problem would
be that Of transportation,