The Jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 18??-1907, 1905-05-27

TEXAS IRON ORES.
Same Describe d by Edwin G. Eckel of
Geological Survey,

VI hOl butdSbtlh ltAdb are GcSCTlDeu ny
Edwin G. Eckel in paper included in
the forthcoming bulletin (No. 26O of
the United States geological survey,
which is entitled Contributions to
Economic Geology, 1904"
The area studied embraces group
of counties in the extremes northeast
corner of the brown-hematite district
There is certain definite commercial
basis for the subdivision of the ore
field, for the deposits in those counties
are so located that any iron industries
based on them must be considered as
tributary to two possible distributing
points-TeXarkana, Bowie county, and
Jefferson, Marion county.
Within the area under consideration
there are five geological formations,
representing the tertiary and pleisto-
Gene periods. Of these only the Cai-
borne sands and green sands and the
Sabine clays and sands are of impor-
lance in connection with the ore de-
posits.
The ores are present in present guam
tity and cover an enormous area, but
they do not occur in very thick beds
at any point. Their profitable devel-
opment will therefore depend on their
nearness to cheap transportation routes.
The group of rion ore deposits tribu-
tary to Queen City is located from four
to six miles north and northwest of
that town. The streams have cnt
through the iron-bearing beds in this
district, SO that the workable deposits
are to be looked for only on the hill
sides and hilltops. In the ravines and
on the slopes, however, much loose ore
| 70 hoor, norrioI lomY md
thin coating over the surface. The
thickest single ore bed opened in this
section is about thirty inches thick.
Numerous deposits of Ignite occur
in this area. Should it prove practical
BILE to utilize this Ignite, either direct
ly or as gas-producing material in
blast furnaces, its occurance near the
Queen City iron ore deposits would be
of much practical interest.
Along the Missouri, Kansas & Texas
railroad from Jefferson to Daingerfield
important ore deposits occur. Many of
them have been worked at different
times to supply the furnace at Jeffer.
son. SO that practical knowledge of
the composition and extent of these
ores can easily be obtained. The prin-
cipal deposits are located between Lasa-
Ter and Veals Switch, a few miles north
west of Hughes Springs. All these de-
posts were examined in some detail by
Mr.. Eckel.
The Texas ores compare we'll with
the average brown hematites of the
Appalachian belt, in both content of
metallic iron and in Impurities. Mr..
Eckel believes that there is no prob
ability that thicker deposits will occur
at deeper levels. The richest ores are
likely to be found at OF near the snr-
face. The operation involved in this
mining is shallow stripping, unlike any
other mining except that of the white
and brown phosphates of Tennessee.
The scarcity of water in the imme-
diate vicinity of the ore deposits has
two particular disadvantages. 1t ne
cessitates the working and shipping of
lump ore only. AT few points wash
ers may be installed, but for the greater
part of the district this is impractical
BILE. 1t also torbids surface hydrulic
work. Unfortunately, the location and
form of the ore will prevent the use of
steam shovels or other mechanical de-
vices.
Discouraging as this sounds, the
deposits will probably be extensively
worked, as the total amount of avail
able ore is large and competitive dis
tricts are distant. But the individual
workings will be small and scattered,
so that no large cocentrated mining
operations can be expected.
Bulletin 26O will be published for
gratuitous distribution and may be
obtained on application to the director
of the United States geological survey,
Washington, d. @.
A new depsit of celestite or stron-
tium sulphate was developed during
1904. This deposit is located west of
Austin, in the Mount Bonnell and
Monnt Barker district. 1T is described
by DR.. Joseph Hyde Pratt in recent
report published by the United States
geological survey.
The formation in which this celes-
tite occurs has been called the Glen
Rose formation, which consists largely
of even-bedded strata of different
thicknesses of argillaceous, arenaceous,
chalky limestones, alternating with
thin strata of marty, arenaceous clay.
These rocks contain undeVeloped beds
of Epson salts, strontianite, and other
materials. The magnesium limestones
ore soft and of a rich yellow color, and
alternate with softer maris of similar
composition, sometimes accompanied
by pockets of crystalline noduls COM
posed of calcite, aragonite, strontianite
and celestite.
The celestite is found in cleavabe
masses of irregular shape, ranging in
weight from half pound to 100 pounds
Its color varying from white to pale
blush gray. r. G. Walker of Austin,
who has been developing the deposit,
finds that the deeper he extends his
workings into the hill the purer and
more abundant is the celestite.
Samples of this eelestite show on
analysis from 07,64 to SO pei cent of
strontium sulphate. During 1904 one