The Harrison times. (Harrison, Boone Co., Ark) 1876-1938, 1906-04-28
GEOLOGY OF NORTH ARKANSAS.

is occupied by series of Marine de-
scale from the Subearboniferous pc
riod down to the Granite. The Upper
Silurian and Devoniau series of rocks
are entirely wanting. They may not
have been deposited, or If they were,
they must have been completely re-
moved by erosion, prior to the time
that succeeding strata we're formed
the former being the more probable.
Very few fossils have ever been found
in these lower limestones and sand
stones of Missouri and Arkansas, to
enable biologists to establish their
equivalents as found in other parts of
the world, and some of them are of
species peculiar to themselves. When
we consider the great assistance that
has been rendered by these forms in
other portions of the earth. it is al
most wonder that so faithful an as
signment of the different rocks to
thSht ptVPNi PidNSs was accompanied
at the beginning. To those less vers-
ed in geology, it must be remembered
that the various rock layers, or strata
always occupy the same position rela-
tive to each other, If they nave net
been physically disarranged-a fact
which in a great measure will also APP
ply to metallic minerals. Coal is
found with the rocks con stituting the
Coal Measures; lead and zinc, copper,
mercury and cobalt, are more confined
to the Lower Silurian and Cambrian
limestones, while gold, silver, nickle,
anthony and tin are liable to be found
throughout the latter. and also occu-
plying the primary and transition rocks,
such as quartz, syenite and porphyry.
Fossils, then are principal guide, not
only to any one particular rock forma-
ton, but also to where the different
ores are most likely to be found. They
constitute the geological alpha
bet, and individually or collectively,
comprise chapters in the earth's his
tory, dating back cycles anterior to
Pre-adamantine time and up to the
present; they serve as a great guild
ance in the search for mineral wealth.
They also mark progressive stages or
series of evolution; for the first types
lof life. compared with the present,
were diminutive and simple.
u observation-disclosures RoeKs-eHERT.
" All that appears of this formation in
Boone and Marion counties, is the
fragmentary ebert which still remains
as surface accumulation on the sum
mits and upper slopes of the ioftier
hills. To the stranger il presents
forbidding appearance and causes him
to exclaim, 81 would not buy such land
atten cents an acre." while the real
ciruth of the matter is, the soil of the
subcarboniferous ebert is superior for
the growth of the apple and other
fruits; for berries of various kinds,
and is the great nourisher of the vine.
With proper care and cultivation it
will produce excellent crops of wheat
and corn, and is capable of yielding a
superior growth of timothy and clover.
The vigorous and quite extensive for
est of pine that lies to the east and
southeast of Dodd City owes it's thrift
to the cherry, subcarboniferous soil.
As road or street metal, it is highly
valuable, and in this respect Northern
Arkansas is we'll provided. Prof.
Owen recognized the lead-bearing
rocks of Southwestern Missouri as
being the equivalents of the barren
limestone division of the subcarbonif-
erous group of the northern counties
of Arkansas. He also speaks of their
being over 200 feet in thickness in
Searcy county, and that there it is un-
derlaid with SO feet of Black Shale.
This ebert evidently is the counterpart
of remnant of limestone beds that
overlaid the Burlington limestone in
Southwest Missouri, which is the same
relative position it holds throughout
Boone and Marion counties with res
pect to the marble, already described
as being the equivalent of the Lower
Burlington. These cherry fragments
are angular, sharp and fiinty, and in
| ma inst N ha al .,,te
clay that sometimes is red, and at
others yellowish, or pure white. Being
principally silica, or Silicate of Alum
ina, it no doubt will prove to be an ex-
cellent material for friedrich, furnace
lining and stoneware, and for other
purposes where silica enters as prin-
pal or important factor. On some of
the loftiest submits the only visible
material is ebert gravel; still it sup
ports fairly large growth of timber,
and even the wild grape vine of anus
ual size. The cause for this is, that
only a short distance beneath there is
a clay which, on account of retention
of moisture, will support a vegetable
growth fully as well as the lower
ground in some instances; the exclus-
i've ebert being only a thin surface
coat left by the clayey soil that had
sifted through to lower level. With
the customary rude cultivation, this
land produces 20 to IS bushels of corn
to the acre, and could be made to yield
double that amount.
MARBLE.
II might be considered a query why
the marble formation should be con-
fined TO a few counties, especially to
Boone, Marion, and portions of New