The San Francisco call., 1907-06-09
BIG TRIPOLI DEPOSITS IN
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
Chalk Rock" Found In AL
most Inexhaustible
Quantities
SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL

WASHINGTON, June THE diato-
maceous deposits so widely distributed
in the coast ranges of California are
found in such purity and such mex
haustible quantities in northern Santa
Barbara county as to give them great
commercial value, and it is for this
reason that a description of the oc-
currence is included by the United
States geological survey in the Con-
tributiOns to Economic Geology for
1906 The paper was prepared by
Ralph Arnold and Robert Anderson as
the result of field work in 1906 in the
Lompoc and Guadalupe districts.
The deposits are variously known as
infusorial earth, tripoli, diatomaceous
earth. and in Santa Barbara county
chalk rock" The most appropriate
of these names is diatomaceous earth,
as the material is composed almost
entirely of the skeletons OF minute or
ganisms called diatoms-one-ceIled
plants that adapt themselves to wide
range Of conditions of depth and
temperature in fresh or salt water and
secrete silicious castings around their
organic matter. They must have lived
in great abundance in the sea that
ages ago covered this part of the land.
for the rock was built UP of the little
shells af these plants that dropped TO
hand lens always reveals a large num-
Der Of the round forms of the diatom
shells thickly imbedded in the shale.
Many Of these shells are IN a good state
OF preservation, and in some of the
material they can be plainly distin-
guished with the naked eye. The name
chalk rock" is inappropriate, for al
though the deposits resemble chalk in
appearance, they are made of silicious
nf al l1c
uses to which the diatomaceous earth
are put are constantly increasing, and
the methods of application are develop
ing. Formerly employed solely for
abrasive purposes. il soon became
useful in the manufacture Of polishing
powders, soaps, ETC.; but its abrasive
quality is not its most valuable one
Its porosity makes it a good absorb
ent and IL is extensively used in the
manufacture OF dynamite from nitro
glycerin- Being very light and a Door
conductor Of heat, IT is valuable for
use in the manufacture OF packing
for safes, steam pipes and boilers, and
OF hre-proof building materials. It also
serves as base for the manufacture
Of cement suitable for withstandina
heat. It is a good hltering substance
and IS so used commercially.
Some OF the earth from the Loupoc
region is said to be used IN the re.
hning OF beet sugar. In the Lompoc
region and also at Monterey, farthe,
north on the California coast. ST Is
used in the construction of buildings
The shale is easily Quarried intc
smooth blocks which can be readil,
placed In position. The blocks are
compact and yet elastic under change.
Of temperature, seem to possess SUI.
ficient strength and are resistant tC
weathering. AS a building materia,
IL is finely adapted to a region subject
to earthquakes, for the shock cffec-
on a. substance so light would prob.
ably be the minimum and a smalle,
amount Of damage would result from
falling materials.
The Santa Barbara county deposits
are rendered exceptionally valuable b,
their proximity to railroad and ocear
transportation facilities.