El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-07-04
THE ARIZONA COAL
FIELDS ARE
VALUABLE
Geological Survey Reports
on Two Rich Districts
in Territory.


information about the coal fields in
Arizona which have long been known
of in an indefinite sort OF way, is con-
tanned in a report which the geological
survey has just issued. Two fields are
| reported on, one in the northern part
of the territory, in Coconino. Navajo
and Apache counties. and the other a
smaller field in Navajo county and
near the eastern center of the state.
From the reports both appear to be
1 prominent among the undeveloped re-
sources of the territory
! The larger one Of the two fields
lies in the Hopi and Navajo reserva-
tions. The report is made by NJ. R..
Campbell and H. E. Gregory, who Wis
| tied the field a few months ago. Gov
ering so large a territory. naturally
no exhaustive examination could be
made and the report is based on only
fragmentary data, bbut at the same
time it adds considerable to what has
been known about the field.
The coal there is declared to be the
equal, if not superior to the product
of the Gallup field, although tests
show 1t to contain slightly more ash.
The tonnage Of the field is considera-
bic and the conclusion is arrived at
that the determination Of an available
field on. the border of a great south
western region that is barren of coal
is considered of the greatest import
ance.
Lies on che Black Mesa
The. field lies on what is called the
Black mesa, which rises abruptly from
the valley west of Chinlee, lies south
of Marsh Pass, east of Tuba, and to
the north Of a number of Hopi villages
The Santa Fe railroad runs south Of
the field at a distance varying from
20 to so miles. The general elevation
ranges from 5000 to 5000 feet, while
the Black mesa itself rises from 500
surrounding country Water is very
scarce and the springs are small. Goat
herding is about the only industry
represented on the entire mesa.
The coal appears to be in two lay
ers, of considerable thickness, bbut
so broken up by layers OF bone and
other matter that although q to-
tai width of seven feet is given TO one
of the LAYERS, less than half that
amount is clean coal. The coal has
been mined at Tuba. Oraibi and Keams
canyon for use in the indian schools
at the places named Reports were
gathered of other attempts at mining
and of a number Of prospect holes, but
these were so isolated that they We're
not visited.
Samples were taken from the mines
at Tuba and Oraibi, and upon analysis
show higher percentage of fixed car
bon although a slightly lower cal
critic value than the Gallup coal
Estimates of the amount Of coal in
the entire field are only estimates in
the real meaning of the word, but
from the data available they appear to
be extremely conservative. Estimat
~ Of
three feet in thickness, over an area
of 1870 square miles the total coal
content of the field would be $685.
0oO. 900 short tons. The lower layer is
of about the same thickness, and
is estimated to cover 17T5 square
miles, equal to 6.OS0.Ooo.o0o short
tons. This would give the to-
tai gross tonnage Of the field at
about 1902 00O, 900 short tons. This,
however is gross tonnage and esti-
mating on the basis of the amount re-
coverable under ordinary conditions, 1T
appears likely that the net tonnage
of the field can be considered not far
from 5000. 600, 600 tons.
The PfnedaIe Field.
The other field is located near Pine
dale, in Navajo county, Arizona,
and was investigated by A c.
veatch, in September, 1910. The
attention Of the department Of the in
terror was first directed to this field
by the local officials Of the land Of
flee. The land was withdrawn from
entry and has since been acquired by
Phoenix men,
Several prospect soIes have been
sunk on different parts Of the field,
and the fact developed that the coal
is found in two layers, the upper of
which is very dirty, while the lower
contains very good coal. The first
discovery of the field was made In
what IL called the Joe Hancock silver
mine. and since then the extent Of
the field has been pretty well outlind
bv prospect holes. In the Hancock
mine six foot. layer was struck
which showed streaks Of good. clean
coal between layers of bone and dirty
coal
The area of the field is estimated to
be about 500 square miles. but the re- !
port does not contain an estimate Of !
the probable amount OF coal In the |
field
Posfoffice Changes.