The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-12-06
But Government Expert IS
Confident That Results
Will Be Obtained.
THE DESERTS
Geological Survey IS Drilling
in Nevada in Search
of Material.


has Just issued a short report, by Hoyt
5. Gale, on the progress OF the work Of
deep drilling for potash which Is being
carried on In Carson Sink. New. near the
town of Fallon. While no discovery OF
potash salts is announced by the sur
vey, Mr. Galc's report Is distinct and
valuable contribution To the discussion
of potash. setting forth clearly the broad
basic reasons which lead the Gcolosists
TO the belief that they will nnd, sooner
or later In some ono Of these desert
basins commercial deposits of soluble
potash such as constitute the great Stass-
furt beds In Germany.
Last winter congress appropriated
$50 600 TO enable the geological survey
to prosecute search for potash, The
money becoming available July /. An
TO the bureau of soils for like purpose,
and ii was mutually agreed that the two
appropriations should be administered In
the spirit of cooperation. With an avoid
ancc Of duplication in work and terri
tory.
Five Sources of Potash.
in n summary OF the occurrences Of
potash in the United States. published
I'm the survey last winter. FIVE general
sources were mentioncd-0 igncous
rocks, (2) malls. CD alunlte. % salincs
and o5( organic sources including wood
ashes, beet sugar molasscs and residue.
wool scourings and Seawced or kclp.
The geological survey has confined It's
activities 10 work on mineral saline de-
poslts and rs dcvotinE "A large part OF lie
appropriation 10 tho project OF drilling
for possible deposits Of buried salts.
the first field work under tho now ap-
preparation was done i'm southern Wvum-
ing in the geologic formations termed the
rcd beds" which arc known 10 be rich
IN sahncS. suggesting for many reasons
the the Ps9ssie Of vrS Carrying deposits Of
amount of study had already been de-
voted TO this area and accordingly the
data relating 10 the Wyoming salines
Mas followed by Geld examinations.
These invcstiga tions indicated that the
assumption Of the existence Of beds Of
potash salts in the Laramie basin i'm
southern Wyoming is logical but the
data at hand. which were fairly complete,
proved TO be chiefly OF negative character
SO far as revealing any unusual amounts
ol potash Is concerned.
Realizing on Early Work.
Extension Of the study OF the Great
Basin desert region revealed this as
the most promising area for the sur
vcys first drilling operations This con
cIusion was based largely on the carly
geologic work of G.. *. Gilbert and l. G.
Russell. who, in survey monographs l. and
VI. describe in scientific detail the pre-
historic Lakes Bonneville and Lahon-
tan. These ancient lakes were in a for
iner geologic age, enormous bodies of
water many times the area OF Lake Su-
perior. and Mr.. Gates states tnat no
more convincing reason can be advanced
lor the behef That immense quantities OF
saline material must be included In the
strata underlying the desert sinks of the
Great Basin than that set forth in the
phlioSophic writings OF these eminent
geologists. His report contains direct
quotations from these monographs de-
scrlbinG In detail the origin and struc-
lure OF the old lake beds. and he adds
that there exists In these trcatises rep
rescntinS field Investigations i'm the early
eighties, wealth OF maturely dIeested
data on which To base the proposed plan
OF operation in 1911. From the study of
these reports. with their excellent maps.
II was concluded that the most promising
test OF the hypothesis OF possible buried
salines, in concentrated form would be
somewhere in the low portions Of either
tho l,ohontan OF The Bonneville basin
Tho I~ahontan basin was chosen because
that lake is known 10 have never over
liowed The drill site selected is in see
tion 30, township u north. range 30
east in Nevada.
Drilling in Nevada.
A drilling outfit having been shippcd
from PittsburS operations were begun on
October ! vita twelyc-inch drill hole
and the site was named the Timber Lake
well Tho report gives the log Of the
Well which on November Is had reached
the depth OF 319 feet. Evidence OF the
eologlc period OF desiccation in the form
Of crystallizcd beds OF saline material has
not yet been found In the strata penc-
trated. but II is expected that the drilling
VIII be continued untii at least a depth
of 1000 feet is reached
Tne discovery Of such saline deposits
though It's likelihood is supported by the
best geologic Information OF today saws
Mr.. Gale, should perhaps he regarded
as possibility rather Than PROBABLE
ity. Inquiries are being received asking
FOR an estimate of the probabilities OF
success i'm such an enterprise. with spc-
cial reference TO private undertakings
based oil tho same plans. This, accord .
ing 10 Mr.. Gale, is matter OF judgment
and each inquirer Is left to draw his own
conclusions from the fBcts presented in
the report of the surveys progress The
value OF this possibility has OF course
been carefully considered and II is be-
lcved that AS public enterprise at
least IL reasonable test IS not only ius-
titcds but highly desirable. The report
also contains information with reference
TO the collection and tests OF potash sam
pies being carried on in corporation be-
tween the United States geological sur
vey, the bureau Of soils. and the depart
ment OF geology Of the Mackay School
OF Mines in Nevada, as well as an account
oI the activitios of private enterprises In
tho search for potash
\ copy Of AIR. Gales report may he OBJ
talned on application to the director of
The United STATES geological survey
WashiDgt ton. ~. G..
NG.IA} NNDI DOM N.Y.