The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1911-08-18
ZINC FIELD NEAR
DAVIS LIMITED
A Preliminary Report BY the Okla
homa Geological Survey BY The
State Department.

For a number of years there have
been persistent rumors to the effect
that various metalliferous minerals,
including lead and zinc, occur in pay
ing quantities in the Arbuckle noun
tains. The geological survey has pub
lished but one brief report on the
matter. In this report, which may be
found on pages 55-57 of Bulletin No.
6 of the survey, no opinion was ex-
pressed as to the present or prospec-
tive value Of the field. Any statement
to the effect that the director or other
member of the survey staff has ex-
pressed an opinion, other than this, re-
garding the matter, must be regarded
as false.
During the past few months there
has been considerable excitement in
the region west of Davis, and many
glowing reports have emanated from
this place to the effect that a large
quantity of lead and zinc has been
found there. Considerable amounts of
money have already been invested
within this region, and it is quite pos
sible that within the next few months
more extensive development will be
undertaken. For this reason it has
been thought best to issue this pre-
liminary statement of conditions, as
tthey are now understood by the sur
vey.
During the month of July, Mr.. L. c.
Snider, assistant director of the sur.
yey, and Mr.. H. L. Jones of Muskogee,
a member of one of the field parties of
the survey, visited this region and col
, ,lected number of samples. Care was
taken to secure specimens from all
parts of the field. Samples were taken
from the surface, from the mines, and
fro mthe dumps. Some were picked
specimens selected for milling, and
in one case sample of concentrate
was taken. These speciments were
shipped to the laboratories of the Ok
lahoma geological survey at Norman
and were analyzed by Mr.. Frank But
tram, the survey chemist. The ma
terial was analyzed for zinc by the
low method, which is the STANDARD
method employed by chemists anC
metalurgists in the United States, il
analyzing zinc ores.
The productive zinc horizon is
dolomitic member of the Arbuckle linn
stone The dolomitic member out
cpops around East and West Timberet
\ Hills for a distance of Is miles. Th
average width of the zone is less thai
one-half mile.
1t is claimed by prospectors am
4 others interested that all this belt cor
tains zinc and other metals in con
3 mercial quantities, but sufficient de
velopment has been made on only
small portion of the area to warran
it's being called productive Zinc
the only metal so far found in con
mercial quantities.
The district in which developmen
has been most active lies near tn
! headwaters of Colbert Creek mile
-s southwest of Davis. The zinc ore her
{ occurs as the carbonate, extendin
from the surface to depth of to
n feet. Below this level the zine is u
0N ually in the form of the culphide a
phalerite known as zine blende {
ID "resi MACK" The carbonate all col
tains considerable lime or calcium ca
,, Donate. The blende or jack in mos
/ of the area is finely disseminate
~ through the dolomite and limestor
! but in some cases seems to have larg
ie ~ replaced the country rock SO thu
sbodies of almost pure blende to
inches thick and from few inches |
{ 4 or feet in length occur. A we'll b
ing drilled on one of the properties
Il said to have passed through a consi
cradle body of blende at depth I
d about 125 feet.
: The samples collected by the su
S vey show the following results: Thes
> samples consisting of chips from su
an face blocks in different parts of Il
:. field show respectively, trace, IT p,
cent, 1872 per cent. samplescarbona
! from near the surface and from shs
low prospects in different localiti,
: show respectively .55 per cent, :
I per cent, II per cent, and "a p
mp cent. A sample composed of chips
al large number of blocks in a pile
les blende selected for milling shoy
.o-S q. .46 per cent, a sample from one
- he deeper prospects shows S.SS p
Il ent, sample from all parts of ol
If the most widely advertised min
) i bows 7.29 per cent. The concentra
m the only mill which has been
II WA, led shows 1896 per cent.
) .;cs he mill was not run long enout