Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1912-10-03
MGNrrE DEPOSITS IN MONTANA.
Enormous Tonnage Estimated by L.
=. Geological Survey.

:. Geological Survey.
The Fort Union coal region, in
easternMontana. constitutes one OF
the largest fUel-bearing areas in the
world. The presence of Ignite
throughout this region has been
known since the earliest explorations
OF those main arteries of travel, Mis-
souri, and Yellowstone rivers, yet 1t
was not until 1910 that the facts con-
cerning this resource were gathered.
The chief reason for this lack of in
vestigation is that prior to 1910 the
region was not included in govern
mental cOal-land Withdrawals, such
as since 1906 had embraced large
areas in western public-land states.
For the purpose of classifying pub
lie lands with respect to coal, five
field parties of the geological survey
operated in eastern Montana, along
the North Dakota boundary, in 1910,
and the results obtained by these par
ties are presented in pamphlet en-
titled "Lignite in Montana" recently
issued as Bulletin AID by the
United States geological survey.
Until comparatively recent times
the region discussed in the reports
was sparsely settled, its agriculture
being developed only in favored To-
calities. The greater part OF the
area has been devoted to stock rails
ing, for which purpose it is ideally
adapted. OF late years, however,
there has been a rapid influx of dry
land farmers, and practically all
lands that can be titled have been
taken up and farmed, flax, oats and
wheat being the principal crops. OF
the several towns in the region, Glen
dive is considerably the largest, hav-
ing a population of more than 2,400.
The Baker Coal Field.
The Baker coal field, the south
ernmost of the five, contains Ignite
that is of much better quality than
that of the other fields and ap-
proaches closely the grade of sub
bituminous coal. There are no drifts,
shafts or other development work on
the Ignite of the Baker field, al
though Ignite has been taken from
the several surface exposures for To-
cal use at ranches. AS the country
becomes more thickly settled such use
will naturally increase, but it is not
probable that any extensive mining
operations will be undertaken there
in the near future.
A bed one foot thick and one acre
in extent contains approximately
1900 tons of Ignite On this basis
the quantity of Ignite contained in
the Baker field in beds not less than
Sc inches thick (the minimum thick
ness established by the interior de-
partment as minable in this field)
is estimated to be l ,596. 1854, 900
short tons. If all Ignite beds which
has thickness of Ia inches or more
are taken into consideration a mod
crate estimate would be 2,394,071,-
600 tons for the entire field.
The Glendive Field.
The Glendive field is located about
midway between the north and south
boundaries of the state. Glendive
the county seat of Dawson county
near the center of the field, is {
thriving town and the Commercial
center of the surrounding region
Considerable Ignite is mined in thi:
field from strip pits and small en-
tries for local use. One mine in the
field has been in operation for sever
years. Its average output is 25 ton!
day, six days a week, for foul
months in the year. The Ignite sell!
at the mine for $1.25 a ton and i!
delivered in Glendive for $3.50 a ton
The Sidney Field.
The estimated gross tonnage o
Ignite in the Sidney field, which lie!
north of the Glendive field, is 23,
329, $4,000 short tons. This esti
mate is thought to be moderate, be
cause only lignites actually seen anC
measured have been considered, anC
it is very probable that there are
many other beds present which were
not noticed, as half of the area i!
grass covered and the rocks are poor
ly exposed. In considering the fig
ures above given it must be remem
bered that little over half of thu
gross tonnage is recoverable unde
present cond tions, so that on thi
basis the amount that can be mineC
in the Sidney field is about 12,500,
100000 short tons.
The estimated amount of recover
able Ignite in the Culbertson field
which is in the northeast corner o
the state, is 27,S59, 100000 shor
tons.