Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-04-03
SOURCES OF POTASH.


In con- ction with the search Tor potash
in the Wcst which is being made by the
United states Geological Survey great
number Of localities have been visited by
the Survey geologists, especially in tho
Great Basin. Shallow desert lake beds.
so-callcd dry lakes or p!ayas are eSten-
sivcN distributed throughout this region.
Most Of theao plaNaS contain salts 10
greater Or less extent. and nearly all
these salts show on analysis from / to (
per cent or more potash Few Of thcs"
lake beds show evidence of having ever
been submerged 10 a considerable depth,
and the deposits that lie IN the lowest
parts Of most of them are probably only
alternating strata Of claYs and salin"
muds, with thin salt crusts produced BY
periodic flooding and drying w large and
massive deposits Of crystalline salts can
hardly he expected Except as the result
of the driving up Of q very extensive and
deep saline lake or is representing the
continuous accumulation ~ saline matter
in n water body during a very long period
Of time. Record Of the existence of such
lakes in prehistoric times is to be found
in certain parts of the Great Basin region
Contrary to the general assumption, how
ever. the extensive lake basins are in fact
relatively few. It is evident therefore
that the search for the important salt
bodies Of this type has of necessity been
narrowed TO a relatively few localities
The areas in Scarles Lake and tho
Pananint Valley, California, Of public
land withdrawn from entry on account OF
their potash content are the lowest parts
OF two ancient lake basins. whose waters
at their highest stage probably connected
through a narrow strait Both basins
We're filled by overflow from the drainage
Of owens River and in both the salts are
believed TO have accumulated by natural
concentration Of the normal drainage
waters from that source The salt body
in Sear"s Lake lies at the surface OF the
ground and was located IL claims for the,
soda It contained. Before interest in pot
ash had been seriously awakened Tn.
mud flat tina, forms IN" bottom Of tho
anamtl Valley has recently been To-
catcd in potash claims. but without
any evidence that can be taken to indl-
cate the existence there of a valuable
saline mass. The salt that shows on the
surface in the Ianamint Valley is rela-
lively insignificant in amount, and tests
for potash In the surface salts or ground
waters Of this valley do nos ruin higher
than IN" average Of such salts in mud
flats and dry lakes generally. The lands
have therefore been withdrawn on cyl
donce of y moro general character. the
theory being that the former larger LAX.
of the Pdramint Valley when it dried M,
might have deposited n bed Of salt as Ia rs,
as or larger than that now existing on Tho
surface IN Scarles Lake. The Panamint
Valley Is relatively narrow, and tn.
streams from tn" ragged mountain Slopes
that border 1t have spread their fans far.
into the center OF the valley. Drilling
possibly to a considerable depth, will ba
needed to test the possibility of buried
salt deposits in this valley, ana il such
deposits are found to Ire present, it l.,
believed that they will be essentially Xix.
those ~ tho Scarlcs deposit
Columbus Marsh, Nevada. Is the evan
ORATOR pan ~ a shallow lake. Analyses
Of CLAWS obtained In ;his deposit have
shown some exceptionally high percent
ages Of potash 30 important beds Of
clear crystal salts have vet been found
In the marsh, and tho possible CONNER
cial value Of such q deposit still remains
a subject Cor further investigation. Pend
ing such work these lands also have been
withdrawn from entry