The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1914-05-21
TO DRILL FOR POT
ASH ON BLACK ROCK

probably have the work done by con-
tract if favorable bids can be OBJ
tained.
Among other plans for the potash
search for this year, the sur
vey expects to sink one or more deep
wells in the Black Rock desert, Neva-
da Interest in the search for potash
in the desert basin is by no means on
the wane. Besides the deep well
bored Dy the Geological Survey in the
Carson desert several deep wells have
been drilled by private interests dur
ing the last year, including some rath-
er extensive work in Railroad valley,
Nevada, and several borings, some of
which are a thousand feet deep, in
Death valley and Panamint valley,
California. Besides these consider
able amount of shallow drilling has
also been done. Of all the localities
explored the deposit at Searles Lake
California, seems to afford the most
immediate promise of potash develop
ments. However, the Importance of
this one example as a type of the de-
posit for which this search was insti-
tuted is sufficient to stimulate a con-
tinued investigation in the other ba-
sins.
The site proposed for further work
by the Geological Survey lies in the
"sink' or low part of the Black
Rock desert, which was one of the
principal arms of the prehistoric Lake
Lahontan. The hypothesis upon which
this work is based is the same as that
discussed at the time of the drilling
in the Carson desert. The lakes that
occupied these desert valleys were
the recipients of all the natural salts
contained in their tributary drainage
waters. In certain of these basins,
as Great Salt lake, Owens lake and
Searles lake, are known to have been
concentrated immense bodies of saline
and alkaline salts by this process of
evaporation. In other basins, how
ever, where the water bodies have
since dried up, the salts have also
disappeared and it presumed that
they must be buried under the surface
of the desert deposits. The first test
made in the Carson desert was incon-
elusive so far as the discovery of any
salt deposits is concerned The site
selected seems to have been situated
too far from the center of the basin
and only alluvial or river delta de-
posits were encountered in the drill
ing. IF there is any record of form
er disiccation period or of saline con-
eentration in the drill log it has not
as yet been recognized. AS the CEN
trail part of the Carson desert, or So
called sink, is a site difficult of access
for drilling operations, being nearly
always covered with water and fill
of soft deep mud, it seems best to Sc
lect a site for further test of this
hypothesis at some place where the
central part of the main sink is more
accessible.
Such an area seems to be afforded
in the Black Rock desert Tt is the
center or low part of an immense arm
or portion of the former Lake Lahon-
tan. It's present surface is bare,
flat mud playa, occasionally submerg-
ed with water as a result of storms
but during the summer season gener-
ally dry and hard It's surface lies at
practically the same elevation as the
Carson sink. 1t was therefore sub
merged to the same depth as the Car
son sink during the lake period, the
evidence of which is to be found in
the surrounding high beaches, shore
terraces, etc. AS the water level in
old Lake Lahontan began to lower,
the basin as whole became divided
into various subordinate basins and
ultimately each of these subsidized by
evaporation into concentration area
in it's lower part. The Black Rock
desert constitutes one of the longest
of these concentration areas and in
this respect is very fairly comparable
with the Carson sink. AS the Black
Rock desert no longer has an active
or persistent water supply, it does not
contain any permanent body of water
and is not as likely to have been FILL
ed by alluival or delta depisits. This
very factor many be more favorable
to the occurrence within it of a we'll
defined saline deposit.
In this exploration it must be rec
ogrized that the area and scope of
possibilities is large. The test is pro
fessedly an experiment. The results
will be of value, certainly of scien-
tific interest, and they will undoubt-
edly have a practical value, whatever
the outcome as regards the discovery
of potash. These great desert wastes
are part of the public domain for
which as yet little or no use has been
found. 1t is therefore appropriate
that they should be explored in the
interest of the public land classified
tion. Artesian water was developed
in the well drilled in the Carson des-
ert, a flow that may of itself prove
very valuable and that may establish
knowledge of general artesian con
ditions in that basin which may prove
of even greater potential value. Simi-
lar results may be hoped for else
where.
If favorable bids are submitted by
reliable drilling contractors it is
likely that the sinking of the wells
win be let by contract, provision be-
ing made to procure the necessary rec
ord samples under the direct super
vison of the Geological Survey. 1t is
desired to sink least 1000 and pos
sibly 1000 feet in this basin, and as a
preliminary test this sinking may be
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