The Harrison times., 1915-06-26
The North Arkansas Zinc Field.

measure Of doubt in the mining bust
ness. That going along with its at
tractive possibilities in the way OF
money-making there is always a
chance for failure. The new mining
country is not different in this respect
from the older fields.
This being the case we have a right
to expect the same process Of reason
ing as to the North Arkansas zinc
fields as would be applied to other ter
ritory, and have no time to waste on
the man who, before he is willing to
consider our claims, wishes a positive
assurance as to what the outcome
may be.
Such operators are Of little. value
anywhere, and their shyness is inclin-
ed to render them peculiarly impot-
ent in a new field where courage,
optimism and vigor must lead the way,
Enough prospecting and mining, Of
both wise and unw.se character, has
been done throughout the North Ar
kansas field to convince its friends Of
the existence Of good ore bodies, and
it now remains for those who are will
ing to take up the work as they would
elsewhere, to demonstrate the extent
and value of the deposits,
It should not be understood by this
that there are no active and profit
able operations yet in this district,
On the contrary there are more than
dozen mills in the four Arkansas
counties that are today making money
on ore shipments-mostly Of carbon
ates and silicates, During the month
Of April, 1915, twenty coroads Of con-
centrates were marketed, and this was
but beginning of the activities Of the
year.
Many Of the producers Of this out
put were small miners, operating with
little or no capital, and in some in
stances farmers are known to have
received as high as $3.50 cash for the
activities of a week or ten days work
in handling free carbonates.
In the Sugar Orchard district with
small mill and hand jig the Gloria
is getting four to six tons daily.
Half a dozen small operators in the
same neighborhood are quietly making
an output which surprises those who
are familiar with such enterprises,
In the Buffalo district a number Of
mines are making good money in spite
of wagon haul Of from three to
eight miles. AT one property the
remarkable record Of fifteen tons Of
concentrates from fifty-ton mill has
been maintained for considerable
period,
at Is a poor mans field, where
mines can be developed at a minimum
expense" said John T, Fuller state
geologist Of Arkansas, after having
spent six weeks investigating the
geological condition, and the operating
mines in the North Arkansas zinc
district,
"The ore beds" said Mr., Fuller, "are
radically different from those Of the
Southwest Missouri district, In that
district there is a blanket formation Of
sheet ground, much Of which returns
but small metal content, but which
covers large areas, The upper beds Of
the Arkansas field without exception,
lie in breaks and uoughs, and The
probabilities are that the deeper ore
bodies will also lie in this form, as the
surface uptures extend apparently
deep into the earth,
Successful mining IN this field will
be conducted for the present with
small plants rather than large ones.
Success can bee best obtained with
numerous small units rather than by
fewer larger ones, on account Of the
irepulaHty Of the ore dcspoits, Al
places these deposits are exceeding
rich at others lean,
"ro practical men this district otr
fors a wonderful opportunity ON ace
count Of the small expense involved
In opening up the ore deposits, In a
great many instances the ore is found
In free chunks that require no milling
but is marketable in the same shape
~ It comes from the ground, These
properties can be put on u paying
basis with a few pick and shovel men,
increasing the force and output Hs the
ground Is opened up, There are many
small mill propositions also, that eon
be opened up with small amount Of
capital
"The zine metal content Of the ores
run high, and they bring the best
prices on the market, carbonatos, and
4