Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1916-11-22
NITRATE DEPOSITS SCANT.
Government Reports Show Supply
Not OF Commercial Value.

iheu uulli llc luSt lNO years DS tHe
United States Geological Survey, De-
partment Of the Interior. The i'm
poltance Of finding a natural supply
of nitrates within our own borders,
which might serve our needs in case
OF war, has given incentive to this
work and has directed widespread
public attention to the subject.
prospectors in many places have
raised great hopes by finding good
surface showings Of these salts, but
Investigation has seemed to force the
acceptance OF general adverse
judgment as to their value-a judg-
ment that has been adopted with the
greatest reluctance by all concerned
Incidentally, advantage seems to
have been taken Of the situation to
promote certain stock selling enter
prises. even after the evidence as to
the worthlessness Of the deposits be-
came SuIlit lent to satisfy any compe-
tent judge, so that one is forced to
question either the good faith Of the
~ PiSiho'Sio VI liiCll ~ JuuS-
ment.
AS a result o: careful study Of
these deposits, and particularly of
evidence gathered on recent visits to
prospects in different parts of the
country, iioyt S. Gale. a geologist Of
the Federal Survey, has submitted
the following general summary.
which is commended to the consider
alton OF those who are tempted to
invest their money in such enter
prises.
Fine specimens Of practically pure
nitrate Of soda and nitrate Of potash
(saltpeter) have been found in many
parts OF the country, and careful in
veStigation Of specimens and locali-
ties seems to warrant some definite
conclusions as to the practical value
OF these deposits, especially to those
who are invited to spend their money
in Investigations like those the sur
vey has already made.
The nitrate salts occur as crusts or
films on the faces Of ledges: as
seams--most Of them thin, though
some are fairly thick-in crevices Of
shattered rock; and as deposits fill
ing spaces in porous rocks at and
near the surface or extending to a
depth OF several feet. They are ma
turally preserved in recesses in the
rnpR 1a6ynC u,hnro fhny oh
from the dissolving action of rain,
snow water, or even mist. They are
found in lava lodges, in beds Of VOL
canic tuff or ash, and in limestone
and sandstone. Their existence or
preservation is apparently dependent
rather on the shattered or porous ma
ture Of the rock than on it's kind or
composition. These deposits. which
have been referred to as cave or
ledge deposits, are Of essentially the
same type wherever found, although
they vary considerably in details Of
occurrence.
The incrustations are found no.
only on the faces and fractures Of
lodges of solid rock, but some of
them form layers or cementing con-
stituents in the loose soil and rock
breccia at the bases of cliffs, or lie in
places protected from the weather.
Some samples obtained from both
these sources are ricn in nitrate salts,
and analyses Of such materials will
bear little significant relation to the
actual character or content OF the
mass OF the rock Of which the ledge
is formed. 1t appears that the de-
posits are surficial--that is. they do
Lot extend far into the mass of the
rock-and the nitrate salt found is
insignificant in amount.
Nitrates are found in unusually
large quantities in some soils and in
some clay hills, particularly in South
ern California. These deposits have
been examined by many persons and
the general conclusion reached has
been unfavorable to the idea OF their
practical utilization. The nitrate con-
tent, although unusually large as
compared with the content of ordi-
nary soils. probably does not average
over or 2 per cent OF the soil or
clay, and it is very doubtful whether
the material could be work ed COM
merciaily.
Any one who Is not convinced bv
the Judgment already reached as to
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