Mohave County miner., 1916-11-25
NITRATE DEPOSITS
 IN UNITED STATES
 ARE DISAPPOINTING

Nitrate deposits in many parts of the United States have been examined during the last two years by the Unit ed States Geological Survey, depart ment of the interior. The importance of finding a natural supply of nitrates within our own borders, which might serve our needs in case of war, has given incentive to cnIs work and has directed widespread public attention to the subject.
 Prospectors in many places have raised great hopes by finding good sur face showings of these salts, but in vestigation has seemed to force the ac- eeptance of a general adverse judg- ment as to their value-a judgment that has been adopted with the great est reluctance by all concerned. In cidentally, advantage seems to have been taken of the situation to promote certain stock-selling enterprises, even after the evidence as to the worthless ness of the deposits became sufficient to satisfy any competent judge, so that one is forced to question either the good faith of the promoters or their practical judgment.
 As a result of careful study of these deposits, and particularly of evidence gathered on recent visits to prospects in different parts of the country, NIT. Hoyt S. Gale, a geologist of the fed eral survey, has submitted the follow ing general summary, which IS com mended to the consideration of those who are tempted to invest their money in such enterprises.
 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 localities seems to warrant some definite con elusions as to the practical value of these deposits, especially to those who are invited to spend their money in investigations like those the survey has already made.
 The nitrate salts occur as crusts or films on the faces of lodges; as seams most of them thin though some are fairly thick-in crevices of shattered rock; and as deposits filling spaces in porous rocks at and near the surface or extending to depth of several feet, They are naturally preserved in re- eesses in the rock lodges, where they are sheltered from the dissolving ac- tion of rain, snow water ,or even mist They are found in lava ledges, in beds of volcanic tuff or ash, and in lime stone and sandstone Their existence or preservation is apparently depend ent rather on the shattered or porous nature of the rock than on its kind or composition. These deposits, which have been referred to as cave or ledge deposits, are of essentially the same type whever found, although they vary considerably in details of occurrence
 The incrustations are found not only on the faces and fractures of lodges o1 solid rock, but some of them form layers or cementing constituents IT the loose soil and rock breccia at the bases of cliffs, or lie in places protect, ed from the weather. Some samples obtained from both these sources arc rich in nitrate salts, and analyses ot such materials will bear little signifi' cant relation to the actual character ol content of the mass of the rock o1 which the ledge is formed. It ap- pears that the deposits are surfcial- that is, they do not extend far into the mass of rock-and the nitrate sal found is insignificant in amount.
 Nitrates are found in unusually large quantities in some soils and II some clay hills, particularly in South ern California. These deposits have been examined by many persons ant the general conclusion reached hal been unfavorable to the idea of theil practical utilization. The nitrate con tent, although unusually large as com pared with the content of ordinar! soils, probably does not average owe, Tor 2 per cent of the soil or clay, ant it is very doubtful whether the ma terial could be worked commercially.
 Any one who is not convinced by tn judgment already reached as to thes deposits and who is determined to de vote his time or money to their fur ther exploration should do so with ful knowledge of the evidence already i hand and should not be led into sucl a venture by more or less misleadini representations. The Geological Sur Tey will always be glad to make a examination of any samples submitted