The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-03-20
CARTER COUNTY HAS
RICHEST AND MOST
EXTENSIVE ASPHALT
DEPOSITS IN WORLD

That within the next five years
Ardmore will have as its immediate
northwestern boundary the Arbuckle
mountains is the statement made by
Joseph E. Parker president of the
Polish American Natural Asphalt COM
pany. And in what appears to be JUS
tifiable verification of this statement
is reference to the asphalt deposits
which now lie 20 miles northwest of
Ardmore, and which have barely been
touched until the present time. These
deposits, which run near Woodford,
exist in a continuous vein for more
than five miles long, $50 feet wide and
has been tested to a depth of 1lS7 feet.
1t is believed by experts the asphalt
runs as deep as 1000 feet. The de-
posit in this county is known to BE-
the richest and most extensive de-
posits OF asphalt and related bitumens
in the world. tns fact is verified in
a government report issued on March
81, 1920.
At many points along the route
which the vein takes. outcroppings of
the asphalt appear on the surface Of
the earth, and in hot weather can be
seen bubbling, indicating that tn.
product is still in process Of distilla-
ton. Nature has indeed provided a re-
finery which manufactures the pro-
duct without cost, which seems mere
.ly awaiting the coming of man TO ex>
tract II from the earth. The quality Of
A.l L.. 9
is unexcelled by any in the world. At
the present time It is marketing at
ss75 per barrel.
The existence OF this valuable pro-
duct in this vicinity has been known
for years. Operators have at various
times attempted 10 mine ii but, their
efforts were not continued on account
of the high cost entailed in the operas
tion of extracting the asphalt from
the sand, in which 1t Is found. The
machinery used for this purpose in
the past cost an enormous amount OF
money and did not prove 10 be very
efficient. By the ola method of sepa-
ration the broken pieces Of sand and
asphalt were thrown into watts contain
ing hot water, and in the bottom OF
which were horizontal 3-inch thick
shafts on which were attached many
iron paddle shaped wheels The shaft
and wheels came into direct contact
with the asphalt and sand as they
slowly turned in the water TO cause
the separation OF the two on means
Of agitation. Very often the strength
of the asphalt caused the shaft e
break, and the sand clogged the wheels
and bearings. Great expense was in
cured for the purchase Of new shaft
and much time was lost TO clean IN,
wheels and bearings of the sand which
clogged them. Also. at least pc
cent OF the asphalt was lost in thu
process Of extraction. IL Is estimate,
that the local deposits contain So pc
cent sand and IS per cent Of the pro
duet and the loss OF 3 per cent meani
q great deal.
Thus, the millions OF dollars II
wealth which are contained In tn
asphalt deposits Of Carter county ha
to remain uneartned until some form
Of economical separation could be Dc
vised. IL is believed that this ha
been successfully accomplished by a
invention which was recently patente
by Mr.. Parker. BY the use OF thi
machine It has been conservativel
estimated that twice the quantity Q
asphalt can be mined in the sam
length Of time at cost Of $40 les
than the cost Of separation by the ol
method. A plant capable OF turnin
out 400 barrels per day could be hui
at cost of $4,000 by the use {
the newly invented separator. where's
a plant equipped with the old machir
cry for a similar production woul
cost s25o,0op.
The separator consists OF a mote
which turns a vertical shaft exten,
1ng down into the pan OF hot waite