The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1922-08-17
POSSIBILITIES OF OIL
IN SOUTHEASTERN IDAHO
VALUABLE BULLETIN ISSUED BY
STATE BUREAU OF MINES
AND GEOLOGY.

Two interesting and valuable bulle-
tins have recently been issued by the
state bureau of mines and geology.
One of these deals with Petroleum
Possibilities Of Certain Anticlines in
Southeastern Idaho" and the other
discusses the Geology and ore De-
posits of Alturas Quadrangle" in
Blaine county. These publications
fairly illustrate the practical benefit
that is being derived by the people of
Idaho through the work of the bureau
Of mines and geology. Virgil r. d.
Kirkham is author of the oil bulletin,
which covers in much detail a section
in southeastern Idaho near the Wyo-
ming line being a continuation of the
geological conditions which have made
Wyoming famous as an oil producing
state The bulletin includes many
geological maps which with the dis
cussion by the author combine to give
the publication great value as a guide
TO oil development in the southeast
Protecting the Public.
THE bulletin contains a foreword by
Francis A. Thomson. secretary of the
bureau of mines and geology. also
dean of the Idaho school of mines. in
which he says:
THE state bureau OF mines and ge-
ology in fulhllment of its duty to the
public and as an aid to the develop
ment Of the states mineral resources,
has undertaken during the past three
years to study certain areas in the
state which either by reason of pop
ular excitement or Of geologic confg- |
uration appear to Justify Investigation |
as to oil possibilities.
THE phenomenon of popular ex-
citement precipitated by the pro-
nouncements of wandering self-styled |
'geologists, olologists,' and the like |
is familiar one against which the |
voice both of prudence and of sound |
geologic opinion speaks for time in |
vain. Some of the areas investigated /
are those. the residents of which have /
been victimized by this sort of thing /
To other areas attention has been
called by thoughtful and careful citi-
zens prompted by "a proper and beneh-
velopment of the states natural re-
sources; to such persons the state
bureau has endeavored to extend all
assistance within its power. It is to
be regretted that to many earnest hl-
quirers our replies have had to be of
a discouraging nature, but it is obvi-
GUS that we would indeed be derelict
in our public duty If we failed to point
out clearly the extent to which any
area in question apparently fulhns or
fails to fulfil the now well recognized b
and well understood requisites for a I
possible oil bearing field 4
The three areas, all situated near
the Idaho Wyoming line which are /
described in this bulletin, appear to
be- so far as can be ascertained, the
east unlikely areas in the state for
legitimate oil prospecting.
There have been a number of oil
promotions and incipient oil booms' in
'ther parts of the state some meri-
orious in the sense of being honestly !,
Undertaken; some meretricious in the
ense of being based upon petroleum \,
He'd stone jugs. or other containers, n
owered into wells in pasalt or upon
he assumption that ash beds in Milo ~
enc basalt are crctaceous sandstone.
nd various other geological mon ~
trosties However, with the excep-
ion Of the areas described herein and
Their areas adjacent to them. there
re no parts of the state at present e'
ecognized as geologically favorable to IN
il formation and accumulation" III
Aituras Quadrangle. On
This bulletin describes the geology lie
nd ore deposits of section lying nc
hiefly in Blaine county but also in us
udes small portions of Custer. Boise. en-
lmore and Camas counties The au-
lor of the bulletin is s NJ Ballard. Tn
nd he gives a most interesting de-
'ription not only of mineral condi.
ons. but also of the scenic wonders II,
that section. The bulletin is illus te,
ated by views of the Sawtooth range Wa
ountain streams, roads and other to
atures, as well as numerous mining
'operties under development These pc
illetins may be obtained from the W
ate bureau of mines and geology as
Oscow. Idaho op
M'