The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1922-10-13
MONTANA ONCE WAS A TROPlG JUNGLE AND
LATER TT WAS IA FRIGlD, BARREN ICE FIELD

/ to get colder-so cold in fact, tnat
| the suns of summer could not melt
the winter SHOWS, and vast masses
of snow in the mountains consolldat-
ed to ice, which moved by It's own
weight down the mountain valleys
as glaciers. Also from the north
came a great solid ice sheet covering
the whole land surface to a depth
of thousands of feet in places, and
pushing before it and beneath IL
great quantities of rock debris, &C
cumulated from the ground passed
over. This was the ice age, and
from its coming wonderful changes
were wrought. Rivers we're diverted
from their normal channels, lakes
were formed, vegetation was des-
troyed, the animals that could travel
were driven south and new types OF
arctic animals lived along the Ice
front. Arctic foxes, musk oxen, rein
deer and ptarmigan dwelt in Mon
tana.
But these times also passed, warm
er temperatures prevailed and now
we have glacial lakes and moraines
throughout the state as monuments
of the frigid invasion.
Some Montana Resources Llf
The geological history of Montana
is interesting when consideration is
given to the character and distribu-
ton, as we'll as the extent, of her
resources. Montana produces in
commercial quantities from her rocks
the following products: Coal, build
IN chr FOL CTR
lime and cement rock, gypsum, foun-
dry sand, graphite, sapphires, min
eral waters, copper, lead, zinc, silver,
gold, arsenic and tungsten. Phos-
plate rock and mineral oil and gas
are beginning to be produced COM.
A geological product of
great value, that is having wonder
full effect in the development of the
state and it's resources, is its water
power. 't5t' A
Eastern and central Montana con-
tain some of the largest coal fields in
the world. This coal is of different
geologic age and character from the
Goals of Pennsylvania and the Mis-
sissippi valley. 1t is not so valuable
for steaming purposes, being, for the
most part, Ignite or sub-bituminous.
1t is, nevertheless, very valuable for
fuel purposes, and gives promise of
being even more valuable for gas
flank the slopes of the mountain re-
gions where the beds have been sub
jected to most compression, while the
same coal beds lying farther east in
The plains regions are of poorer quail |
ty.
The Goals of western Montana, pre-
viously mentioned As having been |
formed in fresh water lake beds, are
f later age than those farther east |
md are seldom of quality justifying
heir utilization under existing COM
nercial conditions. |
In formations associated with the
,oal deposits, but not necessarily
directly with the COAL are
ound crude oil indications. Some of
hese are being developed and oil
md gas secured in commercial guam
tiles.
Some Beautiful Stones ~
Building stones of endless varie-
les and great beauty are found
throughout the state. Sandstones,
marbles, states and gran
ties of best quality occur in many
laces accessible to railroad trans
ortation. Owing to the fact that
he state is not yet densely populated
hese resources have so far been but
paringly utilized, but as population
Increases greater use will be made
f them. In like manner ornamental
tones await development. Onyx,
labaster and serpentine of desirable
uality are found in central Montana.
lays for brick and pottery manu-
acture are plentiful and are already
tilted in numerous plants through
ut the state. The lime and cement
ock resources of Montana are I'M
United. In central Montana enough 4
to supply all mankind for
n indefinite period is available. Ce-
srrss@ l.