;
LLECT10H,
BIO. L LABORATORY,
WILLIAMS. COLLEGE.
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.
FIRST REPORT
OF A
GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
OF THE NORTHERN COUNTIES OF
^mzj^Nsj^s
MADE DURING THE YEARS 1857 AND 1858.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
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F I K S T REPORT
SAMUEL HUBBARD SCUDDER COLLECTS
BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY,
of a WILLIAMS COLLEGE.
GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
OF THE NORTHERN COUNTIES OF
ARKANSAS,
MADE DURING THE YEARS 1857 AND 1858,
BY
DAVID DALE OWEN,
PRINCIPAL GEOLOGIST,
ASSISTED BY
"WILLIAM ELDERHORST, Chemical Assistant;
EDWARD T. COX, Assistant Geologist.
LITTLE ROCK:
JOHNSON & YERKES, STATE PRINTERS.
1858.
INTRODUCTORY LETTER.
-o-
To His Excellency, E. N. Conway,
Governor of Arkansas:
Sir— In conformity to an act approved 15th January, 1857, entitled "an
act to provide for a geological survey of the State of Arkansas," I had
the honor of being appointed by you State Geologist of the State of
Arkansas, which office I accepted with the proviso that I was to commence
the geological survey of the state as early as my engagements in Ken-
tucky permitted, say about the 1st of October, or as soon thereafter as
possible, it being, however, expressly understood that my salary as Geolo-
gist of the State of Arkansas, was not to commence until I entered upon
the duties of that office, as will appear from the following letter of your
Excellency, addressed to me on the 20th April, 1857:
Executive Ofeice,
Little Rock. Arks.,
Dr. D. D. Owen —
Sir: I have- appointed you State Geologist of the State of Arkansas,
under the act of the 15th January, 1857, as shown by the enclosed com-
mission, which will take effect from and after the 1st day of October, 1857;
and your salary is to commence upon your qualification, on or before the'
15th October, 1857, that is, as soon as you shall enter upon your duties as
State Geologist of Arkansas, under said law, and not before then. I hope
by the first day of October, you will have completed your present engage-
ments in the State of Kentucky, and that you will accept the commission
which I send you upon the terms stated in it.
As a measure of economy, as far as this state is concerned, I was pleased
INTRODUCTORY LETTER.
to learn that the chemical work could all be done in your laboratory at
New Harmony, and would be pleased to learn what annual expense this
state will incur under such an arrangement, and for all instruments which
I presume you have and can use in the prosecution of the work, including
office-rent and fuel, whilst doing the office-work at New Harmony.
As you know best the kind of wagons and camp equipage you will
require to suit you, I presume it would be better for you to procure and
ship them to Jacksonport, Arkansas, than to obtain them in this state.
The horses and mules which you would require, could, perhaps, be
obtained in Arkansas, as well as common laborers.
We shall have to be confined to the amount of appropriation by the
law, and that is so small for such an important work, we will have to use
economy to accomplish much good, and I shall depend greatly on your
experience and good management in the whole matter.
When you qualify before an officer of this state, you will have to take
and subscribe and have authenticated and filed with the governor of
Arkansas, a duplicate of the official oath which will be indorsed on your
commission.
Most respectfully, your ob't serv't,
(Signed) ELIAS N. CONWAY.
In conformity with the above appointment and instructions, I com-
menced on the 1st October, 1857, making preparations for carrying out
the provisions of said act, by procuring the necessary instruments, outfit,
wagons, and means of transportation, for executing the field-work with
as much dispatch as possible.
By organising two corps for field-duty, and continuing the work as late
in the season as the weather permitted, I have, with the limited appropria-
tion at my command, been enabled to accomplish nearly as much as I
could have clone with a single corps, during the summer and autumn
months; taking into consideration that the means at my disposal would
only have kept a single corps in the field during six or seven months in
the year.
On account of the low stage of the Ohio river in October, 1857, the
Mississippi and Ohio packets, plying along the coast of Arkansas, were
not running; I therefore found it would be more expeditious to proceed
by land to Arkansas, especially as by the most direct route, I would reach
the north-eastern confines of that state, which your instructions designated
as the portion of the state where I should commence the geological
survey, so that, as soon as I reached the borders of Arkansas, the work
could be immediately commenced.
INTRODUCTORY LETTER.
The point where I first entered the State of Arkansas, and where I,
therefore, commenced the field-work, was Chalk Bluffs, in Greene county.
The following report begins, for this reason, with that county.
My geological observations through the northern counties have been of
a general character, with the view of gaining a knowledge of the leading
geological formations, rather than of entering into minute local details;
though I have made it a point, at the same time, to visit such localities as
gave promise of important discoveries, even though they were, some-
times, situated a considerable distance out of the direct line of travel
which would have suited the general objects I had proposed to myself.
This plan of commencing the geological survey of the state has been
adopted for several reasons.
The wording of section 2, of the act providing for the survey, states:
" It shall be the duty of the state geologist to make a reconnoissance of
the state." This implies a general survey in the beginning; and this, in
any case, I consider the proper course to pursue in conducting the survey
of a new state; because, unless the geologist acquires, as soon as possible,
a general knowledge of the areas and boundaries of the various forma-
tions, he cannot direct the operations of the corps to advantage.
Again, by this method, every county can receive the benefits of such a
survey, in a period of time, comparatively short to that required to carry
a special, detailed survey over the state — unless, indeed, very large
appropriations are made, to put numerous corps in the field at the same
time.
Following the instructions contained in your letter, dated the 16th
September, 1857, with regard to the part of the state where you desired
the survey to commence, I have devoted the first season's operations to a
reconnoissance of the northern counties adjacent to the Missouri line, and
those counties lying between the St. Francis and White rivers, as far
south as the northern boundary of the tier of townships 10 north. I found
it, however, impossible, before the close of the season, to extend the
survey to the western boundary of Arkansas. The extreme limits of my
western obervations of last December, only reached the confines of
Carroll county.
IisTTRODUCTIOnST.
-o-
The citizens of Arkansas, so far as I have had an opportunity of
ascertaining by intercourse with them, are so well aware of the impor-
tance and utility of a geological survey of their state, that it is hardly
necessary for me to enlarge upon the subject. But a few remarks of
paramount interest suggest themselves.
It has been justly inferred, from the history of nations, that the people
who have reached the highest state of civilization and intelligence, and
who possess the greatest wealth and influence, are those who enjoy the
most extensive facilities of commercial interchange, who possess within
themselves the largest means of producing the staple articles of food, and
who manufacture the substantial fabrics supplying wearing apparel, the
implements of husbandry, and all kinds of useful machinery.
To accomplish these vast objects to the greatest advantage, the country
itself should not only be possessed of those natural resources in soil and
mineral productions, which supply the raw material for all kind of staples,
but must be sufficiently populous to supply the labor necessary for carry-
ing on those manufactures, without too great a drain upon the agricultural
community. These two classes of society, under a liberal and enlightened
form of government, become mutually dependent on each other, the
one producing the necessaries of life, the other fashioning the implements
which enable the cultivator of the soil to afford his means of subsistence
at a cheap rate, and supplying, not only to the artizan but to the whole
community such articles of comfort and convenience as give to life its
zest, and to our home their charms.
Hence, to be in the most flourishing condition, a country should not only
possess, at least, a fair average soil, but those mineral resources which
10 INTRODUCTION.
contribute most essentially to the attainment of a high state of perfection
in the mechanic arts.
Foremost in the list of utility, stand coal and iron ores; then platinum,
gold and silver, copper, lead, tin, zinc: all producing metals for which
there is a regular and constant demand in every land of active industry;
ores of antimony, manganese, cobalt, nickel, cadmium, aluminum, arsenic,
bismuth, sodium, yielding metals which, though in use to only a limited
extent, are, many of them, very essential in the arts, and generally com-
mand hi^h prices, on account either of their partial diffusion within the
reach of the miner, or the expense of reduction.
Every commercial 'and civilized nation also demands a supply of a
variety of saline substances and earthy minerals, found either on the
surface of the earth or interstratified in its geological formations; such as
common salt, alum, nitre, carbonates of soda and potash, sal-ammoniac,
gypsum, potter's and other clays, ochres, and other paints; also, an abun-
dant supply of limestone, and all the various rocks, useful as building
materials and for all kinds of ornamental work, hydraulic cements, mate-
rials suitable for the manufacture of glass, fluxes for the metallurgist,
are some of the most useful materials that may be enumerated as required
to supply the wants of a progressive, commercial, manufacturing people:
while the agriculturist, in his vocation, derives many valuable mineral
manures from the strata constituting the earth's crust, such as marls, bone-
earth, argillaceous and ferruginous earths, and saline deposits and
efflorescences, which often form the most accessible, the cheapest and
most available materials for the renovation of his land.
Such being universally recognized facts in the history of mankind from
the earliest period up to the present time, is it not incumbent on every
country and every state of this Union, to adopt measures calculated, first to
develop their resources in the various raw materials necessary for their
welfare and progress, and having done so, to direct public attention to
their stores of mineral wealth; so that the capitalist, seeking profitable
investments, and the skillful artizan business and employment, may take
cognizance of their peculiar advantages? and, at the same time, proclaim
before the immigrant farmer their agricultural resources.
What better method can a state adopt for this purpose, than to institute
and support with liberality a well-conducted and judiciously managed
geological survey of her territory and publish the results to the world in
reliable, creditable and attractive geological reports, emanating from
eources in which the public generally have full confidence.
This is forcibly brought home to us by a recent communication from our
enlightened Minister to Prussia, writing to his friend Judge Law of Indiana,
INTRODUCTION. H
which is so pertinent to the subject that I here extract a few paragraphs
bearing on the question:
" Berlin, February 6th, 1858."
" Di.ar Sir: I have often made the remark to you and to oar people,
that there is less known, both at home and abroad, of Indiana, her capa-
bilities and resources, than of any state of the Union. Of the truth of this
fact, I am more and more convinced. I am daily brought in contact with
men of intelligence who feel a great interest in obtaining information
about our country, especially how money may be invested there, so as to
bring the largest return. They wish to learn, what are the most desirable
portions for manufactures and trade.
Questions are often put to me about the mineral resources of Indiana,
and the surprise expressed that a state, so rich in that respect, has not taken
pains to let its wealth be known to the world. A few have heard of the
partial survey, and the report thereon, made by Mr. Owen, some years
ago, but have not seen it — and I doubt whether you can find half a dozen
copies in the state, or even one in the state-library. I could distribute
hundreds of those reports, imperfect as they are, with great advantage to
our state.
I know the great interest you take, living as you do in the midst of the
coal and iron region of the western world, in the development of the min-
eral resources of Indiana, and I cannot forbear urging upon you renewed
exertions in this matter. Our statesmen, our literary men, our men of
wealth may come to Europe and talk of the resources of the country, her
mineral wealth, her capacities for improvement; but when the capitalist
and intelligent mechanic desire to know, where they shall use their capital
of money or mind, where they shall establish their manufactories or locate
their mining operations, they wish to see the survey and report of the man
of science, who can tell them where they may certainly find remuneration
for their labor, and what it shall be.
To develop the resources of a country, the combined action of capital
and labor is required. Capital and labor are annually coming to our
country from Europe; but much too large a proportion passes directly
through our state and finds its home and employment in Wisconsin, Illi-
nois, Iowa and Missouri. If our state were better known, if its capacities
were published abroad in a manner which could command the confidence
of the capitalist and the emigrant, this would not be so.
That we have mineral wealth, we know. Coal, iron, lead, zinc, building
stone and slate, are found in abundance, and clays useful in the arts are
extensively distributed. But in how great an abundance these may be
12 INTRODUCTION.
found, and how profitably the capitalist may invest his means for their
development, can only be determined and made known in a manner to
command the confidence of the public at home and abroad, by a careful
survey under the direction of the state.
The importance of these surveys is more highly appreciated on this con-
tinent than with us. Here the necessity of developing all the resources of
the country is felt, and attention is given to the subject. It is this develop-
ment and the wealth which necessarily comes from it, which enables many
of these countries to maintain their position and influence in the world.
Money judiciously expended in these investigations yields a sure return.
In Bavaria, with less territory than the state of Indiana, millions have
been expended in complete geological and topographical surveys of that
country, and for a few pennies every farmer or land-owner can obtain a
copy of the survey of his land, a chemical analysis of its soil, and a knowl-
edge of the minerals which enrich it.
In Belgium, they are excavating coal at a depth of 1,500 to 1,800 feet
below the surface, working veins only 18 inchs thick at an angle of 45 deg.,
and this coal, too, of an inferior quality, such as we would not use, and in
that country, notwithstanding the amount already expended, preparations
are being made for a still more thorough survey. Might not much capital
thus laboriously expended be attracted towards our rich coal fields, were
their existence and extent known and believed?
But it is not only in the discovery and location of the mineral resources
of the state, that such a survey would be advantageous. It would call
attention to the fact that all these minerals can be worked and made into
manufactured articles at home, instead of being sent abroad and returned
to us at an advanced price, as we know is now done, not only with our
pig iron, zinc and other metals, but even with our walnut and cherry.
Copper is shipped from Tennessee to England, and returned to us in the
manufactured state at an advance of more than 200 per cent. I believe
that zinc is not manufactured in any considerable quantities in the Mis-
sissippi valley, and yet it is well known among us, that it is found in great
abundance in the north-west, equal to any in the world. How profitably
to our people might the money be expended in manufacturing at home
the zinc used among us for painting, for roofing, telegraphing, and in the
daily employments of our mechanics. But this will not be until the atten-
tion of capital is drawn to our resources.
It may be mentioned as a striking fact, showing the extent to which we
look across the water for supplies, that in South Wales and Staffordshire,
England, alone, tin plates are manufactured to the amount of 900,000
INTRODUCTION.
13
boxes annually, to the value of over five millions of money, and that more
than two-thirds of these are exported to the United States.
Such a survey as ought to be made, would exhibit another thing which
may soon be of vital importance to the state; a thing which comes home
especially to the farmers. It is well known that the supply of water is
yearly becoming less abundant. Such a survey would show where arte-
sian wells could be sunk, from which a never-failing supply of water
could be obtained. This may be determined by the scientific man with
as much certainty as the character of the underlying soil. A few years
ago, in Paris, when water was very much needed, an artesian well was
sunk under the direction of scientific men, and water was found an
everlasting fountain— though it was after eight years of labor, and at a
depth of 1,900 feet.
It is said that the French in conquering Algiers, took with them men of
science, and as they progressed, they established villages and sunk arte-
sian wells, finding water even in the desert. The wandering Arabs
exclaimed, ■ what can we do with a people who make water rise out of the
ground wherever they please?' And they conquered, perhaps, as much by
the impressions made by their scientific knowledge, as by the force of
their arms." * * * *
Let us look now to a few of the results of the geological survey of
Kentucky, which has been in progress since 1855.
In some of the counties, where the labors of the geologist have estab-
lished the existence of beds of good workable coal, the intrinsic value of
the land rose, in a single season, twenty-five per cent, all over the county;
while thf- value of the land, in many locations of the same county, offer-
ing peculiar advantages adjacent to navigable streams, rose, in the course
of the same period of time, from five to ten dollars per acre, up to fifty
and sixty dollars. And these prices have remained firm and permanent
up to the present time, showing that the valuation was real, intrinsic and
substantial.
Where the simultaneous occurrence of both coal and abundant beds of
rich iron ore has been proved, the rise in the value of the property has
been proportionally greater. These are, indeed, direct and tangible
advantages, which all can appreciate and comprehend, and which come
home to the owners of property, and to the citizens of the state.
It will be apparent, that capital and labor must speedily flow towards
localities where such valuable mineral resources have been demonstrated
to exist.
Further: the elaborate, comparative chemical analyses of the soils col-
i £ INTRODUCTION.
lected from various parts of the state, now numbering between two and
three hundred, have developed such important, interesting and practically
useful results, and thrown so much insight into the peculiar constitution of
the soils, derived from particular geological formations, and the individual
members of these formations, that all the well-informed and intelligent
part of the farming community, whose soils yet remain unexamined for
want of adequate time, is already calling loudly for an extension of the
same system of chemico-agricultural investigation over their portion of
the state.
Again the iron-master, for-want of a knowledge of the chemical con-
stitution of ores easily accessible and conveniently situated to his furnace,
has often been rejecting his richest and best ores, which, now that he has
become aware of their composition and productiveness, through the dis-
closures of the geological survey, he works with greater profit and advan-
tage than any of those ores previously employed.
Numerous instances have occurred in which deluded men, ignorant of
the nature of minerals, have expended their labor and means in mining
after ores, either comparatively of little value, or containing none of the
metal they confidently expected to extract from them, and have only been
persuaded to desist from their ruinous proceedings by the demonstrations
and counsel given them by the geologist.
The capitalist, miner and business man have had their attention called
to various parts of the state, and are either examining the various sections
of the state in person, or sending out their agents for the purpose of mak-
ing locations for future mining or manufacturing operations.
Moreover: it is incumbent on every state in the confederacy, to contri-
bute her utmost to prevent the enormous drain made on this country, at
the present time, for manufactured products imported into this country.
In the article of iron, alone, and that chiefly railroad iron, recent statistics
show that this country is importing upwards of 500,000 tons, at a cost of
over $3,000,000 annually. Such a drain on our moneyed resources— such
a serious balance of trade against us— should certainly be put an end to
as speedily as possible; and this is only to be accomplished by the imme-
diate increase in the manufacture of iron throughout the different states
of the Union.
It can be shown by the most reliable calculations, that iron can be pro-
duced in the western states, where facilities exist for its manufacture, by
the simultaneous occurrence of good iron ore and coal, suitable for its
reduction, convenient to navigation on our larger streams, not only as
cheaply as in England, but, in consequence of the duty on imported iron,
and the greater cost of carriage and commission, at a cheaper rate than
INTRODUCTION. J5
foreign iron can be delivered in this country, even at $15 to $20 less cost
per ton; and still leave the handsome profit of twenty-five percent, to the
manufacturer, notwithstanding the advantages which Great Britain pos-
sesses in her cheap labor and in her capital. If this is true — and any one
conversant with the business can satisfy himself of its correctness by
investigating the subject — is it not inevitable, not only that establishments
for the production of iron must rapidly spring up in the western country,
where, in a year or two, four-fifths of the great demand for iron will be,
and at those points that offer the greatest inducements in the required
mineral resources, but it is moreover true, that the businessman hardly be
overdone; since the increased production, for years to come, can hardly
keep even pace with the annually increased consumption in railroad iron.
So universally important is it to the interests of the United States, that
this branch of business should be cherished, that it has recently called
forth remarks from the executive.
The same is true, to a certain extent, in very many other branches of
metallurgy, and applies, indeed, more or less, to all manufactures.
REPORT
OF A
GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCL
OF PART OF
ARKANSAS.
PAET FIRST.
In proceeding to record the geological observations of 1857, I shall
follow nearly my line of travel through the various counties from the
north-east corner of the state, towards the west, and give the results of
my observations under the heads of the different counties through which
the geological corps passed.
GEEENE COUNTY.
The so-called Chalk Bluffs form the extreme north-east boundary of
Crowley's ridge, where it abuts on the St. Francis river, a very short dis-
tance below where that stream leaves the State of Missouri and enters
Arkansas, and constitute, therefore, the north-east termination of that
extensive ridge of land which extends from Helena, on the Mississippi, in
Phillips county, through St. Francis, Poinsett and Greene counties, divid-
ing the waters of the St. Francis from those of White river, and giving
origin to the heads of the western tributaries of the formeF, and the east-
ern tributaries of the latter streams.
This ridge, so far as it has yet been explored, i. e., to the north line of
township 10 north, is composed of, comparatively, very recent deposits
mostly of incoherent or but very partially indurated materials belonging
to the age of the so-called quarter nary formation, with the exception of a
few very limited areas where hard quartzose sandstones of very ancient
date protrude through these beds.
The base of the quaternary deposits, forming the northern terminus of
the Crowley Ridge, is a potter's clay of considerable purity, and nearly as
white as chalk; hence the name of the Chalk Bluffs, where this white clay
is exposed on the banks of the St. Francis river, a few feet above low
water of that stream, in the north-east extremity of Greene county.
OQ GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
The section of the quaternary beds at the Chalk Bluffs, as far as they
can be seen, is as follows:
Hyht Thich
above flm.
river. v-*-v-«^
135. Hill on which the ferryman's house stands
Soil and sub-soil
Chert and hornstone gravel 25
110. Lowest point to which the upper gravel bed could be traced.
105. Top of the first bench below the main gravel bed
Pink and variegated sand; locally indurated into a soft
crumbling sandstone 96 feet or more in thickness 9G
30. White siliceous clay shale or marly earth, slightly indurated
at the upper part
6. Fine white potter's clay 5 to G feet 6
0. Low water of the St. Francis river.
The materials which compose the gravel bed which underlies the sub-
soil seem to have been derived from the destruction of beds of carbon-
iferous date, lying to the north in the State of Missouri. At this locality,
it appears to be from 25 to 30 feet in thickness. It occupies the highest
position of the beds of quarternary date at this locality.
No solid beds of rock have been observed in this north-east termination
of Crowley's ridge. In sinking wells at levels below the gravel bed, they
pass through sand, then streaks of clay and shaly materials, below which
the sand continues. In this lower bed of sand the water is usually struck,
which must be retained there by the lower beds of clay of the preceding
section. Sometimes, in low situations, they pass through beds of clay in
digging for water.
A few chert and hornstone pebbles were observed disseminated amongst
the sand at 40 feet above the river, but the principal gravel deposit of
this part of Crowley's ridge is in high situations above the great mass of
sand.
The growth on the high ground is mostly black and white oak; in the
bottoms, a mixed growth. Considerable groves of cypress timber nourish
in the bottoms of St. Francis river, a short distance above Chalk Bluffs.
An erratic mass of hornstone, weighing upwards of 50 pounds, was
observed on the slope of the river bluff, near the ferry; and near by are
chalybeate oozings from the bank, originating, probably, from some scaly
oxide of iron, sparingly disseminated in the adjacent bank.
The potter's clay at the base of the Chalk Bluffs is nearly white, or of a
cream color; variegated, however, here and there, with flesh tints. Its
OF ARKANSAS. 21
texture is fine, and forms a plastic mass with water. Its composition is
shown by the following chemical analysis:
Moisture 01.10 f Silica G9.7
Insoluble siliceous earth* •• 80.75 -^ Alumina tinged with oxide of
iron 19.0
Oxide of iron 3. SO
Lime .38
Magnesia .33
Potash .15
Carbonic acid 1.00
Chlorine .GO
Phosphoric acid ■> .075
Water of hydration (not dri-
ven off at 300 deg. F.,)
trace of ammonia and loss 3.255
Lime .2
Magnesia .1
Potash .7
Soda .05
89.75
100.000
This clay contains 4.79 per cent, less alumina than the Hickman county
clay belonging to the same geological era; about 0«701 per cent, less lime,
and 0-34 less alkalies. It will, therefore, make a whiter ware, be less
fusible, and less liable to crack.
I have manufactured small crucibles out of this clay, and find that it
produces an excellent and strong article. The moulded clay is not liable
to crack in drying, without addition of silica or siliceous earth, nor during
the burning; and the crucibles manufactured therefrom resist sudden
changes of temperature without cracking. The burnt biscuit ware is even
rather lighter colored than the original clay, which is of a very light cream
color. It resists fusion at a high temperature.
Besides being valuable for the above purposes, this clay would, proba-
bly, be found of excellent quality for modelling, and various other uses; it
is, therefore, well worthy the attention of the potter and the artist.
The section at Chalk Bluffs, does not extend low enough to enable the
observer to see what underlies this clay; but from the position of beds of
clay of, apparently, the same age, found in other western and southern
states, it is probably inter stratified amongst the orange and ferruginous
sands, that are subordinate to the shell marls, which constitute the upper
member of the quarternary; occupying, therefore, the same geological
horizon, as the white clays at the base of the section described in the first
volume of the geological report of Kentucky, on pages 20, 21 and 22 of
that volume, and the corresponding clays which, I understand from Dr. E.
W. Hilgard, geologist of Mississippi, are interstratified in the "orange
sand," of the state of Mississippi; on this account it is probable that ferru-
ginous, orange-colored sands occur in this part of Arkansas still beneath
this clay; but concealed from view under the drainage of the country.
22 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
The quaternary beds of the northern part of Greene county afford, lo-
cally, a yellow ochre suitable both for a pigment and a dye-stuff.
One of the localities, where I had an opportunity of viewing it in place,
is about one mile west of south of the " Pine," between the Gainsville and
Pocahontas road, near township 21 north, range 8, east of the 5th princi-
pal meridian. It is exposed here in a steep bank, near the bottom of a
hollow where a spring branch takes its rise on the north side of the ridge,
3 to 4 miles from Levi Boyd's farm. It lies a considerable distance under
the main upper gravel bed which shows itself in various places near the
top of this ridge and beneath underlying beds of pink, variegated, and fer-
ruginous sands. Its original color at the bank is a yellow, but by exposure
to heat, it acquires a red color, in which condition it has been used, by
some of the inhabitants of this part of the county, as a dye-stuff for woolen
goods.
Its chemical composition is presented in the following analysis:
Water (hygrometric) 2.99 C Silica 68.64
Insoluble silicates 81.00<( Alumina tinged with oxide
-.
of iron 10.00
Lime .44
Magnesia .18
Potash 1.20
Soda ■ trace
Peroxide of iron 10.00
Protoxide of iron .78
Oxide of manganese .20
Alumina • 1.65
Lime .45
Magnesia .14
Potash .31 80.46
Carbonic acid .70
Chlorine .02
Phosphoric acid .14
Sulphuric acid trace
Water of hydration, loss, and
ammonia 1 .70
100.00
This ochre contains seven and a half per cent of iron: it has a good
body and color; better than that of the French spruce yellow, and could be
used as a pigment for brick work, and outside work, even without washing,
as the texture is fine, and there is very little grit in it when carefully
selected. When burnt, it acquires a light red color; this change appears
to be due, more to the loss of its water of hydration, than to the peroxida-
tion of the fraction of a per cent of protoxide of iron, which it contains.
For the purposes of dying, it it used, by the country people, in its burnt
condition.
At the " Pine," near by, diggings have been attempted in search of an
ore, supposed to contain silver; but with no success. The gravel and sand
OF ARKANSAS. 23
beds, which constitute the main mass of the Crowley ridge at the " Pine,"
is altogether unfavorable for the discovery of ore of this description.
A qualitative chemical analysis was made of the water of the St. Francis
river, in the north-east part of Greene county, which proves it to be a
remarkably soft water, containing only a small quantity of carbonate of
magnesia and lime, and a trace of sulphates and chlorides. It is remark-
able, too, for the small proportion of lime compared with magnesia. In
most river waters, the lime is in much larger proportion than the magnesia-
The saline matter, altogether, is in much smaller quantity than is usually
found in our western rivers; hence, the softness of the water. It is well
adapted for domestic purposes. The same is true of most of the spring
water in the northern part of the Crowley ridge. The spring at A. S.
Stewart's was tested, qualitatively, and found to contain only a trace of
lime and a very small quantity of bi-carbonate and chloride of magnesia.
It is almost as soft as rain water.
Samples of soils of the northern part of the Crowley ridge, were collected
from the farm of W. Raeburn, where the growth is black-oak, hickory,
black and white walnut, and large pop*ar. Also, a sample of the genuine
" black sand land," from the flat lands, at the foot of the eastern slope of
the ridge, from the farm of H. W. Granada.
The ridge lands, where these soils were collected, produce from 40 to 50
bushels of corn to the acre, and 20 to 30 bushels of wheat. It would, no
doubt, produce tolerably good crops of tobacco and cotton, but these have
not been raised to any extent in this vicinity as yet.
The black sand soil is remarkably deep and rich, and will yield, on new
land, 80 to 100 bushels of corn to the acre. It produces very fine vege-
tables, and appears to be especially congenial to peach trees. It is a
quick warm soil, and stands both dry and wet seasons well. The growth
on this land is poplar, oak, walnut, and gum, with an undergrowth of spice
and papaw. This black-sand-land represents a large proportion of the
flat lands, lying between Crowley's ridge and the Mississippi river, in
Arkansas.
The south-western part of township 19 north, range *t east, and the
northern part of township 18 north, range 6 east, support mostly a growth
of barren oak, with the upper quaternary gravel bed generally near the
surface. In some of the deep hoUows, 80 to 90 feet below the gravel bed,
the quaternary clay is occasionally recognizable; the intervening deposi-
tion of 90 to 100 feet being mostly ferruginous orange sand, where it is
exposed to view, with perhaps some subordinate interstratified beds of
clay. But there are but few good sections where the quaternary sand can
24 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
be satisfactorily seen. The subsoil is generally ferruginous. The surface
of the country is undulating; and the growth almost universally oak.
The water of this region of Arkansas is remarkably pure, especially
that which comes through the gravel beds, containing less earthy salts than
I have found in any spring-wTaters in the western country. It lies, how-
ever, often deep, since it filters away through the porous beds of gravel
and sand to the depth, sometimes, of 90 feet, except where arrested by
local beds of interstratified impervious clays that lie, sometimes, at the
depth of 30 to 50 feet.
In the neighborhood of Gainesville, f?ome lead ore has been picked up,
but there is very little probability that it is connected with any bodies of
this species of ore, accessible to the miner, since such ores rarely, if ever,
occur in the loose quaternary deposits, such as above described as pre-
vailing through this part of Greene county. It is much more probable
that they have either been brought there, and deposited, by the Indians at
some of their camping grounds, or been transported along with the gravel
from lead regions, lying to the north-west, either in Arkansas or Missouri.
A bed of lignite of quaternary date, crops out in the bed of the Beech
branch of Cache river, in Greene county, near the crossing of the Chalk
Bluff road, which runs on the Cache side of the Crowley ridge. It is partly
concealed under the water. It is overlaid by red and pink ferruginous
sand, and underlaid by clay.
The succession and superposition, as far as they can be seen for vegeta-
tion and debris concealing the upper members of the quaternary beds, on
the Beech branch at this lignite locality, are as follows:
Feet.
Upper gravel bed 15 to 20 or 25 feet 20
Red, tenacious, ferruginous clay 7 to 10 feet in thickness 10
Second or lower gravel bed, 5 to 10 feet thick 6
Pink and variegated sand, with some disseminated gravel, passing
downwards into reddish white sand, overlying the lignite bed 25?
Lignite bed partly concealed, 3 to 4 feet in thickness 3?
Some of the sand is cemented, by the infiltration of ferruginous waters,
into a partially indurated rock.
This lignite is of a blackish brown color. Part of it exhibits the woody
structure, and part has a more homogeneous earthy aspect, and lighter
blackish brown color.
Both varieties are very similar in their character to the lignites of the
same age which occur in the quaternary deposits of the western part of
Ballard county, Kentucky.
OF ARKANSAS. 25
The chemical analysis of this lignite, has not yet been undertaken, but
wall be made hereafter.*
Its appearance, however, hardly justifies the expectation that it will be
found sufficiently rich in carbon and hydro-carbons, to be valuable as a
fuel, even if the deposit should prove to be extensive. Lignite of a .similar
character occurs seven miles a little west of south form the abo\e locality,
on the Beech Fork of Cache; also, one mile north, two miles north, and
four miles south.
If it be a continuous bed between all the different out-crops known at
present, it would occupy an area of some seventy square miles, but this is
by no means certain, since these lignite beds are often quite partial and
local. Future detailed examinations in Greene county may throw farther
light on its extent.
It is worthy of remark, that there occurs disseminated in this lignite a
yellow pyrites, which contains a small per centage of copper, the exact
amount of which will be reported on, as soon as the chemical analysis
shall be completed.
Two miles from Gainesville, near Jones', the quaternary sand is indu-
rated into a soft sandstone, which is used in the construction of chimneys.
It contains impressions of leaves, one of which appears to belong to the
magnolias, and others to some species of water-oak, or willows. When
these have been more fully investigated, and more extensive collections
made from other localities, we shall then be better able to report in
specific detail.
About two-thirds of the flat Cache lands are " black sand lands," and
one-third post-oak lands. The latter are too wet for cultivation, without
a complete system of drainage. The highest of the former are cultivated,
and are very productive. Hereafter, if the agricultural department of
the survey be provided for, we hope to be able to supply comparative
chemical analyses of these soils, which will give more insight into their
relative productiveness, than we are able to supply in their absence.
If the flat post-oak lands of the Cache country of Arkansas, could be
drained, and subsequently cultivated with profit, it would greatly increase
the agricultural resources of Greene, Randolph, and Independence counties,
and contribute materially to the settlement of this part of the state.
Near David Schultz's place, on the east or St. Francis side of the
Crowley ridge, and about 2 miles from the St. Francis bottom, near the
line between townships 18 and 19 north, range 8 east, there is a deposit
of yellow ochre, similar to that previously described as occurring at the
" Pine," on the other side of this ridge.*
*Sce Chemical Report.
26 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
Some of the geological maps, which profess to give approximate boun-
daries to the cretaceous formation of the United States, have indicated its
northern boundary in Arkansas, as running with a north-easterly course
into Greene county, passing near Lorado and Crowley. While in that
vicinity, I searched for evidence of the existence of this formation above
the drainage of the country, as well as in the materials penetrated in
sinking wells. Since, in the western district of Tennessee, the member
of this formation which reaches the surface, is a kind of chalk-marl, or
soft argillaceous limestone, known popularly amongst the inhabitants as
" rotten limestone," I made especial enquiry for a rock of this description
in that part of Greene county. I was informed that though they knew
of no "rotten limestone," some of the neighbors had obtained a different
kind of water in their wells than that usually struck, all ranging in a
north-east and south-west direction, which they called " rotten limestone
water." I was referred particularly to J. P. Harris' well, on section 25,
township 16 north, range 3 east, and accordingly made a point of examin-
ing the material removed from said well. That proved, however, to be
the quaternary shell-marl; which, containing a notable quantity of lime
and magnesia, imparted a harder quality to the water passing through it,
than in the waters of the neighboring wells, filtering through only gravel
and sand.
The quaternary marl of this part of Greene county, is of a light grey
ashy appearance, and contains, disseminated, some small shells, which
seem to be mostly Helix and Planorbis, but the earth was so disintegrated
that no perfect specimens could be obtained.
The composition of this shell-marl, as will appear from the subjoined
chemical analysis, is more siliceous and less calcareous than the Hickman
county shell-marl of the same date, and is, therefore, less adapted as a
mineral fertilizer of land; though it would be of some advantage to stiff
clay land, improving it both physically and chemically. It could be
employed, probably, to advantage in reclaiming the post-oak lands of the
adjacent flats.
OF ARKANSAS.
27
Chemical analysis of shell-marl, from T. P. Harris' well, Greene covnfij,
Arkansas.
Water 1 .3
Insoluble silicates
Carbonic acid 2.7
Peroxide of iron 3.C
Alumina 2.0
Lime 2.9
Magnesia 1.2
Phosphoric acid .45
Potash .5
Loss .45
TSilicf
f Aluir
umina tinned with iron
84.9 <( Lime
72.8
6.8
.8
.3
.9
3.2
.Manganese trace
Magnesia
Potash- • •
Soda
84.8
100.00
For comparison, is subjoined the chemical analysis of the corresponding
shell-marl of Hickman county, Kentucky:
Water 1.35 f Silica- • ■
.30 | Alumina
73.30<( Lime
Organic matter sol. in water
Insoluble silicates
Carbonic acid 10.00
6.8
3.78
2.8
.12
1.55
Lime
Magne-da
Alumina and peroxide of iron
Chlorine
Loss, alkalies and phospho-)
ric acid, not determined •)
Magnesia
60.6
7.4
1.1
.4
Loss, alk, and a trace of i
oxide of iron not esti-V
mated )
3.8
. .3
"arse
100.00
From the best information obtained, the materials passed through in
digging this well, were:
Soil and sub-soil 3 h
Dark-red under-clay 14
Shell-marl ■ • > 29
Gravel and white coarse sand, mixed- 2
The water was obtained in the last member, viz: the white
gravel and sand.
At James Lamb's, three quarters of a mile east ot Harris', th<
marl was struck in sinking his well at 54 feet; at Henry Cook's,
and at Daniel Martins' (where Lindley now lives), water was obi ji
18 feet in the shell-marl.
Thus I have, even to the depth of 54 feet beneath the surface
able to obtain the least evidence of the existence of any of the members
of the cretaceous formation, as far north in the north-eastern part of
Arkansas, as they have been laid down by some geological map <ts;
•11-
( et;
at
ueen
28 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
who, in fact, never visited the country, but plotted the boundary of that
formation from what they imagined its probable bearings would be through
Arkansas.
Between Gainsville and Walcott, a distance of 13 miles, the country is
mostly a succession of oak and pine ridges, forming a continuation of
Crowley's ridge, to the south.
On the small Colton map of Arkansas, the Walcott post-office is laid
down 3 miles too far to the north, and Crowley 5 miles too far south.
The bluff below Dr. Mellon's house, Walcott post-office, is composed of
the following materials:
Red ferruginous tenacious clay 10 to 15 feet.
Light-colored sand and clay, mixed 5 "
Gravel, cemented by oxide of iron into a conglomerate or
pudding-stone 3 "
White, quartzose, fine-grained sand, with streaks of yellow
and black sand, running irregularly through it 5 "
Indurated sandy shale, with pink and yellow streaks 14 "
" Hard pan;" indurated dark-grey shale, with impressions
of leaves 1 foot.
It is probable that the post-oak soil of the Cache flats is derived from
the disintegration of the indurated sandy shale, reposing on the impervious
"hard-pan."
Clover does not succeed well in this part of Greene county; not even
on the " black-sand lands." Herd's grass and timothy do much better, and
oats and rye grow very finely — especially on the " black-sand land."
This variety of soil seems, also, peculiarly well adapted to the growth of
the peach-tree, which comes to perfection very rapidly. It produces both
a very large and sweet peach.
Wheat succeeds best on the ridge-land; it runs too much to straw in
the " black-sand land."
On section 10, township 17 north, range 4 east, near Sugar creek, in
Greene county, there is a remarkable protrusion of hard quartzose sand-
stone through the quaternary deposits. This sandstone has all the litho-
logical character of the Potsdam, or lowest sandstone of silurian date, as
it occurs on the Minnesota and Wisconsin rivers in the north-west. It
forms a hill of considerable elevation; which, however, I had no opportu-
nity of measuring, as I examined it in the midst of that most severe
thunderstorm, accompanied by heavy rain and high wind, which occurred
on the 7th of November, 1857, in that part of Arkansas. I would estimate
the height, by the eye, at 100 to 110 feet above the general drainage of
the country.
OF ARKANSAS. 29
The angle of dip of the sandstone is somewhat irregular, varying from
10 cleg, to 12 <log., in the direction a little east of north, the bearing being
nearly coincident with the direction of the Crowley ridge — i.e.: north-east
and south-west.
These profusions of quartzose sandstone can be traced for 3 miles in a
south-west direction. At W. Lane's, the quaternary deposits on the west
side of the hard sandstone protrusion, are tilted at the rate of 12 feet in
20, — judging from the inclined beds passed through by him in digging his
well.
These strata, passed through, were:
Red, ferruginous, tenacious clay 20 feet.
Gravel 5 "
Ledges of sandstone ... 5 «
Sand and clay 45 "
The water of Lane's well was tested, qualitatively, and found to be
soft, containing only a trace of earthy carbonates, and slightly reddening
litmus paper from the presence of free carbonic acid.
Though the protruding sandstone is, as we have said, very hard, still it
can be quarried without a great deal of difficulty in certain directions. It
will not stand fire, and, when heated and drenched with water, it crumbles
to sand; proving its semicrystalline structure.
The color of this sandstone is mostly of a light grey or pale red tint;
occasionally brown. It is of so hard and quartzose a character that it
strikes fire at almost every blow of the hammer.
One or more of the violent commotions to which this part of Arkansas
has been subject, evinced by the coarseness of ihe gravel beds, their
thickness, and their wide distribution, may have been cotemporaneous
with the elevation of this sandstone.
On section 9, township 15 north, range 3 east, close to William Lane's
house, there is also a low range of quartzose sandstone, probably of the
same date; but this sandstone lies in juxtaposition on the south-west, with
a softer sandstone, containing impressions of plants, which is, no doubt,
an indurated portion of the quarternary sand, through which the older,
harder sandstone has protruded, and bursting it asunder, has entangled
portions of this newer sandstone in the crevices and rents, so that they
often appear as if of the same origin; but a close inspection of the litho-
logical character of the rock, together with the vegetable remains, will
generally serve to distinguish them.
Overlying the hard vitreous sandstone, but only partially covering it at
this locality, there is also a peculiar, fine-textured, siliceous rock with ver-
micular or ramose-tabular perforations, either empty or partially filled
30 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
with a core, and stained red with oxide of iron where these ramify the
rock, while the rock itself is of a light grey. These markings have a good
deal the appearance of those found in the calciferous sandstone of New
York, and noted in the reports of that state under the name of Palaeo-
phycus tubularis; but they are too indefinite to enable me to pronounce
positively on their identity. They impart to the rock, however, a
remarkable vermicular structure; and though they resemble, still probably
differ from those impressions of plants in the soft, white, quaternary sand-
stone of the same locality.
One mile below Lane's on section 29, township 15 north, range 3 east,
a similar hard standstone shows itself in a hollow.
Some lead ore has been picked up in the fields in the vicinity of Wal-
cott; but so far as I have been able to trace the localities, invariably on
the sites of Indian villages, along with other relics of the aborigenes, who,
undoubtedly, brought the ore from the northwest part of the state or from
Missouri.
The growth on the genuine black-sand lands of Cache and of the St.
Francis river bottoms, is sweet gum, black hickory, walnut, poplar, dog-
wood, and occasionally box-elder and hackberry; undergrowth, papaw,
spice-wood, and large grape vines. The subsoil, under the black sand, is
generally clay, seldom a quicksand. About one-third of the Cache bottom
is " post-oak land."
Four sets of soils were collected for chemical analysis from Abraham
Tennison's farm, on Crowley's ridge, one mile from Walcott; No. 1, being
the virgin or uncultivated soil; No. 2, the same soil from an old field, 35
years in cultivation, almost exclusively in corn; No. 3, subsoil, from the
same old field; No. 4, the red under-clay. The growth on this land is
sweet-gum, white and black-oak, with an undergrowth of dog- wood.
Should the chemical analyses of these hereafter be provided for, they
will be reported.
POINSETT COUNTY.
The narrowest part of the Crowley ridge, is not far from the line between
Greene and Poinsett, where it is hardly half a mile across from the St.
Francis bottom to the L'Anguille bottom.
The L'Anguille bottom is mostly a bluish clay, and on the " Crab-apple
barrens" a white clay. The prevalent timber in L'Anguille bottom, is
red and white-oak, small scattering sweet-gum and post-oak on the " post-
oak land," which, however, is not cultivated at present. The growth on
the adjacent ridges is white and black-oak, poplar, and, occasionally, some
pine; on the branches, poplar, gum, ash, elm, and dog-wood.
OF ARKANSAS. 21
There is a stream called the St. Francis bayou, which runs from Mrs.
Stott's farm, nearly parallel with the Crowley ridge, which is not laid
down on the maps of Arkansas. This stream empties into the St. Francis
river in the northern part of St. Francis county. The traces of earth-
cracks and sandblows are numerous, almost every where in the St. Francis
bottom, especially near the Morell prairie; some of the earth-cracks are
eight to ten feet wide and six to eight deep. Lignite has frequently been
thrown out of these rents in the earth, showing that there must be a con-
siderable area of that mineral not far from the surface, running through
the St. Francis country.
There is a peculiar soil of extraordinary fertility, occupying part of the
St. Francis bottom, particularly in townships 8, 9, 10 and 11, ranges 5 and
6 east, known as the " black wax land," which was formerly overilowed
by the back water of the Mississippi, but is now partly in cultivation.
This soil will produce from 50 to 75 bushels of corn to the acre. The soil
of the Morell prairie is sandy, but is also good corn land, yielding 40 to
50 bushels of corn to the acre, while the adjacent uplands of the Crowley
ridge produce from 30 to 40 bushels.
From the Narrows of the Crowley ridge to Bolivar and Harrisburg, the
new county seat, the quaternary gravel is quite conspicuous on the higher
grounds, and of a very coarse character; some pieces would weigh several
pounds. On Spencer creek, some little sandstone is seen underlying the
gravel and resting on sandy clay.
At Hurricane creek, near Harrisburg, the Crowley ridge is about three
miles wide. There are considerable cotton plantations in this part of
Greene county, especially at B. Harris' and Judge Hall's, just at the edge
of the L'Anguille and St. Francis bottoms.
Some specimens of amber are said to have been found on Hurricane
creek. As this is sometimes an accompaniment of lignite, which occurs
on the waters of this creek, it is not improbable that such a mineral
may have been found, but probably only in small, isolated, disseminated
lumps.
The material passed through, in sinking wells in the L'Anguille bottom,
is usually 20 feet of yellow clay, underlaid by 30 to 40 feet of light-colored
sand, a moderately soft water being generally obtained at 60 feet.
Immediately at the foot of the ridge, water is often obtained at 12 feet,
the water gradually getting deeper for one mile into the bottom, where it
is, generally, the deepest seated.
So far as I have yet been able to learn, no rotten limestone, green sand,
or shell beds, referable to the cretaceous formation, have ever been reached,
32 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
even in the lowest positions and excavations made in the northern part
of Poinsett county.
My observations in this county have, as yet, only extended as far south
as the vicinity of the northern line of township 10; but from the best
information obtained from Judge Hall and others, best acquainted with
this county, it seems very doubtful whether any of the members of this
formation reach the surface even in the southern part of Poinsett.
In crossing the Crowley ridge from Benjamin Harris' to Judge Hall's,
(a distance of three to three and a half miles,) gravel is found mostly in
the high situations underlaid by sand and clay. At the foot of the ridge,
near Judge Hall's, there is some soft sandstone, which is, no doubt, a local,
partial cementation of the quaternary sand already referred to.
Samples of the cotton soil were collected for chemical analysis from
Judge Hall's farm; No. 1, being the virgin soil; No. 2, twenty-four years
in cultivation. The land lies just at the foot of the Crowley ridge, as it
insensibly slopes down to the flats of the St. Francis bottom. This soil
has a good deal of gravel mixed through it.
In passing from Judge Hall's, up the eastern edge of the Crowley ridge,
the same succession of deposits prevails; the gravel occupying, as usual,
the higher ground and being for the most part quite coarse.
From the west edge of the Crowley ridge, to the crossing of Cache
river by way of the Santa Fe post-office, is some eighteen miles. Of this
about 8 miles is slush land, not very miry, but covered more or less with
water with only dry land enough for a few farms in the vicinity of Santa
Fe post-office, and a small tract 6 miles from the crossing.
The best land of the Cache bottom for cultivation, is the sweet-gum
land and red-elm, with an undergrowth of slippery-elm and dog-wood.
This soil is somewhat of the nature of the black-sand land heretofore
spoken of, with narrow strips of clay land running here and therethrough
it. This soil is best adapted for corn and cotton.
JACKSON COUNTY.
There is no hill land proper in this county; the whole of the county
being level land, with the farming lands bordering on White river being
elevated only some 6 to 8 feet above the Cache flate.
A sample of the black sandy land was collected for analysis from land
adjoining Thomas Maclerath's farm, 3 or 4 miles east of Cache river.
This kind of soil forms about one-third or one-fourth of the Cache bottom.
The other two-thirds are post-oak and black spice land. This latter soil
is very rich when drained and reclaimed, but, in its natural state, is wet
and miry. It supports a growth of large timber, viz: gum, fine ash, pen-
OF ARKANSAS. 33
oak, and haekberry, besides the black-spice. This land lies generally-
lower, if anything, than the post-oak land.
Near Driver's farm, on the Cache bottom, a specimen was collected for
chemical analysis, of the higher and dryer variety of oak land which sup-
ports a growth of white-oak and gum, with only a few post-oaks.
The best farming lands in Jackson lie between Village creek and White
river, occupying a low ridge rising several feet above the adjacent flats,
and elevated about 10 feet above high water of White river. It supports
a growth of hickory, poplar, oak, and black walnut. It is on these land«
where the principal cotton crops of Jackson county are raised, and where
the wealthiest portion of the population is located.*
Samples of this soil were selected for chemical analysis from two differ-
ent localities; one taken from the vicinity of Jacksonport, from M. L.
Robinson's farm, the other from II. J. Dowd's farm, 14 miles from Jack-
sonport.
The waters of White river were tested qualitatively; the sample
being taken below the mouth of Black river. They were found to be soft,
containing but a trace of earthy carbonates; as will be seen by consult-
ing Dr. Elderhorst's report.
INDEPENDENCE COUNTY.
In passing from Jacksonport up the valley of White river, to examine
the locality of the so-called "black marble," I traversed the "Oil-trough
Bottom." This is a tract of very rich alluvial land, lying on the south-
west side of White river, in the south-east part of Independence county.
The fresh soil is very dark colored, even to the depth of five or six feet in
some situations; the sub-soil being nearly as black as the soil, but more
tenacious. This soil is particularly adapted for wheat.
On S. M. Cobb's farm, where samples of this soil were collected for
future chemical analysis, an average crop of wheat is considered thirty
bushels, the grain weighing 64 pounds to the bushel. It is also good corn
land, yielding, on an average, 50 bushels, and would, no doubt, be excel-
lent for tobacco.
The palma christi, or castor' bean, grows here very large, and could, in
all probability, be cultivated to great advantage, if an oil-press were
established in the vicinity for the expression of the oil. The principal
growth of timber on this land is pin-oak, red oak (yellow butt), water oak,
* For further particulars in regard to this tract of land, see E. T. Cox's report.
3
34 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
elm, pecan, black walnut, sweet-gum, hackberry, and buckeye, with an
undergrowth of very large papaw, cane, grape vines, and a little spice-
wood.
Rye flourishes well on this soil; but it is too rich for cotton, which grows
too rank and runs too much to stalk and leaf. Timothy succeeds well;
clover has not been tried. It is, however, especially adapted for small
grain, for which, indeed, it is celebrated. The explanation of this will,
no doubt, be found in a geological cause which will hereafter be adverted
to. Since the wheat does not freeze out of this soil, and the weevil is
unknown in the country, the farmers are most favorably situated for rais-
ing this grain, and the natural resources of the country would justify the
erection of extensive flouring mills.
The water obtained by digging wells in the Oil-trough bottom is quite
soft.
The Oil-trough bottom is about 15 miles long. At its head, the first
ridge encountered is known as the Oil-trough ridge. Here 1 found the
first ledges of solid rock Avhich I had seen since leaving Greene county.
These proved to belong to the upper members of the subcarboniferous
limestone formation. At 70 feet above the Oil-trough bottom, I found
one of the members of this formation which marks most decisively a most
impartant geological horizon, viz: the Archimedes limestone. This rock
occupies a position below the lowest workable coal throughout the western
states of North America. No exception has yet been found to this geolo-
gical axiom; it, therefore, serves as a sure and safe guide in pronouncing
as to the existence or non-existence of coal in the vicinity, and furnishes
the clue to the geologist, in connection with the dip and strike, of the for-
mations of the country, in what direction he must search for coal.
The total height of the Oil-trough ridge was found to be 152 feet, and
the following members of the upper subcarboniferous group of rocks
were observed at the different elevations herewith subjoined in the
approximate section of that ridge:
At 152 feet, Sandstone.
" 1 15 " Third bench of protruding limestone; exposed for 15 feet.
" 115 " Limestone shale.
" 92 " Second bench of protruding limestone; exposed for 15 feet.
" 75 " Productal black limestone.
" 70 " Archimedes limestone.
" 56 " First projecting ledge of limestone seen in this part of the
ridge.
The Archimedes limestone, as above remarked, is the index to the dis-
covery of coal. Where the sub-carboniferous limestone is fully developed
OF ARKANSAS.
35
in the west, upper and lower beds of Archimedes limestone exist, lying,
sometimes, more than fifty feet apart. The upper Archimedes limestone
is usually found immediately below, or within a few feet of the bottom of
the conglomerate or pebbly sandstone, which lies at the base of the coal
measures. This rock being of very variable thickness, from a few feet to
ninety or one hundred feet or more, or even entirely absent, the space
between the Archimedes limestone and lowest workable coal which usu-
ally overlies the conglomerate, may vary from 15 to 150 feet; but the first
bed of workable coal never underlies this peculiar and well-marked fossil-
iferous limestone. This rule holds good so universally throughout the
western states, viz: Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, Tennessee, Alabama, and
Missouri, that it may be applied with perfect confidence to Arkansas.
The sandstone observed capping the Oil-trough ridge, is undoubtedly
the sandstone occupying the base of the coal measures, and if this ridge
were 25 to 50 feet higher, we might hope to find workable coal. As it is,
the south-west dip of the strata which prevails here, indicates to the
geologist that he must look in that direction for coal; since the Archimedes
limestone and overlying sandstone, pitching lower and lower in that course,
give room for the true coal measures to come in on the hills above the
drainage of the country.
We anticipate, therefore, in the farther prosecution of the survey to-
wards Van Buren and Searcy counties, to discover coal. Whether it may
be thick enough and of a good quality, are questions that can only be
answered after the beds have been fairly opened and specimens obtained
for chemical analysis.
The productal limestone, at 75 feet, in the preceding section of Oil-
trough ridge, is of a fine black color, and is capable of receiving a polish,
so that, if it can be quarried in sufficiently large slabs, free from cracks,
imperfections and flaws, it may be employed for mantel-pieces and other
ornamental inside work. For outside work, I fear it wall be too liable to
crack and split by the influence of the sun* and atmospheric agencies.
The great fertility of the soil of the Oil-trough bottom, and its adapta-
bility, especially to small grain, is, no doubt, explained by the fact of its
being bounded on the north and west by these limestone ridges, from
which it has received calcareous and fertilizing washings forages, impart-
ing to it chemical elements found in much smaller proportions in the soil
east of White river, in Jackson county.
I had again an opportunity of observing these members of the subcar-
boniferous limestone, in connection with some lower members, in a con-
* Some black bituminous limestones absorb heat so rapidly in the direct rays of the sun, that
lrom unequal expansion, they are very apt to split and crack.
3g GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
spicuous hill of upwards of 500 feet, which forms a bold headland on the
south side of White river, about 5 miles above Batesville, known as
" Shield's Bluff," or White river mountain. It seems to be the most ele-
vated part of a ridge which runs off to the south, forming a kind of geo-
logical culminating axis on its summit, whence the strata dip both to the
south-west and north-east.
In this bluff I found the Archimedes limestone again, but in a much
more elevated position than in the Oil-trough ridge, being 350 feet above
the Dean farm, and some 400 feet above White river.
The total height of Shields' bluff is about 570 to 580 feet above White
river. The lower 50 or 60 feet above the Dean farm is dark calcareous
shale and shaly limestones; above which are some 330 to 340 feet of grey
and bluish limestones with some alternations of sandstone; the summit
being capped with from 80 to 100 feet of sandstone, occupying the place
of the millstone grit and conglomerates that intervene between the Archi-
medes limestones and the coal measures.
The following are the elevations of the principal members of the sub-
carboniferous group observed in Shields' bluff above the Dean farm:
At 520 feet, Top of escarpment of sandstone, capping the ridge.
« 475 " Foot of do.
« 395 " Ledge of sandstone.
" 385 " Limestone.
" 350 " Archimedes limestone.
" 345 " Encrinital limestone.
" 340 " Ledge of sandstone.
" 325 " Grey limestone.
" 315 " Sandstone (in place?)
" 300 " Top of ledges of limestone.
" 200 " Grey limestone.
« 170 " Off-set of hill-side with black limestone.
« 145 " Black limestone.
" 120 " 3d bench of limestone.
» 100 " 2d bench of limestone.
" 55 " 1st bench of limestone.
Limestone shales and shaly limestone at the foot of the hili
down to the Dean farm.
Shield's bluff, where this approximate section was obtained, is a noted
land-mark in Arkansas, as having been the point where the old Cherokee
line commenced at White river, and ran south-west along the dividing
ridge, of which it forms the terminating bluff on White river.
Eight miles south-east of Batesville, on the north-side of White river, I
OF ARKANSAS.
37
had a better opportunity of inspecting the ehaly rocks of the subcarbo-
niferous group, than in Shield's bluff, where they are too much concealed
by debris washed from above. At this locality, 1 found the following sue-
ion under a ledge of sandstone:
Buff, earthy limestone 10 feet thick.
Mudstone G inches thick_
Brown shale 4 «
Black shale 3 «
Limestone in pavement form 2 "
«<
it
Black shale
Brown shale r, « «
J " a
Brown mudstone 4 « G inciies «
Black shale 5 « «
Calcareous septaria (hydraulic) 1 « 6 inches "
Brown shale 3 « «
Black shale at base (thickness?) at an elevation 20 to 25 feet above the
adjacent bottom.
Above these strata is apparently mostly sandstone, but much of it is
out of place, having rolled down from a former higher elevation; there is
evidently, however, a great thickness of millstone grit in the upper part
of the adjoining ridges of 150 to 200 feet.
Four miles south-east of Batesville, a great mass of red shale crops out,
which disintegrates rapidly to red clay. This underlies the above mill-
atone grit rock.
The hills increase in height from the locality where the preceding sec-
tion was taken towards Batesville; there a lower mass of intercalated
sandstone rises from beneath these shales, shaly limestone, and septaria.
The soil immediately over this sandstone is, as usual, thin, and supports a
growth of stunted oak.
From Miller's creek up to Batesville, the hills are from 130 to 240 feet
in height. Red shales, running downwards into brown and black shales,
with calcareous septaria, occupy the base of the hills around Batesville;
these shales are surmounted by 150 to 180 feet of sandstone.
The black shales of the above series have given rise to expectations for
the discovery of coal in their vicinity; but, occupying, as they do, a geo-
logical position in the subcarboniferous group entirely below the mill, tone
grit, and Archimedes limestone, there is no prospect of finding any thing
but perhaps a few inches of coal associated with these shales, which can
be of no practical value.
Between Batesville and the " Big Spring," there are high ridges elevated
about 450 feet above White river, composed in their upper part of both
38 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
compact and cellular chert; the latter partaking of the character of buhr-
stone. This chert is, in all probability, of subcarboniferous date. The
surface being much encumbered with blocks and protruding masses of
these siliceous rocks, the soil is necessarily thin, and supports a growth
almost exclusively of small oak. Nevertheless, the soil is capable of pro-
ducing much better than the forbidding nature of the rocky surface would
lead one to suppose.
The descent from these chert ridges to the " Big Spring," is about 260
feet. Here, a noble volume of the clearest water silently rises from some
cavernous passage at the foot of an amphitheatre of hills of cherty, sili-
ceous limestones, sufficient in quantity to supply the wants of a small grist-
mill. Like all those streams having a subterranean origin, it never freezes
in winter. This Big spring is quite a noted locality in Independence
county. The water-power it affords, and the improvement in the soil of
the country, watered by its branches, has attracted agriculturists, who
have opened several good farms three miles south of the Big spring; but
north-east, towards the Rocky bayou, the country is mostly rocky oak-bar-
rens, with a broken surface, where few settlers have located.
The cavernous or barren limestone group, capped with chert, prevails
to Lafferty creek, where it is underlaid in many places by a very white
sandstone, some of which is sufficiently pure to make glass.
The dip is irregular; at one place the inclination was observed to be 10
deg. S. W.
I examined a salt-petre cave situated from half to three quarters of a
mile north-west from Tosches' farm, and about 250 to 300 feet up in a
ridge of subcarboniferous limestone. This cave is known as the " Salt-
petre cave," and is owned by Col. John Miller.
It has passages from 200 to 300 yards long, and 8 to 10 feet wide. The
sacks containing the earth from this cave have, unfortunately, never come
to hand, so that we cannot report upon the per centage of salt-petre it
contains, until a further supply is obtained.
At Peter Moser's, on Lafferty creek, the mixture of the soil, derived, in
part, from the cavernous limestone, and in part from the white sandstone,
produces excellent oats, and is capable of yielding 40 to 50 bushels of corn
to the acre, and 800 to 1000 pounds of raw cotton in the seed, and in very
favorable seasons even as high as 1500 pounds.
As the cotton loses about two-thirds in cleaning and freeing it from seed,
the land may be said to yield from 250 to 350 pounds of clean ginned cot-
ton to the acre. It is the washings from the adjacent hills of limestone
that cause the land to produce so much better than its first appearance,
OF ARKANSAS. 39
and stunted trees of oak and pine which grow upon it, would lead one to
suspect.
The cavernous limestone of LafTerty creek, is traversed by veins of dif-
ferent varieties of manganese ore. The most interesting locality is on the
west branch of Lafferty creek, two miles above its mouth. Here, there
appear to be regular veins with well-defined walls, traversing the caver-
nous limestone, containing the manganese ores. The course of the
main vein, with probably some subordinate cross courses, runs N. N. W.
andS. S. E.
I measured the space between the faces of the walls of the veins at
different places where excavations had been made for the ore, and found
them to vary from 14 feet 0 inches to 8£ feet. These ran down through
an encrinital bed of limestone, which is elevated about 200 feet above the
mouth of Lafferty creek.
The masses of manganese ore taken out of these crevices vary in weight
from a few ounces to 30 or 40 pounds. From the most productive part of
the vein a man could raise from 300 to 400 pounds per day.
Judging from the specimens taken out, and which lay strewed in abund-
ant heaps on the hill-side near the crevices, there appear to be two varie-
ties of manganese ore obtained at these mines, in the depth to which the
superficial and partial mining operations have yet been carried; one a
compact, close-textured ore of a dark steel-grey color, and a hardness of
about 5£ to 6, having the physical aspect of that variety of compact
manganese ore described in works on mineralogy under the name of
" psilomelane," composed of mixtures of the oxides of manganese, with,
usually, some baryta and potash; but from a partial qualitative examina-
tion made of this Lafferty creek manganese ore, it appears to contain but
a trace of baryta.
The other variety is more crystalline in its structure, brighter in its
lustre, and of a lighter steel-grey color; but in hardness, streak, and color
of the powdered mineral (blackish brown), differs but little from the
former more compact variety.*
W hether these two varieties differ only from some admixture of acci-
dental ingredients, or have a decidedly different atomic proportion of
manganese and oygen, will appear when the quantitative chemical analy-
ses are completed and recorded in the Chemical Report; then the ques-
tions bearing on the commercial value of these ores will be decided.
So far as I can learn, the company who own these mineral lands on
Lafferty creek, in Independence county, and who made an attempt to
*The analysis of these ores, recorded in the Chemical Report, proves these two varieties to be
essentially of the same constitution, the first containing, however, 3 or 4 more per cent of silica.
40 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
mine and ship the ore to the eastern cities, did not find as ready a sale or
as high a price for their ore as they anticipated, and seem to have sus-
pended operations, for the present, on this account.
The explanation of this want of success in this their first enterprise on
these manganese ores, is probably to be found in the fact, that the
larger part, at least, of the ore which they obtained, was of this hard
variety, affording rather less than one-third of its weight of oxygen; and,
therefore, capable of eliminating only a proportional quantity of chlo-
rine, for which purpose it is chiefly valuable in the arts; while they raised
little or none of the soft black manganese ore; i. e. bin, or peroxide of
manganese, known to mineralogists under the name of " pyrolusite," which
is not only much easier to grind to powder, by reason of its greater soft-
ness, but contains about 36 per cent of oxygen, and will, therefore, evolve
a larger proportion of chlorine from a given weight of the ore.
It is to be remarked, however, in this connection, that this pyrolusite or
binoxide, the most valuable in commerce of the ores of manganese, is fre-
quently associated, and even in alternating layers of different thickness,
with ores of compact, grey oxide of manganese, similar to that of which
there is so great an abundance on Lafferty creek and its vicinity. Hence,
either a neglect to make the proper selection for the market of the ores
raised, or not mining sufficiently deep to reach the best quality of ore,
may be assigned as causes of the present abandonment of the mines.*
Similar ores of manganese have been found on the south-east quarter of
section 25, township 15 north, range 8 west, and west of north of Bates-
ville;f besides, at many other localities on the waters of Lafferty creek, in
the north-west part of Independence county, so that if the owners of these
mineral lands can obtain, by a thorough exploration of the veins, the
soft black (pyrolusite) ore of manganese, there is a fair prospect of reach-
ing well filled veins, which might return them a handsome profit.
Associated with the manganese ores of Lafferty creek, is some excellent
red oxide of iron. The qualitative chemical examination, shows it to be
nearly pure peroxide of iron, with but a very small per centage of foreign
matter; the quantiative analysis will, therefore, no doubt, yield between
65 and 70 per cent of iron.
The lands which are most valuable for cultivation, in the north-west
part of Independence county, are, first, the bottom lands supporting a
growth of walnut, large Spanish-oak, ash, and overcup-oak, with an un-
* By consulting the chemical report of Dr. Elderhorst, further information on the commerciul value
of these manganese ores will be obtained.
t See Ed. T. Cox's report for a description of the geological position, and external aspect of the
manganese ore, which occurs three miles west of north of Batesville.
OF ARKANSAS. 4 J
dergrowth of spice and large grape vines. These bottoms are, however,
of limited extent. Secondly, the black-oak, hickory, large white-oak, and
dogwood upland. Thirdly, the hazlenut and sumach thickets.
The soil of some of the hill-sides, on the slopes of the cavernous lime-
stone is often remarkably rich, and could be cultivated to great advantage,
where not too abrupt and not too much encumbered with rock.
I examined a cave situated near the top of a ridge composed of the
cavernous limestone, and reposing on the white sandstone, towards the
base of the ridges. This cave is situated between Peter and Samuel
Mosers farms, in the eastern part of Independence county. The entrance
to this cave is very low, so that it is difficult to enter. It is only of limited
extent and has but little disintegrated earth distributed through it. What
little there is, is near the entrance to the cave.
A sample of this earth was collected for chemical analysis, and will be
reported on when this latter is completed.
A characteristic soil of the cavernous limestone formation, was also col-
lected for chemical analysis, from south-east half of section 25, town-
ship 15 north, range 8 west, from Peter Moser's farm, on the waters of
Lafferty creek, in Independence county. The growth of timber on this
land is hickory, post-oak, white-oak, persimmon, and dogwood.
This soil is said to produce 30 bushels of wheat to the acre, 20 to 25
bushels of oats, and 40 to 50 bushels of corn. The soil has some chert
gravel intermixed with it; the subsoil is a dark yellowish clay.
The same geological formation prevails between LafFerty creek and
Rocky bayou; white sandstone in the base of the ridges, surmounted by
cavernous limestone: the ridges rising from 300 to 400 feet above the prin-
cipal water courses.
For farther information in regard to the geology of this county, consult
the report of the assistant geologist, Edward Cox.
IZARD COUNTY.
Five miles from Rocky bayou, the white sandstone was found to be 116
feet below the summits of the ridge, passed over in the eastern part of
Izard county.
At the forks of the road leading to Mt. Olive, and the North fork, and
7 miles from the Rocky bayou, in the bed of a dry branch, about 197 feet
below the level of the observation, on the above mentioned sandstone, is a
bed of dark-grey compact limestone, charged with minute cy/hcrca, which,
probably, belongs to the siiurian period. . The adjacent ridge, bounding
42 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
the valley of the branch on the north, has a sandstone near its summit,
which is probably the same sandstone seen in the base of the ridges on
Lafferty creek, and which is found at an elevation of 467 feet above low
water of White river, at Calico Rock, and was afterwards traced through
Izard county, to the high pine ridge, at the head of Sugar Loaf creek, and
which is usually marked by a growth of pine, as may be observed in plate
No. 1 of the Sugar Loaf mountain of Izard county, the site of that sketch
being on the plateau of that pine-bearing sandstone.
No organic remains have yet been found in this sandstone, to indicate
its geological position; but, taking the lithological character and order of
superposition as a guide, it will probably be found to belong at the base
of the subcarboniferous series of Izard and Marion counties, resting on
limestones, which belong probably to the silurian period; it is, probably,
the equivalent of the " Saccharoidal standstone," of the Missouri report,
underlying the Cooper marble of the south-western part of that state.
This sandstone seems to increase in thickness to the north-west, towards
the Lees mountain range.
Two miles, from Calico, this sandstone is some 160 feet in thickness,
with perhaps some intercalated layers of limestone. Most of the beds of
the standstone, in this part of Izard, seem to be white or of pale yellow
colors, and soft.
The dip is irregular, and often undulating, and conformable to the gen-
eral contour of the country. However, the prevalent dip is to the south-
west.
The limestones of this region, are of light and dark grey hues, and often
singularly weathered into small furrows, radiating from a centre, and
often intersected with veins of calc-spar.
The ridge of cellular buhrstone, which I passed over, before descending
to the North Fork, was found, by the aneroid barometer, to be 537 feet
above that river.
Before reaching Athens, the Sugar-loaf mountain of the south-eastern
part of Izard county is in view, conspicuous above the intervening ridges.
[See plate No. 1.]
At the mouth of the Pine bayou, the cliffs capped with sandstone are
about 200 feet.
The soil of this part of Izard county, is best adapted for corn; it will
yield about 30 bushels to the acre of this grain; 15 of wheat, and about
the same of oats, and 800 pounds of cotton in the seed. The season for
cotton is rather too short in this high, northern part of Arkansas.
The growth on the lands above cited is black-oak, hickory, and some
red-oak. The sample of this soil collected for analysis may be considered
2>
I
OF ARKANSAS. 43
an average of a large proportion of that part of Izard county, lying north-
east of White river, and between that stream and Strawberry river.
Between Calico and the North Fork, the white and yellow sandstone
occupies, for the first 8 miles, a position towards the summits of the ridges.
Its upper layers arc generally coarse-grained, and present glistening
reflections. This sandstone is underlaid by the cherty limestones which
form the varigated cliffs on White river, known by the name of the "Calico
Rock." [See plate No. 2.]
Six miles from Calico, on the road from Calico to the North Fork, the
plateau of sandstone, from which sketch No. 1 was taken, is at an eleva-
tion of 380 to 390 feet above White river.
At the widow Lafferty's farm, where a soil was collected from Izard
county, for chemical analysis, the sandstone is overlaid by limestone.
In the vicinity of Friend's creek, the sandstone becomes harder and
more charty; it may be designated there, a porous and cellular, cherty
sandstone.
In passing over the ridges about Friend's creek, a high knob is seen off
towards the south, known by the name of " Naked Joe." This hill ap-
pears to be some 150 to 200 feet higher than the main ridges of the country,
and formed a conspicuous land-mark, in early times, for the guidance of
hunters and explorers.
The country around Friend's creek, where there is so much cellular
chert on the surface of the ground, has much the aspect of the iron region
of south-western Kentucky, and though no body of iron ore has yet been
discovered on the waters of this stream, the detailed survey may, perhaps,
hereafter develop such.
Four miles before reaching the North Fork, the ridges at the same ele-
vation (i.e., 380 to 390 feet) as the sandstone platform, 6 miles from Calico,
are composed of cellular buhrstone chert.
The summit level, passed over about 3 miles before reaching the North
Fork, and where the descent to that stream commences, is about 445 feet
above Major Jacob Wrolf's house, and 537 feet above the North Fork, ac-
cording to observations taken with the aneroid barometer.
Beyond the North Fork, there is another high conspicuous hill, towering
above the rest of the main ridges, called " Mattener's Knob," which I was
told by Maj. Jacob Wolf, was reported by surveyor Smith, to be 1,100 feet
high.
Maj. Jacob WTolf reports a small piece of ore, found in digging the
foundation of a mill, near the North Fork, which was pronounced to be
silver ore by some one, who professed to have examined it, but whose
name I did not learn. I have little faith in silver occurring in the forma-
tions which prevail along the North Fork, towards its confluence with
44 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
White river, unless it be in small quantities, associated with the lead and
zinc ores of this country.
The grey and red varigated limestones, which will be hereafter spoken
of, under the head of Marion county, occur in the bluffs of White river, 5
or 6 miles above the mouth of the North Fork, and a mile above Big creek;
but they lie under a heavy mass of superincumbent rock, which makes
them difficult of access.
The cherty magnesian, and other varieties of limestones, of which the
base of the hills is composed, and which form bold cliffs on the North Fork,
and at Ware's mill, appear to be of silurian date, but the sandstone chert
and limestones towards the tops of the ridges, must belong to the subcar-
boniferous group, judging from the few imperfect fossils found.
J. E. Ware showed me some ores of manganese, which he says came
from the bluffs of White river, below the mouth of Big creek.
On the south side of the North Fork, the chert frequently assumes the
character of hornstone and agate.
There are very fine buhr millstone rocks in the ridges of the North Fork,
not far from Ware's mill, but on the opposite side of the river, according
to J. E. Ware; he also found small particles of copper ore and some Terra
Sienna on a prong of Morton creek, on section 17, township 18 north, range
12 west; but though he has searched a great deal for ores, adjacent to the
surrounding country in Izard, he never discovered any deposit or vein of
copper worth following by drifts or adit levels.
Near the line between Izard and Marion counties, at Camp spring, there
is a bed of brown ochreous clay, which produces a color similar to Terra
Sienna. The bed is in a ravine, about 6 or 8 feet under the spring. It is
of various shades at the outcrop, mostly on account of admixtures of
earths washed over it. Farther in the bank it could, probably, be obtained
in greater purity, and of deeper and more uniform tints.
Lower down, on the same branch, are extensive beds of buhr millstone
in " Camp creek hollow." some of which are of excellent texture and
hardness for grinding corn, while other varieties are equally good for
wheat. This buhrstone lies some 200 feet below the level of the ridge
over which the Yellville road runs, above the Camp spring.
In consequence of the vegetation and debris of rock concealing the
strata, no very satisfactory section could be obtained of the whole of the
members composing the hills forming the Camp creek hollow; but the
following is the succession from above, downwards, of those which can
be seen:
1. Carboniferous limestone and chert.
2. Sandstone.
OF ARKANSAS. 45
3. Sandstone, hard and quartzose.
4. Variegated shales, including the Terra Sienna earth and segregations
of hydraulic (?) limestone, and some mudstone shale interstratified.
5. Thin-bedded, light-grey limestone.
G. Buhrstone, G to 8 feet thick.
7. Light-colored magnesian limestone, of silurian date?
8. Compact, flinty siliceous rocks.
J. E. Ware is of opinion, the best quality of buhrstones, of any required
dimensions, can be obtained either in Camp creek hollow or the ridges
opposite his flouring mill, on the North Fork, equal in quality to the
French buhr.
Small particles of sulphuret of copper have been picked up by J. E.
Ware, in the Camp creek hollow, disseminated sparingly in a gangue of
calc-spar; but no regular vein has, as yet, been detected.
MARION COUNTY.
The prevailing rocks of this county are varieties of magnesian lime-
stones, which crop out in terraces and low cliffs on the sides of the hills.
Some sandstone is intercalated, chiefly towards the upper and lower
part of the hills. The upper sandstone is of variable thickness, from a
few inches to 50 or 60 feet. It appears, in many places, as if the under-
lying magnesian limestone had suffered from irregular denudation; having
been locally scooped out into deep hollows, into which sand was subse-
quently swept, and became, afterwards, indurated into a hard, solid rock.
The lower sandstone I have only had a good opportunity of examining,
as yet, in the adjacent county of Carroll, on township 20 north, range 18
west, of the 5th principal meridian, where it has the hard quartzose
character of the lowest sandstone of Wisconsin and Minnesota, as it
occurs on the Minnesota, Baraboo, and Wisconsin rivers.
The upper sandstone is generally overlaid by limestones, capable of
receiving a good polish. Some of the beds are pink, variegated with
white, or light grey; others, nearly white, or light grey, and often studded
with tntrocfiitcs: that is, the disjointed stems of those singular flower-like
animals, known by the name of encrinites, which flourished in such pro-
fusion in the ancient seas, in which the deposits and chemical precipitates
were accumulating, that produced the so-called silurian, devonian, and
carboniferous rocks. These contribute greatly to the beauty of the
marble of which they form a part; appearing, often, of different shades of
color from the matrix in which they are enclosed, and giving to the roek
46 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
that variety of tint so agreeable to the eye, and so much esteemed by the
worker in marble.
In the middle and north-west part of Marion county, these marble layers
lie high in the hills; generally 20 to 50 feet below the tops of the ridges
in which they occur.
In the high Pine ridge, which forms the water-shed between Sugar-loaf,
Crooked, George's, and Jennings' creeks, there is a considerable mass of
chert capping its summit, which is, probably, referable to the subcarbo-
niferous period; judging from the few casts of crinoidea observed in it.
This ridge is, at least, 200 to 250 feet higher than the subordinate ridges
bounding the water courses of Sugar-loaf creek.
The summit of this high ridge is composed of chert sandstone, under-
laid by limestones, dolomitic and calciferous sand-rock.
The siliceous soil, in which the pine trees flourish, is derived from the
chert and sandstone, on which it is based.
The above-described marble rocks, which occur in these ridges, are,
probably, the representative of the so-called "Cooper marble," of Missouri?
which has been referred to the age of the Onondaga limestone of the New
York system.
At present, we have not sufficient palseontological evidence to decide
on its exact equivalency with rocks of other states; but in the future
progress of the survey, further light will, no doubt, be thrown on the age
of these beds, which intervene between the subcarboniferous and silurian
rocks of northern Arkansas, and which, on account of their economical
value, are of great interest.
Sufficient evidence has already been obtained to establish the age of
the 300 feet of magnesian limestones and silico-calcareous rock, that
underlie the marble strata, forming about 250 to 300 feet of the lower and
main body of the ridges of Marion county, as of lower silurian date, and,
in all probability, to that subdivision known as the calciferous sandrock of
the New York system. This is the lead and zinc-bearing formation of
north-western Arkansas.
Sulphuret of lead, or galena, has been found, more or less abundantly,
at numerous localities, both in Marion and Carroll counties. The most
noted ones, in the former county, are on the wTaters of Sugar-loaf, High-
tower, and Jennings' creeks. No regular or systematic mining operations
have yet been undertaken in Marion county, so that an opinion of the
exact character and dimensions of these mineral deposits, cannot be
formed; they occur, however, evidently, much in the same manner as
those which were subsequently examined in the eastern part of Carroll
county, at the Coka and Mitchell diggings. One partial drift, and a few
OF ARKANSAS.
47
prospect holes on township 20 north, range 17 east, and township 20 north,
range 10 east, of the 5th principal meridian, are all that has been done in
Marion county, near the head of Sugar-loaf creek, to prove this lead
region.
The principal entry on township 20 north, range 17 west, on the lands
of the New York company, was only carried about 8 or 10 feet into the
hill-side, with a width of about 4 feet. Judge Brickey, who superintended
this excavation, informs me that there were taken out of this drift from
4,500 to 5,000 pounds of lead ore; two hands obtained at the rate of about
1,000 pounds in tvvo days. A space of about one foot deep, and three feet
wide, yielded from 100 to 150 pounds. This ground was, no doubt,
sufficiently productive to pay well for Avorking; but it must be borne in
mind, that this drift was entirely too limited to give a just idea of how
productive the rock might prove, by regular mining operations; since it is
evident from all that is at present known of this lead region, that the ore
occurs irregularly disseminated in "pockets," "sheets," "joints," and
crevices; the pockets being cavernous spaces of various dimensions,
occurring only occasionally in the rock by local expansions of the crevice.'
When ore is disseminated in this manner, it is always necessary to
prove the richness of each locality, by especial trial drifts and shafts.
Hence, those owning mineral lands, in this part of Arkansas, would do
well, if they wish to establish the value of their mines, and induce
smelters to erect furnaces, without which the mining business cannot be
carried on to any advantage, to sink shafts and run drifts a sufficient depth
and distance to test, satisfactorily, the productiveness of their mines.
On section 19, township 20 north, range 17 east of the 5th principal
meridian, Armsted Hudson has sunk a few shallow pits on a hill, east of
his house, and west 6 deg. to 8 deg. south of the New York drift. Here
he discovered, likewise, more or less lead ore, and, on the opposite side of
the hollow, to the west, as far as Wood's pit, where lead ore was reached
at 45 feet, then two and a half miles to the south-west, near Grit's mills;
while the Short mountain location of Mitchell and Walker, lies two and a
half miles to the north-east.
There appear to be two sets of lead-bearing crevices, or irregular veins,
traversing the magnesian limestones of Marion county; one set running
nearly north-east and south-west; the other east 6 deg. to 8 deg. north;
but so little has yet been done, even in the way of digging '• prospect
holes," that it is difficult, at present, to form a correct opinion on this
subject.
Some detached pieces of lead ore have also been discovered at the
junction of the magnesian limestones and underlying quartzose sandstone
48
GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
on township 20 north, range 18 east of the 5th principal meridian, at what
is known as McCarty's diggings; but the ore lies too close to the lower
hard sandstone to give much prospect of productiveness in this rock. In
the upper sections of the ridges, lying between these McCarty's diggings
and the New York location, amongst the magnesian limestones, more or
less ore may be expected to occur; more especially, since pieces of " float-
mineral " have been found, at intervals, between the two locations.
A vein of galena of several inches traverses the limestone forming the
bed of Jennings' creek, about one-and-a-half miles above the forks of
that stream, at what is known as the "Molton orSewell diggings." Here
the course of the vein appears to be nearly north-west and south-east.
Several shallow pits have also been sunk on the adjacent hill-side, where,
I understand, small pieces of lead ore were discovered. The rock here,
is a close-textured, cherty limestone, very irregular in its fracture and bed-
ding, and is a member of the same formation in which the lead ore occurs
on Sugar Loaf creek, but modified in its lithological character; since, at
the latter locality, the limestone is an easily decomposing rock, weather-
ing and splitting up like hydraulic limestone. The composition of this
rock will be seen by the analysis in the Chemical Report.
There is considerable variety in the lithological character of the differ-
ent strata composing the hills in the lead region of Marion county, on the
waters of Sugar Loaf creek, as may be seen by the following section,
taken about half wray between the Hudson farm and the head of Sugar
Loaf creek.
SECTION OF STRATA OF LOWER SILURIAN DATE
IN THE LEAD REGION OF MARION COUNTY; WA-
TERS OF SUGAR LOAF CREEK.
0)
fa
307
328
CH CH
CH
CH CH
CH
CH CH
CH CH
CH
CH CH
CH
CH CH
CH
CH CH
Space concealed with fragments of chert,
hornstone, and other varieties of flinty
siliceous rocks.
White encrinital marble rock.
Space concealed with fragments of chert
and hornstone on the slope.
fa
37
4
Sb
It will be observed by
the subjoined section, in
the lead region of Marion
county, taken in the hills
adjacent to the head of
Sugar Loaf creek, that,
in the space of 307 feet
of the section, considera-
ble variation is observa-
ble in the composition of
the various beds of which
it is made up.
The formation, as a
whole, is perfectly analo-
gous to the strata north
of the Wisconsin river,
OF ARKANSAS.
49
SECTION OF MARION COUNTY— Continued.
193
191
191
178
169
1G1
159
117
139
1 128
93
71
67
16
L | ..
I L I
L L
I- l.
BL | BL
I ~*t I
BL | BL
|sr. |
SL I si.
Red and variegated limestone or marble
rock-
White encrinital limestone or marble
rock.
bS. SS
ML AIL
MI.
ML ML
L L
Impure siliceous limestone.
Soft coarse-grained sandstone.
Thin-bedded magnesian limestone.
White fossiliferous limestone, close-tex
ured, brittle.
Birds-eye structured limestone.
ML ML
ML
ML ML
ML
ML ML
ML
CR CR
CR
CR CR
ML
I L |
L L
Magnesian limestone.
Siliceousi limestone.
Calcareous sandstone.
Buff, checkered magnesian limestone.
Light-colored limestone with chert, so-
called " cotton rock."
Grey rough-weathering mag. limestone.
Light-colored limestone in beds from 6
to 8 inches in thickness.
25
19
16
8
2
5
5
10
11
35
12
1
21
in the State of Wiscon-
sin, except that the beds
of magnesian limestone
are thinner-bedded and
less massive, and hence,
do not appear in as bold
cliffs in Arkansas as on
t h e upper Mississippi.
The fossils in the lime-
stone, at an elevation of
161 feet above Sugar
Loaf creek, are, mostly,
casts and imperfect im-
bedded impressions, so
that even the genera
can hardly be made out;
but, so far as they are
recognizable, they, as
well as the lithological
character of the strata,
indicate the geological
horizon of these rocks as
cotemporaneous with the
' lower magnesian lime-
stone and interstratified
sandstones " of northern
Wisconsin, the '; calcifer-
ous sandrock" of the A'ew
York system, and the
:' 2nd magnesian lime-
stone and sandstone, and
3d magnesian limestone"
of the Geological Report
on south - western Mis-
souri.
50
GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
SECTION OF MARION COUNTY— Continued.
o
o
42
31
20
-.-aMEITJTiaB
ML
ML ML
ML
ML ML
ML
ML ML
Bench of grey magnesian limestone.
Thin-bedded, light - colored magnesian
limestone.
Bench of solid, grey magnesian limest.
Thin -bedded magnesian limestone, in
beds of a few inches in thickness, ex
tending down into the bed of Sugar
Loaf creek.
0)
fa
4
12
II
20
307
Three quarters of a mile south of the Mitchell farm, the following sec-
tion was obtained in a hill known as "Mitchell's Hill:'"
Height.
148 feet.)
142 " \
Thickness.
6
Top of the loose pieces of chert and sandstone
Hard, light-grey magnesian limestone, with occasional
beds of chalcedonic chert, most abundant in the
76 " lower part 76
56 " Quartzose sandstone and chert 10
26 " Magnesian limestone 40
25 " Intercalated bed of siliceous magnesian limestone 1
1 " Magnesian limestone, with red and yellow bands 15
Slope and bank extending down to the bed of upper
0 Sugar-loaf creek 0
Plate 3 represents a distant view of Sugar-loaf hill, of Marion, a
conspicuous land-mark, lying in the eastern part of Sugar-loaf prairie.
This hill is 300 feet above the level of Sugar-loaf creek, near the Coka
farm.
It is composed of thin-bedded magnesian limestones, overlaid by chert
at top, and underlaid by light-colored earthy limestone, like the so-called
"Cotton Rock," of Missouri.
A voluminous spring issues from the cavernous spaces in the rocks on
the east side of lower Sugar-loaf creek, affording a valuable water-power,
available at all seasons of the year, with but little variation as to quantity
OF ARKANSAS. 5J
and temperature, and capable of supplying a considerable amount of
machinery.
The high Pine ridge, capped with subcarboniferous chert, resting on
the sandstone previously mentioned, extends for four miles between the
heads of Sugar-loaf creek and those of George's creek; the pine being
co-extensive with the area occupied by these higher siliceous rocks.
The white encrinital and marble rock of this region, may be very con-
veniently quarried in a hill just beyond this pine ridge, near Wood's mill,
where it outcrops towards the top of the hill, with a gentle slope, which
affords an opportunity of quarrying it with but little stripping. Also in
aome of the ridges, near the Hudson farm and the "New York Location,"
on the waters of Sugar-loaf creek.
The strata composing the lower part ol the hills between Yellville and
Wood's mill, are chieiiy marly, earthy and hydraulic-looking calcareous
rocks, very retentive of water, which flows out along the surface of the
plane of dip in numerous springs. The country has a glady aspect, and
the roads are soft and miry, except where they run on the bare rock.
These strata have much the character of marly, shaly limestones
described as intervening between the subcarboniferous rocks and the
strata of silurian date in south-western Missouri, and may be of the same
age, but, as yet, we have no positive evidence of equivalency, in the
absence of the necessary palaeontological evidence. The fossil nautili
which have been found in chert near Alickersham's mill, about 2 miles S.
W. of Yellville, indicate rocks of the. subcarboniferous era, proving the
south- westerly inclination of the strata, which may account for rocks of
devonian (?) and subcarboniferous age being found here low in the hills,
while they occupy high situations in the north and north-eastern part of
Marion county.
Lee's mountain was found to be, by measurement with the aneroid
barometer, 350 feet above our camp, near John Osburn's farms, on Jen-
ning's creek.*
The ascent of this mountain from Fallen Timber creek, on the east, is
very steep. Towards the summit level of the road, there are alternations
of sandstone amongst the limestone, and higher up, near the summit of
the ridge to the south, the marble rock is in place. The sandstone below
this rock must be much thicker here than in the ridges along Sugar-loaf
creek, and the rocks elevated some fifty feet higher above the drainage of
the country than on Sugar-loaf creek.
The " Molton Diggings,"1 on Jennings' creek, are a mile and a half above
*This observation was taken on the 4th of December, at noon, iu the midsjt of a heavy shower of
rain, and, therefore, mav be liable to some corrcetion hereafter.
52 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
the forks, and half a mile below John Osburn's, on both sides of the creek.
The ore has been found, as yet, only in lumps and pockets, except in one
place, where some blasting has been done in the limestone forming the
bed of the creek. Here the ore was said to have been found in a solid
vein of 4 to 6 inches wide, though this statement is not corroborated by
John Osburn. Where I examined it, the work has been carried for a few
yards in a N. W. and S. E. course diagonally across the bed of the Jen-
nings1 creek; but the excavations were, at the time of my exploration,
completely submerged, so that little opportunity offered for seeing the
vein, if such^exists; but about half a pound of lead ore was found dis-
seminated in detached pieces through the adjacent rock. Some diggings
and prospect-holes have been opened along the hill-side, in a north and
south course, but these are too shallow to enable any one to form an opin-
ion as to the manner in which the ore is disseminated or concerning the
true course of the ore-bearing crevice. All that can be said at present in
regard to this locality, is that the formation is similar to those in the north-
ern part of Marion, heretofore described, and the surface indications of
ore probably equally as good for mining as in that part of the country
from its head to the forks of the creek.
About 200 pounds of lead ore were taken out of one of the holes dug
on the adjacent hill-side, three quarters of a mile above the forks of Jen-
nings' creek. Considerable lead ore was found in lumps and small frag-
ments by John Osburn, about a mile and a half northwest of the Molton
diggings. The prevailing character of the rock on Jennings' creek, near
the forks, is that of a close-textured, cherty, dark-grej limestone, very
irregular in its fracture and bedding, and often fragmentary.
Below the forks of Jennings' creek, the rocks are mostly rugged ledges
of magnesian and other varieties of limestone, with some alternations of
marl and marly limestones, with frequent imbedded segregations of chal-
cedonic chert.
The principal Sewell diggings are 4 miles below the Molton diggings,
township 19 north, range 16 west, of the fifth principal meridian.
Several pits and prospect-holes have been dug here in search of ore,
near the tops of the ridges, and two or three tons of ore obtained. In
some of the excavations crevices have been reached running in the mag-
nesian limestone, north 30 deg. west, and lead ore is found attached to
the wall-rock, and running in veins of about an inch thick.
Mr. Sewell undertook to smelt about 4 tons of this ore in a rude log
furnace, but the greatest part of it oxydized and ran to slag and was lost
amongst the cinders and ashes.
OF ARKANSAS. 53
- Small quantities of zinc ore have also been found here, associated with
the lead ore at the Sewell diggings.
Some sandstones are intercalated with the magnesian limestones of
this part of Jennings' creek valley.
The tops of ridges are mostly strewed over with masses of porous chert.
In some of the ridges the red marble rock is in place.
The surface indications of lead ore are frequent. Mr. McCracken,
whose farm adjoins the Sewell diggings, found a lump of lead ore, one
foot below the surface, in digging the foundation for his chimney, and
pieces weighing several pounds on the hill-sides opposite his house, on the
northern side of Jennings' creek. In the tops of some of the ridges, the
marble rock occurs in the vicinity of Mr. McCracken's, which appears to
have generally a reddish cast.
In the valley through which the road passes up from Mr. McCracken's
to the Flippen barrens, chert and buhrstone are very abundant, lying in
large blocks on the surface and along the beds of the creeks, rendering
the road very rough and disagreeable to travel over. There are also some
glady hill-sides where marly and shaly limestones crop out, like those men-
tioned as occurring on the road between Yellville and Wood's mill, in this
county.
The bottom lands of Jennings' creek, are of good quality, but they are
narrow and limited in extent.
The high grounds at the Flippen barrens are chiefly composed of chert
belonging to the subcarboniferous era, as indicated by the fossils found
there, both those collected by the corps and those generously presented by
Mr. William B. Flippen.
Amongst the cliffs adjacent to the west bank of White river, five or six
miles from the Flippen barrens, under overhanging ledges of magnesian
limestones in the " Rock House," known by the name of Bean's cave, pecu-
liar nitre earths have formed in large quantities.
At this locality there are large quantities of red ferruginous dry nitre
earth, above and below the red laminated layers, containing nitre salts,
which, if all converted, by the usual process of manufacture, into salt-
petre, would yield about 6.2 per cent. The composition of this nitre
earth, is shown by the following chemical analyses, made both of the
whole earth by digestion with hydrochloric acid and of the saline portion
soluble in water, which extract contains the nitre salts convertible into
salt-petre.
One sample of red, ferruginous, dry nitre earth gave, after being air-
Iried, the following result by chemical analysis:
54 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
First. By treatment with hydrochloric acid. ■
Hygrometric water expelled at 300 deg 3.15
Silicates insoluble in hydrochloric or nitric acid 64.68
Alumina • 10.00
Peroxide of iron- • • 7.68
Lime 3.65
Magnesia 1 -50
Potash .945
Soda .650
Manganese .080
Sulphuric acid .360
Phosphoric acid .015
Carbonic acid .050
Chlorine • .198
Organic matter, water of hydration not expelled at 300 deg., and
ammonia 2.428
Nitric acid and loss 4.614
f
100.000
The saline matter extracted by water, was equal to 7 per cent of the
whole, and contained the following bases and acids:
Alumina tinged with iron 0.32
Lime 0.76
Magnesia 0.40
Potash 0.282
Soda 0.068
Chlorine 0.196
Sulphuric acid • • • 0.360
Nitric acid 3.210
Water of crystallization, loss and organic matter 1.404
7.000
Another of the nitre earths formed in Bean's cave, is a very regularly
laminated moist earth, variegated with thin bands of dark and light red
of a very fine texture, and capable of being divided into thin flexible
laminae, like sheets of dough.
This nitre earth, when air dried, yielded by analysis about 1.3 per
cent of nitric acid, which when converted into nitrate of potash or salt-
petre, by the usual process of leaching and saturation, with carbonate of
potash, or the ley from ashes, would give about 2.5 per cent of salt-
petre.
OF ARKANSAS. K
;:>*>
Tlie artificial nitre plantations of France, afford, by a similar process,
on an average, about four per cent of salt-petre. The dry nitre earths of
Beans cave, which are abundant, ought, therefore, to be profitable to work.
There is a very largo amount of said earths available at the cave, par-
ticularly of the laminated variety, as will be seen by reference to the
Report of Mr. E. T. Cox, who was detailed to survey that locality.
It will be observed also from that Report, that this saltpetre cave is
favorably situated for the transportation of its saline and other products to
market, as it is located on the immediate bank of White river.
It is worthy, moreover, of note, that the red earthy residuum is of suf-
ficiently fine texture and contains enough coloring principle, from the per
centage of oxide of iron which it contains, to afford a good, durable, red
ochre paint, having a good body, and being especially well adapted for
painting brick walls and outdoor work generally; while the finer earths
that remain long suspended in water, afford a species of polishing powder
free from grit, but not rich enough in siliceous earth, to be rapid and
efficient in its effects.
The magnesian limestones of lower silurian date of Marion county,
afford, besides the lead ores already made mention of, some fine zinc ores.
The richest and best locality of these zinc ores, that I have yet examined
in this county, is on section 13, township 19 north, range 17 west, of the
5th principal meridian, on the wraters of the east branch of George's creek.
The surface indications here are quite encouraging, and lead to the infer-
ence that considerable bodies of both the carbonate and sulphuret of zinc
exist more deeply* seated in the crevices of the rock; indeed, these ores
seem to occur here in veins between well-defined walls of rock, the main
vein running north 30 deg. east and south, 30 deg. west, besides some cross
courses north 70 deg. to 80 deg. west. These veins or crevices are ex-
posed in one place on George's creek, 8 feet 9 inches across from wall to
wall. Several shallow openings have been made, at different points, a
few hundred yards apart, on George's Creek, in all of which good speci-
mens of these zinc ores have been exposed, associated, occasionally, with
some sulphuret of lead and small quantities of sulphuret of copper.
I would particularly designate this place, as worthy of the attention and
exploration of the zinc manufacturer, as the locality gives promise, as far
as can be judged, from the partial openings made, of affording good rich
zinc ores in sufficient quantities td» supply a furnace.
There is more sulphuret of zinc at these than at the zinc mines of Law-
rence county; but still there are large quantities of carbonate also, which
yield from 48 to 52 per cent of zinc, as may be seen by consulting the an-
alysis of these ores, in the Report of the Chemical Assistant. The sulphuret,
56 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
it is true, contains a higher percentage of metal than the carbonate; but it
is much more difficult and expensive to work, and hence a less profitable
ore to mine than the carbonates, with a less per centage of zinc in their
composition.
The higher points of the hills in this part of Marion county, are capped
with eherty rocks of subcarboniferous date, but the lower part of the hills
belongs to the same age as the members exhibited in the geological section
on Sugar-loaf creek, previously given.
The pine and other timber on the high ridge, mentioned as intervening
between the head of Sugar-loaf creek and the waters of George's creek,
will afford good coaling grounds for the use of zinc furnaces, which might
be located some where in the vicinity of these zinc mines, as well as for
the reduction of the lead ore that may be raised towards the head of
Sugar-loaf creek.
CARROLL COUNTY.
As yet, only the eastern portion of this county has been examined.
The lead ore of this county, occurs in the cotemporaneous formations of
magnesian limestones, with occasional interstratification of sandstone and
siliceous limestones, overlaid, towards the summits of the hills, by the en-
crinital limestones and marble rock, capped with chert. The diggings
have been somewhat deeper in Carroll than in Marion county, but still
quite limited, consisting of a few shallow trenches on the hill-side, and
one shaft of 40 feet. These have exposed several lead-bearing crevices in
the rocks, sometimes expanded into cavernous spaces forming occasional
" pockets" filled with lead ore; at other times compressed in the joints of
of the wall-rock, almost in contact, or only affording space enough for
small " strings," and thin " sheets" of ore, irregularly distributed along its
course.
In sinking the main shaft, the first layer of rock passed through, beneath
the subsoil and under-clay, was:
Light grey shale 4 feet
Dark " " 8 "
Magnesian lead-bearing limestone 28 "
Total depth sunk 40 "
A hole carried a few feet further, by means of a " churn auger," passed
mostly through good solid galena disseminated in the adjacent magnesian
limestone.
OF ARKANSAS. 57
More or less lead ore has been found at different points, over about two-
thirds of township 20 north, range 19 west of the 5th principal meridian*
according to the representations of Judge Brickcy, who had been formerly
extensively engaged in the lead business in Missouri, and has been recently
employed by Coka &Mitchell, the owners of these mineral lands, to en-
deavor to follow the course of the veins on their property.
The ore discovered has been sometimes float or gravel ore, scattered on
the surface or partially imbedded through the bare surface rock, in "strings,"
"sheets," thin veins, and occasional " pockets;" also in the interstices, cre-
vices, and even horizontally between the layers of the bedded rock.
The lead-bearing Magnesian limestone, which commences, usually,
about 80 to 100 feet beneath the summits of the ridges, has, in general, a
capping of hard, white, quartzose sandstone, 4 to 1G inches in thickness,
with intervening beds of ferruginous and argillaceous shales of, usually,
only a few inches or a foot or two in thickness.
The section of the upper 90 to 100 feet of the ridges, in this lead region,
may be represented approximately by the following section:
Chert 50 feet
Thin-bedded magnesian limestone 15 "
Encrinital limestone and marble rock 25 to 30 "
Sandstone, mostly hard, white and quartzose. bedded G
to 9 or sometimes 16 inches: average say, the " cap
rock'' of the lead miner of Carroll county 1 "
Ferruginous and argillaceous shales 1 to 2 "
Lead-bearing magnesian limestone with some alterna-
tions of siliceous rocks extending for 200 to 250 feet
down to the beds of the streams and general drainage
of the country > • • 250 "
These latter rocks are, lithologically, much of the same character as the
strata represented in the 250 feet of the lower part of the section, on Su-
gar-loaf creek, in Marion county.
It appears that the surface of the magnesian limestone, under the sand-
stone, has suffered from irregular denudation, previous to the deposition
of the sand, which went to form the succeeding stratum, which is, in con-
sequence, sometimes quite irregular in its thickness, even in short distances,
where the sand has been swept into the eroded cavities; such an action
has taken place close to where the 40 feet shaft has been sunk in this
county. There, a great mass of isolated sandstone, which has resisted the
action of decomposing agencies, beyond that of the adjacent members,
stands out as a bold mass, as if it might have been a wall or dike, form-
58 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
erly enclosed between walls of the adjacent magnesian limestone, and now
forms a conspicuous feature in the landscape of that region. (See plate
No. 4.)
The lead ore of this locality of Carroll county, may be expected to
occur in following it, with its downward hade, through the different members
of this formation, in irregular masses, " pockets," sheets, strings, and thin
veins in the magnesian limestones; but probably sparingly, if at all, inter-
spersed in the occasional layers of sandstone, which rock has, perhaps, not
retained the openness of fissure, necessary for the reception of the infil-
trated or insinuated ore.*
About 20,000 pounds of lead ore have been raised, in all, at these " dig-
gings," the excavations being, however, for the most part, only 5 to 15
feet in depth.
About 500 to 600 pounds were raised at the 40 feet, " Brickey's" shaft,
adjacent to the isolated mass of sandstone, represented on plate No. 4.
Judge Brickey, who has had long experience in the lead business, in
Washington county, Missouri, is of opinion that the surface indications in
township 20 north, range 19 west, of the 5th principal meridian, are fully
as encouraging as in that part of Missouri, perhaps even more so, for
profitable mining.
The great difficulty in pursuing lead-mining in this part of Arkansas, at
present, is the want of furnaces for the reduction of ore which the miner
could raise.
For want of these, the ore has either to be smelted in heaps or log fur-
naces at considerable loss and disadvantage, or transported at a cost which
would consume the profits of the miner, to distant localities in Missouri,
where smelting furnaces have been already erected.
The most common vein-stone of this region is calcareous spar; some
" gozzin" is occasionally seen in the crevices; but oftener, near the surface,
the materials filling the interstices of the magnesian limestones, are buff
and grey argillaceous and shaly earths.
The distance from these mines to navigation on White river, at Du
Buque, is from 8 to 10 miles. The growth is, mostly, small sized black
and post-oak and hickory.
It will be observed, by the Chemical Report, that the lead ores, both of
Carroll, Marion, and Independence counties, are, when freed from adhering
gangue and rock, remarkable ior their purity. The most important of
them have been cupelled, to ascertain the amount of silver, but only one
variety examined, up to the present time, viz: that from the Sewell
* In some few instances, in Missouri, lead ore has been found in sufficient quantity in the sand-
stone to pay for working.
OF ARKANSAS. 5Q
diggings, on Jemmy's creek, promises to afford sufficient silver to pay the
expense of extraction.
The rocks of the lead region of Carroll county, near the Coka and
Mitchell diggings, dip to the south-west, so that the encrinital limestones
descend, in that direction, at the rate of about 100 feet to the mile; and
are near the level of the creeks, two miles south-west of the locality
represented in plate No. 4.
FULTON COUNTY.
In the townships of land, situated in the north-western part of this
county, the highest knobs are composed, like those in Marion and Izard
counties, of cherty masses, referable, probably, to the subcarboniferous
era, resting upon earthy, hydraulic-looking marls, limestones and shales,
on which the principal tracts of arable land are based. Such is the nature
of the strata in the " Rapp Barrens," between White river and the North
Fork, at an elevation of about 130 or 150 feet above these streams; and
corresponding in their lithological character to the strata of Marion county,
formerly made mention of, occurring 4 or 5 miles north-east of Yellville,
between the waters of Crooked, Jemmy's, and Fallen Timber creeks.
The following strata were observed at elevations in ascending from the
North Fork to the general level of the country, in the vicinity of the Rapp
barrens, in the upper 80 feet of the ridge, which overlooks the Ripple of
the North Fork, near the Rapp barrens:
At 380 feet: above the North Fork, varieties of crisp and agatized chert
prevail.
At 375 feet: white-weathering magnesian limestone.
At 370 feet: coarse-grained magnesian limestone and chert.
At 365 feet: porous buhrstone and chert.
At 300 feet: hard blocks of coarse-grained, glistening, siliceous rock,
intermediate between chert and sandstone.
The strata of the lower part of the cliffs, along the North Fork, in the
vicinity of these barrens, are mostly composed of different varieties of
magnesian limestones and silico-calcareous rocks, which are remarkable
for the great differences which they exhibit in their capabilities of resisting
atmospheric vicissitudes; some layers being hard, compact and durable,
stand out prominently in overhanging ledges; others, crumbling away,
recede, even under the shelter and protection of more durable strata.*
Some of the layers possess a fine oolitic structure.
* See Chemical Report for the analyses of these two different kinds of rocks.
60 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
The ridges, 150 to 1G0 feet above the white sandstone, which crops out
near Sander's store, and elsewhere in the Barrens, are mostly strewed with
agatized and chalcedonized chert. These are either destitute of timber
or overgrown with thickets of low scrubby timber, while the narrow, tor-
tuous vallies or "coves," enclosed between the ridges, are, for the most
part, meadow prairie.
Though rocky and rather forbidding, at first view, the land produces
well; particularly oats, wheat, wool, and honey. The crops of maize may
be considered average. The country is well watered, and possesses many
fine water-powers, even at the very fountain head of some of its numerous
limpid calcareous streams, which frequently burst forth from amongst the
ledges of rock.
One of the most remarkable of these, forms the fountain-head of the
main fork of Spring river, known as the "Mammoth Spring," welling up
on the south side of a low rocky ridge, from a submerged abyss beneath
of sixty-four feet, and constituting, at its very source, a respectable lake
of about one-sixteenth of a mile from north to south, and one-fifth to one-
sixth of that distance from east to west.
It is said, by those that have sounded the bottom, that there are large
cavities and crevices in the rock, and that the main body of the water
issues from a large cavernous opening of some forty yards in circumfer-
ence. It has been estimated that it boils up at the rate of about eight
thousand barrels per minute; the correctness of this estimate, we had no
means of verifying; but it may be safely estimated, that the average
constant flow would be at least sufficient to propel from 12 to 15 run of
stones.
The uniform temperature and composition of the water, is peculiarly
congenial to the growth of a variety of cryptogamic, aquatic plants, pos-
sessing highly nutritive qualities, both for herbiverous animals and birds.
In the early settlement of the country, herds of herbiverous wild
animals traveled from great distances to this fountain, of both food and
water, as well as flocks of wild fowl. Now, the cattle of the neighboring
farms may be seen wading in its waters, up to their middle, and browsing
on the herbage, which appears peculiarly congenial to their tastes; it is,
also, a general resort of ducks, geese, and other aquatic birds.
This mammoth spring is located just south of the east and" west line
between Missouri and Arkansas, on section 5, township 21 north, range 7
west of the 5th principal meridian, and forms the most interesting feature
of this section of country, since it affords a water-power, which, if properly
improved, might supply valuable mill-sites, and water-privileges, for
manufacturing purposes in general. Small and rude as the present grist-
t M
■
OF ARKANSAS. (]J
mill is, at this point, with its two run of 40 inch stones, it attracts the
Custom of farmers living 30 or 40 miles distant, who throng to its door
i though they may have to wait days and nights for their turn to come
round.
The accompanying sketch [plate No. 5,] represents the present mill,
looking north over the expanse of water, forming the source of this cele-
brated spring.
The Mater of this remarkable fountain, remains at a nearly uniform
temperature, never freezing in winter. On the 17th of December, 1857,
the temperature of the air being 17 deg. Fahrenheit, the spring showed
only 57 deg. Fahrenheit. But the average temperature^when the ther-
mometer is sunk deep in the spring, will probably be found to be GO deg.
The extent of the range of extreme low and high water, is but 3 to 4
inches, so that the variation in the supply of water is very slight.
A large proportion of the water now runs to waste, the present mill
only requiring a limited supply; but, if it were all saved, which it could
very easily be, there would be enough for many grist-mills, as well as
woolen factories, which would be well adapted to the resources of the
country; since both the climate and herbage seem to be well suited to
raising sheep. At least, the small flocks of sheep, seen in the range,
appeared both healthy and vigorous.
The water is generally clear and limpid; it only becomes slightly muddy
after long continued rains. From 10 to 11 feet of fall can be obtained
between the fountain-head and the present site of the dam.
The principal outcrop of rock, is a white silico-calcareous rock, splittim
with a slaty fracture, and presenting dendritic markings on its surface.
Locally, large quantities of calcareous tufa have accumulated, and are
still forming in creeks and recesses around the head of the spring;
deposited from the water, partly on account of the loss of a portion of
its carbonic acid, which is dissipated into the atmosphere as these calca-
reous waters reach the surface, and partly by gradual evaporation.
Varieties of chert, hornstone, and porous buhrstones, form the most con-
spicuous rocks in the ridges of the northern part of Fulton county: these
repose on limestones, mostly of a siliceous character, with segregations
and interpolations of chert, sandstone and calciferous sandrocks.
It is supposed that the original source of the Mammoth spring is
HowePs valley, Oregon county, Missouri, since the waters of this valley,
which is eight miles wide and thirty miles long, are not known to have
any external outlet, losing themselves in sink-holes and subterranean
caverns and passages. Uniting, as is supposed, near the southern boun-
dary of Missouri, they again burst forth to the day through caverns and
»g
(32 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
crevices in the rock, on the extreme northern confines of Arkansas, and
form this immense spring, which constitutes the head of the principal
branch of Spring river, watering the north-east, corner of Fulton county;
and then, entering Lawrence, it forms one of the main, streams of that
county; flowing, finally, into Black river, above Smithville.
Since the death of the former proprietor, Mr. Mills, the ownership of
the spring, and the land around, has reverted to his heirs.
For the sake of the interests of the country, we hope this water-privilege,
possessing so many natural advantages, will soon be improved in the
manner its intrinsic value justifies, and that it may fall into the hands of
enterprizing and practical manufacturers, who will give an impetus to
profitable and useful branches of manufacturing industry, suited to the
resources of the country, which soon attract around them an industrious,
progressive, and intelligent population.
Extensive deposits of iron ore have been reported as occurring in
the vicinity of the Mammoth spring. I found some superficial specimens
of good ore in the north part of Fulton county, but have not seen any
extensive beds; those referred to by Mr. Mills, in a notice issued of his
property, before his death, are, probably, situated north of the state line,
on the western fork, in Missouri. The geological formation is such asjjto
justify the expectation that a detailed survey of Fulton county may dis-
close bodies of ore that might warrant the erection of furnaces.
Descending south from the head of Main Spring river, I found the
country mostly constructed of low chert ridges, with prairie coves between
them; the timber being, chiefly, on the ridges, of a small growth of oak
and hickory.
Two miles east of the Mammoth spring, a fine, white sandstone* crops
out on a slope on the Missouri side of the line.
On Jaynes' creek, the same kind of country prevails. In the valley of
that stream, low benches of rugged, weathering magnesian limestone are
seen projecting from the slopes of the ridges, which are mostly strewed
with chert blocks, and gravel in the upper portions.' The highest of these
chert ridges are from 250 to 280 feet above the water courses, but the most
of them are considerably lower.
* This is probably the equivalent of the sandstone represented on No. 4, which underlies the
marble limestones of Carroll county.
OF ARKANSAS. (J3
LAWKENCE COUNTY.
Near the forks of the Jackson and Smithville road, some chert ridges,
measured, were found to have an elevation of about 80 to 100 feet above
the drainage of the country.
On Morton's creek, near Morgan's mill, there is some zinc, which may
prove valuable, if fairly opened and exposed, as the surface indications
are somewhat encouraging.
The chert of the ridges along Morton's creek is mostly dull and impure,
with little or no true chalcedony.
In the cuts of the stream, grey and white varieties of magnesian lime-
atones crop out, associated with a white rock, which has the appearance
of a calciferous sandrock.
The same character of rocks prevails to the Big Lick. South of that
locality, some porous buhrstones are intermixed with the dull, impure,
earthy chert, and a white magnesian limestone was observed cropping
out, approaching, in its character, the so-called " Cotton Rock."
On Machine creek, some zinc ore has been discovered, and a few loads
hauled over to the zinc furnace, in Lawrence.
E. W. Houghton explored for lead ore on Stennett's creek, in this
county, and obtained considerable lead ore, but abandoned the diggings,
probably, because there was no lead furnace to smelt the ore.
The main zinc deposits of Lawrence county, on which the principal
dependence is placed for supplying ore to the furnace now erected at
Calamine, are the so-called Hoppe diggings, on section 19, township 16
north, range 2 west.
The ore here is very accessible, being, in some places, only one foot
beneath the surface. It has been followed down 18 feet, and found occu-
pying interstices between isolated corroded masses of limestone, and inter-
mixed with, and imbedded in red clay. The width of the excavation was
about 25 feet. The associate limestone is of a light grey coIqi*, with
strings and thin veins of disseminated ore, which comprises mostly those
different varieties of carbonate of zinc, described in works on mineralogy,
under the name of "calamine" and "smithsonite."
The chemical analyses of these ores, made by Dr. Elderhorst, in my
laboratory, gives an average yield of 51.7 per cent, of oxide, which is
equal to 41.5 per cent, of metallic zinc in these carbonates.
Intermixed with the carbonates there is also some zinc blende, which
will yield, when freed from adhering gangue, nearly GG per cent, of metal-
lic zinc; but this ore, though containing a larger proportion of zinc than
g4 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
the carbonates, is less valuable as an ore, since it is more expensive and
difficult to roast, smelt, and reduce to the metallic state.
The chemical analyses even of the associate dolomitic rocks and red
clay, rilling the interstices between the rock and ore, afford a small per
centage of zinc, viz: two per cent of carbonate of zinc, in the magnesian
limestone taken from the Hoppe mine, and about one-thirdgof one per
cent, in the red clay.
For the details of analysis, consult the Chemical Report of Dr. Elder-
horst, where a statement will be found of the value of the Arkansas zinc
ores, compared with those of the most productive zinc districts of Europe.
Since all the zinc at present consumed in this country is imported from
Europe, and subject to a duty of 4 per cent, on crude zinc, and 24 per
cent, on all manufactured articles, the establishment of furnaces for the
smelting of these very productive ores of zinc of Arkansas, would, indeed,
be a national benefit, since the quantity of crude and manufactured zinc,
imported into the United States, according to the last published state-
ments, amounts very nearly to nine hundred thousand dollars worth of
this useful metal.
REPORT
OF A
GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
OF PART OF
ARKANSAS.
PAET SECOND
In proceeding to record the observations made during the surveys of
1858, I shall commence with
WHITE COUNTY.
No. 0. — CLIFFS OF THE "BEE HOCK," OF WHITE COUNTY, ON LITTLE RED 1UVER,
The most conspicuous geological feature of this county, is the escarp-
ment of sandstone along the bluffs of Little Eed river, known as the " Bee
rock." The sketch in the wood-cut at the head of this section, is taken
from the summit of those rocks, looking over the valley of Little Red
river, and the distant low ground to the north. The sandstone forming
68 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
the cliffs in the foreground of this landscape, is part of the conglomerate
and millstone grit formation that intervenes between the overlying coal
measures proper, and the underlying subcarboniferous limestone.
When water-worn pebbles are disseminated through such sandstones,
subordinate to the coal measures, they have received the name of conglo-
merates or pebbly sandstones ; when pebbles are absent, and the rock con-
stitutes merely a coarse-textured sandstone, it is called millstone grit.
Both these varieties occur in White county, along the escarpments of Lit-
tle Red river, which attain a thickness of 150 to 200 feet, imparting wild
and romantic scenery to the country, for many miles along the bank of
this stream. They constitute, also, the nucleus of the backbone ridge that
runs from the Bee rock to Patterson's mill. At the latter locality, the
impression of a peculiar extinct plant, characteristic of the early carboni-
ferous era, known as the stigmaria ficoides, was discovered, imbedded in
the sandstone, which would prove conclusively the age of this sandstone
formation, if other evidence were wanting.
A particle of gold, the size of a flaxseed, is said to have been pumped
up with the sand from the bed of Little Red river, at Patterson's mill.
Even if this is correct information, it is not probable that quantities of
this metal, sufficient to pay for the extraction, could be washed out of the
sands of Little Red river, since it does not flow, along any part of its
course, over rocks such as have yielded profitable quantities of this pre-
cious metal in other countries.
The dip of these sandstones on this part of Little Red river, is 1| deg.
to 2 deg. to the south, or a little west of south. The base of this forma-
tion, at this point, is schistose in its structure, i. e., thin bedded, becoming,
however, more solid and massive in its upper part.
Some segregations of iron ore occur about 10 feet above the water of
Little Red river, near the mill, but they are, here, too siliceous to constitute
a good quality of ore for the manufacture of iron.
Three miles north-west of Searcy, at a "bald point," in the vicinity of
the widow Gilbert's farm, sixty feet of shaly strata are exposed, dark or
nearly black, in its lower part, and reddish yellow and ferruginous towards
the top. This shale includes numerous segregations of carbonate of iron
and carbonate of lime ; the latter containing several fossil marine shells,
amongst which the nautilus ferratus was discovered, a species which
occurs in the ferruginous shales of Nolin, in Edmonson county, Ky.
Until levels are run, which it is contemplated doing hereafter, during
the progress of the detailed surveys in the individual counties, it is difficult
to pronounce positively on the relative geological position of these shales,
with reference to the sandstones of the Bee rock ; but, judging from the
OF ARKANSAS. G9
superposition, as observed in Kentucky, of the cotemporaneous shales, I
am, at present, disposed to consider them as immediately following these
sandstones, in the order of superposition. At any rate, the cliffs of sand-
stone and conglomerate of Little Red river, and the Gilbert shales of
"White county, Arkansas, are a perfect counterpart of the high escarpment
of the " Dismal rock," of which a sketch is given as the frontispiece to the
first volume of the Kentucky Geological Report, and the ferruginous shales
of Xolin are shown in a section at the end of the same volume.
The Gilbert shales are underlaid by heavy sandstones, passing down-
wards into a more schistose rock in the descent towards Panther creek.
The quantity of iron ore at this locality, both of the carbonate and
limonite varieties, would go far towards supplying a furnace, and similar
ores can, no doubt, be discovered in the same geological position in other
parts of the county. Hereafter we shall record the constituents of this
ore when the quantitative chemical analysis is completed.
In digging wells in the vicinity of Searcy, a blackish grey, indurated,
argillo-siliceous shale is encountered, containing small scales of dissemi-
nated mica. This material is brittle and crumbles, by exposure, to a clay.
Similar shales are struck, usually ten feet below the surface, under the
red lands situated west of Searcy. The first ten feet passed through, gene-
rally consist of soil, subsoil, and gravel overlying these shales. The red
soil of these level farming lands is quite productive, yielding good crops
of cotton, corn, wheat, and the finest oats in ordinary seasons, viz. : 800 to
1,500 pounds of cotton in the seed to the acre, twenty to twenty-five
bushels of wheat, and forty to sixty bushels of oats, when there are sea-
sonable rains.
Samples of this soil have been collected for future chemical analysis, in
case the agricultural department of the Survey should be hereafter pro-
vided for.
This description of land must have an area of some 360 square miles,
extending, as it does, about thirty miles from east to west, and twelve
miles from north to south, and appears to have been derived from the dis-
integration of the ferruginous shales, which, at one time, existed over the
dark, argillo-siliceous shales, that now underlie this tract, and which still
are to be seen in the slopes of the hills adjacent to these red lands.
In the southern part of the county, watered by bayou Des Arc and
Caney creek, sandstones and shales of the millstone grit period prevail.
In the Royal Colony settlement, near the line between sections seven and
eight, township five, range ten, a bed of coal, from ten to twelve inches
in thickness, occurs sixty feet up in a ridge, known as Coal-hill, at the
head of Cypress bayou.
70 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
The base of Coal-hill consists of black and ferruginous shales, sur-
mounted by thick-bedded sandstone, capping its summit.
Ferruginous shales are strewed on the slope, under the sandstone, for
seventy -live feet. Beneath this, for the depth of five feet, is a bluish shale,
enclosing oval concretions.
The immediate roof of the coal is a peculiar, rusty, talcous-looking,
scaly shale, unctuous to the touch, and crumbling to pieces with the least
friction.
The coal varies from ten to twelve inches in thickness.
The base of the hill, for 60 feet under the coal, is composed of dark,
bluish-grey shale, including considerable quantities of carbonate of iron.
The same bed of coal crops out on the western declivity of Coal-hill.
This coal has been partially opened for the use of the blacksmiths in
this part of White, and the adjacent portion of Conway county, but where
it has been worked, it has not afforded a coal altogether free from the
pyritiferous impurities required for shop use; the thickness, too, is not
sufficient to warrant the expense of running drifts into it for any great
distance.
Sandstone occupies the surface at Rocky point, but shale is reached
about eight or nine feet under the surface. A similar sandstone crops out
on the slope descending to Cypress bayou, on the confines of White and
Prairie counties. All these strata are, no doubt, referrible to the millstone
grit series at the base of the coal measures.
Ascending from the waters of the Cadron and Des Arc, in the western
part of White county, a great mass of variegated and ferruginous shales
is encountered, nearly two hundred feet in thickness, including some inter-
calated bands of sandstone. These are surmounted by some fifty feet of
heavily bedded sandstones, which are again overlapped with shales and
schistose siliceous rocks, capping the mountain near the widow Norman's.
Four and a half miles beyond, in the neighborhood of Theodore Good-
low's, the sandstone on the table-land is characterized by peculiar vermi-
cular impressions,* such as were observed in Hancock county, Kentucky,
in the first bench of sandstone under the main Ilawesville coal, and about
50 feet above the bench of underlying conglomerate. This bench of
sandstone lies, therefore, at the base of the coal measures, and though
there is a thin bed of coal beneath this sandstone at Ilawesville, it may
be considered as underlying the productive coal measures, since no work-
able bed of coal has yet been found below it.
* These impressions are probably referrible to some species of fucoids or seaweeds. They bear
some resemblance to drawings of Phytogyra, but are apparently single and more simple in their
structure than that genus.
OF ARKANSAS. 71
These sandstones with vermicular (fucoidal ?) impressions on the head
of the Cadron, in the extreme south-western part of "White county, belong,
doubtless, to the geological horizon beneath the lowest workable coal.
A remarkable dislocation of the strata crosses the Cadron in the vicinity
of Goodlow's. Where I examined it, on the south bank of that stream,,
the tilted slabs of sandstone lie at various angles, from one deg. to 26 deg. ;
at one place, even at 50 deg. Yet the belt of disturbance is quite narrow,
not more than six or eight feet, and some of the broken slabs of rock appear
as if they had partially slipped into the yawning fissure and become
entangled in the closing of the gap. The course of this disturbance runs
obliquely across the bed of the Cadron, with a slightly curved bearing,
south south-west, and forms a kind of artificial dam. This rupture of the
strata can be traced for three-quarters of a mile. In some parts of its
course the fractured layers form a complete arch, dipping both ways from
the central axis.
Some attempts have been made to discover ore, by sinking pits adjacent
to this disturbance ; but without success, at the depth to which they were
carried. This axis of dislocation may possibly be connected with those
subsequently observed on the Palarm bayou, since its course, if produced
in a south-west direction, would extend to that region of country.
High cliffs of sandstone of the same geological era, appear on the south
side of the Cadron, near the western confines of White county.
The Searcy sulphur water of White county, was tested qualitatively at
the fountain head for its principal constituents, which proved to be as fol-
lows :
Small quantity of free sulphuretted hydrogen.
Bi-carbonate of lime.
Bi-carbonate of magnesia.
Chloride of sodium.
Chloride of magnesium.
Small quantity of sulphate of soda.
" " " " magnesia.
This water will act as a mild alterative and laxative.
It should be remarked, that solution of acetate of lead is darkened more
by the water after being boiled down, than when fresh from the spring ;
for this reason, I am disposed to believe, that there must be some portion
of sulphur combined with some organic principle ; since the free sulphur-
etted hydrogen would be expelled by boiling. Besides, the fresh water
does not affect acetate of lead as much as the sulphur taste would indi-
cate.
72
GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
VAN BUREN COUNTY.
No. 7— SUGAR-LOAF MOUNTAIN OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
The table-land of the south-western part of this county, on to which we
ascended soon after leaving White county, supports a pine forest on the
siliceous soils, derived from the disintegration of sandstones of the millstone
grit series. This table-land is elevated 400 feet above the general drain-
age of the country, and 375 above a group of dark shales, including car-
bonate of iron, which are well exposed at " Bald Lick," near the foot of
the descent, on our route leading to Sugar-loaf springs. This shale, with
its associate ore, has much the appearance of the Gilbert shales of Searcy
county ; but these shales of Van Buren County, occupy a position, in all
probability, beneath sandstones, the equivalent of the Bee rock. From
20 to 25 feet of these shales are exposed in the ravines at the Bald Lick,
having a dip to the south-west of 8 deg. ; this dip is, however, local both in
direction and degree, since only a mile or two to the north, the strata were
observed to dip east of north at a more gentle angle.
The Sugar-loaf mountain, of which a sketch is given in the wood-cut
that heads this section, is a conspicuous, isolated hill, cut off by denudation
from the main ranges of this county. A measurement with the aneroid
barometer, gave its height 440 feet above the Huntsucker farm. By com-
putation, it must be about 500 feet above Little Red river, which sweeps
around its north-eastern base.
OF ARKANSAS. 73
This well-known land-mark is composed, in its upper part, of about 80
feet of schistose sandstone, forming a bold and conspicuous cliff on the
heights of the mountain, which is contracted in its upper part, so that the
area of the summit is only about 200 feet from north to south, by about
50 feet from cast to west, with a dip of a few degrees to the south, as
shown in the accompanying view. Forest and undergrowth conceal, for
the most part, the strata forming the slopes below this escarpment.
The construction of the main ridges, in this part of Van Buren county,
of which this may be regarded as an outlier, together with the partial ex-
posures, here and there observed in the Sugar-loaf mountain itself, lead to
the conclusion that it is composed mostly of earthy varieties of sandstone,
resting on ferruginous and dark shales, similar to those observed at the
Bald Lick, and which seem to exist, almost universally, under the main
mass of the millstone grit of this part of the State of Arkansas.
The Sugar-loaf springs are situated about three miles from the Sugar-
loaf mountain, in a course south of west. There are several fine springs of
mineral water at this place.
The one known as the "Black Sulphur Spring," but which might be with
more propriety called the White Sulphur Spring, since it deposits a white
fibrous sediment in the trough into which it first flows, though, where it
subsequently dissipates itself over the ground, there is a black precipitate
formed by the mutual action between the sulphur in the water and the
iron contained in the soil. This has generally been regarded as the
strongest mineral water on the premises.
Its principal constituents are :
Free sulphuretted hydrogen.
Bi-carbonate of lime.
Bi-carbonate of magnesia.
Chloride of sodium.
Chloride of magnesium.
No appreciable quantity of sulphates could be detected in the unconcen-
trated water.
The "Puce Spring" contains the same ingredients, though it is not so
strongly impregnated with sulphuretted hydrogen, but contains more-
chlorides than the other spring.
The qualitative examination of the " Eye Spring," so called because
persons having inflamed eyes have used it most, gave the same reaction
with chemical reagents as the " Puce Spring."
Besides these springs there is a good chalybeate water, that issues from the
bank a few paces from the " Puce Spring," containing bi-carbonate of the
protoxide of iron and a trace of chlorides, but no appreciable quantity of
74 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
sulphates, in the unconcentrated water ; also a spring of ordinary water, in
which bi-carbonates of the alkaline earths are the principal constituents.
The main springs are, therefore, saline sulphuretted waters, possessing
alterative, laxative, diaphoretic, and diuretic effects, well adapted for the
cure of eruptive complaints, as well as of chronic diseases of the digestive
organs. The properties possessed by the chalybeate, are those of a tonic,
suited to cases of a constitutional or temporary debility, in which prepara-
tions containing iron are indicated.
As Little Ked river was too high for us to take the river road towards
Clinton, we were prevented from examining any sections of the rocks that
might present themselves along the route, and had again to ascend to the
table-land, in which the waters of the Cadron take their rise.
The aneroid barometer indicated an elevation of 320 feet above the
widow Goff's farm.
For two or three miles we again travelled through a fine pine region,
with a sandy soil, derived from the underlying sandstones of the millstone
grit series, but emerged soon, in township 9 north, range 12 west, on good
tracts of farming lands, watered by the heads of the North Fork of the
Cadron.
On section 13, township 9 north, range 12 west, samples of soils for future
chemical analysis were taken from this table-land on the farm of George
More.
This soil is especially adapted for the growth of oats, and will yield on
an average, 20 to 25 bushels of corn, 15 bushels of wheat, and 800 pounds
of cotton. It stands drought remarkably well, being based on a retentive
ferruginous clayey subsoil.
In digging wells in this part of Van Buren county, a hard reddish blue
shale is penetrated under the subsoil, which overlies the beds of millstone
grit. To the disintegration of these shaly rocks is no doubt to be attributed
the superior fertility of these upland soils, compared with the sandy soils
of the pine lands, which repose immediately on the underlying sand-
stones.
These table-lands are bounded on the south by a ridge, composed of
sandstone and shales, rising some 70 to 100 feet above the waters of the
Cadron. Two or three miles to the northeast of George More's farm,
dark shaly rocks are exposed. About the same distance to the north-west,
a sandstone region commences, overlaid by gravel supporting a growth of
stunted oak and hickory. This kind of country extends for about six miles
to the descent to the main Cadron, and the Greasy valley, which lies
about 230 feet below the table-land. White, grey, banded and mottled,
schistose sandstone, are exposed in ledges. The ascent on the opposite
OF ARKANSAS. 75
side of the Cadron to the same description of land is only 185 feet, which
indicates a dip in a westerly direction. A further ascent of *255 feet over
schistose argillaceous sandstone, brought us to a table-land with a growth
of black-jack, extending for three miles.
The upper beds of these sandstones are harder and less argillaceous in
their composition than the lower layers.
Oak and hickory are succeeded by oak and pine, which prevail to the
descent to the valley of Little Red river.
The declivity commands an extensive view to the north-west, with high
ranges of hills, both in the middle and back ground.
This elevated country is about 600 feet above Choctaw creek. The
lower ledges of sandstone appear here in a kind of pavement form, dip-
ping 40 to 50 deg. to the south-east, and checkered with segregations of
oxide of iron. Beneath this is a brown massive freestone, which would
make a good building stone. Still lower, near the foot of the hill, are
black, rusty ferruginous shales, the base of which is some 600 feet below
the summit of the ridge. About 10 feet lower, strata of flaggy sandstone
form the bed of Choctaw creek, having a south-westerly dip. This is pro-
bably an intercalated band in the mass of shaly rocks, which appear to
extend even to the banks of Little Red river, in the vicinity of Clinton ;
but since there are no good exposures below the flaggy sandstone of Choc-
taw creek, and the alluvium of Little Red river, we are left to infer the cha-
racter of the concealed strata from very partial out-crops, and analogy of
structure with other neighboring ridges of Van Buren county.
A few miles north and north-east of Clinton, some beds of coal are
reported to have been partially opened, for the use of blacksmiths ; these I
have not had an opportunity of examining, nor yet the coal on the waters
of Sugar Camp creek, said to have been discovered by A. J. Cristopher,
eight miles north-east of Clinton.
The summit level of the ridge, over which the Lebanon road runs, is 1220
feet above the town of Clinton, according to observations made with the
aneroid barometer.
No limestone is visible on the east side of this ridge, as you arise from
the Clinton side ; the lowest rocks visible are black, grey, and ferruginous
shales, surmounted by sandstone and conglomerate ; the order of succession
being very much the same as had been observed in the principal ridges in
White county. The descent on the west side reveals, however, under
these shaly rocks, Archimedes and encrinital beds of the subcarboniferous
group, which crop out along the bank of Lesley's ford, of Little Red river.
Associated with this group is a bed of black limestone, one to one and a
70
GEOLOGICAL KECONNOISSANCE
half feet in thickness, which, as the fossils show white, against a black
ground, will' when polished, produce a beautiful marble.
On section 12, township 13, range 15 west, the subcarboniferous lime-
stone extends to the height of 15 to 20 feet above the bed of Lesley's
creek, covered by the afore-mentioned shales. This is on the immediate
confines of the western boundary of Van Buren county ; the line passes
through the orchard of Hatchet, who resides on the banks of Lesley's
creek, at the foot of the mountain.
SEARCY COUNTY.
No 8.— KNOB OF SEARCY COUNTY, TAKEN FROM THE DAWSON FARM, ON FORREST CREEK.
Proceeding towards "Wiley's cove, in this county, from Lesley's fork of
Little Eed river, the Archimedes and encrinital beds of the upper sub-
carboniferous group gradually ascend to a higher level above the water-
courses ; so that there appears, beneath these, in Wiley's cove, a consider-
able thickness of hard, sheety, black, bituminous shale, which has all the
lithological aspect of the black bituminous shale at the foot of the foils of
the Ohio. But that shale belongs to the devonian period, whereas subse-
quent observation showed this black shale of Searcy county to be a mem-
ber of the subcarboniferous period.
OF ARKANSAS. 77
Immediately overlying this black shale is a black, bituminous limestone,
much of the same character as that already mentioned as occurring in the
Oil-trough ridge, and occupying very nearly the same geological horizon.
The section in Wiley's cove is approximately as follows :
1. Archimedes limestones.
•2. Eucrinital, and Chonetes limestones, alternating with thin shaly
partings.
3. Black, brittle, bituminous limestone, or marble rock.
4. Black, bituminous, hard, sheety shale.
The exact relative thickness of these beds, remains yet to be determined;
the two first members are approximately 50 to 60 feet; the third member,
some 15 feet ; and the fourth member, from 40 to 60 feet in thickness.
The superposition in Wiley's cove, renders it highly probable that the
black limestone of the Oil-trough ridge, is also underlaid by a black shale,
which is concealed, however, beneath the alluvium of White river, the
black soil of which is partly derived from it, and, in part, from the wash-
ings of the subcarboniferous limestones of the Oil-trough ridge. This is
rendered still more probable, from the fact of dark shales and shaly lime-
stones occurring under the same black limestones of the subcarboniferous
group in Shield's bluff, as may be seen in the section given of that hill, in
a previous part of this Report, under the head of " Independence county."
In the centre of Wiley's cove, the grey beds of Archimedes limestone lie
from 100 to 125 feet above the general level of the farms, and the top of the
black shale and base of the black marble at 60 to 70 feet above the same
level.
There is abundance of black chert, strewed in the water-courses of the
cove, which approaches very nearly to the character and appearance of
the black flints, found in the chalk formation of Europe ; these appear to
originate as segregations or concretions in the limestones, overlying the
black shales, which, being more difficult of decomposition than their
matrix, remain as gravel, while the imbedding rock, itself, has become a
part of the rich, black soil of the cove. This is derived, in part, from
the subcarboniferous limestone, and, in part, from the black shale.
The deep mud holes in the road which leads up through the cove, have
been washed out of and worked into the tenacious clay, derived from the
disintegration of the black slate, and accumulated at the foot of the
surrounding hills.
Haifa mile beyond Wiley's cove, the black slate forms the bed of the
Owl or Middle fork of Little Red river, with hard, heavy, dark, ferruginous
78 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE.
calcareous bands locally interstratified amongst the layers, exposed in the
north-cast bank of that stream.
At the crossing of a branch, five miles south-east of Burrowsville, the
subcarboniferous limestones alternate with sandstone and grey fossilifer-
ous shale, underlaid by some 50 feet of flaggy sandstone, resting on the
dark shales which crop out about half a mile down the branch, to the left
of the road. The gray fossiliferous shale, to the right of the road, lies
about 85 feet above the base of the flaggy sandstones ; above this are
alternations of sandstone and grey limestones, while on the slope of the
adjacent hillsides, gravel of black flinty chert is everywhere strewed.
Four, to four and a half miles south-east of Burrowsville, the sandstone
overlying the black shale has a disposition to split into rectangular, pris-
matic blocks.
At Burrowsville, the present county-seat of Searcy county, there is a
buff, flaggy sandstone, which is quite fossiliferous; some of the layers are
charged with casts of Producta. The rock has been quarried to a limited
extent, in the immediate vicinity of Burrowsville, and has been used for
foundations and underpinning to buildings, and in the construction of
chimneys.
North-west of Burrowsville, the black shale was not seen ; the descent
from the productal flags leads immediately on to chert and light-grey
subcarboniferous limestone ; unless, therefore, the black shale is entirely
concealed from view, the productal flags of Burrowsville must underlie
the black shale, so frequently exposed in Wiley's cove, and between that
and Burrowsville. A black slate is said to be exposed in a ridge west of
Lebanon, where there is an extensive lick ; this locality, I have not yet
had an opportunity of examining.
In the vicinity of Lebanon, on the north bank of Bear creek, are
perpendicular cliffs of cherty, subcarboniferous limestone ; one bed of
which is nearly white, and of a texture passing from granular into sub-
crystalline, with large Spirifers, allied to, but probably distinct from
Spirifer striatus, which occurs in the same position on the Rapids of the
Mississippi, above the mouth of the Des Moines, under the Archimedes
beds, and above the Keokuk cherty limestone containing Orthis crenis-
tria, which is superimposed on the encrinital beds of Burlington. 210
feet of these cherty members of the subcarboniferous limestone is exposed
on Bear creek; above the principal escarpment there is a slope of 100 feet
more, where only loose pieces of chert are visible amongst the vegetation.
At the next crossing of Bear creek, vertical walls of cherty limestone
are again seen, where they dip 4 deg. to 5 deg. south-west. Here the
OF ARKANSAS. 79
white Spirifer bed was found in place 90 feet below the top of the ridge
dividing the waters of Bear creek from those of the Buffalo fork of White
river; which is 360 feet above that stream.
In this ridge, 30 feet of sandstone was found overlying cherty limestones
of the same character, and, no doubt, a continuation of the limestones
forming the Bear creek cliffs.
Greyish-pink beds of this limestone extend down to the water's edge, on
the north-east side of the Buffalo fork, just above the ford on the road to
Carrollton.
At Spencer Adams's a Spirifer, allied to the cuspidatus, occurs in the
sandstone, at an elevation of about 360 feet above the bed of the Buffalo
fork.
No black shale was observed, in any of the sections exposed on the
streams, in this part of Searcy county.
A few hundred yards, on the north-west side of Mill creek, an abrupt
dislocation has fractured the strata and thrust up the beds of limestone ;
which may be traced, ascending the hillside, on the north side of the road^
with abrupt mural faces, resembling. a dyke of basalt.
Some lead ore has been obtained in the crevices of the subcarboniferous
limestone along this axis of disturbance, and some shallow excavations
have been made ; but these did not yield ore sufficient to encourage further
search.
The occurrence of this ore, adjacent to the axis of disturbance above-
mentioned, is, however, a favorable indication for the discovery of a regu-
lar lode, and more thorough and deeper explorations might lead to better
discoveries.
Where the Carrollton road ascends the hill, about a mile further, the
following section is exposed :
Slope, with carboniferous chert gravel.
White limestone, about 20 feet.
Encrinital limestone, 30 feet.
Eed and pink limestones, or marble rock, 15 feet.
Vein of ore containing iron and manganese ?
Coarse-textured limestone.
Variegated white and pink beds, some of the lower layers of which,
for 40 to 50 feet, have a structure similar to that of lithographic lime-
stone.
The strata exposed below the chert slope, amount in all to about 120
feet The summit of the ridge passed over is 470 feet above Mill creek,
but in the 300 feet above the base of the chert slope, little else can be
seen but gravel of this material.
80 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
Specimens of soils were collected from this county, on the farm of Albert
Dugger, near the mouth of the Dry fork of Clear creek. The growth is
black-jack and hickory, with an undergrowth of sumach and hazel. This
soil will average about 40 bushels of corn, and 25 bushels of oats to the
acre.
On the divide between the Buflalo fork and the waters of the Dry fork of
Clear creek, the surface is strewed with a sharp chert gravel, overlying a
pinkish limestone, occupying probably the place of the marble rock of Ma-
rion and Carroll counties. Limestones of a similar character reappear in
the descent of the ridge, towards the waters of the Dry fork, associated with
a semi-oolitic variety of calciferous sand rock, perhaps of silurian date.
I have, as yet, found no conclusive evidence to enable me to form a de-
cided opinion as to the age of the marble limestones of north-west Arkan-
sas ; but if they should, by subsequent observations, prove to be the repre-
sentative of the Onondaga limestone of the New York system, then it is
doubtful whether there are any rocks belonging to the iipper silurian divi-
sion in the western part of Searcy county, as the marble formation seems
to rest immediately on rocks of the lower silurian period.
Some sandstone is interstratified with the limestones of the Dry fork of
Clear creek ; but these sandstones are older than the productal sandstone
of Burrowsville, in Van Buren county.
The pink limestones are more earthy than the limestones occupying the
same geological horizon in the central portion of Van Buren county.
WW*
OF ARKANSAS.
81
NEWTON COUNTY.
•.>,"''\
j6Jli> V
No. 9.— ROUND-TO P PEAK OF THE JUDAH MOUNTAIN OF THE BOSTON RANGE, TAKEN FROM JASPER,
THE COUNTY SEAT OF NEWTON COUNTY.
This is one of the most mountainous counties of Arkansas. Several of
the most conspicuous peaks of the Boston range attain here an elevation
of more than 1,000 feet above the general drainage of the country.
The wood-cut sketch at the head of this section, represents one of these
peaks as seen from Jasper, the county seat of Newton County, and known
under the name of the Round-top peak of the Judah mountain of the
Boston range.
On the 21st of June, 18*58, I set out with the intention of measuring the
elevation of this peak above the Hudson fork of Buffalo, but was pre-
vented from accomplishing my object by a violent thunderstorm, which I
encountered about 07ie-third of the distance up this mountain, and my
limited time induced me to postpone its further ascent until the detailed
6
82 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
survey was undertaken. The encrinital and marble limestones are well
exposed in the bed of the Dry branch, near the foot of the Judah peak,
north of Jasper.
The strata exposed immediately on the banks of the Hudson fork of
Buffalo, below Jasper, are alternations of limestone and sandstone. The
sandstone has a peculiar porous or honey-comb structure ; on this rests a
lio-ht bluish-gray limestone. Near the mouth of this stream, a high escarp-
ment of sandstone and limestone forms a prominent feature in the land-
scape ; most of the ledges are probably of lower silurian date, but the per-
pendicular nature of this cliff, prevented a critical examination of the
individual members at this point.
Further down Buffalo fork, at the mouth of Cave creek, rocks still lower
in the series, but belonging to the same group, are exposed ; indeed, if the
hard quartzose sandstone, which forms the base of the bluffs at this place,
belongs,'as there is reason to believe, to the age of the Potsdam sandstone
of the New York system, then there is, at this point, a greater elevation
of the geological formations than at any locality in northern Arkansas ;
and we must look here for one of the principal anticlinal axes of Searcy
county.
By reference to a map of Arkansas, it will be perceived that the two
main branches of White river take their rise amongst these high peaks of
Newton and Madison counties ; the longest branch, deflected around this
great axis of upheaval, pursues a circuitous course through the latter
county into Benton county, and thence making a great sweep to the north,
traverses Barry and Taney counties, in Missouri, before it again waters
the State of Arkansas, in the northeast corner of Carroll; while the
smaller branch, taking a more direct course to the north-east, through
deep gorges of the mountains, empties into the main fork in the south-
west corner of Fulton. The geographical features of the country are
thus strongly impressed by geological forces, that date back to a period
long previous to the existence of the water courses, which now conform to
the contour of this disturbed country.
Lead ore has been found in several places in Newton county, as on Big
creek and other branches of the Buffalo and Hudson fork of White river ;
but the only attempt at tracing this ore to its origin in the rock formations,
was undertaken near the line between sections 1 and 2, of township 15
north, range 19 west, not far from the mouth of Cave creek, adjoining
Hill's mill-tract. At this place Jesse Gunt explored for lead ore, and
finally sunk a shaft of forty-five feet. He obtained some 60 to 70 pounds
of lead ore, but finally abandoned the prospect. He might have been
more successful, had he made search in the calcareous rocks that lie higher
OF ARKANSAS. Q3
in the adjacent hills, instead of prospecting, as he did, over the platform
of sandstone which forms the base of the bluffs on this part of the Buffalo
fork of White river, as will appear from the two following sections taken
near the mouth of Cave creek :
Heights above the Buffalo fork of White river.
545. Top of chert slope.
500. Slope with chert.
440. Loose grey chert in continuation of slope.
430. Reddish grey sandstone.
415. Reddish sandstone with chert segregations.
400. Reddish sandstone with stalactitic structure.
370. Chert masses.
335. Bench of yellowish-white sandstone.
300. Rolled blocks of sandstone under the above bench.
270. Obscure ledges of sandstone.
255. Hard grey siliceous sandstone.
250. " " « «
20°- " " " " in loose blocks in slope.
130. Hard grey sandstone.
90. Hard, white quartzose sandstone, rusty in the joints, but white inter-
nally in the substance of the mass.
50. Hard, white, quartzose sandstone.
25. " " « «
15. " " " «
6. Grey siliceous (?) limestone.
1. Hard, white, quartzose sandstone, possessing a sub-oolitic structure.
In this section very little limestone appears, though some ledges may be
concealed in the slope, since about half a mile north-west of the mouth
of Cave creek, the following section was obtained above the main plat-
form of hard, quartzose sandstone, which forms an escarpment on the
north side of Buffalo :
340. Slope with chert masses of 40 feet.
200. Bench of brown, ferruginous sandstone.
290. Encrinital chert and sandstone.
270. Bench of white sandstone 6 feet exposed.
250. Slope with chert.
235. Reddish grey siliceous limestone.
215. Grey. " «
180. Checkered calcareous sandstone.
84 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
The chert slope at 340 feet in this section is nearly on a level with the
chert slope of the previous section. This formation seems to cap gene-
rally the subordinate ridges from 500 to 550 feet above Buffalo, but there
are other ridges, off to the south, which must be nearly double this height.
The rocks°which constitute the preceding sections, have the lithological
aspect and chemical composition of the rocks which form the hills on both
sides of the Upper Mississippi, between the mouth of the Chippewa and
Black river, and around Lake Pepin, referrible to the age of the Potsdam
sandstone and calciferous sand-rock of the New York system.
Geology being decidedly a science of comparison and analogy, I may
venture to predict, in the absence of all systematic mining operations,
from my former experience in other similarly constructed countries of the
north-west, as well as from what has already been observed in Marion and
Carroll counties, in Arkansas, that lead ore will be found, to some extent,
in the rocks of Newton county ; but, in all probability, somewhat irregularly
disseminated in " pockets," " crevices," " strings," and horizontal openings
through the rocks, rather than in regular bodies ; hence, mining operations
will be attended with some uncertainty, and considerable labor and
expense; still, where the surface indications are encouraging, and the
calcareous rocks predominate over the sandstones, they maybe undertaken
by those having the necessary experience in rocks of this description, with
considerable prospect of success, so soon as the district is supplied with
furnaces for smelting the ore ; but not with as much profit to the miner as
in a cherty limestone, a member of the subcarboniferous formation, which
we shall have occasion to mention hereafter.
In consequence of the southerly clip of the rocks, most of the strata of
the preceding sections disappear in succession beneath the waters of Cave
creek, as we ascend that stream.
On the waters of Cave creek, about six miles above its mouth, a liver-
colored marble-limestone forms the base of a cliff, at an elevation of 10 to
20 feet above the bed of Cave creek, overlaid by cherty limestone. Several
nitre-caves have been formed by the disintegration of the liver-colored
marble limestone under the cherty limestone. The principal nitre-cave is
on the property of J. S. Thompson, on 'section 27, township 15 north,
range 19 west.
The dark brown nitre-earth, which forms the floor of this cave, is rich
in salts of nitric acid, owing, no doubt, to the large quantity of organic
matter incorporated with the earth. The nitre-earth has been traced for
50 to 60 yards back into the cave, and for 7 to 8 feet in depth, mixed with
tumbled rock.
Time has permitted, as yet, only a partial qualitative examination of
OF ARKANSAS. 85
this saltpetre earth, which shows it to he rich in nitre salts, associated
with abundance of sulphate of lime.
From a hopper of this earth, containing about 200 bushels, 1000 pounds
of salt-petre have been obtained, after being treated with lye, and crystal-
lized by evaporation in kettles, in a very rude manner. This would be
equal to about 5 pounds to the bushel. But it is estimated, that there must
have been a loss of at least one-third from leakage, overflow of the receiv-
ing trough during rainy weather, and other causes.
When the quantitative analysis of this earth shall have been completed,
we shall be able to give a more precise estimate of the per centage of
nitre-salts which it actually contains.
It appears that this cave must have been once the habitation of the
aboriginees, since not only bones of men, animals, and birds, such as the
buffalo, deer, and turkey, have been found, on removing the earth ; but even
the entire skeleton of an infant, enveloped in rags, and lying in a willow-
basket. The bones are frequently found under a bed of ashes. A polished
ivory breast dirk, with three holes in it, for the attachment of a handle,
and a long piece of rope, were also found in this cave, together with a
broken sea shell (Pyrula).
There is reason to believe, too, from these and other relics and appear-
ances in the cave, that it has been worked, to a limited extent, for nitre,
in the early settlement of the country.
The accumulation of organic matter, mixed with the earth of this cave,
is so profuse that it emits a strong ammoniacal odor, wherever it has
been stirred up and recently exposed by excavations. I infer, from the
presence of animal exuviae— one of the chief requisites for the formation
of nitre-salts — as well as from the approximate results obtained by the
rude method hitherto employed in the manufacture of saltpetre on Cave
creek, that the earth of the Thompson saltpetre cave contains a larger
per centage of nitre-salts than any of the nitre-earths hitherto reported
on ; at least, that part accumulated within 150 feet of the mouth of the
cave.
Beyond this, where the cave becomes low and contracted in its dimen-
sions, for a limited distance, the earth will, probably, not be found as
strongly impregnated with organic matter, and, therefore, proportionally
less productive in saltpetre.
This cave has several branches, which have been followed for some
hundred yards ; these may also contain some nitre-earth ; but as the floor
is covered with large blocks of tumbled rock, the underlying earths are
not accessible without considerable labor.
8G GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
A peculiar fatty or oily principle seems to be extracted with the nitre-
salts, during the leaching of the earth, which, according to J. S. Thompson,
rises in the form of a greasy scum to the surface, during the progress of
the evaporation, and is capable of saponification with alkalies.
The quantity of organic matter was too small, in the amount of earth
subjected to qualitative examination in the laboratory, to be appreciable ;
we are, therefore, still left to conjecture, from the accounts given of the
nature of this substance, what it may prove to be. If it is capable of form-
ing a soap with lye, as represented, we should suppose it to be one of the
oily acids ; but, as these are insoluble in water, they could not be taken up
by the water used to extract the soluble salts from the earth in their un-
combined state, as this fatty principle seems to have been ; nor do we un-
derstand how it could be so readily washed off the hand by simple water,
as we understand the substance in question to have been. Glycerine, it is
true, is a component of many fats, which, when set free, is miscible with
water ; but this is a basic, organic compound, which does not form true
soaps ; neither has it the greasy feel which the substance contained in the
nitre-earth is said to have. It is more probable that it may be some com-
bination of one of the known oily acids, with ammonia, which is soluble
in water, as a kind of ammoniacal soap ; from this, when subsequently de-
composed by the addition of lye, the ammonia may be set free, while the
stronger alkali, taking its place, combines with the fatty acid to form a
soap, which finally rises to the surface, when the liquor becomes sufficiently
concentrated. This is rendered more probable, since by the addition of
caustic lye to this earth, ammonia is evolved.
It seems likely that the animal matters, present in this earth, may un-
dergo a gradual change in their native bed, similar to that which pro-
duces adipocere, but resulting in the combination of margaric, or some of
the other oily acids, with ammonia, which is more soluble in water than
that substance.
We have several pounds of this earth still on hand, and may be able,
hereafter, to determine the nature of this organic principle, if it exists in
sufficient quantity to be separable, so that it can be subjected to the neces-
sary tests for its determination ; if not, we must trouble Mr. Thompson to
collect, the next time he has occasion to make saltpetre, some of this sub-
stance from his kettles, for future special investigation.
About a mile below J. S. Thompson's, an escarpment of silico-calcareous
beds runs along the western borders of Cave creek, the lower layers of
which, decaying faster than the superincumbent mass, have formed a deep
recess beneath overhanging ledges. One of the early settlers in this part
E— '
S
a
W
CO
a
OF ARKANSAS. 87
of Newton county, has taken advantage of this natural rock-house, to
make it serve as a roof, back, and part of the side walls to a house ; closing
in the south front with pine slabs, on either side of a stone chimney, and
cutting two doors and windows, he has managed to construct, at little ex-
pense and labor, a long, narrow room, about 8 by 30 feet, in which I found
two families, numbering 8 to 10 persons residing at the time of my visit.
Though somewhat contracted in the back part of the apartment, from the
sloping nature of the ceiling to the north ; still as the overhanging ledges
are sound and impervious to water, this half-natural and half-artificial
dwelling, I found more comfortable than many log cabins met with in the
Western States.
Plate No. 10, is a sketch of this rock-house dwelling, taken from the
south-east.
The primeval forest and vegetation surmounting the entablature of the
vestibule, reminded me forcibly of some of those remarkable habitations
exhumed by the enterprise of Stephens, in Yucatan, which have been so
interestingly and ably described by him, and beautifully depicted by
the artist Catherwood. Many of these, it will be remembered, had large
trees growing on the roof, and were often so completely concealed by dense
jungle, that they were only disclosed by the use of the machete, axe, and
shovel.
CARROLL COUNTY-Coht
INUED.
The marble limestone is well developed in the southeast corner of Car-
roll county, as well as in adjacent sections of land in Newton, Searcy, and
Marion counties. On Marshall's creek it is underlaid by a sandstone, mostly
white, soft, and possessing the saccharoidal character of the sandstone
observed under the cavernous limestones of LafFerty creek, in the north-
western part of Independence County, and no doubt, occupies the same
geological horizon as the sandstone represented in plate 4, overlying the
lead-bearing rocks of the eastern part of this county, and the western part
of Marion.
The block of marble sent from Arkansas, to be placed in the national
Washington monument, was quarried near the corner of Carroll and
Newton counties.
At a tan-yard on Davis' creek, I saw a slab of this rock eight feet by two
and a half, which had been got out for a currier's table. The predomi-
nating color of this rock is gray, mottled and clouded with liver-colored
spots and stains. This slab was dressed smooth, but not polished ; when
88 GEOLOGIGAL RECONNOISSANCE
wet it exhibited, however, the hues and appearance which it would pos-
sess, if polished, and gave one a better idea of its tints and the variegated
aspect of its surface, than could be obtained from an inspection of the rock
in its native bed. The coloring matter is due to oxide of iron, irregularly
distributed in the mass, and in that high state of oxidation and allotropic
condition in which it is but little disposed to unite with nitric acid, even at
a boiling temperature. At a future period, we intend submitting a chemi-
cal analysis of this marble limestone, which will give the per centage of
metallic oxide that enters as a coloring principle into the composition of
this rock, which may be regarded as one of the most valuable mineral pro-
ductions of this part of Arkansas.
It had been supposed, that oxide of manganese entered into the compo-
sition of this material, but the specimen submitted to a qualitative chemi-
cal examination for this metallic oxide, gave no indication of its presence,
although the test applied is so extremely delicate, that it will distinctly
indicate even the minute trace of manganese found in some specimens of
white Carrara marble.
The conspicuous range of hills, lying partly in Carroll and partly in
Newton county, whose northern terminus bounds the Marshall prairie, on
the south, is composed of two flanking peaks, and a central flat-topped
ridge.
The most southerly of these conical peaks is known by the name of the
" Pilot mountain ;" the northern one is called the " Stack mountain ;" while
the middle ridge has received the name of the "Boat mountain," from its
fancied resemblance to a boat, rising out of the adjacent prairie, like some
gigantic water-craft resting on the ocean.
The view represented by wood-cut No. 12, was taken on the edge of the
Marshall prairie, near the corner of the three counties of Carroll, Newton,
and Searcy, and exhibits the Boat mountain in the background, flanked
on the left by Pilot mountain, and on the right by the Stack mountain.
The indistinct terrace seen towards the summit of the Boat mountain
is formed by cliffs of conglomerate, partly concealed by trees and vegeta-
tion, and forms the highest bench of prominent sandstone in this moun-
tain .
The Boat mountain rises to the height of 844 feet above Marshall's
prairie, at the foot of the principal ascent, and 1,244 feet above our en-
campment of the 23d of June, on Marshall's creek. By computation, its
summit must be about 1,527 feet above Little Ked river, at Clinton.
Black bituminous shale is in great force at the base of the mountain,
extending 70 feet up the slope, resting on light-gray limestone, with segre-
gations or intercalations of chert.
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OF ARKANSAS.
91
The black shale has a slight dip to the north-east, which will reduce
the thickness from 70 feet— the height from its base to its highest observed
out-crop — to 40 or 50 feet of actual thickness. It has concretions of sep-
taria, both calcareous and ferruginous, disseminated especially through
its upper part, some of which contain a considerable per centage of iron.
There are also saline exudations of sulphate of alumina and sulphate of
iron, with, perhaps, some chloride of sodium or common salt; these attract
the game and stock of the country, which resort to it as a " lick."
The space between the shale and the millstone grit, that forms the top
of the mountain, is chiefly occupied by alternations of sandstones and
limestone belonging to the upper division of the subcarboniferous group.
The following section exhibits the succession, and relative approximaet
thickness, of the principal rock formation of which the Boat mountain is
composed.
SECTION OF BOAT MOUNTAIN.
I c
I o I
I o-|
4)
40
200
Conglomerate, forming the summit of Boat
mountain, 40 to 50 feet visible.
Sandstone of the millstone grit series, two
hundred feet in thickness.
The upper member of
the millstone grit series
is here pebbly, and un-
derlaid by grits without
pebbles ; all the members
together occupying a
thickness of nearly two
hundred and fifty feet.
These repose upon the
yellow upper strata of
the subcarboniferous
group, including the Ar-
chimedes and pentrimital
beds, which are, however,
mostly concealed by for-
est and vegetation ; in all,
about one hundred and
sixty feet in thickness.
Beneath these, are
coarser - textured, a n d
subcrystalline members
of the same group, occu-
pying a space of three
hundred and ten feet.
These coarse-textured,
subcarboniferous lime-
92
GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
SECTION OF BOAT MOUNTAIN— Continued.
d
CD
160
I L |
L | I
Sandstone of the millstone grit series, two
hundred feet in thickness — Continued.
Upper yellowish subcarboniferous limestone,
including the Archimedes and encrinital
limestones, with alternations of shale ; one
hundred and sixty feet in thickness.
stones are underlaid by
sixty feet of sandstone,
which repose on the
black bituminous shales
with calcareous and fer-
ruginous segregations
and septaria, which oc-
cupy a space along the
slope of the base of the
mountain, of sixty or
seventy feet. The cor-
rection for dip will, how-
ever, probably reduce its
actual thickness to forty
or fifty feet. This black
shale reposes on the
light-grey cherty lime-
stone, that constitutes
the base rock of Mar-
shall's prairie, which is
probably referrible to the
subcarboniferous era, be-
ing a part of the cherty
limestone group overly-
ing the marble limestone
on Cave creek, and else-
where, in Newton and
Searcy counties. It is
probable, that all the high
ranges of hills, constitu-
ting the Boston mountain
range of Newton county,
have a geological struc-
ture analogous to the
section here presented of
the Boat mountain, with,
probably, some local va-
riations in the relative
thickness of the differ-
ent members; since, in
OF ARKANSAS.
03
SECTION OF BOAT MOUNTAIN— Continued.
* I
4)
310
Coarse-textured, and subcrystalline mem-
bers of the subcarboniferous group ; three
hundred and ten feet in thickness.
many instances, conglo-
merate 'sandstone has
been found, either in
place, or in loose blocks
on the slopes and at the
foot of the mountains ;
detached masses have,
evidently, rolled either
from the summit of the
adjacent hills, or, at
least, from elevated po-
sitions on their flanks.
The black slate is, per-
haps, not everywhere
present as an important
member of the subcar-
boniferous group, since
it has not everywhere
been found at the base
of these hills ; but, being
prone to crumble to clay,
and being, no doubt,
sometimes locally reduc-
ed in thickness to a few
feet, it is then, generally,
completely concealed by
debris, and thus fre-
quently overlooked.
The scenery in Carroll
county, in the vicinity of
the Boat mountain, as
shown in the wood-cut
No. 12, of Marshall's
prairie, has much of the
same character as the
prairie landscapes in
Wisconsin and Iowa. It
is, decidedly, a fine agri-
cultural district. The
distant hills, and the roll-
94
GEOLOGICAL KECONNOISSANCE
SECTION OF BOAT MOUNTAIN— Continued.
/'.
<u
*-t
—
o
c.
0
n
u<
I 8
S S
I ■
I 8 |
8 I
CL | CL
60
Coarse-textured and subcrystalline mem-
bers, etc. — Continued.
Sandstone.
ing character of the sur-
face, together with the
interspersed groves of
timber, break the other-
wise monotonous ap-
pearance of some of those
prairie scenes. The prai-
rie soil, both of the Mar-
shall and Huzza prairies,
is derived in part from
the disintegration of the
subcarboniferous lime-
stone, sandstones, and
shale of the preceding
section, and in part of
the cherty limestone on
which it is based. Where
the soil is mostly, or ex-
clusively, derived from
the latter, it usually pro-
duces land supporting
stunted oaks, less rich
than the preceding soil,
and not so well adapted
for wheat, but excellent
for oats.
The descent from Mar-
shall's prairie to Crook-
ed creek, is 230 feet, most-
ly over chert derived
from the equivalent of the light-grey cherty limestone, that underlies the
black bituminous shale, at the base of the Boat mountain. Between
Marshall's and the Huzza prairies, 100 to 200 feet of sandstone was passed
over, interstratified amongst the limestone.
The ascent from the Big spring, on Crooked creek, to the Baker prairie,
is 270 feet. The light-grey limestone is here again exposed with segre-
gations of chert, and with some encrinites imbedded ; but the species were
not distinguishable.
One and a half miles south-east of Charles Hutchison's farm, the 'fol-
lowing succession was observed in a ravine :
40
CL
Black bituminous shale with segregations
and septaria.
Light grey cherty limestone.
Sandstone.
OF ARKANSAS. 95
1. Sandstone.
2. Chert.
3. Light-grey limestone.
The Pilot Knob, near Charles Hutchison's, has the same general geo-
logical structure as the Boat mountain.
Four and a half miles from Carrollton, the Archimedes limestone was
observed with remains of a dark shale over it. Under this limestone
comes in a sandstone, which has much the appearance of that over the
grey limestone on Crooked creek ; it is not likely that they can occupy the
same geological horizon, unless there has been a great thinning away of
the measures that form the base of the Boat mountain.
Some loose pieces of conglomerate were also seen between four and six
miles from Carrollton.
The descent to Terrapin and Long creeks, is about 390 feet ; in the bed
of the former creek, entrochital, cherty limestone was found.
Along with some yellow pyrites, which was submitted to me for exami-
nation by the citizens of Carrollton, there were some specimens of a blu-
ish-black scoriaceous ore, in some of which I detected a notable quantity
of copper. This ore was said to have been obtained in the Childer's
mountain, about seven miles west of Carrollton, on the waters of Corne-
lius or Dry creek. This ore has the appearance of some of the Duck-
town copper ores of Tennessee ; and, as I found samples of that variety of
Tennessee copper ore in the hands of the brother of the individual who
brought the ore into town, I thought it probable that this might be a sam-
ple of Tennessee ore, which, from inadvertency, had been mixed and con-
founded with the pyritiferous ores of the Childer's mountain. On this
account, and as the locality of this ore was then only known to the indi-
vidual who collected it, and he was from home, I concluded, as my pro-
posed route through Carroll county lay north-west, to request the Hon. W.
W". ATatkins, as soon as it was convenient for him, to visit the locality on
Childer's mountain in company with the discoverer of the ore. This he
afterwards did, and subsequently addressed a letter to me, dated the 6th
of July last, in which he states that there was no mistake as to the ore
having come from the locality, since he had now obtained specimens from
the mines himself, viz. : on south-west quarter of section 31, township 19
north, range 23 west, and had forwarded some specimens to await my
arrival at Little Rock. These specimens I received at Little Rock, and
have now had an opportunity of testing them for copper, in my labora-
tory, by the application of the reagents considered most delicate for
the detection of that metal, without obtaining any copper reaction. If
copper is to be found amongst these ores, in the Childer's mountain, it
can be only sparingly and locally disseminated.
06 , GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
Most of this ore sent to me, from this mountain, is a white iron pyrites,
associated with a hydrated oxide of iron, in which yellow iron pyrites is
diffused.
Where the Berryville road crosses the Childer's range of mountains, it
is elevated about 370 feet above Terrapin creek. The surface rock, at this
elevation, is sandstone, overlying cherty limestone.
In the gap of the Osage mountain, the sandstone must be at least 130
feet in thickness.
About 11 miles north-west of Carrollton, and three and a half miles from
W. Jones's, on the divide between Scott's prairie and Prairie township,
magnesian limestones, probably of lower silurian date, crop out, which
are separated from the limestone and sandstone of the Osage mountain,
by crisp chert. The upper beds of this lower formation have the same
earthy character and checkered appearance on the surface, as the strata
which form the lower portion of the hills in township 19 north, range 17
west, and on Fallen-timber creek, in Marion county, and are, no doubt,
of the same age. Some of these limestones probably possess hydraulic
properties. This change in the formations is accompanied by a corre-
sponding change in the growth, which consists of small oaks, interspersed
in groves on the hillsides, with a thick undergrowth of sumach and black-
berries.
Here, as in Marion county, numerous springs of water issue from
amongst these earthy, magnesian limestones, and, flowing down the slopes
render the roads wet and miry.
The crisp chert, which occurs on this side of Scott's prairie, has a differ-
ent lithological appearance from that associated with the sub carboniferous
rocks on the south-east side of the same prairie, and occupies probably a
lower geological position.
The hills about W. Jones's are composed of the same description of
magnesian limestones, and crisp chert, with some associate sandstone.
About midway of the hills, the so-called " cotton rock" is found: a white,
close-textured variety of magnesian limestone, which is used for under-
pinning the houses and building the external walls of chimneys. If placed
exposed to the direct heat of the fire, it is apt to crack and give way ;
therefore, for the inside lining of fire-places, another bed is preferred
which lies higher in the hills; this is, however, judging from its external
appearance, a purer limestone, and, though it may not be so liable to
crack by heat, it will certainly be more easily burnt to lime. Hereafter
an analysis of these rocks will be made.
Several intercalated bands of sandstone occur in the hills in this part of
Carroll county ; most of them are below the level of the " cotton rock."
OF ARKANSAS. 97
The formations here appear to be of the same character and age as
those in the lead region of the eastern part of this county, and the west-
ern part of Marion, already described in the first part of this Report; it is
probable, from this analogy in the two regions, that lead ore will be found,
to some extent, disseminated in pockets in the calcareous members, in
the same manner as it occurs in the Coka and Mitchell diggings.
Four of the most conspicuous hills of the Osage range, in the north-
west part of Carroll county, in sight of Berryville, have received the names
of the " Sister," " Grandfather," and " Indigo" knobs. The Sister hill,
nearest to Berryville, gave a height of 370 feet above the Berryville
branch of King's river. The summit rocks on this hill are the red, varie-
gated, and encrinital marble limestones; but most of the layers on this hill
appear to be too earth}-, and too prone to decomposition for ornamental
outside work.
The w Fire-stone " was found in place about 15 feet from the top, and
the ;: Cotton-rock" towards the base of the principal ascent, at an eleva
tion of about 70 to 80 feet above the branch from which the levels were
taken.
In sighting with the level, across from the Sister to the Grand-father
knob, a bench of rock was observed, cropping out about 80 or 100 feet
from the top, corresponding, in level and position, to the red, variegated,
and encrinital limestones that crown the Sister-hill. By computation, the
Grandfather-peak must be nearly 100 feet higher than the Sister-hill.
The succession of the different beds of rock, forming the hills in Prairie
township, as far as they have yet been observed, is as follows:
1. Subcarboniferous chert.
2. Sandstone.
3. Light-grey, subcarboniferous limestone.
4. Chert.
5. Encrinital, pink and red limestones; the place of the marble rock.
6. Sandstone; about 70 feet in thickness.
7. Chert.
8. Magnesian limestone and sandstone.
9. " Cotton-rock," a variety of magnesian limestone.
10. Magnesian limestones, some of which, probably, possess hydraulic
properties.
Three or four pounds of lead ore are reported to have been found adja-
cent to the town of Berryville, on land owned by Berry. The remarks
previously made in regard to the lead region of the eastern part of Car-
roll county, will apply also to Prairie township.
Five miles north-west of Berryville, on the Osage, is a locality worthy
98 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
the attention of the iron manufacturer. Iron is found here in quantities
which might be sufficient to supply a smelting furnace. An attempt was
made, in this vicinity, to establish iron works; but, in consequence of the
death of Belcher, one of the principal parties interested, the enterprise
was never fully carried out.
In the high ridge dividing the waters of the Osage fork of King's river
from Piney, the succession was as follows:
1. Cherty sandstone.
2. Encrinital limestones.
3. A great mass of chert, replaced sometimes by sandstone.
4. Magnesian limestones, interstratified with some sandstone.
At Stevens' mill, on Piney creek, the encrinital limestone is underlaid
by 60 to 80 feet of sandstone.
The soil, derived from the cherty sandstone, forming the summit of the
above "divide," supports a growth of pine.
On the ridge between Piney creek and the Dry fork of King's river, the
strata of the preceding section appear to have dipped considerably
towards the south-west, so that they lie lower in the ridges, and are capped
with white, subcarboniferous limestone and sandstone, overlying the cherty
sandstone of the preceding section.
In descending from these strata to the Howard farm, on the Dry fork of
King's river, a great mass of chert was passed over.
No black shale was visible in any of the sections in this part of Carroll
county.
The rock in the bed of the Dry fork of King's river, at Howard's farm,
is light-grey limestone and chert, at least 50 feet in thickness, and
apparently of subcarboniferous date; but, if so, there must be a rapid dip
of the strata between the Piney and Dry forks of King's river.
Some lead ore is said to have been plowed up in Howard's field.
A large spirifer was found in the limestone of the Dry fork, allied to
Spirifcr str talus, and casts of Orthis crinistria in the overlying chert, both
of which species belong to the subcarboniferous era, and, therefore indicate
the age of these rocks.
In passing from the Dry fork to the main branch of King's river, a ridge
of about 330 feet in height was passed over. At the base of this ridge, is
the aforementioned light-grey limestone, 50 feet or more in thickness; over
this is a slope of chert, containing casts of Or this crinistria, surmounted
by sandstone, which forms the top of the ridge, where we passed over it
into Madison county.
OF ARKANSAS.
99
MADISON COUNTY.
The continuance of the south-west dip, brings in still higher members of
the subcarboniferous group on the Main fork of King's river.
Five miles below the forks of King's river, there are alternations of
limestones and sandstones, with some shaly partings, all belonging to the
upper division of the subcarboniferous group. Fifty feet above the high-
est bed of limestone observed at this locality, there are some thirty feet of
shale shown in a section in a ravine. The lower part of this shale is black
and bituminous, and exhibits, in splitting, curious, conchoidal impressions,
in which, however, no organic structure is discerned; the upper part is
light-grey and encloses flattened concretions of clay ironstone. This
shale is overlaid by sandstones belonging to the millstone grit series.
Ascending the valley of King's river towards the forks, masses of con-
glomerate sandstone are encountered, which have fallen from the cliffs
above. From the forks of King's river, a high bluff is seen to the east,
with vertical cliffs of conglomerate and millstone grit, overhanging the
shales, under which are the sandstones, Archimedes, and encrinital lime-
stones of the- upper subcarboniferous group.
The soil of the valley of King's river is black and rich, from the wash-
ings it receives from the limestones and bituminous shales of the adjacent
slopes; but the same cause has operated to produce a miry road, liable to
be washed into deep holes, which makes the traveling disagreeable.
Both the ascent of the valley, and the southerly dip, contribute to bring
the Archimedes limestone and millstone grits gradually lower in the hills
as you proceed up King's river.
In the ridge, which divides the waters of King's river from those of
War Eagle and Richland creek, on or near Samuel Rags' farm, and about
a quarter of a mile to the end of the Clarksville road, a small branch
makes a perpendicular fall over twelve feet of overhanging conglomerate
sandstone; beneath this are about eighteen inches of shale, including six
inches of coal. I traveled fifteen miles from my camp on King's river, to
see this coal, in the hopes that it might prove to be a workable bed, but
was disappointed in finding it so thin; because a good bed of coal would
be of infinite service to this country, remote from a navigable stream, if
for no other purpose than that of blacksmith's use.* At considerable
labor a few hundred pounds of this coal were obtained, by taking advan-
*So necessary do blacksmiths find coal in their business, that they often go great distances and
haul a small supply to their shops, although it may be of inferior quality.
100 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
ta°e of the cavernous opening made by nature, beneath the cliff of con-
glomerate: already the bed is so difficult of access, back in the recesses of
the cliff, that even with all the height, obtainable by the removal of the
whole thickness of the shale, a space of only from 18 to 24 inches is
cleared between the hard sills of sandstone, to work in, and it has become
therefore necessary, in order to obtain any coal, that the workman should
lie on his side and work his pick in this uncomfortable position.
By computation, the coal under this conglomerate is at least 400 feet
above the valley of King's river. It is underlaid by millstone grit, suc-
ceeded, in the descending order, by a great thickness of marly shales,
under which are the Archimedes, and encrinital limestone and associate
sandstone. No continuous section was obtained where the relative thick-
ness of the different members could be measured.
In summits of the highest ridges, near the head of King's river, about
200 feet of red and variegated shales and sandstone come in over the
conglomerate. In this space, coals of workable thickness are more likely
to occur than under the conglomerate; and the inhabitants of Madison
county would do well to make diligent search for outcrops of coal, in these
higher measures. As yet, however, no symptoms of coal have been dis-
covered amongst these superior shales, in the south-eastern part of Madi-
son county.
Some pieces of lead ore are reported to have been picked up in the
valley of King's river, viz: in the Basham and Roebuck settlement on
Dry creek, three miles above Kingston; also by Burney, higher up the
valley, near the head of King's river. At the latter locality, the rocks
being mostly conglomerate sandstones and shales, which have not retained
that openness of fissure requisite for the retention of metallic insinuations,
it is not likely that productive lodes should occur, accessible to any rea-
sonable amount of shafting; at the former, where the underlying lime-
stone formations are nearer the surface, the prospect is somewhat more
favorable; but still I do not consider the geological indications, in the
south-east part of Madison county, as encouraging for mining operations
as in the northern part of this county, where the barren and cavernous
cherty limestones immediately underlie the country; the reason for this
conclusion will appear more fully when treating of Benton county.
From the forks of King's river, we ascended for several miles on the
western branches of that stream, and then rose 460 feet to the divide
between King's river and "YVarton's creek. In this ridge, the Archimedes,
pentremital, encrinital, and other members of the upper division of the
subcarboniferous limestone group were found in force, with intercalations
and partings of shale and marl, with some alternations of ferruginous
OF ARKANSAS. JQ1
sandstone, especially on the western declivity, descenling to Warton's
creek.
{. At Dotson's farm, on that stream, underneath these formations, a blade,
bituminous, sheety shale crops out, similar to the shale of Wiley's Cove, in
Searcy county, of which 15 feet can be seen exposed on the west bank of
the creek. This shale dips at an angle of 5 or G dcg. down stream, and
is soon lost to view under flagstones, these again dip under argillaceous
shales, including a fen-uginous, calcareous band, charged with the remains
of producta and chonetes, of which the P. elegans is the most abundant.
The ridge dividing Warton's creek and War Eagle, is 290 feet above
the former stream. On the top of this ridge, some GO to 80 feet of con-
glomerate overlies subcarboniferous limestones, shales, and sandstones.
The succession on Warton's creek and War Eagle, is as follows:
1. Ferruginous and argillaceous shales.
2. Conglomerate sandstone.
3. Shales, both black and ferruginous.
4. Millstone grit and shaly sandstones.
5. Shales.
6. Archimedes and pentremital limestones.
7. Black shale, thin.
8. Grey shales, including band of productal calcareous rock.
9. Flagstones.
10. Dotson black sheety shale.
No. 10, the Dotson black shale, is the lowest bed visible in this part of
Madison county.
Five miles above Huntsville, concretionary and schistose beds of Archi-
medes limestone form the bed of War Eagle, and a rugged bench of
harder layers of the same rock borders for some distance its north bank,
like an artificial wall. Some dark shales are intercolated amongst these
upper subcarboniferous limestones on this stream. Here the dip is south-
easterly, so that the flagstones and dark shales soon rise from beneath the
aforementioned limestones, in a north-west course.
The surface of some of the slabs, both of the flagstones and harder
shaly strata, is covered with cylindrical and conical impressions, often in
high relief, some of which are in semi-lunar whorls or coils. These are,
probably, referrible to various species of fossil fucoides, or sea weeds; but
the structure is so obscure that the inference of their origin is, at present,
rather problematical.
All the ridges passed over between King's river and War Eagle, had a
capping of conglomerate, which is separated from the Archimedes lime-
stone by ferruginous shales; these are, however, not as thick as in the val-
10.2 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
ley of King's river. The conglomerate has, also, a considerable mass of
ferruginous shale overlying it; and the associate sandstones of the mill-
stone grit series are also charged with oxide of iron; indeed, some of
these ferruginous layers appear to contain iron enough to be entitled to
rank as ores, and were they not too siliceous, might be profitably reduced
to iron.
A few miles south of Huntsville, the road is in many places strewed
with white water-worn quartzy pebbles, derived from the disintegration
of the conglomerate rock which lies in the hill above.
The soil here is generally red, from the quantity of iron washed into it
from the shales and ferruginous sandstones of the adjacent hillsides.
About 15 feet of black shale are exposed in the banks of the spring
branch of War Eagle, two miles below Huntsville. This shale encloses
hard and heavy kidney-shaped masses of carbonate of iron, in the center
of which particles of white iron pyrites are found, which have been mis-
taken for silver ore. Here, a considerable quantity of good iron ore could
be obtained, though not enough, by itself, to supply a furnace; but, no
doubt, other localities of the same ore can be disclosed, which, together,
might afford sufficient. In fact, the symptoms of the presence of iron are
so general in the rocks of this vicinity, under the conglomerate, as to ren-
der it a locality well worthy the attention of the iron master and the
owners of property. This mass of shale is covered with flaggy sandstone,
and is, most likely, the equivalent of the Dotson black shale and flag-
stone of Warton's creek. The strata dip, here, to the south-east.
A qualitative analysis of the water obtained at the head of Kimble's
creek, 4 miles from Huntsville, was made, and gave, as its principal con-
stituents:
Bi-carbonate of lime.
Bi-carbonate of magnesia.
Bi-carbonate of the oxide of iron.
Chloride of sodium.
Chloride of magnesium.
Small quantities of sulphate of soda.
It is a weak, saline chalybeate, possessing mild laxative, and tonic pro-
perties.
At our encampment on Holman's creek, 2 miles north-west of Hunts-
ville, the Archimedes limestone occurs in ledges on its banks, underlaid
by black shales.
The same limestone, with its accompanying shales, occurs two or three
miles from Phillips' on the road to Osage spring.
A few inches of coal are said to have been discovered some distance
OF ARKANSAS. 103
up Ilolman's creek, associated with tins black shale. The rocks, along
this branch, lie too low in the geological formations to contain any work-
able beds of coal.
On this same stream, about nine miles north-west of Iluntsville, the
road leads, for half a mile, through barrens with a sandy soil, followed by
prairie in which sandstone crops out about 10 miles from Iluntsville.
This prairie is bounded by wooded hills off to the south-west.
Proceeding towards the north-west, the Archimedes limestone and asso-
ciate shale are succeeded by chert and chcrty limestone on the edge of the
barrens; after which comes sandstone in the prairie. In the former, casts
of Orlhis crinistria? were found about four or five miles from Ilolman's
creek.
This cherty limestone, which belongs, doubtless, to the lower division of
the subcarboniferous group, has a considerable area in the northern part
of Madison county, and possesses the peculiar lithological character of the
most productive lead-bearing rocks of the adjacent part of south-western
Missouri.
Some lead ore has been found in the Moudey settlement, about four
miles north of Huntsville; if it had its origin in this formation, it is a
locality which should claim the attention of the miner, as will appear
more fully in the next section, when treating of Benton county.
This cherty limestone, containing a few entrochites, underlies the Brush
creek barrens, and the spring at C. Fitches', on the edge of these barrens,
and close to the line between this county and Washington, wells up
through the same description of rocks; these are analogous, and most pro-
bably cotemporaneous with, the geological formation that underlies the
barrens of Kentucky.
BENTON COUNTY.
In the extreme south-east corner of this county, along the bluffs of
White river, the barren limestone formation, of which we had occasion to
speak in the previous section, under the head of Madison county, forms
conspicuous cliffs near the crossing of the road from Huntsville to Ben-
tonville. On section 24,? township 18 north, range 19 west, (if this road is
correctly laid down on the maps,) a hard, sheety black shale comes in under
this limestone, having the appearance of the black shale of Wiley's Cove,
in Searcy county; but, probably, occupying a rather lower geological
position in the subcarboniferous group; since that shale underlies the
Archimedes and cncrinital limestones in the upper division of the subcar-
104 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
boniferous group, while this succeeds, in the descending" order, the barren
cherty limestone of the lower division. From SO to 35 feet of this shale
are seen in section, not only along the bluffs of White river, but also on
Hickory creek, about a mile to the west. At both localities, the shale is
overlaid by the barren limestone, which, on White river, forms cliffs of 80
to 100 feet.
I have never seen, in any of my previous surveys in the western states,
amongst the subcarboniferous rocks, shales possessing the solidity and
hardness of the shales of Wiley's cove, or those of the south-east part of
Benton county, which may be almost entitled to the appellation of slates,
though not durable enough for roofing purposes; in this respect, these'
shales resemble, in lithological character, the hard, black, sheety shale or
slate of the Salt river valley, in Kentucky, and at the base of the knobs
of Floyd county, Indiana, belonging to the devonian period; which slates
are the representatives, probably, of the « Gennessee slate" of the New
York Reports. The superposition and association will undoubtedly place
both the shales of Wiley's Cove and Hickory creek, in Benton county, as
members of the subcarboniferous group. The fossils found, as yet, in
these shales, are too imperfect, and too few, to enable one to judge, from
them alone, of the age of these Arkansas shales; we are, therefore, obliged
to resort, for the present, to order of superposition for a solution of °the
problem.
The ascent from White river, up the ridge, on the west side is 310 feet;
the road runs over chert, derived from the disintegration of the cherty
limestones, overlying the aforementioned black shale. In this chert are
found some of the disjointed disks of oval-shaped stems of platycnTms;
and at the Osage spring, the fountain head of Osage creek, it contains
Productus punctata, and the same species of reticulated, fossil corallines
which characterize the cherty limestone in the barrens of Kentuckv and
Tennessee.
The lands between White river and Bentonville, are mostly oak bar-
rens, interspersed with prairie.
Samples of soil were taken from Benton county, for future chemical
analysis, from the Hon. A. B. Greenwood's farm, near the town of Ben-
tonville.
The oak and hickory timber which has now sprung up on the borders
of the present prairie, is mostly of a growth as recent as the settlement of
the country; since the greater portion of this part of Benton county was,
before that time, open prairie, with, here and there, thickets of low bushes
\* est of Bentonville, there is a mulatto soil, somewhat different in its
character from that immediately around Bentonville, and very productive
OF ARKANSAS. JQ5
as most soils of this color proved to be in the analyses of Kentucky soils.
Water is generally obtained, in these prairies, at the depth of 20 to 25
feet, after passing through chert and red clay, such as underlies a consid-
erable area of this county. This underclay will, no doubt, be found an
excellent fertilizer of land; and entering, as it does, largely into the sub-
soils of this country, and therefore accessible by subsoiling, will be a per-
manent store of agricultural wealth to the country.
In the valley of Sugar creek, the black shale is again seen under the
limestone, and is in view at intervals along this stream, all the way to the
northern boundary of the state.
At Squires' mill, 10 feet of black shale is well exposed, with 6 or 8 inches
of marly earth between it and the overlying limestone.
The stripe of the geological formations appears, therefore, to run diag-
onally through Benton county, from Hickory creek, in the south-east cor-
ner, to where Sugar creek crosses the state line into Missouri.
Two and a half miles south of the state line, the limestone, over the
black slatft, contains large Spirifer striatus?
The succession in Benton county, so far as yet ascertained, is:
1. Productive and coralline chert, at the head of the Osage and elsewhere.
2. Cherty limestone of the barren limestone group, forming cliffs on White
river and elsewhere.
3. Black slate of Hickory and Sugar creeks.
The first and second members of the preceding section, are of the same
age and composition as the lead-bearing formations of the Granby lead
mines, in Newton county, Missouri; and there is every reason to believe, from
analogy of structure, both in the rocks and general surface of the country,
that here, in Benton county, as well as in the northern parts of Madison,
Washington, and western part of Carroll county, discoveries maybe made
of lead deposits, similar to those of the Granby mines, in Missouri; there-
fore, it may be well, in this connection, to record some of the facts con-
nected with the mode of occurrence of the lead ores in these mines, which
is, in many respects, peculiar, and particularly worthy the attention of
the inhabitants of north-western Arkansas; since it may be the means of
leading to discoveries that may not only enrich the owner of the land, but
develop the mineral resources of the country.
At the Granby lead mines, the lead ore has not generally been found, as
usual, in fissures and veins, with a more or less perpendicular hade, but
rather running in horizontal sheets between the stratification of the rocks,
and generally beneath the great mass of overlying heterogeneous chert
deposits, where it rests on the underlying limestone, which often possesses
oolitic structure, close to the rich deposits of sulphuret of lead.
10(5 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
The depth at which this junction of chert and limestone takes place, is
from 30 to SO feet. The average depth of the shafts, before reaching the
main deposits of ore, may be put down at G5 feet. After the shaft has
reached the level of the " Sheet mineral" a barrier is often found, which
has to be penetrated before reaching the heaviest beds of ore, known,
technically, by the name of the "bar rocks;" this is usually from 15 to 30
feet through; it seems to be composed of porous calcareous matter, in
which some sulphuret of lead, sulphuret of zinc, (black-jack), and bitter
spar, (magnesian limestone), is disseminated. After this barrier is broken
through, the miner reaches the " sheet mineral," lying, not perfectly level,
but waving somewhat with the irregular, corroded surface of the rock on
which it has been deposited, and mixed, more or less, with a " tallow
clay," either red or white, which is a tenaceous, unctuous clay, sometimes
ferruginous, in certain states of dryness cuts like tallow or soap. There
are, also, various minerals, either amorphous (i. e. without any regular
geometrical forms), or crystallized; such as pearlspar, bitter spar, carbonate
of lead, carbonate and silicate of zinc, sulphuret of zinc, with occasionally
crystals of sulphate and phosphate of lead, disseminated with the calc-spar,
the principal vein-stone accompanying the galena. The so-called " black-
jack rock," (i. e. a rock in which sulphuret of zinc is largely disseminated),
is considered a good indication of lead ore.
The material passed through in sinking the shaft, is mostly white chert
in displaced and confused masses. This chert is often light and porous —
almost possessing the structure of pumice.
Three tiers of sheet-ore have been successively passed through; that at
an average depth of 65 feet from the "grass," has proved, as yet, the
most productive. Ore has been reached, however, within 10 and 20 feet
of the surface.
The horizontal sheets of lead ore vary in thickness from a fraction of
an inch to 2 feet, and even, in some extraordinary instances, to 3 feet.
The average thickness may be put down at 6 to 10 inches. They are
often so rich that it is not uncommon, after a shaft has been fairly sunk to
the level of the ore, for two men to raise from 1,000 to 2,000 pounds, and
even sometimes 3,000 to 4,000 pounds, in six or eight hours. 30,000 to
50,000 pounds have been raised out of the Hopkins mine by 20 men, each
man averaging from 400 to 300 pounds a day.
At the Frazer shaft, from a quarter acre lot, 10,000 pounds were taken
out; and, from all the Frazer claims, up to the present time, comprising
10 acres, 400,000 pounds of lead ore have been raised. The total amount
of ore raised in the last two years is about 800,000 pounds.
The ore, as has been said, lies mostly in horizontal spaces, conformable
OF ARKANSAS. 107
with the bedding rock; but, nevertheless, there are crevices having a
connection with the ore, the bearing of which is nearly north and south,
opening occasionally into cavernous spaces, precisely analogous to the
ore-bearing veins in other parts of the state, and in Wisconsin and Iowa;
but these are either entirely barren of ore or contain only small quantities.
My impression is, that the lead ore once occupied these north and south
crevices, and was subsequently removed, in part or in whole, into its
present bed by a transposition, analogous to that known to minerologists
under the name of the pseudomorphous process, by which one mineral is
removed, while another takes its place, assuming often the form of the
first mineral, instead of the usual form belonging to itself. The term
" analogous " is used, because the lead ore here cannot exactly be consid-
ered to occur in a false form, or one belonging to another mineral; in this
instance, I believe, it only took the place of the amorphous rock; therefore
it was not infiltrated into a pre-existing geometrical mould, if I may so
express it, but had freedom of space sufficient to assume its usual cuboidal
structure. That it should be deposited like a limestone or sandstone, is
altogether improbable and contrary to the usual nature of such ponderous
and difficultly soluble minerals.
The lead-bearing rock is not very fossiliferous, but there can be dis-
tinguished the Orthis crinistria, Productus cora, and other fossils of the
cherty barren limestone division of the subcarboniferous group; not,
however, belonging to the Archimedes and pentremital group, as has been
suggested.
Though the profitable discoveries of lead ore at the Granby mines, have
hitherto been confined to about one mile square; still, they attracted a
population, in two years, of 3,000 people, to a section of land before
almost neglected, even by the farmer, and which now, with the unfavor-
able circumstance under which the mining claims are held, (being part of
a tract conditionally ceded to one of the proposed Pacific railroad routes),
has, nevertheless, in that short space of time, converted a wild prairie into
a populous town, full of enterprise and industry.
It should be observed, too, that the surface indications were no more
encouraging, at the time the mines were started, than they are in many
localities that may be pointed out in the above counties in Arkansas,
where the same formation exists and where the cherty materials, thrown
out from excavations for wells, cannot be distinguished from the rubbish
rock at the mouth of the Granby shafts. I may add, too, that, in all these
counties, surface ore has occasionally been found under circumstances
similar to that in which they were first discovered in Newton county.
But still the search after lead ore may be precarious, and lead to many
lOg GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
disappointments; since ore is only locally and not univer sally distributed
through the rock; hence it requires not only a general knowledge of
minerals, but special experience in this particular rock formation, to sink
a shaft successfully on ore, even though the miner may have surface
indications to guide him.
If the ore should be found in sheets, as in Missouri, the thickness of the
lead-bearing rock is not a matter of so much moment; but if it should
occur in veins or lodes, then that question assumes importance.
In the north-west part of Arkansas I did not find, at any one place,
more than one hundred feet of the cherty, barren limestone exposed; but
this is, probably, not its entire thickness. Jn Searcy county, solid cliffs of
more than 200 feet of this rock have been observed. In following vertical
veins through this rock, the black shales of Hickory and Sugar creeks will
be encountered; in this rock it is not likely that ore will be found in suffi-
cient quantities to be profitable to work; but this shale is of no great
thickness; 38 feet is the greatest number of feet I have seen exposed, and
it is not likely that the whole mass will exceed 50 feet. This passed
through, solid limestones will be again entered, in which the veins may
also prove productive.
The chances, then, are favorable for the occurrence of productive lead
mines in the north-west part of Arkansas, north of the boundary line of
the millstone grit and its underlying shales. This boundary line will be
hereafter described, and ultimately indicated by a colored geological map,
if the survey be hereafter carried through in detail.
Near the north-east corner of the State of Arkansas, in Benton county,
on Butler creek, black slate, the equivalent of that on Hickory and Sugar
creeks, makes its appearance on the hillsides in the barrens, under a low
cliff of white sub-crystalline limestone. These cliffs are surmounted by
cherty limestone, chert, and cherty sandstone, which underlie the flat
woods of Spavinaw, like those between Indian creek and Oliver's prairie,
in Missouri, south-west of the Granby lead mines.
A sulphur spring was reported to me on Butler creek, about five miles
east of Maysville; but not until I had passed half a day's travel to the
south of it, so that I had no opportunity of testing it.
Beatty's prairie, north-east of Maysville, is a perfect counterpart of
Oliver's prairie in Newton county, Missouri; the gently undulating surface,
fringed, like it, with groves of oak, small hickory, is also dotted with low
mounds, bearing tofts of rank weeds, and made up of isolated heaps of
chert gravel. These mounds are so uniform in appearance that they
convey the idea of an artificial origin.
In riding over this prairie, about 3 miles from Maysville, the ground
OF ARKANSAS. 109
Bounded hollow under the horses feet, marking, no doubt, the roof of some
cavernous space in the underlying limestone. It is not improbable that
this spot may be on the line of some crevice, and, if within the sphere of
action that produced the metalliferous deposits of Newton county, Missouri,
might had to sources of cotemporaneous ore beds. The apparent west
north-west bearing of the lead mines of south-western Missouri would,
however, rather indicate their course north of this locality.
The cavernous nature of the limestone, of this part of Benton county,
is also indicated by the sinking of a branch of the Corner spring, that
runs by the Burrow farm, beneath the surface, a few hundred yards below
the house on this farm.
The white, soft, decomposing chert of the barrens south of Beatty's
prairie, has casts and impressions of reticulated corallines, similar to those
of the corresponding formations in Kentucky and Tennessee. These
fossils were also observed, in greater abundance and perfection, near the
centre of township 18 north, range 32 west, in the materials thrown out
of a well.
The soil of this part of Benton county appears to be well adapted for
wheat, and, having a substratum of red clay, which, no doubt, will be
found to have fertilizing effects, the productiveness of the surface-soil, by
judicious management, need not be materially impaired, even by continu-
ous culture. This country is well watered by fine springs, that issue from
the south-west slopes of the cherty limestone.
The greater part of Benton county is, therefore, based on this member
of the subcarboniferous group, except in the higher grounds, where the
flat oak woods prevail; there the barren limestone and chert is"overlaid
by shaly rocks and a kind of buhrstone and cherty sandstone.
HO GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
WASHINGTON COUNTY.
The geology of the northern townships of this county is very analagous
to that of Benton county. The southern extension of the cherty barren
limestone is here, as there, the base rock of the country, the underlying
shales only showing themselves in the deepest cuts, in the extreme north-
east corner of the county, on White river, near Van Winkle's mill, and
near Blackburn's mill, on War Eagle. At the former of these localities,
the limestone is cavernous. Close to the Washington county line, but
probably in the south-east corner of Benton county, a salt-petre cave is
reported which I have not yet seen.
One of the most interesting features of the northern part of Washing-
ton county, consists in the noble springs, which gush forth amongst the
ledges of limestone, in such volume and force as to afford water- powers
for small mills, even at their very source. The Elm springs, forming the
head of one of the branches of the Clear fork of the Illinois river, are
one of the most remarkable of these springs. They are, no doubt, due
to the fissured and cavernous nature of the barren limestone, reposing on
its underlying impermeable shale. Atmospheric water, filtering with
facility through the cavities and rents of the limestone, is arrested by the
impervious shale beneath, and flows out along the slope of the southerly
dip. Besides affording convenient and permanent water powers, these
springs, no doubt, contribute greatly to the fertility of the lands in the ad-
jacent valleys, not alone by their irrigating effects, but by reason of the
large amount of carbonic acid and lime with which they are charged,
which must, undoubtedly, give a remarkable impetus to vegetation; since
they are two of the most essential fertilizers in all manures. One of
them, carbonic acid, is, in fact, the great solvent, or vehicle, which carries
nourishment to the plant.
In township 17 and the southern part of 18 north, range 29 west, the
succession of the different beds of the subcarboniferous group is approxi-
mately as folio ws:
OF ARKANSAS
111
s s
I I I
s s
1 1 1
s I s
I ■ I
s s
I ■ !
s s
I * I
s s
I ■ I
s s
I i I
200?
s s
l ■ r
s s
I - 1
s s
-
CII
CH CH
CH
CH CH
L L
40?
40?
35
40?
White, yellow and brown sandstones, some of
which have a cellular structure.
Ferruginous and dark shales.
Chert and cherty barren limestone.
Black cherty shale.
The first and highest
memberof this section —
the sandstone formation
— occupies the summit of
the ranges of hills adja-
cent to White river,
above and below the
mouth of Brush creek,
and will, doubtless, be
found capping many of
the isolated peaks, which
rise in various directions
out of the barrens and
prairies, on both sides of
the Missouri road lead-
ing to Springfield. The
second member underlies
more immediately those
south-east sections of
land, bordering on White
river, that are elevated
150 to 200 feet above that
stream, while the under-
lying chert and cherty
limestone form cliffs on
White river, near the
mouth of Brush creek,
and become the surface
rocks in the north-west
part of the county, in consequence of the rise of the geological forma-
tions in that direction.
This latter rock is, no doubt, for reasons already advanced in the pre-
ceding section, the source of the pieces of lead ore which, according to
the statements of many citizens, have been occasionally picked up in this
township and along some of those branches, forming the heads of the
Illinois river, which take their rise in the northern part of this count
This inference is further corroborated by the statement of William Ray,
that he had dug out a wagon-bed full of lead ore, somewhere in town-
ship 17 north, range 29 west, 6 to 8 miles north-east of Fayetteville.
Three miles north-west from the mouth of Brush creek, considerable
\\2 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
iron ore of the limonite variety of mineralogists was discovered towards
the base of the sandstone formation — the first member of the preceding
section. Most of this ore seen on the surface, in connection with the
sandstones, was too siliceous to make good iron; but it is not improbable,
that better ore may be found amongst the underlying shales of the second
member; strata which, being argillaceous in their composition, are more
favorable for the retention of segregated iron ore, free from sand. These
shales, seen in the slope of the road leading to the ford on White river,
at the mouth of Brush creek, have a ferruginous appearance, favorable
for the presence of ores of iron.
The soil east of the Missouri road is more sandy than that west, in con-
sequence of having received debris and washings from the adjacent main
sandstone ridge lying to the east.
It is not improbable, when the highest points of this range of hills come
to be explored in detail, that some of the members of the upper subcar-
boniferous group may be found, or even part of the millstone grit series.
Where chert materials prevail, harder and more durable than the rest of
the formation, they have resisted decomposition for a longer period of
time than the surrounding parts, and given rise to those isolated mounds
which rise conspicuously, in all directions, out of the prairie, when viewed
from some elevated position in the neighboring hills.
The low ridges bordering the northern limits of township 18 north,
rano-e 29 and 30 west, are composed of chert — the third member of the
section previously given — while the farming lands in the valleys, which
join them on the south, are based on the calcareo-siliceous member; i. e.
the barren limestone formation. The low ridges, 140 feet above the Clear
fork and the black-jack barrens, in the centre of township 17 north, range
30 west, adjacent to the Fayette\ille road, are of the same formation.
Near the line between township 16 and 17 north, range 30 west, sand-
stone ledges, belonging to the first division of the section, are in place,
restin°- on the underlying ferruginous shale. In the latter, some iron ore
was observed.
Approaching the town of Fayetteville, these strata dip rapidly under
the upper members of the subcarboniferous group.
Immediately adjacent to Fayetteville, on the north, ferruginous shales
are seen, dipping at an angle of 20 deg. to the south-west, underlaid by
a kind of amygdaloidal sandstone^belonging to the millstone grit series.
One mile west of Fayetteville, on the head of the Trace branch of Wild
Cat creek, black shale is exposed, containing abundance of good carbo-
nate of iron, which, with other localities, will go far towards supplying
the wants of a furnace for the reduction of iron. Over the black shale.
OF ARKANSAS. 113
with iron ore, is a variegated shale, on the exposed surface of which numer-
ous crystals of selenite or sulphate of lime are forming, no doubt, from the
mutual action of protosulphate of iron and bi-carbonate of lime ; giving
rise to sulphate of lime and protocarbonate of iron. This may be the origin,
too, of this latter mineral, so abundantly found in the underlying black
shale. The production of the protosulphate of iron, implicated in this
mutual decomposition, is evidently to be accounted for, at this locality, by
the gradual oxidation of sulphur and iron, the elements of iron pyrites,
abundant, even now, in these shales, and, no doubt, more so at a former
period, before the production of the above minerals.
This gypsiferous shale would, undoubtedly, prove to be a valuable min-
eral manure, applied to some of the siliceous soils, overlying the sand-
stone formations of this country, as well as to those located at the base of
the sandstone ridges, which have received the sandy debris washed from
their flanks.
The strata concealed in the slope above these shales, exposed both at
the Lick and on the Town branch, are, most probably, a continuation of
similar shales, underlying the Archimedes limestones, such as were after-
wards seen under that rock elsewhere in the county, as will appear in the
subsequent part of this section.
The shale beds, partly exposed in the drain below Cato's spring, proba-
bly overlie the Archimedes limestone ; this member includes a seam of
coal of one or two inches, of no practical value. The eight inch coal,
which has been partially opened for the use of the blacksmiths, lies higher
up in the hills, in shales, above the pentrimital limestone, at Cato's spring,
over which is the main body of sandstone, forming the upper part of the
ridge southeast of Fayetteville, including one or more calcareous bands.
On the Town branch, on section 20, township 16 north, range 30 west,
about 20 feet of black shale are exposed, similar to that at the Lick, one mile
west of Fayetteville; the former shale contains large septaria, both of
carbonate of lime, and carbonate of iron.
114
GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
1 CR 1
CR | CR
100?
Sandstone of the millstone grit series.
125?
Calcareous bands.
Sandstone of the millstone grit series, cel-
lular, and carbonaceous.
Shales, including eight inches of coal.
The subjoined is an
approximate section of
the order of superposi-
tion of the different beds
from the sandstones, in
the ridge south-east of
Fayetteville, to the black
shale, with carbonate of
iron, at the Lick, 1 mile
west of town. The ex-
act thickness of each of
the members I am una-
ble to give, until more
accurate measurements
and levels are taken to
the outcrop of the differ-
ent members, and correc-
tion for dip calculated ;
for the present, most of
the thicknesses are given
by computation from ob-
servations at different lo-
calities, rather than from
actual measurements at
one locality. But, we
hope, hereafter, to have
an opportunity of sub-
mitting a more complete
section, in detail, with
the absolute thickness of
the beds.
The sandstones, that
form the upper portion
of this section, contain
some remarkable and
very curious impressions,
composed of subcylin-
drical branches, radia-
ting from a centre, bear-
ing a distant resem-
blance to some fossil
OF ARKANSAS.
115
Fire clay and shale.
50?
~
* I
L I
Sandstone.
Pentrimital limestone.
Shales, including an inch or two of coal, in
the cut below Cato's spring.
sponges ; but less sym-
metrical, and without
any apparent porous
structure. They are,
most likely of vegetable
origin, and may, per-
haps, be referrible to that
obscure order of marine
plants, known under the
name of fucoides ; but,
if so, are entirely differ-
ent in form from any-
thing of the kind I have
ever observed before, or
seen described in any of
the works on fossil bo-
tany.
In the collection of
W. Washburn, I saw
some fine specimens of
lepidodendrons, which
have weathered out of
some of the higher sand-
stones of the preceding
section ; and imperfect
specimens of the same
fossil plant were observ-
ed by members of the geological corps in the adjacent sandstone ridges.
This is a plant which occurs in the millstone grit, but more abundantly
at the base of the coal measures.
It is a question of interest and importance, to determine whether any
portion of the upper sandstones and shales of Washington county can be
referred to the true coal measures ; since, in that case, there would be
hope of finding thicker and more valuable beds of coal in this county than
have yet been discovered. At present no coal beds are known of more than
18 or 20 inches ; except one, with a clay parting, in Mountain township,
on the head of the Illinois river, 6 or 7 miles east of Boonsboro, which is
about two feet thick; and those beds, at present known, in the immediate
vicinity of Fayette ville, in shales under the millstone grit, do not exceed
one foot.
i i i i
30? Archimedes limestone.
Shales.
Calcareous band, with pyrites-?
Gypsiferous shale.
Black shale with carbonate of iron.
116 GEOLOGICAL KECONNOISSANCE
On section 18, township 15 north, range 29 west, 30 to 35 feet of shale
are exposed, on the banks of Wood's branch, near Orion Rieffs' house.
In this shale, and 11 to 12 feet above the bed of the creek," a band of dark
grey fossiliferous limestone occurs, in which a greyish yellow iron pyrites
is disseminated, that has attracted no small attention in the neighborhood,
and has been' quarried to some extent, in the hopes that it might prove to
be an ore of silver. Those who had taken the trouble and labor to extract
this ore, were much disappointed that I could give them no encourage-
ment to prosecute further their silver-mining operations. The "Wood's
branch shale underlies the Archimedes cavernous limestone of the adja-
cent ridges, with, perhaps, some interstratified layers of sandstone, and
occupies, in all probability, a geological position corresponding to that of
the shale in the Town branch, and at the Lick, one mile west of Fayette-
ville.
The dark grey, pyritifcrous, fossiliferous limestone, contains bellerophon,
Productus corn; also a nucula and euomphalus, the species of which have
not yet been determined. This rock would take a polish, but from the
large quantity of sulphuret and protoxide of iron which it contains, would
be liable to rust and stain, if exposed to atmospheric agencies.
The succession on Wood's branch of the Middle fork of White river,
on township 15 north, range 29 west, is as follows :
1. Brown sandstone with amygdaloidal cavities.
2. Space concealed with shales ?
3. Archimedes cavernous limestone.
4. Grey and black shales, with perhaps some interstratified sandstone,
and including, near its base, a band of dark, fossiliferous, pyritiferous
limestone, and segregations of carbonate of iron.
The carbonate of iron is quite abundant in the lower part of this shale,
in the sections both of the Middle and West fork of White river, so
much so, that I believe sufficient ore can be obtained from the various
localities of its outcrop, to supply a furnace, in connection with ores of
the limonite variety, which can, probably, be found higher up over the
limestone.
The caverns in the vicinity of Orion Rieft's' have been formed by the
disintegration of the concretionary beds of the Archimedes limestone.
They are low and difficult of access. From one of these caverns, some
earth was collected for the purpose of examining it for nitre ; time has not
yet permitted an analysis of this earth, but its appearance does not indi-
cate a large per ceutage of saltpetre.
OF ARKANSAS.
117
9
i
—
c
r
■
a
50
to
100
40
to
60?
30?
Sandstone, underlaid by shale ? in all, 50 to
100 feet or more in thickness.
Archimedes, cavernous, and concretionary-
limestone.
Grey shale; pyritiferous limestone shale.
1 s
■
■
1 s
■
s
1 ■ 1
=r=:=^
1
'
i 1 L 1
*
i
1 L
«■
"■
1 L |
l
i
1 1
- 1
L
.1111
— ^— -^— =r
The succession of the
rocks on the waters of
the Middle Fork of
White river, is exhibited
in the accompanying
diagram, in which the
position of the bed of
dark grey, pyritiferous
limestone is shown, in-
cluded in the shales at
the base of the section.
Several so-called " sul-
phur springs," rise
through the black bitu-
minous shales, at the bot-
tom of the sections, in
the central part of Wash-
ington county. The wa-
ter of one, which was ob-
tained from John May's
place, one mile south of
Favetteville, was found
by the application of chemical reagents, to contain, as its principal
constituents :
Sulphate of magnesia, (Epsom salts).
Sulphate of alumina, a trace.
Sulphate of iron, a trace.
Bi-carbonate of lime.
Bi-carbonate of magnesia.
This water will act as a mild laxative.
County surveyor Ross informed me that there has been some difficulty
in running lines with the compass, in the valleys and along the spurs of
some of the hills, with what is considered the true variation in this part
of the State, of 8 deg. SO mm. The iron ores which I have seen on the
surface, viz., limonite ores and protocarbonate of iron, do not affect the
magnetic needle ; neither have ores of lead any influence on it : it is only
native iron, iron ores containing a combination of peroxide and protoxide,
in the proportion of about 69 per cent, of the former, and 31 of the latter,
and magnetic iron pyrites, containing about 40 per cent, of sulphur and
60 of iron, that attract the needle. Those localities will require, therefore,
118 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
to be examined hereafter for such ores, when the survey of "Washington
is made in detail.
Samples of the red upland soil of this county were collected, for future
chemical analysis, from John Rieffs' farm, on section 31, township 16
north, range 30 west, where the growth is white oak, hickory, overcup oak,
hackberry, walnut, box-elder, slippery elm, black ash, dogwood, and black
locust, with an undergrowth of papaw, spice, and large grape vines.
This soil is a good sample of the red uplands of the centre of Wash-
ington county ; it resembles the Cane hill land, but is less siliceous ; it
overlies, and has been mostly derived from, the Archimedes limestone and
its associate shales.
The ridge that divides the waters of the West fork of White river from
those of the Illinois river, is composed of the same series of shales, lime-
stone, and sandstone, as already described, at Orion Rieffs', on Wood's
branch. Here, however, the junction of the shale with the limestone can
be seen better than at that locality.
Near the bed of the branch that runs by Bryant's house, a pyritiferous
dark limestone is interstratified in the shale, similar to that on Wood's
branch. Twenty feet over this is the base of the limestone, which is about
25 feet in thickness. Eighty feet higher is the top of the sandstone, but
this level does not represent its true thickness, since the limestone rises so
rapidly to the north-west that it reaches the surface under John Tenny-
son's farm on the top of the hill, not half a mile from Bryant's.
A bed of coal of six to seven inches, is reported by Bryant, on the
Davis place, on the waters of the Illinois ; one a foot thick, at J. Phillips',
on the waters of the West fork ; a bed of 1 foot to 18 inches on the west
side of the Davis ridge, south of Henry Ross's, and also on Morrison's
place ; and a 6 to 8 inches seam at Curlis's, low down in the Boston range
of mountains. The outcrop on the Morrison place is generally considered
the best coal for blacksmiths' use in this part of Washington county.
Some of the upper layers of limestone, at A. Bryant's, contain a
considerable per centage of oxide of iron, and might come under the
denomination of Eisenkalkstein of the Germans. A black bed of lime-
stone is also interstratified in the mass of limestones, besides the band
included in the underlying shale.
Near the line between township 15 and 16, where the Cane hill road
crosses the head of a branch, a locality was pointed out to me where
copper ore has been supposed to exist. I could see no surface indications
to corroborate this opinion, neither do I consider the rock which forms the
surface, at all favorable for metalliferous veins. A much more likely
thing to be discovered in the rocks of this part of Washington county,
OF ARKANSAS.
119
fa
where they form synclinal folds or troughs, is salt. By boring a few hun-
dred feet, in some favorable position, it is highly probable a productive
brine might be reached. Such a place is the Clay lick, on the property of
Maj. John Billingsley, on the east prong of the Illinois river, near where
the mountain road crosses that stream. I tested water which oozes up in
this lick, and found it to contain a notable quantity of chloride of sodium,
or common salt, some chloride of magnesium, and only a trace of sulphates.
The succession, in the
ridge south-west of
where the road crosses
the East fork of the Illi-
nois river, is represented
in the annexed diagram,
the levels commencing
in the bed of the East
fork of the Illinois river,
and extending to the top
of the ridge, over which
the road passes.
On the waters of the
same branch of the Illi-
nois river, on Dr. Kuy-
kendall's place, a fine
L I. L
so
:iu
70
Soft brown sandstone.
A few feet of limestone.
Sandstone.
Ferruginous sandy shales.
Archimedes limestones.
chalybeate spring issues from the bed of ferruginous sandstone of the mill
stone grit series. This water has a powerful deoxidizing effect, instantly
blackening a silver solution, even without the addition of ammonia; from
this fact and the comparative small amount of carbonic acid present, it is
probable that the protoxide of iron present, is held in solution by some
organic acid. This water will probably be found to have valuable alterative
and tonic effects combined.
About a quarter of a mile from Dr. Kuykendall's there is also a sulphur
spring, which I tested and found it to contain, as its principal constituents :
Free sulphuretted hydrogen.
Chloride of sodium.
Chloride of magnesium.
Only a trace of sulphates.
Bi-carbonate of lime.
Bi-carbonate of magnesia.
This water, having more saline matter (particularly* chlorides) than the
water tested at Thomas's, 2 miles from Fayetteville, will be found more
120 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
laxative in its effects ; but it is doubtful whether its alterative effects will
be as decided, since the proportion of sulphur appears to be less. As
iodides are usually an accompaniment of chlorides, this water will proba-
bly be found useful in reducing glandular swellings.
At the blacksmith's shop, near the sulphur spring, I saw several speci-
mens of coal, found in this county, and obtained information in regard to
the localities of others ; viz., the Morrow coal, 14 inches thick, considered
to be the best for blacksmiths' use ; the Dyer coal, 12 inches thick, found
on the second bench of the Boston mountain, which is a heavier coal than
the former, but contains impurities ; Barnet's bank, about 11 inches thick,
on the waters of Cove creek ; and Store's bank, three quarters of a mile
beyond, and about the same thickness as that at Barnet's.
On Cane hill, close by James Mitchell's house, the Archimedes limestone
is well exposed, and is quite cavernous. One cave, near Win. Mitchell's
house, is about 180 feet long, and seems to have been the resort of bears
and other wild animals, in former times. It occupies precisely the same
position as the one which 1 visited near Orion RieftY. The succession of
the rocks on Cane hill is only a modification of the preceding section.
1. Fine-grained sandstone, 15 to 20 feet.
2. Limestone, a few feet.
3. Coarse yellow sandstone, 40 feet.
4. Greenish grindstone grit, 45 to 70 feet.
5. Archimedes limestone, 60 feet.
6. Marly shales in the bed of the branch.
The blacksmiths of Boonsboro obtain a coal from section 16, township
14 north, range 32 west, about three quarters of a mile from town ; it is 6
or 8 inches thick : this is the most westerly outcrop of coal known in this
county.
Some iron ore is reported in Vineyard township, which I have not yet
examined.
A bold spring issues at Boonsboro, from under a bench of Archimedes
limestone, 45 feet in thickness. The new College has been built on a
commanding point on the shaly sandstones that occupy the hill, immedi-
ately above the platform of limestone. Beneath these are dark shales,
succeeded, in the descending order, by an even-bedded, brown freestone,
very suitable for building purposes. The road to the Barren fork of the
Illinois river passes for several miles on this building-stone, which, being
often disjoined and displaced from the giving way of the underlying shale,
renders the road exceedingly rough. This underlying shale is of no great
thickness, and overlies chert and cherty limestone, which forms a mural
OF ARKANSAS.
121
escarpment on the north bank of the Barren fork, extending clown to the
bed of that stream.
The different beds and their order of superposition, from the schistose
sandstone of College hill, to the cherty limestone of the Barren fork of the
Illinois river, are shown in the annexed section.
i i i
i i i i
i i i i
L I
fa
45
CL | CL
CL
CL CL
CL
I
CL | CL
CL
CL CL
15?
40
to
60
Schistose sandstones of College hill.
Archimedes limestone over the Boonsboro
spring.
A modification is ob-
servable in this section,
causing it to differ from
those sections previously
given of the strata under
the Archimedes lime-
stone : it consists in the
introduction of the build-
ing-stone amongst the
underlying shales. Near
the Barren fork, the
strata have a strong clip,
9 to 13 deg. north north-
east and north-east.
The fossiliferous lime-
stone lies in a pavement
form, with a regular and
deeply marked system of
joints, having a course
north-west and south-
east. The most abund-
ant fossils in this rock are
Terebratula piano- sulc at <(
and planum-bona ; Pi •<>-
ductus cora and a Pro-
ductus allied to P. semi-
reticulatus ; a favosite re-
sembling the basaltica, but so deeply imbedded and firmly attached in the
substance of the rock that they could not be properly examined in place,
nor detached without defacing them in such a manner that the disposition
of the rows of connecting pores could not be seen so as to determine their
specific character.
Both Productus cora and Terebratula plano-sulcata were found, also, in
the overlying chert.
This limestone has marly and shaly partings.
Dark shales, 10 to 15 feet in thickness.
Freestone or building-stone.
Shale.
Chert.
Fossiliferous limestone.
Sandstone.
Chert and cherty limestones of the Barren
fork of the Illinois River.
Black shale ?
122 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
The rock which forms the immediate cliff on the Barren fork, above
Morrow's house, and extends down to the bed of that stream, is a very
rugged and cherty limestone.
Some loose pieces of lead ore having been found in the bed of the Barren
fork, some shallow pits and shafts were sunk in the bluff above, into this
cherty limestone, and about 100 pounds of lead ore taken out from amongst
the red clay and loose chert, some of which will yield 70 to 80 per cent, of
lead. Here we have a further confirmation of the lead-bearing character
of this barren cherty limestone formation.
This rock does not appear to be as thick here as further to the north,
since shale has been struck in Morrow's well beneath this rock.
Some " gravel mineral" has also been found in the bed of the Barren
fork of the Illinois, near the mill, six miles from Evansyille.
The fossiliferous limestone was again seen, three and a half miles from
Evansville, overlying dark ferruginous, and light-colored chert.
The succession in Vineyard township is, therefore, approximately as fol-
lows :
1. Fine-grained siliceous rock, approaching to the texture of whet-
stones in its character.
2. Limestone.
3. Shale?
4. Yellowish coarse sandstone.
5. Finer grained schistose sandstone of the character of grindstone grit.
6. Archimedes or other limestones.
7. Dark shale rocks.
8. Brown freestone.
9. Shale.
10. Fossiliferous chert.
11. Fossiliferous limestone with marly and shaly partings.
12. Chert, and
13. Cherty limestone.
14. Black shale.
All of these strata belong to the millstone grit and underlying subcarbo-
niferous group.
Soon after leaving Evansville, we ascended a high ridge, 550 feet above
the Barren fork, in the gap through which the road passes.
On the north-west slope of this spur of*the Boston mountain range, the
outcropping ledges of rock are mostly sandstone and subcarboniferous lime-
stone, with some alternations of shale. In this side the Archimedes lime-
stone was observed at an elevation of 240 feet. On the south-east slope
of the mountain an immense mass of marly shale makes its appearance,
OF ARKANSAS. \ 33
with some intercalated beds of limestone. The top of this marly shale is
230 feet below the summit. It is at least 100 feet in thickness, down to
the junction of this shale and an underlying bed of limestone.
The rocks are evidently much disturbed in this mountain. At one point
in the descent, a dip of 4 deg. south-west was observed ; but a short
distance further the dip was reversed.
CRAWFORD COUNTY.
Close to the spring, at the foot of the mountain over which we passed
from the Barren fork of the Illinois to Lee's creek, the Archimedes lime-
stone is in place, 260 feet below the level of the principal mass of corre-
sponding limestone, in the section of the north-west slope of the mountain.
There is no doubt a dislocation of the whole of the rocks of the moun-
tain with a subsidence to the south-east, which causes so sudden a depres-
sion of this limestone.
Associated with Archimedes at the spring, near the foot of the mountain,
on Lee's creek, occurs Agassizoerinus conicus.
Lee's creek meanders for many miles at the base of high cliffs and
slopes of the spurs of the Boston mountain range, which are composed of
sandstones, shales, and limestone, belonging to the age of the millstone
grit and subcarboniferous group, the strata gradually dipping down stream
towards the south. No coal has ever yet been discovered on this part of
Lee's creek, but near its head, 15 miles above Alfred Smith's place, a bed
is represented as occurring, and ranging from 10 to 12 inches in thickness.
Half a mile below Alfred Smith's farm, sandstone was observed dipping
10 deg. to the south-east, the Archimedes limestone being no longer visible
above the bed of Lee's creek.
One of the most remarkable features in the scenery of north-western
Arkansas is the " Natural Dam," represented in the steel plate engraving
forming the frontispiece to this volume. It is formed by a solid bed of
sandstone, from 6 to 8 feet in thickness, which runs entirely across the
bed of Lee's creek, forming a natural barrier to the descent of the water,
in consequence of the gradual dip of the rock up stream towards the north-
east, at an angle of 4 to 5 deg. being just the proper inclination to
dam the water back, and throw it to a sluice, that might be solidly and
permanently fixed to this rock wall near where it runs into the north-west
bank.
The log mill, seen in the frontispiece, is one of the rudest description ;
124 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
hardly capable of grinding 30 to 40 bushels per day ; quite insufficient even
for the accommodation of the immediate neighbors. The efficiency of
this natural dam, running, as it does, from bank to bank, with just the
proper inclination and a slightly diagonal direction, across the entire water-
course ; the solidity of its natural masonry, destined to endure for ages ; its
situation in the midst of a valley, which though contracted in its dimensions
by the mountain fastnesses that bound it on both sides, is, nevertheless fertile
and capable of supporting a moderate population : all combine to make
this natural mill-site an object of great interest, and its many advantages
would justify the erection of a substantial building, fitted up with all the
modern improvements in the machinery of a well-regulated business grist-
mill ; this would attract customers, not alone from the valleys of the differ-
ent branches of Lee's creek, but also from the neighboring mountains,
and more distant settlements, and contribute, perhaps, more than any im-
provement that could be introduced into the country, to attract fresh popu-
lation, and render the condition of its present inhabitants independent,
comfortable, and agreeable. Notwithstanding the continual wear to which
this member of the millstone grit series — more durable than its associate
beds — is continually subject, not alone from the mechanical force exerted
by the running waters of Lee's creek, but from the almost irresistible
- power of expansion, caused by the alternate thawing and freezing of the
water, continually permeating its mass ; it stands yet, a monument of ages,
bearing testimony to the strength and insolubility of the siliceous cement
that binds the particles together, and the stability of the individual grains
of which its substance is composed; and it affords, at the same time, a
striking example how enduring architectural edifices maybe made, if con-
structed of such freestone, judiciously selected, well built, and strongly
jointed with good mortar.
The ridge, passed over about two miles from the Natural Dam, is about
390 feet above Lee's creek, and is composed, so far as can be seen, of sand-
stones and shales of the age of the millstone grit; with, perhaps, a cap-
ping of some of the lower members of the overlying coal measures.
It is nearly of the same materials that; compose the high range of hills
above the town of Van Buren, which has a commanding view over the
valley of the Arkansas. From these heights, in a clear day, Fort Smith
can be seen, while the bluff opposite to it and the glistening water-line,
marking the bend of the Arkansas river, where it emerges from Indian
territory and sweeps past Fort Smith, can be distinctly seen at all times ;
also the distant range of hills, running from the Choctaw country towards
Sebastian county, including the House and Sugar Loaf mountains; with
the small prairie in the middle ground, which is said to be underlaid by
OF ARKANSAS. 125
coal.* The accompanying wood-cut [see p. 127] is engraved from a rapid
sketch of this extensive prospect, comprising the various objects above enu-
merated, taken from the above heights, north-west of the town of Van
Buren. At the foot of this hill, and in the cuts of the ravines immediately
back of the town of Van Buren, 23 to 25 feet of shale are exposed, the
lower portion of which, for ten feet, is black and bituminous. One hun-
dred and ten feet more of shale have been passed through in the well sunk
at Pennywit & Scott's mill, including, near the bottom, a small seam of
coal, reported 18 inches thick.
The strata immediately exposed, adjacent to the town of Van Buren,
are :
Sandstone.
Grey shale and shaly sandstone, with ferruginous segregations, 30 feet.
Black and reddish shales, 15 feet.
Blackish grey shale, with segregations of carbonate of iron, 15 feet.
Shales, including 18 inch coal, passed through in the steam mill well
below the town of Van Buren, 110 feet.
These shales lie no doubt at the base of the millstone grit, as we found
in the overlying sandstone, 150 or 200 feet above these shales, the same
curious impressions of plants (?) which occur in the millstone grit of Van
Buren county, near Theodore Goocllow's, showing the great extent and re-
markable persistency of this formation, as it extends through the northern
counties of Arkansas.
The sandstones and shales seen in section in the Ozark mountains, north
of Van Buren, have much the lithological character of the " Barren Coal
Measures" of the eastern coal field of Kentucky, in which schistose earthy
sandstones predominate ; but it is not improbable that they may be all re-
ferrible to the millstone grit, which seems to have an enormous expansion,
and to occupy great areas in the north-west counties of Arkansas.
Four or five miles north-west of Van Buren, in some of the deep cuts
where red and ferruginous shales are exposed, more or less iron ore was
observed, but mostly of a siliceous character.
The shales, at the base of the hills, bordering on the Arkansas river,
noted in the preceding sections, seem to underlie a great extent of country
not only in this county, but for a great distance down the valley of the
Arkansas river, in a south-east direction.
As limestone is a very scarce article in this county, it may be well to
take note that there is a dark grey, ferruginous, calcareous bed, that crops
out, not only near the sulphur springs in the bed of the Sulphur branch of
* This country, south of the Arkansas river, has not yet been explored.
126 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
Webber's creek, but on Baker's bill, 2 miles from the springs, and on a
hillside, 7 miles north-west of Van Buren and 1 mile from the Dripping
springs. This rock will doubtless burn to lime, and yield an article which,
though dark, will probably make a good mortar for building purposes.
It is very probable that this ferruginous, fossiliferous limestone may be
found about one-third of the distance up the high hill back of Van Buren;
for, being encrusted with a rusty external coating, it is difficult to distin-
guish it, in its native bed, from the associate sandstones. This limestone
varies from 3 to 8 inches in thickness.
The Penny wit sulphur water was tested at the fountain head. Its prin-
cipal constituents are :
Bi-carbonate of lime.
Bi-carbonate of magnesia.
Chloride of sodium, or common salt.
Chloride of magnesium.
Trace of sulphate of soda (Glauber salts.)
Trace of sulphate of magnesia (Epsom salts.)
A trace of free sulphuretted hydrogen.
The taste of this water, and the small, white, fibrous sediment, formed
in the gum log through which it rises, favor the view that there is some
sulphur in this water, combined either with some organic principle or other
substance. It will be observed that this water contains a notable quantity
of common salt ; this fact, taken in connection with the formation through
which it wells up, and the celullar nature of the sandstones in the vicinity
of the springs, renders it probable that, if the Sulphur branch of the Web-
ber fork of Lee's creek flows in a synclinal trough (as it very likely does,
from the dip of the strata being reversed towards the valley of the Arkan-
sas river), a good, profitable brine might be reached by putting down a
systematic boring in the neighborhood of these springs.
For further remarks on this county, see the Report of the Assistant
Geologist.
I . I III I f
OF ARKANSAS.
1*20
JOHNSON COUNTY.
01
o
fa
My own observations in this county, have been confined, as yet, to the
coal regions of the Spadra.*
The best locality for the examination of the Spadra coal, is a few
hundred yards above the confluence of Spadra creek with the Arkansas
river, on the property of E. B. Alston. An opening has been made there
into this coal, a foot or two above low water, where it can be seen under
a high bank of dark shales and over flagstones, which appear in the bed
of Spadra creek, with, probably, some intervening fire-clay which could
not, however, be seen, in consequence of the water that had collected in
the drift. This coal is three feet thick, including a clay parting of 3 to 4
inches, one foot from the bottom of the bed. The underlying flagstones,
in the bed of Spadra, dip from 3 to 5 deg. to the north, in which dip
the coal is doubtless implicated ; but the state of the opening prevented me
from making an observa-
tion for dip in the drift.
The annexed section
exhibits the position of
this coal, and its relation
with the associate beds.
On Spadra creek, no-
thing lower than the up-
per layers of flagstones
can be seen ; but on the
north bank of the Ar-
kansas river, under E. B.
Alston's house, the con-
tinuation of these flag-
stones can be observed,
resting on indurated, ar-
gillaceous shale, with
hard bands of sandstone,
extending down to low
water of that stream,. as
shown in the lower part
of the preceding section.
20
Dark, argillaceous shale, with scales of mica,
and containing segregations of an indurated
material, similar to the matrix.
10
Flagstones.
Three feet coal with clay parting; fireclay?
Indurated shale.
Band of sandstone.
Indurated grey argillaceous shale, with hard
band.
* For further remarks on this county, see the Report of the Assistant Geologist.
9
130 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
The shale that forms the roof of the coal, is considerably indurated and
of an argillo-siliceous composition, with disseminated scales of mica, and
includes segregations of a material not very different from its matrix, but
harder and heavier. Some obscure stems and long slender leaves or
glumes of some plant can be discovered, by splitting up the shale ; but
their specific and even generic characters are difficult to make out. The
dark shales, forming the roof of this coal, are visible in sections at several
bends of Spadra creek, for more than a mile above its mouth. From the
dip of the rock, there is no doubt that this coal could be reached by shafts
of reasonable depth, sunk in or near the town of Clarksville.
The character of this coal is worthy of especial notice. The approximate
chemical analysis here given shows it to be a semi-anthracite, rich in carbon,
and containing a small proportion of ochre-colored ashes ; with only 8.4
per cent, of volatile matter, including moisture expelled at 300 deg. of
Fahrenheit's thermometer. Its specific gravity is 1.335.
The approximate analysis gives :
Tr , .., , . o a j Moisture, 0.5
Volatile matters, 8.4 j yolatile combustible gases, . 7.9
_, 1 01(1 f Fixed carbon, 85.6
Coke> yi>b \ Ashes (ochre yellow), ... 6.0
100.0 100.0
This coal contains a far higher per centage of fixed carbon than any
western coal that has ever been analyzed in my laboratory, except some
coals* which I received from Arkansas some years before the commence-
ment of the survey.
In this respect, the Spadra coal resembles the coals of the Shamokin
basin, of Pennsylvania ; especially the Zerbe's run semi-anthracite ; con-
taining, in fact, 1.35 per cent, more fixed carbon than that coal, and nearly
1 per cent, less ashes. Its gaseous matter is chiefly hydrogen, as its
luminous property is so feeble as hardly to be distinguishable by daylight,
when this coal is exposed to a red heat in an open spoon. The existence
of a semi-anthracite coal in the west is the more surprising, since the for-
* One of the specimens of coal was said to be from White county, and most probably from the
bed mentioned in the section of that county. It had a specific gravity of 1.39, and gave by analysis:
Volatile matters, including moisture, 10
Fixed carbon in coke, ^"
Ashes, ^
100
Another speciman, said to be from the Petite Jean mountain, yielded :
Volatile matters, including moisture, 8.5
Coke, including ashes, 91-5
100.0
OF ARKANSAS. 131
mation in which it occurs is comparatively level, undisturbed, and bear-
ing little evidence of metamorphism or change by internal heat; while the
coals of similar composition in Pennsylvania occur, as we are informed
by Hayes and Rogers, only in coal fields and isolated patches, in the most
disturbed portions of the Appalachian chain, and are associated with some
of the boldest flexures and greatest dislocations of the whole coal region
of that State. The nearest rock of undoubted igneous origin to this coal,
at present known to me in Arkansas, is situated in Hot Spring county,*
some sixty miles, in a direct line, south of the Spadra ; yet, here we have
a coal, possessing all the chemical properties of the semi-anthracites, that
are usually found in the midst of the most striking evidence of decided
igneous action. The inference which I draw from these facts, is that, though
granite and other hypogene (nether-born) rocks do not actually reach the
surface in Johnson county, as far as at present known, they must be near
enough the surface to have exerted an igneous action, sufficient to have
permeated the strata, now found on Spadra creek, with heated vapors or
gases, that have expelled the greater portion of the gaseous matter ; or
else this coal has been subject to some extraordinary chemical agency, by
which carburetted hydrogen has been removed. It is hardly possible that
the Spadra coal can owe its present composition to any difference in the
vegetation from which it was originally produced ; since it would be, in that
case, a strange exception to anything previously observed in the bitumi-
nous coal fields in any of the States west of the Alleghany mountains.
But the peculiar fissured structure of the Spadra coal favors the idea,
that the volatile matter has been expelled by a process more rapid than
can be attributed to slow chemical changes, unaided by an elevation of
temperature ; since the escape of the volatile matter by heat causes an
expansion of the particles, and that severing the coal, gives it a friable
tendency. The Spadra coal, in common with the semi-anthracites of the
Shamokin coalfield of Pennsylvania, possesses this peculiar subdivision into
cuboidal lumps, indicative of a quicker escape of the expansible gases
than would take place under prolonged chemical evolution.
This question of a former subterranean igneous action is interesting, not
only in its relation to the influence it may have exerted upon the coals of
the Arkansas valley, but also, in its important bearing upon the metalliferous
character of the underlying geological formations ; since it is a matter of
experience, that rocks are more apt to be intersected by metallic veins in
districts adjacent to axes of dislocation ; and these are a frequent accom-
paniment of subterranean igneous action.
* It is likely that granite or some other igneous rock may be found in Montgomery county.
132 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
From the insight obtained into the chemical composition of this coal, by
an approximate chemical analysis, I am led to believe that the valuable
properties of this coal have hitherto been overlooked.
The experiments of Johnson, De la Beche, Playfair, Hayes and Rogers,
on different coals, as well as the experience in the East, go to prove that,
though the semi-anthracites may not be the best adapted for some pur-
poses', they have far higher heating and considerably more reducing powers
than the best bituminous coals ; and, besides, the semi-anthracites will
evaporate, in a given time, from 15 to 20 per cent, more pounds of water
than bituminous coals. It has been shown, moreover, by Hayes and
Rogers, that the efficiency of the semi-anthracites in these operations is
due to 'the total amount of carbon that enters into the composition of
both coke and volatile combustible matter, but principally to the amount
of fixed carbon to be found in the coke alone ; for it appears that the
volatile carbon, i. e. the carbon which escapes as gas in the form of
carburetted hydrogen, contributes but little to the actual heating effect,
since the greater part of the caloric, generated by the combustion of this
gas, becomes latent or absorbed by its change of state, from the solid or
condensed condition in which it exists in the coal, into the elastic gaseous
form it assumes during combustion.
Now, the analysis of the Spadra coal proves it to contain 25 to 30 per
cent, more fixed carbon in the coke than the best bituminous coals* of
Europe or America; and it even exceeds, by 1.35 per cent, that of the
richest semi-anthracites of Pennsylvania ; it has 3.83 per cent, more fixed
carbon in the coke than the celebrated "Parker vein," of George creek
valley, Maryland.
Of the forty-three coals reported on by Johnson, in his work on Ameri-
can coals, the semi-anthracite of Lyken's valley approaches nearest in
composition to the Spadra coal, as will be seen by comparing the following
approximate analyses of these two coals :
Spadra. Lyhens valley.
Volatile combustible matter, 7.9 6.88
Fixed carbon, 85-6 83-84
Ashes, 6.0 9.25
The composition of the Spadra coal approaches so nearly to that of the
Lyken's valley coal of Pennsylvania, that we may assume the practical
* A sample of Pittsburg coal, analyzed by Johnson, gave 54.93 fixed carbon. A specimen,
analyzed by Dr. Robert Peter, 65.30 fixed carbon in coke. A specimen of Youghiogheny coal,
analyzed by myself, gave 60.14 fixed carbon in coke. Johnson's specimen must have been an
inferior specimen, for the best Pittsburg coals always give a larger per centage of fixed carbon in
the coke than 54.93.
OF ARKANSAS. 133
properties observed by experiments on this coal by Johnson, to be very
nearly the same as those that would be found in the Spadra coal, if sub-
jected to the same tests ; I, therefore, subjoin some of the most important
characters representing the efficiency of that coal, compared with Pitts-
burg coal ; one of the best known and most generally useful of our western
bituminous coals.
While one part of Pittsburg bituminous coal will generate 8.2 pounds
of steam at a temperature of 212 deg., the same quantity of Lyken's valley
semi-anthracite, will generate 9.46 pounds of steam at 212 deg.
While one cubic foot of Pittsburg coal will generate 384 pounds of
steam, one cubic foot of Lyken's valley semi-anthracite will generate 459
pounds of steam.
The reducing power of semi-anthracites is considerably greater than
that of bituminous coal ; as is shown by the relative amounts of litharge
reduced to lead by these same coals: 28.89 parts being reduced by Pitts-
burg coal, while 32.6 are reduced by the same quantity of Lyken's valley
semi-anthracite.
The Spadra coal resembles still more closely the Zerbe's run coal of the
Shamokin coal field of Pennsylvania, as will be seen by the annexed com-
parative approximate analyses :
Spadra. Zerbes run.
Volatile combustible matter, 7.90 7.31
Fixed carbon, 85.6 84.25
Ashes, 6.0 6.11
Hayes and Eogers estimate the water evaporated at 212 deg., by 1 pound
Zerbe's run coal, at 9.58 pounds. The rate of evaporation per hour, to one
square foot of grate, is 88.92, while the average for bituminous coal is 70.92
under the same circumstances.
The combined evaporative power and speed for the Zerbe's run semi-an-
thracite are represented by the numbers 4777.4, while taking equal bulks
of the averages of bituminous coals, under the same circumstances, the
numbers would be 3456.0.
These semi-anthracites burn after the manner of the natural coke of
Virginia, throwing out, when fully ignited, an intense heat, accompanied
by a blue flame.
They require, it is true, a tolerably strong draft to bring them into full
combustion, and, therefore, are perhaps not so suitable for open grates as
the more inflammable bituminous coals, requiring usually the addition of
blowers to increase the current of air passing through the grate, until the
134
GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
fire is fairly started ; and this is probably the reason why these coals, when
first introduced into the eastern cities, were rejected as altogether unman-
ageable and impracticable. Now, even the harder anthracites are in com-
mon use in Philadelphia and New York for heating apartments, and some-
times in open grates, with temporary blowers ; and it is now universally
admitted that, for forges, rolling mills, and blast furnaces for the manufac-
ture of iron, the semi-anthracites are unsurpassed.
No. 11— PART OF THE BOSTON MOUNTAIN RANGE, NEWTON COUNTY.
OF ARKANSAS. 135
GENERAL SUMMARY, INFERENCES, AND REMARKS IN
CONCLUSION.
The three leading formations of the northern counties of Arkansas, west
of Black river to the Indian boundary, and north of the Arkansas river,
are:
First. The millstone grit, with its associate shales, and conglomerate.
Second. The subcarboniferous limestone, and its associate chert, shales,
and sandstones.
Third. The magnesian limestones, and their associate sandstones, cal-
ciferous sandrocks, and chert, belonging to the lower silurian period.
The formation known in Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee, under the
name of the knob sandstone, is absent, or only very obscurely represented.
It is doubtful, too, whether the grey and black bituminous shales and
slates, belonging to the devonian period, are to be found in Arkansas.
There are a few encrinital and variegated limestones and associated chert,
which intervene between the magnesian limestones of lower silurian date
and the subcarboniferous chert and limestones ; these may belong to the
devonian era, but, as yet, I have no positive evidence to decide fully this
question.
No rocks have yet come under observation which I have been able to
refer unequivocally to the upper silurian period, such as occur in Jefferson
county, Kentucky1, Clarke county, Indiana, and elsewhere in these State-.
under the coralline beds of the falls of the Ohio.
East of Black river, in Greene, Poinsett, and Randolph counties, inco-
herent sands, loose and cemented gravel, and clays of quaternary date,
prevail.
No crystalline* or hypogene rocks, i. e., no rocks which have been
protruded from beneath, as mountain masses, dykes, or veins, possessing
the structure of granite or syenite, have been observed, as yet, by the
* A red granite is reported on Spavinaw creek, near the Cherokee line. Whether this be correct
information, I am, at present, unable to say, as I have not examined the locality.
130 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
geological corps, north of the Arkansas river : i. e., in the part of the State
on which I am noiv reporting.
Arkansas is destined, I believe, to take the lead of all the Western
States, in her resources in ores of zinc and manganese.
The magnesian limestone, belonging to the lower Silurian period, seems
to be the great repository of the zinc ore, of which there are three princi-
pal varieties : the pure carbonate of zinc — the calamine or smithsonite of
mineralogists — the silicate of zinc or electric calamine — and the sulphuret
of zinc or blende (black-jack of the miner).
The analyses of these ores prove them to be at least as rich as, if not
richer and purer than, the zinc ores of the most noted localities in Europe ;
and there is no reason why they should not be worked with profit to the
miner and smelter, as well as with benefit to the State of Arkansas in
particular, and to the United States in general.
The manganese ores have, chiefly, been found in the cavernous sub-
carboniferous limestones. These ores appear to be very abundant. A
compact variety, allied to psilomelane, is the kind which I found most
common on the surface, but there are other softer varieties, which have
proved, on analysis, to compare favorably with those of Thuringia, the
most celebrated European locality.
Arkansas promises, also, to aftbrd considerable lead ore, which occurs
both in the magnesian limestones of lower silurian date, and in the sub-
carboniferous limestones ; also in the slates of the base of the millstone
grit, where these border on the confines of the granite region of Pulaski
county.
The lead ore in this latter position is rich in silver, probably more so
than the argentiferous galenas of Europe, which have been wrought to
any extent. The only ore, which has been cupelled in my laboratory,
that surpasses it in the per eentage of contained silver, is some of the
steel-grey, finely crystalline argentiferous galena from Villeport, near
Lozere, in France.
Fragments of a porous lead ore, picked up among the rubbish at the
mouth of one of the shafts in Pulaski county, yielded by cupellation from
the reduced lead, at the rate of 224 ounces from the ton of 2,000 pounds ;
and a specimen of a bright, steel-grey ore, finely crystalline in its struc-
ture, from the same mines, obtained in Little Rock, gave as much as 339.2
ounces to the ton of 2,000 pounds.
The cherty limestone, which underlies the barrens and prairies of the
north-west part of the State, promises to afford rich deposits of lead ore, as
the geological formation is a complete counterpart of that around the
already famous lead mines of Granby, in -Newton county, Missouri.
OF ARKANSAS. 137
The lead region in the lower magnesian limestones, bears more of the
character of those in Taney county, Missouri.
Iron ore promises to be abundant in all the three leading formations;
especially in Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Lawrence, Madison, Washington,
and Benton.
Near the junction of the subcarboniferous limestones and the saccharoi-
dal sandstone, overlying the lower magnesian limestones, there are encri-
nital, mottled, and variegated limestones, which take a good polish, and
will make, at many localities, a fine marble rock, particularly near the cor-
ner of Carroll, Newton, and Searcy counties.
The best and thickest coal, which I have yet seen in Arkansas, is the
Spadra coal of Johnson county. It is a semi-anthracite, even richer in
fixed carbon than the celebrated Zerbe's run coal of the Shamokin coal
field of Pennsylvania, and is superior, for manufacturing purposes, to any
western coal at present known, where durability, intense heat and reduc-
tion are required. Its thickness is three feet. It crops out close to the
Arkansas river above the mouth of Spadra creek, and extends back into
the interior of Johnson county.
During the geological survey of Northern Arkansas, I have been strongly
impressed with two facts : one is the vast extent, both vertically and super-
ficially, of the millstone grits and the associate shales. There are eight
whole counties that are already known to be almost entirely occupied by
this formation ; besides a large portion of six other counties ; the other is
the immense quantity of silex, in the shape of chert, buhrstone, and chal-
cedonic flint, irregularly mixed and segregated amongst the rocks, espe-
cially the limestones ; or diffused as quartz, in veins, amongst the sand-
stones. I have travelled for days and weeks upon these siliceous forma-
tions, both amongst the rocks of subcarboniferous and lower silurian date.
It remains for me to define approximately the general boundary between
the millstone grit and the subcarboniferous limestones, since it is north
and west of that line that the lead and zinc ores are accessible for mining,
within reasonable depths, excepting, indeed, those deposits in Pulaski
county which border on the region of the igneous rocks.
Commencing on White river, on Shield's bluff, where the old Cherokee
boundary line strikes that stream, it runs nearly west, through the south-
ern tier of townships in Izard county ; thence, it preserves the same wes-
terly course through the northern tier of townships, in Van Buren county,
bearing more to the north-west ; thence it meanders with the highest ranges
of the Boston mountain, in the southern part of Newton and the central
part of Madison county, towards Fayetteville, in Washington county ;
|38 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
thence diverging to the south, it reaches the Indian boundary line, in the
south-west corner of that county.
Its southern limits cannot yet be defined, since this formation extends
south of the Arkansas river, beyond the range of our present geological
reconnoissance.
All the accessible veins and deposits of lead, zinc, and manganese ores,
at present known, are situated to the north of this line ; they doubtless
extend beneath a portion of the area occupied by the millstone grit ; but,
probably, are too deeply seated in the midst of the high mountainous dis-
trict, south of this line, to be reached by the miner, except near the valley
of the Arkansas river in Pulaski county.
The coal beds interstratified amongst the beds of the millstone grit, are
too thin to be worked profitably by drifts.
Where the porous sandstones of the millstone grit form synclinal troughs
under the drainage of the country, there are favorable positions for reach-
ing productive brines by boring. Several of these saline troughs seem to
exist, six to twelve miles north of the Arkansas river, in Crawford, Frank-
lin, Johnson, and Conway counties.
Large quantities of iron are disseminated amongst the beds of the mill-
stone grit,'; when associated with the sandstones of that formation, it is
generally too sandy to be smelted with profit and advantage ; but the under-
lying ferruginous shale in many places offers encouragement for the search
of the iron manufacturer, as for instance, at the Dwight Old Mission, in
Pope county ; on War Eagle, in Madison county; and the centre of Wash-
ington county. The bog iron ore of Pulaski county, 8 miles north-east of
Little Rock, promises to be sufficiently extensive to supply a furnace, ac-
cording to the report of the Assistant Geologist.
The time allotted for working up and reporting on the materials which
have been collected during the field work of this and the preceding season,
has been too short to admit of the full digest, due consideration, and minute
analysis of all the subjects and specimens now on record, and in the office
of the Arkansas survey ; we have, in fact, only been able to make a com-
mencement towards a thorough investigation of even the resources now
within our reach. If the means are provided, we hope, hereafter to be able
to complete this important, interesting, and useful work, begun under such
favorable auspices.
If the survey is continued, it would be desirable to put at least three
corps in the field, in order to carry forward the work as rapidly as possi-
ble. For that purpose, the geological appropriation should be equal to
that in Missouri ; that is, twelve thousand dollars ($12,000) per annum.
OF ARKANSAS. 139
With this amount, the geological reconnoissance of the rest of the State
could be completed in the next two years, and considerable progress made,
at the same time, towards surveying the mineral districts in detail.
As one of the great ulterior objects of the geological survey of the State,
is the construction of a geological map, in which the areas of the geolo-
gical formations can be distinctly laid down, and their boundaries accu-
rately defined, it will become necessary, particularly through the country
bordering on the confines of two geological formations, as well as in the
mineral districts, to define the ridges, hills, and mountain ranges, on sec-
tional maps, since the limits of formations often conform to, and are inti-
mately connected with, the relief and topography of the country. The
law authorizing a geological survey of the State, in detail, should, there-
fore, provide that the geologist have access to all sectional, county, and
other maps, records and profiles of railroads and other surveys, so as to
afford him every facility in laying down such topographical and geo-
graphical details, as may be necessary for the accurate exhibition of the
geology of the State. It may become necessary, too, at the same time, to
run a judicious system of levels in connection with lines of odometer mea-
surements over parts of the country, in order to define with accuracy the
elements of dip, the thickness of the formations and their individual mem-
bers, and to form a basis of calculation for identifying equivalent beds,
estimating the depth or height at which any known bed of coal, iron ore,
or other valuable mineral deposit, can be found, when concealed by debris,
or carried by the inclination of the strata beneath the water courses.
This can all be done if adequate means, are furnished, and it is only by
the adoption of such a system of operations, that a complete detailed sur-
vey of the State can be made.
I may add, in this connection, that, without exceeding the appropriation
above named, and with very little additional expense over and above
what must necessarily be expended, otherwise, in the various geological
departments, a botanical survey of the State could be instituted, if con-
sidered advisable, without organizing a corps for that branch alone ; and
many useful items could, in the same way, be gathered in other depart-
ments of the natural history of the State of Arkansas.
The chemical department is already well organized, so that, if the con-
tinuance of the survey be provided for, the chemical work can be carried
forward, with despatch, upon the same plan as heretofore provided for.
In carrying out such an important work as this, the palseontological
department must, of course, not be neglected; that is, the collection of
the organic remains or fossils of the different rocks, and the ultimate
determination of their generic and specific characters; in fact, without
140 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
attention to this, the geologist would dispense with one of his principal
aids in drawing important practical inferences and proofs corroborative of
his assertions. This branch of the survey might appear to some, without
due reflection, a matter of little importance ; but when we consider that
it is the surest and safest guide to the identification of all the formations
of sedimentary origin, and even of the individual members of such for-
mations, as for instance, the beds of coal, we discover that it is the index,
the criterion, the sign, the " divining rod," if I may so express it, which is
to lead the geologist in his search after mineral wealth.
I cannot present the practical importance, as well as the interest con-
nected with the study of these relics of bygone ages, in a stronger light
than by inserting here an extract from my report of the surveys made in
behalf of the United States, some years since, in the North-west.
" The study of the organic remains of rocks is, indeed, a most beautiful, a
most fascinating research. What can be more extraordinary: that we,
the generation of the nineteenth century, should exhume from out the
hard substance of the solid rocks, the delicate forms of organic beings of
bygone ages, and display to the wondering eye of the naturalist, even
their minute anatomical details ? And this, not alone of races which
inhabited this earth in times immediately preceding the human epoch; we
are even permitted to contemplate, and restore to our perceptions, the
very fishes, mollusks, and corals, that swarmed in the carboniferous seas
millions of ages ago. The animal matter composing their tissues and
bones is indeed gone, but the simultaneous mineral infiltrations preserve
a perfect counterpart. We can depict those remarkable and elegant forms
of vegetation which constituted the forests, that fringed the shores of that
same treacherous and overwhelming ocean. We seize them in the very
act of uncoiling their frond, and unfold to the admiring gaze of the
botanist, that luxuriant canopy of foliage that once waved in the sea-
breeze nurturing their stems. We accomplish even more than this : we
can read the records of myriads of the lower orders of animals, that date
their existence yet further back than the times that gave growth to trees,
now stored up as mineral fuel in the bowels of the earth — to times at least
as long prior to the coal formation, as that geological era is antecedent to
the present time ; we can assign to each its place in the zoological systems,
and fill up the gaps in the existing orders of the animal and vegetable
kingdoms.
" To think that we, at this day, can demonstrate the structure of the eye
of some of these — the most ancient races — and even count the lenses by
which light was concentrated to the optic nerve, is truly astonishing ! Is
OF ARKANSAS. \i \
it then surprising that it should engage the attention of the closet philoso-
pher, and awaken the enthusiasm of the enterprising explorer?
"But palaeontology is not a study of mere curious, scientific inquiry ; it has
also its practical inferences, and these of the most important character,
with their direct matter-of-fact bearings. In illustration of this view of
the subject, permit me, in this connection, to direct the attention of the
reader to Figs. 1, 5, and 6, of Table IV.* The fossil corals represented
in these engravings, are found imbedded in the subcarboniferous lime-
stones, and near the top of the series ; always under the true productive
coal-bearing beds ; never above these, or included in them ; and nowhere
else. This geological fact holds good, not only in Iowa, but through the
entire range of the subcarboniferous limestones in Indiana, Illinois, Ken-
tucky, and Tennessee. In not a single instance, from the range of the
Cumberland mountains, on the east, to the interior of Iowa, on the west,
has a workable bed of coal been discovered in a position beneath the
strata of limestone containing these corals. In these organic remains,
then, we find the surest, the most unerring guide in the search after this
valuable article of commerce, that warms our houses, that drives our
steam engines, by which we navigate our rivers, lakes, and oceans ; that
propels the machinery by which we weave our fabrics ; that reduces our
iron, by which we cultivate our soil, and carry on every conceivable
mechanical operation ; that refines our metals, that contributes to the pro-
duction of both the necessaries and luxuries of life, and by which we
transmit intelligence with the swiftness of lightning, to stations the most
remote. .Without the knowledge of this fact, millions of dollars might be
expended — have been expended — in fruitless and hopeless mining opera-
tions after geological incompatibilities.
" All the figures on Table V, A and B,* are equally persistent in their
undeviating geological position, quite below the productive coal measures,
as well as beneath these same coral-bearing beds.
"In stratigraphical palaeontology we have, then, the safest and the most
trustworthy index to direct our explorations after mineral treasures in the
fossiliferous strata."
* See Geological Report of Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota, 1852.
CHEMICAL REPORT
OF THE
ORES, ROCKS, AND MINERAL WATERS
OF
ARKANSAS.
BY
WILLIAM ELDERHORST, M.D.,
CHEMICAL ASSISTANT TO THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
SAMUEL HUBBARD SCUDDER COLLECTION,
BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY,
WILLIAMS COLLEGE.
INTRODUCTORY LETTER.
Chemical Laboratory of tfje Geological Survey,
New Harmony, Indiana, September, 1858,
Dr. David Dale Ovvex,
State Geologist of Arkansas:
Sir— In conformity with your instructions, I herewith transmit to you
the Chemical Report of the Geological Survey of Arkansas, containing
the chemical analyses of such ores, rocks, etc., as you deemed most impor-
tant for incorporation into this volume.
The analyses have all been performed in the chemical laboratory of the
survey, with the exception of the qualitative examinations of the natural
waters, which were executed in the field. Among the valuable mineral
productions, in which the northern counties of Arkansas abound, special
attention has been paid to the ores of zinc. Specimens of the ores from
all the principal localities which were visited by us in the first field excur-
sion in the fall of 1857, have been subjected to analysis, and I should not
neglect to state, that I have endeavored, by a careful selection of average
specimens, to give to those, more directly interested in those mines, a
correct idea of the average value of these ores. I am happy to say, that
the results of my examinations even surpass the favorable opinion which I
formed of their value in the field; and there remains no doubt, in my
opinion, that with judicious management, the working of these mines
and smelting of the ores, extracted therefrom, will prove not only very
remunerative to the enterprising miner and smelter, but highly beneficial
to that portion of the state in which these mines are situated. Much,
however, remains yet to be done with regard to the development of the
mineral riches of these counties: analyses ought to be made of the differ-
ent kinds of ore taken from the old mines, as well as of specimens from
the newly discovered mines*; all the rocks associated with the ores, ought
•Mr. E. J. Cox collected specimens of ore from new localities during the field-excursion in
arrived^' ' S°me unaccounUlble «*son, the boxes containing them, ha?e notyet
1G
-i ig GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
to be carefully examined (the analyses of a few of them you will find
detailed on p. 17G, etc.), in order to establish a rational connexion between
the general geological features of the country and the mineral deposits,
and to discover, if possible, the hidden cause which occasioned the for-
mation of such extensive deposits, and exercised so powerful a pseudo-
morphic action as is evidenced in that part of the state.
I beg leave to call your attention, in the next place, to the analyses of
the ores of manganese. You will perceive, by a glance at the table on
p. 1GG, that the analytical results here are also very favorable; the ores
are valuable to the bleacher, the paper and the glass manufacturer, and
I confidently believe, that by pursuing a rational system of mining, and
examining carefully the neighborhood of the veins on Laflerty creek, an
ore still more valuable, the "pyrolusite" of the mineralogists will be dis-
covered, an opinion based on the observation: that the last mentioned
mineral almost invariably occurs associated with psilomelane and brau-
nite, the minerals already found. I have endeavored, on p. 167, etc., to
establish rational formulas for the composition of these ores, in the expec-
tation of throwing some light on the mutual chemical relation which the
various, so closely connected minerals, bear towards each other; I hope
that the continuance of the survey may enable me, by an additional series of
analyses, to draw some general conclusions as to their formation, mutual
relation, and probable origin.
As to the remaining portion of my Report, no further remarks appear
necessary: the analyses speak for themselves.
The reasons which prompted me to append a chapter on the " methods
of analysis," I have given below.
All which is respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM ELDERHORST,
Chemical Assistant.
OEES OF ZINC.
0-
The ores from two counties only have as yet been subjected to analy-
sis, \iz: those from Lawrence county and Marion county; [one from Inde-
pendence county, see "Appendix."]
A-— ORES OF ZINC FROM LAWRENCE COUNTY.
Ores, containing zinc, especially in the shape of carbonate of zinc, have
been found at numerous localities in this county. The richest diggings
are situated in the vicinity of Calamine, and at the time of our visit, the
deepest excavations had been made at the localities, designated, respec-
tively, as the Hoppe mine, Bath mine, and Koch mine. Specimens of the
ore taken from these three mines, were subjected to analysis. The ore
occurs in cavities (pockets and veins) in dolomite, and in most cases, is
found imbedded in a stiff, red, feruginous clay. Both, the dolomite and
he clay, contain small quantities of zinc, (compare analyses Nos. 32, 34
and 35.) In some cases, however, the ore is closely connected with the
dolomite, either adhering to its surface, or filling small cavities in the
rock, or traversing the dolomite in small veins, rarely more than a quarter
of an inch in diameter.
A. — Ore from the Hoppe mine.
By far the greater quantity of the ore found at this mine, is a massive,
amorphous, hydrous carbonate of zinc, of pale grayish-yellow color;
soft; breaks easily; powder of a pale cream color; small pieces dissolve
readily in dilute hydrochloric acid, with effervescence. The composition
of this mineral is given below, No. 1; the analysis may be considered to
148
GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
represent the composition of a fair average-specimen of the whole of the
ore brought out from this mine. The ore No. 1, contains, occasionally,
cavities in which small yellow crystals of blende (sulphuret of zinc) are
found.
Although of comparatively rare occurrence at this locality, large
crystals of blende are occasionally met with, sometimes imbedded in dolo-
mite and surrounded by masses of flesh-colored, crystallized smithsonite,
(carbonate of zinc), and pearlspar. Crystals of smithsonite are abundant;
they are either found in the small veins traversing the dolomite (No. 32),
or forming the outer layer of irregular masses of ore, imbedded in red
clay; the crystals are of pale yellow, pale red, or flesh-color, rough on the
exterior, frequently possessing curved faces. A few hand-specimens pre-
sented the appearance of a brecciated rock; here, angular fragments of a
light reddish-gray, very close-textured dolomite (?) of splintery fracture,
were imbedded in a matrix of greenish-gray, coarser grained dolomite,
intermixed with flesh-colored crystals of smithsonite.
The great mass of the ore occurs imbedded in red, feruginous clay, in
more or less rounded, irregular pieces. These pieces frequently consist
of three distinct layers: the outer one is formed of well-developed crys-
tals of pure smithsonite; then follows a layer of amorphous smithsonite,
possessing the physical properties of the above described ore, No. 1, which
passes gradually into a very soft amorphous mass of the composition
given in No. 2, and which is nothing but the same mineral constituting
the second layer, intermixed with some clay and other impurities. Its
color is from cream-color to brownish-yellow; it is easily scraped with a
knife, yielding a cream-colored powder.
No. 1. Massive, amorphous, carbonate of zinc.
Composition dried at 230 deg. F:
Clay, and silicia '• 18.805
Carbonate of zinc 75.474
« « lime 0.364
" mncrnfisia. trace
" " magnesia
Peroxide of iron, and alumina 1.771
Water, and loss 3-586
100.000
The air-dried ore lost 0.69 per cent, of moisture at 230 deg. F.
The carbonic acid in the carbonates of zinc and lime amounts to 26.685
per cent.; a separate experiment, on treating the pulverized mineral with
hydrochloric acid in a carbonic acid apparatus, gave 26.881 per cent.
Some of the iron was probably in the state of proto-carbonate.
OF ARKANSAS. J49
75.474 per eent. of carbonate of zinc, are equal to 48.95 per cent, of
oxide of zinc, or to 39.30 per cent, of metallic zinc.
No. 2. Same as No. 1, impure.
Composition, dried at 230 deg. F:
Clay, and silica 31.0G9
Carbonate of zinc 51.111
" " lime 8.114
" " magnesia 4.417
Peroxide of iron, with traces of alumina and
manganese 4.800
99.191
The air-dried mineral lost 1.29 per cent, of moisture at 230 deg. F.
51.111 per cent, of carbonate of zinc are equal to 33.149 per cent, of
oxide of zinc, or to 26.60 per cent, of metallic zinc.
B. — Ore from the Bath mine.
The prevailing ore at this locality is a massive, brownish-yellow, cellular
smithsonite; the cavities are clad out with botryoidal incrustations of
grayish-white smithsonite, and occasional buff-colored crystals of the same
mineral. The surface of the ore is covered with a thin crust of yellowish-
red clay. Several pieces of the ore were crushed, well mixed, and from
the mixture two samples taken for analysis, (No. 3 and No. 4).
At this mine occurs also the light-colored, soft variety of carbonate of
zinc, partly amorphous, partly sub-crystalline, pieces of about a cubic
inch of which are cemented together by the dark brownish-gray or
brownish-yellow cellular smithsonite above described; the dark-gray cel-
lular masses often consist of concentric layers, the outer layers being gen-
erally of a much lighter color, and contain occasionally crystals of brown
blende.
The dolomite containing the ore at this locality, abounds with small
veins of pearlspar, and with amygdaloidal cavities, sometimes an inch
wide and two and a half inches long, which are filled with crystals of
pearlspar and blende.
No. 3. Brownish-yellow, cellular, smithsonite.
Composition, dried at 250 deg. F:
Clay, and silica 8.831
Carbonate of zinc 86.490
" " lime 0.742
" " magnesia trace
^50 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
Alumina, sesquioxides of iron and manganese, 4.389
Oxide of lead trace
" " copper trace
100.452
The air-dried ore lost 0.50 per cent, of moisture at 250 deg. F.
8G.49 per cent, of carbonate of zinc are equal to 5G.099 per cent, of
oxide of zinc, or to 45.045 per cent, of metallic zinc.
No. 4. Same as No. 3; different specimen.
The analysis of this sample was executed 'by igniting the ore, and
extracting the oxide of zinc with a mixture of ammonia and carbonate of
ammonia, (compare " methods of analysis," below.)
Composition of air-dried ore:
Carbonic acid and water 32.150
Silica, clay, iron, lime, etc 14.519
Oxide of zinc 53.331
100.000
53.331 per cent, of oxide of zinc are equal to 42.822 per cent, of me-
tallic zinc.
The residue, left after the treatment with ammonia, etc., and which
consists essentially of clay, was found, on examination, to contain some
oxide of zinc, showing that a small portion of this oxide must exist in the
ore in combination with silica, forming silicate of zinc, a compound
insoluble in ammonia. On comparing analysis No. 4 with No. 3, it
appears that about 3 per cent, of oxide of zinc are combined with silica.
C. — Ore from the Koch mine.
The principal ore from this mine is a cellular, subcrystalline mass of
brownish-white and grayish-white color; within the cavities, the surface of
the smithsonite is botryoidal and usually covered with a very thin layer of
red clay; this mineral is intimately associated and intermixed with an
amorphous, grayish-yellow, massive variety of carbonate of zinc, resem-
bling ore No. 1, from the Hoppe mine. Its powder has a pale cream
color.
Three different specimens of this ore were analyzed; of the first speci-
men a complete analysis was made, showing the total amount of oxide of
zinc present, and the quantitative relation of the impurities. The other
two specimens were analyzed after the method employed for No. 4, show-
ing only the amount of oxide of zinc that is contained in the ore in the
state of carbonate or hydrate.
OF ARKANSAS. J5J
No. 5. Brownish-white, cellular araithsonite.
Composition, dried at 250 clog. F:
Silica 0.501
Oxide of zinc Gl .753
Peroxide of iron 0.552
Alumina 0.097
Lime 1.338
Magnesia trace.
Carbonic acid, water, and loss 35.759
100.000
The air-dried ore lost 0.14 per cent, of moisture at 250 deg. F.
61.753 per cent, of oxide of zinc are equal to 49.59 per cent of metallic
zinc.
No. G. Same as No. 5; different specimen.
Composition of air-dried ore:
Carbonic acid and water 35.911
Insoluble residue (silica, iron, lime, etc.,)- • • • G.839
Oxide of zinc 57.250
100.000
No. 7. Same as No. 5; different specimen.
Composition of air-dried ore:
Carbonic acid and water 35.267
Insoluble residue (silica, iron, lime, etc,.)- • • • 8.298
Oxide of zinc 56.445
fcoo.ooo
The mean of analyses Nos. 6 and 7, shows 56.847 per cent, of oxide
of zinc, combined with carbonic acid or water, which is equal to 45.65 per
cent, of metallic zinc. In both cases, the residue from the treatment with
ammonia, was found to contain zinc, whence the presence of a small
quantity of silicate of zinc may be inferred.
B— ORES OF ZINC FROM MARION COUNTY.
In this county, the only locality from which specimens of ores of zinc
were obtained, is known as " Wood"s mine,'' situated, section 13, township
19 north, range 17 west, on the west branch of George creek. The ore
occurs here, as in Lawrence county, in pockets or veins in dolomite (the
analysis of which is given in No. 34,) and is in most cases found imbedded
152 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
in ferruginous clay. The most valuable ore is a compact, cellular, sub-
crystalline smithsonite, of brownish-white and grayish-white color, surface
botryoidal, resembling, in its general appearance, the principal ore from
the Koch mine, (analysis No. 5); the cavities are partially filled with clay.
The subjoined analysis, No. 8, represents the composition of this ore.
The sample has been carefully selected, so as to approach as near as
possible to the composition of a fair average-specimen.
Well developed crystals of smithsonite, abundant in the mines of Law-
rence county, appear to be entirely wanting, as are also the thin veins of
pearlspar, traversing the dolomite. In their stead, the dolomite is frequently
found incrusted with a compact mass of a pale brownish-white, or
greenish-white carbonate of zinc, with botryoidal surface, consisting of a
succession of concentric layers, the whole deposit having sometimes a
thickness of upwards of half an inch. Its hardness is between 4 and 5;
streak white; translucent; brittle; fracture splintery; heated in a glass-tube,
closed at one end, gives no water, but turns opaque and yellow, after
cooling opaque and white; on charcoal before the blowpipe, gives the
reactions of oxide of zinc. Its composition is given in No. 9. Interven-
ing between this mineral and the dolomite, a thin layer of crystallized
quartz, of brownish color, is frequently met with; the quartz in the sub-
joined analysis (No. 9), is probably derived from an intermixture of this
layer with the carbonate of zinc.
No. 8. Brownish-white, cellular, smithsonite.
Composition, dried at 212 deg. F:
Clay, sand, and silica 7.523
Oxide of zinc 59.770
Peroxide of iron, with trace of manganese- • 3.507
Oxide of cadmium 0.486
" " lead 0.066
" " copper trace
Lime 0.466
Magnesia trace
Carbonic acid, water, and loss 28.182
100.000
The air-dried ore lost 1.84 per cent, of moisture at 212 deg. P.
59.77 percent, of oxide of zinc are equal to 47.97 per cent, of metallic
zinc.
The iron has been represented as peroxide, because the greater part of
OF ARKANSAS. J 53
it has certainly been derived from the red clay, filling the cavities of the
ore.
No. 9. Compact smithsonite, incrusting dolomite.
Composition, dried at 212 deg. F:
°-uartz 1.512
Oxide of zinc Gr, 907
" iron trace
Lime ; 1.067
Magnesia trace
Carbonic acid, and loss 31.454
100.000
The air-dried mineral lost 0.1 1G per cent, of moisture at 212 deg. F.
From the high per centage of oxide of zinc in this mineral, it would
appear to be a basic carbonate of zinc, but as no direct carbonic acid
determination was made, it is not, at present, possible to construct a for-
mula for its composition.
Rounded pieces of dark-gray, subcrystalline dolomite appear, sometimes,
as if cemented by carbonate of zinc, which surrounds the fragments in
concentric, incrusting layers. The carbonate of zinc is of grayish, brown-
ish, or reddish color; between its layers, but mostly between the dolomite
and the carbonate of zinc, a white mineral is occasionally observed, whose
properties and composition are given in No. 10.
No. 10. Maiuonite, a new hydrous carbonate of zinc.
Occurs in concentric and contorted lamina?, also, in botryoidal and mam-
milated incrustations; amorphous; earthy; color milk-white; hardness 2.5;
easily reduced to powder; powder milk-white.
Dissolves readily, and completely, in cold dilute hydrochloric acid, with
effervescence; also, when pulverized, in ammonia; in both solutions, sul-
phydrate of ammonia produces a white precipitate. Heated in a matrass,
yields water and turns yellow; heated before the blowpipe with a solution
of nitrate of cobalt, assumes a bright green color; on charcoal, behaves like
oxide of zinc.
On being ignited in a platina capsule, the mineral lost 26.818 per cent;
the residue, dissolved in hydrochloric acid, and the solution precipitated
with carbonate of soda, gave 73.262 per cent, of oxide of zinc.
Carbonic acid and water 26.818
Oxide of zinc 73.262
100.080
154 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
The water was determined by heating the mineral in a small glass
retort, the neck of which was connected with a chloride of calcium tube.
The experiment gave 11.808 per cent, of water; this deducted from the
total loss by ignition gives the carbonic acid; hence, the composition is:
Oxide of zinc 73.202
Water 11-808
Carbonic acid 15.010
100.080
The only mineral known consisting of oxide of zinc, carbonic acid,
and water, is Smithson's " zinc-bloom," for which the formula
3 ZnO.C02-j-3 HO has been constructed. This formula requires: *
Found by Smithson.
Oxide of zinc 71.28 69.38
Carbonic acid 12.89 13.50
ater 15.83 15.10
100.00 97.98
Yon Kobell § constructed for this mineral the formula
3 [2 ZnO.C02]-j-2 [Zn0.3HO], which does not agree with Smithson's
analysis, and which, therefore, cannot be considered as expressing the
composition of zinc-bloom. But Von Kobell's formula agrees very well
with the analytical results obtained by me for the above-described mineral,
which has to be considered a new species, or at least a new variety of
zinc-bloom, and for which 1 propose the name of " Marionite." f
In 100 Found
8 Zn O 324.24 72.99 73.2G2
3 CO2 66.00 14.86 15.010
6 HO 54.00 12.15 11.808
444.24 100.00 100.080
Blende (sulphuret of zinc), occurs abundantly at Wood's mine. It is
mostly of dark brown color, and large crystals are frequently found
cemented by irregular masses of impure smithsonite. In some specimens
the blende presents a cellular appearance, as if acted upon by a dissolv-
ing liquid; the cavities are generally coated with a layer of minutely crys-
talline carbonate of zinc, of gray or reddish color.
* v. Dana's mineralogy, 4th ed. p. 400.
§ v. i; , ■ Handworterbuch, etc., vol. 2, p. 205.
Want of material prevented a repetition of the analysis.
OF ARKANSAS. | *JK
The blende is very pure, though occasionally small particles of iron
pyrites and copper pyrites are visible. Fragments of a large crystal, of
brownish-yellow color, were found, on examination, to be pure sulphur, t
of zinc, with only 0.47 per cent, of sulphuret of cadmium, and a trace of
copper. The qualitative examination of another specimen showed the
presence of a small amount of cadmium, with traces of copper and iron.
-o-
The subjoined table will furnish a comprehensive view of the composi-
tion of the ores from the various localities; the numbers in the column
"carbonic acid and water," have mostly been obtained by subtracting from
100 the sum of the directly determined constituents. Thinking it a mat-
ter of some interest, to compare the ores of Arkansas with those of other
countries, I have added a few analyses of the ores of Upper Silesia, where
about one-half of all the manufactured zinc is produced, and some other
localities, and it will be seen, on comparison, that the Arkansas ores are
inferior to none, and superior even to the famous Silesian ores.
1 to 9 correspond to Nos. 1 to 9 of the Report; 10, analysis of a
white compact smithsonite from the " Planet-Grube," near Tarnowitz,
Upper Silesia; 11, analysis of a compact smithsonite from the "Marie
Grube," near Miechowitz, Upper Silesia; 12, analysis of a red compact
smithsonite from same locality; 13, analysis of a white compact smith-
sonite from the " Scharley-Grube," near Beuthcn, Upper Silesia; 11. ana-
lysis of a red compact smithsonite from Polonia; 15, analysis of a compact,
brownish, smithsonite from the " Busbacher Berg," near Aachen, Prussia;
1G, 17, and 18, crystallized smithsonites from Altenberg, near Aachen; 19
and 20, crystallized, green smithsonite from the " Herrenberg," near
Aachen; 21, crystallized smithsonite from Moresnct, Belgium. 10 to 14
have been analyzed by G. Yon Gellhorn, \Chcm. pharm. CentralMatt,
1853]; 15 to 20 by Monheim, [Che/n. pharm. Ctntralblatt, 1850, and Dana,
system of mineralogy, '4th cd.]: 21, by Schmidt, [Rammelsberg, 5th supple-
ment.]
156
GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
Oxide of
zinc.
Carbonic
acid and
water.
Silica and
insoluble
silicates.
Peroxide
of iron.
Alumina,
lime, mag-
nesia, etc.
v. j
v tj
^
j
V
S v^_
-^s J
48-950
30-271
18-805
— v
1
V
1-974
2
33-149
23-612
31-069
11-361
3
50-099
53-331
01-753
30-717
32-150
35-759
8-831
•
4-805
j
4
0-501
V "
14-519
, j
5
1-987
57-250
35-911
^
j
C
Y
6-839
7
50-445
39 - 267
8 • 298
8
59 - 770
28-182
7-523
3-507
1-018
9
05-907
49-77
31-451
31-22
1-512
v.
trace
1-067
10
20-48
11
27-02
26-63
10-58
10-80
19-79
12
39-15
30-36
0-35
17-40
12-74
13
42-12
48-07
30-35
33-49
8-42
v
1-49
17-60
j
14
Y
18-03
15
00-97
39-11
10-32
18-79
9-52
1-67
*
1G
02 - 00
17
30-22
62
28
18
55-04
44
54
19
55-59
45
56
20
48-23
50
• 69
21
03-00
35-00
1-58
0-34
The smelting of zinc from these ores, although not quite as simple a
process as the smelting of lead from galena, offers no difficulties: the ore,
reduced to a proper size, is simply mixed with a sufficient quantity of coal,
and heated, in a closed vessel, to a temperature high enough to cause the
reduction of the oxide; the metal, being volatile, distills over and is col-
lected in a receiver. The execution of the process varies somewhat in
practice; at present, three methods are principally in use, known as the
English, the Belgian, and the Silesian method, each possessed of its pecu-
liar advantages and disadvantages.
The only preliminary operation which the ores are subjected to, besides
the necessary sorting and bruising, is the calcination, (and even this opera-
tion is sometimes omitted in England). The calcination is generally per-
formed in reverberator)' furnaces, and has the object of removing carbonic
acid and water, and lessening the cohesion of the ore; it is a necessary
operation if the carbonate of zinc contains blende, to convert the latter
into oxide of zinc; in this case, a small proportion of coal must be added.
OF ARKANSAS.
157
Where fuel is cheap, the calcination is advantageously performed in heaps.
The heaps are formed by alternate layers of wood and carbonate of zinc;
fire is set to the lowest layer of wood, and the ore left to the influence of
heat and air; by this means the water is removed, but not the carbonic
acid, and the state of cohesion lessened.
In the English process, the calcined ore is mixed with about one-seventh
of its weight of coal, and filled into large crucibles or pots. These pots
are made of fire-clay, and cement of old pounds finely ground; they are
covered with a lid, through an orifice of which the charge is introduced,
and are provided, at the bottom, with an aperture; to this aperture a long
sheet iron pipe is joined, which dips, at its end, into a vessel filled with
water. On heat being applied, the oxide of zinc becomes reduced, the
metal is vaporized, passes through the iron pipe, and collects in drops in
the water vessel. From 6 to 8 pots are placed in a furnace; a furnace
will work up from G to 10 tons of ore in 14 days, consuming from 22 to 24
tons of coal, and yielding 2 tons of zinc, on an average. A pot lasts
about four months.
In the Belgian process, the reduction furnace is filled with long, hori-
zontal earthen tubes, from 3 to 4 feet long, and from 4 to 5 inches in
diameter; 22 tubes in each furnace; the tubes are filled with a mixture of
ground ore and coal, (1 volume of ore to i to f volumes of coke or char-
coal, broken to pieces the size of nuts); to each tube a conical piece of
cast-iron is attached, in a slightly slanting position; these conical pipes
serve as receivers and condensers of the vaporized zinc, and are raked
out every two hours. Each earthen tube holds 40 lbs of the mixture of
ore and coal; the distillation is completed in 12 hours, and each furnace
yields every 12 hours, 100 lbs. of crude zinc; on being remelted and cast
into moulds, the crude zinc loses 10 per cent. For every pound of zinc
about 28 lbs. of coal are used.
In the Silesian process, the small earthen tubes are replaced by muffles
made of fire-clay mixed with ground potsherds; the muffles are from 3 to
4 feet long, and have a diameter of from 14 to 18 inches. The number of
muffles in a furnace varies from 5 to 10; in Upper Silesia, double furnaces,
holding 20 muffles, are in use. The charge consists of calcined ore mixed
with an equal volume (about one-fifth by weight) of cinders. A single
muffle will produce from 40 to 50 lbs. of zinc daily. A muffle will last
several months.
The crude zinc obtained by any of the above described processes has to
be remelted; in this operation the heat must not rise above a low red-heat,
and the surface covered with a layer of charcoal. Experience has shown
that, with careful management, 100 lbs. of crude zinc will yield from 92
J 58 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
to 94 ft>s. of purified zinc, and from 12 to 16 lbs of a scoria, containing
nearly 50 per cent, of zinc.
The preceding data I have collected from the most reliable works on
metallurgy which I had at my command. They would he more valuable
if 1 could have added a calculation of the probable expense at which a
furnace can be worked, and also of the probable expense of erection; but
the prices of building material, fuel, etc., the wages of workmen, and all
other contingent expenses being so extremely variable, the conditions
under which the mining and smelting of the ore are carried on in Europe
being so little comparable to the circumstances which would surround
similar enterprises in Arkansas, I very much doubt whether a calculation
of that kind, even if it could have been made with some approach to
accuracy, would' have benefited any one anxious to get information on the
subject. The above data teach how much metallic zinc can be produced
in a certain time, with a furnace of a certain construction and size, how
much fuel will be consumed in the operation, and how much of the crude
ore is probably required to effect the result; this is all that science can
teach—commerce and political economy must furnish the rest of the desired
information. To one point, however, I wish to call particular attention,
viz: the richness of the Arkansas ores; in all calculations respecting the
probable success of active mining and synelting operations, this circum-
stance ought to enter as an important item, since, from it, we must reasona-
bly expect a comparative large yield of metal, and, therefore, larger
returns than ordinary, other circumstances being equal.
ORES OF LEAD.
Galena, or sulphui et of lead, is the only ore of lead as yet found in the
northern counties of the state. The different kinds of galena which were
subjected to analysis, occur all in dolomite, either in pockets or veins;
they are all distinctly crystalline, forming, for the most part, large cubes,
with perfect cubical cleavage.
They are almost pure sulphuret of lead (fcontaing 13.4 parts of sulphur
to 8G.G parts of lead), being perfectly free from zinc, antimony, and
copper; only three of them contain appreciable quantities of iron. All
the ores contain some silver, though probably only one of them (No. 14) a
sufficient quantity to be profitable for working. For the method employed
OF ARKAXSA.-*.
159
in determining the amount of iron and silver, compare " methods of
analysis," below.
A-— GALENA FROM MARION COUNTY.
No. 11. Galena, from Wood's mine, section 13, township 19 north, range
17 west, west branch of George creek:
Occurs in the dolomite No. 34. Is pure sulphurct of lead without any
impurity but a trace of silver. The lead, smelted from the ore, contains
0.00624 per cent, of silver, equal to 1.G7 ounces of silver in the ton of
galena (1 ton=2,000 ft>s).
No. 12. Galena, from the New York company's diggings:
Is pure sulphuret of lead, with a little sulphuret of iron, corresponding
to 0.103 per cent, of metallic iron. The lead, smelted from the ore, con-
tains 0.0106G per cent, of silver, equal to 2.88 ounces of silver in the ton
of galena.
No. 13. Galena, from Molton's diggings, one mile above the fork of
Jemmy's creek:
Is pure sulphuret of lead with a little sulphurct of iron, corresponding
to 0.10 per cent, of metallic iron. The lead, smelted from the ore, contains
0.0020 1 per cent, of silver, equal to 0.784 ounces of silver in the ton of
galena.
No. 14. Galena, from Seawell's di^in^s:
Is pure sulphuret of lead, without any impurities but a small quantity
of silver. The lead, smelted from the ore, contains 0.14014 percent, of
silver, equal to 37.44 ounces of silver in the ton of galena.
No. 15. Galena, from Hudson's diggings:
Is pure sulphuret of lead with only traces of iron and silver. The lead,
smelted from the ore, contains 0.00746 per cent, of silver, equal to 2
ounces of silver in the ton of galena.
No. 10. Galena, from McCarty's diggings:
Is pure sulphuret of lead, without any impurities but a trace of silver.
The lead, smelted from the ore, contains 0.00825 per cent, of silver, equal
to 2.25 ounces of silver in the ton of galena.
No. 17. Galena, from Jemmy's creek diggings, near the forks:
Is pure sulphuret of lead, with a little sulphuret of iron, corresponding
to 0.1 per cent, of metallic iron, and a trace of silver. The lead, smelted
160
GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
from the ore, contains 0.019 per cent, of silver, equal to 5 ounces of silver
in the ton of galena.
B — GALENA FROM LAWRENCE COUNTY.
No. 18. Galena, from E. W. Haughton's diggings:
Occurs associated with a light, ochre-yellow, argillaceous rock, contain-
ing oxide of zinc (v. No. 37).
Is pure sulphuret of lead, with only traces of iron and silver. The
lead, smelted from the ore, contains 0.00292 per cent, of silver, equal to
0.78 ounces of silver in the ton of galena.
C-— GALENA FROM CARROLL COUNTY.
No. 19. Galena, from Coka and Mitchell's diggings:
Is pure sulphuret of lead, with only traces of iron and silver. The
lead, smelted from the ore, contains 0.01083 per cent, of silver, equal to
2.9 ounces of silver in the ton of galena.
TABULAR VIEW — Of the co?nposition of the different kinds of galena
from the, counties of Marion, Lawrence, and Carroll.
CD © c3
> © C
~ CN «
o § w>
+a +* <*-l
LOCALITY
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
11, from
12, from
13, from
14, from
15, from
16, from
17, from
18, from
19, from
Wood's mine
New York company's diggings •
Molton's diggings •
Seawell's diggings
Hudson's diggings
McCarty's diggings
Jemmy's creek diggings-
Contain in 100 parts,
86.6 parts of lead,
with
Iron.
E. W. Houghton's diggings-
Coka & Mitchell's digrsrinsrs-
none
0.103
0.160
none
trace
none
0.100
trace
trace
Silver.
0.00624
0.01066
0.00294
0.14014
0.00746
0.00825
0.01900
0.00292
0.01083
1-67
2-88
0-784
37-44
2-00
2-25
5-00
0-78
2-90
Only one of these ores (No. 14) would probably pay for the extraction
of the silver; the others are good lead ores. If, by sinking shafts, and
ascertaining the extent of the ore-deposit at Seawell's diggings, the pre-
sence of a sufficient quantity of the ore can be proved, there is no doubt
that, with judicious management, the extraction of silver will prove very
OF ARKANSAS.
161
remunerative. In England, the average quantity of silver contained in
the lead which is worked for silver, is 7 or 8 ounces per ton, or about G or
7 ounces per ton of galena.* The galena, from the mines of the ''Middle-
town Silver and Lead Mining and Manufacturing Company," in Connecti-
cut, contains from 25 to 75 oz. of silver to the ton (of 21 cwts) of lead.
The galena from the « Washington mine," North Carolina, contains only
7.5 oz. of silver in the ton (average of 200 assays). *
ORES OF MANGANESE.
Of the five specimens of ores of manganese, subjected to analysis, two
(Xos. 20 and 21) were collected on the spot; the other three, I received
from a gentleman in Batesville, who collected them at the localities below
mentioned.
No. 20 Psilomelane, from the main manganese mine, two miles above
West fork of Lafferty creek, Independence county:
Massive; lustre submetallic; color between dark steel-gray and iron-
black; hardness 5.5; fracture subcrystalline, hackly, somewhat resembling
the fracture of cast iron; brittle; strikes fire with steel; powder reddish*
brown.
Before the blowpipe, infusible alone; on charcoal in reduction flame
becomes reddish-brown; in a matrass, yields water; with fluxes, gives the
manganese reactions. Dissolves in hydrochloric acid with evolution of
chlorine, leaving a small residue of silica.
Occurs in veins traversing the encrinital beds of the cavernous limestone.
Composition, dried at 250 deg. F:
Manganoso-manganic oxide (Mn304) 91.367
Silica 2.845
Baryta 0.512
Lime trace
Water and oxygen, expelled by heat 5.931
100.655
The air-dried mineral lost 0.53 per cent, of moisture at 250 deg. F,
See J. D. Whitney's "Metallic W^lth of the United States." Philadelphia, 1854
11
1Q2 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
The above numbers are the direct result of analysis. In order to ascer-
tain how much of the volatile matter, expelled by heat, is water, and
how much oxygen, the pulverized mineral was heated in aplatina capsule
over the smallest flame of a spirit-lamp with Argand burner, until the
weight remained constant; the loss amounted to 1.82 per cent. The heat
was then raised and kept for about half an hour, just below redness: the
mineral did not suffer any further loss. Assuming the 1.82 per cent, of
volatile matter, expelled below red-heat, to be water, we obtain for oxygen
5 931 — 1.82=4.111 per cent. The 91.367 percent, of manganoso-manga-
nic oxide consist of 84.995 parts of protoxide of manganese with 6.372
parts of oxygen; these, added to the above 4.111 per cent., give 10.483
per cent, of free oxygen, and the composition of the mineral may, there-
fore, be expressed thus:
Protoxide of manganese 84.995
Free oxygen 10.483
Silica 2.845
Baryta 0.512
Lime trace
Water 1-820
100.655
As a controlling experiment, the amount of free oxygen was determined
by Mohr's method [v. "methods of analysis," below], and found to be 10.510
per cent.
No. 21. Tsilomelane, from same locality as No. 20.
jMassive; close-textured; color bluish steel-gray; hardness 5.5; fracture
splintery and subconchoidal; brittle; strikes fire with steel; powder reddish-
brown.
Before the blowpipe, and to reagents, behaves like the preceding.
Composition, dried at 250 deg. F:
Manganoso-manganic oxide 88.628
Silica 5.329
Baryta 0.282
Lime 1.178
Magnesia trace
Water and oxygen, expelled by heat 4.433
99.850
The air-dried mineral lost 1.02 per cent, of moisture at 250 deg. F.
OF ARKANSAS.
1G3
The amount of free oxygen was determined by Mohr's method to be
10.002 per cent.
Taking into consideration the quantity of free oxygen contained in the
88.628 per cent, of manganoso-manganic oxide, we obtain for water,
expelled at a red heat, 0.G11 per cent.; hence, the composition of the
mineral may be expressed thus:
Protoxide of manganese 82.448
Free oxygen 10 002
SiIica 5.329
BaO'ta 0.282
Lime 1.178
Magnesia trace
Water 0.611
99.850
No. 22. Wad, from near the North fork of White river, Izard county.
A brecciated rock; the matrix consists of wad, in which angular pieces
of white chert are imbedded. The wad possesses the following physical
and chemical properties:
Compact, amorphous; lustre dull, on rounded edges shining; color iron-
black; hardness 4; powder dark brownish olive-green.
Heated on charcoal in reduction flame, turns reddish-brown; heated in
a matrass, yields water copiously, at a low heat. With fluxes gives the
reactions of manganese. Dissolves readily in hydrochloric acid, with
evolution of chlorine, and separation of silica.
Having but a small specimen at my disposal, and the siliceous mineral
adhering very firmly to the ore, I could not collect enough of the pure
wad for the purpose of analysis, but was compelled to analyze the
mixture.
The mixed minerals, dried at 220 deg. F., had the following compo-
sition:
Manganoso-manganic oxide 51.365
Silica 26.230
Alumina, with trace of iron 6.245
Oxide of cobalt 0.104
Baryta 1.875
Lime trace
Water and oxygen, expelled by heat 14.889
100.708
X64 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
The air-dried mineral lost 2.1 per cent, of moisture at 220 deg. F.
The amount of free oxygen was ascertained by Mohr's method to be
7.82 per cent. Taking into consideration the quantity of free oxygen
contained in the manganoso-manganic oxide, we obtain for water expelled
at a red heat 10.653 per cent.; hence, the composition of the mineral may
be thus expressed:
Protoxide of manganese 47.781
Free oxygen 7.820
Silica 26.230
Alumina, with trace of iron 6.245
Oxide of cobalt 0.104
Baryta 1.875
Lime trace
Water 10.653
100.708
Subtracting silica and alumina, as adventitious intermixtures, and cal-
culating the remaining constituents for 100 parts, we obtain for the wad
the following composition:
Protoxide of manganese 70.03
Free oxygen 1 1 .46
Oxide of cobalt 0.15
Baryta 2.75
Lime trace
Water 15.61
100.00
No. 23. Braunite (?), from Poke bayou, Marion county.
Massive; texture finely granular; lustre submetallic; color dark steel
gray; hardness 5.5; strikes fire with steel; powder grayish-black; much
more easily reduced to powder, than the two preceding minerals; wea-
thered surface shows brown spots of hydrate of peroxide of iron.
Before the blowpipe, infusible; on charcoal in reduction flame, becomes
pale reddish-gray at the point of contact with the charcoal; in a matrass,
yields a little water; with fluxes, gives the manganese reactions.
Dissolves in hydrochloric acid with evolution of chlorine, leaving a
residue of silica.
Composition dried at 220 deg. F:
Protoxide of manganese 75.386
Free oxygen 7.979
OF ARKANSAS Jg£
Silica 9.9G8
Peroxide of iron 3.523
Oxide of cobalt trace
Lime 1.833
Magnesia 0.192
Water 1.295
100. 17G
The air-dried mineral lost 0.1 per cent, of moisture at 220 deg. F.
The free oxygen was determined by Mohr's method. The 1.295 per
cent, of water were determined by the loss which the mineral suffered on
ignition; the volatile matter was not collected; hence, it remains uncer-
tain whether it consisted of water, or of water and oxygen; but if any
oxygen had been driven out by heat, it is difficult to conceive why the
weight, after repeated ignitions, remained constant, and why not the
whole of the oxygen beyond the composition MnO was removed,
amounting to 2.328 per cent. For this reason the loss on ignition has
been stated as water.
No. 24. Psilomelane, six miles north of Batesville, on Poke bayou.
Massive; lustre submetallic; color iron-black; fracture uneven, platy;
hardness 5.5; powder reddish-brown.
Before the blowpipe, infusible; on charcoal in reduction flame, becomes
brown; in a matrass, yields a little water; with fluxes gives the manga-
nese reactions.
Dissolves in hydrochloric, acid with evolution of chlorine, leaving a very
slight residue of silica.
The mineral was only partially analyzed. It lost at 250 deg. F. 0.452
per cent, of moisture; heated higher, but below redness, the dried mineral
lost 1.124 per cent., probably water; and on ignition lost, additionally,
5.185 per cent., which must have been oxygen. The free oxygen was
determined, after Mohr's method, to be 11.700 per cent.
The qualitative examination proved the presence of small quantities of
cobalt, baryta, lime, magnesia, and silica.
Commercial value of the Ores of Manganese.
The ores of manganese are used in the arts principally for the purpose
of bleaching, where they serve, in conjunction with common salt and sul-
phuric acid, to produce chlorine, the bleaching agent, and in the manufac-
ture of glass, for the purpose of correcting the tinge imparted to the glass
by iron. In both cases, their value entirely depends on the amount of
166
GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
free oxygen which they contain, that is: the quantity of oxygen more than
sufficient to form with the whole of the metallic manganese the lowest
degree of oxidation, the protoxide; for the purpose of the glass manufac-
turer, they ought also to be as free from iron as possible. Of the various
compounds of manganese, the ore containing the largest proportion of
free oxygen is the peroxide, commonly known as "black oxide of manga-
nese," a compound which occurs native as a mineral, called " pyrolusite;"
it contains 18.36 per cent, of free oxygen.
In order to ascertain, as near as possible, the market value of the Ar-
kansas ores, I procured from a New York firm a sample of what is sold
in that city as " black oxide of manganese " at the rate of three and a
half cents per pound, by the hundred weight, in the ground state; on
analysis, I fou d this sample to contain 9.246 per cent, of free oxygen,
corresponding to 50.35 per cent, of pure peroxide of manganese; it contained
a large proportion of silica, a circumstance which probably makes the
ore very difficult to grind. In the Hartz mountains, a famous European
locality for the ores of manganese, three qualities of the ore are sold, the
price varying with the amount of free oxygen; the
First quality contains 12.60 per cent, of free oxygen.
Second " " 10.00 " " " "
Third " " 7.36 " " "
(See Bruno Kerl, in Chem. Cenlralblatt for 1853.)
The ores of Arkansas contain
NUMBER OF SPECIMEN.
100 parts of ore|
Per cent, of free correspond to pure. Peroxide of iron,
oxvu-en. Mn 02
No. 20
No. 21
No. 22, crude
No. 22, freed from gangue*
No. 23
No. 24
Ore from New York
10.483
10.002
7.820
11.460
7.979
11.700
9.246
57.24
54.47
42.59
62.42
43.46
63.72
50.35
none
none
trace
3.523
?
The ores Nos. 20, 21, 24, and 22 when freed from its gangue, are, as
seen by the table, superior to the ore procured from New York, and ought
to command, therefore, a higher price; they contain, on the average 10.911
per cent, of free oxygen, which places them intermediate between the 1st
and 2d quality of the German ore.
OF ARKANSAS. \ffi
Chemical constitution of the ores of Manganese.
The constitution of the manganese-minerals which do not occur in the
crystallized state, has been a point of some discussion amongst mineralo-
gists. As long as their rational formulae are not indubitably established,
every new analysis may be expected to throw some light on the subject.
Although the foregoing analyses were principally executed with a view
to ascertain the economical value of the ores, the importance of the sub-
ject may serve as an excuse, if I take up a short space for purely theoreti-
cal speculations.
It was Rammelsberg, if I mistake not, who first considered psilomelane
as a compound of peroxide of manganese with bases of th« constitution
RO, these bases being principally MnO, BaO,KO, CaO, MgO, and Co05
the peroxide of manganese in these compounds acts the part of the acid.
Adopting this view, we have to reject, in the construction of a formula,
the silicia and the bases of the constitution R203, as adventitious constitu-
ents; a rejection which, though rather arbitrary,* may be admitted on the
a of expediency. Leaving, therefore, the silica in the analysis of Nos.
20 and 21 out of consideration, and calculating the'remaining constituents
for 100, we obtain for these minerals the following composition:
No. 20 No. 21
Protoxide of manganese- • • • 86.898 87.22
Oxygen 10.718 10.58
Baryta 0.523 0.29
Lime trace 1 .27
Water 1.801 0.G4
100.000 100.00
Uniting the free oxygen with a portion of the protoxide of manganese to
the formation of peroxide, we have
For No. 20.
Peroxide of manganese 58.373 contains O 21.4
Protoxide of manganese 39.243 " 8.83)
Baryta 0.523 " 0.05V 9.53
Water 1.801 " 1.651
* Compare on this subject the observations of Gustav Bischof, in the 2d vol., ot' his " Ele-
ments of chemical and physical geology," p. 85, etc.
168 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
For No. 21.
Peroxide of manganese 57.92 contains O 21.27
Protoxide of manganese 39.88 " 8.97"^
Baryta 0.29 « 0.03 t OQ
Lime 1.27 " 0.36 [
Water 0.64 " 0.57 J
Rammelsberg does not include water under the bases of the constitution
RO; but seeing no objection to its being considered isomorphous with CaO
and BaO, and gaining the advantage of a simple formula, I have classed
it with these bases. From the above oxygen-ratio, we obtain for the two
minerals the general expression:
RO. Mn02-|-x MnO2
in which x MnO2 stands for the amount of peroxide of manganese which
must be considered as mechanically intermixed with the compound
RO.MnO2. For the potassa-psilomalane from Ilmenau, Rammelsberg
deduced the formula 2 RO. Mn02-|-x MnO2.
For No. 20 we finally obtain the expression:
(MnO. BaO. HO). Mn02-|-6.37 per cent, of MnO2
mechanically intermixed.
For No. 21
(MnO. BaO. CaO. IIO).Mn02--3.84 per cent, of MnO2
mechanically intermixed.
#
Uniting in analysis of No. 22, the free oxygen with a portion of the pro-
toxide of manganese to the formation of peroxide, we have:
Peroxide of manganese 62.41 contains O 22.92
Protoxide of mangauese 19.08 " " 4.29)
Baryta 2.75 « " 0.52V 4.84
Oxide of cobalt 0.15 " " 0.03)
Water 15.61 « 13 97
100.00
The formula
(MnO. CoO. BaO). 2 Mn02-!-3 HO-l-x MnO2
requires
Peroxide of manganese (mixed) 9.61 Oxygen-ratio.
Peroxide of manganese (combined) 52.80 contains O 19.36 4
OF ARKANSAS. J(J9
Protoxide of manganese 10.08 " M)
Baryta 2.75 " "V 4.84 1
Oxide of cobalt 0.15 " ")
"Water 16.33 " " 14.52 3
100.72
This is the same formula which Rammelsberg established for the com-
position of the wad from llubeland (v. 2d supplement, p. 167).
Proceeding in the same manner with the analysis of I\To. 22, that is,
rejecting silicic acid and peroxide of iron, and calculating the remainder
for 100, Ave have:
Protoxide of manganese ; 8G.9G
Oxygen 9.20
Lime 2.12
Magnesia 0.22
Water 1 .50
100.00
80.96 parts of protoxide of manganese consist of 67.41 of manganese and
19.55 of oxygen; hence we have, in toto 67.41 manganese to 28.75 oxygen,
corresponding to the ratio 69.68 Mn : 29.72 O;
the compound Mn203 requires 69.68 Mn : 30.42 O,
so that the' mineral may be considered as sesquioxide of manganese, or
braunite, under the supposition that we are justified in rejecting lime,
magnesia, and water as adventitious. But if these bases have to be taken
into consideration, and the free oxygen is united with a portion of the
protoxide of manganese to the formation of peroxide, we have:
Peroxide of manganese 50.10 contains O 18.40
Protoxide of manganese 46.06 " " 10.36^
Lime 2.12 << « 0.601
Magnesia 0.22 " " 0.08 f
Water 1.50 " " 1.33 J
Here the oxygen-ratio of RO : MnO2 is nearly as 4 : 6, which would lead
to the formula
4 (MnO. CaO. MgO. HO). 3 MnO*
I am not at present prepared to pronounce in favor of any of these
views, but as I am continuing" my investigations into the composition of
the massive manganese-minerals, I hope to find myself soon enabled to
advance some well-founded views on the subject.
170 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
ORES OF IRON.
No. 25. Yellow ochre, from the St. Francis side of Crowley's ridge, near
David Schultze's, between township 18 and 19, range 8, Greene county.
A loosely aggregated, amorphous, homogeneous rock, of gold-yellow
color; very friable; feels gritty between the fingers; becomes brick-red on
ignition:
Composition dried at 220 deg. F:
Fine sand 71.081
Sesquioxide of iron 23.640
Alumina trace
Water 5.094
99.815
The air-dried substance lost 1.15 per cent, of moisture at 220 deg. F.
This ochre forms only a small deposit in the quarternary rocks of Greene
county, and is evidently nothing but a fine sand impregnated with hydrated
sesquioxide of iron, which is the coloring principle. The amount of iron
(15.55 per cent.) is too small to constitute this ochre an iron ore, even if
the deposit should prove to be very extensive; but it may be profitably
used as a paint, both in its natural state and calcined, since it is very soft
and uniform throughout, and hardly needs any washing in order to remove
the coarser particles.
No. 26. Limonite, from Old Jackson, Lawrence county.
The ore consists of contorted, more or less concentric layers of brown-
ish-red, steel-gray, and brownish black color; it contains amygdaloidal
cavities filled either with stalactitic, glossy red hematite, or with yellow
hydrated peroxide of iron.
Dissolves in hydrochloric acid with evolution of chlorine.
Composition of air-dried ore:
Clay, sand, and silica- • • «< 15.069
Sesquioxide of iron 58.278
Sesquioxide of manganese 13.843
Alumina trace
Oxide of cobalt trace
Carbonate of magnesia 0.664
OF ARKANSAS. 171
Carbonate of lime ■> trace
Water 12.080
90.934
58.278 parts of peroxide of iron contains 40.79 parts of metallic iron.
• No. 27. Limonite, from Dr. Payne's land, Pocahontas, Randolph county.
Massive; reddish-brown, with yellow spots on surface; rather earthy in
appearance; evolves argillaceous odor when breathed upon, and adheres
to the tongue. Powder dark brownish-red, becoming rather more red on
ignition.
Composition of air-dried ore:
Clay and sand 21.100
Sesquioxide of iron • G9.03G
Sesquioxide of manganese 1 .488
Alumina trace
Carbonate of lime trace
Water 7.590
99.214
69.03G parts of sesquioxide of iron contain 48.33 parts of metallic iron.
No. 28. Limonite, from Alfred Bevens & Co., Lawrence county.
Massive; of earthy appearance and yellow color on and near the sur-
face, in the interior brownish-yellow and more compact; evolves strong
argillaceous odor when breathed upon; adheres to the tongue. Powder
dirty brownish-yellow.
Composition of air-dried ore:
Silica 3.099
Sesquioxide of iron 79.GG3
Sesquioxide of manganese trace
Alumina 5.203
Carbonate of lime 0.55G
Water 11 .397
99.918
79.GG3 parts of sesquioxide of iron contain 55.76 parts of metallic iron.
No. 29. Limonite, so-called "pot and kidney ore," from Alfred Bevens
& Co., Lawrence county.
Massive; compact, stalactitic and reniform; surface smooth, of reddish-
172 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
brown and blackish-brown color, with occasional yellow spots; fracture
dull, dark reddish-brown; emits argillaceous odor when breathed upon;
adheres slightly to the tongue.
Composition of air-dried ore:
Silica and clay 3.090
Sesquioxide of iron 83.920
Sesquioxide of manganese trace
Alumina 1.710
Lime trace
Water • 11.580
100.300
83.920 parts of sesquioxide of iron contain 59.74 parts of metallic iron.
No. 30. Limonite, four miles south-west of Imboden's ferry, Randolph
county.
Exterior crust dirty reddish-yellow, earthy; in the interior dark bluish-
brown, consisting of indistinctly concentric, contorted layers; loosely
aggregated; rather soft; evolves strong argillaceous color when breathed
upon; strongly adhering to the tongue; powder of a dirty brownish olive-
green color, becoming dark reddish-brown on ignition.
Composition of air-dried ore:
Insoluble silicates 7.740
Sesquioxide of iron 66.808
Sesquioxide of manganese 11.472
Alumina 1 295
Lime trace
Phosphoric acid trace
Water 13.337
100.652
66.808 parts of sesquioxide of iron contain 46.76 parts of metallic iron.
No. 31. Limonite, four miles west of Salem, Fulton county.
Massive; very compact; on surface brownish-yellow; on fracture
brownish-red, with steel-gray spots and stripes; fracture subconchoidal:
evolves argillaceous odor when breathed upon; adheres to the tongue.
Composition of air-dried ore:
Insoluble silicates and sand 20.722
Sesquioxide of iron 68.543
Sesquioxide of manganese 1.221
OF ARKANSAS.
173
Alumina
Lime • • •
Water • •
3.590
trace
8.259
95.155
68.543 parts of sesquioxidc of iron contain 47.98 parts of metallic iron.
-o-
The preceding six ores are all very good iron ores, and valuable for
manufacturing purposes if procurable in sufficient quantity. With regard
to Nos. 26 and 30, it is to be remarked that the yield of metal will be
increased by an intermixture with the manganese, reducible from the ses-
quioxidc of manganese, which forms with the iron an alloy, valued very
highly by some iron-men as being particularly adapted for the manufac-
ture of a superior quality of steel.
The following table shows, at a glance, the richness and comparative
value of the ores:
100 parts of ore from
Old Jackson, No. 26
Dr. Payne's land, No. 27-
Alf. Bevens & Co., No. 28.
same No. 29
Randolph county, No. 30-
Fulton county, No. 31 • • •
r~
Contain
Iron.
->
40.79
48.33
55.76
59.74
46.76
47.98
Manganese.
9.64
1.04
trace
trace
7.99
0.85
Total.
50.43
49.37
55.76
59.74
54.75
48.83
The absence of sulphur and phosphoric acid in these ores is a further
recommendation for smelting purposes, as the presence of these impuri-
ties is apt to injure the quality of the iron.
174 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
/
ROCKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ORES OF ZINC
AND LEAD.
A careful examination of the rocks in which the ores of zinc and lead
occur, and of the substances which are found associated with them in the
veins and crevices, will probably throw some light on the origin of these
metalliferous deposits, and enable the geologist to form a correct idea of
their mode of formation. This was one of the objects we had in view in
submitting the below enumerated rocks to chemical analysis. Want of
time, however, prevented me from carrying on the investigation to a
sufficient extent, and I was obliged to defer to a future period the comple-
tion of a sufficient number of analyses to enable us to draw satisfactory
conclusions from them.
f No. 32. Dolomite, which cuts out the ore at the Hoppe mine, Lawrence
county.
A pale yellowish-gray, compact dolomite; fracture subconchoidal; very
hard; brittle; powder of a light cream-color.
Composition, dried at 230 deg. F:
Insoluble silicates 6.701
Carbonate of lime » 53.998
Carbonate of magnesia 35.059
Carbonate of iron 2.253
Carbonate of zinc 1.978
Potassa 0.106
100.095
The air-dried rock lost 0.37 per cent, of moisture at 230 deg. F.
No. 33. Dolomite, with and below the zinc-deposit at the Koch mine,
Lawrence county.
A dark yellowish-gray dolomite, compact and close-textured; fracture
subconchoidal; very brittle; gives out a peculiar bituminous odor when
struck with the hammer; powder ash-colored.
Composition, dried at 250 deg. F:
Insoluble silicates 10.935
Iron, alumina, and trace of manganese- • 1.482
OF AH KANSAS.
175
Carbonate of lime 50.075
Carbonate of magnesia 32.487
Potassa 0.130
Organic matter, and loss 4.985
100.000
The air-dried rock lost 0.10 per cent of moisture at 250 deg. F.
No. 34. Dolomite, in which occur the zinc and lead ores at Wood's
mine, Marion county.
A grayish-white, fine-grained dolomite; lustre sub-resinous from minute
crystalline, shining particles dispersed through the rock; easily reduced to
powder; powder grayish-white.
Composition, dried at 230 deg. F:
Silicia, with a trace of clay 3.191
Alumina, with trace of iron 3.023
Carbonate of lime 50.041
Carbonate of magnesia 42.317
Carbonate of zinc 1.950
Potassa, with trace of soda 0.435
100.957
The air-dried rock lost 0.23 per cent, of moisture at 230 de°- F
No. 35. Red clay, occurring in veins and pockets in dolomite and
imbedding the zinc ore at the Bath mine, Lawrence county.
A ferruginous clay of dirty yellowish-red color; soft; easily crumbling
to powder between the fingers; when burnt, assumes a bright orange-red
color.
Composition, dried at 250 deg. F:
Silicates, insoluble in hydrochloric acid« • 84.616
Sesquioxide of iron 4.303
Sesquioxide of manganese 0.236
Alumina 3.515
Carbonate of zinc 0.380
Carbonate of lime 0.275
Organic matter, and water 6.447
99.772
The air-dried clay lost 4.32 per cent of moisture at 250 deg. F.
On account of the bright color which the clay assumes on burning, it
176 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
might become useful as a common paint, though the amount of oxide of
iron present is rather small.
No. 3G. Argillaceous rock, from the crevices of the New York company's
lead mines, Marion county.
Massive, amorphous; color pale yellowish-white and reddish-white;
very light and soft; can be cut with a knife like chalk; on the surface,
covered with a crust of peroxide of iron; powder of a pale reddish cream
color; assumes on ignition a fine pink color.
Composition, dried at 230 deg. F:
Insoluble silicates, mainly a very fine soft clay 96.095
Peroxide of iron, and alumina, with a little phosphoric acid. 1.795
Lime 0.148
Manganese, magnesia, and potassa traces
Water 2.055
• ' 100.093
The air-dried rock lost 0.73 per cent, of moisture at 230 deg. F.
No. 37. Argillaceous rock, associated with galena, at Houghton's dig-
gings, Lawrence county.
Bears a great resemblance to the preceding rock in general appearance.
Its origin is probably the same, occurring, as it does, under similar condi-
tions; but it appears to have come in contact, after its deposition, with liquids
containing oxide of zinc in solution. The presence of about 8 per cent,
of oxide of zinc in this clay points to the deposition of carbonate of zinc
somewhere near Houghton's lead diggings.
Massive, amorphous; color ochre-yellow; light and soft; can be cut with
a knife like chalk; covered on the surface with a thin layer of red clay,
resembling No. 35; powder of a dirty grayish-yellow color.
Composition, dried at 230 deg. F:
Clay and sand 74.841
Peroxide of iron 2.383
Alumina 8.213
Phosphoric acid 0.214
Oxide of zinc, with trace of manganese 8.262
Carbonate of lime 0.709
Carbonate of magnesia 1.337
Water and carbonic acid (?), expelled by heat- • 3.844
99.803
The air-dried clay lost 3.92 percent, of moisture at 230 de°\ F.
OF ARKANSAS.
177
As no carbonic acid determination was made, it remains undecided
whether the oxide of zinc occurs in the rock as such, or in combination
with carbonic acid; most likely as a basic carbonate.
-o-
The foregoing analyses need no comment. Nos. 32, 33, and 34 are
true dolomites; the small amount of carbonate of zinc, which occurs in
two of them, is by no means surprising if we consider that the deposition
of carbonate of zinc in the crevices of the rock was most likely effected
by means of liquids containing the salt of zinc in solution; and whether
these liquids actually percolated through the dolomite or entered the
crevices by some other way, the deposition of a small quantity of the salt
in the immediately adjoining rock is equally well explicable. Gustav
Bischof mentions several instances of this kind {Elements of chem. and
phys. geology. Engl, edition, vol. 1, p. 165.)
LIGNITES.
Both varieties of lignite, the analyses of which are given below, occur
in the same bed, interstratified in the quarternary deposits of Crowley's
ridge, Greene county.
No. 38. Lignite, from the Beech-branch of Cache, near Gainesville,
Greene county.
Color light brown to blackish-brown; woody structure eminently pre-
served, laminated; on fracture, partly shining, partly dull; may be cut with
a knife, cut surface shining; very brittle; on application of a gentle heat,
evolves empyreumatic odor and assumes the appearance of charcoal.
Composition, dried at 212 to 220 deg. F:
Volatile matter 41.030
Fixed carbon (charcoal) 57.405
Ash 1.505
100.00
The air-dried lignite lost 14.89 per cent, of moisture at 220 deg. F.
A qualitative examination of the ash showed the presence of clay and
silica, sulphate of lime, iron, alumina, and potassa.
12
17g GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
No. 39. Lignite, from same locality as No. 38.
Color dark grayish-brown; woody structure only partly preserved, in-
distinctly laminated; fracture dull; may be cut with a knife, cut surface
shining.
Composition, dried ot 212 to 220 deg. F:
Volatile matter 31.903
Fixed carbon (charcoal) 53.737
Ash 14.300
100.000
The air- dried lignite lost 12.774 per cent, of moisture at 220 deg. F.
A qualitative examination of the ash showed the presence of clay (pre-
ponderating) and silica, sulphate of lime, iron, alumina, and potassa.
The small amount of ash which these lignites contain, would make
them useful as fuel, if timber were scarce in that part of Arkansas where
they occur, or as a substitute for stone-coal, in cases where the use of the
latter is preferable to that of wood.
NITRE EARTHS.
Of the samples of nitre earth which were collected on the first geo-
logical excursion, I made a complete analysis of only one; two have been
analyzed by Dr. Owen,* who determined all the various constituents
directly, with the exception of the nitric acid, the quantity of which
was estimated by the loss. The importance of the subject made it
appear desirable to have a direct determination of this acid in the two
samples referred to; they are given in Nos. 41 and 42. For the method
employed, see "methods of analysis," p. 190.
No. 40. Nitre earth; labeled "white nitre earth formed from decompo-
sition of bottom rock, Marion county."
A soft, calcareous earth, of pale yellowish-red color, feeling slightly
gritty between the fingers; of sandy appearance, containing fragments of
* See Dr. Owen's Report.
OF ARKANSAS. 179
soft dolomite, and excrements of bats or birds. It is very easily reduced
to a fine powder, which feels soft between the fingers.
Composition dried at 2 10 deg. F:
Matter insoluble in hydrochloric acid 11.510
Oxide of iron, phosphates of alumina, lime and
magnesia 5.908
Lime 22.929
Magnesia 14.884
Potassa 1.106
Chlorine 0.062
Sulphuric acid 1.375
Nitric acid 0.973
Carbonic acid 38.487
Organic matter, and loss 2.790
100.000
The air-dried earth lost 1.681 per cent, of moisture at 240 deg. F.
Another portion of the air-dried earth was treated with distilled water,
until fresh portions of the solvent ceased to take up any fixed matter.
The solutions were united, evaporated to dryness, and the residue sub-
jected to analysis. 100 parts of the air-dried earth yielded 3.936 parts of
solid, soluble matter, at 220 deg., F., which had the following compo-
sition:
Lime 1.013
Magnesia 0.180
Totassa 0.066
Chlorine 0.012
Sulphuric acid 1.338
Nitric acid 0.956
Organic matter and water 0.371
3.936
Hence it follows, that from 100 lbs of the air-dried earth 1.791 lbs of
nitre may be obtained, which consist of 0.956 lbs of nitric acid and 0.835
lbs of potassa.
No. 41. Nitre-determination, in a nitre earth, labeled " laminated nitre
earth from a cave in Marion county."
100 parts of the air-dried earth were found to yield 9.892 parts of solid
IgQ GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
matter to the solvent action of water; this extract contained 1.33 parts of
anhydrous nitric acid, corresponding to 2.493 parts of nitre.
The air-dried earth lost 7.59 per cent, of moisture at 212 deg. F.
No. 42. Nitre-determination, in a nitre earth, labeled " red nitre earth
above and below the laminated nitre earth, same cave."
The watery extract from 100 parts of air-dried earth contains 3.305
parts of anhydrous nitric acid, corresponding to 6.195 parts of nitre.
According to Dr. Owen, the air-dried earth lost 3.15 per cent, of mois-
ture at 300 deg. F.
This nitre-earth is by far the richest of the three, a ton yielding nearly
124 lbs of nitre.
WELL AND RIVER WATER.
The examinations of these waters having been performed in the field,
with comparatively limited means, only qualitative analyses could be
made, and in these even, regard could only be paid to such constituents
as occur in not inconsiderable quantities. I hope to be enabled to report
at a future period full quantitative analyses of the water of the principal
rivers and mineral springs.
No. 43. Water of the St. Francis river, taken at Chalk Bluffs, Greene
countv.
The ordinary reagents showed only the presence of
Bi-carbonate of lime, and
Bi-carbonate of magnesia.
No. 44. Water from a well on A. L. Stuart's farm, Greene county.
This water is remarkably pure, containing no lime, and only a small
quantity of
Bi-carbonate of magnesia, and a trace of
Chloride of magnesium, or an alkaline chloride.
No. 45. Water from a well on Wm. Lane's farm, Greene county.
This is also a very pure water, containing only minute quantities of
Bi-carbonate of lime, and
Bi-carbonate of magnesia.
OF ARKANSAS. \$\
No. 40. Water from a well on J. P. Harris3 farm, dug through shell-
marl of the Loess into gravel below.
Contains a considerable amount of
Bi-carbonate of lime, and
Bi-carbonate of magnesia.
No. 47. Water from a well on Thos. McElrath's farm, sunk in the bot-
tom land, Jackson county.
Contains small quantities of
Bi-carbonate of lime, and
Bi-carbonate of magnesia.
The test with chloride of gold showed the presence of a trace of or-
ganic matter.
No. 48. Water of White river, taken at Jacksonport, Jackson county.
The water contains not inconsiderable a quantity of
Bicarbonate of lime; only traces of
Bi-carbonate of magnesia, and
Chlorides.
No. 49. Water from a well on Mr. Cobb's farm, Oil Trough bottom, 6
miles west of Jacksonport.
Contains small quantities of
Bi-carbonate of lime, and
Bi-carbonate of magnesia, and a comparatively large amount of
Chlorides.
No. 50. Water of North fork of White river, taken at Mr. Ware's mill,
Izard county.
Contains considerable quantities of
Bi-carbonate of lime, and
Bi-carbonate of magnesia.
No. 51. Water from a spring, being one of the heads of Big creek,
taken near J. Young's farm, Marion county.
Contains a large amount of
Bi-carbonate of lime, and
Bi-carbonate of magnesia.
No. 52. Water of the "Mammoth Spring," head of main Spring river,
Fulton county.
X82 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
Temperature of the spring on the 10th of December, 1857, 57 deg. F.,
the temperature of the atmosphere being 18 deg. F.
The ordinary reagents showed only the presence of considerable quan-
tities of
Bi-carbonate of lime, and
Bi-carbonate of magnesia.
APPENDIX.
After having brought to a close the foregoing analyses, to be embodied
in the present Report, I found time to examine a lew more of the speci-
mens collected during our first field-excursion. The results could not be
reported in their proper places without re-arranging and in part re-writing
the contents of the foregoing pages; I, therefore, give them a place in
this appendix.
No. 53. Pearlspar, forming veins in the dolomite (No. 32) of the Iloppe
ore-bank.
Crystallized, crystals partly interwoven, the characteristic curved sur-
faces eminently developed; color white to pale flesh-color; covered on sur-
face with a thin layer of peroxide of iron. Powder, pale reddish-white.
Composition, dried at 220 deg. F:
Silicates, insoluble in hydrochloric acid 0.219
Sesquioxide of iron 1.1G8
Carbonate of lime 55.052
Carbonate of magnesia 43. 560
99.999
No. 54. Massive smithsonite, from Cury creek diggings, township 15,
range 5, sections 35 and 3G, Independence county.
The ore consists chiefly of a dirty yellowish-gray and bluish-gray cellu-
lar mass, the cells mostly of cubical shape as if formed by the destruction
of crystals of galena; they are partly filled with dark-gray smithsonite,
forming botryoidal incrustations on the walls of the cells, partly with an
184 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
amorphous, yellow, soft variety of smithsonite; powder of dirty cream-
color.
Occurs in fissures in dolomite.
Composition of air-dried ore:
Silica • 2.367
Sesquioxide of iron . 2.750
Oxide of zinc 55.238
Sulphuret of zinc- • '• 0.328
Lime 2.158
Magnesia 1 .065
Carbonic acid and water 34.738
98.644
55.238 oxide of zinc contain 44.334 metallic zinc. A very good ore for
smelting, intermediate between ?so. 4 and No. 3, of the Bath mine.
No. 55. iua?dve smithsonite, from Mr. Smith's land, township 17,
range 2 west, section x0, Lawrence county.
A massive, soft, earthy rock, of white, reddish-white, and pale-yellow
color, containing amygdaloidal cavities, which are, in part, filled with
incrustations of botryoidal smithsonite; the surface of the latter fre-
quently covered with a thin layer of peroxide of iron. The rock contains
crystals of galena imbedded.
Composition of the earthy, air-dried ore:
White sand, and clay (?) 26.454
Sesquioxide of iron, and alumina 2.193
Oxide of zinc 27.600
Sulphuret of lead 0.793
Lime 8.048
Magnesia 3.260
Carbonic acid, water, and loss 31.652
100.000
27.600 parts of oxide of zinc contains 22.15 parts of metallic zinc. Not
a rich ore, but equal to the Silesian ore No. 11, of the table on page 156.
No. 56. Smithsonite, from the Koch mine.
For the subjoined analysis, pieces of the pure, botryoidal smithsonite
were taken, which occur as an incrustation on the compact ore.
Concentric incrustation, internal structure semi-fibrous; color yellowish-
gray, the outermost layer dirty reddish-gray; hardness between 4 and 5:
fracture conchoidal; lustre vitreous; subtranslucent; brittle.
OF ARKANSAS. 1£5
Composition:
Silica 1 .449
Oxide of zinc 62.SG4
Oxide of iron trace
Lime 1 .'322
Magnesia trace
Carbonic acid, (loss on ignition) 34.095
99.730
The rational composition is, perhaps:
Silicate of zinc 2.748
Carbonate of zinc 94.925
" « lime •' 2.360
100.033
which requires 34.398 per cent, of carbonic acid, instead of 34.095, as
found.
No. 57. Nitre earth; labeled "average nitre-earth, from J. T. Thomp-
son's nitre-cave on Cave creek, Newton county."
Time did not, at present, permit more than a qualitative examination
of the watery extract of this earth. It was found to contain:
A large amount of sulphate of lime;
Nitric acid;
Magnesia;
Potassa;
Chlorine, and a very small quantity of
Phosphoric acid.
As soon as circumstances allow, I shall report a complete analysis of
this earth.
188 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
METHODS OF ANALYSIS.
■o-
In the following pages, I propose giving a short exposition of the
methods employed in the analysis of the ores and rocks described in this
Report; not for the purpose of serving as a guide to those engaged in
similar investigations, but merely to furnish those who are able to judge
with a scale, by which to measure the reliability of the results. For this
reason, I shall forbear entering into details, and confine myself to giving
a general outline.
SMITHSONITE,
Impurities: insoluble silicates; iron; alumina, lime; magnesia.
I. The pulverized mineral is treated with hydrochloric acid, the solution
evaporated to dryness over a water-bath, residue treated with dilute
hydrochloric acid, and insoluble silicates collected on filter.
II. The filtrate is oxidized with nitric acid, excess of acid partly
removed by evaporation, solution nearly neutralized with carbonate of
soda, then iron and alumina precipitated with carbonate of baryta; pre-
cipitate collected on filter, dissolved in dilute hydrochloric acid, baryta
removed by sulphuric acid, and iron and alumina precipitated with
ammonia; the ignited and weighed precipitate is dissolved in hydrochloric
acid, the solution reduced with metallic zinc, and the iron determined
volumetrically with chamaelon mineral.
III. The filtrate from the treatment with carbonate of baryta is precipi-
tated with sulphuric acid, to remove baryta, the solution neutralized with
ammonia, and precipitated with sulphhydrate of ammonia; liquid with
precipitate allowed to rest (in a well-stoppered bottle) for about 24 hours,
sulphuret of zinc collected on filter, washed with water containing sulph-
hydrate of ammonia, dissolved in hydrochloric acid, and precipitated with
a hot solution of carbonate of soda (from the washings, traces of zinc
OF ARKANSAS. 187
removed by sulphhydrate of ammonia); the carbonate of zinc washed with
hot water, and ignited.
IV. The filtrate from the sulphuret of zinc is acidified with hydrochloric
acid, the sulphur separated by filtration, the lime precipitated with oxalate
of ammonia, and in the filtrate the magnesia determined as phosphate of
magnesia-ammonia.
For practical purposes it is unnecessary to ascertain the relative quan-
tities of all the different impurities, and the following method, which was
employed in the analysis of Nos. 4, 6, and 7, and which recommends
itself by great simplicity, may be advantageously followed:
I. The mineral is ignited, and the amount of carbonic acid and water
ascertained by the loss in weight.
II. The ignited substance is digested in a beaker, covered with a watch-
glass, with a mixture of ammonia and carbonate of ammonia, the residue
collected on a filter, ignited, and weighed. The difference in weight
expresses the amount of oxide of zinc extracted.
III. The residue consists of silica, alumina, iron, lime, and magnesia,
and also contains silicate of zinc, if this compound was present in the ore.
Its presence is easily detected, by treating a portion of the residue before
the blowpipe on charcoal.
From the fact that silicate of zinc is insoluble in ammonia, it follows
that this mode of analysis is not admissible for ores containing more than
a few per cent, of this compound.
Schwarz (see Mohr " Lehrbuch der Titrirmethodc, part I, p. 231, and
part II, p. 74,'1) recommends to precipitate the zinc from the ammoniacal
solution (II) by means of sulphhydrate of ammonia, to treat the sulphuret
of zinc with sesquichloride of iron which is thus reduced to protdchloride,
and to determine the amount of the latter with chamaeleon mineral; 2
equivalents of iron correspond to 1 equivalent of zinc. I have not suc-
ceeded in obtaining satisfactory results by means of this method. The
reasons for my failure will appear from the following considerations: It is
of the utmost importance that the excess of sulphhydrate of ammonia,
employed in precipitating the zinc, be thoroughly removed by washing; if
this is neglected, a portion of the sesquichloride of iron will become
reduced at the expense of this compound, and the amount of zinc, conse-
quently, be found too high. Now, it is extremely difficult to remove the
last trace of the precipitant by washing; even in using boiling water it
required ntarhj two days' icasliing, and I have no doubt that during this
time a perceptible quantity of sulphuret of zinc becomes oxidized and
passes into the washings as sulphate of zinc. If dilute ammonia is used
188 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
instead of boiling water, the process proceeds still slower, though the
danger of loss consequent on oxidation becomes lessened, and perhaps
entirely prevented. At any rate, the length of time required in effecting
a thorough washing is a serious inconvenience. I should mention here
that I took the precaution of allowing the precipitate to settle before
throwing it on a filter. The next step consists in placing the filter with
the moist precipitate in a stoppered glass cylinder containing neutral
sesquichloride of iron and dilute sulphuric acid [the addition of the latter
is required in order to effect a complete decomposition]; in doing so, 1
invariably noticed a strong odor of sulphuretted hydrogen; the escaping gas
does, of course, not act on the sesquichloride of iron, and the amount of
zinc will be found, proportionally, too low. The method, therefore, is
possessed of two sources of error, acting in a contrary sense; the two
errors may, perchance, counterbalance each other, and the result may,
consequently, be the correct one; but the method can hardly be relied
upon — at least not as far as my experience goes. For this reason the
results, thus obtained, have not been embodied in the Report.
PSILOMELANE,
Containing : water, free oxygen; silica; peroxide of iron, alumina; protox-
ide of manganese, cobalt, baryta, and lime.
I. To determine the amount of free oxygen, I used the method of Pre-
senilis and Will, with the modification of Mohr; it combines great sim-
plicity with accuracy, and requires but little time. From 1.5 to 2.5 gram-
mes of the dried mineral are introduced into a Florence flask, a measured
volume of normal oxalic acid and some concentrated sulphuric acid added,
and heated over a spirit lamp until the evolution of gas has ceased; if the
ore is decomposable only with difficulty, the liquid is poured off from the
dark-colored residue, some more normal oxalic acid and sulphuric acid
added, and heated again until the residue appears white, or nearly so; the
liquid thus obtained is diluted to 500 cubic centimeters; 100 cub. cent, are
taken out with a pipette, largely diluted with water, sulphuric acid added,
and the excess of normal oxalic acid determined volumetrically with
chamaeleon mineral; the same process is repeated with another 100 cub.
cent, of the solution; subtracting the undecomposed normal oxalic acid
from the amount originally used, we obtain the quantity decomposed by
the mineral. 1 cub. cent, of normal oxalic acid is equal to 0.008 gram-
mes of free oxygen.
II. Water and oxygen above the composition Mn304 are determined by
ignition.
OF ARKANSAS. J go
III. The mineral is treated with strong hydrochloric acid, solution evapo-
rated to dryness, residue treated with dilute hydrochloric acid, and silica
collected on filter.
IV. Filtrate diluted with water, and baryta precipitated with sulphuric
acid.
V. Filtrate nearly neutralized with carbonate of soda, and iron and
alumina precipitated with carbonate of baryta; separated as described
above, in the analysis of smithsonite.
VI. After removal of baryta with sulphuric acid, the filtrate is neutral-
ized with ammonia and precipitated with sulphhydrate of ammonia in a
well-closed bottle; the precipitate is allowed to settle, collected on a filter,
washed with water containing sulphhydrate of ammonia, and digested with
dilute hydrochloric acid [the small quantity of sulphurct of cobalt which
remains undissolved is collected on a filter and strongly ignited]; from the
solution the manganese is precipitated with carbonate of soda, and the
precipitate ignited until the weight remains constant.
VII. In the filtrate from the sulphurets, the lime is determined as usual.
LIMONITE,
Containing : Insoluble silicates; water; sesquioxides of iron and manga-
nese, alumina; phosphoric acid; lime, and magnesia.
I. Water determined by ignition.
II. The pulverized mineral is boiled with strong hydrochloric acid until
the residue appears colorless; the whole evaporated to dryness; the dry mass
treated with dilute hydrochloric acid, and insoluble silicates collected on
filter.
III. The filtrate is diluted to 250 cub. cent.; of these
50 cub. cent, are used for the determination of iron by means of chamadeon
mineral.
50 or 100 cub. cent, are used for the determination of phosphoric acid by
means of molybdate of ammonia.
100 cub. cent, are nearly neutralized with carbonate of soda, acetate of
soda added and heated to ebullition until the liquid appears colorless; the
precipitate is collected on a filter, washed, dissolved in hydrochloric acid,
and reprecipated with ammonia; it contains all the iron, alumina, and
phosphoric acid; the filtrate is treated as in IV.
IV. To the filtrate some hypochlorite of soda is added, and enough
acetic acid to produce acid reaction, and allowed to rest for 24 hours; the
peroxide of manganese is collected on a filter, and ignited [if the precipi-
J90 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
tate is considerable, it has to be dissolved in hydrochloric acid and precipi-
tated with carbonate of soda].
V. To the filtrate some hydrochloric acid is added, and heat applied until
the odors of chlorine and acetic acid have disappeared; the lime is then
precipitated with oxalate of ammonia, and from the filtrate the magnesia
with phosphate of soda.
DOLOMITE,
Containing : Insoluble silicates; carbonates of lime, and magnesia; sesqui-
oxide of iron with trace of manganese; alumina, potassa.
I. The mineral is dissolved in hydrochloric acid, solution evaposated to
dryness^ residue treated with water acidified with hydrochloric acid, and
insoluble silicates and silica collected on filter.
II. To the filtrate a little chlorine water is added, to oxidize the man-
ganese, then precipitated with ammonia; the precipitate, containing all
the iron, alumina, and manganese, and a little lime and magnesia, is re-
dissolved in hydrochloric acid and again treated as above. This precipi-
tate is free from the alkaline earths. It is dissolved in hydrochloric acid
and the solution divided into 2 equal portions:
In the first portion iron plus alumina are determined by ammonia;
In the second portion the iron alone is determined by chamseleon mineral.
III. The two filtrates, and washings, are united, and about ^th of the
liquid used for the determination of lime by oxalate of ammonia, and that
of magnesia by phosphate of soda.
IV. For the determination of the alkali a fresh portion of the mineral
is treated with repeated portions of boiling acetic acid; the filtrates are
united, evaporated, transferred to a platina capsule, and ignited until the
empyreumatic odor of decomposing acetic acid disappears; the residue is
exhausted with boiling water, the liquid mixed with some oxalic acid,
evaporated to dryness, ignited; the residue is again treated with boiling
water: the filtrate contains the potassa as carbonate; it is converted into
chloride, ignited and weighed.
DETERMINATION OF NITRIC ACID.
To ascertain the quantity of nitric acid in the nitre earths subjected to
analysis, I proceeded as follows:
100 grammes of the earth are pulverized, and digested over the water-
bath with repeatedly renewed portions of distilled water until all the
soluble constituents of the earth are taken up by this liquid. The solution
OF ARKANSAS.
191
thus obtained is reduced to a small volume by evaporation, and an aliquot
part of the concentrated liquid evaporated to a syrupy consistency in a
porcelain crucible, over a water-bath. [It is nut possible to evaporate the
watery extract to dryness by means of the water-bath; the extract assumes
the consistency and appearance of honey, without solidifying].
Some pure, soft iron-wire is then dissolved in strong hydrochloric acid,
with the necessary precautions for the exclusion of atmospheric air, and
the crucible containing the extract thrown into the solution of protochloride
of iron; heat is applied to expel the nitric oxide, the liquid diluted with
water, and the amount of unoxidized protoxide of iron determined by
chamaileon mineral.
Ox A L E N A.
In the different specimens of galena which have been analyzed, the
amount of lead was not directly determined; but since it was proved by
the qualitative examination of these specimens, that no other impurities,
besides iron and silver, were present, the amount of lead can easily be
ascertained by subtracting from 100 the sum of these impurities plus the
amount of sulphur.
For the determination of the silver, the following method was pursued:
50 grammes of the finely pulverized ore are intimately mixed with 50
grammes of carbonate of potassa, 25 grammes of cream of tartar, and 10
grammes of metallic iron (small iron tacks); the mixture is placed in an
iron crucible, covered with a layer of borax, the crucible closed with an
iron lid, and then exposed to a bright red heat until the mass flows quietly.
The contents of the crucible are then poured into a conical iron mould,
when the metallic lead falls to the bottom, forming a well-defined metal-
lic button which is easily separated from the slag by a blow with a ham-
mer. The weight of the button of lead varied from 39 to 40 grammes.
Of the metal thus obtained, about 5 grammes are subjected to cupellation,
and the button of silver is weighed on a very delicate balance. .
The iron was determined in the following manner: The finely pulverized
galena is oxidized with strong nitric acid; to the mass a few drops of con-
centrated sulphuric acid are added, and heat applied until the excess of
nitric acid is completely removed. The dry mass is treated with water,
the insoluble sulphate of lead collected on a filter, and washed with dilute
sulphuric acid. To the filtrate a piece of metallic zinc is added, in order
to reduce the sesquioxide of iron to protoxide, and the amount of the lat-
ter determined by chamaileon mineral.
REPO 11 T
OF A
GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANOE
OF A PART OF THE STATE OF
A. R K A 1ST S A S >
MADE DURING THE YEARS 1857 AND 1858
B Y
EDWAED T. COX,
3SISTANT GEOLOGIST.
13
INTRODUCTORY LETTER.
-o-
Office of the Arkansas Survey, )
New Harmon}/, Indiana. October 15th, 1858. J
David Dale Owen, M. D. —
Dear Sir: I herewith submit my Report of a Geological Reconntis-
sance, made in the State of Arkansas, during the fall of 1857, and summer
of 1858; prosecuted in accordance with instructions received from you, at
different times, while progressing with the survey.
Allow me, also, to acknowledge here, the many obligations I owe to
you for valuable counsel and aid, while carrying forward the survey, under
your direction.
Most respectfully yours,
E. T. COX.
INSTRUCTIONS.
The following are instructions received, on different occasions, from Dr.
D. D. Owen, Principal Geologist of the State of Arkansas:
Instructions, dated Ociobei-, 1857.
<• After separating from corps No. 1, you will proceed by the most
feasible route between Cache and Black rivers, through the north and
north-west part of Greene, south-east part of Randolph, the eastern part
of Lawrence, and the north part of Jackson county, and make a general
geological reconnoissance of those portions of the State of Arkansas.
You will keep your camp on some main route, and make lateral excur-
sions to any points of interest between Black river and the eastern branch
of Cache river.
Along the line of your route, you will endeavor to see the gentlemen
whose names are in the list herewith furnished, under the head of the
counties through which you pass, for the purpose of obtaining information
in regard to localities considered of special interest, and make a geologi-
cal exploration of those which may be co«sidered important.
You will, also, make inquiries in regard to sections rof rocks exposed
on- Black and Cache rivers, and examine the same, in order to obtain a
clue to the formations of that part of Arkansas.
I would particularly call your attention to a locality in Randolph county,
on Mr. McLaires' land, supposed to contain iron; also, to a locality near
Pocahontas, in the same county, which is, perhaps, an extension of the
same bed; also, to deposits of black oxide of manganese, supposed to
exist in some of the northern counties.
In your descent of the valleys of Black and Cache rivers, you will
198
GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
extend your observation, as far south as Jaeksonport. If you arrive at
ft- place before corps No. 1, you will encamp at some convenient point
^ the vicinity, and wait for further instructions; you will, however, occupy
the tune, while awaiting my arrival, in making explorations in the vicinity
ot Jaeksonport." J
Instructions received at Jaclsonport, Jackson county, Ark., Nov. 17th, 1857.
„,"/"; Cr0St"g B'aCk riVer' 3°U WU1 Pr°cecd t0 *• ™ ™°<«. stunted
on Reeds creek, m the southern part of Lawrence county, and make a
reconnolssance ^ part of the country ^ J, k. ,j>
Back rivers, as far north as township 17. Yon will proceed thence to
Soil eCOnnra"Ce °f the C0Unt,'J' <J** beh™» Strawberry and
ZZ2T' a"S t nOTth"WMt °°UrSe t0Ward3 Salem- 1" ^*»» -unty,
rot Whtto ' and;°minUe "est> «"-«* 4- range, of township |
I*!™' and e"Ca™P at ~™ -table point near Yeilville
where 5 ou « ,11 await my arrival and further instructions."
Instructions, dated December 4th, 1837.
wither InMa8 *" ^'^ "^ "*"" "' *he H°^^ b-d »f
VVhttcnet, nManon county, and collecting samples of the earth for
rtZl T y°l ""' reCr°SS WUte "" 6"' «">«««-- that potion
o Rltonounty south o your previons route, and pass through ^oss
c ^of Lav? y°U PTOCeed ^ 'EVeniDS Shade>' in the -u"—t
corne of Lawrence county, to Cury creek, in Independence county and
examme the prospect for lead ore in that county. After compTet !'yOUr
}ou will cross Black river and meet me at Jaeksonport."
Instructions, dated May 12th, 18S8.
- During the time I shall be absent in Pulaski and Hot Spring counties
jou will examine the north-western tier of townshins no, L ,
«plored, in Randolph county, and visit Rice's spri^ „'n "e wa^W
Muddy creek take its temperature, and make "a c^Jfta ™ Cell
exammation of it at the fountain head; you will investigate Z ,
ever may be of interest in that vicinity! * ' "' What"
From Randolph county, yon will proceed through Lawrence county to
Batesville, ,n Independence county, and examine the geological for™ 5
on the north side of White river, between that place and Se T
below the mouth of Laferty creek; and ^Z££££Z
OF ARKANSAS.
199
is any evidence of the existence of an outburst of basalt, or other igneous
rocks, amongst the subcarboniferous group in that vicinity. You will
examine, also, the fossiliferous shale below the town of Batesville.
The manganese locality, a short distance above the mouth of Lafferty
creek, was already examined, last season, by corps No. I; but, as it is
desirable to obtain a greater variety of the ores than was then collected,
you will cither obtain an additional supply from Dr. Smith, former super-
intendent of the mines, who lives somewhere In the neighborhood, or at
the mines. Endeavor, especially, to ascertain whether any of the softer
and blacker varieties of this ore occur, and have been taken out; such as
are known to mineralogists under the name of « pyrolusite » and « manga-
nite" which arc more valuable than the hard, compact « psilomelane " ore,
which was found most abundant in the rubbish of the mine last year.
You will write to me from Batesville, and let me know when you will
be in Van Buren county, and at what place it will be most convenient for
us to meet, either in that county or White county. _
From Independence county, you will cross over White river, into Vv lute
county, and explore the northern townships in that county, as far south
as Searcy. ,
In the counties south of White river, you will especially investigate for
coal, as the south-west dip of the rocks from the • Oil-trough ridge and
Shields' bluff, lead to the inference that coal may soon come in south of
these localities."
Instructions dated 21s/ July, 1858.
« You will proceed to finish the geological reconnoissance of Crawford
county examining those localities in the south-east part not yet explored;
especially the coal on Frog bayou, and the sulphur spring on the property
of Mr. Herd. .
From Crawford countv pass into Franklin, and examine the state salt
,prin- on Mulberry creek, exploring, also, the geological formations on
that stream; thence pass down towards Ozark, and take the most feasible
route to examine the coal region, on the waters of Horsehead creek, in
Johnson county, and the geological position of the rocks, in the northern
part of that county.
As I, myself, shall have an opportunity of examining the Spadra coal, it
will not be necessary for you to go to that locality in this county.
In your explorations of Pope county, I would especially direct your
attention to a locality near the Dwight Old Mission, where the so-called
- lapis lazuli" was said to have been found by Mr. Washburn. Your survey
in the middle, northern, and eastern part of this county, will be best regu-
200 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
lated after you have learnt more of the other localities of interest. When
in Conway county, examine the state salt spring. There are also several
other localities of interest in this county, on the Cadron, and, perhaps
also, on Cedar creek, a branch of that stream, which may require your
attention. When in the north-east part of this county, you will pass over
a few miles into White county, and examine a locality of coal, of which
I have previously given you a note and directions how to find it. The
rest of this county has already been explored.
Ascertain where the coal measures of Conway county terminate and
the metamorphic slate formation of Pulaski county commences, in 'your
easterly route into Pulaski. It is, probably, somewhere near Palarm bayou.
Some gold ore is said to have been found somewhere near that stream.
^ One of the most important localities to be examined in Pulaski, is the
Kellogg mine of argentiferous galena, some ten miles north of' Little
Rock, on Kellogg's creek.
As I have been over the road from Little Rock to Oakland Grove, in
White county, it will not be necessary for you to pass over that ground
again at present, unless you hear of something special that may require
your attention.
I know of nothing particular at present to which I can direct your
attention, while passing through Prairie county into Monroe, where your
geological reconnoissance will terminate for this season; but you will take
every opportunity to inquire, before you enter a county, what there may
be m it of particular geological interest, and direct your course accord-
ingly.
In each county which you pass through, you will collect sets of charac-
teristic soils, upon the same plan as heretofore followed by the geological
corps of Arkansas. °
D. D. OWEN, M. JD.,
Geologist of Arkansas:'
REPORT.
GREENE COUNTY.
As you had examined, personally, the country adjacent to the Chalk
bind', before we separated on our respective routes, it will be unnecessary
for me to make any report on that locality.
The northern part of Greene county, included within my instructions,
belongs to the quaternary and alluvial period. The quaternary deposits
observed, consist of sands, gravel and potter's clay; these occupy the
highlands, extending from the Chalk bluff, on the St. Francis river, through
the greater part of range seven. They are spread over an area of eight
or ten miles in width; and their vertical thickness is from one hundred to
one hundred and fifty feet.
The alluvium forms the bottom lands of the St. Francis, Cache, and
Black rivers.
A locality in section 36?, township 21 north, range 7 east, one and a
half miles from Mr. James W. Payne's, has been rendered notorious on
account of a phenomenon, which induced Mr. Payne and others, to believe
that gold or other precious metals might be found there. The account
given is as follows: When Mr. Payne was out hunting about two years
ago, he heard a slight noise at his feet, and on looking down saw the earth
open to the width of three or four inches; being reminded of the memo-
rable New Madrid earthquake, which sunk a large district of land in this
count)*, this frightful phenomenon, of course, alarmed him, and he left,
supposing the hill was about to be engulfed. After a few dny.^, finding
that no serious catastrophe had taken place, he returned to view the con-
dition of things. On examining the ground, he became po^ of the
idea that the opening of the earth was a revelation, to notify him of the
6>Q2 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
existence of a vein of gold below. In this belief he was further strength-
ened by the fact of the tops of the trees, in the vicinity, being dead. Ac-
cordingly, with some of his neighbors, he went to work, and sunk three
pits, one of which was thirty feet deep. Unfortunately, when I visited
the place, these pits had become filled up with the rubbish and washings
from the hill above.
After the examination of the material thrown from these pits, and aided
by the memory of Mr. Payne, 1 was enabled to make out the following
succession in the deposits:
(//) Slope above the shaft, composed of waterworn hornstone
and chert gravel, and sand, which are sometimes formed
into a ferruginous conglomerate of small extent 30 feet.
(/;) Light colored plastic clay, with small, pure, transparent, len-
ticular crystals of selenite imbedded 10 to 15
(r) Variegated plastic clay, alternating with beds of clay, in all
about? 15 "
Bottom of the shaft °
GO "
The deposits passed through in this shaft, are not such as to afford any
hope of finding gold, or other precious metals. The labors of Mr. Payne
have disclosed, however, in the member marked (6), of the above section,
a material which will undoubtedly prove to be a valuable fertilizer of
land, from the large amount of selenite (a transparent variety of gypsum)
which it contains. Judging from its external appearance, the selenite
forms about one-third of the whole mass composing this member. An
earth, so rich in this ingredient, and so easy of access, must be of great
value to the farming community.
The lower bed reached, (c), is a good potter's clay, which, by a proper
selection, and washing, will .be applicable for the manufacture of the
coarser lands of porcelain.
The yellow member of this bed, which is sometimes several feet thick,
is a variety of yellow ochre that has commercial value as a cheap paint,
used for the coarser kinds of work.
The evidence of the cracking of the earth, at this locality, is still very
apparent; and it is probable that such cracks are not uncommon, and
may have favored the formation of the selenite, by giving egress to pent-
up sulphurous acid or sulphuretted hydrogen gases, which, by oxidation,
have been converted into sulphuric acid; this, combining with the lime
present in some of the quaternary deposits, has formed the sulphate of
lime, (selenite). These cracks may have originated, in part, from the
OF ARKANSAS.
203
shrinking of the underlying argillaceous strata; and in part, from the
slumbering effects of former earthquake action.
The other mystery which aided in drawing attention to this locality, the
decay of the tops of the trees, may be explained from the fact, thai the
soil has been washed away from their hasr into these cracks, and they are
left rooted merely in gravel. Thus deprived of sufficient nourishment,
the languid sap fails to reach the top, and the upper branches naturally
decay first.
Where the hills are of sufficient height, a bed of waterworn horn-
stone and chert-gravel is superimposed on the quaternary sand and clay.
The pebbles are from one to three inches in diameter; occasionally in
some of these are found fragments of carboniferous fossils.
Beneath this graved bed, a ferruginous conglomerate, or pudding stone,
sometimes occurs in sheets of two or more inches in thickness. This is
the only instance of finding a hard cemented rock in any portion of
Greene county, within the scope of my observation.
In the stratum of potter's clay (c) at Mr. Payne's shaft, were found a
few specimens of the leaves of oaks (quercus), and willow (salix), which
belong undoubtedly to species now living. No other organic remains
were observed: but I have no doubt that if good exposures of this bed
were accessible, some associate land or fresh- water shells might be dis-
covered.
Minora/ and Agricultural Resources.
Though no metallic ores proper have yet been found in the northern
part of Greene county, I consider the selenite bed (b) near Mr. Payne's of
great importance, in an agricultural point of view; and it may hereafter
be the source of no inconsiderable revenue to the county. It occurs in
beautiful, small, transparent crystals, abundantly distributed through the
clay, which itself contains soda, potash, and perhaps, phosphates and
nitrates, forming a combination which will be applicable as a mineral
fertilizer to a great variety of soils.
The underlying stratum (c) will afford a good, cheap, red, as well as
yellow paint; for, by simple burning, the yellow ochre is converted into a
red ochre; this latter can be used as a dyestufF for coarse cloth and
varn.
Potter's clay is in great abundance, and of excellent quality for com-
mon ware.
In the absence of more durable rocks, the ferruginous conglomerate
may be used for the underpining of houses, building chimneys and walling
up wells.
234 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
The alluvial bottoms, above overflow of the rivers and creeks, are very
productive and easily cultivated. The elevated land between St. Francis
and Cache rivers, known by the name of Crowley's ridge, is somewhat
broken, but highly susceptible of cultivation, producing all kinds of grain;
it is particularly noted for its adaptation to the growth of wheat. Mr. A.
Muckelroy, who lives on section 19, township 21 north, range 8 east,
informed me that he had raised six consecutive crops of wheat on his
land without any apparent diminution of fertility; in fact, all the farmers
with whom I conversed, spoke in great praise of its wheat growing pro-
perties; and when by continued cultivation it may require renovation,
there lies close at hand, in the gypsiferous clays, a supply of mineral ma-
nure that will keep it in good heart.
The settlers in this part of Greene county, are just beginning to turn
their attention to agriculture; heretofore, the great abundance of game
seduced them into a thriftless way of living; depending almost exclu-
sively, for a livelihood, on the sale of furs and peltries, which constitute,
at all times, a critical and uncertain means of support. As game is now
becoming scarce, they are compelled to devote their time to agriculture,
or move farther west, where wild animals are more numerous.
The projected railroad, from Fulton, in Texas, to Cairo, at the junction
of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, runs through township 21, range 6, and
if completed, will prove of incalculable advantage to a region of country
rich in fertile lands; as the want of a ready market for the surplus pro-
duce of the country, is one of the greatest drawbacks to its progress.
A plank road from the Chalk bluff, to Point Pleasant, on the Mississippi
river, twelve miles below New Madrid, is under construction and will soon
be completed.
This road will prove highly beneficial to Greene county, and is the best
route for emigrants coming from Kentucky, Tennessee, and the Carohnas,
who wish to locate in the northern part of Arkansas. The emigration to
and through Greene county, during the fall and winter of 1857, was very
great; and as the people of this and the adjoining county of Pvanuolph,
receive, from this emigration, no small amount of money, in exchange for
produce, it is to their interest to improve the road from the Chalk bluif to
Pocahontas, particularly the crossing of Cache river, which is in a wretch-
edly bad condition, and could be made passable at very little cost. In at-
tempting to cross this river, our mules mired down and came very near being
drowned in trying to extricate themselves from the deep mud. We were
compelled to obtain a?sistance, and after disengaging the team had to get
the wagon out by hand.
OF ARKANSAS.
205
The principal growth of timber on the highland is largo white, black,
and red oak*, mockcrnut hickory, (commonly called black hickory,) and a
few shell-bark hickories. On the alluvial lands of Cache river, are found,
in addition to the above, large poplar, black and sweet gums, and in the
sloughs, cypress.
RANDOLPH COUNTY.
The portion of Randolph county, east of Black river, is covered with
an alluvial deposit, elevated but a few feet above high water; and, with
the exception of a low ridge, which divides the waters of Cache from
those of Black river, it is much cut up by sloughs and lakes. Immedi-
ately on the west bank of Black river, at Pocahontas, magnesian lime-
stones of the lower silurian period are seen at the water's edge, and ex-
tend up into the highest ridges, where they are capped by black and
orange-colored sandstone and waterworn gravel of the quaternary
period. The country is generally broken, with hills from one to two hun-
dred and fifty feet in height, covered on their slopes with chert, which has
weathered out of the limestone.
On the property of Mr. Samuel McLaire, one and a half miles from
Pocahontas, is a deposit of black ferruginous sandstone, exposed to the
thickness of (23) twenty-three feet, and forming the top of what is con-
sidered to be the highest ridge in the county. It is frequently fluted, and
resembles in its outward appearance and fracture, a rough variety of pig
iron.* At some localities this rock is of a dark orange-color, friable, and
readily decomposing into coarse-grained sand. In its lithological charac-
ter, it resembles very much the indurated and cemented portions of the
orange-sand formation of Mississippi and Alabama. Indeed it is so com-
plete a counterpart, that when specimens were exhibited to Dr. E. H.
Hilgard, Geologist of Mississippi, he at once recognized the identity with
those he had himself collected in the State of Mississippi.
The place of this sandstone is probably in Greene county, below the
quaternary clay, which, however, I did not see in Randolph county; it
appears to rest immediately on the lower silurian rocks.
The following approximate section exhibits the position of the rocks in
this county, extending from the bed of Black river to the waterworn qua-
ternary gravel on the tops of the highest ridges:
*This is probably the locality referred to in mv instructions.
20G GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
(a) Waterworn gravel 1 to 10 feet.
(/;) Rough, black, fluted sandstone, equivalent to the
" orange sand formation " of Mississippi 23 "
(c) Place of iron ore deposit 1 to 4 "
(d) White cherty limestone; chert in large masses, very
brittle and full of cracks 30 to 80 "
( ) Light-gray limestone, mottled with flesh-colored spar,
passing down into alight-colored calciferous sand-
rock 66 "
(f) Hard compact cherty magnesian limestone, in the bed
of Black and Eleven Point rivers, as seen at Imbo-
boden's ferry 80 "
253 feet.
The grayish-buff, hard, and close textured magnesiam limestone (/.)
forms the bed of Black river, at Pocahontas, and Eleven Point river, at
Mr. J. II. Imboden's. Its thickness could not be seen at Pocahontas, but
on Eleven Point river it is exposed to the thickness of eighty feet or more.
(c.) is also best seen on Eleven Point river. At its base, it is a light- gray,
calciferous sand-rock, with a sharp grit, and passes upward into a gray
limestone, mottled with flesh-colored spar, (d.) is a rough weathering
magnesian limestone, full of whitish chert segregated in large masses
which are filled with cracks, and readily break into small pieces. This
member has a variable thickness of from thirty to one hundred feet or
more, and may be seen along the road from Pocahontas to the ferry on
Eleven Point river. On the top of this rock is the place of the iron ore
deposits (c.) The iron ore appears to be scattered about in patches, from
one to four feet in depth; but it was only found extending over a limited
area. Though sometimes mixed with too much sand, it is usually of ex-
cellent quality, and belongs to a variety designated by mineralogists as
" limonite." It is usually in large cellular blocks, but occasionally pre-
sents a globular, and concentric structure.
The rough, ferruginous sandstone, (b.) near Pocahontas, possesses a re-
markable, fluted structure, and was generally supposed to be manganese
ore; but, on examination, it is found to contain only a trace of that metal.
In the State of Mississippi, some of the slabs of this rock are so univer-
sally, and regularly fluted that they have been, u^ed for water spouts.
The bed (a.) composed of waterworn gravel, from one to four inches in
diameter, belongs above the ferruginous sandstone, but is often seen, where
that member is wanting, resting on the older rocks. It usually forms the
capping to the highest ridges, and has a thickness of ten feet or more.
OF ARK A.\
207
Rice's spring, situated on the waters of Mud creek, a branch of Fourche
Dumas, on section 14, township -21 north, range 1 west, is a place of much
resort for invalids from this and the adjoining- counties. The following is
the result of the qualitative chemical examination, made at the fountain
head:
Temperature of the air 82 deg. F., temperature of the water 62 dcg. F.
Carbonic acid (abundant).
Bi-carbonate of lime.
Bi-carbonate of magnesia.
Bi-carbonate of the protoxide of iron.
Sulphates, a trace?
The examination of this spring was made at a very unfavorable time;
the unusually heavy rains, which fell in the spring, had completely satu-
rated the surface of the earth, and diluted the spring with fresh water.
From the above analysis, it appears to be a weak chalybeate, whereas it
is represented by those who frequent it in a dry time to be a strong sul-
phur water. In its present state, acetate of lead would give no reaction
of sulphuretted hydrogen.
Small deposits of hydrated brown oxide of iron (limonite) are seen, at
various places in this county. The most extensive are those near J. H.
Imboden's on Eleven Point river, and in the vicinity of Old Jackson, close
to the boundary line between Randolph and Lawrence counties. It is
possible a sufficiency of good ore may be found at the latter locality to
supply a small forge.
Agriculture.
East of Black river the soil is principally river deposit; and, where not
submerged by ordinary freshets, is easily cultivated and remarkably pro-
ductive. It is well adapted for corn, wheat, oats, and clover. Samples
of soils were collected in this part of the county, from a farm 18 miles
from Pocahontas, belonging to Maj. Proudfit. The virgin soil is of a light
black color, and the sub-soil a yellow clay. The field, in which the soil
No. 2 was collected, had been in cultivation twenty years, nearly all the
time in corn, and will now produce with ordinary tillage a crop of 50 or
70 bushels to the acre.
West of Black river, the principal soils for cultivation are the rich allu-
vial lands adjacent to the river.
The growth of timber on the east side of Black river, with the excep-
tion of black walnut, is the same as that noted in Greene county. On the
weat side of this river the growth is small oak and hickory, on the hills;
298
GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
whilst on the river bottoms the timber is large, and contains, in addition
to the hickory, gum and elm.
LAWRENCE COUNTY.
The geological position of the rocks, along my route, have been mostly
determined by their lithological character, owing to the almost total
absence of organic remains; in one member alone of the magnesian lime-
stones were any discovered, and they were only a few very imperfect
casts of the genus orthis, too indistinct for determination; also a simgle
specimen of an orUwccraiile, which is probably new. The want of so
essential an aid to the determination of the position of rocks, (especially
where there has been a great thinning out of the members, and a condi-
tion which indicates a deposition on a very unequal bottom, together with
a subsequent cutting away by currents of the deposited members,) renders
the identification of equivalent formations difficult and uncertain. The
accompanying section may therefore require, upon more minute investiga-
tion and comparison, correction in some of the details; and, for the present,
I shall only indicate the system to which I think they will hereafter prove
to belong, without designating the particular member they may represent.
The strata are lettered in the ascending order
I l I
i_L_I
L L
CH
CH CH
CH
f
I I
30
15
Rugged weathering limestone, with veins of
calcspar, and casts of a small cytkerea.
White chert bed.
1 I
60
Massive saccharoidal sandstone, white, red
dish, and variegated.
All the members from
(a) to (h) inclusive, be-
long, most probably, to
the lower silurian period.
The remaining mem-
bers (i) and (j ), are of
quaternary date.
The thick-bedded mag-
nesian limestone (a) and
(b) are the rocks in which
the zinc, lead, and cop-
per ores are usually
found. The copper is
but sparingly dissemin-
ated in some of the calc-
spar veins ramifying this
rock. On the property
of Mr. C. T. Stewart,
township 17, range 2
west, many small sam-
OF ARKANSAS.
209
-frr
20
Compact magnesian limestone, with casts of
orthis.
Light buff, impure magnesian limestone, with
conchoidal fracture.
Gray thick-bedded magnesian limestone, with
ferruginous chert, lower part siliceous.
Place of zinc ore.
Thick-bedded magnesian limestone, full of
crevices; lead and copper bearing rock.
pics of copper pyrites
found, and a similar va-
riety of ore was also
found in the same geo-
logical position on the
property of Mr. William
R. Williams, on section
32, township 17 north,
range G west.
The veins of calcspar
in which the copper oc-
curs, have no constant
direction, where seen;
but it is probable that,
when the country comes
to be examined more in
detail, they maybe found
connected with some
L L
system of true veins.
The principal working for lead, in these rocks, in Lawrence county, has
been made on the property of Mr. E. W. Houghton, six miles from Pow-
hatan, on section 10, township 17 north, range 2 west, where as many as
twenty pits have been sunk, from which between one and three thousand
pounds of galena have been taken out. No profitable lode was reached,
therefore the diggings were discontinued. Surface lead ore (" float min-
eral") has been occasionally picked up, over a district about one-fourth
of a mile in breadth, and extending several miles in a i;orth-west direc-
tion; but no continuous vein has so far been discovered.
In the openings which have been made in this county, the cap rock is
first reached; after penetrating it, at a depth of thirty or forty feet,
members (a) and (b) of the preceding section are reached; in these, small
crevices occur, in which the lead ore is found, accompanied with clay,
charged with oxide of iron ("gossan"). These crevices have a bearing
north-east and south-west, but do not extend continuously^ any great dis-
tance. The abandoned shafts, at this locality, had become mostly filled
with rubbish, so that I had no opportunity of seeing the position of the
ore at the bottom. When more time can be devoted to the examination
of this county, a more satisfactory conclusion may be arrived at, in regard
to this lead region, than could be gained in the time allowed for a simple
reconnoissance of the country. All that can be at present stated, from
14
210 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
the best information, is that the ore was rather more abundant at the
greatest depth reached, than near the surface, as if it, might concentrate
into a true vein. For want of sufficient capital to sink deeper, these
mines have never been thoroughly proved.
Associated with the lead at Houghton's diggings, is a yellow, earthy-
looking rock, resembling indurated mud; hence, labeled mudstone, which
proves on examination to be remarkably rich in carbonate of zinc; for the
chemical constituents of this ore, see the Chemical Report.
Many other localities in this county have afforded some lead. On the
headwaters of Reed's creek, on the property of Mr. Robert G. Shaver,
township 15, range 4 west, lead ore is found, associated with carbonate of
zinc and zinc-blende (sulphuret of zinc). At this place, digging has only
been made to the depth of two or three feet, entirely insufficient to prove
the richness'of the deposit. The crevices in which the lead is found, tra-
verse the strata in a north-east and south-west course. This locality has
the appearance of being a very favorable place in which to find a good
vein of galena; at least, it is worthy of a more systematic search than has
yet been made. The rocks in which this lead occurs, belong also to a and
b of the section.
Carbonate of zinc, belonging to the variety known as "smithsonite," is very
abundant in this county, and, for the purpose of converting this ore into
the metallic zinc of commerce, works have been erected by a company of
gentlemen from St. Louis, known as the Independence Mining Company.
Their works are located on section 22, township 16 north, range 4 west,
and are called " Calamine," after the zinc ore of that name.
So far as can be ascertained by the present openings, the zinc ore does
not run in veins or crevices, but occurs in beds, associated with a red ferrugi-
nous clay, resting on a dolomitic limestone. Both the matrix of red clay
and specimens of the associate limestone, which were analyzed by Win.
Elderhorst, M. D., the Chemist to the Survey, have been found to contain
a small per centage of zinc. The ore, imbedded in the clay, is usually of
a porous or cellular character; but sometimes compact, and covered with
crystals stained with oxide of iron. That which is found in contact with
the dolomitic bedrock, is mostly in mammillary or botryoidal masses, hav-
ing an opalescent appearance on the fresh fractured surface. The corro-
ded and irregular surface of the dolomite seems to indicate that large por-
tions of it must have been removed, perhaps by some material inter-
change of the elements of the rocks and the metallic solutions pervading
it. The small fractures, which traverse this bed rock in every direction,
are, at some of the localities, filled with beautiful rose-colored crystals of
carbonate of zinc, resembling pearlspar.
Or ARKANSAS. OJJ
The foil wing section will show the succession of the rocks at "Cala-
mine," and the relative position of the zinc ore:
Slope to the top of the hill covered with chert and scattered
masses of brown oxide of iron, resting on limestone with cherty
segregations 35 fcet.
Zinc ore, resting on cherty magnesian limestone (b) of the previ-
ous section 35 «
Calciferous sandstone 10 "
Magnesian limestone- , . . \q «
Spring at " Calamine" furnace 0 "
86 "
The ore bed in the above section is only a few yards from the smeltin0-
furnace, and is called the " Koch mine," after Dr. Koch, one of the mem-
bers of the smelting company.
The most extensive deposits of calamine seen, were at the c: Hoppe
mine," section 19, township 10 north, range 2 west; " Bath mine," section
29, township 17 north, range 3 west; and the " Raney mine," three miles
south-east of Smithville.
At all of these localities of calamine, the ore occurs under precisely the
same conditions; consequently a description of one, will answer for all.
The " Hoppe mine " is opened on the north-west side of a low and very
gradually sloping hill, some fifty feet above the valley. A great manv
tons of calamine have already been taken out from the present opening,
which is about six feet deep; and the ore has been proved to continue to
a depth exceeding fifteen feet, by trial shafts, sunk for this purpose. The
greater portion of the ore, lies in irregularly curved and hollow masses,
sometimes covered with rusty-looking crystals of carbonate of zinc, having
its interstices, as well as the intervening spaces between the blocks, filled
with a tenacious, red, ferruginous clay. This clay is found resting upon
a magnesian limestone, about four feet thick, presenting the appearance
of a segregated mass, and is traversed by small veins of the carbonate
and sulphuret of zinc; the former, sometimes, in beautiful rose-colored
crystals. The calamine resting on, or in close proximity to, the dolomitic
bed rock, usually presents a brecciated appearance, caused by the
mammillary opalescent carbonate of zinc, enclosing fragments of an amor-
phous zinc ore, which has the appearance of dolomite, and which had
very probably that composition, but has become carbonate of zinc by a
process of displacement.
Some specimens of the ore found at these mines, convey the idea of a
simultaneous deposition of the zinc and dolomite; while others rather
212
GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
indicate an infiltration of the zinc through interstices of the previously
formed rock. Perhaps the most plausible explanation of these pheno-
ls that the ore was first in the state of sulphuret, and was subse-
tlv changed into carbonate by some reciprocal play of chemical
ffinitiea acting from the interior upwards. The increase of the sulphuret,
- vou descend in the rocks, and the general structure of the deposit
which resemble inverted cones, showing a divergence at the surface froi
a central point of action; together with the existence of carbonate of
zinc in the associate rocks and clay, rather favor this view of its forma
Bt,
>m
..
tion.
It is a remarkable fact, to which attention was first called by Dr. Koc
that where deposits of calamine are found at the surface, the only vege-
tation to be seen is a small, black lichen, closely adhering to the ore or
Accompanying rocks; and the soil, to the depth of a few inches, is of an
intense black color.
There are, in addition to those already mentioned, four other mines,
opened and belonging to the Independence Mining Company, on the
following sections, viz: Section 28, township 17 north, range 3 west;
sections 12,28, and 20, township 18 north, range 4 west.
At the town of Powhatan, in the street leading to Smithville, I discovered
a deposit of carbonate of zinc, the extent of which cannot be known
without digging; but it is no doubt considerable, and there is every reason
to believe, that good calamine vail be found abundant in the immediate
vicinity of this town.
Powhatan is situated on Black river, a stream navigable for small boats,
at all seasons of the year; it has under construction, and partly graded, a
plank road leading to Gainsville, in Greene county, which will intersect
the Cairo and Fulton railroad twelve miles distant. This, together with
the fact, that it is surrounded by, and close to, the main deposits of zinc
ore, renders it the most desirable point for the location of a zinc smelting
furnace. In addition to the advantages to be gained at this place for
shipping the metallic products of the furnace, abundance of charcoal may
at all times be had, from the extensive forest bordering on Black river.
These suggestions, for the location of a zinc furnace at Powhatan, are
made from the fact that the " Calamine" furnace, from mismanagement,
did not go into successful operation; and experience has shown that its
location is not a favorable one. At all events, before the members of the
zinc company remodel their establishment and engage experienced
smelters, they should take into consideration the advantages of a change
in the location of their works to Powhatan, or some equally accessible
point on Black river; because* the success of the enterprise certainly
OF ARKANSAS. 0}3
depends, in a great measure, on the proper location of the smelting
establishment.
Considerable beds of excellent brown oxide of iron have been found in
this county, strewed about over the ground in loose blocks. The original
place of this ore is between c and d of the previous section.
This ore not only occurs in the usual stalactitic botryoidal and mammil-
lary forms; but, also, crystallized; the form of the crystals being modified
Ictohedrons (pyramido-octohedrons), which seem to be pseudomorpha from
magnetic iron ore.
By far the most usual form of this ore is a stalactitic or mam miliary
structure on one side, whilst the other side is flat, as if it might have been
attached to rocks, over and from which the ferruginous waters flowed and
dripped, gradually depositing their iron.
The most abundant localities seen, for iron ore, were on the property of
Alfred Bevens & Co., on the waters of Williams creek, sections 23, 25 and
30, township 16 north, range 4 west. On section 23 this mineral has
assumed the form familiarly known amongst miners as " pot-ore," imbed-
ded in a red ferruginous clay, resting on dolomite. This bed is from two
to five feet thick. The upper part is sandy, the middle nearly free from
sand, and the lower part usually of excellent quality for smelting. The
surface of the ground, above this bed, is covered with a mixture of sili-
ceous, and good-working blocks of stalactitic ore.
Alfred Bevens & Co. have erected a forge on Williams creek, one and
a half miles north-east of the zinc furnace at " Calamine," for working
this ore; it has two fires, and is driven by a good water-power. When
visited, this forge was undergoing thorough repairs, and preparations were
being made to introduce the hot blast in place of the cold blast, formerly
in use, by which alteration it was expected to increase the amount of
swaged bar iron manufactured from (500) five hundred to (1000) sixteen
hundred pounds per day. Though the quantity of iron produced at these
works is not great, owing to the mode of manufacture, which is wasteful
of ore, and especially so of fuel; yet it is of excellent quality and meets
with a ready sale on the spot, without seeking a market.
Another very promising supply of iron ore, for a small forge, was seen
near Dr. John Bevens, township 15? range 3 west.
On Big creek, a branch of Strawberry, there is a white cellular quartz-
ose rock found in abundance, intercalated amongst the sandstones of the
section of this county, which may a fiord good millstones; indeed, millstones
have been made out of it for some of the mills in the vicinity. A pair of
stones made from this rock, may be seen running in Jone's mill on Big
214 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
creek, six miles from the mouth, and have proved of excellent quality for
corn.
The coarse-grained saccharoidal sandstone (/) in the vertical section of
the rocks in Lawrence county is mostly of a dark red color, but locally
very white, and occasionally ornamented with buff-colored bands. This
sandstone makes its appearance in the south-eastern part of the county,
near. Mr. Campbell's, caps the hills on Big creek (Williams creek), four
miles south of the zinc furnace at Calamine, and extends in a north-west
course through " Evening Shade," or Hookram, as it is usually called, and
continues on through Fulton and Marion counties; universally covered
with a luxuriant growth of yellow pine.
The orange sand (/') and the water-worn gravel bed (j) were seen in
the vicinity of Powhatan, the former corresponds to the ferruginous sand
belonging to the quarternary in Greene and Randolph counties. The
western limits of these two deposits is somewhere near range 4 west,
since I was not able to discover either it or the gravel bed west of that
line; in fact, I was not able to detect the ferruginous sand west of the line
between ranges three and four.
At Powhatan the citizens were extremely anxious to know if stone coal
did not exist close by, as fragments had been found on the river sand-bars,
which, it was supposed, had been broken from the main deposit and trans-
ported by the water. For their information, I may here state, that the true
coal-bearing rocks do not exist in the counties through which Black
river flows; nor yet in Greene county, where some of its tributaries take
their rise; hence there is no probability of discovering beds of bituminous
coal; but there are beds of lignite amongst the quarternary deposits of this
latter county, some of which has very much the appearance of coal. I
am disposed, however, to think that the lumps of coal found on the sand-
bars, were most likely dropped from the steamboats navigating the river.
Agriculture.
The upland soils of Lawrence county, west of Black river, are derived
chiefly from the cherty and earthy magnesian limestones of the lower
silurian period, and its overlying- sandstones. Soils derived from the
quarternary are limited to some of the ridges bordering on Black river,
east of range four. The soils selected in this county, for analysis, Avere
collected on section 15, township 17 north, range 2 west, overlying and
derived from the buff, earthy, magnesian limestones of the lower silurian
system.
Eait of Black river the soils are essentially alluvial, like those of the
OF ARKANSAS. OJ
eastern part of Randolph. The " Buncomb ridge " may be especially
cited for its productiveness; and, being more elevated than the adjacent
land, is not subject to overflow.
The timber on the highlands, with the exception of the pine ridges,
where the sandstone prevails, is a thin growth of stunted oak. On the
bottom land, the growth of timber is large, and comprises white, black,
red and postoaks, gum, hickory and black walnut.
JACKSON COUNTY.
The northern part of this county, examined by me as far south as the
town of Jacksonport, on AYhile river, is entirely destitute of solid rock.
The geological formations are those earthy deposits, such as usually con-
stitute alluvial lands. The low ridge, dividing the waters of Black river
and village creek, is composed as follows:
Siliceous soil and subsoil 7 feet.
Tough yellow clay 18 "
25 feet.
These are underlaid by a light-colored sand, the thickness of which
could not be seen; this sand forms the substratum, which affords unfailing
supplies of good water, and is reached by sinking wells, at a depth of
from 15 to 30 feet. From the qualitative chemical examination, made of
this water, taken from Mr. John Robinson's well, two miles north of Jack-
sonport, it was found to contain
Carbonic acid,
Bi-carbonate of lime, (small quantity),
" " magnesia, " "
Sulphates, a trace?
The examination of this water is important to clear up the prejudice of
those persons, who have looked upon the well water of this portion of
Jackson county, as deleterious to health. It contains the usual mineral
ingredients of hard spring water; these, when not in quantities so large as
to produce medicinal effects, cannot be looked upon as injurious to health,
since they contain elements essential for the growth of the body, in a form,
easy of assimilation.
The northern part of Jackson county contains a large amount of highly
productive land, easily cultivated, and especially adapted to the growth
of cotton, wheat, oats and corn. A set of the alluvial soils of Jackson
county were collected for analysis from Mr. II. J. Dowel's land, section 32,
township 14 north, range 2 west, fourteen miles north of Jacksonport;
216
GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
also, a set from Mr. M. L. Robinson's land, two miles north of Jackson-
port. At the latter place, No. 2, the cultivated soil, was selected from an
old field fifty years or more in cultivation, and has produced for the last
twenty years successive crops of cotton, with an average yield of about
eight hundred pounds of seed cotton per acre, rating in the New Orleans
market in quality equal to the Mississippi cotton, and having a rather
better staple than the cotton from Tennessee.
The principal growth of timber on this land is black, white and post-
oak, sweetgum, blackwalnut, and some hickory.
The Cairo and Fulton railroad crosses White river near Jacksonport,
and runs along Village creek, through the northern part of the county. I
was informed that as many as one hundred and fifty hands were employed
this season in its construction in Jackson county, and it is hoped that the
completion of so important a work to the State, is placed beyond a doubt.
The large grant of lands bordering on the road, it is estimated will be
sufficient to pay for its construction.
480
Watcrworn quaternary gravel.
Coarse ferruginous quaternary sandstone.
INDEPENDENCE COUNTY.
The geological formations in the part of this county explored by me,
are exhibited in the following section:
On the road from Jack-
sonport to Batesville,
after reaching the high-
land some five miles in
a westerly course from
Black river, the water-
worn quaternary horn-
stone and chert gravel
(k) of this section is
found capping the tops
of the hills as far west
as range 4. This gravel
bed sometimes rests upon
the ferruginous sand-
ston (/), and sometimes
immediately upon the
buff-colored sandstone
(/); but was nowhere
recognized in connection
Conglomerate ami millstone grit, with interca
lated shale and schistose sandstone, 4d0 feet
in thickness.
OF ARKANSAS
217
c I 0
l o l
c I c
c I c
c c
JLC_L
c c
c c
TVT
•ISO
lomerate and millstone grit, with intcrca-
id shale and schistose sandstone, 480 feet
in thickness — Coutiuued.
20 Black entrochitil limestones.
q? Place of dark shales, usually under the black
limestone.
180
Buff-colored fossiliferous sand-tone, with inter-
calated, dark shale; lower part thin-bedded
and schistose.
with the intermediate
members.
The coarse ferruginous
sandstone (j) is seen, in
many places in the east-
ern part of Independence
county, resting, usually,
on the buff sandstone ( /").
At some localities, it is
very rich in iron ore; but
too much mixed with
sand to admit of its being
used, profitably, as an
ore for the manufacture
of iron.
The conglomerate or
millstone grit (i) was not
seen on the north side of
White river, but makes
its appearance in the
southern part of the
county, near Rocky Point
post-office, where it con-
tains embedded pebbles*
This rock has been quar-
ried, and is held in good
repute for millstones.
Though not more than
fifty or sixty feet in thick-
ness at the above locali-
ty, on the south side of
Salido creek it increases,
with its associate shales,
to four hundred and
eighty feet. I have not
observed any coal asso-
ciated with these rocks
in this count)'.
The black limestone
(//) belongs t > ihe sub-
carboniferous limestone
218
GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
"in
L L
L
1
L
|
L
L
|
1
i
L
L
1
L
-
~~ z.
==
s l s
A* I
s s
s s
I s !
L L
!'■ I
L L
I I. 1
L | I.
I x, |
L L
Black bituminous shale
I L I
L L
! -• I
L L
I L I
I. 1,
I I- I
a \ s
I B |
s s
I B |
B ! S
I B I
400
Snbcarboniferous or cavernous limestone, with
intercalations of sandstone and shale; con-
tains large d< posits of manganese, some iron,
and copper pyrites.
7 5 Massive saccharoidal sandstone.
period; where it crops
out, north of Rocky Point
post-office, it has a thick-
ness of about twenty
feet. It is quite iossilife-
rous: the most abundant
fossils are, Producius
cora, and P. chgans. One
layer, full of entrochites,
is hard enough to take a
polish, and the fossils
generally showing white
on a black ground, it will
make a handsome mar-
ble for ornamental pur-
poses. This limestone is
usually underlaid by the
dark shales (»■) of the
section.
Sandstone (/) is buff-
colored, and rather soft;
usually in prismatic
blocks near the base, and
contains casts of subcar-
bonilerous fossils belong-
ing to the genera sjnri-
jlr, orthis, lingula, pro-
ducttis, niiada, and bel-
krophon, also fragments
of tnlobitcs. At Mr.
McDonald's, on the head
waters of Mud creek, 13
miles from Batesville,
this member is but a few
ieet in thickness, and
rests upon dark, sheety
shales; the sandstone is
bedded in blocks from
three to four inches
thick, having an earthy
look, and low specific
OF ARKANSAS.
219
b
a
L I.
1 L |
I. L
-Li !
ML ML
ML
ML ML
ML
40
Light-colored earthy looking limestone, "white
rock."
Magnesias limestone, containing galena, blende,
carbonate of zinc, and some copper pyrit
gravity. Between Sul-
pher rock and Parson
Rogers' dwelling, it is
only eighty feet thick;
between Batesville and
Spring creek, it has ex-
panded to one hundred
and eighty feet or more.
It forms the substratum
upon which the town of Batesville is built, and crops out about one mile
to the north. Seven or eight miles south of Batesville, this member dips
beneath the drainage of the country. East and west, along its strike, it
can be traced as the surface rock from the highland, on Black river, pass-
ing through Sulphur rock and Batesville, to the western boundary of the
State. Though very persistent, in its lithological character, this member
is, at some places, almost entirely replaced by limestone, with, locally,
one or more beds of intercalated dark argillaceous shale.
Member (e) was first observed, along my line of survey, at Mr. Mc-
Donald's, in a little branch called Shakeray, a tributary of Mud creek,
where it is not more than three or four feet thick, the upper part of a
dark-gray color, and splitting into large thin sheets. The lower part is
ferruginous, more compact, and quarries into blocks six or eight inches
thick; it will probably be found, when analyzed, to contain a considerable
amount of iron; in fact, wa.s impressed with the belief, while at some of
the localities of this shale, near Sulphur Rock and Batesville, that it would
prove to contain enough iron to justify smelting.*
Going west from McDonald's, this black shale increases in thickness,
and is found in the bottom of wells, and in the deep cuts of ravines, as
far west as Spring creek, three miles north-west of Batesville, where it
attains a thickness of thirty-five feet or more; and though undoubtedly
belonging to the subcarboniferous period, has the lithological character of
the devonian black shales of Indiana and Kentucky. It is charged with
bitumen, possesses a strong, fetid odor, splits into thin sheets, and decom-
poses too easily to permit of its being used for roofing buildings. At
Spring creek, this member contains the same black, compact, and ferru-
ginous stratum found in the vicinity of Sulphur Rock, which is here
*Owing to some nnknown cause, the packages shipped by me, early last spring, to the office of
the Arkanses Survey, have not yet been rec< ived. One of tin se packages contained the principal
specimens of this shale, collected in Independence county, the manganese ores from Dear Batesville,
and many other important samples of the rocks in that region: consequently do ani a, at
present, be given. Enquiries have been instituted, and it is hoped these missing boxes may yet be
found at some of the shipping points along their route.
2.20 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
increased to a thickness of ten or twelve feet, and has been quarried to
build, in part, the race at Ruddle's mill, on this creek.
The organic remains 6ecn in this shale, comprise imperfect casts of the
genera, cardium, lingula, avicuta, and orthoceras, bi-furcatcd teeth of
fishes and stems of plants.
The cherty subearbonilerous or cavernous limestone (d) which commen-
ces al Black river hills, in township 14, often encroaches upon and replaces
the greater portion of the overlying sandstone (/). This cherty limestone
has its southern limits one mile north of Batesville, caps the mountains in
the northern part of the county with its detached chert, and continues in
the direction of its strike, a little north of west to the Cherokee territory.
In the western part of the State, north of township 15, it is in great force,
and extends northward into Missouri, beyond the lead mines of Granby.
In tie' western part of Independence county this limestone forms a per-
pendicular cliff on White river, above the mouth of Laiferty creek, from
four hundred to five hundred feet in height, making a conspicuous land-
mark for navigators of this river, and bears the name of " Pinter's Bluff."
Between this point and Batesville it forms the substratum of extensive
table-lands, well adapted for agriculture. Characteristic samples of this
soil have been collected from the farm of Mr. R. A. Childress, section 36,
township 14 north, range 8 west, ten miles from Batesville.
One and a half miles north of Batesville, on the property of Mr. Mull,
there is an oolitic member of this limestone, having a thickness of thirty
or forty feet, which takes a good polish and can be quarried in blocks of
any re [uired size for building purposes, and has the reputation of being a
durable stone. Mr. Mull is now engaged quarrying this rock, for the
manufacture of lime, for which use it is well adapted, on account of its
purity and whiteness. Lime made from the oolitic limestone, on the
Ohio river, below Louisville, always brings a higher price and meets with
a more ready sale than that which is made from the associated dark lime-
stones.
The ores found in this member (d.) are oxides of iron and manganese,
galena and some little copper pyrites. The two former of these promise
to be abundant. This is the same geological formation in which the fine
deposits of iron ore occur on the Cumberland river, in Kentucky and Ten-
nessee, that supply the western furnaces located in its vicinity.
North of Batesville, near Mr. Cason's, there is a strong axis of distur-
bance in the strata, bearing south-east and north-west. Small quantities
of copper pyrites are found disseminated amongst these titled strata,
chiefly in a close textured limestone rock, which has a slight greenish
color. Its occurrence, in proximity to this line of disturbance, may be re-
OF ARKANSAS.
221
garded as a favorable symptom and indicative of its origin from beneath.
In this formation, in the vicinity of Lafferty creek, rich beds of manga-
nese ore have been found at several places.* The most remarkable
occurrence of this ore, within my range of observation, is on the property
of Mr. Martin Cason's in section 34, township 14 north, range G west, three
miles north of Batesville. Here it does not occur in veins, but in regularly
stratified beds, splitting up into rusty slabs two or three inches thick, and
containing imbedded sub-spheroidal concretions of a harder and more
metallic appearance than the matrix ore; in size they vary from a half to
one inch in diameter. This segregated ore is not inappropriately called,
" Button ore/'t It is well exposed at Mr. Cason's, on the slope of a hill
in his field, where, in fact, he actually turns it up in great sheets while
cultivating his land with the plow. After it has been exposed to the
atmosphere for a short time, decomposition take* place, producing a black
soil more fertile than any other portion of his farm. Shafts have been
sunk into the ore at this place, fifteen feet in depth, without reaching the
bottom. The ore-bed is overlaid by a coarse-grained entrochital limestone,
which has four feet of its base colored red and filled with the aforemen-
tioned button-shaped concretions of manganese ore.
The position and appearance of the ore, at this locality, render it highly
probable that beds of limestone, previously existing, have been replaced
by infiltrated oxide of manganese.
The saccharoidal sandstone (c) was best seen in the eastern and north-
ern part of the county on Bayou Doty and Bayou Cury, where it has a
thickness of fifty or seventy-five feet. Jt is a coarse-grained, slightly
cemented rock, possessing a variety of shades of color, from pure white
to deep red. This variegated sandstone underlies the subcarboniferous
limestones (d.) and rests on magnesian limestones of lower silurian date
but being destitute of fossils we are, at present, not prepared to say posi-
tively to what geological period it belongs.
The earthy looking limestone (o.) is found associated with and over the
lead bearing magnesian limestone of the lower silurian period, and is
usually known in the vicinity where it occurs, by the name of "white
rock," or " cotton rock." This is a very constant member in the slopes
of the hills, in the northern counties, where lead ores have been dis-
covered.
The massive magnesian limestone (/.) is a continuation downwards of
* See Report of Dr. D. D. Owen, State Geologist.
t The specimens collected at this locality, and shipped, have not yet arrived. The economical
value cannot therefore be reported on.
2,22 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
the above formation, and is frequently intersected by small imperfect veins
of galena, associated with calcareous spar, copper pyrites and zinc',
Some five years ago a company was organized in Batesville, to search
for lead in tbis rock, on Bayou Cury. Several pits or shallow shafts were
sunk under the direction of Judge T. C. Bricky, one of the company, and
a considerable amount of lead taken out; the means at the disposal of this
company were inadequate to make the necessary investigation for prov-
ing the ground. In consequence of the shafts having caved in, no oppor-
tunity was afforded to see the character of the veins. In the rubbish,
thrown out of the shaft, I saw a considerable amount of the sulphuret
and carbonate of zinc, and collected specimens for analysis; * these speci-
mens of sulphuret of lead are of the steel-gray variety, but disseminated
amongst spar and rock, rendering it difficult to obtain large specimens of
the clear ore. The geological formation is certainly perfectly analogous
to that in the lead region of Marion, Carroll, and Lawrence; which
circumstance renders it probable that the ore will be found under the same
circumstances as in the above mentioned counties.
Agriculture.
A considerable diversity of soil is to be found in Independence county,
corresponding to changes in the underlying geological formations. Though
the surface is considerably broken, still there are extensive areas of table-
land underlaid by the cherty subcarboniferous limestones. These soils
are rich, and being based on red clay, are retentive and durable; they are
similar in composition to the land in the barrens of Kentucky. There
are, also, extensive tracts of bottom land, bordering on the numerous
small streams which water this county, that are well adapted for culti-
vation.
The principal growth of timber is white, black, red, and postoaks,
hickory, gum and elm; on the cherty limestone land, the most abundant
trees are blackjack, sassafras and persimmon.
FULTON COUNTY.
In the southeastern corner of this county, near Judge Billingsley's, the
substratum is a hard impure limestone, rough weathering, and full of cross
cracks; superimposed on this, are thirty or forty feet of thin-bedded sili-
ceous limestone, disposed in layers like pavement stones, on the surface of
which remarkable fucoidal impressions are apparent. Above this flaggy
* For result of the analysis, see appendix to Chemical Report.
OF ARKANSAS. , ^.23
limestone is an impure, cherty member, about twenty-five feet thick.
This succession continues nearly to Salem, and the country is strewed
with the reddish and variegated chert, derived from these formations.
Half a mile north of Salem, is an isolated, comical hill, called the
"Pilot Knob." A measurment made with the aneroid barometer, gave
its height four hundred and forty-five (445) feet above the town of Salem.
The summit is capped with a reddish, quartzose sandstone, and disinte-
grated fragments of the same are strewed on the sides of the "Knob;"
thus entirely concealing from view any other rocks which may exist at the
base. This is a conspicuous knob that may be seen from a distance of
many miles; hence it served, in early times, to direct the course of the
pioneers.
Four miles west of Salem, there is a considerable bed of hydrated
brown oxide of iron, in connection with an impure siliceous ore, laying
exposed on a ridge, about one hundred feet above the general drainage
of the country.
The geological position of this ore is probably the same as that which
has been before noted in Lawrence county.
Both copper pyrites and galena, have been found in small quantities in
the magnesian limestones, in the southern and western part of the
county.
Between Salem and Bennett's bayou, the substratum is a white earthy
limestone, resembling the " white rock " (b) of the Independence county
section, alternating with a greenish, marly shale, which weathers easily
and forms broad grassy valleys between the hills destitute of timber.
Bennett's bayou, along which is a rich agricultural district, cuts its way
principally through this stratum.
In the western part of this county, on the North fork of White river,
there are seen, in the base of the hills, ninety feet of irregularly bedded,
impure, cherty limestone; the chert is very brittle, and has a tendency to
break into cubes. This is overlaid by one hundred and eighteen feet of
cherty limestone, alternating with a grayish-buff, siliceous rock.
In the southern part of the county, on Piney creek, the saccharoidal
sandstone (c) of the Independence county section, forms the tops of the
ridges, and is covered with a heavy growth of yellow pine.
Agriculture.
The valleys of the numerous streams, watering this county, afford a
rich fertile soil, well adapted for cultivation; and that forming the small
grassy valleys, derived from the decomposition of the " white rock" ard
f>l>4 « GEOLOGICAL RECONKOISSANCE
its marly shales, is generally black and quite productive for all kinds of
small grain. Characteristic soils of the latter land were collected from a
farm belonging to Judge Billingsly.
The principal growth of timber on the limestone and chert ridges is
blackjack, blackoak, postoak and hickory, and where the sandstone pre
vails yellow pine. In the prairie-like valleys, besides the tall barren-
grass', there is an abundant growth of « Rosin weed," Camphorosma^ rest-
nosa (Gray).
MARION COUNTY.
In the eastern part of Marion county, there is an alternation of the
ma-nesian or lead-bearing rocks of the lower silurian period, with sand-
stones, and the tops of the highest hills are covered with chert belonging
to the subcarboniferous rocks, as proved by the characteristic fossils which
it contains; these- are, however, in most instances only casts. A number
of fine specimens of fossils, found in this chert, were presented to he
survey by Mr. William Flipping, among which are several crinoides,
belon-ino- to the genera platycrinus and actinocrinus, also Syirifer stria-
tes and a large undescribed nautilus. The light impure limestone
- white rock," with its associate greenish marly shale, is seen over a great
portion of this county, and forms the substratum to the gently undulating
tracts of land, known by the name of « Barrens." The principal of these
are the Flipping, Rapp, and Talbot barrens. Characteristic soils have
been collected from the latter, which will give a fair average of this kind
of la .d. It is very black, and in addition to barren grass, supports a luxu-
riant o-rowth of "Rosin weed," Camphorosma resinosa {Gray).
On "the immediate bank of White river, in section 28, township 20 north,
range 15 west, in what is called the Horseshoe bend of the river, a mag-
nesia.! limestone, alternating with sandstone, forms a conspicuous bluff;,
in all some two hundred and fifty feet thick. A number of rock-house
caves have been formed by the disintegration of the magnesian member
of this series, in which large quantities of nitre earth have been formed
The principal of these caves is known generally as the Bean cave, and
seems to have been worked in early times, as an old decayed leaching-
hopper has been found in it. A story is related by some of the first set-
tlers in the country, that a man of the name of Bean once made nitre at
this place in partnership with another man, who he is said to have killed
in a quarrel. This circumstance, it is believed, caused the enterprise to
be abandoned; and to this day, the cave is known under the name of the
OF ARKANSAS.
225
" Bean cave." It is about thirty feet wide at the entrance, and runs back
some one hundred feet or more, when it becomes much wider. Its height
will average about eight feet. The walls or sides of this cave are com-
posed of a laminated, tough, ferruginous clay, the lamina) having a varied
color, from pale yellow to dark red. The upper and lower portions of this
laminated clay, forming the walls of the cave, are partially dry, whilst
the center, for about two feet, is quite damp. Though this clay, as it is
dug from the bed, contains a considerable quantity of nitre, and most in
the upper and lower part, yet it is only after it has been broken down and
left on the bottom of the ca\e for some time, that it acquires sufficient
nitre to be worked with profit. After it has been broken down in the
cave, it rapidly loses its moisture, and crumbles into a fine powder. A
considerable quantity of this dry earth, equal perhaps to one-third of the
dimensions of the cave, is found on the sloping sides and floor.
These nitre earths yield from 3 to 6 per cent, of salt-petre, as will be
seen by consulting the Reports of Dr. D. D. Owen and Dr. Elderhorst;
the red, dry, crumbled earth on the floor being the richest in these nitre
salts.
After lixiviation with water, this earth can also be used as a coarse
paint, being nearly free from grit; it contains so much oxide of iron as to
give it the color of Spanish brown, the depth of which is increased by
ignition.
I was informed by Mr. Flipping that a drift had been made into the
laminated clay of this cave in search of lead, and that some little was
found, but not sufficient to encourage further investigation.
About one hundred yards from Bean's cave, in the same bluff, and
occupying the same level, is another cave, one hundred and sixty feet wide
at the mouth, and nearly as many feet in depth. The thickness of the
deposit of laminated nitre earth, though not as great as in Bean's cave, is
nevertheless, from four to seven feet, and there is good reason to believe
that the earth will be found continuous from one cave to the other.
There are several other nitre caves, of less extent, and filled with this
«ame description of earth, reported to exist in this bluff, which I had not
time to visit.
Messrs. Smith & Co., of Elgin, Jackson county, Arkansas, have recently
purchased land on White river, including these caves, and made arrange-
ments for the manufacture of salt-petre from the nitre earth which they
contain. I was informed by one of the partners, when at Elgin, last
spring, that the yield of nitre was fully equal to their expectations, and
they were quite sanguine that it would prove a profitable investment.
He stated also that they used the lye for evaporation in the kettles, with-
15
226 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
out increasing its strength by passing it through hoppers, containing fresh
earth; if so, the expense for fuel is unnecessarily increased. To evaporate
the lye in the most economical manner, it should be brought to the
strength of 12 or 14 deg., by passing it repeatedly through fresh earth, in
order to extract the soluble salts. A very useful instrument for ascer-
taining the strength of the lye, is the saltpetre hydrometer.
The best method of arranging the lixiviating troughs, or casks, is to
place them at such heights, one above the other, that the lye passing
through the first shall run into the second, and so continue, until the requi-
site per centage of saltpetre is obtained, before proceeding to the boiling and
graining process. In lixiviating, no more water should be used than is
actually necessary to extract the nitre; and lye, under 12 or 14 deg. of the
hydrometer, should be returned through fresh earth, before boiling, until
that strength is obtained.
There can be no doubt that works properly constructed, and judiciously
and systematically managed, will produce salt-petre sufficient to make it a
remunerative business. The location is immediately on White river, which
is navigable at all times, as high up as Jacksonport, and, for a small class of
steamboats, during the greater portion of the year, up to the caves. The
mouth of the cave is so close to the river bank, that, by means of a chute,
the earth can be very conveniently projected to the river, where the water
for lixiviation can be easily obtained. Fuel is close at hand, and will cost
but the chopping and transportation.
For further information, in regard to the geology of this county, as well
as for the particulars of the analysis of the nitre earth, see the Report of
Dr. D. D. Owen, State Geologist, and also that of the Chemical Assistant,
Dr. William Elderhorst.
CRAWFORD COUNTY.
After separating from you at Van Buren, I proceeded to examine the
coal, on Frog bayou, owned by Mr. rhillips. The principal opening is on
the west half of south-west quarter of section 18, township 19 north,
range 30 west, being one mile south of the stage road leading from Van
Buren to Little Rock. The same s< am is also opened, on this bayou,
about one mile north of the stage road. This coal, known as the " Phillips
bank,*' is one foot thick, it has a semi-metallic lustre, and though easily
mined in large blocks, its cohesion is so slight that it soon breaks into
small lumps by handling. It is the principal coal used by the blacksmiths
in the southern part of Crawford, and the greater part of Franklin county,
OF ARKANSAS
227
and is in good repute with the workmen. By analysis, it is found to con-
tain, in 100 parts:
Volatile matter 16.2 $ JJoisture 1.0
( Volatile combustible matter 15.2
Coke 83 8 S Fixed carbon 80.8
( Ashes, (yellowish-red) 3.0
100.0 100.0
It belongs to the class of semi-bituminous coals, and is free from earthy
impurities, as shown by the small amount of ashes in the analysis.
As a fuel, the semi-bituminous coals are in high estimation, being rich
in carbon; and, without any superflous volatile matter, they have a suffi-
ciency of gas to render them easy of ignition.
On%Frog bayou this coal lies under a bed of twelve feet of blue shale,
which has to be removed in order to get out the coal. So long as this
coal can be reached by this amount of stripping, it can be obtained, but
not without considerable expense, which will be greatly increased when
it shall become necessary to follow it by a drift, as much waste material
will have to be removed to make head room in the mine.
The black shale forming the roof of this coal contains fossil plants, belong-
ing to the genera Kpidodendron, sphenopleris, catamites, and pinularia, and
also a shell belonging to the genus avicula, of which only a fragment was
found, too imperfect for determining the species.
At the Phillips bank, the argillaceous shale is all that can be seen over
the coal; but the following section, taken in the hills near by, shows the
overlying beds:
Top of the hill, soil and subsoil ?
Thin bedded sandstone, alternating with red marly clay, (base of
millstone grit) o5 feet
Blue argillaceous shale with segregations of carbonate of iron GO "
Black bituminous shale with fossil plants 1.
Semi-bituminous coal j t
Fire clay 0.6
87.G
Thirteen miles from VanBuren, and about one mile north of the stage
road, on the property of the Messrs. Herds, a mineral spring breaks out at
the base of a hill, from beneath an exposure of bluish-colored, rough,
shecty Sandstone, with concretionary markings. The water comes, most
likely, from a blue shale, which is concealed below the surface: as strata
2»>g GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
of this character were reached in Mr. Herd's well, twenty feet below the
surface, and a similar water obtained.
A qualitative chemical examination of this mineral water, at the foun-
tain head, showed its principal constituents to be:
A small quantity of free sulphuretted hydrogen.
Bi-carbonate of lime.
Bi-carbonate of magnesia.
Sulphate of soda (glauber salts).
Sulphate of magnesia, (epsom salts).
Chloride of sodium, (common salt).
Chloride of magnesium.
The chemical reactions indicate only small quantities of saline matter.
It is therefore, a weak saline sulphuretted water, and its medicinal pro-
perties will be tnat of a mild laxative, it will also be found beneficial in
all cutaneous diseases.
On section 30, township 10 north, range 30 west, at Mr. Etherly's black-
smith shop, a thin coal was struck in digging his well, overlaid by twenty
feet of hard blue sandstone and blue argillaceous shale. From the shale
thrown out, specimens of lipidodendron and stigmaria were obtained.
This coal is most likely the equivalent of the Frog bayou coal, or another
thin seam in close proximity.
For further remarks, on the geology of Crawford county, see Report of
Dr. D. D. Owen, State Geologist.
FRANKLIN COUNTY.
The millstone grit series prevails in the northern part of Franklin
county, composed of conglomerates and thick-bedded coarse sandstones,
flagstones, and red and blue shales. Only thin beds of coals can be ex-
pected to be discovered in such materials as lie below the true productive
coal measures.
A slight wave in the strata, carries the coal of Crawford county beneath
the surface in the northern part of this county, and it is not until you reach
the waters of Horsehead creek, in Johnson county, that this coal again
makes its appearance at the surface, on the north side of the Arkansas
river.
One and a half miles north-east of Benner's mill, near William Parker'*
house, there is an excellent chalybeate spring, which was found on exami-
nation to contain:
A trace of free sulphuretted hydrogen.
OF ARKANSAS. 229
Bi-carbonate of lime.
Bi-carbonate of magnesia!
Bi-carbonate of the protoxide of iron.
This water appears to contain a considerable amount of oxide of iron,
and it is therefore somewhat remarkable that it should also indicate, with
acetate of lead, the presence of sulphuretted hydrogen, a combination that
can only exist when the oxide of iron is held in solution by a free acid.
This water will have a tonic effect, combined with an action on the
skin and kidneys.
At and near Mr. Parker's spring, is seen the following succession of
rocks: coarse-grained sandstone, alternating with flagstones, reddish-yel-
low and gray shales; in all about two hundred feet. In the gray shales,
ten feet above the spring, there is a thin coal-dirt.
On Mulberry river, the thick-bedded sandstone of the millstone-grit
series attains a thickness of more than three hundred feet. From the
base of one of the cliffs of this sandstone, on Mulberry river, section 30?
township 1 1 north, range 28 west, there issues a saline water, from a fissure
in the rock, that is known as the State salt spring. This spring has lately
been given up by the State and is now the property of Messrs. Basham &
Ward. It contains:
Chloride of sodium, (common salt).
Bi-carbonate of lime.
Bi-carbonate of magnesia.
Bi-carbonate of the protoxide of iron.
Sulphates, a trace.
This is a weak brine, which might become much stronger by deep bor-
ing, as it occupies the same geological position in which the strongest
brines are found in the western states.
There is another saline spring, reported to be of about the same strength,
situated higher up on Mulberry river, which I did not have an opportunity
to visit.
The qualitative chemical examination of a mineral water, on Spirit
creek, a branch of Mulberry, township 11 north, range 28? west, resulted
as follows:
Carbonate of the protoxide of iron (strong).
Bi-carbonate of lime.
Bi-carbonate of magnesia.
This is a good chalybeate water, and its effects will be that of an active
tonic.
A chalybeate spring was also examined at Mr. William Ham's, on Mul-
230 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
berry river. This water contains the same ingredients as the preceding
though the oxide of iron is not in such large quantities.
Between Mr. Ham's, on Mulberry river, and Ozark, the following sec-
tion was obtained:
Siliceous flagstones 130 feet.
Siliceous iron ore, 5 to 6. "
Yellow, red, and gray shales 60. "
Coal-dirt, or thin decomposed black shale 1. "
Space concealed, to bed of creek 60. "
257 feet.
Agriculture.
"o
The northern part of Franklin county, though much broken, contains a
large amount of good tillable land on the creek and river bottoms, which
is very productive, when properly cultivated. The principal growth of
timber is white, black, and redoak, blackjack, postoak, and hickory, sweet
and black gum.
JOHNSON COUNTY.
A number of openings have been made into a seam of semi-bituminous
coal, on the waters of Horsehead creek, in Johnson county. The princi-
pal of these are the Wilmoth coal, section 18, township 10 north, range
25 west; Butts' coal, section 8, township 10 north, range 25 west; Lee's
coal, section 15, township 10 north, range 25 west; Flemming's coal, sec-
tion 1, township 9 north, range 25 west. These coals are all opened in
an extensive plateau formed by the easily-weathering mass ol shales
underlying the massive sandstones of the millstone grit series, which are
seen prominently capping the mountains, a short distance to the north.
The Wilmoth coal bed, from 20 to 22 inches thick, is worked by drift-
ing; it has a dip of 6 or 8 degs. to the south-east, and rests on a dark fire-
clay bottom, filled with stems of stigmaria. In mining the coal, some
eight inches of the roof falls down and has to be carried out, which gives
a head room equal to about thirty inches. In this dark earthy looking
shale, is found a small, undescribed species of fossil shell, belonging to
the genus modiola, and fragments of plants belonging to the genus
2>e copter is.
A section of 650 feet of the rocks overlying the coal, was obtained and
is here given in the following section:
OF ARKANSAS. 231
Millstone grit or conglomerate, a massive sandstone in three
members, with shale between, and forming three distinct
benches on the mountains, in all 350 feet.
Vermicular sandstone, in thin beds, with remarkable impres-
sions 80 "
Schistose sandstone with intercalated hard bands 100 "
Yellow and reddish shales 50 "
Dark argillaceous shales GO "
Brown earthy shale forming roof of coal 0.8 "
Whitish-gray shale, mottled with dark spots 9 "
Semi-bituminous coal 1.10 "
Fire clay 0.00 "
G50.9 feet.
Mr. Thomas Butts has opened this coal on his property, where it is 18
inches thick, and dips 10 deg. to the south-east. It is here overlaid by the
same character of shale as seen at the Wilmoth coal, and there are found
in the roof the same fossils.
An opening has also been made into this vein of coal at Mr. Russel
Lee's. The spring rains had filled up the opening so that the coal could
not be seen, and Mr. Lee being absent, I did not ascertain its thickness.
I believe it to be identical with Butts' coal, as fossils of the same charac-
ter occur in the roof shales thrown out of the opening. If this inference
be correct, the thickness of the two coals will probably correspond.
Mr. Fleming's coal is opened on a little branch, which runs into Horse-
head creek; it is 18 or 20 inches thick, and is mined by stripping oif the
roof. The overlying shales and organic remains are identical with the
above. It is undoubtedly an extension of the Wilmoth coal.
Mr. Hodges has opened, and works by stripping this same vein of coal,
two miles north of Clarksville. It is here 18 inches in thickness, and the
same characteristic fossils were found in the shale. At this localitv the
coal is not quite so free from sulphur as at the other openings, nor will it
stand exposure to the atmosphere as well as the coal at Mr. Wilmoth's.
The coal taken from the different mines in this county, meets with a
ready sale. On account of the difficulty experienced in working so thin
a vein of coal, the miners receive 10 cents per bushel for raising; and it
is sold at the bank to the consumers at 20 cents per bushel.
At Mr. Hodge's, the coal has but very little, if any dip, and it is only-
carried above and below the drainage of the country by local undulations
in the strata. Though the coals, at these various openings, differ some-
what in quality and appearance, yet I believe they will be found to be all
232 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
an extension of one and the same bed. Experience has shown that local
changes in the composition of the same vein of coal are not unusual, and
cannot alone be relied upon as a means of identification. The organic
remains of the roof shales and observations on the superposition of the
strata, are much surer guides in the determination of the position of beds
of coal.
For further remarks on the coals of Johnson county, see the Report of
Dr. D. D. Owen, State Geologist.
East of Clarksville, and north of the Arkansas river bottoms, the heavy-
mass of dark shales, associated with the coal, disappear beneath the sur-
face, and the overlying sandstone becomes the surface rock, with some
intercalations of shale towards the base. The siliceous soil, derived
from this sandstone, supports a growth of large yellow pines, on the high
ridges between Clarksville and Dwight mission.
Agriculture.
The tillable up-lands of this county are derived principally from the
shales lying below the main mass of millstone grit rocks. Sample of
soils were collected for chemical examination, from Mr. Arthur Davis'
farm, one and a half miles east of Clarksville, where the growth was
principally postoak.
The bottom lands, bordering on the Arkansas river, are highly esteemed
and very productive.
POPE COUNTY.
The geology of Pope county is almost a counterpart of that of Johnson.
The northern part is broken and mountainous. The mountains are com-
posed of massive sandstones, belonging to the millstone grit formation at
the summit, and thin-bedded and shaly sandstones at the base. Near the
head waters of Illinois bayou, the upper bed of sandstone is a true con-
glomerate charged with pebbles, huge blocks of which have rolled from
above into the valley beneath.
On Indian creek, the subcarboniferous limestone appears beneath these
rocks, interstratified with reddish shales. This is the only limestone
observed in the county.
South of Dover, between Illinois bayou and Galley creek, and south of
the Carrion Crow mountains, the country is comparatively level, where
the siliceous, red and dark argillaceous shales, having no capping of hard
OF ARKANSAS. 233
sandstone to protect them, have been worn away and filled up the ine-
qualities of the surface.
Throughout all this southern part of the county, thin beds of semi-bitu-
minous coal are found. One of the principal openings lor coal, is in the
bed of the Illinois bayou, near Dwight mission; but, at the time of my
examination of this county, the river was too high to admit of its being
seen. Mr. Edwards informed me that it was 15 or 20 inches thick. The
geology of the adjacent country leads me to believe that it will be found
to occupy the same geological position as the coal described on Horse-
head creek, in Johnson county.
The following section exhibits the succession of the rocks at lur. Ed-
ward's dwelling, Dwight mission, Illinois bayou:
Thin-bedded sandstone, top of the hill xd feet.
Reddish, ferruginous, argillaceous shale, with nodules of iron
ore GO "
Shaly argillaceous carbonate of iron 3 to 5 "
Dark shale with fossil plants, lepidodendron and stigmaria* • 2 "
Band of sandstone in two layers (local) 2 "
Alluvial bottom 20 "
Bed of Illinois bayou 0 "
99 feet.
The shaly argillaceous carbonate of iron in this section, is of excellent
quality and sufficiently abundant fcr the supply of smelting furnaces. It
contains 32.2 per cent, of metallic iron, and is similar in its composition
to the best quality of the ore from the Cross Basket mines, in Scotland,
used at the Clyde iron works. Iron made from this class of ores is of the
finest quality, combining strength and ductility.
This description of ore, will no doubt be found at many other localities
in the vicinity of Dwight mission, and must eventually attract the enter-
prise of the' iron manufacturer, from its vicinity to the. Arkansas river
and proximity to large forests of pine timber, and to the workable coals
of Johnson county; especially the Spadra mines described in Dr. Owen's
Report. The coal which is exposed in the bed of Illinois bayou, at low
water, may be reached by a shallow shaft at the base of the section at
Dwight mission, and may be worked by the removal of 8 or 10 inches of
the shale roof.
Considerable quantities of argillaceous iron ore were observed in the
vicinity of Dover, but not in the same abundance as further south.
234 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
Six hundred feet of the rocks, exposed in section in the Carrion Crow
mountain, near Mr. Potts', on Galley creek, are here given:
Millstone grit in three benches of thick-bedded rock, having
shale between — in all about 400 feet.
Space concealed by debris, mostly flagstone and shale 140 "
Argillaceous shale GO "
Semi-bituminous coal 1.3? "
Galley Creek 0 "
601.3 feet.
The above thickness of the individual members will be subject to a cor-
rection for a slight north-west dip.
Some iron ore was observed in the Carrion Crow mountain, under the
upper bench of sandstone; but the greater portion of it contains too much
silica to be considered valuable for the manufacture of iron. The coal
at the base of the mountain has the same appearance as the semi-bitumi-
nous coal of Frog and Illinois bayous. It was not sufficiently opened to
be cen well.
Agriculture.
The cultivated lands lie chiefly in the southern part of this county, east
of the Illinois bayou. There are extensive districts of level tracts, chielly
in townships 0, 7, 8 and 9, ranges 19 and 20 west, that are very produc-
tive, especially adapted for wheat. The soil of this region overlies, and
has mostly been derived from, the disintegration of the reddish and dark
shales at the base of the millstone grit, sufficiently intermixed with sili-
ceous washings from the overlying flagstones to correct their otherwise
tenacious and refractory character. Samples of soil were collected
from John P. Langford's land, on the Illinois bayou, five miles north-
east of Dover. The timber was very large and mostly oaks with some
hickory.
OF ARKANSAS. 235
CONWAY COUNTY.
The- northern part of Conway county is skirted bj a continuation of the
same chain of mountains that traverse the preceding counties of Pope
and Johnson, and has a corresponding geological structure. Sandstones
of the millstone grit form its summit, overlying flagstones and shale.
The hills diminish very much in the southern part of the county, seldom
exceeding three hundred feet, and are composed mostly of thin-bedded
sandstones, underlaid by reddish siliceous, and dark argillaceous shales.
In the level portions of the eastern part of the county, the latter shaly
members underlie the fine tracts of grass land, which affords excellent pastu-
rage for cattle.
Thin beds of coal have been opened, in many places, on the waters of
the Cadron, in the eastern part of the county, and range in thickness from
4 inches up to 20 inches. In section 7, township 5 north, range 12 west,
on the Black fork of the Cadron, a 4 inch seam of coal is intercalated
amongst the shales. It is a more solid coal than those beds previously
described, in Pope and Johnson counties, highly bituminous and very
black; it has but little tendency to crumble, and breaks with a smooth
angular fracture. A few fossil plants were found in its roof shales,
belonging to the genus pecopteris and n uropt ris. This is probably a
different seam of coal from that, before mentioned, on Illinois bayou and
the waters of Horsehead creek. It is, however, too thin a seam to be of
much commercial value.
Three layers of subcarboniferous limestone crop out on Turkey creek,
a branch of the Cadron, in all four or five feet thick, dipping about 3 deg.
south-east. It is a dark, earthy-looking rock, containing encrinite stems
and indistinct carboniferous fossils. This is the only limestone that has
been observed, south of Little Red river and north of the Arkansas river,
in this part of the State; as this rock will make a good strong lime, it is
important to a country where limestones are seldom accessible.
In the north-east part of Conway county, close to the Bull mountain,
the dark shales under the millstone grit are fractured, dislocated, and
traversed by veins of quartz, associated with talc and other allied mag-
nesian minerals; the shales, for some distance on either side of these
veins, are indurated, altered, and more or less metamorphosed. I observed,
at one locality, an almost vertical bank of dark, siliceous rock, one foot
wide, charged with iron, and possessing a cubical structure, the blocks
236 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
averaging about three inches by two. This siliceous vein traverses the
disturbed shales, in a north-east and south-west course, for several miles.
Where these quartz veins pass through the property of Dr. David Lewis,
in section 24, township 6 north, range 11 west, several shallow pits have
been sunk to investigate their character. All that were discovered, proved
to be talcose slates and fine transparent crystals of quartz, three or four
of which had enclosed a drop of water. These pits I consider too shallow
to prove the metalliferous character of the veins. The apparent con-
nection of these veins witli those in Pulaski county, which contain
argentiferous galena, leads me to suspect that similar ore might be found
at a greater depth; especially, as the Bull mountain veins reach the
surface through a hard, siliceous slate, which overlies the metalliferous
shales in Pulaski. The following is a section of the rocks at the Bull
mountain, near Dr. Lewis' house:
Conglomerate, thin-bedded and shaly sandstones, in all 310 feet.
Dark, siliceous shales, with bands of prismatic shale, much dis-
turbed, and traversed by veins of quartz, in all 75 "
385 "
Near the mouth of the Cadron, veins of milky quartz are found, tra-
versing the millstone grit; this appears to be the western limit, on the
north side of the Arkansas river, of that subterranean action which has
filled or injected the slates, south of the Cadron, in Pulaski county.
At Springfield, the county seat of Conway county, a qualitative chemical
examination was made of the town spring, which issues, in a bold clear
stream, from the reddish and dark-colored shales under the millstone grit.
It proved to be a good chalybeate water, possessing decided tonic proper-
ties. The principal ingredients are:
Carbonic acid;
Bi-carbonate of lime;
Bi-carbonate of magnesia;
Bi-carbonate of the protoxide of iron (strong).
Another chalybeate spring, of the same character, occurs at the Peach-
orchard-gap, in section 20, town? hip 6 north, range 10 west, in the edge
of White county, and belongs to Mr. Elliott.
Agriculture.
The most important tracts of arable land, occupy she southern part of
the county, in town, hips G and 7, ranges 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17, on
the waters of the Cadron and Point Remove creeks. They are the same
OF ARKANSAS. 237
description of lands, already spoken of, in the south-cast part of Pope
county, and have been derived from the same geological formations.
PULASKI COUNTY.
North of the Arkansas river, the stratigraphical character of the rocks,
in Pulaski county, is very much the same as that previously noted, in the
counties laying to the west. The millstone grit still forms the capping to
the highest hills, while the cuts in the valleys have laid bare the reddish
and dark underlying shales, which seem to augment in thickness to the
south and east; while the sandstones of the millstone grit appear to
become more schistose in structure.
Imperfect crystals and veins of amorphous milk-white quartz have
ramified the strata, close to the junction of the sandstones and shales,
near Mr. Irvin's, and not far from the stage road leading to Little Rock,
where the adjacent walls of sandstone and shale are metamorphosed for
18 inches on each side of the veins, but especially on the south side, where
the wall is slaty and micaceous. The whole strata, through which the
vein runs, are so much disturbed that, for a width of fifty feet, they dip 35
deg. to the north east, with a north-west and south-east strike. Beyond
this, the strata gradually assume a more horizontal position. No mining
explorations have been made along the line of this vein, in search of
metallic ores; though I believe the conditions under which the vein
appears, favorable for discoveries.
The hill at the toll-bridge, on Palarm creek, is 220 feet high, measured
from the bridge floor, which is about 30 feet above the bed of the creek.
The rocks of which this hill is composed, are thin-bedded, soft, brownish-
colored sandstones, dipping about 40 deg. north-east, and intersected with
veins of milky quartz. On the surface of some of the sandstones, quar-
ried out to improve the road over the hill, clusters of transparent crystals
were found attached. The upper part of this quartz-bearing sandstone,
which caps the hill, is a coarse-grained, reddish rock, which crumbles
easily to sand.
About two miles west of Winfrey's old stand, a remarkably hard, black
metamorphic rock, in semi-crystalline blocks, traversed by numerous fine
veins of white quartz, crosses the road. It is one foot wide, and dips
about 35 deg. north-east. The strata, on each side of this tilted band,
appear to be nearly horizontal.
The most important mineral locality which has yet come under my
observation, in Pulaski county, north of the Arkansas river, is situated on
Kellogg1 s creek, and known as the " Kellogg lead mines." The principal
233
GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
mines are in township 3 north, range 11 west, and about ten miles north
of Little Rock. When first discovered, these mines created considerable
excitement, and the right of mining was leased by the proprietor of the
land, Mr. Kellogg, to a company, who were to hold this right so long as
they paid him regularly a stipulated amount of the ore. Some forty or
fifty tons of this ore were mined and shipped to Europe, for the purpose
of ascertaining its value. ]\o account was ever received, at the mines,
regarding the sale or disposition of this shipment of ore; and the company,
vt -e means were limited, becoming involved in debt and discouraged,
finally abandoned the enterprise.
From long disuse, the shafts from which this ore was raised, have
become filled with water, rubbish, earth and rocks, washed in or detached
from the mouth of the pits, so that there is no opportunity, now, of inspect-
in * the condition of the ore in place. In giving an opinion, therefore, in
regard to these mines, we have to judge from the material thrown out,
from the general geological structure of the country, and from information
derived from Mr. John W. Purdom, who lived close by the mines at the
time the ore was mined. It appears that the ore "was found, not in a
single vein only, but occupying a number of veins, which traverse the
argillaceous shales under the millstone grit at this place; these seem to
• very much the same distribution and relation, as those previously
mentioned as occurring on the property of Dr. Lewis, at the Bull moun-
tain, in the north-east part of Conway county, as well as those observed
near Mr. Irvin's in this county.
To convey a clearer idea of their geological relations, I subjoin the
annexed vertical diagram; which illustrates not only the succession in
Pulaski county, but also in Conway county:
The millstone grit
marked (c), at the top of
MG 51G
JIG
MG MG
MG
MG MG
MG
t
■
200
Millstone grit, 200 feet in thickneffl.
the section, occupies the
[highest position, not on-
ly in the hills adjacent
to the mouth of Palarm
bayou, and in the ridge
dividing the waters of
that stream from Kel-
logg's creek, in Pulaski
count}', but also in the
Bull mountain, in the
north-east corner of
Conway county.
OF ARKANSAS.
239
MG
Millstone grit, 200 feet in thickness — Continued
i i i i
S B
HIT
s s
15
40
30
Siliceous and argillaceous Bhales, with thin
bands of hard rock.
Fhin-bedded soft sandstone.
Hard shale.
200
Argillaceous shale, traversed by metallic reins.
The underlying silice-
ous and argillaceous
shales (d) are exposed,
in section, on the Arkan-
sas river, near Mr. Ir-
v in's, at Pal arm bayou;
as well as on Bull bayou,
in the north-east part of
Conway county. It is
through them that the
veins of quartz reach the
surface, on the property
of Dr. Lewis, in Con-
way county, and near
Mr. Irvin's in Pulaski
county. Locally, a bed
of soft sandstone (c) is
intercalated amongst
these shales, succeeded
by thirty feet of hard
shale or slate, (b), inter-
sected with lines of cross
fracture, probably caus-
ed by shrinkage.
The lowest stratum (a)
of this section comprises
the shales forming the
valley of Kellogg creek,
which are traversed by
a system of metallifer-
ous veins, containing a
rich silver-lead, associat-
ed with quartz, talc, (tal-
low rock of the miners),
copper pyrites, spathic
iron, and blende. The
principal veins have a
course nearly cast and west. At the Kellogg mines, metalliferous veins
are found, occupying a belt of country from north to south, cf more than
half a mile, and the whole system of quartz veins and tilted strata, of
210 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
which the Kellogg veins form a part, must have a width, in the same
direction, exceeding twelve miles.
From 40 to 50 tons of silver-lead ore have been taken out of one of
the shafts sunk at the Kellogg mines, according to information derived
from Mr. Purdom, and one lump carried to Little Rock, as a sample,
weighed 108 pounds. In following the vein, this shaft was carried 108 feet
through shales (a) of the section, after which the work was abandoned.
The vein was found to contain more or less lead throughout the whole
depth. Another shaft, known as the " Well or Moreland diggings," passed
through 200 feet of the same shale, which still continued beneath. This
vein also afforded a considerable amount of argentiferous lead, associated
with the minerals before mentioned as belonging to this locality; but the
amount of ore taken out of this shaft could not be accurately ascertained.
Mr. Purdom was of opinion that it had not produced as much as the 108
feet, or " Johnson shaft." A large quantity of copper pyrites was found
amongst the rubbish thrown out of these shafts, and it is believed that
o-ood veins of this ore might be reached by following the veins.
The lead and copper bearing shales of Kellogg creek are underlaid by
the subcarboniferous limestone, which, we have every reason to believe,
would be more favorable to mine in than the overlying shales; besides,
the surface indications of this system of veins give evidence, that the
deeper they are followed, the richer they become; for the quartz veins of
the Palarm, which I conceive to be an extension upwards of the veins of
Kellogg creek, have not as yet yielded any ore, either of lead or copper.
I believe it, therefore, to be a fair inference, that the deeper the veins are
followed, the richer they will become; more especially when they reach
rocks more favorable for the reception of ores.
The analysis of two samples of lead, from the Kellogg mines, gave the
following result: No. 1, a bright crystalline looking ore, gave, by reduc-
tion, 81. 7 per cent, of metallic lead. By cupellation, this lead gave a
silver bead weighing 1.06' per cent, of the lead employed, which is equal
to 339.2 ounces of silver in a ton of 2.000 pounds.
No. 2, a porous fine-grained ore, with particles of talc disseminated,
gave 73.45 per cent, of metallic lead; this, by cupellation, gave 0.7 per
cent, of silver, equal to 224 ounces in a ton of 2,000 pounds.
The silver-lead ores of Great Britain and Ireland, 'worked in 1852,
according to Mr. Hunt, (as quoted in Whitney's " Metallic wealth of the
United States),'' ranges as low as G ounces of silver in a ton of lead; the
highest, being that of Devon, contains 40 ounces of silver in a ton of lead.
The Cardiganshire and Montgomeryshire lead ores sometimes contain as
much as 75 or 80 ounces of silver to the ton. At Wildberg, in Prussia,
OF ARKANSAS.
241
the lead contains 80 ounces of silver to the ton. The silver-lead of the
Upper Ilartz, belonging to Hanover, contains from 13 to 123 ounces of
■liver to the ton. From 70 to 80 ounces of silver is obtained from a ton
of the argentiferous lead of Obcrnhof, in Saxony.
From this it will be seen, that the silver-lead from the Kellogg mines
greatly exceeds in richness the silver-lead ores of Europe, and in the com-
parison, leaves a margin for profits so broad, that no doubt can be enter-
tamed of the practicability of working these ores, not only for the lead
but the silver. '
Why these mines have been so long abandoned, after having been once
partially worked, I was unable to learn. The situation is highly favora-
ble for rich lodes of metal, not only silver-lead, but also copper.
If the property, belonging to these mines, can be obtained on reasonable
terms, and a judicious and eoonomical system of mining instituted there
can be but little doubt of a profitable result. The stratum of argillace-
ous shale is easily mined, and there is no difficulty in sinking a shaft
through it. From the increasing thickness of the shale to the south-east
it is difficult, at present, to state exactly, what the total thickness of the'
•hales on Kellogg creek may be, before reaching the limestone; it may
probably, be 300 feet or upwards. '
The qualitative chemical examination of the Newton sprin- on the
property of John W. Purdom, in section 26, township 3 north,°ran*e 12
west, 8 miles north of Little Rock, gave, as its principal constituents^
Bi-carbonate of lime.
Bi-carbonate of magnesia.
Bi-carbonate of the protoxide of iron.
This is a strong chalybeate water, and will be found an excellent tonie
for patients suffering from debility.
Two and a half miles east of Mr. Purdom's, between the old Batesville
and Memphis roads, there is a large body of bog-iron ore, which will *.
doubt, be found to contain sufficient iron to pay for working, judging £o»
its appearance. A strong chalybeate spring breaks out from this bed of
ore. Several persons have been induced to sink prospect holes, for lead
in this vicinity; all of which reached bog-iron ore, proving this ferrugin,'
eus deposit to be extensive. Its thickness, where it was only partially
exposed, is two feet. This is, therefore, a locality worthy of the attention
©J the iron manufacturer.
IS
242 GEOLOGICAL RECONKOISSANCE
Agriculture.
Large tracts of level land exist over the area of the above mentioned
shales? from which the soil has been chiefly derived iirthis county. Where
the reddish-colored ferruginous shales of this group prevail, the land is
productive and easily cultivated; but where the purely argillaceous shales
exist, the soil is stiff, refractory, and inclined to be sprouty, and difficult to
bring into a good condition for cultivation; however, when subdued, it
becomes fertile. These flat clay lands, in their wild state, support a luxu-
riant growth of "barren grass," excellent for stock. The timber is mostly
postoak and gum. The soil of the hill land is mostly derived from the
sandstone of the millstone grit series, and is easily cultivated, though not
so productive as the bottom lands. The principal growth of timber, on
the highlands, consists of white, red, and blackoaks, black hickory, and
black-jack oak. A set of soils was collected, characteristic of the latter
lands, from Mr. John W. Purdom's farm, in section 36, township 3 north,
range 12 west.
PRAIRIE COUNTY.
At the time I reached this county, the flies were found to be so numer-
ous that it was impossible for the horses to travel during the day; conse-
quently my observations in this county have been limited.
It is a level prairie country, as its name implies, and its substratum is
composed of the orange-colored sand belonging to the quaternary period.
The only solid rocks observed, are in the north-western part of the county,
and belong to the millstone grit formation. The greater portion of this
county is well adapted for cultivation, and though mostly open prairie,
there are considerable bodies of good timber bordering along the numer-
ous small streams that water this county. There is, at all times, an inex-
haustible supply of wild grass, for stock, and large droves of Mexican
mustangs, and Texas horses, passing through the country, are, annually
brought to this countv to recruit upon its rich, wild pastures. Samples of
soils were collected from the John Percifield old place, in the Grand prai-
rie seven miles from Brownsville, section 10, township 2 north, range 7
west This soil is said to be excellent for small grain, and will produce
twenty-five bushels of wheat to the acre. It is not so good for corn, the
average being from twenty-five to thirty bushels to the acre.
OF ARKANSAS.
243
MONltOE COUNTY.
West of White river, this county is formed of high level prairie lands,
similar in character to the lands of Prairie county, just described, except
a short and narrow strip bordering on White river, in the vicinity of Aber-
deen, which is broken by hills, about one hundred feet in height, composed
of yellow clay and orange sand. East of White river, in this county, the
land is generally low, and much cut up by lakes and sloughs, which, in
time of high freshets, overflow large tracts of country. The remaining
portion of this part of the county is composed of ridges that never over-
flow, and is amongst the finest cotton land in the state, producing 1200 or
1500 pounds to the acre. Soils characteristic of this land were collected
from Alfred Mullen's farm, in section 25, township 1 north, range 3 west.
No. 2, soil fourteen years in cultivation, and now in cotton. The princi-
pal growth of timber, in this section of the county, is large sweet-gum,
elm, hickory, and dogwood.
I did not see any solid rock formation iirthis county.
244 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE
CONCLUSION.
It will be seen, on review of this Report, that the northern part of the
counties lying north of the Arkansas river, are bounded by a chain ot
mountains, which are crowned, on their summits, with massive conglome-
rate or thick-bedded sandstones, locally pebbly, belonging to the millstone
grit series. These massive sandstones are underlaid by reddish and dark-
colored shales of great thickness, especially towards the south-east, ae
three hundred feet have actually been measured where they still extend
beneath the drainage of the country. Thin seams of coal are found in
the upper part of the dark shales, in all the counties from Crawford to
Pulaski,* one of these veins appears to be persistent, and has been identi-
fied, by its organic remains, over a great extent of country. Though
often interrupted by extensive waves, which must have taken place
in a great degree before the deposition of the superimposed sandstones,
the general horizontality of the strata is well preserved. The axis of
these waves appears to be parallel to the strike of the strata, and the
elevated ranges produced from this cause are always capped with the
millstone grit, with sometimes one or two hundred feet of shale over-
lying it. After reaching the eastern boundary of Pulaski county, the dark
underlying shales, with the incumbent sandstones, disappear either ty
dipping to the south-east, or what is most likely the case, they have been
removed by denudation, and buried beneath heavy deposits belonging to
the quaternary period.
Permit me to take the present occasion, to acknowledge the many acts
of kindness experienced at the hands of the citizens of the various counties
through which I passed, which have promoted and facilitated the objects
of the Survey. Where these are numerous and universal, it would be
invidious to particularize individual ca:es.
EDWARD T. COX,
Assistant Geologist.
* Though I did not see any coal in Pulaski, I was credibly informed by Mr. Elliott, that he had
found a thin scam not far from the Kellogg mines; and he promised, if possible, to meet me at the
Klines and show it.
INDEX
Actjxocrinus in chert
Agassizocrinus conicus ...... 224
Agate in Izard county, occurrence of! '. '. 123
Amber in Poinsett county, occurrence of. . . 4*
Analysis, methods of 31
Analysis of argentiferous galena'fro'm ' Pulaski' county " 186-1M
argillaceous rock imbedding galena. . 240
blende oe 176
brauuite '.'.'.'., 155
coal 164
dolomite 13°. 227
galena 174, 175
lignite 159, 160, 240
limonite 177> 178
marionite ' 170-172
nitre earth 153
pearlspar ..." 53, 54, 178, 185
potter;s clay ..........[ i83
psilomelane 21
red clay imbedding zinc ore... 16l» iG~ 165
shell-marl from Greene county l75
shell-marl from Kentucky. ... 27
smithsonite 27
Spadra coal .... 148-153, 183, 184
wad '.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'..'. 130
water from Cobb's well i63
John Robinson's well 181
Wm. Lane's well 215
J. P. Harris' well . . . .'. 29, 180
Thos. McEIrath's well i81
a spring near J. Young's farm ..'.'.'.'.'.'. Jf 1
a mineral spring in Crawford county. ... j*£
a sulphur spring in Washington county 1 1'~' 77a
a mineral spring on Spirit creek, Franklin county'.'.'.'." '.'.'. 'Ill
a chalybeate spring in Franklin county ™
A. b. Stewart's spring, Greene county oi i£
J5« « m Sprin? 0t' Spri^eld, Conway county. ...::.';::; ' oJfi
the " Mammoth spring" } -"b
the Searcy sulphur spring, White county.' .'.'.'.'.'.'.'.' 2f?
the Black sulphur spring of Van Buren county 70
the Puce spring, Van Buren county ii
the Pennywit sulphur spring, Crawford county. .'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.' ,«£
the Kice's spring ... J 1~D
*u_ c. . f. fc . " on7
the State salt spring, Franklin" county .'.'.'.'.'.'.'.' «2I
Newton spring, Pulaski county "J*
of St. Francis river. . . **■
23, 180
24G
INDEX.
Page.
102
Analysis of water from Kimble's creek, Madison county '.'.'. \S1
of White river jgj
of North fork of White river ." 22 170
Analysis of yellow ochre ........' 183
Appendix to Chemical Report • H4
Archimedes limestone of Independence county. • • • _ l7(J
Argillaceous rock imbedding galena, analysis oi .'.'.'.'.'.'.'.' 220, 227
Avicula, casts of in shale
72
Bald lick of Van Buren county • • oij
Bath mine • • 149
Bath mine, analysis of the ore from the 53> 224
Bean's nitre cave 108
Beatty's prairie of Benton county 67
Bee rock of White county m% 24
Beech branch of Cache river, section on the 1<v7
Belgian process of manufacturing zinc 116, 218
Bellerophon 103
Benton county • • ' mmm 104, 109
character of soils of jqq
Beatty's prairie in • • - jqV ^9
prospect of mining operations in 1()8
reported existence of a sulphur spring in • • • • • lQ5
succession of strata in .... . 38
Big spring in Independence county ." 35, 218
Black marble of Independence county " 77
Black marble of Searcy county ' 75
Black marble of Van Buren county " '^5 28, 30
Black sand lands of Greene county ' 32
Black spice lands of Jackson county 31
Black wax lands of Poinsett county ............. 155
Blende, analysis of • • ........ 222
occurrence of, in Independence county 63 l4g
Lawrence county ' 55
Marion county 239
Pulaski connty ' " ' gg
Boat mountain of Carroll county 91
Boat mountain, section of strata of .'.'..'.'.'.'.'.'. 1 64
Braunite, analysis of ■ ' " " • ;-S8
Brines, where best reached by boring .... . 4<'
Buhr millstone of Izard county "*.!."]".! 53
Buhrstone of Marion county "" ^g 43
Buhrstone chert of Izard county
(See, also " millstone.") 221
Button ore
25, 32
Cache lands, character 01 210
Calamine, the zinc works at 227
Calamilcs, in shale of the coal measures 58
Calcareous spar in Carroll county, occurrence of ............ 43
Calico rock ■ • ■ ; 44
Camp creek hollow, succession of rocks in ' ,^4
Camphorosma resinosa, or rosin-weed '.'.'.... y20
Curdium, casts of, in shale 5g^ ^7
Carroll county Ii0
analysis of galena from 96 ^7
« cotton-rock » of. .7.7.7.".7.66,"57," 87', 97
encrmital marble ol 94
Huzza prairie of * 93
iron ores of. ...'.'.'.'.'.' .'56-58, 97
lead ores of _ _ y9 94
Marshall's prairie of ' ' gg
Pilot Knob of • 91
Pilot, Stack and Boat mountains ot 95
reported occurrence of copper ore in • "g--, gg
reported occurrence of lead ore in ' ' * ' ^
saline exudations in 57
section in the lead region of 91
section of strata of Boat mountain of • '9
section of strata of hills in Prairie township oi
INDEX. 247
Page.
. Bean's of Marion county 53
Caves in lnd< unty 38, 41
Caves in Washiiij itj 11G, 120
mi of tin.' qnati man beds ai 20
I the, use and analysis of
i i of i ~i r>
1 my 227
Coal, an of Johnson county 130
Coal, occurrence of, in Conway county 235
1'i.iu i »td county 226
Johnson county 129, 230
Madison comity !J'J
Pope county 233
W ishington county 113, 115, 118, 120
White county 69
Coal, reported occurrence of, in Crawford county 123
Coal, reported o icurrence of, in Van Buren county 75
Coal, Spadra, oi Johnson county 129
an.uysis of 130
era! remarks on , 137
practical value of „ 132, 133
Commercial value of the ores of manganese 165
Constitution of the ores of manganese 167-169
Conway county 235
a D ilysis of the town spring of Springfield, in 236
i \ ldtnces of the disturbance of strata in 235
limestone iu 235
occurrence of coal in 235
occurrence of talc and allied minerals in 235
spect for the occurrence of argentiferous lead ores in 236
section of strata in 238
Copper ore, occurrence of, in Carroll county 95
Fulton county 223
Independence county 220
Izard county 45
Lawrence county 208
M irion county 55
Pulaski county 239
Cotton-rock of Can-oil county 96
County of Benton 103
Carroll 56, 87
Conway 235
Crawford 123, 226
Franklin 228
Fulton 59, 222
Greene 19, 201
Independence 33, 216
Izard , 41
Jackson 32, 215
.1 ohnson 129, 230
Lawrence 63, 208
M idison 99
.Mil ion 45, 224
M nitoe 243
\ ewton 81
Poinsett 30
Pope 232
Prairie 242
Pulaski 237
Randolph 205
arcy 76
V:in Buren 72
Washington 110
White 67
Crawford county 123, 22C
analysis of the water from a spring in 228
Natural dam of 123
occurrence of coal in 226
occurrence of iron ore in 125
248 index.
Pagb.
Crawford county, Permywit sulphur water of 126
reported occurrence of coal in 123
section of strata near Phillip's coal bank in 227
section of strata near Van Buren, in 125
Crowley's ridge, productiveness of the soils of 23
Cupriferous pyrites in lignites of Greene county 25
Cythcrea, in limestone 41
Dam, natural, of Crawford county 123
Determination of nitric acid, method for the 190
Dislocation of strata in Searcy county .' 79
Dislocation of strata in White county 71
Disturbance of strata in Conway county, evidences of the 235
Dolomite, analysis of 174, 175
Dolomite, method of analysis of 190
EARTH-cracks in Greene county 202
Earth-cracks in Poinsett county 31
Eisenkalkstein in Washington county 118
English method of manufacturing zinc 157
Euomphalus in limestone 116
Favosite in limestone 121
Ferruginous shales of Independence county 218
Ferruginous shales of Madison county 102
Fishes, teeth of, in shale ■ • 220
Formation, cretaceous, not in the north-eastern part of the State 26, 31, 32
Formations, the three leading, of the northern counties of Arkansas 135
Franklin county - 228
analysis of several mineral springs of 229
section of strata on Mulberry river in 230
Freestone, occurrence of, in Van Buren county 75
Freestone, occurrence of, in Washington county 120
Fulton county 59, ~22
character of the soils of 223
Mammoth spring of
60
Pilot knob of . . ° 223
occurrence of copper ore in 223
of iron ore in 62, 223
of lead ore in 223
section near the Rapp barrens in 59
white sandstone of 62, 223
Gainesville, lead ore in the vicinity of 24
Gainesville, lignite in the vicinity of 24
Galena, method pursued in the analysis of 191
(See lead ore.)
General summary, inferences, and remarks in conclusion 135
Genessee slate, probable equivalents of 97
Geological map of the State, importance of the construction of a 139
Geological survey, importance of 11
Geological survey of Kentucky, results of 13
Gold, reported occurrence of, in White county 68
Grandfather knob of Carroll county 97
Greene county 19, -01
black sand lands of 25, 28 30
character of soils of 204
earth cracks in 202
mineral and agricultural resources of 203
occurrence of lead ore in 24, 30
of yellow ochre in 22, 202, 203
potter's clay of 21, 202, 203
quarternary shell -marl of 26, 27
quartzose sandstone of 28, 29
selenite in 202
succession of strata near J. W. Pyne's, in 202
Hoppe mine, analysis of the ore from the 148
mode of occurrence of the zinc ore at the 211
Houghton's diggings 209, 210
ndkx. 249
Huzza prairie, of Carroll county, soils of the 94
Hypogene rucks, not observed north of the Arkansas river 125
Importance of geological surveys 11
Impressions, curious, in Bandstone ' 114, 125
Impressions of leaves in quarternary Bandstone 25, 29
Independence county 33, 216
analysis of the zinc ores of 183
Big Bpring of 38
black marble of 218
character of soils of 40, 222
cotton-rock of 221
ferruginous shale of 219
millstone rock of 217
occurrence of ores of copper in 220
iron in 40, 217
lead in 222
manganese in 39, 221
zinc in 222
oolitic limestone of 220
salt-petre cave of 38
section ol strata in 216
white sandstone of 38, 41, 221
Indigo knob of Carroll county 97
Introduction 9
Introductory letters 5, 145, 196
Iron manufactured in Lawrence county quality of the 213
Iron ore, analysis of 170-173
occurrence of, in Carroll county 98
in Crawford county 125
in Ful ton county 62, 223
in Independence county 40, 217
in Lawrence county 213
in Madison county , 102
in Pope county 233, 234
in Pulaski county 239, 241
in Randolph county 206, 207
in Van Buren county 72
in Washington county 112, 116, 120
in White county 68, 69
table, showing the richness of the different kinds of 173
where most abundant 137
Izard county 41
agate and hornstone in 44
buhr millstone of 44
limestones of 41, 42, 44
occurrence of copper ore in 45
reported occurrence of manganese ore in : 44
of silver ore in 43
soils of 42
Terra Sienna of 44
white sandstone of 41-43
Jackson county 32, 215
black spice land of 32
character of northern part of 215
of soils of 215
Johnson county 129, 230
occurrence of coal in 230
section of strata in the coal region of 231
on Spadra ereek, in 129
Spadra coal of 129
Kellogo lead mines 237-241
Kentucky, results of the geological survey of 13
Kimble's creek, analysis of the water of 102
Koch mine 211
Koch mine, analyses of the ore from the 151
L' A.-.guille bottom of Poinsett county 30
L'Anguille bottom, wells sunk in 31
250 index.
Page.
Lawrence county 63, 208
analysis of a lead ore from 160
analysis of the zinc ores from 147-151, 184
character of the soils of 214
millstone ruck found in 213
mode of occurrence of the zinc ore in ^11
occurrence of ores of copper in 208
of iron in 213
of lead in 63, 209
of zinc in 63, 210-212
section of strata in 208
section of strata at Calamine in 211
Lead mines of Missouri, description of the 105-107
Lead ore, analysis of the, of Carroll county 160
of Lawrence county 160
of Marion county 159
of Pulaski county 240
argentiferous, occurrence of, in Pulaski county 237-241
argentiferous, prospects of the occurrence of, in Conway county 236
general remarks on 136
occurrence of, in Carroll county 56-58
in Fulton county 223
in Greene county 24, 30
in Independence count}- 222
in Lawrence county 63, 209
in Madison county 103
in Marion county 46-48, 52, 53, 55, 225
in N ewton county 82
in Searcy county 79
in Washington county 122
reported occurrence of, in Carroll county 97, 98
reported occurrence of, in Madison county 100
probable occurrence of, in Washington county Ill
tabular view of the composition of the 160
Lee's mountain, in Marion county 51
Lepidoileudron 115-227
Lignite, analysis of 177, 178
Lignite, of Greene county 24
Lignite, of Poinsett county 31
Limestone, Archimedes 34, 36, 77
incrinital and marble- 56, 57, 77, 87
marble- of Marion county 45, 51
of Newton county 81, 84
of Independence county 218
(See, also, Marble.)
Limestone, occurrence of, in Conway county 235
Limestone, oolitic, of Independence county 220
Limestone, pyritiferous, of Washington county 216, 218
Limouite, analysis ot 170-172
Limonite, method of analysis of 189
Litt'jula. in sandstone 218
easts of, in shale 220
MAnisoN county 99
analysis of water of Kimble's creek, of 102
ferruginous shale of 102
occurrence of iron ore in 102
occurrence of lead ore in 103
occurrence of coal in 99
prospect of mining operations in south-east part of 100
reported occurrence of lead ore in 100
section of strata on Warton's creek, in 101
Mammoth spring, of Fulton county 60
reported occurrence of iron ore near the 62
Manganese ores, analysis of 161-165
commercial value of the 165
general remarks on the 136
of Arkansas, their value as compared with the manganese ores of other
countries 166
of Independence county 39, 221
reported occurrence of, in Izard county 44
INDEX.
251
Page.
■ _
Manganese ores, method pursued in their analysis
their chemical constitution
Manure, gypsiferous deposil in Greene county, valuable as a -
lre, gypsiferous shale of Wa ihingtoa county, valuable ae e
Marble, 'black, of Independence county
of Van Buren county
of Searcy county... ■••■•«
encrinital, ot <- arroll county
-limestone, of Newton county
-rock, where most abundant ' '- ^
variegated, of Marion county ' ' „
Marion county •
analyses of the ores of lead of . 1 Yl - 1 .">.">
analyses of the ores of zinc of ^
buhrstone of • ' ggg
manufacture of salt-petre in V V •.;,',^ ~, "r,
nitre-caves of * " ^ 0j
marble limestones of ^
occurrence of ores of copper in ■•-:• ••• •■• ' " ././-
of lead in 4b-4ft, oJ, o.. ,..._>, --•>
ot zinc in
sandstone of • ^g
section of strata in the lead-region of • ]y)
Marionite, description and analysis of ^
Mariouite, formula of <>7
Marl, shell-, of Greene county, analysis of ~7
Marl, shell-, of Kentucky, analysis of *.\". ..... . 89
Marshall's prairie • <J4
Marshall's prairie, character of soil of 1:i
Mattener's knob _jgj
Methods of analysis ■ ■
Metamorphic rocks in Pulaski county, occurrence ot •• • ; _
Millstone grit, its vast extent in northern Arkansas. ••••••• '' ,07
Millstone grit and the subcarboniferous limestones, boundary between the i»«
Millstone rock of Independence county ~l3
Millstone rock of Lawrence county " ',."-' ~()g
Mining operations, prospect of, in Benton county
. in Newton county •- ^
in south-east part of Madison county
in the north-east part of Arkansas lut
Missouri, description of the lead mines of " -0
Mitchell's hill, section on " 0'.q
Modiola, in shale of coal measures y ^3
Monroe county ' 7,43
Monroe county, general character of ^
Morell prairie, soil of ... •
Mounds in Washington county
43
Naked Job of Izard county ' ^3
Natural dam of Crawford county ' L)~^
Nautilus in chert ~7jg
Nautilus ferrutus ' ' 035
NuropU ris in shale of coal measures gj
Newton county ■ ,05
analysis of nitre earth from ■ • • feG
marble-limestone of J, .
nitre caves of on
occurrence of lead ore in . . _.
prospect of mining for lead in • • • J
section of strata near the mouth of Cave creek, in • • ■ *»
Nitre cave, Bean's, of Marion county gg
of Independence county ' g^_gg
of Newton county ' . . ,.
reported occurrence of a, in Washington county • • • • J*
Nitre determinations in nitre earths from Marion county ' J> j*
Nitre earth, analysis of, from Newton county • ' za
from Bean's cave 178
from Marion county '
Nitre earth, fatty principle in, from Thompson's cave • •
Nitre, manufacture of, in Marion county
, origin of
252 index.
Page.
Nitric acid, method for the determination of 190
Nucula f! 116, 218
Ochke, yellow, from Greene county 22, 25, 202
Ochre, yellow, analysis of 22, 170
Ochre, yellow, use of 22, 203
Oil-trough bottom, character of soil of 33
Oil-trough ridge, section of strata of 34
Orthis 208, 218
Orthis crinistria 98, 103
Ortlwc. ras 208, 220
Palaeontology, importance of 139-141
Pearl spar, analysis of 183
Pecoptiris in shale of coal measures 230-235
Pilot knob of Carroll county 95
Pilot mountain of Carroll county 88
Pine, diggings for silver ore at the, in Greene county 22
Pinularia in shale of coal measures 227
Plalicrimis 224
Poinsett county 30
amber found in 31
black wax lands of 31
earthcraks and sandblows in 31
lignite of 31
sandstone of 31 , 32
Pope county 232
character of soils in 234
occurrence of coal in 233
occurrence of iron ore in 233, 234
section of strata on Galley creek, in 234
. section of strata on Illinois bayou, in 233
Potter's clay in Greene county 21, 202, 203
Powhatan, zinc ore found in the streets of 212
Prairie of Benton county, character of soil of 104
Beatty's 108
Huzza 94
Marshall •. 89, 94
Morell, character of soil of 31
Prairie county 242
Prairie county, general character of, and its soil 242
Productal limestone of Independence county 35
Productus 78, 218
cora in limestone 116, 121, 218
elegans 100, 218
punctatus in chert 104
Psilnmelnne, analysis of . . 161, 162, 165
Psilomelane, method of analysis of 188
Psilomelune. occurrence of, in Independence county 39
Pulaski county 237
analysis of argentiferous lead ore of 240
analysis of the Newton spring of 241
character of soils of 242
Kellogg lead mines of 237, 241
metamorphic action observable in the strata of 237
occurrence of blende in 239
of copper ore in 239
of iron ore in 239, 241
of lead ore in 237
section of strata in 238
Pyrites, yellow cupriferous, in lignite of Greene county ^25
Quaternary sandstone, impressions of leaves in 25, 29
Quartz veins, occurrence of, in Conway county 235
Quartz veins, occurrence of, in Pulaski county 237
Randolph county 205
agricultural resources of 207
occurrence of iron ore in 206, 207
Rice's spring of 207
INDEX. 253
Pagh.
Randolph county, section of strata in 206
Raney mine 211
Red clay imbedding zinc ore, analysis of 175
Red soil of White county, character of 69
Rice'.- Bpring 207
Rocks associated with the ores of zinc and lead, analysis of the 174-177
Rock house in Newton county 86
Rosin-weed in Marion county 224
Round-top peak of the Judah mountain 81
Saccuaroioal sandstone of Missouri, equivalent of the 42
Saline exudations in Carroll county 91
Salt-petre. See nitre.
Sandblows in Poinsett county 31
Sandstone, quartzose, of Greene county 28, 29
quaternary, of Greene county 25, 29
of Carroll county 57, e7
of Independence county ^5
of Marion county 4f>, 5l
of Izard county 41, 12, 43
of Poinsett county 31, 13
of White county 68, 69, 70, 7l
flaggy, of Searcy county 78
Baccharoidal, equivalent of the 43
white, of Fulton county (3
white, of Independence county 38^1
with vermicular impressions 70
Searcy county 76
black marble of 77
flaggy sandstone of 78
occurrence of lead ore in 79
section of strata on the Carrollton road in 79
section of strata in Wiley's Cove, of 77
Section of strata on Spadra creek, Johnson county 129
on Mitchell's hill ." 50
in the lead region of Carroll county 57
in the lead region of Marion county 4q
near the Rapp barrens, Fulton county 59
in Wiley's Cove, Searcy county 78
on Carrollton road, Searcy county 79
near the mouth of Cave creek, Newton county c3
of the Boat mountain, Carroll county 9l
of hills in Prairie township, Carroll county 97
on Warton's creek, Madison county 10l
of the subcarboniferous group of Washington county Ill
near Fayetteville, Washington county . 114
on Middle fork of White river, Washington county 117
on East fork of Illinois river, Washington county 119
on Cane hill, Washington county 120
on College hill, Washington county 12l
in Vim yard tow nship, Washington county 122
Van Burcn, Crawford county 125
in Randolph county 206
in Lawrence county 208
at Calamine, Lawrence county 211
in Independence county 216
Phillip's coal bank, Crawford county
on Mulberry river, Franklin county 2. 0
in coal region of Johnson county , 231
on Illinois bayou, Pope county 2.' 3
on Galley creek, Pope county 2; 4
in Pulaski and Conway counties 238
Selenite 113, 203
Shale, gypsiferous of Washington county 113
ferruginous 102, 219
hard, of Benton county ]04
Shell-marl, quaternary, of Greene county 26, S7
Shield's bluff, section at ." ; g
Bilesian method of manufacturing zinc 1^3
Silex, its abundance in northern Arkansas 1^7
Silurian period, rock* of the upper, not occurring in the northern counties of Arkansas 1U5
254 INDEX-
Page.
Silver, in the lead ore of Marion county 159
Pulaski county 136, 240, 241
Silver, richness of the Arkansas lead ores in, compared with the richness of the ores of other
countries 136, 161, 240, 241
Silver ore. reported occurrence of, in Izard county 43
Carroll county 97
Smithsonite, analysis of 148-153, 183, 184
method of analysis of » 186
occurrence of, in Lawrence county 63
Marion county 55
Soils of Greene county, character of 204
Randolph county, do 207
Jackson county, do 215
Lawrence county, do 214
Independence county, do 222
Fulton county, do 223
Pope county, do 234
; ilrie county, do 242
Pulaski county, do 242
Crowley's ridge, productiveness of 23'
Spadra coal of Johnson county 129
Sphenopi tris in shale of coal-measures , 227
Spirifer 78, 98, 218
slriatus 105, 2:24
Spring, analysis of water of Rice's 207
of A. L. Stewart's 23, 180
of a, in Crawford county 228
of a chalybeate, in Franklin county 223
of the State salt, in Franklin county 229
of a mineral, on Spirit creek, Franklin county 229
of the town-, of Springfield, Conway county 236
of Newton and Pulaski county 241
Puce, of Van Buren county 73
Eye, of Van Buren county 73
Black sulphur, of Van Buren county 73
Big, of independence county 38
Mammoth, of Fulton county 60, 182
sulphur, of Washington county 117, 119
chalybeate, of Washington county 119
Pennywit sulphur, of Crawford county 126
Stack mountain of Carroll county 88
Stigmaria Jicoides 68
St. Francis river, analysis of water of 23, 180
SubcarboniferOus limestones, boundary between the millstone grit and the 137
Succession of strata in Benton county 105
Succession of strata near J. W. Pyne's, Greene county 202
Si ar loaf hill of Marion county 50
Si ar loaf mountain of Van Buren county 72
Sulphate of lime, crystals of, in Washington county 113
Sulphates of iron and alumina, exudations of, in Carroll county 91
Sulphur springs of Washington county 117, 119
Sulphur spring, Pennywit, of Crawford county 1-6
Sulphur spring, reported existence of, in Benton county 108
Sulphuret of copper, see copper ore.
of lead, see lead ore.
of zinc, see blende.
Summary, general, inferences and remarks in conclusion 135
Table, showing the richness of the zinc ores of Arkansas compared with those of other coun-
tries L">6
showing the value of the ores of manganese 166
showing the amount of silver in the lead ores of northern Arkansas 160
showing the comparative richness of the iron ores 173
Table-land of south-western part of Van Buren county 72, 74
Talc and allied minerals in Conway county 235
Talc in Pulaski county "39
Teeth of fishes, in shale 220
T< rebratula plano-sulcata 121
planum-bona 1~1
Terra Sienna, in Izard county 44
Trilobites in sandstone 218
Tufa, calcareous, formation of, on Mammoth spring 61
INDEX. O55
c
Page.
Van Buren county 72
black marble of 75
Black sulphur spring of 73
character of ap-land soil of 74
freestone of 75
Eve Bpring of .- 73
Puce spring of 73
occurrence of carbonate of iron in 72
reported occurrence of coal in 75
Sngar loaf mountain of 7:2
table-land of 72, 74
Veins and deposits of lead, zinc, and manganese ores, where situated KH
Vermicular impressions in sandstone 70
Wad, analysis of 163
Warton's creek, section of strata on, Madison county 101
Washington county 110
character of the red up-land soil of 118
chalybeate spring in 119
caves in 116, 120
brown freestone in 120
Eisenkalkstein in 118
good prospects for boring for brine in 1 19
gypsiferous shale of 113
occurrence of coal in 113, 115, 118, 120
of iron ore in 112, 116, 120
of lead ore in 122
of selenite in 113
reported occurrence of a nitre cave in 110
probable occurrence of lead ore in HI
origin of mounds in 112
pyritiferous limestone of 110", 118
section of strata of subcarboniferous groups of Ill
near Fayetteville, in 1 14
on Middle fork of White river in 117
on East fork of Illinois river in ■■. 119
on Cane hill in 120
on College hill in 121
in Vineyard township in 1 22
springs of 110
sulphur springs of 117, 119
Water of White river, analysis of 181
St. Francis river, analysis of 23, 180
Kimble's creek, analysis of 102
Black sulphur spring, analysis of 73
Puce spring, analysis of 73
Water from a sulphur spring in Washington county, analysis of 117, 119
well on A. L. Stewart's farm, analysis of 180
on Wm. Lane's farm, analysis of <m 180
on Thos. McElrath's farm, analysis of 181
on Mr. Cobb's farm, analysis of 181
on John Robinson's farm, analysis of 215
a spring near J. Young's farm, analysis of 181
the North fork of White river, analysis of 181
the Mammoth spring, analysis of J —3
a spring in Crawford county, analysis of 228
a chalybeate spring in Franklin cruntv, analysis of 22S
the State silt spring, in Franklin county, analysis of 229
a mineral spring on Spirit creek, Franklin county, analysis of 229
the town spring at Springfield, analysis of 236
the Newton spring, Pulaski county 241
Searcy sulphur, analysis of 71
Pennywit sulphur, analysis of 126
Well of J. P. Harris, Greene county 26, 27
James Lamb, " " 27
Win. Lane, " " 09
J. Robinson, Jackson " 215
Wells, sunk in L'Anguille bottom 31
White county 67
Bee rock of 67
256 INDEX.
Page.
\\ hite county, carboniferous system of 68
character of red soil of 69
occurrence of coal in 69
iron ore in 68, 69
reported occurrence of gold in 68
sandstones of 68, 69, 70
Searcy sulphur water of 71
White river, water of 33
White river, water of, analysis of 181
Wiley's Cove, section of strata in, of Searcy county 77
Wood's mine, analysis of the ore from 152
Zixc, carbonate of, in dolomite 177
(See smithso7iite.)
process of manufacturing, from its ores 156, 158
ore, occurrence of, in Independence county 222
Lawrence county 63, 210-212
Marion county 53, 55
ores, general remarks on the , 136
method pursued in the analysis of the 186
of Independence county, analyses of the 183
of Lawrence " " " " 147-151,184
of Marion " "' " " 151-155
of Arkansas, table showing the comparative richness of the 156
ERRATA
p. 24,
line
: 8 :
trom
bott
P- 42,
tt
M
a
top,
p. MS,
«
17
tt
tt
p. 219,
«
2
tt
n
p. 227,
tt
20
it
tt
p. 258,
(<
19
tt
tt
sandstone " standstone.
ferruginous " feruginous.
Sulphur Rock for Sulpher rock.
lendron " lipidodendron.
WILLIAMS COLLEGE
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