15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. Sterrett, Douglas B., "Diamonds in Arkansas."-U. S. Geological Survey, Mineral Resources for 1909, pp. 23-25. Now out of print, but may be consulted in public or private libraries. Harris, G. D., "Magnetic Rocks (Peridotite Eruptives Near Murfreesboro, Arkansas).”—Science, N. S., Vol. 29, p. 384. Obtainable from Science Press, Grand Central Terminal, New York City. 1911 Fuller, John T., "The Arkansas Diamond Field."-Engineering and Mining Journal for January 6, 1912. Obtainable from McGraw-Hill Book Company, 10th Avenue at 36th Street, New York City. 1912 Glenn, Leonides Chalmers, "The Arkansas Diamond Bearing Peridotite Area."-Geological Society of America Bulletin 23, p. 726. Obtainable from Science Press, Grand Central Terminal, New York City. 1913 Fuller, John T., "Diamond Mining in Arkansas."-Engineering and Mining Journal for January 11, 1913. Obtainable from McGraw-Hill Book Company, 10th Avenue at 36th Street, New York City. 1914 Miser, H. D., "New Areas of Diamond Bearing Peridotite in Arkansas."-Bulletin of the U. S. Geological Survey No. 540. Now out of print, but may be consulted in public or scientific libraries. 1923 Miser, H. D., and Ross, C. S., “Diamond Bearing Peridotite in Pike County, Arkansas."-Bulletin No. 735 of the U. S. Geological Survey. Now out of print, but may be consulted in public or scientic libraries. Miser, H. D., "Peridotite Dikes in Scott County, Arkansas."-Bulletin of the U. S. Geological Survey No. 735-h, pp. 271-278. Now out of print, but may be consulted in public or scientific libraries. FULLER'S EARTH Composition-Fuller's earth is usually a non-plastic earth or "clay," although, like the earth found in Arkansas, it may sometimes be plastic. It consists principally of a hydrous aluminum silicate, but also contains magnesium, iron, lime, and usually a little potash and soda. Clarifying earths ordinarily carry a relatively high percentage of combined water and less alumina than most other clays. Its chemical and physical characteristics vary in different localities. On account of the variable appearance and chemical qualities of fuller's earth, it can be definitely identified only by tests with oils. Uses. Fuller's earth is valuable principally on account of its highly absorbent power for certain substances, and is used to decolorize or clarify mineral, vegetable and animal oils, fats and soaps. A small proportion is used in the manufacture of some toilet preparations and drugs, and for softening water. Arkansas' earth has been used only for clarifying edible fats, such as cotton-seed oil, peanut oil, hog lard, tallow and stearine. Occurrence. Most of the clarifying earths are derived from sedimentary beds, but the Arkansas earth originates in decomposed dikes of volcanic rock, which are composed largely of syenite and ouachatite. These dikes are located near Olsen switch, on the Missouri Pacific Railroad in Saline County. They penetrate Ordovician. shales in that region and are found within an area of about three square miles. Seven dikes have been located on one 160-acre tract belonging to the American Refiner's Earth, and there are probably many more which have not been located in the mined area. These dikes usually have an inclination to the south of from 45 to 60 degrees. They vary in width from a feather edge to about five feet, and in length to nearly one-half mile. The alteration of the dike material extends at one point to a depth of at least 180 feet below the surface while at other points alteration has not proceeded below 60 feet. On account of the plasticity, staining, and the occurrence of iron in dikes near the surface, mining usually is carried on below a depth of thirty feet. Mining of the Arkansas earth consists in sinking vertical shafts which vary in depth from 60 to 180 feet to intersect the dikes below the surface. Cross-cuts are then driven into the veins of fuller's earth and mining done by pick and shovel. The loose material is removed by buckets which are operated by hoisting engines. The loose lump is then hauled to the mill, where it is dried in the air preliminary to crushing. Milling consists in crushing, dry pulverizing, drying, and sifting the earth through silk. The finished fuller's earth usually has a coarseness of 100 mesh, but may vary from 80 to 120 mesh. Production. The first discovery of fuller's earth in the United States was made by John Olsen in 1891 at a place near Alexander, Arkansas. The real beginning of the industry in this country, however, was in 1893, when a deposit was discovered in Quincy, Florida. The next year, 1894, another deposit was located by John Olsen near Olsen switch, where a plant was erected and operated. According to the U. S. Geological Survey report* on Fuller's earth, Arkansas became a producer in 1901, from 1904 to 1907 was the second largest producer in the United States, and during 1909, 1910 and 1911 was third in output and in value of earth produced. According to C. E. Olsen the plant at Olsen switch was operated from 1894 intermittently for two or three years and then continuously until 1919, when it was sold to the control of the Arkansas Fuller's Earth Refining Company. Little was done for three years and in 1922 it reverted to the control of the American Refiner's Earth. The Armour & Company plant also operated intermittently from 1900 to 1904. The Olsen mine has produced a total of 14,000 short tons, most of which was produced after 1905. Since 1922 there has been no production, on account of the low market price of the earth. Arkansas production figures that are available are as follows: Fuller's Earth Production The State's output of Fuller's earth is reported, according to the U. S. Geological Survey, as follows: The American Refineries Earth, C. E. Olsen, proprietor, 1218 High Street, Little Rock, Ark. 1. Bibliography of Fuller's Earth Branner, J. C., "The Clays of Arkansas."-U. S. Geological Survey Bulletin No. 351. Now out of print, but may be consulted in public or scientific libraries. *Bulletin No. 530-q, "Developed Deposits of Fuller's Earth in Arkansas," by H. D. Miser. 1913 2. 3. Branner, J. C., "An Early Discovery of Fuller's Earth in Arkansas." Bulletin of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, Tr. 43:520522, 1913. Miser, H. D., "Developed Deposits of Fuller's Earth in Arkansas."— U. S. Geological Survey, Bulletin 530q, pp. 207-220. Now out of print, but may be consulted in public or private libraries. GLASS SAND It Composition.-Glass sand in its pure form is quartz sand. must be free from such impurities as manganese, iron oxide, magnesia, or clay. The presence of manganese in glass sand gives the glass a violet shade, iron gives a greenish color, magnesia makes the sand less fusible, while clay tends to cloud the glass. Roundness of the grains is not essential for a good glass sand, as good glass is made from sand of angular or subangular grain. Uniformity of grain size is desirable. The mesh usually ranges from 30 to 120. Uses. Glass sand is used in the manufacture of flintware, window glass, plate glass, cast and rolled glass, and as a steel moulding sand. The glass sand of Arkansas has been used principally for the manufacture of flint, window and bottle glass. It is also used as a steel moulding sand. The glass sands of Crowley's Ridge may be used in the manufacture of cheaper grades of glass, as they are not free from impurities. Occurrence. Only one deposit of glass sand is being worked in Arkansas at the present time. This is located at Guion, Izard County. This sand is part of the St. Peter sandstone formation of Ordovician age which outcrops through northern Arkansas. It is almost entirely free from impurities and the finished glass product has no stain. Manufacturers consider it to be as good a quality as the best glass sands in Missouri. It has, however, a finer texture. lowing is a mechanical analyses of the Guion sand: The fol Passes Per Cent 20 Mesh 40 Mesh 52% 60 Mesh 80 Mesh 100 Mesh The following are analyses of four typical glass sands: 200 Mesh 0% At Whitlock Spur, near Bryant, Saline County, there is an extensive deposit of sand which may serve for the manufacture of cheap glass. The Manglesdorf Laboratory, Little Rock, reports that this sand contains between .1 and .2 per cent of uranium oxide, which gives glass made from it a cloudy appearance. Glass sands occur along Crowley's Ridge in Greene County. These deposits contain material which is fine and white, but the products made from it would have a light green color, owing to the small amount of iron present. With soda and lime added it would make a fairly good window glass. The following is an analysis of one of the most prominent sands found on Crowley's Ridge in Green County, Section 10, Township 17 north, Range 4 east: Production and Mining.-Glass sand is mined at Guion by tunnelling and by face excavating. Production is at the rate of about 100 cars per month. Production for the deposits at Guion,, Arkansas, Izard County, since September, 1923, according to the Arkansas State Severance Tax report is as follows: 1. Value $ 610.17 1,249.63 2,373.46 652.14 $4,885.40 Producer-Silica Products Company, Guion, Ark. Bibliography of Glass Sand 1889 Call, R. E., "The Geology of Crowley's Ridge."-Annual Report of the Arkansas Geological Survey for 1889, Vol. II. Now out of print, but may be consulted in public or scientific libraries. 1906 2. Burchard, E. F., "Notes on Various Glass Sands, Mainly Undeveloped."-Bulletin No. 315 of the U. S. Geological Survey, "Contributions to Economic Geology", Part I, p. 377. Now out of print, but may be consulted in public or scientific libraries. |