:l !l. 
THE UNIVERSITY OF rrEXAS MINERAL SURVEY. ~.~·S. B'0'i:il5~'1'UIT NO. 7. 
REPORT OF PROGRESS FOR THE . 
ENDING DECEM~ER 31, 1903, 

AND 
rrOPOGRAPHIC MAP OF TERLINGQA QUADRANGLE, BREwsrrER AND PRESIDIO COUNTIES. 
BULL.ETIN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS 
NO. 22. · 

Entered in tile Po.gtoffice at Austin, Texas, as mail matter of the second class. 
AUSTIN: 
VON BOECKMANN·JONES COMPANY, STATE PRINTERS. 
1904 
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MINERAL SURVEY. 
BULLETIN NO. 7. 
REPORT OF PROGRESS FOR THE R 
ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1903, 

AND 
TOPOGRAPHIC :MAP OF TERLINGUA Q.UADRANGLE, 
BREWSTER AND PRESIDIO COUNTIES. 

BULLETIN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS 
NO. 22. 

Entered in the Postojfice at Austin, Texa8, as mail matter of the second class. 
AUS'l'IN: 
V01il BOECKMANN-JONES COMPANY, STATE PRINTERS, 
1904. 

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 
AusTIN, TEXAS, January 18th, 1904:. 
Hon. William L. Prather, President, The University of Texas. 
DEAR Srn: I beg herewith to transmit to you the Report of Progress of The University of Texas Mineral Survey for the year ending Decem­ber 31st, 190.3, and the topogriphic map of the Terlingua Quicksilver Region. 
Very respectfully, 
WM.. B. PHILLIPS, 
Director. 

ANNOUNCEMENT. 
The University of Texas Mineral Survey is prepared to undertake all kinds of chemical analyses, assays, investigations of technical pro­cesses, etc. It has a well equipped laboratory, furnished with modern &cienti:fic appliances and can make returns promptly. 
Prices on application. Address all communications to DR. WM. B. PHILLIPS, Director, University Mineral Survey, Austin, Texas. 

SURVEY STAFF. 
Wm. B. Phillips, Director. 
H. W. Harper, Chemist. 
1B. F. Hill, Assistant Geologist. 

S. H. Worrell, Assistant Chemist. 
0. H. Palm, Special Chemist on Clays. 
E. E. Mclnnis, Stenographer. 
1 Mr. Hill retired from the service of the Survey, September, 1903, to beco111.e Instructor in Mineralogy and Petrography in the University of Texas. 
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MINERAL SURVEY. 
•EPORT OF PROGRESS FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEllBER 31, l!J03. 
This Survey was established under an Act of the 27th Legislature. It was organized May 4th, 1901, and since that time has issued six Bulletins, viz. : 
Bulletin No. 1. Texas Petroleum, July, 1901. 
Bulletin No. 2. Sulphur, Oil and Quicksilver in trans-Pecos Texas. February, 1902. 
Bulletin No. 3. Coal, Lignite and Asphalt Rocks, May, 1902. 
Bulletin No. 4. The Quicksilver Deposits of Terlingua, Brewster eounty, October, 1902. 
Bulletin No. 5. The Minerals and Mineral Localities of Texas, December, 1902. · Bulletin No. 6. The Mining Laws of Texas and Tables of Magnetic 
Declination, July, 1903. 
Inclusive o:f the special topographic map to accompany Bulletin No. ~ we have distributed nearly 30,000 copies of the publications of the Survey. 'rhe demand for them has been so active that we have on hand now a few copies only of Bulletin No. 6. 
The field work :for 1901-1902 consisted in such as was necessary in the preparati-0n of the Bulletins issued to the close of 1902, viz., the first five. It included much travel and observation in the oil fields of Navarro and Jefferson counties, in the sulphur and other mineral area11 in trans-Pecos Texas, in the coal, lignite and asphalt districts and in the quicksilver regions in the southern part of Brewster county. We were greatly aided in this work by the topographic corps o:f the United States Geological Survey, which prepared for us special maps of the asphalt area in · Cooke and Montague counties and the quicksilver dis­trict of Terlingua, Brewster county. In discussing the work of the Survey during the year 1903 it is best to divide it into three parts, field, effice and chemical. 
FIELD WORK DURING THE YEAR 1903. 
Early in the year the Director of the Survey went with Mr. B. F. Hill 
into Presidio county to map out the work that was to be undertaken 
there during the season. They were accompanied by Prof. J. A. Udden, 
ef the Iowa Geological Survey, who was employed especially to inves­
tigate the Carboniferous area around the Shafter silver mines, Pre­
11idio county. 
Prof. Udden remained in the field about two months, but Mr. Hill 
11pent the entire summer in Presidio and El Paso counties, traversing the 
Chinati Mountains, the Sierra Vieja and the Quitman and Eagle 
6 THE UNIV.ERSITY OF TEXA.8 MINERAL SURVEY. 
Ranges. The reports of these gentlemen are now nearly ready for the press and will be issued shortly as Bulletin No. 8. This Bulletin will deal with the southern and western part of Presidio county and the southern part of El Paso county and will be accom­panied by a geographical map of the area under consideration, printed in colors, photographs, sections, etc. The region, for the most part, is of Cretaceous Age, although both the Upper Carboniferous and the Tertiary are represented. There are many igneous intrusions which now stand much above the general level of the region as old volcanic necks, etc. Bedded lavas are also to be observed and much metamorphism has taken place in certain localities . . The only successful mine in the entire region is at Shafter, where operations have been continued for nearly twenty years. Many old prospect pits, etc., are to be seen, all now aban­doned but showing signs of considerable activity ten or twelve years ago. The prospects that have been partially developed in San Antonio Canyon, Presidio county, a few miles west of Shafter, are encouraging. The ore there is a silver-bearing galena, s9me samples showing 2.9 ounces of silver and 21 per cent of lead. The ore mined and milled at Shafter is a quartzite carrying silver chloride with occasional cham­bers of silver-and gold-bearing galena. The output of lead and gold is, however, of comparatively small moment, the chief source of profit being the chloride ore. The galena is concentrated from the raw ore and shipped to El Paso. 
The Chinati Mining Company, with head-quarters at Elliott, Arkan­sas, erected a lead smelter on Cibolo Creek, near Shafter, and smelted some ore with coke hauled 47 miles from the railroad at Marfa. But the enterprise was not successful and nothing has been done during the year. The silver chloride ore at Shafter is remarkable for the scarcity of outcrops. It occurs as chambers in Upper Carboniferous limestone, many of the chambers being of great size, sometimes with an evident connection, but often without. The total extent of under-ground work is now about fourteen miles. The ore is treated by pan amalgamation, a modern adaptation of the old patio process, the pulp going from the ten-stamp mill direct to the pans. Up to a year ago the fuel was wood, but oil burners have been installed, the oil being hauled in iron tanks from Marfa. 47 miles, where connection is made with the South­ern Pacific Railroad. Beaumont oil is used and it has shown a good economy over wood. Nearly all of the nearby wood . has been cut down and used and it is becoming more and more difficult to secure this fuel. 
Of notable occurrence in the Shafter district is a hematite ore of the following composition: 
An0;lysis of Hematite from Presidio County. 
Per cent. Metallic iron .............................................66.54 Silica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.62 Phosphorus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.05 
The outcrop is about 5 miles N. W. of Shafter, on east branch of Cibolo Creek. It has not been opened. Under a plan of co-operation with the United States Geological Survey Mr. Geo. B. Richardson spent the summer and fall in that part of El Paso county which lie!' north of the Tex;as & Pacific Railroad. This region contains the once famous Hazel mine, which produced within a short time $60,000 worth of cop­per and silver ore, and the sulphur deposits south of the Delaware Creek, mention of which was made in our Bulletin No. 2. The Hazel mine has not been worked for several years, but the Black Shaft Mining Company is now opening some prospects near Allamore. 
It-is in this part of El Paso county that the public school fund owns very large areas of undivided land, i. e., the land lies in solid blocks and not in alternate sections with railroad land. The University also owns something over 400,000 acres in this part of the county. 
Mr. Richardson gave his attention almost entirely to the question of water, seeking to determine whether or no it was likely to be found within pumping distance of the surface. He has worked the geology out in great detail, following to some extent the earlier investigations of Shumard, Tarr, R. T. Hill and Girty. His report will be issued as soon as possible and will be fully illustrated with photographs, draw­ings, sections, etc. It is hoped that it will be possible to construct a geological map of El Paso county now by putting together all of the data which has been accumulated by different observers. The water question there is by far the most important with which one has to deal. If water can not be found within pumping distance of the surface it may be possible to impound it in storage reservoirs. To this end a careful topographic 8urvey of the region becomes imperative and arrangements can be made with the United States Geological Survey to continue the work already begun in El Paso county. The topo­graphic sheets which have been completed in this region are as follows: El Paso, Rio Grande, Cerro Alto, Fort Hancock, Salt Basin and Sierra Blanca. Two other sheets could be added, viz., the sheets lying east of 
Salt Basin and Sierra Blanca sheets and this would cover nearly the 
whole of El Paso county with these excellent maps ahd form the basis 
for a further study of the all 'important water question. 
The average rainfall for that region scarcely exceeds ten inches annu­
ally. Most of it falls in the months of June and July. Great arroyos 
are washed out and there is on every hand evidences of considerable ero­
sion. It may be possible to impound the larger portion of this rainfall 
and to work the cattle farther and farther from known springs and 
tanks. The grass is good and if water can be found or impounded there 
is no reason why this should not become a fine cattle country. It does 
not appear to be adapted to any other industry, if we except the possi­
bilities in tlie mineral region north of Van Horn and the sulphur de­
posits south ~f Delaware Creek. 
During the year the United States Geological Survey has extended 
its excellent topographic maps across the southern part of Brewster 
county, taking in all of the area south of the line of 29° 30". north lati­
tude, and 102° 30" and 104° west longitude. This Survey prepared for 
us a special topographic map of the Terlingua Quicksilver District, 
Brewster county, which was issued as a part of our Bulletin No. 4, Octo­
ber, 1902. The additional maps prepared during the year 1903 cover 
all of the southern part of Brewster, including the Chisos Mountains 
and the Boquillas Mountains. The southern boundary of the maps is 
the Rio Grande. This important work was undertaken by the United 
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MINERAL SURVEY. 
States Geological Survey upon the request and with the co-operation of the University of Texas Mineral Survey and was in charge of Mr. Arthur Stiles, topographer. The Terlingua sheet, embracing the area between 20° 30", north latitude, and 103° 30" and 104°, west longitude, is sent out with this Report. It covers much more territory than wae covered in the special map of the Terlingua district, reference to which has already been made. The special map related to an area' of about 60 square miles on a scale of 1.2 inches to the mile and with a contour interval of 25 feet. It was intended simply to give information con­cerning the district · immediately around Terlingua, Brewster county, the center of the quicksilver industry. The topographic map sent out with this Bulletin embraces an area of about 632 square miles, on a scale of 2 miles to the inch and with contour intervals of 100 feet. lt takes in about 370 square miles in the southeast part of Presidio county, the remaining area being in the southwestern and southern part of Brewster county. On the west it adjoins the Polvo sheet, which was prepared by the United States Geological Survey in 1895. 'l'he quad­rangle north of the Terlingua quadrangle has not yet been surveyed, but the Chisos quadrangle, which has been surveyed and is now being pre­pared for the engraver, lies east of the Terlingua quadrangle. With the completion of the Chisos sheet and the Boquillas sheet, to the east of the Chisos sheet, we will have topographic maps of all that portion of Texas lying along the Rio Grande from El Paso to Boquillas, a di!­tance of nearly 400 miles, as the river runs. All of these excellent maps have been prepared by the United States Geological Survey and they are invaluable in the study of the geology and mineral resources of that large area. Sketch maps of portions of this area were prepared by the 
United States War Department in 1883-84 and these maps extended tA> and beyond the Chisos Mountains. In 1899 the United States Geo­logical Survey issued a map entitled "Reconnaissance Map of the Big Bend Country, Texas," prepared by Prof. R. T. Hill. All of these maps served a most useful purpose, but the area has now been re-sur­veyed in detail and the new maps are more accurate. The area cov­ered by the map which is enclosed lies almost entirely within the Cre­taceous, there being, perhaps, some Upper Carboniferous in the Solita­rio. It has been the scene·of igneous activities on a very large scale as is shown today by numerous buttes, necks, plugs, laccolites and sheets composed of many varieties of igneous and metamorphic rocks. It is now thought that there is a close. connection between the occurrence of quicksilver ore in the region and former volcanic forces, and it ie possible that the great uplift of the Chisos Mountains, through the Cre­taceous, was the controlling agency which affected the subsequent geo­logical and topographic history of the Big Bend Country. This uplift of igneous rocks forms a vast ellipse 100 miles in circumference and from 10 to 15 miles in its greatest diameter and is now the most striking feature of the landscape in all that region. It attains an elevation, in Mt. Emory, of more than 8000 feet, and presents from every side a most rugged aspect. Cinnabar (quicksilver ore) has been found on the 'Yest and east sides of the Chisos, existing in the several localitiee under closely similar conditions. A detailed study of the Chisos Moun­tains would probably give the key for unlocking many of the proble:me 
which now confront the geologist and the practical miner. This will be rendered possible upon the completion of the topographic map and it is our purpose to send a party into the :field as soon as photographs of the map can be secured. It is not improbable that other valuable min­erals will be found in and around the Chisos Mountains, such for instance as dfes of iron, copper, lead and silver. It is now practically an unknown region, only its main geological features being determined. It is comparatively well watered and on the upper slopes and within the great basins thPre is excellent grass and timber. Bed& of lignite occur along Tornillo Creek, 'a few miles east of the Chisos Mountains and dis­coveries of gold are reported from the vicinity of McKinney's Spring. 
A new interest. now attaches to the region southeast of the Chisos Mountains since the recent discovery of quicksilver in Block G3. The new :field is from 30 to 40 miles, in a direct line, southeast of the Ter­lingua quicksilver district and within six miles of the Rio Grande. The discovery of quicksilver ore in the region east and southeast of the Chisos Mountains and between these and Tornillo Creek was predicted by the Director of this Survey in an article communicated to ·the San Antonio Express, August 20th, 1902, but it was not until the late sum· mer of 1903 that any :finds were made. The discovery was made by Ventur Bustos, a Mexican, and, according to the statement of Mr. M. 
W. Harmon, county surveyor of Brewster, it is in Section 32, Block G3, Dallas & Wichita Railway, the block having been surveyed on the alter­nate system plan, the even numbered sections belonging to the publie school fund (administered by the Commissioner of the General Land Office, Austin,) and the others to the railroad. 
The geology of the district has not been studied in detail, but it bears a close resemblance to the Terlingua district, showing the Austin walk and the Edwards limestone (Cretaceous), with many intrusions of igneous rocks. The Director of the Survey made a second trip into the tlistrict in December; 1903, and it is proposed tO put a special party in the field this season. The nearest railroad point is Marathon, a station on the Southern Pacific Railroad, 400 miles west of San Antonio and 226 . miles southeast of El Paso. From this point the new district is about 100 miles, as the road now runs, but by the construction of a cut-off, following the foot-hills of the Chisos Mountains and leaving Boquillas to the southeast, the distance could be reduced to 7 5 miles. The new elistrict gives promise of further development and other discoveries are to be anticipated. 
Of special interest at this time is the work carried on by Dr. Hein­rich Ries, Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y., .on the clays of Texas. Dr. Ries has given a great deal of attention to the study of clays, both from a chemical and physical standpoint and from that of the manufacturer ef clay products and has prepared many monographs on the subject for the United States Geological Survey, Alabama, New Jersey, New York, etc. Under a plan of co-operation with the Texas World's Fair Commission, Dr. Ries spent the summer in visiting the chief clay pro­iucing districts in the State and in collecting samples in person. · In this work he was assisted by Mr. R. C. Brooks, who had collected for the Survey, in 1901, a great deal of the material which appeared in our Bulletin No. 3, dealing with coal, lignite and asphalt rocks. Dr. Ries 
THE UNIVERSITY O~' TEXAS MINERAL SURVgY. 
and Mr. Brooks collected about 100 samples of clays from different parts of the State, representing the deposits which are now of greatest impor­tance. 'l'he chemical analysis of these samples are now in progress in the laboratory of the Survey while Dr. Ries is engaged upon the physical examination in his own laboratory. After the investigations shall have been completed Dr. Ries will write the report, which wiU be issued as a special Bulletin. The clays, prepared in the form of four inch cubes, are to be exhibited at the World's Fair, St. Louis, as ~ part of the Texas Exhibit. To each sample there will be attached a card giving the locality, the chemical composition and the result of the physical exam­ination, such as fusibility, plasticity, strength, color on burning, proper temperature for burning, suitability for various purposes, etc. Ii is expected that the exhibit of Texas clays and products made from clay will be as complete as any other similar exhibit at St. Louis. 
The importance of the clays and cement rocks in Texas can scarcely be overstated. They exist here in great variety and abundance and already form the basis of an industry which is worth more than $4,000,­000 a year. The three cement works at Quanah, Dallas and San An­tonio are turning out an excellent product and there is some probability of the revival of the cement industry which was established at Austin several years ago. The certainty of the completion of an inter-oceanic canal lends additional interest to the cement industry in Texas, for a great deal of cement work will be required in construction. The won­derful growth of metallurgical works in Mexico should also stimulate our people in the direction of supplying the fire-brick so extensively used in such establishments. 
It is not thought that the clays of Texas can be exhaustively treated in one publication, for the area over which excellent clays occur in work­able quantities is certainly very large, but the report of Dr. Ries will serve to attract attention to a matter of great importance to the State and to lay the foundation· for future investigations. Dr. Ries' report will be complete in every detail so far as it goes, but it will not attempt to cover the entire State, nor to discuss every clay ileposit that could be utilized. There has not been a publication of any sort dealing with the clays and cement rocks of Texas and the special Bulletin which we purpose to issue should serve a most useful end. 
THE EXHIBIT OF THE MINERAL RESOURCES OF TEXAS AT ST. LOUIS. 
Reference has been made to co-operation with the Texas World's Fair Commission in the preparation of material to be shown at St. Louis. This co-operation has taken the form of assisting the Commissio:q by loaning to it' such collections as have already been made and in' securing new articles of commercial use. The space awarded to Texas for this purpose is about 2000 square feet in the Mines Building. Handsome cases are now being made and the material prepared, classified and labelled. The exhibit will consist of typical samples of the different mineral substances found in the State, ores of the useful metals, salt, sulphur, oil, gypsum, asphalt rocks, coal, lignite, granite, serpentine, soapstone, marble, limestone, sandstone,_ cement-r~cks, clays, on~x, agate, graphite, etc., etc. The collection of this extra matenal and lts -proper mounting, labelling, etc.-, has entailed no little field and: office work, but the assistance was gladly given, without expense to the Survey. An Act of the last Legislature authorized the Board of Regents to loan to the, Texas World's Fair Commission such collections as had 'alr~ady b()en or should thereafter be made under the condition that they sp.ould be _removed and -returned without expense to the ~niversity or to the Survey and that they, with all accretions, should .be installed at the University upori the termination of the Exposition. 
_· A large and handsome room in the new Engineering Building, now under construction at the University, has been reserved for a Muse-um of Economic Geology and it is proposed to -bring all of such material sent to St. Louis back to the University and install it permaMntly ·for the use of students and all .other persons concerned in the·development 0-f the mineral wealth of the State. It will be a place where one can see and study, typical samples of all mineral products, including build­ing stones~ etc., that the State has .to-offer. The collections made by the former geological survey, which -came to an end in 1892, have been 10,aned rto the University by .special Act of the . Legislature and they have been removed from the Capitol to the University. The economic material secured by the two surveys, together with that secured ·for the_ World's Fair, will all be available for the new Museum and will form the most. edmplete exhibit of the mineral resurces of the State ever brought rogether. 
Mentidn is made of the matter now because the Survey has spent Ji good deal of time during the last several months in collec_ting the reql,ii:i;ed material, and it properly come.S up under the heading of Field Wo1k 
4,n' enormous map of the State, on. a scale of 5 miles to the inch, is 
being construc'ted in the office, at the expense of the Texas World's Fair 
Commission, by Mr. C. P. Scrivener. This map will be 16 feet square 
and on it will appear the location of mineral deposits, etc. 
OFFICE WORK. 
The office work of the Survey during the last year, as indeed during 
the time .which has elapsed since the organization of the Survey, has con­
sisted of replies to inq]iiries respectiµg the mineral resources of the State 
and the publications of this and the former Survey and in preparing the 
results of the field work for publication. . 
The total n11mber of letters written since the organization of the Sur­
vey is 7,045 jtnd these letters relate to a great variety of subjects. · So_me 
of them have required considerable time .before proper ;answers could be 
returned. The inquiries and replies have all to be classified and filed 
so that at any time they may be referred to without delay. A card 
catalogue system is in use by which we are enabled to turn to any letter 
that has been received or written. In addition to this letter index we 
also keep a double card catalogue of the ·names and addresses of the 
persons to whom any of our publications are sent, _with the character 
of such :publication. Included in this double catalogue is a directory 
of each postoffice in the State to which we have sent any publication, 
with the name of the person to whom it was sent and the character of 
12 THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MINERAL SURVEY. 
the publication forwarded. In this way we are enabled to keep track of the distribution of the publications of the Survey and to know at any time to whom they have been sent and what was sent. 
We keep also a card catalogue of the names of all producers of min­eral substances in the State, such as coal and lignite miners, oil pro­ducers, quarries of granite, limestone, sandstone, etc., miners and usen of clays, salt, sand, cement rock, etc. 
We have also a card catalogue of the photographs taken in the prose­cution of the field work and the lantern slides prepared from them. If it is desired at any time to illustrate any point in connection with the study of the economic geology of the State we can turn at once to the card catalogue of the photographs and lantern slides and select the particular view required. We have on hand now about 450 of such photographs and lantern slides and are constantly adding to the list. In this work we have been greatly aided by the Texas World's Fair Commission. 
We have found that photographs and lantern slides are of the great­est possible help in the elucidation of the geology and mineral resourcee of the State. Several illustrated lectures have been delivered at the University and it is our purpose during the coming year to visit the chief cities and towns, as occasion may allow, and bring to the atten­tion of our citizens profitable sources of investment in the minerals and mineral products of 'l'exas. In this way it is thought that the work of the Survey can be brought into closer touch with actual business and attention drawn to the fact that it exists solely for the purpose of aid­ing in the material development of our mineral wealth. 
The discovery of such large supplies of oil at Beaumont, Sour Lake 
and Batson's Prairie has had the effect of attracting attention to Texae 
as a mineral country. T'he opening of the quicksilver district of Ter­
lingua, Brewster county, coming about the same time as the great oil 
discoveries, has augmented this interest. Texas is no longer to be 
known almost exclusively as a farming and cattle country. Within the 
last two years it has sprung to the second place among the oil produc­
ing districts of the country and is exceeded only by the Appalachian 
Field, which includes New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and a 
portion of Ohio. In 1898 Texas was credited with 544,620 barrels of 
crude petroleum, in 1902 with 16,833,154 barrels. The production in 
1903 is likely to be above 20,000,000 barrels. 
A great many questions relating to the occurrence and development 
of the mineral resources of the State are referred to this office. They 
bear on a great variety of subjects, from the probability of finding arte­
sian water to the composition of bat guano. Since the successful open­
ing of the quicksilver mines in Brewster county many persons, not resi­
dents of the State, have sent in a great many inquiries concerning the 
nature of land purchased in that general area. Many of these letter!! 
have necessitated considerable research before they could be properly 
answered. In many instances no satisfactory replies can be made, but 
the letters have to be written. There is in the State at large, if one 
may judge from the numerous inquiries addressed to this office, an 
increasing interest in the development of the material wealth of the 
State. The office has become, in great part, a Bureau of Information. 
After a thTee weeks absence 200 letters accumulated and it is almost imp?ssib~e to clear them from the desk and to reply to those that are commg m all the time. When this Survey was established it was thought that the men could spend nearly all of their time in the field &nd this is done by the field force. But there is another side which was perhaps not so well considered and that is the purely office work consequent upon the public interest in the work of the Survey. Inquiries that come in must be attended to and no one who ha& not been in the office during the last two and a half years can appreciate just what this means. 
CHEMICAL WORK. 
During the year 1903 there were made in the chemical laboratory of the Survey 496 analyses, making the total number, since May, 1901, 1519. They embrace mere identifications and complete analyses and assays. They cover a great variety of material: agate, alum, amalgam, anhydrite, antimony, arsenic, asphalt and asphalt rock, barite, basalt, bat guano, boll weevil poison, bone, brick, calcite, cement and cement rock, chalcopyrite, chalk, chert, clay and clay products, coal, cobalt, copper ore, copperas, coral, corundum, diatomaceous earth, dolomite, garnet, gas (illuminating and natural), glauconite, glass, gold ore, gra­hamite, graphite, gypsum, hydrogen sulphide, iron ore, kaolin, lead ore, lignite, lime and limestones, magnesium sulphate, manganese ore, mar­ble, marl, marcasite, mercury, mica, molybdenum ore, nickel ore, ocher, oil, paraffin, peat, phonolite, phosphate rock, platinum, potash, pyrite, quartz, salt, sand ;ind sandstone, sea ooze, selenite, shale, silica, silver ore, slag, soap8tone, sodium nitrate, sulphur ore, tellurium oi::e, tin, tung­aten ore, uranium ore, water and zinc ore. 
There is scarcely a mineral substance known or suspected to exist in the State which does not sooner or later come to this office for identi­fication, or analysis. 
During the last year the chemical work has been carried on by Mr. 
S. H. Worrell, Assistant Chemist. For the last three months Mr. 0. H. Palm, who was with the Survey formerly, has been working on clays, making the analyses that are to accompany the report of Dr. Ries on this subject. A list of charges for chemical work has been published, the law requiring that such charges be made. But for mere identifica­tions, which do not require that the specimens be sent to the laboratory, it has not been customary to make any charge. 
The researches which have been carried on in the laboratory upon the 
nature of the coals and lignites of the State have created a great deal 
of interest in this matter. Our laboratory was the first to undertake 
this important work, giving not only the proximate but the ultimate 
composition of our fuels, together with analyses of the ash, specific 
gravity, heating power, etc. There still remains a great deal to do in 
this direction and we hope to supplement the results by others of a 
like nature. 
Full analyses of the principal Texas oils have also been published. the analyses embracing the heating power of the oils as well as the ordi­nary ingredients determined by fractional distillation. 
The work we are now carrying on with respect to the composition 
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MINERAL SURVEY. 
of the clays and cement rocks of llw Slnte will enable us to give infor­mation on a subject concerning which but little is known. The analyses and physical tests are made in great detail and we have many inquiries from citizens of this State and from others who are interested in the development of this industry. 
It is thought that the publication of the investigations of the clays of Texas, including pottery clays, fire-brick clay and cement clays, will be the means of attracting attention to an industry full of promise. Texas possesses very large resources of nearly all kinds of clays and cement rocks, some of them utilized, but by far the greater part now lying dormant. 
It may not be amiss to add a few words concerning the work which the Survey proposes to do during the year 1904. In addition to the publication of the reports on the mineral possibilities of the region in El Paso and Presidio counties, south of the Southern Pacific Railroad, prepared by Messrs. B. F. Hill and J. A. U dden, and of the report by Mr. Geo. B. Richardson, on the water problems in El Paso county north of the Texas & Pacific Railroad, and the report of Dr. Heinrich Ries on the Clays of Texas, we hope also to co-operate with. the United States Geological Survey in the preparation of topographic maps of the oil regions of Texas, especially the Corsicana, Beaumont, Sour Lake and Batson's Prairie fields, and also, if possible, a topographic map of the iron ore districts of northeast Texas. These several districts have not yet been surveyed and it is thought that this work can be undertaken this year. Six quadrangle sheets would cover the Beaumont, Sour Lake and Batson's Prairie oil fields, two sheets would cover the Corsicana oil field, and two sheets would cover the chief iron ore district of north­east Texas. It may not be possible even to begin all of the sheets this year, but we hope to make a beginning. 
There is a growing demand for a detailed study of the coals and lig­nites of the State and the fuel problem generally. The successfµl development of the manufacturing interests in the State depends upon a regular supply of cheap and effective fuel, and until the possibility of securing this can be assured it is idle to look for a larger commercial i!flportance than we have now. We have had it in mind to undertake an examination into the entire fuel problem and in so far as the means at disposal shall permit this will be done. There are untouched coal deposits in the State which should be investigated and we hope to make a beginning in this direction this year.