<M> \NNUAI. KFCI'OKT OK THK UIT. Due. 



.yielding ab much as 90 per eent. pur« graphile. There is a flue 

 market for this material, pulverized, at from $50 to .|150 per ton. 



There is more inquiry for Pennsylvania iron ores than for many 

 years. This is due in part to the enlargement of a number of plants, 

 and the erection of new plants, for the manufacture of steel by the 

 basic process, or open hearth furnace. 



A fine sample of infusorial earth has been received from near 

 Wellsboro, Tioga county, the owner stating that he has many 

 thousands of tons of it. An analysis has not been made, but the ap- 

 pearance of the mineral indicates that it would be worth at least $20 

 per ton, pulverized, and this in carload quantities. 



The volume of kaolinites from southern Cumberland county con- 

 tinues to increase. It is much sought for in the manufacture of 

 paper, and especially wall-paper. 



So great has been the increase of our limestone traffic that one 

 railroad company of this Commonwealth has hauled from various 

 quarries from 100 to 300 carloads in a single day. New quarries 

 are being opened in a dozen counties, the demand being for both 

 calcium carbonate and magnesium carbon varieties. It is now quite 

 clear that this State produces more than 30 kinds of limestone, some 

 of it crystallized into pure marble. 



One of the most notable minerals found within our borders is 

 melanterite, or natural copperas, the body being near Olivet, in Arm- 

 strong county. Properly developed, and with sufficient capital, this 

 deposit ought to give employment to more than 100 men at fair 

 wages. \f\l 



Forty years ago nearly all the nickel used in the United States, 

 including that for coinage, came from the nickel mines of Lancaster 

 county. While the ores are not exhausted, for some reason they 

 are not worked regularly, and competition is now keen on account 

 of Canadian nickel. 



The known natural gas area of the State is extended as far east 

 as Wyoming county. There was some excitement on this account 

 at Skinner's Eddy eight months ago; but the well diggers ceased 

 operations before sinking to a proper depth. Small quantities of 

 natural gas have now been found east of the Allegheny Mountains 

 in Berks, Clinton, Dauphin, Juniata, Lycoming, Mifflin and Wayne 

 counties; but in every instance the exploitation was not completed 

 owing sometimes to lack of capital, and at other times to the lack 

 of knowledge or experience on the part of locators. 



There is a good opening in southern Snyder county of pyrite, for 

 sulphuric acid manufacture. Most of this mineral now comes from 

 Spain, or our Southern states. 



Petroleum is not as plentifully produced in our State as in former 

 years; the known fields having been pretty thoroughly gone over, 

 and most of the oil pumped out. 



Attention is now being paid to peat deposits everywhere in the 

 United States east of the Mississippi river, and investigation is now 

 going on in Pennsylvania; but more will be said on this subject in 

 my annual report as Geologist of the Board. The same is also true 

 of quartz and quartz rock. 



Shales for brick manufacture are more and more utilized every 

 year. It may he remembered by some of the members of the Board 

 that attention was called to the practibility of shales for brick bv 



