OKLAHOMA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 105 



Note: Analysis "A," by Nichols on specimen from indefinite 

 location in sand barite area. Analysis "B," by A. C. Shead, on 

 sample from S.W. of S.E.% of Sec. 18. T.9N., R.IW., near Normati, 

 Okla. Analysis "C," by J. D. Fairchild of United States Geological 

 Survey, checking "B." 



The specific gravity determinations quoted under "B" and "C" 

 are due to Meland.* 



Those approximately pure varieties of BaSO^ separating out in 

 shales and as vein materia) generally, exhibit the following modes 

 of aggregation. 



1. Massive white material with porcelain luster. 



2. Massive crystalline transparent barite. 



3. Thin vein material, fibrous in character, whitish and trans- 



lucent. 



4. Crystalline, reddish, radiate spheroidal balls. 



5. Inclusions in geodes. 



a. ■ Radiate in structure, generally reddish. 



b. Massive crystal'ine material, colorless. 



6. Thin flat lens like aggregations with a radial structure and 



a greenish color. 



Little need be said of the first two varieties mentioned above, 

 as they exhibit no especial pecularities. Number 1 comes from a 

 vein at a depth of 105 feet in the old prospect shaft of the Buffalo 

 Mining Co., about 3j^ miles south of Watson, McCurtain county, 

 Oklahoma; while Number 2 comes from the vicinity of Maude, Ok- 

 lahoma. 



However, the writer has observed carefully the mode of occur- 

 rence of Number 3 mentioned above. This variety was observed in 

 red shale in a large wash in NW.J4 Sec. 26,T.4S., R.HW. in Cotton 

 county, Oklahoma. Small veins, never more than about J4-inch 

 thick, traverse the c!ay for a few yards and extend to an unknown 

 depth. 



From the fact that the fibers of the mineral extend perpendi- 

 cular to the sides of the vein and seem to meet in a median line 

 parallel to the sides of the vein it is logical to assume that the 

 barite solutions seeped in from the sides of the small fissure and 

 built out to the center, marked by the median line. 



From consideration of the evident method of formation of 

 the vein m.aterial just described, the writer advances the theory that 

 the radiate balls of barite were formed by an analogous process to 

 tile above on the assumption that a spheroidal cavity was originally 



*Melancl, Norman "Sand Barites", 1922, A Masters Thesis in Library 

 of University of Oklahoma. 



