INTRODUCTION 



The barite industry of Missouri is more important than that 

 of any other state in the United States. Missouri has furnished 

 from 60 to 80 per cent of the barite produced in the United 

 States for the last few years, and has been an important pro- 

 ducer for a much longer period. This production has been 

 maintained largely by the southeastern Missouri district, supple- 

 mented by a small and sporadic production from the central dis- 

 trict. Various papers relating to the deposits have been pub- 

 lished from time to time, but their geology has never been worked 

 out in detail. Since the barite industry is very important and 

 shows promise of becoming still more so, a detailed study of the 

 geology of the deposits has seemed appropriate. Especial em- 

 phasis has been laid upon the mode of occurrence and origin of 

 the barite, and any conclusions reached may have an important 

 value in estimating the future of the industry. 



The field work was done during the summer of 1916. Most 

 of the time spent on the work was given to the southeastern dis- 

 trict, as the geology of the central district was known. How- 

 ever, the few occurrences of barite there were examined. The 

 areal geology was mapped over the larger part of the southeast- 

 em, or Washington Coimty district, as it will be called in this 

 report, since the deposits are largely confined to Washington 

 County. Many citizens of Washington County contributed in- 

 formation while the field work was in progress, and the writer 

 gratefully acknowledges their aid. He wishes to thank especially 

 Mr. W. A. Buddecke, president of the Point Milling and Manu- 

 facturing Company, Mineral Point, Missouri ; Mr, H. S. Bowler, 

 superintendent of the Point Milling and Manufacturing Com- 

 pany ; and Dr. E. K. McKenzie of the Point Milling and Manu- 

 facturing Company. Acknowledgment is also made for advice 



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