100 UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI STUDIES 



about the deposition of the barite in Missouri led to the conclu- 

 sion that such an origin is improbable. The mode of occurrence 

 is also regarded as unfavorable to the hypothesis. 



A similar review of the possibilities of the barite's having 

 been deposited at shallow depths by ascending heated waters of 

 igneous origin seemed to be more favorable as an explanation of 

 the origin for the following reasons: 



(a) The mineral association and paragenesis is more charac- 

 teristic of veins of igneous origin than of those deposited by 

 ground waters. 



(b) The confinement of the barite to essentially one hori- 

 zon is more easily explained by its having been deposited by ris- 

 ing solutions than by descending solutions. 



(c) The ability of rising heated solutions to transport bar- 

 ium is much greater than that of descending solutions. 



(d) The igneous rocks afford an adequate source of the 

 barium. 



(e) Barite is a common mineral in association with shal- 

 low vein deposits, especially of lead and zinc. 



Furthermore, a review of the deposits of barite in other 

 areas indicates that a large number of them show strong proof 

 of igneous origin, which is merely corroborative evidence of the 

 igneous origin of the Missouri barite deposits. 



ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF THE DEPOSITS 



Up to 1915, the Missouri deposits furnished more than 65 

 per cent of the production of barite in the United States. The 

 state's production amounted in 1914 to 33,317 tons, valued at 

 $112,231, being an average value of $3.37 per ton. During 1915, 

 there came a marked stimulation of the barium industry and a 

 consequent rise in price. Consequently, the production of sev- 

 eral states was increased materially, while that of the United 

 States increased 100 per cent. Notable among these states were 

 Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky. As a result, Missouri pro- 

 duced only about 37 per cent of the total production of the 

 United States in 1915. The total production for the United 

 States in 1915 was 108,547 tons, valued at $381,032. Early in 



