On the Chemical Composition of Some Kan- 
sas Gypsum Rocks.” 
BY. EH. H. S.) BAILEY AND: W. My WHITTEN. 
(Preliminary Paper.) 
The material used for these analyses was collected in the summer 
of 1896 by Mr. G. P. Grimsley. Great care was taken that the 
Samples should be average samples, so that the analyses should 
represent the composition of the rock or dirt actually used at the 
mills. It is not necessary to give the details of the process of anal- 
ysis, but it may be in order to state that special care was exercised, 
after the separation of the silica, that the calcium sulfate be fully 
dissolved by boiling, several times, if necessary, with dilute hy- 
drochloric acid. . The acid, if quite dilute, dissolved the sulfate 
very readily, but strong acid had little effect upon it. Water was 
determined by heating a sample in the air bath at 200° C. to con- 
Stant weight. Asa part of the water is driven off from gypsum at 
S0 low a temperature, it was deemed advisable to use the air dried 
Samples for analysis. 
The geological phases of this subject are more fully discussed by 
Mr. Grimsley. The occurrence of the rock, methods of manufac- 
Ure, and the composition of the manufactured products, will be 
treated of in a later paper. 
In Kansas there are at least three areas where the gypsum has 
been mined or quarried and used for commercial purposes. Other 
Centers of the industry will, no doubt, soon be opened up. The 
three localities are, from the vicinity of Blue Rapids, the vicinity 
of Gypsum City, and the vicinity of Medicine Lodge. Analyses 
ave been made of samples from two of these localities only. 
aa from the Gypsum City locality are from both Dickinson and 
aline counties. It will be noticed that two kinds of material are 
used 
mM manufacturing cement—the rock which is quarried and a 
Soft Ris 3 : ‘ 
disintegrated material, which can readily be shoveled upon 
Lelia CEN ATS ay ‘ ae ae : 
© cars. This is called ‘dirt,” in the reports given below. It is 
*A binge y 
nN abstract of A ak she Mt ae : ee a ro spor 
Academy of Scignotn'® paper was read before the Topeka meeting of the Kansas 
(29) KAN. UNIV. QUAR., VOL. VI.) JAN, 1897, SERINS A. 
