OF ARKANSAS. 55 
The artificial nitre plantations of France, afford, by a similar process, 
on an average, about four per cent of salt-petre. The dry nitre earths of 
Beans cave, which are abundant, ought, therefore, to be profitable to work. 
There is a very large amount of said earths available at the cave, par- 
ticularly of the laminated variety, as will be seen by reference to the 
Report of Mr. E. T. Cox, who was detailed to survey that locality. 
It will be observed also from that Report, that this saltpetre cave is 
favorably situated for the transportation of its saline and other products to 
market, as it is located on the immediate bank of White river. 
It is worthy, moreover, of note, that the red earthy residuum is of suf 
ficiently fine texture and contains enough coloring principle, from the per 
centage of oxide of iron which it contains, to afford a good, durable, red 
ochre paint, having a good body, and being especially well adapted for 
painting brick walls and outdoor work generally; while the finer earths 
that remain long suspended in water, afford a species of polishing powder 
free from grit, but not rich enough in siliceous earth, to be rapid and 
efficient in its effects. 
The magnesian limestones of lower silurian date of Marion county, 
afford, besides the lead ores already made mention of, some fine zinc ores. 
The richest and best locality of these zinc ores, that Ihave yet examined 
in this county, is on section 13, township 19 north, range 17 west, of the 
5th principal meridian, on the waters of the east branch of George’s creek. 
The surface indications here are quite encouraging, and lead to the infer- 
ence that considerable bodies of both the carbonate and sulphuret of zinc 
exist more deeply seated in the crevices of the rock; indeed, these ores 
seem to occur here in veins between well-defined walls of rock, the main 
vein running north 30 deg. east and south, 30 deg. west, besides some cross 
courses north 70 deg. to 80 deg. west. These veins or crevices are ex- 
posed in one place on George’s creek, 8 feet 9 inches across from wall to 
wall. Several shallow openings have been made, at different points, a 
few hundred yards apart, on George’s Creek, in all of which good speci- 
mens of these zinc ores have been exposed, associated, occasionally, with 
some sulphuret of lead and small quantities of sulphuret of copper. 
I would particularly designate this place, as worthy of the attention and 
exploration of the zinc manufacturer, as the locality gives promise, as far 
as can be judged, from the partial openings made, of affording good rich 
zinc ores in sufficient quantities to supply a furnace. : 
There is more sulphuret of zinc at these than at the zinc mines of Law- 
rence county; but still there are large quantities of carbonate also, which 
yield from 48 to 52 per cent of zinc, as may be seen by consulting the an- 
alysis of these ores, in the Report of the Chemical Assistant. The sulphuret, 
