PANOLA COUNTY. 231 



MINERAL PAINT. 



Asphaltum Brown. — In the west bank of a cut on the Texas, Sabine 

 Valley and Northwestern Railway, one-fourth mile south of Tatum Station, 

 was seen a stratum of black asphaltic clay, about ten inches thick, overlaid 

 by stiff plastic yellow clay, and underlaid by a thin stratum (two inches) of blue 

 clay, under which is a stratum (twelve inches) of yellow sandy clay, and be- 

 neath this lighter lignitic clay. This asphaltic clay when rubbed on the 

 back of the hand, which was perspiring freely, developed a rich chestnut 

 brown color. It could be purified and used as a pigment in fine oil painting. 

 It was tested in a crude way by the roadmaster, Mr. Evans, by mixing with 

 oil and painting a test sample for a black color. After exposure of several 

 months he reported the color permanent. The composition of this clay as 

 analyzed by Mr. J. H. Herndon is: Water, 14.40; volatile matter, 24.35; 

 fixed carbon, 14.80; silica and ash, 46.45. 



Yellow Ochre. — In several parts of the county, but more especially in 

 the northwestern portion, various sized ovoid geodes of limonite, containing 

 centres of yellow ochre, were observed. The analyses show these to consist 

 of hydrated peroxide of iron, silica, and alumina as the chief constituents, in 

 variable quantity. 



Red Ochre. — In the northwestern part of the county, on the Wesley 

 G-ooden headright, a local stratum was observed consisting mainly of limonite 

 about two inches thick, with septa of the same material containing nuclei of 

 both red and yellow ochre, in alternate divisions, as inclusions. One speci- 

 men, analyzed by Mr. L. E. Magnenat, shows a composition of silica, 8.10; 

 sesquioxide of iron, 72.11; alumina, 5.69; red oxide of manganese, 5.00; 

 water, 8.50; phosphoric acid, 0.25: sulphur trioxide, 0.28; lime, a trace. 



Red Hematite. — A compact iron sandstone was seen in many places, but 

 in larger quantities near the railway in the vicinity of Tatum Station, Jas. 

 Reel headright. This material, by roasting in a kiln, would be converted 

 from limonite into hematite, which after grinding (and washing if necessary 

 and then drying) would produce a deep red pigment suitable for wagons, 

 machinery, and even house paint. The analysis of this ore by Mr. J. H. 

 Herndon shows its chief ingredients to be, sesquioxide of iron, 29.74; alu- 

 mina, 12.06; and silica, 56.30. 



In addition to these reds, there are surface red clays so highly charged 

 with sesquioxide of iron that by suitable preparation they could be used for 

 coarse work on fences, barns, tool houses, railway section houses, etc. Such 

 a locality was observed on the hill at Dr. Sterrett's house, Elijah Morris 

 headright, northeast of Beckville on the Grand Bluff and Harmony Hill road. 



White Clays. — Some of the white clays would in like manner yield a 

 creamy white color when dried and ground in oil, and would then be suitable 

 for fences, etc. 



