W. H. YON STREERUWITZ-NON-METALLIC MINERALS OF TEXAS. 101 
able potash salts (the “Abraum Salze” of Stassfurt) will there be dis¬ 
covered. 
All the gypsum used for plastering and other purposes is imported into 
Texas, though there is hardly any State or Territory of the Union that 
has more or larger gypsum deposits than our State. Some of these de¬ 
posits are on railroads or in close proximity to such, and some of them 
consist partly of very fine alabaster. 
Heavy spar, which is extensively used in paints; feldspar, used in 
enamels and in glazing porcelain; quartz and quartz sands, eminently 
fit for fabrication of glass; substances for coloring glass, among them the 
high-priced uranium, can be found in Texas, and in sufficient quantities. 
The existence of asplialtum beds, deposits of ozokerite, the presence of 
oil and natural gas in many localities, is well known, at least mentioned 
in the geological reports; but little has been done to develop and utilize 
the same. 
The excellence of Texas granite and syenite is sufficiently demon¬ 
strated by the material of our State capitol in Austin; not less the good 
quality of our limestones used in its foundation, and for the full con¬ 
struction from foundation to roof of other buildings in Austin, San An¬ 
tonio, and many other places. The red sandstones from the quarries on 
the Pecos are used not only in the State, but also shipped over the 
boundary lines of Texas, though the industry of quarrying these stones 
is still in its infancy. Sandstones from other localities are acknowledged 
good building stone, and commonly used all over the State. 
We import marbles from the north, though it is partly known that 
marbles of good quality, coarse and fine grained, of various and pleasing 
colors and shades, uncolored, striped, and mottled, could be quarried in 
the State. I found a white marble that, considering grain, hardness, and 
clearness of structure, seemingly must be classified as statuary marble. 
The beauty, variety of color, and capacity for polish of some of the 
western porphyritic rock, and its qualification for ornamental work, is 
scarcely superseded by a few; and so on. 
The character of some of our Trans-Pecos formations indicates that 
precious and semi-precious stones may be expected among the non-metal- 
lic mineral resources of Texas; and I found a good outcrop of opal 
matrix in the Apache Mountains and opal float in the Van Horn and 
Wile} r Mountains; also a piece of turquoise in the Sierra de los Dolores. 
Sardonyx and agates I found in Presidio county, and moss agates of 
exquisite colors and structure near the Sierra Rosillas. 
I shall not strain your patience much longer, but only mention that 
Texas has also hot and cold mineral springs, clay for pottery and bricks, 
common lime and building sands, and that our greensands and marls 
are recommended by some as fertilizers, which recommendations, how- 
