ffscHB\DEKND  J    CEMENT  IN  INDEPENDENCE  QUADRANGLE,  KANS.         509 
Analysis  of  shale  at    Neodesha,  Kans. 
Silica    (SiO,) 61.80 
Alumina  and  iron  oxide  (AL03+Fe203) 22.7 
Lime  (CaO) 8.  20 
Magnesia    (MgO) .210 
Alkalies     (Na,()  +  K,()) Trace. 
Water    (ILO) 7.50 
Total 
100.  416 
The  erection  of  a  third  cement  plant  at  the  west  base  of  Table 
Mound,  on  the  bank  of  Elk  River,  is  reported  to  be  in  contemplation. 
Here  the  same  limestone  as  at  Neodesha  is  present,  while  the  sup- 
plies of  shale,  water,  and  gas  are  also  plentiful.  The  rocks  exposed 
here  consist  of  45  feet  of  pure  crystalline  Piqita  limestone  overlying 
an  80-foot  bed  of  shale,  which  in  turn  rests  upon  a  5-foot  bed  of  the 
lola-Allen  limestone,  underlain  by  40  or  more  feet  of  shale.  Both 
the  Piqua  and  the  lola-Allen  limestones  are  remarkably  persistent 
over  wide  areas  in  the  Slate,  and  wherever  they  may  be  found  they 
are  likely  to  be  suitable  for  making  Portland  cement,  as  chemical 
examination  is  almost  certain  to  show.  Specimens  of  Piqua  lime- 
stone taken  at  a  number  of  places  lying  northwest  of  the  quadrangle 
have  been  analyzed,  with  the  following  results: 
Analyses  of  Piqua  limestone  from  places  in  Kansas. 
Towns. 
Silica. 
Oxide  of 
iron  and 
alumina. 
Calcium 
carbonate. 
Magne- 
sium 
carbon- 
ate. 
Sul- 
phates. 
Moisture 
Total. 
Vilas 
2,02 
8.  00 
1.18 
1.18 
8.82 
3.94 
4.79 
4.30 
.61 
2.65 
1 .  8.-) 
3.  09 
2.3S 
«.77 
1.20 
1.18- 
*  .81 
a.  51 
96.  07 
90.  00 
92.71 
94.77 
94.  21 
93.  61 
98.  80 
92.7.6 
97. 32 
0.  10 
.  12 
2.64 
1.07 
1.30 
1.20 
1.26 
.95 
.32 
100. 84 
Ottawa 
Greeley I. 
Lane 
0.02 
99.  49 
99.40 
Do 
100. 10 
Do 
99.95 
Do 
100. 53 
Garnett 
Do  _ 
.23 
.  18 
0.  18 
99.  48 
99. 19 
«Aminina. 
Conclusion. — A  considerable  extension  of  the  Portland-cement  in- 
dustry may  therefore  be  expected  in  eastern  Kansas,  though,  of 
course,  each  new  plant  decreases  the  profits  of  manufacturing  this 
product  in  this  area.  The  limestone  and  shale  used  at  these  plants  are 
satisfactory  enough,  but  the  real  basis  of  the  Kansas  cement  industry 
is  the  supply  of  cheap  natural  gas. 
