Richardson.]     SALT,    PETROLEUM,    ETC.,    IN    TRANS-PECOS    TEXAS.      579 
Analysis  of  salt  crystals  from  Salt  basin,  El  Paso  County,  Tex. 
Chlorine 59.  5 
Sodium 38.  6 
Calcium .  1 
Magnesium .  2 
Sulphur  tetroxide 1.  2 
Water 1.  0 
Total   100.  G 
The  analysis  shows  that  the  crystals  are  almost  pure  halite,  mixed 
with  small  amounts  of  calcium  and  magnesium  sulphates. 
No  wells  have  been  sunk  to  test  the  character  of  the  underlying 
deposits,  but  a  shallow  hole  shows  the  following  section : 
Inches. 
Salt    1 
Gypsiferous   sand \ 
Black  clay  with  sulphurous  smell,  impregnated  with  salt 6 
Green-drab    clay 24 
A  qualitative  analysis  of  these  substances,  by  Mr.  S.  H.  Worrell, 
hows  the  presence  of  silica,  alumina,  lime,  magnesia,  soda,  sulphur 
fcrioxide,  carbon  dioxide,  and  traces  of  potash  and  lithium,  but  no 
)orax. 
Borax,  however,  occurs  in  at  least  one  locality  near  by.  An  evapo- 
ation  crust  on  a  lake  about  2  miles  southeast  of  the  Salt  lake,  exam- 
ned  by  Mr.  E.  M.  Skeats,  of  El  Paso,  has  the  following  composition  : 
Insoluble  sulphates  of  calcium,  magnesium,  and  sodium 73.0 
Sodium    chloride 18.  3 
Borax   8.7 
Total 100.  0 
No  test  was  made  for  potash.  From  this  analysis  it  appears  de- 
irable  to  further  prospect  in  this  locality. 
The  layer  of  salt  which  covers  the  surface  of  the  "lake"  is  said 
►ccasionally  to  attain  a  thickness  of  from  4  to  G  inches,  but  measure- 
nents  made  in  1903  show  an  average  of  only  about  1  inch.  This  is  the 
ommercially  valuable  deposit,  for  the  crystals  of  halite  referred  to 
bove  are  comparatively  rare.  The  salt  is  grayish-white,  coarsely 
rystalline  to  granular,  and  deliquescent.  Occasionally  wind-blown 
mpurities  occur  on  the  surface  of  the  deposit.  An  analysis  of  a 
ypical  specimen,  by  Mr.  S.  H.  Worrell,  is  as  follows : 
