314  CONTRIBUTIONS    TO    ECONOMIC    GEOLOGY,  1905. 
at  this  place  are  about  15  feet  thick  and  the  product  is  of  good  quality.  The  matei 
ground  and  placed  in  ovens  where  it  is  calcined  at  a  red  heat  in  order  to  drive  off  the  ch< 
ally  combined  water.  A  retarder  is  then  added  to  prevent  it  from  hardening  too  qu 
when  water  is  applied.  After  this  it  is  mixed  with  hair  and  placed  in  barrels  read 
shipment.  The  entire  process  of  converting  the  gypsum  into  stucco  is  relatively  simpk 
inexpensive.  The  finished  product  of  this  mill  is  sold  at  Bridger  at  $12  a  ton,  but 
output  is  not  large. 
An  analysis  of  gypsum  from  the  Chugwater  formation  near  Bowler,  Mont.,  was  mad 
Mr.  W.  O.  Dickinson,  assistant  in  chemistry  at  the  State  University  of  Montana,  as  foil 
Analysis  of  gypsum  from  Chugwater  formation  near  Bowler,  Mont. 
CaO 33. 02 
SOj 45.93 
H20 21.04 
100.00 
OIL    AND    GAS. 
Several  attempts  have  been  made  to  obtain  oil  from  the  Cretaceous  shales  through 
the  Bighorn  Basin,  but  generally  without  success.  About  three-fourths  of  a  mile  southw 
of  Bonanza,  near  the  axis  and  at  the  north  end  of  an  anticline  in  the  Colorado  format 
there  are  several  oil  seeps  which  furnish  a  small  amount  of  oil.  The  oil  is  from  a  tl 
bedded  sandstone  under  the  Mowry  beds  of  the  Colorado  formation.  This  surface  ind 
tion  has  caused  many  persons  to  believe  that  oil  in  paying  quantities  might  be  obtained 
drilling,  and  consequently  several  deep  borings  have  been  made  in  this  region.  Non< 
these  have  been  successful  and  at  present  all  exploration  has  ceased.  The  oil  from  1 
locality  has  been  analyzed  by  Prof.  E.  E.  Slosson,  of  the  University  of  Wyoming,  am 
reported  to  be  of  good  quality,  but  the  amount  is  too  small  to  warrant  development. 
A  deep  boring  for  oil  was  made  at  the  mouth  of  Cottonwood  Creek,  on  Shoshone  Riv 
near  Cody,  Wyo.,  but  no  oil  was  obtained.  The  well  is  located  on  the  west  slope  of  a  sn 
anticline  in  Colorado  formation. 
Byron  gas  well. — Plans  are  now  being  made  to  sink  a  deep  well  on  the  west  side  of  a  bn 
anticline  along  the  axis  of  which  a  small  area  of  Pierre  shale  is  exposed.  Shoshone  Ri 
crosses  the  south  end  of  the  anticline  and  has  cut  for  some  distance  into  the  shale.  In  1 
low  valley  of  this  stream,  near  the  center  of  the  anticline,  there  are  places  where  gas  esca] 
in  considerable  quantity  from  the  alluvial  sands.  It  is  probably  derived  from  the  und 
lying  shales  of  the  Pierre  formation.  The  gas  burns  readily,  but  its  quality  was  not  asc 
tained.  The  boring  which  is  now  proposed  will  doubtless  demonstrate  whether  or  not  £ 
is  present  in  sufficient  amount  to  warrant  development. 
About  3  miles  east  of  Basin,  Wyo.,  a  small  well  is  being  dug  in  the  Pierre  shale  for  t 
purpose  of  finding  gas.  The  present  depth  of  the  well  is  about  60  feel  and  an  apprecid 
amount  of  gas  has  already  been  obtained.  A  small  company  has  been  organized  and  t 
work  will  be  continued. 
MINERAL    WATER. 
Cody  Hot  Springs. — About  3  miles  west  of  Cody,  Wyo.,  in  the  bed  of  Shoshone  Riv 
there  are  a  number  of  hot  mineral  springs.  The  water  from  these  springs  contains  a  lai 
amount  of  hydrogen  sulphide  and  probably  some  sulphuric  acid.  The  temperature  of  t 
water  is  98°.  There  is  a  sanitarium  near  the  springs  and  the  water  is  used  for  medicii 
purposes. 
Thermopolis  Hot  Springs. — At  Thermopolis,  on  Bighorn  River,  in  the  southeastern  pi 
of  the  Bighorn  Basin,  there  is  a  hot  mineral  spring  the  flow  of  which  has  been  varioui 
estimated  at  from  2,000  to  3,000  gallons  a  minute.  Calcium  carbonate  is  the  principal  ing 
dient  of  the  water,  while  magnesium,  sodium,  and  calcium  sulphates  are  present  in  smal 
