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Coal—(including lignite or brown coal). Please state method of occurrence as well as locality. If shafts have been sunk to it, or it has been found in digging wells, a record of the strata passed through, giving character and thickness of overlying clay, rock, etc., will be of value. If more than one seam is found, please state it; and if the seam is divided by clay, shale, slate, etc., please state the thickness of the upper and lower coal, as well as that of the dividing material.

If millstone grit occurs, please state what use has been made of it, or what effort has been made to develop it.

What whetstone material do you find?

Gypsum.—In addition to the large deposits of North Texas, this mineral is disseminated over a large portion of the state, and appears in a crystalline form along the banks of many of our streams, and is often known as "mica." Please state especially the quantity, if you have any. Is it being used in any way?

The green sand marls of the cretaceous and tertiary formations will prove very valuable as fertilizers in the near future. It is desirable that their location and extent be defined as closely as possible. In this connection, please state locality of any bone beds, if such are known to exist.

Iron.—Ores of this metal are widely distributed over the state, and are of as great diversity of character as of location, varying all the way from a sandstone impregnated with iron to some of the finest grades known. We wish to know locality, mode of occurrence, and quantity of these deposits.

Lead.—Ores are found in several counties, and are frequently silver bearing. Float ore is also frequently found in sections where it would not be expected. Where petroleum, asphaltum, or natural gas is known to exist, or its existence is suspected, please state all known facts bearing on it.

Salt—Salt Beds, Lakes or Wells.—Please give location and description of these, and also state to what extent they have been or are being worked.

What mineral waters are there, and how do they occur.

In general, please state such facts as you may have concerning all other mineral products you are acquainted with in your county, giving us actual occurrences only, or if from report, so state it.

SPECIMENS.

We wish specimens of soils, building stones, and all minerals, as far as we can obtain them.

Specimens of soils should be taken in the manner described in Circular No. 1. Specimens of building stone should be large enough to permit a 4-inch cube to be cut from it. Other specimens should be 2 X 4 X 6 inches, if possible. Each specimen should be carefully wrapped in strong paper, with a number or label by which it can be identified. All specimens sent should be securely boxed to prevent crushing.

REPORT.

Please mail report to State Geologist, on or before December 1, shipping specimens by rail at same time, according to instructions given in Circular No. 1, except prepayment of freight.

E. T. DUMBLE,
State Geologist.

The information and specimens obtained by this method are very valuable, and the aid which they will afford in the future conduct of the survey almost incalculable. The best results, however, which these circulars accomplished was not alone the accurate information obtained of localities, although this would have taken many months to ascertain by means of the few parties engaged in the survey, nor the aid which the knowledge thus gained will be in the shaping of the future work of the field parties, while this, too, is extremely important; but in the visible proof given by the prompt and intelligent answers to questions, and the requests for parties to make investigations, that the people of every section of the state are not only fully alive to the importance of the work before us, but ready and willing to do all in their power to aid in its success. And it may here be remarked that of a certainty there is not one county in Texas which will not be directly benefited by the work of the Geological Survey if carried out in accordance with the plans now under consideration.