THE MINERAL INDUSTRY OF WEST VIRGINIA 853 
 
pool and a deeper pool in Nicholas and Harrison counties, respectively. 
 As in previous years, the Big Injun sand (Middle Mississippian) was the
State's main oil- and gas-producing formation. Of the 416 wells drilled to
this sand, 140 were gas wells, 166 oil wells, 61 combination, and 49 dry.
Most of the oil wells were in the Walton field, Roane County. The largest
reported gas well during the year was in Rocky Fork field from fractured
Newburg sand. The highest initial production reported during 1967 was 319
barrels per day from fractured Big Injun sand in Doddridge County. 
 
NONMETALS 
 
 Cement.—Shipments of portland cement increased 1 percent and masonry
cement decreased by 17 percent from the 1966 levels. The average price per
barrel was slightly higher. The sole producer, Capitol Cement Co., Division,
Martin Marietta Corp., at Martinsburg, Berkeley County, completed its modernization
program during 1967, when three old cement kilns were phased out of operation.
The company continued to operate three coal-fired rotary kilns. The underground
limestone mine was shut down, and output from the company's open pit was
increased. Most of the cement was used for ready-mix concrete, concrete products,
and building and highway construction. Shipments were to Delaware, District
of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, western Pennsylvania, Virginia,
and West Virginia. Two-thirds of the cement was shipped by truck and one-third
by railroad. 
 
 Clays.—Miscellaneous clay output declined 55,565 tons. Miscellaneous
clay was chiefly used in the manufacture of building brick and cement. Fire
clay was used mostly for producing firebrick and block (including ladle brick).
A total of 13 mines was in operation, two more than in 1966. Nine of the
mines were open pit and four were underground operations. The highest production
of miscellaneous clay was from Berkeley County. Evaluation of clays and related
materials was carried out under a cooperative program between the State and
the Federal Bureau of Mines. Sampling was done by personnel of the West Virginia
Geological and Economic Survey. The samples were than evaluated for potential
ecnomic value by the Bureau 
of Mines' Tuscaloosa (Ala.) Metallurgy Research Laboratory. During 1967,
33 clay samples were evaluated. Many of these evaluations indicated that
the clay in the deposits from which the samples came could be used in the
manufacture of face brick, structural clay products, and lightweight aggregate.

 
 Gem Stones.—Mineral specimens were collected by bobbyists at scattered
locations. Quartz specimens and various cherts were collected from bedrock
expQsures. Chert, quartz, and granite, and the harder varieties of gravel
were collected from Ohio River Valley terraces. 
 
 Lime.—Total lime production was 217,000 tons compared with 240,000
tons in 
1966. Chief uises were for steel production, refractory lime, and pulp and
paper manufacture. Three companies operated plants 
—one each in Berkeley, Jefferson, and Pendleton Counties. 
 
 Natural Salines.—Sodium chloride and calcium-magnesium chloride were
recovered from natural well brines near South Charleston, Kanawha County.
The sodium chloride was used for making caustic soda and chlorine in South
Charleston. Production of the brine was terminated at the end of February
because it was found more economical to secure sodium chloride from another
source in the State. 
 
 Salt.—Production of salt from brines was about the same as in 1966.
Most of it was used by the producers for manufacture of chlorine and caustic
soda. Production, reported from Kanawha, Marshall, Pleasants, and Tyler Counties,
was from deep well solution mining, except for Kanawha County output, which
was obtained from naturally occurring brines. 
 
 Sand and Gravel.—Output of sand and gravel increased 7 percent and
total value increased 5 percent over that of 1966. The average price declined
by $0.03 to $2.09. Of the total output, 58 percent was sand and 42 percent
was gravel. About 64 percent of the output was shipped by barge and the balance
was shipped by railroad and truck. 
 Production was reported from 10 counties. Of the leading producing counties,
Morgan was first in value, followed in descending order by Hancock, Pleasants,
Wood, Brooke, Ohio, and Wetzel Counties.