The Mineral Industry in Kansas in 1958

Abstract

In 1958, for the third consecutive year, the value of Kansas mineral production exceeded $500,000,000. Minerals produced in the state were valued at $514,234,445, or approximately $19,859,000 less than in 1957, a decrease of 3.7 percent. Of this total, $440,976,227 or 85.7 percent was derived from sale of mineral fuels and associated products, $72,052,368 or 14 percent was contributed by the nonmetals excluding mineral fuels, and $1,205,850 or 0.3 percent by the metals. Salt brine, cement, both natural and portland, coal, diatomaceous marl, LP gases, propane, sand and gravel, and stone were produced in greater quantity in 1958 than in the previous year, and the values of brine, carbon black, cement, coal, gypsum, marl, sand and gravel, stone, and vermiculite produced in 1598 were greater than those of the same minerals produced in 1957.

Only 3 of the 105 counties in Kansas reported no mineral production in 1958. Oil, gas, or both were produced in 78 counties, sand and gravel in at least 66 counties, and stone in 46 counties. In 1958, each of 54 counties produced minerals worth $1,000,000 or more. As in 1957, Barton County, with a production value of $35,293,535, continued to lead all others. Ellis County, with $34,177,827, was second, and Russell County, with $27,228,855 was third. Only seven of the counties producing $1,000,000 or more in mineral wealth in 1958 produced mainly nonfuel minerals, and six of these are in eastern Kansas. The counties that produced the greatest dollar value of minerals are those in which oil is found, mainly western Kansas counties. Counties that exploited the most different minerals were Barber, Bourbon, Cherokee, Cowley, Reno, Sedgwick, and Wilson. Most important minerals produced per dollar value were oil, natural gas, cement, stone, clay and clay products, salt, sand and gravel, natural gasoline, carbon black, coal, propane, and butane. This report gives the production and value of all minerals produced in the state in 1958 and compares them with 1957, and it also includes directories of mineral producers on record as of December 31, 1958.