This preliminary report describes the Medley district in Jeff Davis County, Texas, where kaolin deposits have been found and where rutile has recently been discovered. Baker (2) has already briefly described the Medley Ranch kaolin deposit, but so far nothing has been published on the rutile.

Four months were spent on field work covering reconnaissance, detailed surveying, and excavation. Emphasis was placed on determining the size, relationship, and origin of the rutile and kaolin deposits, and for this purpose over 150 samples were collected throughout the district. The final report will have to await chemical and petrographic analyses of the samples.

The Medley district lies in south-central Jeff Davis County in Trans-Pecos Texas. The district centers in the Medley ranch in the Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio Railway Company Survey, Block I, and covers about 35 square miles. It can be readily reached by county roads from Fort Davis, the county seat, lying to the northeast, from Marfa to the south, and from Valentine to the west. All these towns lie within 20 miles of the ranch headquarters. The nearest railroad connection is at Ryan siding, 12 miles to the southwest, over a private road running through the Barrel Springs ranch. Valentine, Ryan siding, and Marfa are all on the Southern Pacific Railroad. Valentine is located in Jeff Davis County, Ryan siding and Marfa in Presidio County.