| Basis for focus area |
Mapped extent of Magnet Cove carbonatite intrusion has anomalous Nb, REE, Ti, V, and Zr. Focus area based on mapped lithologies; central part of the area is expanded to cover a magnetic anomaly. |
| Identified resources |
Historical production of niobium, titanium, and vanadium. |
| Production |
Wilson Springs (Potash Sulfur Springs deposit) facility processed over 4.8 million short dry tons of approximately 1.2% V2O5-bearing ore. The Christy V-Ti deposit produced ~120,000 tons of TiO2 concentrates of 91.7% purity (Breit and others, 1992). |
| Status |
Past mining. |
| Estimated resources |
Vanadium reserves in the Christy V-Ti deposit were estimated at ~2 Mt s with an average grade of 1% V2O5 (Steele and Wagner, 1976). |
| Geologic maps |
Danilchik and Haley (1964), scale 1:48,000; Haley and Stone (2006), scale 1:125,000. |
| Geophysical data |
Inadequate aeromagnetic and aeroradiometric coverage. |
| Favorable rocks and structures |
Carbonatite, alkali intrusions (jacupirangite, pyroxenite, syenite, nepheline syenite, trachyte). |
| Deposits |
Magnet Cove district (MRDS dep_id: 10259905; USMIN Site_ID: AR00004), Wilson Springs vanadium deposit (MRDS dep_id: 10186911), Hurricane Creek niobium deposit (MRDS dep_id: 10009106), Fourche Bayou niobium deposit, Christy brookite deposit (MRDS dep_id: 10093329). |
| Evidence from mineral occurrences |
MRDS; USMIN. |
| Geochemical evidence |
Drill core from the intrusive has analyses with elevated Nb, Ti, V, Zr, REE. Altered Paleozoic rocks adjacent to the Magnet Cove intrusive are enriched in Sr, Ba, La, Nb, and V. |
| Geophysical evidence |
Significant aeromagnetic and gravity anomaly highs over the region. |
| Evidence from other sources |
None. |
| Comments |
Known Nb, Ti, V, and REE mineralization occurs in the Magnet Cove carbonatite. The Christy V-Ti deposit is hosted by highly fractured and altered Paleozoic sedimentary rocks near the contact with the Magnet Cove intrusive. Rutile and brookite are the major Ti-bearing minerals. |
| Cover thickness and description |
Near surface, areas of deep weathering. |
| Authors |
Anne E. McCafferty, Corbin Cannon. |
| New data needs |
New aeromagnetic and aeroradiometric survey with additional ground gravity, new geologic mapping. |
| Geologic mapping and modeling needs |
No recent geologic maps at 1:24,000 scale; new geologic mapping needed. |
| Geophysical survey and modeling needs |
High resolution geophysical aeromagnetic and aeroradiometric coverage. |
| Digital elevation data needs |
Lidar adequate. |
