| Basis for focus area |
Focus area outlines Neoproterozoic granitic rocks in the Carolina Slate belt (CZg in North Carolina Geological Survey,1985; grt in Virginia Division of Mineral Resources, 1993). |
| Identified resources |
None. |
| Production |
None. |
| Status |
Unknown. |
| Estimated resources |
Unknown. |
| Geologic maps |
Prouty (1923), scale 1:63,360; Osborne and others (1989), scale 1:250,000; McDaniel (1980), scale 1:125,000; North Carolina Geological Survey (1985), sale 1:500,000; Virginia Division of Mineral Resources (1993), scale 1:500,000. |
| Geophysical data |
Inadequate aeromagnetic and aeroradiometric data: aeromagnetic data Rank 4; aeroradiometric Rank 5. |
| Favorable rocks and structures |
Lithology, in situ regolith thickness, highly evolved granitic system, anorogenic and highly fractionated igneous-type granites, tin, fluorine; igneous-related kaolin deposits. |
| Deposits |
None. |
| Evidence from mineral occurrences |
Potential from mineral system/deposit type. |
| Geochemical evidence |
High proportion of chemically extractable REE (absorbed REE and soluble REE minerals). Tetrad behavior in granite and/or regolith. |
| Geophysical evidence |
Unknown. |
| Evidence from other sources |
Igneous rocks, climate history, in situ regolith development. |
| Comments |
Studies demonstrate significant potential in the southeastern United States for regolith-hosted clay deposits of a type containing light-middle REE and Y, and an as-yet-unknown potential for high-value heavy REE deposits of the type mined in South China. |
| Cover thickness and description |
Variable, soils, partially weathered igneous rock. |
| Authors |
Bart Cattanach. |
| New data needs |
Geologic mapping, and geochemical analyses. |
| Geologic mapping and modeling needs |
1:24,000 scale geologic mapping to determine the extent and distribution of granite-derived regolith and prospective source plutons and geochemical analyses to assess the resource quality/grade. |
| Geophysical survey and modeling needs |
High resolution aeromagnetic and radiometric coverage, and electromagnetic data (EM) resistivity. |
| Digital elevation data needs |
Lidar complete. |
