| Basis for focus area |
Smaller pegmatite bodies based on known occurrences in Grenville-aged basement gneisses. |
| Identified resources |
Historical production of gemstones. |
| Production |
Minor production. |
| Status |
Past mining. |
| Estimated resources |
Unknown. |
| Geologic maps |
Horton and others (2017), scale 1:500,000. |
| Geophysical data |
Inadequate Rank 3 aeromagnetic coverage for 70% of focus area, 30% Rank 5; Rank 5 aeroradiometric coverage. |
| Favorable rocks and structures |
Pegmatitic deposits. |
| Deposits |
Ledford allanite prospect (MRDS dep_id: 10095000), Odell allanite prospect (MRDS dep_id: 10026272), Mars Hill deposit (MRDS dep_id: 10026480). |
| Evidence from mineral occurrences |
MRDS. |
| Geochemical evidence |
Elevated REE. |
| Geophysical evidence |
Surrounding rocks show elevated eTh. |
| Evidence from other sources |
Unknown. |
| Comments |
Known producer but limited spatial extent. Benefit of geophysical surveys not known. Spruce Pine mining district focus area is a subset of this polygon. |
| Cover thickness and description |
Cover less than 100 m? |
| Authors |
Arthur J. Merschat, Anjana K. Shah, Bernard E. Hubbard. |
| New data needs |
Geologic mapping. |
| Geologic mapping and modeling needs |
Geologic mapping of pegmatites. |
| Geophysical survey and modeling needs |
High resolution aeromagnetic and aeroradiometric coverage to help with framework geology: Aeromagnetic data may image mafic rocks, associated structures, and possibly alteration zones. Radiometric data can help with geologic mapping in vegetated terrane. Electromagnetic data may assist with imaging sulfides. |
| Digital elevation data needs |
Lidar complete. |
