| Basis for focus area |
Monazite-xenotime-bearing placers and paleoplacers (Coastal heavy mineral sands). Belt encompassing numerous past producers and occurrences, also geophysical and geochemical anomalies linked to favorable source rock. |
| Identified resources |
Historical production of gold and REE (monazite). |
| Production |
Unknown. |
| Status |
Small-scale/private placer Au prospecting. |
| Estimated resources |
See Mertie (1975). |
| Geologic maps |
Osborne and others (1989), scale 1:250,000; Horton and others (2017), scale 1:500,000. |
| Geophysical data |
Inadequate aeromagnetic and aeroradiometric data: Rank 3-4 aeromagnetic and Rank 3-5 aeroradiometric surveys. |
| Favorable rocks and structures |
Alluvial sands sourced from surrounding rocks, such as sillimanite schist, that contain REE. |
| Deposits |
Past producers: White Mill Creek (gold, REE) (MRDS dep_id: 10078646), TT Erwin mine (gold, REE), Camp Creek (REE, thorium), Hall Creek (gold, REE), Clear Creek (gold, REE); Prospects: (REE, titanium, zirconium) North Tyger River (USMIN Site_ID: SC00007), Rabon Creek (USMIN Site_ID: SC00008), Thicketty Creek (USMIN Site_ID: SC00006), Knob Creek; Occurrences: Big Generostee Creek, Buffalo Creek. |
| Evidence from mineral occurrences |
MRDS; USMIN. |
| Geochemical evidence |
Elevated Ti and REE. |
| Geophysical evidence |
Prominent radiometric eTh highs over surrounding rock. |
| Evidence from other sources |
Unknown. |
| Comments |
Past producer in areas that might be mined again although deposits may be smaller. Geophysical data (especially radiometric) are likely to be helpful but there is limited precedent for detailed geophysical surveys in this environment. Surface geologic mapping likely to be very helpful. Large-scale placer gold mining and production between 1830 (possibly as are far back as 1799) and 1946; however, it has continuously remained an area of on-going small-scale/private placer gold prospecting. |
| Cover thickness and description |
Limited to no cover. |
| Authors |
Anjana K. Shah, Arthur J. Merschat, Dane S. VanDervoort, John P. Whitmore. |
| New data needs |
Geophysical data, geologic mapping, and geochemical analyses. |
| Geologic mapping and modeling needs |
Surface mapping to assist locations of sand deposits and favorable source rocks. Geochemical analyses to assess the resource quality/grade. |
| Geophysical survey and modeling needs |
High resolution aeromagnetic and aeroradiometric coverage. Detailed radiometric data may assist locations of REE-rich sands. |
| Digital elevation data needs |
Lidar adequate in Virginia, North Carolina and parts of Alabama; in progress in South Carolina and Georgia. |
