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Valley and Ridge barite (Sinks area-Bibb County)

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Region East, Southeast
States
Mineral systems
Deposit types
Commodities
Critical minerals
Other minerals

Information leading to the delineation of this focus area

Basis for focus area Polygon around mining districts from MRDS and the Geological Survey of Alabama's FY19 NGGDPP-Priority 3 critical minerals database. Based on favorable geology and historical barite production (for example, Adams and Jones, 1940; Spaine, 1969; Hughes and Lynch, 1973; Chaffin and others, 1976; Rheams, 1992).
Identified resources Historical production of barite (for example, Adams and Jones, 1940; Spaine, 1969; Hughes and Lynch, 1973).
Production Barite was first discovered in Alabama in 1875 and the first mining of barite occurred in 1906 (Adams and Jones, 1940). Historical production numbers are incomplete, but at least 25,000 short tons of barite reported as being produced from Alabama (Adams and Jones, 1940; Hughes and Lynch, 1973; Rheams, 1992). However, it's estimated that at least 90,000 (short) tons of barite may have been produced in Alabama, with about 69,000 (short) tons coming from the larger deposits and the remaining 21,000 (short) tons coming from smaller deposits scattered throughout the state (Adams and Jones, 1940; Hughes and Lynch, 1973, Rheams, 1992).
Status Past mining.
Estimated resources It is estimated that barite generally comprises 12 to 18% of the residual material overlying the Cambro-Ordovician carbonates and may be as high as 50% (Adams and Jones, 1940; Neathery and others, 1972; Hughes and Lynch, 1973). Approximately 300,000 (short) tons of barite are estimated to still be remaining in the Sinks area of Bibb County (Adams and Jones, 1940; Jones and McVay, 1934; Hughes and Lynch, 1973; Chaffin and others, 1976; Rheams, 1992).
Geologic maps Osborne and others (1989), scale 1:250:000; Chaffin and others (1976), scale 1:126,720.
Geophysical data Inadequate Rank 4 aeromagnetic and Rank 5 aeroradiometric coverage.
Favorable rocks and structures The residuum overlying the Cambro-Ordovician carbonate rocks of the Knox Group; see Adams and Jones (1940); Brobst (1958); Brobst and Hobbs (1968); Neathery, Clarke and Szabo (1969); Hughes and Lynch (1973); Chaffin and others (1976).
Deposits Sinks mine (MRDS dep_id: 10083345), Julian Fancher mine, D. C. Weaver mine, Herron mine, Hardy Pratt mine, May Johnston mine, Maguire Shoals mine.
Evidence from mineral occurrences MRDS; Geological Survey of Alabama FY19 NGGDPP-Priority 3 critical minerals database; Adams and Jones (1940); Spaine (1969); Hughes and Lynch (1973).
Geochemical evidence Existing geochemical analyses from Bibb County indicate that the Longview Limestone and Newala Limestone in the Sinks district respectively contain 74.18% CaCO3, 14.01% MgCO3, 0.17% A2O3, 1.18% Fe2O3, and 10.02% SiO2, and 94.85–97.68% CaCO3, 0.59–1.80% MgCO3, 0.67–0.76%, Al2O3, 0.08–0.19% Fe2O3, and 1.30–3.19% SiO2 (Chaffin and others, 1976; Beg, 1984, Rheams, 1992). Barite deposits in the Sinks district are reported to contain 96.00–98.18% BaSO4, trace–0.62% SiO2, 0–0.70% CaCO3, 0–0.20% CaF2, and 0–0.60% Fe2O3 (Chaffin and others, 1976; Rheams, 1992).
Geophysical evidence Inadequate aeromagnetic/radiometric data (aeromagnetic data rank 4; radiometric rank 5).
Evidence from other sources Unknown.
Comments Past producer in areas that might be mined again. Geophysical data are likely to be helpful in determining the extent of the source rocks and possibly the location of the deposits. Geochemical analyses likely to be very helpful. Surficial and bedrock geologic mapping needed. Barite was first discovered in Alabama in 1875 and the first mining of barite occurred in 1906 (Adams and Jones, 1940). Much of the barite mined in Alabama was shipped to Georgia for processing, therefore, Georgia received credit for a considerable part of Alabama's production (Hughes and Lynch, 1973).
Cover thickness and description Exposed bedrock to thin cover.
Authors Nora K. Foley, Bernard E. Hubbard, Dane S. VanDervoort, John P. Whitmore.
New data needs Geophysical data, geologic mapping, and geochemical analyses.
Geologic mapping and modeling needs The Geological Survey of Alabama has published detailed mapping for much of Calhoun, Etowah, and St. Clair Counties as a result of the STATEMAP program, but no mapping available in Bibb County. Geochemical analyses are needed in order to assess the resource quality/grade.
Geophysical survey and modeling needs High resolution aeromagnetic and radiometric data to image mafic rocks, associated structures, and possibly alteration zones, as well as help with geologic mapping in vegetated terrane.
Digital elevation data needs Lidar adequate.