The “Industrial Minerals” Category of Mineral Resources F ew people wax nostalgic about the early years of sand and gravel mining, or the fabulous clay “strikes” of Jefferson County, or striking it rich in the nahcolite fields near Meeker. Even coal has more fame and romance attached to it than, for instance, limestone. But industrial minerals and rocks are literally the building blocks of our society, and Colorado possess- es abundant resources of several mineral commodities in this category. Geologists exhibit a strong ten- dency (some might call it an obses- sion) to categorize and define, to the nth degree, the materials and processes that make up the Earth. Geologists who study mineral resources are no exception to this— but they also have to consider some economic and social values in their categorizations. The “industrial minerals” are one of the main categories of economic min- eral resources. The other major classes are metals, oil and gas (hydrocarbons), and coal. Simply put, industrial minerals are naturally-occurring nonmetallic minerals (and rocks) that have economic value, but are not used as fuels, and are not gems. The name “industrial minerals” is somewhat misleading, because who would deny that, for example, copper, zinc, or coal are used for industrial purposes? But these minerals belong to other categories, and are not lumped together with construction materials such as sand and gravel. Inevitably, there is some over- lap amongst the major mineral resource classes. Titanium miner- als, for example, can be mined specifically to produce titanium metal, and in that case the deposit is a “metal resource”. However, most titanium minerals are mined not for the metal, but to make tita- nium dioxide (not metallic) which is used as a pigment to make paint and other products white. In this case, the titanium minerals (mostly rutile and ilmenite) are “industrial minerals.” Some industrial minerals and rocks are categorized as “construc- tion materials” because they are used as they are, with little or no processing, to make things like roads and buildings. Sand and gravel, limestone, sandstone, gran- ite, most clay and shale, perlite, and gypsum belong to this sub- category of industrial minerals. These resources are generally com- mon, and the cost of them is tied less to the mining of the material itself than to the transportation costs to the market; the bulk of the Colorado Geological Survey ROCKTALK Vol. 5, No. 3 1 Division of Minerals and Geology Colorado Geological Survey Volume 5, Number 3 July 2002 The American Gypsum Mine in Eagle County produces high-quality qypsum, which is used in the manufacture of drywall. INDUSTRIAL MINERALS INDUSTRIAL MINERALS What are they, where are they, and what good are they? By John Keller and Beth Widmann
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Sand, gravel, crushed rock . . .common commodities in Colo-
rado, and important resources in ourlives. A typical house uses 400 tonsof construction materials. Roads use38,000 to 50,000 tons per mile. Theseimportant rocks and minerals occurall around us, and are relativelyinexpensive and easy to develop. Butthe presence of urban developmentmakes it more difficult to open anew quarry or gravel pit. And thecost of these materials doublesapproximately every 25 milesbetween their source and end use.
Important topics like these werethe focus of the National ResearchCouncil’s Committee on EarthResources recently convened meet-ing on “Issues in the AggregateIndustry” at the National Academyof Sciences in Washington, D.C. Par-ticipants represented industry, acade-mia, state geological surveys, theUSGS, and some of the 35 federalagencies that regulate the industry.
Discussions during this meetingunderscored several trends. TheU.S. imports 15 million tons ofaggregate material annually, fromCanada, Mexico, the Bahamas, andthe Dominican Republic. Coastalstates import some of their materi-als while they mined and shippedto inland states.
Also, the industry is consolidat-ing. Large, multi-national corpora-tions are buying smaller, locallyowned companies. Less acceptanceof urban operations, increasinglycomplex regulations, and the needto ship material longer distances—these factors encourage the trend tolarger corporations dominating theindustry. The trends described atthe Academy’s meeting touch Col-orado. More changes are in store forColorado’s aggregate industry andconsumers. What will not change isour need for these earth resourcesas we continue to build and repairour infrastructure.
The alluvial gravel being examined by geolo-gist Jim Cappa has been screened to meet thesize specifications of a customer who will usethe material to line fish hatchery ponds.
U.S. sand andgravel vs.crushed stoneproduction,1945–2001. Piediagrams illus-trate percentageof sand and grav-el versus crushedstone aggregateproduced nation-wide and inColorado in 2001.
Colorado State Capitol is constructedwith Aberdeen Granite fromGunnison County. The VeteransMemorial monument is made of polished Lyons Sandstone from thenorthern Front Range foothills.
Sandstone from theLyons Formation inBoulder andLarimer Countieswas used in theconstruction ofmany buildings onthe University ofColorado Campusin Boulder.
The Wall Mountain Tuff , also knownas the “Castle Rock Rhyolite”, wasused to build the Trinity UnitedMethodist Church in Denver. CGSgeologist Beth Widmann providesscale.
American Soda’s plant at the nahcolite solution mine in Rio Blanco County.Materials derived from nahcolite are used to make glass, soap and deter-gents, and baking soda. PHOTO COURTESY OF AMERICAN SODA, LLP
This concretemixer truck isloaded withindustrial miner-als! Aggregate(crushed stone orsand and gravel)plus cement (limestone, clayor shale, and gypsum).
Colorado Geological Surveyawards for the 2002 San LuisValley Regional Science Fair.
Elementary School Winner
Morgan Biel,Haskins Elementary, Center
Title: I’m in Hot Water
Middle School Winner
Michaela Kaiser,Sargent Middle School,
Monte Vista
Title: Waste Not. Want Not.Can a Leaf Mulch Improve Soil?
High School WinnerChristine Knoblauch,
Monte Vista High SchoolTitle: Where’s It Coming
From? Hydropollution in theAlamosa River Drainage
Coors Field was constructed using 1.2 million bricks made from Colorado clay.
MS 17Inventory of Nonmetallic Mining andProcessing Operations in Colorado
$15.00
OF 00-9Atlas of Sand, Gravel, and QuarryAggregate Resources, Colorado FrontRange Counties, CD-ROM $15.00
Open File ReportsEvaluations of Mineral and MineralFuel Potential on State Lands A series of reports on CD-ROMs that inventoryand evaluate the mineral and mineral fuelresource potential of the 4 million+ acres ofstate lands administered by the State Land Board.
$15.00–$25.00
RS 37Geology and Mineral Resources ofGunnison County, Colorado $18.00
RS 40Geology and Mineral Resources ofPark County, Colorado $30.00
Stacks of wallboard made from gypsum at the localhome improvement mega-store.
Clay miners pos-ing for a photoin the under-ground claymine of theCoors PorcelainCompany, nearGolden, Colo-rado, circa 1947.PHOTO COURTESY OFCOLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES
Argall, George O. Jr., 1949, Industrialminerals of Colorado; Quarterly ofthe Colorado School of Mines, vol.44, No. 2.
Keller, J.W., Phillips, R.C., and Morgan,Karen, 2002, Digital inventory ofindustrial mineral mines and minepermit locations in Colorado: Col-orado Geological Survey Informa-tion Series IS 62, CD-ROM.
Murphy, Jack A., Geology Tour of Den-ver’s Capitol Hill Stone Buildings,1997, Historic Denver, Inc., Denver,Colorado, 96 p.
Murphy, Jack A., Geology Tour of Den-ver’s Buildings and Monuments,1995, Historic Denver, Inc., Denver,Colorado, 96 p.
Schwochow, Steven D., 1981, Inventoryof nonmetallic mining and process-ing operations in Colorado: Col-orado Geological Survey Map Series17, 39 p., 17 pl.
U.S. Geological Survey Minerals Infor-mation Team, 2002, Mineral Com-modity Summaries, available on theinternet at: http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/ mcs/,and Min-erals Yearbook, available at: http://minerals.usgs.gov/ minerals/pubs/commodity/myb/
Widmann, B.L., and Cappa, J.A., 2001,Database of geochemical analyses ofcarbonate rocks in Colorado, Colo-rado Geological Survey InformationSeries 57, CD-ROM.
Wray, L.L., and others, 2001, Coloradomineral and mineral fuel activity,2000: Colorado Geological SurveyInformation Series 59, 44 p.
Pavement-profilermachine mininggypsum at theAmerican GypsumMine in EagleCounty, Colorado.The gypsum is usedto make drywall ata plant in the nearby town ofGypsum.
State of ColoradoBill Owens, Governor
Department of Natural ResourcesGreg Walcher, Director
Division of Minerals and GeologyRon Cattany, Acting Director
Colorado Geological Survey
Vicki Cowart, Director and State Geologist
James A. Cappa, Mineral Resources
Vince Matthews,Senior Science Advisor
David C. Noe, Engineering Geology
Randal C. Phillips, GIS and Technical Services
Patricia Young, Administration and Outreach
Matt Sares, Environmental Geology
Knox Williams, Colorado Avalanche Information Center
Administration and OutreachBetty Fox, Brenda Hannu,
Melissa Ingrisano, Dori Vigil
Avalanche Information CenterDale Atkins, Nick Logan, Scott Toepfer
Mapping, Outreach, andEarthquakes
John Keller, Bob Kirkham,
Matt Morgan, Beth Widmann
Engineering Geology and Land Use
Karen Berry, Jill Carlson, Sean Gaffney,
Celia Greenman, Jim Soule,
T.C. Wait, Jon White
Environmental GeologyPeter Barkmann, David Bird, Ralf Topper,
Bob Wood
GIS and Technical ServicesCheryl Brchan, Karen Morgan,
Larry Scott, Jason Wilson
Mineral FuelsChris Carroll
MineralsJohn Keller, Beth Widmann
RockTalkis published by the
Colorado Geological Survey1313 Sherman Street,
Room 715, Denver, CO 80203Back issues and subscriptions can
be obtained FREE by contactingCGS by mail, fax, phone, or e-mailor download them from our Web site.
Principal Industrial Minerals of Colorado and Their Uses
Commodity Main Uses Some Other Uses Significant Resource Areas in ColoradoBarite Drilling mud for petroleum Automotive paint; chemicals Not currently mined in Colorado, but occurs as vein deposits
exploration in the Wet Mountains of Fremont and Custer Counties, and in Boulder County
Clays and Brick-making, tiles, ceramics, Kitty litter, lightweight Currently mined mainly in eastern Colorado, along the flankshale paper-making (kaolin only) aggregate of the Front Range in Jefferson, Pueblo, and Fremont CountiesFeldspar A main ingredient in glass Used as a sandblasting agent No longer mined in Colorado, but formerly produced from
and ceramics and as an abrasive numerous granitic pegmatites in mountainous areas, especially in Larimer, Chaffee, Fremont, Park, Jefferson, Gunnison, Boulder, and El Paso Counties
Fluorspar Used to make hydrofluoric Aluminum smelting; steel- No mines currently operating in the entire U.S. The U.S. imports acid, which is used to make making fluorspar, mainly from China. In Colorado, mines operated fluorocarbon chemicals in the past in Boulder County, Jackson County, and in Browns (used in most air conditioners Canyon in Chaffee County. Fluorspar was at one time and refrigerators); aerosols Colorado’s most economically important industrial mineral.
Gypsum Gypsum wallboard An ingredient in cement, soil Large mine in Eagle County produces gypsum for wallboard. (drywall) manufacture conditioner, slope stabilizer Smaller mines in Fremont and Larimer Counties produce
gypsum for other usesLimestone Cement production and as a Food products, soil condi- Mined for cement-making in Fremont and Larimer Counties.
construction aggregate tioners, environmental clean- Occurs in many locations of the stateup of acidic water
Mica House paints, drywall joint Insulation material in toasters; Very little U.S. production currently. Formerly produced in compound, and insulators adds “sparkle” or “shimmer” Colorado from pegmatites (often with feldspar), especially in in electric motors in cosmetics Fremont County
Nahcolite Used to manufacture soda Sodium bicarbonate is baking Nahcolite is mined from wells in Rio Blanco County. The ash, which is used to make soda. Soda ash is also used to mineral occurs in bedded deposits within the Green River glass, soap, detergents, and remove sulfur from smokestack Formation. After construction aggregates, it is the most other chemicals. Also used emissions economically important industrial mineral produced in to make sodium bicarbonate Colorado
Perlite When expanded by high Used in plant potting mixtures Formerly mined near Rosita in Custer County. Now U.S.(a volcanic heat, used as lightweight con- to keep soil loose production is mainly from New Mexicorock) crete construction aggregate
and in acoustic ceiling tilesSand and Construction aggregate Decorative “river rock”, golf Found in all areas of the state. Deposits are located along gravel (concrete and asphalt), road course sand traps, trout rivers and major creeks, and in former glacial valleys
base and fill spawning habitat for hatcheriesSilica Sand Hydro-fracturing of oil wells, Advanced ceramics, optical Eolian sand deposits in Colorado Springs are quarried (industrial gravel packs for groundwater fiber, non-skid flooring, golf mainly for use in hydro-fracturing oil wells, and for gravel sand) monitoring wells, used in course sand traps, steel packs for environmental monitoring wells
pack stucco foundry sandStone Construction aggregate Barbecue grill rock (volcanic Granite and metamorphic rock in the Front Range and other (crushed) (concrete and asphalt), road cinder), decorative stone for mountains, volcanic rock in southwest and south-central
base and fill landscaping Colorado, limestone, sandstone, and quartzite in eastern Colorado, marble in Chaffee County, volcanic cinder in Costilla and Eagle Counties
Stone Building construction Walkways, countertops, Marble (Gunnison County), sandstone (Boulder, Larimer, (dimension) monuments El Paso, Pueblo, and Fremont Counties), granite (Larimer,
Teller, Fremont, Gunnison, and Chaffee Counties), rhyolite (Douglas and Fremont Counties), travertine (Fremont County)
Sulfur For manufacturing sulfuric Elemental sulfur used in No longer mined in Colorado, but formerly produced from smallacid used to make fertilizer, synthetic rubber production mines in Delta, Gunnison, and Mineral Counties. Most U.S. and in petroleum refining sulfur is now produced as a byproduct of petroleum refining
Titanium White pigment in paints, High-end bicycle frames and No mines currently operating, but large potential resources minerals plastics, and paper golf clubs exist in Gunnison County and on the plains near LimonVermiculite Like perlite, useful when greatly Protective base material for Found only in Precambrian and Cambrian rocks in the mountains
expanded by heat; used as swimming pools of Colorado. Not presently being mined in the state. Best fire-proof insulation material, deposits are in Gunnison, Custer, Fremont, Pueblo, Chaffee, and as a soil conditioner and Jackson Counties
Zeolite Because of its capacity for Used in kitty litter to remove Clinoptilolite was mined in the past near Creede in Mineral (clinoptilolite cation-exchange, used in water odor; other odor elimination County, from an altered volcanic ash layer. Also occurs in and other treatment plants. Removes products Moffat County in Tertiary-age alkaline lake bed depositsminerals) ammonia and other impurities
“These mountains of firewere ultimately chilledin the Ice Age freezer thatworked its magic on theirpeaks during the past 1.8million years, carvingmountaintops and valleysinto the dramatic shapesof today’s San Juan Moun-tains.”
—is an example of the
delightful writing found in
Hiking Colorado’s Geology by
Ralph and Lindy Hopkins.
The Hopkins have created a book that is much more
than a guide to interesting geological locales. Indeed,
it is worth reading for the geology even if one never
attempts any of the fifty trails described in the book.
The well-written text is succinct and well researched.
One is hard pressed to find geological descriptions or
interpretations in it with which to quibble. Ralph’s
beautiful photographs artistically illustrate the geolog-
ic features of interest. The drafted graphics are excel-
lent—uncluttered, pertinent, and useful.
The hikes cover a broad cross section of Colorado’s
geology and geography, from the prairie of eastern
Colorado across the mountains to the plateau of west-
ern Colorado. The trails lead to such diverse features
as glaciers, fossils, granite batholiths, volcanic breccia,
references, precautions, and who to contact for infor-
mation. The text for the individual hikes begins with a
short summary of the principal attractions entitled,
“About the Landscape.” The “Trail Guide” begins
with an excellent description of how to reach the trail-
head from the nearest population center. The trail
descriptions are so well done that the reader is a vicar-
ious hiking companion who is missing only the aches
and pains.
I enjoyed reading the book and recommend it for
anyone interested in the geology of Colorado. For
those interested in hitting the trails in search of inter-
esting geologic features, this book is a “must.” See the
Publications section on page 5 for purchasing information.
COLORADO
GEO LO GI C AL SU RVEY
Colorado Geological Survey1313 Sherman Street, Room 715Denver, CO 80203
PIA 341100040
Review of Hiking Colorado’s GeologyBy Vince Matthews, Senior Science Advisor
CGS MISSION STATEMENTThe CGS mission is to serve and inform
the people of Colorado by providing sound geologic information and evaluation and to educate the public about the important role of earth science in everyday life in Colorado.