Domestic phosphate deposits
Most of the worlds phosphate deposits can be grouped into six types: 1) igneous apatite deposits; 2) marine phosphorites; 3) residual phosphorites; 4) river…
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U.S.DEPARTMENT of the 1MEKIOR QEOLOCICA- SURVEY DOMESTIC PHOSPHATE DEPOSITS T. B. McKelvey, J. B. Cathoart, Z. 3. Altscfculer, R. W. Swanson, and Katharine Lutz Thin is ppf limlQftiy and has not or rerlered for confonnity U. S. Geological Survey atandars nomenclature. REPRODUCED FROM BEST AVAILABLE COPY
CONTENTS Page Abstract
Introduction II. Principal types of phosphate deposits. 1. Apatite deposits of igneous origin Marine phosphorites. 3. Residual phosphorites. River-pebble deposits. Phosphatized rocks ,17 6. Guano.
Other types. III. Distribution and geology of domestic deposits. 1. Florida land-pebble field. 2. Florida hard-rock field. 3. Tennessee brown-rock field The western field. 32 Other deposits a.. Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain. b. Continental interior and eastern mountain regions. . c. Western states 3d IW Reserres . 7. Acknowledgments. References ILLUSTRATIONS Figure 1. Distribution of phosphate deposits in the United States. Only those in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho; Utah, Tennessee, and Florida are being mined now or are likely to be of commercial value in the foreseeable future. 2. Typical sections of phosphatic formations on the southeastern Coastal Plain based on data derived from the following sources s Florida land-pebble field, unpublished Geological Survey data; Florida hard-rock field, from R. 0. Vernon (1947), supplemented by Geological Survey data; South Carolina from Rogers (1915;; Alabama from Smith (1892), supplemented by information furnished by Watson MonroB.-. he surface of the HHawthorn formation, Olg Colony mine, American Cyanamid Co, land-pebble phosphate field, Florida. (Data furnished by the American Cyanamid Company.)
Distribution of coarse and fine phosphate in the landpebble phosphate district, Florida. Mode of occurrence of Tennessee blue and brown phosphate deposits (from Smith and Whitlatch 1940)
Page Figure 60 Distribution of outcrops of Permian phosphatic rocks in the western field* Dotted line marks the approximate boundary between areas of simple and complex structure* In envelope 7. Typical stratigraphic sections of the Phosphoria and Park City formations of the western phosphate, field, showing miogeosynclinal zone and platform facias. . . . : . In. envelope &. Thickness in feet of beds in the Phosphori* and Park City formation* containing more than 31 percent 9. Total thickness (in feet) of rocks in the Phesphoria and Park City formations containing mere than 25 percent Pp 2a envelope Table 1. Characteristics of principal types of phe*phat deposits . . ,., . . .'.
Production and resources of phosphate rock in the States (Tonnages are in millions of long ' Eepfeientative analyliei 5 of principal types ofT phosphate deposits
DOMESTIC PHOSPHATE DEPOSITS V. McKelvey, J. B, Cathcart, Z, S. Altschuler, R. W. Swanson, and Katharine Lutz ABSTRACT Most of the world's phosphate deposits can be grouped into six type*2 1) igneous apatite deposits| 2) marine phosphorites; 3) residual phosphorites j 4) river pebble deposits; 5) phosphatized rock2 and 6) guano. The igneous apatites and marine phosphorites form deposits measurable in millions or billions of tons; the residual deposits are measurable in thousands or millions 5 and the other types generally only in thousands of
' ' ,- ' :' ' S tons. ' :
: ., Igneous apatite deposits have been mined on a small scale in New York, New* Jersey, and Virginia. Marine phosphorites have been mined in Montana, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina, Sputh Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Residual phosphorites have been mined in Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and Florida. River pebble has been produced in South Carolina and Florida; phosphatized rock in Tennessee and Florida; and guano in New Mexico and Texas. Present production is limited almost entirely to Florida, Tennessee, Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming, Incomplete but recently partly revised estimates indicate the presence ' ;; "" of about ! billion tons of phosphate deposits in the United States that is minable under present economic conditions. Deposits too lean in quality or thickness to compete with those in the western and southeastern fields probably contain tens of billions of tons.
1. INTRODUCTION Phosphorus has been called the "bottleneck of the world's hunger* (Borty, 1946). This is true for lare parts of the world, t particularly Asia, but the United States, fortunately, has large reserves of mineral phosphate available to replace the phosphate removed from the soil by crops and erosion. The chief purpose of this account of the characteristics, distribution, and reserves of domestic phosphate deposits is to provide a background for the consideration pf / problems of phosphorus in- relation to fertilizer and crop production; '
but the authors wish to show also that increased domestic consumption of phosphorus fertilizer need not be limited by the phosphate reserves of the United States. : H; PRINCIPAL TYPES OP PHOSPHATE DEPOSITS Phosphorus makes up about 0.12 percent of the earth f crust in fact it is the eleventh most abundant element. It forms complete compounds with a wide variety of metals more than T50 minerals are known that contain 1 percent or more ?2®5' Most of the Phosphorus in the earth's crust, however, is found in one mineral family, the apatite group CCuJCF, Cl, ). Due to its essential content of an anionic radicle, the PO, tetrahedron, as well as of a simple anion, usually fluorine, and a simple cation, usually calcium, apatite serves as a host for a great many minor substitutions. Thus, small amounts of TO., AsO , SiO,, SO and CO or CO may be present in place of equivalent amounts of PO, The fluorine position may be occupied
completely or in part by F, Cl or OH. In addition minor amounts of U, Mg, Mn, Sr, Pb, Na, Ce, T and other rare earths may substitute for calcium. The variety of structural elements in apatite enhances the number of substitutions which occur, as cationic replacements involving loss or gain of valence may be compensated for by anionic replacements of opposite nature* These facts account in great measure for the rich suite of minor metals found in many apatite deposits and so important in the agricultural use of phosphate rock. In nature phosphate is concentrated by igneous, sedimentary, weathering, and biologic processes. The geology of the important producing types of deposits is treated here to promote greater understanding of the potentialities of these deposits in this : '. .;' country* They are six in number, namely apatite deposits of igneous origin, marine phosphacites, residual phosphorites, riverpebble deposits, phosphatized rock, and guano (Table 1). ! Apatite deposits of igneous origin Apatite deposits of igneous origin are found as intrusive masses, hydro-thermal veins or disseminated replacements, marginal differentiations along or near the boundaries of intrusions, and pegmatites** These deposits are generally associated with bodies of nepheline syenite, ijolite, alaskite, limestone, pyroxenite, llmenite, magnetite, or nelsonite. The largest of the apatite deposits of igneous origin are intrusive sheets associated with syenite, pyroxenite or amphibolite
g Table 1. Characteristics of principal types of phosphate deposits
Type (and examples) Origin Associated rocks Shape and structure of deposits Consncn ,- Principal phosphate minerals jrduor Range of reserves in Individual fields (tons of :.. ropk) Igneous apatites a. Apatite intrusions (Kola peninsula, USSR) Eastern Uganda; Palabora, last Transvaal) b. Apatite marginal differentiations (eastern Adirondack s) Apatite pegmatite (Southern Ontario) Differentiation from Nepheline syenite, Inclined sheets, Fluorapatit* cooling basic nagna ijolite, limestone, in soae places pyroxenite, magnet- interleaved with ite other rocks around a circular oore Hetasoaatic differentiation along contacts of alaoklte intrusion* Late stage differentiation from cooling basic magma Alaskite, magnetite Fyroxenite, eye~ nite, caloite, phlogopite, titanite Steeply inolinod irregular masses Steeply inclined tabular masses Fluorapatite Fluorapatite d. Hydrothermal veins, Late stage ensnanation Hmenite, nelsondisseminations and from basic magma, ite, anorthosite replacements generally cutting or (Norwegian apatite partly replacing veins, Tlrginia earlier differentiates nelsouite) Marine phosphorites a, Geosynclinal phosphorites (Western U. S.; North Africa; Kara Tan, U.S.S.R.) Organic or inorganic .precipitation on margins of oceanic basins Carbonaceous nuistone, chert Steeply inclined Fluorapatite tabular Kaosea Chlorapatit* or irregular dis~ C12); Hydroxylapatite geminated bodies ( Widespread blanket, folded to varying degree Carbonate-fluorapatite Sr, rare earths : io6.-io10 T, Cr, rare earths, Co, Hi, Mo, IT, Zn, At, As, Cd, Cu, Tm, Be 10? Sr, rare 103 - 105. earths, Aa 109 -10U X''
lable 1. Characteristics of principal types of phosphate deposits (Cont'd) (and
Type examples) Platform phosphorites (Cretaceous glauconite marls of Gulf Coastal Plain; Tennessee BbJ.uerock";; eastern part of tke western field) Origin Organic or inorganic precipitation in epicontlnental seas; often reworked from older phosphatio formations Associated rocks Tiimestone, dolomite, quartz s ands t one , gl auconite, carbonaceous uudstone Shcpe and structure of Wd do spread blanket locally moderately warped Principal phosphates ninerals Carbonate- fluorapatite Common minor metals V, Cr, earths, Hi, Mo, Zn, Ag, Cd. On, Be rare Co, u. As. Tm, lange of rent -vet in individual fields (tons of reck) 106 - 1010 U. Besidual pkosphorite (Temmessee brewn-rock deposits) liver pebble (Tlorida, South Carolina riverpebble fields) §. Fhosphatized rock a. Calcareous terrane (Tlorida hard-rock, Tennessee whitereck, Nauru and Ocean Islands) Insoluble residuum remainlaff after decomposition of pkosphatic limes toxe in humid climate Jluvial transport of weathered-out phosphorite particles In humid or subtropical ef low relief Limestone, clay, fuarta sand Quartz sand Replacement of limestone or clay in tropical or subtropical climate by phosphate derived from orerlylng phosphatio rooks or fuano Soar-surface blanket lying oft irregular etched eedrock surface liver bars, chaomel filling* aad terrace* Limestone, dolo- "Joar-surface mite, clay, quartz Irregular saod b blanket Carb onate-fluorapatite As, V - 10* Cafb onate-f luorajpatite §/ - io7 Carbonate-hydroxyL-fluorapatite Zn, Ag, Cd, ta Hydroxylapatlte Bhitlockite Brusbite (HCo
Monetlto (HCaPOk); Vavellite
Psoudovwrellite Sorcaeiite
Table 1, Characteristic a of principal types of phosphate deposits (Cont'd) TIP* Origin Associated , rooks Shape and structure of -deposits.
Principal phosphate jalnarals CcoMon Minor WstalB Rapge of reserves In individual field* (tons of rook) b. Igneoua terrane (Dalto JIM, IklpelQ, Grand Connetahle Islands) Replacement of Igneous rock or clay by phosphate derived from (UNDO Trachyte, andes-= ite, basalt granite, gabbro Guano
AcouDulation of sea All varieties (Islands along Peruvian fowl or bat excreta (no genetio read Chilean coast*) lationshlp) Hear-eurface Irregular blanket
enbflcr oocura In acid Igneous rocks , hih Fe ncaber in Intermediate ani basic rocks Grthorhosbic Barra&aite Surficlal irregular blanket Ifcmoclinlo series 8 Mutavariscdte Clittobarrcndlte Metastrongite Carbonate-hydroxgrlapatite Bjdrcrxylersatlte tMtlockite Cruohite - id6 10 - 1CT ~j/ Metals listed are thoe prevent in amounts greater than 5 tiaea their average concentration In the earth* orxut, ijfrarltle*. Io infonutlott available,, of dtrltal ;f
and in some places with limestone or magnetite* These sheets are inclined and in some places roughly interleaved around a circular core. The apatite-rich layers range in thickness from tens to hundreds of feet or more and are traceable for hundreds of feet or even a few- miles* Their P20c content is as much as 35 percent,
and reserves are measurable in billions of tons* The higher grade rock is not beneficiated. Lower-grade rock containing 5 to 25 percent tjfl* may be beneficiated by grinding and. serving or magnetic separation to yield a high-grade apatite concentrate. No attempt is made to benefieiate the very low grade magnetite-apatite reek for phosphate. On smelting, such robk yields phosphate-rich slag Mo important deposits of this type are known in this country, but three of the largest apatite deposits in the world are of igneous origin, namely the Khifcin deposits on the Kola peninnla, U. S, 3, (Fiveg, 1937)$ the eastern Uganda deposits (Caries, 1947) I and the Palabora deposits in last Transvaal (Shand, 1932). The Kiruna magnetite deposits in Sweden and the Iron Mountain hematite deposits in Missouri (thought to bo weathered magnetites) are apatite-rich iron ores of this type (Lindgren, 1933 9 793)* The rein, disseminated, marginal, and pegmatite deposits are either less extensive or of lower quality, or both, and hence are of less economic importance. Most of the reserves are measurable in , thousands rather than millions of tons, and the content of large masses is generally less than 20 percent* Examples include the hydrothermal apatite-ilmenite (nelsonite) disseminated deposits in Yirginia.
(C, S, Boss, the apatite veins in Norway (Lindgren, 1933, the apatite-magnetite marginal deposits associated with alaskite in the eastern Adirondacks (Lindgren, 1933, 794)) and the apatite peguatite deposits in southern Ontario (Adams and Barlow, 1910). The apatite that predominates in all of these deposits is fluorapatitei chlorapatite is rare in large deposits* "Strontium and the rare earths coattonly aake up 1 to 3 percent of the mineral and substitute for calcium in the crystal'structure (Table 2), Other metals are not abundant. 2. Mkrine phosphorites Karine phosphorites are believed to be inorganically and organically precipitated on shelving margins of large oceanic basins. As cold water rises from the depths along the continental slopes its pH increases with increase in temperature and with the decrease in partial pressure of 002,and phosphate is then precipitated (Kagakor* 19371 and ffcKelyey, et al,, in press The marine phosphorites may be divided into two principal fades geosynclinal and platform, the one commonly the stratigraphic equivalent of the other. The geosyndinftl deposits of which those of western United States (Mansfield, 1927J McKelvey, et aj., in press), Horth Africa (Cayeux, 1941)* and the Kara-Tau of the Soviet Union (Vol'fkovich, 1945) are the world's outstanding examples -are associated with chert, black carbonaceous shale, and minor amounts of limestone. The phos-
Table 2, Production and resources of phosphate rock in the United States (Tonnages are in millions of long tons) Production Source and type Florida Land pebble In matrix In lea&ed zone River pebble Hard rock Soft rock Hawthorn formation Total Florida. South Carolina Land rock River rock Total South Carolina Tennessee Brown rock Blue rock White rock Phosphatic limestone Total Tennessee Western field (Phosphoria formation) Arkansas Other states (Ala., Ky., N.O., Pa.). Marketed product a/ 116.8 £/ '-MM* 1.3 sJ 13.9 if 133*0 ? H 4.1 I/ 28,7 £/ 1.3 £/ 31.9 o/ 6.Q Inferred Reserves minable PgOR under present content b/
o.a 9.6 o/ conditions Marketable product 1,000 d/
1,040 h.i/ fcA 2,040
85 £/
3.0002/ P2o5 content 330 d/
330 f k/
Additional Inferred resources minable under ditions Product 2,000 d.e/ 800 O/ 50 IT, 500 h.i/
]£/ 20,000 h/ 23,350 m/ ' 9. a/ 8315 , a/ 5.39S 20,000 20 h/
changed con* P2Q5 content 600 d.e/ i4o k/ 4,ooo" 4,93? S/ a/2? 1,100 1,129 5,800 5I/ Grand total (rounded) 5,100 1,500 12,000
' '
, ' Table 2o reduction and resources of phosphate rook in the limited States (Cont'd)
a/ figures rounded of f from those compiled by Jaoob (1950) supplemented bgr figures for 1949 from the Bureau of Mines Mineral Iearbook jfe/ approximate'* £/ Includes some river pebble and soft rook* d/ Ere11m1nary figuref baaed upon recent Geological Survey investigations* e/ilpaoludes about 1 billion tons in the northern part of the district containing 27-30 percent *2°5° Hie remainder in the southern part of the district* f/ All in the northern part of the field? comprised of 8 l) 105 billion tens? in deposits more than 5 thick, 20 percent (300 million tons) t&ioh is minus 150 mesh in size and contains 15 to 30 percent *2°5 and a similar amount of Ali 2) 25 billion tons in deposits more than 1 foot thick, 20 percent (500 million tons) vfeich is minus 150 mesh in sisee ' g/ Some river pebble included with land pebble h/ Figures rmtnded eff from estimates compiled bj Huisfield, 1942o j/ Includes soma seft rook InoluAas soft rook Included with hard rook, Some river rook included with land rook* m/ Bata not available n/ Tirginia apatite *nd blue-rook inoluded with Temmasse* erowi-rock <g/ Ihis figure Is higher than the SUB of the individual item* beeens* separate data fer the Different types of Tennessee plespkate are not available fer the jears prior te l*05o jg/ Preliminarj incomplete estimates based vmern recent investigations of the U0 So fieologioal 9rveT about one fourth is acid-grade &31 percent *2Q$) an3 thi remainder is furaaoe-trade |p£4 percent frrelijninary, incomplete estimates based upon recent investigations of the V0 fieelogioal Borva/j rooks are of minahle thickness, contain more than 24 percent lOj;, but lie below entry level*
phate deposits consist of layers of phosphatic pellstsp generally less than 0.1 to 2 at in diameter, that were deposited as blankets over thousands of scgiare miles. Many of these layers are 3 feet or more in thickness and contain 25 to 35 percent FgOc. The fluorapatite content in the minable layers of such formations is co-moon- "' ly 3#000 to 25pOOO kg per m aid the fluorapatite content of the whole formation may be 25*000 to 75*000 kg per m Most of the platform deposits are associated with limestone, glauconite sand stone 9 quartz sandstone* and* less oonaonly* clayi some are associated with bituminous shales; and a few are associated with manganese- and iron-ore deposits. The glauconitic marls of Alabama and Mississippi (E. A. Smith, 1692; Monroe, 1941) are examples of the first group| the "blue-rock" deposits of Tennessee (Smith and Whitlatch* 1940) of the second! and the msnganiferous phosphatic shales of Arkansas (Branner and Newsom* 1902) of the third* The phosphate in the platform deposits generally occurs as large nodules or pebbles, most of which are 2 to 10 am in diameter (but some of which may be 25 or eren 50 mm in diameter)* sparsely disseminated in a matrix of non-phosphatic sediment. Some phosphate is in the form of phosphatized shells or fish remains. In younger, unconsolidated deposits* the phosphatic particles can be segregated from the matrix by washing or flotation. In many platform deposits the P20r content of the pebbles is only 15 to 25 percent* The fluorapatite content of such formations generally ranges from 100 to 1*500 kg per m but maybe as much as 5*000 to 10*000 kg per m .
Iho best platform deposits hare resulted from submarine reworking of '.- older, lost phosphatic fo rations* They commonly are found as basal conglomerates of formations formed by transgressing seas (Goldman, 1922| Mtijohn, 19265 lazakov* 1937), The phosphate mineral in the marine phosphorites is generally carsonato-fluerapatite (Altseaaler and Cisney, 1952). Marine phos- % phorites* particularly the geo synclinal fad.es, otntain a host of minor constituents, some of which aro important as by-product* recoTorabl* in the manufacture of fertilisers and chemicals and some of nhiA are essential to plant growth 0 these trace constituents include rmadium, rbrontiua, nickel, molybdotvip sine, copper, rareearths, silver, and uranium (Oortel and Stace, 1947| loMnson, 194*1 Jacob tt al,,' 19331, Hill etoy 1V325 Hebertp 1947rMcTelTej and JTelaon, 1950)* Reaerres of the marine phosphorites are measurable in millions or billions of tens, mainly accounted for by geosynclinal deposits With a few oxeeptionsp the platform deposits are not of cownercil value at present 3o residual phosphorites Carbcnate-fluorapatite is less soluble than caldte, and therefore is residually concentrated during the weathering of marine photphatic limestone80 Thoso residual phosphate deposits are most common in humid dimatos thoae in Tvmesaee (Smith and Wiitlatch, 1940) and Kentucky (Jhalen, 1915) are good exsMples* These deposits
rasembl* the marine phosphorites* (from which they are generally derived} in the composition of their phosphatic parti dssp bat they differ in distribution and extent Most of these deposits are at or near the surface* and they occur oft irregular* deeply etched,bedrock earfaces The PgO content ranges from 15 to 35 percent or more and the fluerapatite content may be 1,000 to 10,000 kg per m20 isserres of the rcsidaal deposits are measured in thousands or at most minions of tens* Some residual phosphorites* those in Tennessee for example are important producers because of their high qpility and thin cover. 4, Rjver-pebble deposits Some of the clastic phosphate that is left behind dsrin* theweathering of phosphatic limestones is mored by runoff to the streams Ih humid regions of low relief, such as Florida (Ktnsfieldp 1942a) and South Carolina (Bogors, 1915) phosphate nodules commonly price up the only coarse detritus on the stream bottom These concentrations are know in the industry as rirer-pebble deposits and are easily recoverable* Beserves are measureablx in millions of tons. Know deposits of this type* however* cannot be mined now in competition with other types because the content of the nodal*s is too low (presumably oae to leaching In. the stream)* and the deposits are too snail and patchya 50 fhosiJhatised rocks 3h regions of subtropical or tropical weathering ifcerc decaying
IS Vegetation lowers the pH of meteoric waters, the carbonate-fluorapatite in sedimentary rocks is eventually decomposed. Some of it disappears in runoff but in some places it is reprecipitated after travelling only a short distance, particularly if the phosphatic solutions encounter aluminous or iron-bearing rock or limestone in a different chemical environment. These deposits consist of encrustations on surfaces of joints or cavities, or an irregular, tabular replacement of bedrock, or residual boulders. The mineral composition depends upon the lithology of the replaced rock. Phosphatiaed limestone generally consists of some form of calcium phosphate whereas iron and aluminum phosphate minerals of the variscite and metavariscite series are common in pnosphatised volcanic rocks and wavellit* aad psuedowavellite in clays. The- PQ. content of these deposits depends on the degree of replacement Some deposits have 35 percent or more P 0 JELthough minor metals are not abundant, gallium may be prominent in wavellite0 These deposits are generally of limited extent and with few exceptions their reserves are measurable in thousands or Millions of tons. Examples are the white-rock deposits of Tennessee (Smith and Whitlatch, 1940) and the hard-rock deposits of Florida (Mansfield, 142a). The phosphate in the phosphatized rocks of most insular deposits + is derived from guano rather than from phosphatic limestone. The deposits of Pais, Angaur, and Klta-daito Rodgers, 1943} have originated in this way0
Accumulations of the droppings of seafowl and. bats are rich in nitrogenous materials and phosphates. Leaching or decomposition of the nitrogenous Material of this guano yields a. residue rich in phosphate. is interesting to note that the largest guano accumulations are found in the vicinity of the cold, phosphate-rich waters CSverdrup et aloa 1946* p. 942} from ubicifthe matdne-:phosphorites precipitate. The abundant supply of phosphate in these waters nourishes a luxuriant plankton growth nfeich ia turn supports a large fish population on ifeich the sea fowl feed. Conditions Most favorable for the accumulation of guano deposits are found along the west coast of the continents in lew latitudes where cold waters upwell and where the dry, subtropical climate inhibits destraction of the guano (Hutcfcbtson, 1950* -6),and such deposits otiour along the vest coasts ef Lever Califerttia* South America, and Africa. The Mineralogy of guano is complex and depends to so MS extent on the stage of decomposition and leaching. Sligxtly decomposed deposits contain soluble ammosinm and alkali oxalates* sulphates, and nitrates and a -variety of magnesium phosphates and aanmoiiiuiiMaagnesium phosphates. Largely decomposed guano consists essentially of calcium phosphates. The guano deposits are limited in extent and their reserves are seldom, measured in millions of tons in fact most of the rich deposits are already exhausted. The P-jOr content of guano is generally less than 20 percent, but, because the P2°5 is readily available and
because other nutrients, particularly nitrogen, are present, guano is a valued fertilizer. Minor metals are not Abundant in guano. 7, Other types Other sources of "aineral" phosphates are bone piles found at ancient salt licks and water holes; glauconite, and phosphatic iron ores that yield a basic slag in the Manufacture of steel (Hertzog, 1935)* The bone piles are no longer iJmeortattto SLauconite contains only 1 to 5 percent PgOe, but, as it also contains.JT ithms'has had some use as a fertilizer; reserves are aiasurable in Billions and billions of tons* Phosphatic iron ores include marine deposits of the type found in the Clinton formation as well as apatite-rich magnetite deposits of igneous origin. The basic slag (Thomas meal) made from these ores contains & percent or more Reserves of the phospfaatic iron-ore source rocks, tfcich contain only 0,5 to 5 percent PoOr, are measured in millions of tons, v'
t
Hi. D1Stei6Dtion And Gbologt Of E05Estic Deposits
-e* All the principal types of phosphate deposits are found in this country, "ad concentrations of one type or another are found in 30 of til* States (Fig9 1) Only about half of these States Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, and Montana -hare ever produced phosphate. Current production of phosphate rock, listed in order of rate of prediction
c p - "3CT -N
m c- - o Figure 1. --Distribution of phosphate deposits in the United States. Only those in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho. Utah, Tennessee, and Florida are being mined now or are likely to be of commercial value in the foreseeable future. Is: P;
FLORIDA LAND PEBBLE FIELD (Mttkfn ftrl) FLORIDA SOUTH CAROLINA HARD ROCK-SOFT ROOK FIELD (M*r CkwlMiiM) ro figure 2. --Typical sections of Phosphatic formations on the Southeastern Coastal Plain based on data derived from the following sources: Florida land-pebble field, unpublished Geological Survey data; Florida hard-rock field, from R. O. Vernon (1947), Supplemented by Geological Survey data; South Carolina from Rogers (1915); Alabama from Smith (1892), supplemented by information furnished by Watson Monroe.
(Table 2), comes from only four fields: the land-pebble field of Florida; the brown-rock field of Tennessee; the western field; and the hard-rock field of Florida. . .Because future production is likely to be restricted largely to these same fields, we place the chief emphasis on them in our description of domestic deposits. Florida land-pebble field The Florida land-pebble field has produced about 117 million tons during the period fr6m 1891, when mining began, through 1949 (Table 3) 1949 it produced about 6*7 million tons (Johnson and Tucker, 1951) slightly more than one-third of the world 1 s production and about three-fourths of our domestic production. The Florida land-pebble deposits are part of the Bone Valley formation of probable Pliocene age which extends over an area of about 2600 square miles, chiefly in Polk and Hillsborough Counties, in the west-central part of the Florida peninsula (El,dridge, 1893;
Sellards, 1915; Matson 1915; Boundy, 1941; Mansfield, 1942a; Cathcart et al. T in press)* The Bone Valley formation was deposited on the eroded surface of the underlying phosphatic Hawthorn formation of age by a transgressing sea that reworked and partly sorted the thick, residual phosphatic mantle found on the Hawthorn at the close of the Miocene. Since its deposition, the upper part of the Bone Valley has been deeply weathered (Fig. 2). Much of the phosphate in this upper leached zone has been removed and some contains phosphatized clay. The Bone 'Valley deposits are thus complete partly residual, partly
marine reworked, and partly phosphatised clay* All the phosphate recovered from the land-pebble, field is in the lower, less-weathered part of the Bone Valley formation, called the aatrixo the matrix rests on a "bed clay" at the top of the ' Hawthorn formation whicfc has a. karat surface (Fig 3) the thickness of the matrix ranges from 1 to 50 feet and averages about 12 feet| the thickest deposits are coaBonly in old sinkholes in the Hawthorn The matrix consists of ft* uneonselidatid mixture of phosphorite pellets and pebbles, boulders of partly phaspfactized limestone, quartz ssnd, and montmorillonite elao The matrix typd-CAlly': consists of about ens -third, phosphorite particles coarser than 0,1 m$ one-third quart z- ssad, and one-third clay, Bepwding partly on the thickness att* tbe relati w abundance of phosphorite par tide* in thi matrix, the content of recoverable phosphorite ranges from about 500 tons to 35,000 tons per acre sad averages about 5? 000 tons per acre in the minable part of the field, the PgQe content of thi jfeespbate particles ranges from about 28 to 36 per cento the P20- content is higher, 32 to 34 percent, in the northern part of the field, and generally lower, 28 to 32 percent, in the southern part, the norbfcftm part may be further subdivided into too general areas a central area where the phosphate .particle size is generally coarse- and tbe P20e content of the particles is / 32 to 33 percent| aid a peri|*eral area, iiere the p article size is
SCALE 2000 FEET Figure. 3. The surface of the Hawthorn formation, Old Colony Mine, American Cyanamid Company, land-pebble phosphate field, Florida* (Data furnished by the American Cyanamid Company)*
finer aid the ?205 content of the part idea la 33 to percent
(Fif* io P. Daridson and F. Houaer (unpublished #. QeelefUtl Surrey report a) hart ahem thai the coarser particlea are found en hlfha on the Hawthera formation* MUlnp at preaent restricted to the northern part of the field, ia entirely by large-scale* letr-eoat open-pit method the pheapherite parti do a are aeparated fro* the Matrix by washing aereejilnf and flotation* The upper part of the lone Tall§7 ha a been irregularly leached and altered. Thla irrag&ar leacbtd aoAe fonefaHy rmfea
fre 1 to 15 feet in thicknoae; heneter it Hay he aa thick aa 50 /
feet. The leached cone li fenertJtly thickeat on topographic hifha. froi 70 to 10 percent of the leaehad-tone Baterial la ediaa to eoarae quartz aeod and the reminder ia ninja 150 aeah partielea, . the fiaea conaiat vainly ef the eluviAnli |hoaphate waTellite and the calcium phoaphJe pauedowattllite§ Minor amounts of . t
carbonate-fluorapatite, and. kaolin are ala present 9 the ! achedaone aaterial ia stripped aad'discarded The ainue 150 vtsh fraction is eaaLly aeparated froa the ejaarU eandf and contains 15 to 30 percent and a aixilar taount of It ia 'peftfiiii* that the Lnns 150 meah fraction aay be utilized evfetaally as a source of phosphate or aluteina Plor.da hard-rock field
The hard-rock deposit a in northweatern peninsular Florida have
21" 0 AUBGRHDALB N 6 MILES EXPLANATION Idmits of economic phosphate deposit. Areas where the ratio of coarse (+1 02 mm) to fine (-1.2+0.1 mm) phosphate is less than one* The remainder of the area within the limits of the economic phosphate deposit has a ratia of coarse to fine phosphate greater than one* line dashed where uncertain. Figure Distribution of coarse (f 1,2 'ran) and fine (-1.2+0.1 mm) phosphate in the land-pebble phosphate district, Florida*
2ft produced about 13*5 million long tons of phosphate rock from 1889, when mining began, to 1949. Production in recent years, however, has dropped,to a rate of 25,000 to 50,000 tons a year. The hard-rock deposits are in the Alachua formation of Pliocene age which outcrops within a belt 5 to 30 miles wide extending about 150 miles southeastward from Tallahassee to the northern part of Pasco County (Mansfield, 1940, 1942a) The Alachua formation rests on the eroded surfaces of parts of the Ocala and Suwanee limestones of Eocene and Oilgocene age respectively (Sellards, 1915)- It is probably the nonmarine 'equivalent, in both age and source, of the Bone Talley formation and consists mostly of the collapsed and compacted residue ef the Hawthorn formation of Miocene age (Mansfield, 1940j Cooke, The phosphate present originally as nodules in the Hawthorn formation has been largely dissolved and redistributed as replacements of limestone blocks and clay. Some- of the immediately underlying limestones ef the Ocala and Suwanee have also been phosphatized. Most of the hareVrock deposits occur 'in the lover part of the Alachua (Fig, 2), and are associated with fragments ef chert and silicified limestone in a matrix of fuller's earth, quartz sand, and phosphatic clay (Vernon, 1951). The phosphate is in the form of phosphatic clay, tfetrital pebbles of phosphorite, ffaosphatized fragments or blocks of limestone, an* irregular masses or plates. Individual deposits are characteristically small and irregular in shape, but they contain 33 to 36 percent PO or more*
The hard-rock deposits are Mined by cheap open-pit methods, and the rock is concentrated by washing* and screening. Because .y? -1 of the small size and irreftlar distribution of the remaining deposits, prospecting costs are nuch higher than in the land-pebble field* The coarse size aid high phosphate content of the hardrock Make it an ideal furnace feed and a small continuing production may be expected for that purpose from the Dunellon area, The upper part ef the Alachua formation consists of phosphatic clay and fine-grained quartz send* This zone has been little it is possible that it is a leacmsd-zone analogous to that in the land-pebble field. This zone, together with slime desire4 froa the washing of the hard-reck deposits* yields what is know in the industry as soft-rock phosphajbe. About a million tone of soft-rock has been produced from this field.
Tenaessee brown-rock field The Tennessee brown-rock field produced 33 o 3 Million long tons of phosphate rock frost 16*969 *hen Mining began, through 1949* Its production in 194? was about 1,4 Million tons* It thus ranks second
' 'V .: - f to the Florida land-pebble field in total as well as current annual production. The brown-rock deposits are composed of residual phosphorite particles* quartz ssnd9 and clay derired from the chemical decomposition of platform-type phosphatic limestones of Ordotician age (Hayes and Ulrlch 1903 5 Snith and Ifoitlatchp 19AO| Bur well, 1950)
These phosphatic limestones, deposited in shallow, platform seas, have seen gently uplifted, arched, and exposed by erosion in the central (Hashrille) basin* The mtasphatie formations are of wide extent the Kentucky brown-rock deposits are derived from the same formationi bat residual concentrations of present commercial value 'are found mainly in the -vicinity of Columbia and Mount Pleasant, Usury County Tenm* The local distribution of the deposits conforms in a general nay to the outcrops of the lim§stones from which they were derived* The thickest are found as fillings ia ctrreded joints-or "cutters" lying between limestone horses* The most extensive (blanket) deposits occur en flat ground underlain by the Hermitage, Bigby and Leipers limestones. Less extensive deposits are found as rims on hillside outcrops (Fig* 5) Although most of the phosphate particles are physical residues from the limestones* in areas of deeper weathering the phosphatic particles in the upper parts of the deposits hare been dissolved *nd redeposited as cement or as plate-like replacements of other materials in the lower parts* Such plate-rock is rich in PgO* has been selectively mined in many places. The uncemented rock as mined contains about 15 to 30 percent Bs9 of i-t is trated by washing, screening, and, in some places, by flotation, te a prodact containing 30 to 36 percent ?2°55 tut some tfei rodc is used without beneficiation as electric furnace f eed All of the brown-rock is mined by- open-cut methods
HAftOW SAN0310HC 0/4,, ftHHpfHt* JWynv. O/OOY LIMCSTONC O - O/uffft qrmy cotrff/f Orytt+Wnf Chief foufff ff 6ronr> pttojptot HCRMITMC -9O'Thick Pti+tpH+H*. isfncimttf in iiporrrtojf 6*atr taurct tf brown [ Figure 5, Mode of occurrence of Tennessee blue and brown phosphate deposits (from Smith and Whitlatch 1940).
& The vostorn field The western phosphate field is ono of the largest in tho world, both in also and in rtaerroa (Maaafield, 1927$ JfeKolrey, 1949)* ope ration a date back to 1904 but only about 6 million long tens wore produeod through 1949 tho growing importance of tho fiold, hevover, ia indicated by the fact that 55 percent of tho total production came daring tho 1946-1949 period* the) woatem dopoaita aro marimt aro found in tho Itasar limestone of Carboniferous age but tho .moat extenaiye, and tho only ones we ahall consider here, occur in the fhoaphoria fozmmtioit of Permian ago and ita partial atratigraphie eqaiYalent in Utah, the Jark OLty formation* these formations crap out OTST an are* of about 135,000 aouaro milea in Moot ana, 2laho, %oming j, and Mortd* (Figo 6) The dopoaita in tho oaatom part of of tho fiold aro/thor platform typo and tho so in tho voatara part aro of tho foosynclinal typo (MCalvoy ot al, 1952) Iho rocka of ftraUn afa and tho ororlying and underlying aodiaonta baro boon eoMproaaodp folded uplifted, and exposed by " ' orion tlnoo thoir ddopr4d deposition on tho sea floor, Althout> deformation affected the tfeolo area, it was more intonao in tho voatora ptrta tho fiold may thus dirLded into an eastern part of stmpLi structure and a woatera part of complex atruetaro
2kt tho eastern part the folda aro of the domo and basin
Tbe beds federally dip less than 30 degrees, and closely spaced faults of large displacement are oncomaen. The folds are randomly oriented and the cot crop belts of the phoaphatic rocks are/ widely separated* Ih the wester* area, on the other hand, the folds are ti£ily compressed and the beds generally dip at hif£ angles, commonly more than 45 the fold a hare a parallel orientation* Many are'naehejt and broken by faults of both large and
small displacement Becettse of the close, intense folding and repetition by faulting, outcrap belts of the phoaphatic rocks are
i- dose together* Kany layera these formations of Permian age are phosphatic, ;
, ; -, , bat the most importamb ones are found in the lower, phosphatic shale member of the Imosphoria formation (Fig* these layers range widy in tMokaess and F20c'content orer He field,but the rariation for the most part is systematic. As shown in Figures 8 and 9p the thickness end quality of the phosphatic rocks increase westward to a maximum in seutheastem Idaho Inforimtion is sparse for areas farther .west in the thickness and quality appear to decreaae Jocks of two emalitles are mined in the western field* The principal production in the past has been of acid-grade rock, which contains 31 percent or more Pe in layers about 3 feet in thickness. Bocks of this quality and thickness are found in northern Utah, westernmost tfyoming, southeastern &ahe, and southwestern Montana (Fif t)| altheui aotd-grade rock is mined at only fire localities, meny others contain minable deposits The second tjpt of rock, furnace-
H3* ii2* in* no* 109*
Anaconda
Montana 46'- Dillos 45*
VTOMIN Q IDAHO POCATELLO U T Affl 44'. 4SLANDBR ' SALT LAKE CUT VERNAL C OL 0 Q 20 LO 60 100 MILES Figure. Thickness in feet of beds in the Phosphoria ;' and Park City formations containing more than 31 percent
has boon prooacod in important fimtitioa anly ftnco 1949* tfao firat of tk* aignt oloetrie fwmeos now in operation (or in tko flold vaa built at ffreatoUo, Idaho, by tkofeat Taco Co, Fonaeo-frad* rock contains about 24 porcoab or noro aM oeeaztin bod* t foot or aaro thick, Saek dopoaita aro in oaaonbiallj tka MBO aroma ilioro aeid-frado rocka aro fowi* bt proaodt prodmetioii is roatrietod to two Iooa31tioa in aovUa*totn Xlako and oat in naatorn Mndtana. For tko atst part, route of botk qpalltio* iaiat aoot tko oeifiod ftgOL oontont aa U Choir kif Ja- dogroo of evaantation and kardaoaa daa not tkoai for Itw-oost bonafielation. rifk and tkiek dopooits can bo ainod only V ondorfmnd tooflttao of tb atructaral oopOoadtioa alraao> doaerikod. aro; a Tow hijfr-prada 4apoolt a aaiakle to atrtp-adniaf in mrthoaatora Idaho aai noatarn Hfoainf9 bat aott of tkooo aro found t&* oaatorn part of Itl fiold (Fif, 4) tko tkieknoaa and jpl&itjr aro- too law to ko tkia Laiaf : profitable nw. Soao of thaa* dopoaita9 avA aa tkaoo noar Carnal; Otak> ayp bar iapcrtmt prodtteoro in Hi* of tko otfcor pkoapko dopoalta in thi§ wmntry ia apt to bo an tqporUnt prtdtteor ia tko foroaooakio Aitoro bat a fair roaarka on diatzilntion rw at backfron* ibr prodLation of our phoaykato roaovroa petoafcial. A mrm Qoaploto mHarjr of infonation
"
on those deposits may bo found in papers lay Jacob Jacob et al. aid Hsnsflold (1940). Phosphate deposits are found in rocks of Cretaceous or Tertiary the Atlantic **dftilf Coastal Plain in nearly every state aftmasetts to texas. The most widespread are those of the marine platform type associated with gLaucenitO; saad, ejuartz send, and limestone. the most impertasfc deposit to be mined in the far distant future is the Hawthorn formation of Ittocone ace iMch contains phosphorite particles rver nearly its idiole extent in Florida and loath Carolina* the most prodmctiTO deposits en the laing aiido from current producers alroaey describodp are
the riTsr-pebblrand land-rock phosphato deposits in touth Carolina (lofsra* <fc S*, 1915) ami the riYer-pebble deposits in Florida (Mmisfloldy 19fc?a>* The South Garoliaa land-rook deposits, ifcich consist of phosphatiatd rock in the Hawthorn formation, produced 9*3 million tons botneen 114? and 1925* The South Carolim and fs llerida riier-pebblo deposits both dorired directly or Indirectly throuji erosion of the Hawthorn formation, produced 41 *nd 1,3 million tons prior to 1910 ami 1914 respectively. Other deposits on the Coastal Plain are found in Massachusetts (ghal*r, U*)f Jersey (Massfisld, 1922)| Hbrth Carolina (ST.*, 1905)$ (McOtllie, Ilibsmi (Smith, Monree, 1941)| MUsissippi (Stophenson and Mmoe, 1940$ Oay, Arkansas (feainer and Bewson, 1902) 5 and Texas (Stophenson*
1929| Oardaerp 193?) o Obi 7 tie depeeita in Sonfch Carolina p p and yiabstai hare been mined end their production haa been negligible, Ijpeetts apatite deport te associated idth ilaenite in oat, 1914| tfeteea aad Tabor, 1913) yielded small194? tfcea aCning ceaaed (Jekna*n and Tucker, 1950). YUfctr (1*3) reports that emll ante ef apatite aaaeciateerwith afnetite were reeorered ia lev Toxk and Xev Jeraej, SUailar depeeita art found ia Kaaaachaeotte (ULlbor, 13), and NLaaeari (lUke, It93) 9 The tet tddeapread depoalta in the continental interior are the marine pltf ora-tjpe associated with liaeatoaea of PmleoaDic age flameonite aanda* or black ahalea tejaplee include deposit e in the Oriikany f ematiea of Denim ago in Be* Ibrk (aepMaa, PwniylTSftia (SHaon*;, U%) and firfinia (3teae9 1914)! the Bardia aaniatene aeaber of the JOaeiasippdAn Chattameof* la fcnneaeee (Sadth anl Wdtlatchp 1940) od Oaorgla (Rajta, the ifeipoketa ahale of 0rdoician aft in ILLinoii (Kellerp 190?) Iowa (lain, 1906), and Wisconain (Orant and landiardp 1907}$ several fe mat ion a of Qrdovician horizons in eastern Iftaneaota (Pettijohn) and Arkansas (Brenner aad XevaoBp 19ttt$ Waa*aen p 191 b:L*ck afcalaa in feanajlTaflian of laaaaa (fennela* 1949) and ttelahoaa (Oakee* 193t)| and liaeetonee in the Bsraiaa in El Buo aad Hudspeth
Counties9 Texas (A. Slaughter, written communication)* Qaily the* deposits in Tennessee and Arkansas have been mined, he Tennessee deposits, khowa as the bine-rock phosphates, produced 1*3 million tens5 the. Arkansas deposits produced about tons. Secondary deposits? concentrated during the weatherinc of the platfoz*-<type recks? occur in north-central Kentucky (fhalen, 1915) Tenmessee (Smith and Whitlatch, northern (loss, B. B., 1900) and north-central (Inalen, 1912). Jdabamai and Pennsylvania (Stose, 1907)* the Kentucky and northern Alabama deposits are similar to the brown-rook phosphates of Tennessee and are derived from the same limestones which are Qrdovician in ago* The Tennessee white-rock deposits are phosphatired limestones formed from the leaching of the overlying blue-rock deposits* The north-central Alabama and the Pennsylvania deposits are composed mainly of the aliminmm phosphate wavellite formed through weathering of the phesphatie rocks of Ordovician and Devonian ago in those areas* the Kentucky brown-rock, tho Tennessee white-rock, and Pennsylvania wavellite. deposits have produced a few thousand tons each. ,.]Qnforeu* deposits of bat guano in caves in central Texas and Vow Kaxieo have been reported (Phillips, 1901 j Sehoch, 1918). Small quantitioo. of tho material have been mined from some of them. c. Western states It addition to the previously described extensive phosphate deposits M the Fhosj&orU firmsMon, marine phosphates are found id the 9wni Peak quartsito of the OrOrLcian (Ifcnafield),
/ 1927) and the Irazer limestone of the MUsissippian in northern Rah (pUctowlder, 1910) ant southeastern Idaho (Mansfield, 1927)| the Desefet limestone of tie MLssissippiatt in Utah (Oilluly, 1932)| scattered lecalitiet Xmda (pefatblj equivalents of tho tfcesphsria formatio)$ and 4t numerous localities in the rocks of Tertiary age ia Califernia (lovers A, T, 9 1944" eery and Diets, 19591 1933$ Beots9 1931? Hbodring et i. , 194*). Hone of theee oepoalts has ever seen aLnedo Iineene apatite deposits aro found in Colorado (Jacob et al 1933)§ Otah (BUke, 1193)$ and Rerada (Stqnp 1920). None of these deposits has been mined either. leserree of domestic deposits are listed in Table & Host of theee estimate* were polished earlier 07 Urn afield (1942b) and Jacob (1952). The estimates for the Florida land-pebble field and the uestexn field hotwrerare revised, prelixLnar/ estimates based on recent p uaptiblished results of the Oolofiffcl flttrrey iarstica* tips* Because the ajmthesis of our Florida data is well advanced, the estimates presented hero are nearly final* As the compilation of new data on western deposits is not complete, tho estimates presented are by no means final bst they do indicate order of An effort has been made in this compilation to separate Kinable reserves from resources too low in quality or too deep to be
rl i o O
8S1
rfo* i i rasa grB
Av F
O O O oo o eooo ftiHP-'P l jl oc 3 o'o°o*
atft o oo o o OO £ RR I!-' 1
o a a f ooooi
1 Jlfc'f hf;
o Igneous apatite intrusion. Kola Peninsula, (composite of 110 apatite separates )$ YolodchenkoTe, Aolo and Melentiav, 10 Ho Ipalte pegnatite, Bastings Co, Cbtario| Walker, and Parsons, X0 , 1926 0
Co Sydrothermal chlorapatite, lanawaga R-ef, Japanj Barada, 1930 (led 2A, sasaxLe #2077) 5 Residual phosphorite, high-grade brown-rook phosphate, Wales, Tennessee! Jacob, K0 D, Hilly L0 , Marshall, H0 L0 and Keynolds, Ho f*, 1933, Fo Phosphatized limestone (hard rook); Dunnellon, Florida, (saap3e Jacob, Dc , Hill,. V; L0 , Mar shall, H0 lo, and Reynolds, D. S0 , 1933* Qc Phosphatized limeetone, beta trloaloium phosphate, Rueva Leon, Maxlooi Oady, J0 Qo, H111, L0 , Killer, Bo V0 , and Magnesa, 19520 H. Phosphatized limestone, Nauru Island Jaoob, D,, Kill, V. Marshall, H. L0 , and Reynold a, 0. 8,, 1933 I. Phosphatized augltendesite, Malpelo Island j MoCoimell, B, 1943 Jo Phosphatized trachyte, Clipperton At oil j Hutchinson, Q0 B,, 1950
Lnod ocoaicaily at tho present tiae, Soaoof tho reserves ineluded in tho soeond category aro not auch loss valuable than thoso in tho first* For example? tho tonnages in tho western fiold listed as not aiiable now sro of tho saas thickness SAd ftoftlity as thoso eensidsred ainablo bat lio at greater depths Iftlotf tho surf aco A men larger veluae of aatorial of lewer fatality is not roportodo fibers, such as tho Hawthorn doposits and Tionsssoo liaeateaojare of anch lover quality than thoso ifcich aro nined in this country, tb is safe to asonas hewoTer, that aany of thsso doposits as woll as trsasndotts rosoTros in othor Isanor deposits not reported will bo ainod later wmen tho currently ainable deposit s aro oaiiamstooU The separation botwoon
" "" ainablo md unsdnable deposits shout ho re is thus not of long* tem sifoificaneop but oaphasisoo tho fact that seat of our doposits cost aore to aine than othor s0 Tho oetiaatos presented show thai ovr rosonros of ainablo phosphatos (measurod, indicated and inferred categerios) total about 5 billion tons of rocs; containing about 1,5 billion tons of t£c* doposits arailablo for jdning ision thoso aro exhausted total nearly 5&atllion tons of roek containing 12 billion tons of 2®59 tho present rato of consiaqrtion thoso resources will supply our needs for about 4*500 years. It is cotton knowledge that prosont constant ion of phosphate is not adequate to replace tho phosphate annually reaorod from the soil by crops snd erosion* IBS so estimated reserves indicate that our resource* will support
ttiak iacroftsed production* tb£a pieUre of largo reaervee ia mi* oraa aciitor ¥gr the prefc&ilitgr Hut, doapito the lone &gator/ of proepoefcUv oenrtrj, nov dlaeetvriea of ifraitphite dopeeita will lat aado< Ptoticttlarlj poaaiailitiaa Jar ddacororijn kii-r |ra4o ifnooua apatite dapoaita in araaa amch Kapat Corop IMcittaaa$ aobhw8t-ce*tral MaBfcanajL. canlral tfalorado; aavtharn Califoraiaf and oik or alkalio iftiooua rook proTineoa Zt aooa liteljp too* tfcat ao*7acliaal phoaphoritoa air ao fouadp particalarly at date on tho flnlf Ooaatal.flain Wa thaa maj ooaaidor air roaourcoa of tbia critical tlimoot aa rolatiralj iahaw8tiblo Hmj of our coltfaaa on tfat tr. QaologLeal flortojr ra parti cipftfcLnf in omrront phoaphata inTaatlf atioaa in th wostarn and florid* fiolda Zt ia plaaaaro to adeaovlodfo thoir contri- Iwtlona to the fund of now information drawn on in thia aaaamxy, arten though it ia not poaibl to motion thm til by naao, Tht " ' ' ' t roeoat iafaatitiona of dojaeatle dtpoaita boon stipportod partly ltha AtoLc ftiarcr Covaieaion and tho lureau of leclaaation* Tha rapport of thoso afoncioa is frattfully acknowlodied.
, Jo and Barlow, 1910* olofr ,tao Haliburton and Bancroft aroo** Fwlnoo of tetario* Caaada Oool, flurry, p, 343. kaUr, 1, aad Claaoy/l,o A, 1952* X-ray oridoaoo of tho aatara of eaxtoadtoMpatlto,, 19th Int* ioolo COOCTOM Froe, (ihrtract la proa*)* iodrn, 190*V Zinc aad load dopoalta of tha ippor MiMiaalppl Tailor, bo §. iU Surroy lull, p. 2$. ,, BUotc Ifl00 Mov Heat oa tho foolofy of tao Iteatea Mouataiiw, 8oc, y V0 Fo l53o Aaaoolatloa of opatlto with boda of aafaotlto. Am* 2a*t 21g To aad Hovaon, Jo F0 1902. Tho paoapaato roeka of Arkaaaaa Agr. lsip<, Stao ialld 8 pp 61-123 F, fl UmpaaiU dopoolta of tho omthora §tatoa fc* Somth Traat0 1S.8
H; aVl°50 Irona paoaphato rock in ToaaoMOOo Syapoaiini oa dLnortl roiwrcoi of tao outhoaatora itatoa, loaf procoodinfo, ltl131, Tho 0aiTrity of Toanofioo Froaa, Xaox?illo ;
tJo Hill, W0 lif Htllor 10 aad Mafaoa H, M0 of teta trioalclom 9aoqpnato la aorthora MoxLoo Am. Kla $ 180-113. L i. ! iotoa oa tao paospaato dopoalto oa tfinonl joaouroov of tho 9oathoaatora itatoay 1?J£ proi ppo 132-151, Tho Bnimsity of Tonaoaaoo Froaa, Kaoxvillo9 Qataoart, J. 109 Blado, L0 T0, 00 F0, aad lotaor, K9 I0 1952, Tho ogy of thonorlda landoDobblo1 paoaphato dopotitflo 19th latoraat. o Goaf. Froev (la prota) 1931o latroduotloa I iftudo potrocraphlfoo do* roohoa di- Matalroa0 Faria9 Ittalatfe* dot Travatm FuSlici, , Idbioa* !9Ulo Loa phoophatoi do ehaux sodlMBtairoa do fraaeo ot Soptoatrloaalo 2s Cooko, 191*5* 60010*7 of Floridao florid* oolo Smrvoy KLL, O39 pfk Tho !phoophato dopoaita of tho Baatora Froviaso. 9faada0 oology, J:
KLdrldge, 0. H. 1893 A preliminary sketch of tha phoaphataa of Florida* fl Trana., 2U 196-231* , K. 0. and Diets, R.' S. 1£5& Submarine phosphorite depoaita off California and Mexico California .Jour* Minea and Geology, Ij6$ 7-15 Fireg, Mo Po 1937o The apatite deposits of tha KMblrrUa tundras 0 Tram* Scio Inrtc Fertilizers and laaacto-Fungicida*, pp. 8-21, pibliahed for 17th ihternato Geol. Cong*j Loniagrad,
Frondel, difford 19b3 Minezlofy of tha ealoiua phoaphataa in inamlar phosphate rocko An, Mino 28s Oardner, Jui*o 1933- Tha Midway group of Taxa*, Texma UniTo, BuUi 3301? M03 PP* illwly, Jaaa8 1932 Qaology and ore deposit* of tha Stoekton and Fairfiald quadrangles, Utah* B, S. 6aol Srvay Pfrdf. Paper 1738 p9 2Si Ooldaan, X, 1922* Baaal glauconita and phosphate bad*. Beieaoe, new Gordon, S 0 00 1925. Tariacita and other phoaphataa from Moore's Mill, Chnfear* .land County, Pa Acmd. Hat* Sci. Philadelphia Proc<,, ]]j lt-8, Orawwnt, M. H. 192b ftada aur lea phosphates'. naturels-Recherche et dosage daa £taux contenus an petite qoantit dans cea inerauz* Bullo Soc , FT. 3£*
flrant, S 0 and Burchard, 50 1907 o Daacription of tha Laneaatar aadi Mineral Point quadrangles U0 S 0 Qeolo Surrey Folio Hi5? Ik Harada, Z0 1938. Beitrage tur Kdiintni* der optiaehan tind cheaischen , Eigansehaftan daa Apatita Ton Kurokuro, Kanagawa Prafektur* Jovrn. Sci. Hokkaido Unir0 , 11-16. Hayas, C. V. 1895 Tha Tennessee phosphates. If S. Gaol* Surrey Ann. Rapt. 16 (pt. i*)? 610630.
- ' ' Hayea, e. W. and Ulrich, I. 0. 1903* Description of the Coluabia quadrangle. i. S. Gaol* Surrey Folio 95? 6 pp
lebert, Claude, I9k7 0 Contribution k ie*tude da la chiaie das phoaphataa da ealeiua. Annales daa Mines, anna 136 1 no k, 5-93, Hendricks, S. B., Jefferson, M. K. and Mosely, V. M. 1932. Tha crystal structure of soae natural and synthetic apatite-like substances. Zait* Krystallographia dig 351-369, Hertaog, B. S. 1935* A study of the occurrence and amenability to laaehing of tha phosphorus eoapouadv in some rad iron ores of Alabama, U. S. Bur. Mines Rapta. Invest* 329J18 9 PP*
Hill, V. L., Marshall, Ho L. and Jacob, K. Do 1932. Minor metallic constituent* of phosphate rock, lad. and ling. Chea* 1306=1312 o Hoots, Ho V. 1931 Geology of the eastern part of the Santa Monica Mountain*, Los Angeles County, Calif ornia. 9. S. Geol. Surrey Prof* Paper loS-Cs PP. 105-106. Sepkins, To Co 191b The f oology of the Syracuse quadrangle. lev Tork State Mus. lull. 171? 80 pp. Batehinson, 0. B. 1950* Surrey of contemporary knowledge of biogeookeslstry. The biogeoehealstryk of vertebrate excretion. lull. AJU Mas, Hat. Hilt. 9£* 55U PP , Mo Co 16960 A phosphate deposit in Juniata County. Pennsylnaia State Coll. Agr. Sxp. Sta Bull. pp 955-957 o Jacob, Ko Do 1952* Phosphate resources and aanuf aoturing facilities in the United States Monograph in series sponsored by the Aasrican Sec. of igronoayv In press* , Jacob, Ko Do, Bin, Y. L0 , Marshall, H. L. and Reynolds, D. S. 1933. The Deposition and distribution of phosphate rook with special reference to the United States* 9. S. Dept. Agr. Tech. lull. 36iu 90 pp. Johnson, B. I. and Tucker. E. M. 1950. Phosphate rock. 9. S. lur. Mines, Ittnerals learbeok 19W8 1 1023-10UO. Johnson, L. and Tucker. I. & 1951- Phosphate roc?, ft. Bur. Mines, Minerals Tearbeok 19U9s 993-1012, KaiakoTo A. T. 1937 o The phosphorite faoiee and the genesis of pmesphcritesc Trans. Sei. Insto Fertilisers and Insecto-Fungicides, 1U28 Published for 17th Internato !Qeolo Congo, Leningrad 8-21 o Lindgren, Waldearo 1933 Mineral deposits. Uth ed., 930 pp., McOraw-Hill look Co., Inc., New Mansfield, 0. R. 1922. Potash in the greensands of New Jersey. 9. S 0 Oeel. Surrey Bull. '778 Ilt6 pp. Mansfield, Q. k. 1927 Geography, geology and mineral resources of part of southeastern Idahoo U0 S, Oeol. Survey Prof. Paper 152 g k09 pp. Mansfield, 0. R. Phosphate deposits of the United States. Edon. Geology Mansfield, 0. R. 19i*2a. Phosphate resources, of Florida. U0 S 0 Qeol. Survey s 82 pp. Mansfield, R. 19l*2b. Recent studies of reserves of domestic phosphate. Am. Insto Min. Met. Ing. Trans. (reprint of Tech. pub. 1208) 10 pp.
Xatsea, 3. C. 19l5 Tno phosphate deposits of Florida* f tool id pp. IfcCallie, So Wo ld?6o 1 preliminary report en a par* of tfce aril of Ooorgia. Ooorfia iool. Surrey lull. WL Mrtemmell, Do 191*3. fmeapAatisatioa at Malpele Island, Ml Stop Aa. JI 7ST-716, , f. I. 191*9 o Qoolof ieal rtadioA of tho noatorn piMOpinto fioU. Min. Mot. Inf.
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MbKeLvoy T0 I0 8nanaoa It. V. and Sheldon K. F.'1952 Tho Fonetaii rito deposits of astern United Statoa. 19th Intermet. iaal. (in proaa). , it. Io 19Uc Motes on deposit of Solm* and ripley age in -mrroyittll.
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phoajphato rook and attpotphoaphatoac Auatralia Coon, for Sot* mi Eoaoarch JOB*.* 110-113. fltttijoaa, Fo J0 1926. traforaational phoaphato pobalor of tko Qrdovician. Jour. Ooology, 38 36l373o Paalan, Go 1912o Bwndto and almdmau V. 9. Oool. Surrty Tflmrtl aoaoarooa of Uo 30 1911> pto Is 9 23-9 39 a Co 1915* Xoport on tho phoaphato rock* of eontral Frankfort, Ijv, do pp. , Vo lo 1900.0 Tho bat-fttano eaTaa of Toxaa. Hiaos and 21* Ko B. 1933c Geolofy of Oalifomia. Am. A*oc, Fotrolonm Tolaa, Okla.. 355 pp* fkinaon, V0 Oe 19 Wo The proaonco and dotornination of aoljbdorai oarths in phoophato rock. Soil Sci,, 66s ppe 317-322, ladforar John. 19W. Ihoaphato deposit* of former Japanese ialanda in Pacifies a roooanaiaaanco roport. loon, Qeology, 8 lif*4ii?o afora, A. F. 19ltb Ballet phosphorite from Carm*l 7ally, Moaterey California. Calif ornia Jour. Mines and Oeelogy,
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Il4e 112° IIOC 109* 108° 47°- MONTANA 46°- 45e COMPLEX STRUCTURE WYOMING 44°- IDAHO POCATELLO O UTAH 42' SIMPLE STRUCTURE 4M SALT LAKE CITY ft 4O' C OLO 100 MILES FIGURE 6. DISTRIBUTION OF OUTCROPS OF PERMIAN PHOSPHATIC ROCKS IN THE WESTERN FIELD. DOTTED LINE MARKS THE APPROXIMATE BOUNDARY BETWEEN AREAS OF SIMPLE AND COMPLEX STRUCTURE.
-TTnim- -X52 mlln - Il6ntlln- Semite, - - 42 mlln - " 3 fWtM 71 mita -SlIllHMMOONLIGHT ACMT MONTANA KELLEY GULCH MONTANA BIG SHEEP CREEK MONTANA WOLF CREEK UTAH ALPINE CREEK MONTANA rZOO Vertical seals in feet Index mop showing locallons of sections ond relation to miogeosynchnal zone and platform FIGURE 7. TYPICAL STRAT I GRAPHIC SECTIONS OF THE WESTERN PHOSPHATE ZONE AND PLATFORM FACIES
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR GEOLOGICAL SURVEY TRACE ELEMENTS INVESTIGATIONS REPORT 246
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46° ' NG 44°- 43°- 0 LANDER 42°- 41" COLO. 40°- 100 miles FIGURE 9. TOTAL THICKNESS (IN FEET) OF ROCKS IN THE PHOSPHORIA AND PARK CITY FORMATIONS CONTAINING MORE THAN t