Development of Industrial Minerals in Colorado
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Prepared in cooperation with the Colorado Geological Survey for the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Development of Industrial Minerals in Colorado Circular 1368 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Development of Industrial Minerals in Colorado By Belinda F. Arbogast, Daniel H. Knepper, William H. Langer, Jr., James A. Cappa, John W. Keller, Beth L. Widmann, Karl J. Ellefsen, Terry L. Klein, Jeffrey E. Lucius, and John S. Dersch Prepared in cooperation with the Colorado Geological Survey for the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Circular 1368 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior KEN SALAZAR, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Marcia K. McNutt, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2011 For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment, visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1-888-ASK-USGS For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod To order this and other USGS information products, visit http://store.usgs.gov Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report. Suggested citation: Arbogast, B.F., Knepper, D.H., Langer, Jr., W.H., Cappa, J.A., Keller, J.W., Widmann, B.L., Ellefsen, K.J., Klein, T.L., Lucius, J.E., and Dersch, J.S., 2011, Development of industrial minerals in Colorado: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1368, 87 p. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Development of industrial minerals in Colorado / Belinda F. Arbogast ... [et al.]. p. cm. -- (Circular ; 1368) “Prepared in cooperation with the Colorado Geological Survey for the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service.” Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 978-1-4113-3118-1 (pbk.) 1. Mines and mineral resources--Colorado. I. Arbogast, B. F. (Belinda F.) II. Colorado Geological Survey. III. Geological Survey (U.S.) TN24.C6D48 2011 338.2’309788--dc23 2011023893 iii Contents Prologue ..........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1 The Need for Industrial Minerals .......................................................................................................1 Definition and Characteristics of Industrial Minerals ....................................................................2 Competing Land Uses and Industrial Minerals ................................................................................4 Central Colorado Assessment Project .......................................................................................................5 Regulation of Mining for Industrial Minerals ............................................................................................8 Overview.................................................................................................................................................8 Regulation Outside the United States ...............................................................................................9 International Laws and Agreements ........................................................................................9 Best Management Practices Outside the United States ....................................................10 Federal Regulations ............................................................................................................................11 Locatable Minerals ....................................................................................................................11 Leasable Minerals .....................................................................................................................13 Saleable Minerals ......................................................................................................................13 Mineral Specimens Sought by Collectors .............................................................................13 USDA Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management Regulations .............................14 State Regulations ................................................................................................................................15 Municipal and County Regulations ..................................................................................................18 Production of Industrial Minerals .............................................................................................................18 Overview...............................................................................................................................................18 Care of Physical and Cultural Landscapes .....................................................................................24 Exploration Activities..........................................................................................................................26 Marketing Study .........................................................................................................................26 Geological and Geophysical Exploration ...............................................................................26 Sampling and Analysis ..............................................................................................................26 The Physical Environment—Geotechnical Concerns ..................................................................28 Acid Mine Drainage ..................................................................................................................28 Air Pollutants and Noise ...........................................................................................................28 Erosion and Slope Stability ......................................................................................................29 Water Management ..................................................................................................................31 The Biological Environment—Flora and Fauna .............................................................................31 The Visual Environment—Measuring Landscape Quality ...........................................................34 Visual Analysis ...........................................................................................................................34 User Analysis ..............................................................................................................................35 USDA Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management Visual Assessment ................37 Other Visual Assessment Methods .........................................................................................37 The Socioeconomic Environment—Efficiency, Equity, and Acceptability ................................41 Reclamation and Postmining Use ....................................................................................................42 Colorado Industrial Minerals—Occurrence, Use in Colorado, Mining, and Production .................47 Introduction..........................................................................................................................................47 Clays and Shale ...................................................................................................................................47 Classification by Use .................................................................................................................48 iv Geology of Colorado Clay and Shale Deposits .....................................................................49 Mining and Production .............................................................................................................49 Sand and Gravel (Construction) .......................................................................................................51 Geology of Colorado Sand and Gravel Deposits ..................................................................52 Mining and Production .............................................................................................................52 Silica Sand (Industrial) .......................................................................................................................53 Geology of Colorado Silica Sand Deposits ............................................................................53 Mining and Production .............................................................................................................53 Crushed Stone .....................................................................................................................................54 Geology of Colorado Crushed Stone Deposits ......................................................................54 Mining and Production .............................................................................................................55 Limestone .............................................................................................................................................55