-------_--...-------------~~~~~-~~ -- -- BUREAU OF GEOLOOY AND MINERAL TECHNOLOGY Proceedings of the 21stForum on the Geolo f Industrial Minerals Theme: Aggregates to Zeolites (AZ) in Arizona andtheSouthwest BUREAU OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL TECHNOLOGY edited by tIo Wesley Peirce Arizona Bureau ofGeology and Mineral Technology Geological Survey Branch Special Paper 4 1987 Proceedings of the 21st forum on the Geology ofIndustrial Minerals Theme: ~ggregates to Zeolites (AZ) in Arizona andthe Southwest editedby If. Wesley Peirce //' Special Paper 4 1987 Arizona Bureau ofGeology and Mineral Technology Geological SurveyBranch Foreword The 21st "corning-of age" meeting of the Fbrum on the Geolcgy of Industrial Minerals was held April 9 through 12, 1985 in Tucson, Arizona, under the sponsorship of the Geological survey Branch of the Bureau. Participants in this meeting, an official event of the University of Arizona's centennial celebration, carne from 28 states, canada, and Mexico. seventy-five percent of the attendees were non-Arizonans. The Forum was invited to Tucson to showcase the role of non­ metallic minerals in the economic development of the sunbelt region of Arizona and the Southwest. Twenty-three reports'were given and 22 of these are represented in these Proceedings, 16 as papers and 6 as abstracts only. All writing's were edited for general clarity and captions and bibliographies were standardized. special thanks are extended to the Society of Economic Geolo­ gist's Foundation, Inc., for a $500 grant to assist in publishing the Proceedings; Union Carbide, National Gypsum, DJval COrporation, Sil-Flo Inc., GSA Resources Inc., and D.W. Jaquays CO., for assis­ tance with field trips; to Olga Hernandez for a heroic word pro­ cessing effort, Jon Shenk for manuscript trouble shooting, Peter COrrao for cover graphics, to JOe Lavoie for publication assembly, and, of course, to all authors. H. V\esley Peirce General Chairman iii Contents rbre~rd ••••••••••••••• .. ...... iii Papers Mining and environmentalism - finding common goals James R. ilinn ••••••••••••••••• 1 Geologic setting of industrial rocks and minerals in Arizona Stephen J. Reynolds and H. W8sley Peirce ••••••• •• 9 Industrial minerals and rocks of Arizona H. W8sley Pe irce ••••••••••••••••••••• 17 Industrial minerals of Nevada Keith G. Papke •••••••••••••••••••• 24 Industrial minerals of utah Bryce T. Tripp •••••••••••••• 31 The geology of cement raw materials - Pacific SOuthwest S. A. Kupferman ••••••••••••••••••• 37 Geologic-setting and operations overview, Ilicerne Valley limestone mining district, Lucerne Valley, California Ibward J. Brown. ••..••••••.•••.•..• 44 Natural lightweight aggregates of the SOuthwest [Ennis Bryan ................ 55 Acquisition of Federally owned industrial minerals Terry S. Maley •••• •••••••••• 64 Mining industrial minerals on Arizona State Trust Lands Etlward C. Spalding •••• ••••••••••••• 81 Minerals and health: The asbestos problem MalcolIn R:>ss ••••••••••••••••••• 83 A comparison of selected zeolite deposits of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas Mark R. Bowie, James M. Barker, and Stephen L. Peterson 90 Geology and industrial uses of Arizona1s volcanic rocks John W. W8lty and Jon E. Spencer ••••••• •••••• 106 Locating, Sampling, and evaluating potential aggregate deposits leo Langland . .... 116 SOlar salt in Arizona Jerry Grott •••• ..... ... 120 Bentonite and specialty sand deposits in the Bidahochi Fbrmation Ted H. Eyde and Ian T. Eyde ••••• ....•..• . 123 iv Abstracts Mexico's industrial minerals Joaquin Ruiz and Bjrnundo Berlanga •••• . ... ..... 128 Approach to locating high-quality aggregates in the Basin - Range Province 129 James R. Miller, G. Ramanjaneya, and Gerald Allen • . ... Geologic evaluation of the southern portion of Searles lake, california K. N. Santini ••• ....... ... .. .. •••• 130 Raw materials and the manufacture of vitrified clay pipe in Arizona Ibn t'brris . · .... 131 The Bowie chabazite deposit 'led H. Eyde and IE.n T. Eyde ••••••••••• ·.... 133 Arizona Portland Cement Obmpany's Rillito operation 134 J. W. Ra.ins ..•...•... ,e •••••••• · . ... v __________________rl Mining and the Environment: finding Common Ground Jim Dmn Dunn Geoscience Cbrporation 5 Northway Lane North Latham, NY 12110 ABSTRACT a significant and growing number of eloquent and brilliant thinkers on the side of free Fbr decades many of us will are associated enterprise and industry, many of them environ­ with the mineral industry have tried to show mentalists, but without the anti-industry the public its economic and strategic impor­ mind-set. They have had remarkably little tance. Some of the mineral industry's propo­ help from the private sector or even from the nents have been politically powerfUl figures present administration. Industry may do far and have been widely quoted. Yet, as measured more for itself in the long run by encouragin;] by public opinion, legislative support, or these brave but bruised individuals and their almost any other standard, our efforts have organizations than by trying to work alone. been inadequate. '!hese friends of free enterprise are workin;] It is apparent that a set of environmental against a seemingly stacked deck relative to beliefs that discredit industry, firmly held much of the media, the bureaucracy, and the by a number of idealistic persons, has had educational system. However, despite their wider coverage in the media and in schools problems, their success to date has been re­ than has the mineral industry's message. Al­ markable. With more cooperation from industry though the fervor of our idealistic friends is they should do even better. often unfounded and, their stands unscien­ tific, they must be considered seriously. Ca.1MENTARY Unless we address the issues in terms the idealists will understand, the mineral indus­ Early this January I was taking a limou­ try will have little influence on them or on sine to Washington, D.C.' s National Airport the general public. and found myself alone with a well dressed, A striking thing is that, quite often, dignified gentlemen of about 70 who got on translation of idealists' views into action from one of the better Washington hotels. It has been counterproductive. The reason is turned out that he was from phoenix and that obvious. Excessive amounts of money and he was very much concerned with a series of energy have been spent on relatively minor things. Ha was worried about the inequalities problems. The common result is that larger of wealth between the rich and poor people in problems have been created. the U.S. and between rich and poor nations. It may be possible to help anti-industry He felt that corporations, particularly some idealists understand their own dependence on multinational corporations, should pay more minerals, and thus render their views more taxes. Ha also expressed concern about uncon­ realistic, if they are shown more effective trolled industrial pollution and its effects ways to reach their stated goals. If those on human health. As you might suspect, our goals can be shown to be held in common by all conversation was lively. sensitive human beings -- including those in Based on that short conversation, I think business and industry -- the dialogue becomes that I can guess much about why he was in one of illw to achieve common ends. Washington, what he may have done for a Individual mining companies acting by living, and what else he may believe. And, themselves have little possibility of success, most important to us, what impact he and and companies working in unison through trade others like him have on the mineral industry associations have not been successful. Fur- and on industry in general. it is unlikely that industry in general First, I suspect he was in Washington be successful in changing minds unless it lobbying for an environmental or social cause, seeks outside help. But friends among those possibly representing a group in Arizona, his who influence public opinion have been hard to home state. find. Historically, help from media has Second, I suspect that a career in educa­ proven difficult to get. Nor has enough help tion and government allowed him to develop his from educators been forthcoming. particular anti-industrial brand of idealism. Yet, a war is going on in the technolog­ Third, I suspect that he subscribes to a ical, philosophical, and political trenches, special set of environmental beliefs. For even though much of the public is not aware of instance, he may believe: (1) that industry it. Fbr the first time in years, there is now causes most cancer, (2) that industry is I spewing wastes into the air and water and will omy, the national defense, or to the quality ultimately poison us all, (3) that our nation of life:' In a survey conducted by Opinion is beset withproblems caused by technology Research Cbrporation only 16% of the Americans and the profit motive, (4) that we are des­ sampled felt familiar with mining. In an troying our forests, wildlife, fish, and opinion section, 62% said that mining was soils, (5) that we are depleting our own and dangerous and unhealthy, and 43% believed that the world's energy and mineral resources, it damaged the environment. Q1ly one in seven especially those of the poor countries, (6) persons viewed mining as helping industry to that almost any sort of development is bad, improve the energy situation. especially mines, and (7) that mining is bad The bottom line is on the D9cember 17, for the environment, and probably it is not 1984, Business Week cover. It reads: "The really necessary, especially in our so-called D9ath of MiningYOf course, environmental post-industrial era. I could go on but you and regulatory pressures are not the whole get the picture. problem, but they make a significant contribu­ I suggest that my friend in the limousine tion. has one other important belief. I think that Has it occurred to you that we may be he considers himself to be a good, patriotic doing something wrong? It certainly has American and is trying to do his best for our occurred to me that I have. For one thing, I country and the world.