Oxidized Zinc Deposits of the United States

112 Pages·2012·11.24 MB·English

Oxidized Zinc Deposits
of the United States
Part 2. Utah
By ALLEN V. HEYL
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1135-B
A detailed study of the supergene
zinc deposits of Utah
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1963
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
STEWART L. UDALL, Secretary
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Thomas B. Nolan, Director
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printin~ Office
Washin~ton 25, D.C.
CONTENTS
Page
Abstract ____________________ ~------------------------------------- B1
Introduction______________________________________________________ 1
Fieldwork____________________________________________________ 1
Acknowledgments_____________________________________________ 2
Geology__________________________________________________________ 2
Location of the deposits________________________________________ 2
3
~ineralogy___________________________________________________
Secondary zinc minerals_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 4
Smithsonite___ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 4
H emimorphite (calamine) __ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 6
Hydrozincite___ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ 7
Aurichalcite_____ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 7
VVurtzite_____________________________________________ 8
Other secondary zinc minerals___________________________ 8
Associated minerals__ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 9
Relation of oxidized zinc deposits to rock types____________________ 9
Types of supergene zinc deposits________________________________ 12
Deposits formed by direct replacement of primary deposits_____ 14
Deposits formed by replacement of wallrock_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 17
Deposits formed by sulfide enrichment within the primary ores_-· 21
Origin of oxidized zinc deposits__________________________________ 21
Geologic features favorable for prospecting________________________ 23
Production and reserves____________________________________________ 24
History of production___________________________________ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 24
Reserves_____________________________________________________ 27
Prospects for future development of reserves______________________ 27
Prospects for future development of markets and processing of ores__ 28
Description of oxidized zinc districts and deposits______________________ 29
Box Elder County_____________________________________________ 34
Lucin district_ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 34
Promo nt ory district____ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 3 7
Newfoundland district_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 39
Sierra ~adre district_______________________________________ 39
Tecoma district_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 40
Silver Islet district ___________________ 41
~_____________________
Cache County_________________________________________________ 41
Swan Creek district________________________________________ 41
Hyrum or Paradise district_________________________________ 42
~organ County_______________________________________________ 43
Argent ia district____ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 43
Salt Lake County_____________________________________________ 44
Alta area-Big Cottonwood district__________________________ 44
Alta area-Little Cottonwood district________________________ 47
Summit County_______________________________________________ 50
Beaver Creek lead-zinc mine________________________________ 50
Park City or Uintah district________________________________ 50
lll
IV CONTENTS
Description of oxidized zinc districts and deposits-Continued Page
Dagget and Uintah Counties____________________________________ B52
Carbonate district____ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 52
Tooele County________________________________________________ 53
Blue Bell district_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 53
Dugway district________________ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 53
Free Coinage or Timp ie Canyon district______________________ 54
Erickson district_________________________ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 54
Columbia district__________________________________________ 55
Lakeside district_____ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 56
Gold Hill district__________ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 58
Rush Valley district_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 60
Dry Canyon and Ophir districts_____________________________ 61
Lion Hill district_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 62
Mercur or Camp Floyd district_ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 62
North Tint ic district_______________________________________ 63
Utah County_________________________________________________ 66
American Fork district (Alta area)___________________________ 66
Alpine district_____ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 6 7
Provo district_____________________________________________ 68
Santaquin district_________________________________________ 69
East Tint ic district_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 70
Juab County__________________________________________________ 72
Tint ic district_____________________________________________ 72
West Tintic district________________________________________ 76
Fish Springs district_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 78
Spring Creek district_______________________________________ 80
Mount Nebo and Mona districts____________________________ 81
Emery County________________________________________________ 85
Summerville, Emery, or Lost Springs district__________________ 85
Sevier County_________________________________________________ 85
Redmond district __________________________________ _:________ 85
Millard County _______________ .:._______________________________ 86
Black Rock area___________________________________________ 86
Gordon (Kanosh) district___________________________________ 87
Notch Peak d~trict________________________________________ 87
Beaver County________________________________________________ 87
Granite district____________________________________________ 87
Bradshawd~trict__________________________________________ 88
Lincoln district____ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 89
Beaver Lake district_______________________________________ 89
Rocky district________________ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 90
Star district_____ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 90
San Francisco district_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 93
Pine Grove district_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 94
Piute County_________________________________________________ 96
Ohio district______________________________________________ 96
Iron County__________________________________________________ 96
Escalante district__________________________________________ 96
Indian Peak district___ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 97
Washington County___________________________________________ 97
Tutsagabet district_ _____________________________________ :._ 97
Selected references___________________ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 98
Index____________________________________________________________ 101
CONTENTS v
ILLUSTR.ATTONS
[Plates are in pocket]
PLATE 1. Map showing the oxidized zinc deposits of Utah.
2. Map showing oxidized ziuc deposits of the Tintic district, Juab and
Utah Counties.
3. Map showing oxidized zinc deposits of the Alta area.
4. Map showing oxidized zinc deposits of the Star district, Beaver
County.
5. Map showing oxidized zinc deposits in the Park City district, Summit
County.
6. Sketch map of the central-eastern part of the Lakeside mining
district, Tooele County.
7. Map and longitudinal profile of ore bodies in Scranton mines.
8. Sketch map of the geology in the Fish Springs district, Juab County.
9. Geologic map and section of the Redmond silver mine, Redmond.
FIGURE 1. Finely granular replacement smithsonite from May Day mine, Page
Tint ic district_____ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ B4
2. Monheimite (ferroan zinc carbonate) from the Yankee mine,
Tint ic district__ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 5
3. Sketch of a piece of lamellar smithsonite from the Hidden
Treasure mine, Dry Canyon district____________________ 5
4. Fibrous smithsonite with chalky white hydrozincite, May
Day mine, Tint ic district______________________________ 6
5. Radiating druses of colorless hemimorphite (calamine) crystals
coating smithsonite__ _____ _ _ __ __ __ _ _ _ ___ _ _ __ __ _____ ___ 7
6. Diagram showing fissure vein of oxidized zinc ore, Redmond
silver mine, Redmond_________________________________ 15
7. Diagrammatic sections showing relations between stopes of ox-
idized zinc and lead ores in May Day and Yankee mines,
Tint ic district________________________________________ 18
8. Section of a large low-grade oxidized zinc ore body in the
hanging wall of a lead vein, Lower Mammoth mine, Tintic
d~trict______________________________________________ 19
9. Diagrammatic section of the Horn Silver ore body, Frisco____ 20
10. Sketch map of Tecoma and Copper Mountain mines________ 36
11. Sketch map of Lakeview group of mines___________________ 37
12. Map of the Moon claim, Hyrum district, Cache County_____ 43
13. Map of the Eva mine, Mount Nebo district, Juab County___ 83
14. Map of part of Eureka Land M (Vagabond No. 10) mine,
Mount Nebo (Mona) district__________________________ 84
VI CONTENTS
TABLES
Page
TABLE 1. Minerals of the supergene zinc deposits of Utah____________ B3
2. Stratigraphic section of the sedimentary rocks in the Alta area_ 11
3. Stratigraphic section of the sedimentary rocks of the Tintic
Mountains___________________________________________ 12
4. Zinc and oxidized zinc produced in Utah, 1905-1952 _ __ _ __ __ 25
5. List of districts, mines, claims, and prospects of oxidized zinc
ore in Utah__________________________________________ 30
6. Oxidized zinc, lead-zinc, and zinc-lead ore produced in the
North Tintic district__________________________________ 64
7. Oxidized zinc and lead-zinc ore produced in the Tintic and
East Tintic districts, 1912-53__________________________ 74
8. Oxidized zinc, lead-zinc, and zinc-lead ore produced in the
Mount Nebo and Mona districts_______________________ 82
9. Oxidized zinc and zinc-lead ore produced in the Star district,
1907-53_____________________________________________ 91
OXIDIZED ZINC DEPOSITS OF THE UNITED STATES
PART 2. UTAH
By v. IIEYL
ALLEN
ABSTRACT
Deposits of oxidized zinc minerals are widely distributed in the western
half of Utah, but only a few small ones are known in eastern Utah. The main
production and reserves are restricted to relatively few mining regions in
western Utah-the Tintic group of districts, Star and San Francisco districts,
Dry Canyon and Ophir districts, Big and Little Cottonwood and Park City
districts, Promontory district, and the Lucin district-in all of which limestone
and dolomite of Paleozoic age are the prevalent host rocks. The oxidized zinc
ore is in lead-zinc-silver deposits that have been deeply oxidized. The principal
ore minerals are smithsonite and hemimorphite, associated with smaller
quantities of hydrozincite, aurichalcite, and many secondary minerals of lead,
copper, and silver. Oxidized zinc minerals directly replace primary sulfide
minerals in veins, massive replacement bodies, and disseminated masses. The
zinc from primary ore bodies may also be leached by acidic solutions of
meteoric origin and migrate into the wallrock. Chemical reaction between
these solutions and the limestone wallrock has produced deposits of oxidized
zinc minerals in sheaths, blankets, pockets, and irregular bodies.
Not much high-grade ore (containing 25 to 50 percent zinc) remains, but
large quantities of low-grade material (10 to 25 percent zinc) await better
methods of beneficiation and market conditions.
INTRODUCTION
Oxidized zinc deposits were formerly commercially important
sources of zinc in Utah and are still mined on a limited scale. They
are widely distributed in the western half of Utah. Although most of
the known high-grade ore containing 25 to 50 percent zinc has been
removed, many low-grade deposits containing 10 to 25 percent zinc
remain.
FIELDWORK
This report is compiled from fieldwork and available published
data on the oxidized zinc deposits of Utah. Most of the deposits
were examined by the author during the autumns of 1952-55 as part
of a general study of oxidized zinc deposits of the Western States.
In addition, several deposits were visited by geologists of the U.S.
Geological Survey as a part of mineral investigation studies since
1940. In the process of obtaining this information many mining
companies and individuals have been consulted.
Bl
B2
OXIDIZED ZINC DEPOSITS OF THE UNITED STATES
C. N. Bozion and Priestley Toulmin 3d, ably assisted in the field
and compilation work. H. T. Morris, T. S. Lovering, A. E. Disbrow,
M. D. Crittenden and J. W. Hasler provided much useful informa
tion, constructive discussion, and assistance during field examina
tions of the Tintic, Big and Little Cottonwood, and other districts
in central Utah.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
It is a pleasure to acknowledge the wholehearted cooperation of
the many mining companies, mine owners, mine operators, and con
sulting geologists who supplied valuable information about the de
posits. Of these, the author is particularly indebted to Otto Herres,
E. H. Snyder, and E. B. Young of the Combined Metals Reduction
Co.; J. M. Boutwell, A. W. Pinger, and Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Beeson,
eonsulting geologists; M. B. Kildale and B. L. Sackett of the In
ternational Smelting and Refining Co.; B. C. Sharp, geologist for
the U.S. Atomic. Energy Commission; S. R. Wilson, supervising
engineer of the Salt Lake Field Office, U.S. Bureau of Mines; Prof.
B. F. Stringham of the University of Utah; S. E. Jerome, geologist,
Gulf Minerals; J. W. Wade and George Ryan, consulting engineers;
D. C. Arnold, geologist; and M. G. Heitzman of the Park City
Consolidated Mining Co.
GEOLOGY
LOCATION OF THE DEPOSITS
Deposits of oxidized zinc ore are widely distributed in the western
half of Utah (pl. 1), but only one productive deposit is known in
the eastern half of the State. Despite this wide distribution, the prin
cipal production and reserves are restricted to relatively few distriets
in western Utah.
The principal known deposits of oxidized zinc ore are in the fol
lowing mining regions, given in the order of their importance: (1)
Tint ic district (pl. 2) and the nearby North Tint ic, East Tin tic, and
West Tintic districts; (2) the Hornsilver and IGng David mines
(pl. 1), San Franeisco district; ( 3) Dry Canyon and Ophir districts;
( 4) the Lakevie·w mine, Promontory district (pl. 1) ; ( 5) Big and
Little Cottonwood districts (pl. 3); the Wasatch Mountains or in
ranges of the Basin and Range province to the west, where lime
stone and dolomite are important host rocks for the lead and zinc
deposits, and where oxidation is relatively deep. Many smaller de
posits are known in most of the base-metal districts within the
same general area; however little or no oxidized zinc ore is known
in the largest base-metal district of lTtah, the \Vest Mountain or
Bingham district.
The largest of the small deposits in eastern and southeastern Utah
is at the Redmond Silver mine (pl. 1, no. 121), Redmond, Sevier
B3
PART 2. UTAH
County. Several small deposits (pl. 1, nos. 29, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
occur in the limestones of the Uinta Mountains of Uintah County
(Kinney, 1955, p. 161), and an isolated productive deposit (pl. 1, no.
120) is in the north part of the San Rafael Swell.
Descriptions of the geology and ore deposits of the mining dis
tricts of Utah may be found in the report by Butler and others
(1920).
MINERALOGY
Many of the minerals found in the oxidized zinc deposits of Utah
are given in table 1, including the main primary minerals from
which the oxidized minerals are derived and with which they may
be associated. All the secondary zinc minerals· are listed in the rela
tive order of abundance, as well as the principal associated secondary
minerals of the other metals deposited with the zinc minerals. At
least half of the associated minerals given are commonly found in
most oxidized zinc deposits, and the others are abundant In some
localities.
TABLE 1.-Minerals of the supergene zinc deposits of Utah
Main primary minerals
Ore and sulfide minerals: Gangue minerals-Continued
Spalerite [ZnS] Siderite [FeCOa]
Galena [PbS] Sericite [KAlaSbOto(OH)z]
Pyrite [FeSz] Tremolite [Ca2MgsSisOz2(0Hh]
Chalcopyrite [CuzFezS4] Wollastonite [CaSiOa]
Enargite [CuaAsS4] Idocrase [Cat oA14 (Mg,Fe)2Sig0a4-
Tetrahedrite [(Cu,Fe)t2Sb4Sta] (0H)4]
Tennantite [(Cu,FebAs4Sta] Epidote [Ca2(Al,Fe)a(Si04)a(OH)]
Argentite [Ag2Sl Chlorite [ (Mg,Fe) s(Al,Fe+3) zSia01 o-
Arsenopyrite [FeAsS] (OH)s]
Gangue minerals: Ankerite [Ca(Fe,Mg) (COah]
Quartz [Si02] Alunite [KA1a(S04)2(0H)n]
Calcite [CaCOa] Halloysite [AlzSizOs(OH)4 ·HzO]
Barite [BaS04] Dolomite [CaMg(COah]
Garnet [Ra+2R2+3(Si04)a]
Secondary minerals
Secondary zinc minerals: Associated secondarv minerals-Con.
Smithsonite [ZnCOa] and monheimite Opal [Sioz· nHzO] ·
[ferroan smithsonite] Anglesite [PbS04]
Hemimorphite (calamine) [Zn4Si207- Bindheimite [Pb2SbzOe(O,OH)]
(0Hh·H20] Cerargyrite [AgCl]
Hydrozincite [Zns(COa)z(OH)s] Conichalcite [CaCu(As04) (OH)]
Aurichalcite [(Zn,Cu)s(C0ah(OH)6] Wulfenite [Pb(M04)]
Sauconite [(Zn,Mg,Al,Fe) (Al,Si)010- Stolzite [Pb(W04)]
(0H)2Ca/2NaK] Greenockite [CdS]
Goslarite [ZnS04·7HzO] Kaolinite [AlzSi20s(OH)4]
Willemite [ZnSi04] Linarite [PbCu(S04) (OH)z]
2
Descloizite [ZnPb (V04) ( OH)] Malachite [Cuz(COa) (OHh]
Adamite [Zn2(As04) (OH)] Azurite [Cua(COah(OH)z]
Nicholsonite [zincian aragonite] Pyromorphite [Pb (P04)aCI]
5
Austinite [CaZn(As04) (OH)] Vanadinitc [Pb (V04)aCl]
5
Wurtzite [ZnS] Copper pitch [a massive form of
Associated secondarv minerals: tenorite] and tenorite [CuO]
Geothite [HFe02( and limonite [hy- Chrysocolla [CuSiOa· 2Hz0]
drous iron oxides] Scorodite [Fe(As04) ·2H20]
Cerussite [PbCOa] Gypsum [CaS04·2Hz0]
Jarosite [KFea(S04)z(OH)6] Cuprite [Cu20]
Plumbojarosite [PbFe6(S04)4(0H)t2] Minium [Pba04]
Pyrolusite [MnOz] Beaverite [Pb(Cu,Fe,Al)a(S04h
Calcite, var. travertine [CaC03] (0H)s]
B4
OXIDIZED ZINC DEPOSITS OF THE UNITED STATES
SECONDARY ZINC MINERALS
Smithsonite and hemimorphite are the main oxidized zinc minerals
in Utah. Locally hydrozincite and aurichalcite have been shipped
commercially, and at one locality each, willemite adamite, descloizite,
and austinite are nearly abundant enough to be sources of ore.
SMITHSONITE
Smithsonite, zinc carbonate, is the most abundant of the oxidized
zinc minerals. If pure, it contains 52 percent metallic zinc, but owing
to associated impurities such as limonite and quartz, the percentage
of zinc in the better grades of zinc carbonate ore. is not commonly
above 40 percent and is mostly below 30 percent.
In most places, smitlisonite shows three successive stages· of deposi
tion. The first is a direct replacement of the primary sphalerite and
gangue carbonate minerals; the smithsonite occurs as cellular box
·works or massive pseudomorphs of the original minerals. In the sec
ond stage, three distinctive types of smithsonite replace limestone
and dolomite wallrocks. The first type consists of dense gray, buff,
red, or brown masses that commonly contain small crystal-lined or
botryoidal cavities or vugs (fig. 1) which have been attributed to
shrinkage by Lindgren and Loughlin (1919, p. 170). Less common
is a coarse cellular type, in which the smithsonite appears to have
FIGURE !.-Finely granular replacemPnt smithsonite from May Day mine,
Tintic district, Utah; shows many small cavities attributed to shrinkage
accompanying replacement. '.rhe cavities are partly filled with drusy
smithsonite and hemimorphite. Natural size. From Lindgren and Loughlin
(1919, pl. 28A).