A preliminary report on the bauxite deposits of Georgia

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA
W. S. YEATES, State Geologist
BULLETIN NO. rr.
A PRELIMINARY REPORT
ON THE
BAUXITE DEPOSITS
OF
GEORGIA
BY
THOMAS L. WATSON, PH.D. Assistant Geologist

BAUXI TE DEPOSI TS OF GEORG IA

FRONTI SPI ECE - P L ATE I

THE DRYING PLANT AND OFFICE OF THE SOUTHERN BAUXITE COMPANY, CAVE SPRING, FLOYD COUNTY, GE ORGIA.

THE ADVIS' ORY BOARD
of the Geological Survey of Georgia

(Ex-Officio)
His ExcELLENCY, J. M. TERRELL, Governor of Georgia
PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD

HoN. 0. B. STEVENS HoN. W. B. MERRITT HoN. R. E. PARK HoN. W. A. WRIGHT BoN. PHILIP COOK HoN. JOHN C. HART

Commissioner of Agriculture Commissioner of Public Schools
. State Treasurer
Comptroller-General Secretary of State Attorney-General

TABLE OF CONTENTS

THE ADVISORY BOARD .. LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL ILLUSTRATIONS . . . . . INTRODUCTION . . . . . .

Page 4 9 8
II-!2

CHAPTER I DISTRIBUTION AND GENERAL OccuRRENCE oF BAUXITE,

WITH A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE KNOWN WORKA-

BLE ~A-REAS . . . . . . . . . ' . . .

The Occurrence and Distribution of Bauxite .

European Localities .

France ..

.

Germany ....

Ireland

French Guiana .

I3-27 I3
13-18 I3-I5 IS-I7 17-18
rS

CHAPTER II

American Localities . Arkansas .... . New Mexico .. . Georgia- Alabama
A Brief Sketch of the Discovery of Bau."{ite in Georgia ...............
THE GENERAL GEOLOGY OF THE BAUXITE REGION IN GEORGIA Topography . . . .. . Stratigraphy ..... . The Cambrian Rocks. TheWeisner Quartzite . The Rome Formation . The Conasauga Shales . The Silurian Rocks . The Knox Dolomite . . Structure ....... The Minor Thrust Faults The Major Thrust Faults Minerals Associated with the Bauxite . Gibbsite .... Halloysite .. Kaolin or Clay . Iron .... Manganese ..

IS-24 IS-23
23 24
25-26
28-40 28-30 30-31 31-34
3I 3I-32 32-34 34-36 34-36 36-37 36-37
37 37-40 37-38
38 38-40
40 40

(5)

6

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

CHAPTER III CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND VARIETIES OF 'tHE GEOR-

GIA BAUXITE . . . . . . . . . . .

4I-56

I Chemical Composition of the Bauxite . Rt3sumt3 . . . . ...
2 Varieties of the Bauxite

4I-53 53-54 54-56

(I) Pebble Ore

55

(2) Pisolitic Ore .

55

(3) Oolitic Ore .

55

(4) Vesicular Ore

55

(5) Amorphous Ore

56

CHAPTER IV DIS'l'RIBU'l'ION AND DESCRIPTION OF 'tHE INDIVIDUAL

BAUXITE DEPOSITS IN GEORGIA .

57-II8

I The Hermitage District

..

58-88

Description of the Individual Deposits

6o-88

2 The Bobo District . . . . . . . . .

88-II3

Description of the Individual Deposits .

go-n3

3 The Summerville District. . . . . .

. II3-II7

Description of the Individual Deposits .

. II4-II7

4 Isolated Deposits . . . . . . . .

. II7-II8

Description of the Individual Deposits .

. II7-II8

CHAPTER v GENESIS, AGE, ES'I'IMA'I'ION AND USES OF 'tHE GEORGIA

BAUXITE . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. II9-I32

I Genesis of the Georgia Bauxite Deposits .

. rrg-I3o

2 Age of the Bauxite Deposits . .

. I30-I3I

3 Method of Estimating the Ore-bodies . .

I3I

4 Uses of Bauxite . . . . . . . . .

. I3I-I32

CHAPTER VI THE TECHNOLOGY OF BAUXITE IN 'tHE MANUFACTURE

OF ALUMINUM AND ALUM

I33-149

I Aluminum Manufacture. .

. 133-I38

The Cowles Brothers' Process

. 136-I37

Hall's Process . . .

I37

The Ht3rault Process

r38

Production . . . . .

138

Uses . . . . . . . .

. I38-145

Action of Various Acids on Aluminum Foil .

I40

Metallurgical Use . . . . . . . . . . .

. I4I-I42

Soldering . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. I42-143

Composition of Certain Alloys of Aluminum

I43

Alloys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. I43-I45

Aluminum Imported and Entered for Consumption

in the United States from r87o to I89r . . . . . 145 Imports of Cmde and Manufactured Aluminum

from I89I to r8g8 . . . .

146

2 Alum Manufacture. . . . . .

146-149

Material for Alum Manufacture

147-149

TABLE OF CONTENTS

7

Page

CHAPTER VII METHODS OF MINING, TRANSPORTATION AND PREPA-

RATION OF THE GEORGIA BAUXITE FOR SHIPMENT . 150-157

Nature of the Deposits to be Mined

. rso-rsi

The Present Methods of Mining . . . . . .

. ISI-I52'

Mining Machinery . . . . . . . . . . . .

rs:c

Preparation of the Ore Previous to Shipping

. I52-I54

Effect of Calcining on the Solubility of Alumina. Markets . . .

. I54-I55
.orss

Transportation

ISS

Streams

rss

SUGGESTIONS . BIBLIOGRAPHY ..

ISS-IS?
. rscrr64

INDEX ..... .

I6s

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PLATES
r Frontispiece- Southern Bauxite Company's Drying Plant, Cave Spring, Ga.
2 Exposure of Knox Dolomite, H~:w~rd Cement_ Qu,arry, Bartow County, Ga.
3 Exposure of Red Shale, Floyd County Rock Quarry, near Rome, Ga.
4 Another View in the Floyd County Red Shale Quarry, near Rome, Ga.
5 The "Fat John" Bauxite Mine, Floyd Co., Ga. 6 The Gulliver Bauxite Mine (formerly the Armington Mine),
Walker Co., Ga. 7 General View of the Gulliver Bauxite Plant, Walker Co., Ga. 8 The Dean Limestone Quarry, on the Summerville Road,
Rome, Ga. 9 The Church Bauxite Mine, Floyd Co., Ga.
ro The Watters Bauxite Mine, Floyd Co., Ga.
1 r Machinery of the Republic Mining and Manufacturing Company's Bauxite Drying Plant, Hermitage, Floyd Co., Ga.
12 General View of the Bauxite Drying Plant of the Republic Mining and Manufacturing Company, Hermitage, Ga.
FIGURES
1 Generalized Stratigraphic Section of the Georgia Bauxite Field (Scale, 2,ooo ft.= I in.).
2 Section Showing the Relations of the Bauxite and the Residual Mantle (after Hayes).
3 Section through the Mary Bauxite Mine, Floyd County,
Georgia (Scale 44 ft.= I in.).
MAP
r General Map Showing Occurrence of Bauxite.

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA, Atlanta, :March 20, 1903.

To His Excellency, J. M. TERRELL, Governor.

SIR:- r have the honor to submit the report of Dr. Thomas L.

Watson, formerly Assistant State Geol9gist, on the Bauxite De-

posits of Georgia, to be published as Bulletin No. r r of this

Survey.

'

Very respectfully yours,

W. S. YEATES,

State Geologist.

INTRODUCTION
This report embodies the results obtained from a detailed .fieldstudy of the bauxite area in Georgia, supplemented by subsequent laboratory-study of the material collected in the field. The results are based on field examinations of all the known deposits of this mineral in the State, and a study of the general geologic conditions of the region, that bear directly on the economic features and genesis of the ore-bodies.
As seen from the accompanying map, the distribution of the bauxite deposits is limited for the most part to the Coosa Valley region of the State. This area includes five of the central and southern northwestern counties of the so-called Paleozoic Group. The bauxite belt begins with the most northerly dep.osits of Gordon and Walker counties, and extends in a southwesterly direction for approximately 6o miles in Georgia, and is continuous for nearly a like distance and direction in Alabama.
The field-work was greatly facilitated by the carefully prepared topographic and geologic maps of the United States Geological Survey, based on a detailed survey of the region by Dr. C. W.
Hayes; and also, by similar work of former State Geologist J. W.
Spencer. Owing to an extended and detailed study of the region in question, by the National and State Surveys, its general geology is the most complete of any area in the State. Apart from a detailed study of its general geology, both Hayes and Spencer have given special attention to the deposits of bauxite.
Hayes has published numerous papers and monographs on the various structural and economic phases of the geology of the Paleozoic Group in Georgia, which have appeared, from time to time, in the Bulletin of the Geological Society of America ; the Transactions of the American Institute of Mining Engineers ; and the Annual Reports and Folios of the United States Geological Survey. Spencer's report on the Paleozoic Group of Georgia con-
( II)

I2

INTRODUCTION

tains much information on the bauxite deposits, that is of value. The writer has drawn freely from these various papers 1 in the prepare~:tion of this report, for which credit is given in the text. Owing to the careful manner, in which the general geology of the region has previously been worked up and reported, the writer's efforts were directed more particularly to the individual deposits of bauxite and their economic bearing.
In conclusion, I wish to acknowledge the generous aid of numerous gentlemen, afforded me in the prosecution of the work, without which a much lot1.ger time would have been necessary for its completion. More particularly, am I indebted to Mr. John H. Hawkins, of Hermitage, Georgia, Superintendent of the. Republic Mining and Manufacturing Company; Mr. R. S; Perry, of Cave Spring, Georgia, General Manager of the Southern Bauxite Mining and Manufacturing Company; Mr. B. F. A. Saylor, of Rome, Georgia, General Manager of the Dixie Bauxite Company ; a:nd Mr. A. W. Bobo, of Van's Valley, Georgia; for valuable help and information. I wis.h,. also, to acknowledgemy. in<:lelited:niess to Prof. W. S. Yeates, State Geologist, for making the negatives of the various subjects, illustrated by half-tone plates in this bulletin.

1 Hayes, C. W., The Overtlwust Faults of the Soutlzern Appalachians,

Bull., Geol. Soc. America, r8gr, Vol. 2, pp. I4I-I54

"

Report on tlze Geology of North-Eastern Alabam'a, and Adjacent Portions of

Georgia and Tennessee, Geol. Surv. of Alabama, 1892, pp. r-85.

Geology of a Portion of the Cdosa Valley in Georgia and Alabama,

Bull., Geol. Soc. America, 1894, Vol. 5. pp. 465-480. The Geological Relations of the Southern Appalachian Bauxite-Deposits,

Trans., Amer. Inst. Min. Engineers, Virginia Beach Meeting,

Feby., 1894, pp. I-12. Bauxite, Sixteenth Ann. Rept., U. S. Geol. Surv., Part III, 1893-'94 (1895), pp

547-597

"

Tlte Sozetlzern Appalachians, National Geographic Monographs, 1895, Vol. I,

No. ro, pp. 305-336.

"

Physiography of the Clzattanooga District in Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama,

Nineteenth A:nn. Rept. U. S. Geol. Surv., 1897-'98. (1899), Part

II, pp. 1-58.~ Hayes, C. W., & Campbell, M. R., Geomorphology of the Soutlzern Appalacltians,

National Geographic Magazine, r8g4, Vol. VI, pp. 63-126.

Willis, Bailey, & Hayes, C. W., Conditions of Appalachian Faulting,

Amer. Jour. Science, 1893. Vol. XLVI, pp. 257-268..
Spencer, J. W., The Paleozoic Group, Geol. Surv. of Georgia, 1893, pp. 1-4o6.

McCalley, Henry, Report on tlte Valley Regions of Alabma. Part II, On the Coosa Valley Region, Geol. Surv. of Alabama, 18.97, p.p. r-862.

THE BJ-1\UXITE DEPOSITS OF. GEORGI-Lt\
CHAPTER I
THE DISTRIBUTION AND GENERAL OCCUR. RENCE OF BAUXITE, WITH A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE KNOWN WORKABLE AREAS
THE OCCURRENCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF BAUXITE The known distribution of bauxite in commercially workable
deposits is exceedingly limited. At present, the known workable deposits of this mineral are limited exclusively to a few localities in Europe and the United States. Its occurrence in Europe is in France, Germany, Austria and Ireland; and, in the United States, in the Coosa Valley of Georgia and Alabama, and in Arkansas and New Mexico. A majority of these localities have been worked, to some extent, resulting in the removal of a considerable quantity of bauxite from most of them; and all, thus far exploited, indicate large, but somewhat limited, supplies of the ore.
EuROPEAN LocALITIES
FRANCE. -Bauxite was first discovered in 1821, by the famous chemist, Berthier, at the Village of Baux, Bouches du Rhone, in Southern France, from which locality the mineral takes its name. This is described as a highly ferriferous, pisolitic variety of bauxite. The Baux deposits were the first to be worked, and are, accordingly, the most widely known deposits of the mineral. The French deposits have been extensively and almost continuously
(I3)

I4

OCCURRENCE AND DZSTRZBUTZON OF BAUXITE

worked, since r872, resulting in the production of large quantities of the ore. They vary between 66 and 79 per cent. in aluminum oxide.
As described by Coquand r and Auge, 2 the ore is of the pisolitic type. The deposits are 30 feet or more in thickness, and occur alternating with beds of limestone, pisolitic sandstones and clays, of Upper Cretaceous age. The rocks of the region are described as having been much disturbed, and are highly tilted. . Both the bauxite and the overlying alternating .beds are distinctly stratified, and bear the same characteristics as similar beds deposited in lacustrine or estuarine bodies of water. According to those geologists, who have studied them in greatest detail, it is thought, that they represent the products of a Cretaceous lake or estuary. The Baux deposits, discovered by Berthier, are characterized by Laur 3 as impure, more or less ferruginous and siliceous. bauxite.
The deposits at Thoronet and Villeveyr.ac are very similar in geologic occurrence to those at Baux. They rest on an eroded surface of limestone, of Cretaceous or Jurassic age, and alternate with various lacustral formations. The Villeveyrac deposits are characterized in general by their prevailingly small amounts of iron oxide; while those at Thoronet are non-pisolitic, breaking with a conchoidal fracture, and are dark-red in color. In the Thoronet type, the silica is said to be almost wholly replaced by ferric oxide.
The following is an analysis of the bauxite found near Villeveyrac (Herault, France) :-4

Al203 Fe20 3 SiOz .
H20. Undetermined.
Total ...

82.00 O.IO 2.00
I4.20 I.70
IOC>.OO

I Coquand, M. H., Sur les Bauxites de la chaine des Alpines (Bouches-du-Rltone) et leur rige

geologique. Bulletin de Ia Societe Geologique de France, znd Ser., r87o-'7r,

XXVIII, pp. 98-II5,

.

2 Auge, M., Note sur la Bauxite, son origine, son dge et son inzpmtance geologique.

Bulletin de la Societe, Geologiqzte de France, 3rd Ser., r888, XVI, p. 345

3 Itaur, Francis, The Bauxites: A Study ofa New Mineralogical Family,

Trans. Amer. Inst. Mining Engineers, Virginia Beach Meeting, February,

4 Ibid.

1894

OCCURRENCE AND D.!STR.!BUTZON OF BAUXZTE

IS

Laur states, that this "is a native monohydrate of alumina, Al 2 0 3 H20."
The deposits at Puy-du-Dome, France, differ from the other French deposits, in resting directly on an eroded surface of gneiss instead of limestone, and they are covered by basalt and clays of Miocene age. The Puy-du-D6me beds will average from 15 to 75 feet in thickness, and are said to be associated with gneissic and basaltic rocks. The entire section is marked by the absence of associated limestone; and, in mode of occurrence and associated rocks, the Puy-dn-Dome deposits bear a striking resemblance to those of Germany.
Both Coquand and Auge ascribe the French deposits to the action of hot springs and geysers in lakes, in whichthe material was deposited along with other sediments. The following analyses of the bauxite from Baux will give some idea of the composition of the ore: - 1

Ah03 . Fez 03 . SiOz .. H20 ..

6o.o
25.0
3-0
12.0

75.0 12.0
1.0 12.0

GERMANY.-Bauxite occurs at a number of localities in Germany, characterized, as a rule, by a marked difference in type from the French ores. The deposits in the vicinity of Vogelsberg are perhaps the best known of the German beds. The mineral occurrence is in small masses embedded in a vari-colored clay. .Associated in the same clay with the bauxitic masses, are similar masses of iron ore and weathered fragments of basalt. The clay, . containing the masses of ore and basalt, is further characterized by a rather pronounced stratification in places. Petrographic study of these deposits, by several of the German geologists, indicate, that certain of them are derived from the decomposition of the closely associated basalt.
The following notes relating to the occurrence of the German deposits are taken from George P. Merrill's "Guide to the Study of the Collections in the Section of Applied Geology. TheNon-

z Richards, Joseph W., Aluminium, Baird & Company, Philadelphia, 3rd Edition, I896, p. 42.

r6

OCCURRENCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF BAUXITE

metallic MineraiJs" [U. S. National J Museum 1 , 1n which he
quotes from a paper by R. L. Packard:- 2
\
"The first is a paper by Lang [in the Berz'chte der Deutschen Chemz'schen Gesellschaj't, XVII, 1884, p. 2892]. He describes the bauxite in Ober-Hessen, which is found in the fields in round masses up to the size of a man's head, embedded in a clay which is colored with iron oxide. The compositi~n varies very widely. The petrographical examination showed silica, iron oxide, magnetite, and augite. The chemical composition and petrographical examination show the bauxite to .be a decomposition p1ioduet of basalt. By the weathering of the plagioclase feldspars, augite, and olivine, nearly all the silica had been removed, together with the greater part of the lime and magnesia; the iron had been oxidized and hydrate of alumina formed as show~ byits easy solubility in hydrochl<;>ric acid. The residue of the silica had crystallized as quartz in the pores of the mineral.
''The more detailed account of the derivation of bauxite from basalt is given in an inaugural dissertation by A. Liebreich, abstracted in the Chemz"sches Centralblatt, 1892, p~ 94 This writer says that the well-known localities of bauxite in Germany are the southern Slope of the Westerwald near Miihlbach, Hadamar, in the neighborhood of Lesser Steinheim, near Hanau, and especially the western slope of the Vogelsberg. Chemical analyses show certain differences in the composition of bauxite from different places, the smaller amount of water in the French bauxite referring it to diaspore, while the Vogelsberg mineral is probably gibbsite (h;ydrargillite). The bauxites of Ireland, of the Westerwald, and the Vogelsberg, show by certain external indications their derivation from basalt. The bauxite of the Vogelsberg occurs in scattered lumps or small masses, partly on the surface and partly embedded in a grayish white to reddish brown clay, which contains also similar masses of basaltic iron ore and fragments of more or less weathered basalt itself. Although the latter was associated intimately with the bauxite, a direct and close connection of the two could not be found, but an examination of thin sections .of the Vogelsberg, bauxite showed- that most specimens still possessed a basaltic (anamesite) structure, which enabled the author to determine the former constituents with more or less certainty. The clays from different points in the district carrying basalt, basaltic iron ore, and bauxite were examined, some of which showed clearly a sedimentary character. Some of the bauxite nodules were a foot and a half in diameter and possessed no characteristic form. They were of an uneven surface, light to dark brown, white, yellowish, and gray in color, speckled and pitted, sometimes finely porous and full of small colorless or yellowish crystals of hydrargillite. The thin sections showed distinct medium-granular anamesitic structnre. Lath-shaped portions filled with a yellowish substance preponderated (the former plagioclases) and filling the spaces between these were cloudy, yellow, brown, and black transparent masses which had evidently taken the place of the former augite. Laths and plates of titanic iron, often fractured,, were commonly present and the contours of altered olivine could be clearly made out. The anamesitic basalt of the neighborhood showed a structure fully corresponding with the bauxite. Olivine and titanic iron oxide were found in the clay by washing. The basaltic iron ore also showed the anamesite structure."

I Report of tlie U. S. National Jl!.fusezmzfor I899 (1901), pp. 231-233. 2 Mineral Resources oft!te United States, r8gi, p. r49 et seq.

e

Bourlle

--- -----fliJIU
w Scale
b4

Map Showing the Distribution of the Bauxite Deposits of Georgia.

OCCURRENCE AND DISTRIBUTION O.F BAU..JUTE

17

Important deposits of the mineral are said to be found in Styria at Wochein, and at Freistritz in Austria. The mineral from the former locality, Wochein, is called Wocheinite. It is said to differ from the French mineral in being dense and earthy in structure. The following are analyses of the dark and light colored Wocheinite :-1

Alz 0 3 Fez03 SiOz
NazO} KzO H2o . .

Dark

Light 72.87

. O.J9

. 8.34

8.so

The following analyses of the German bauxite, representing three different localities, will indicate to some degree the composition of the ores : - 2

Al:20 3 Fez 03 SiOz (Na+K) zO. HzO

Hadamar
. 45-76 r8.96 6.41 0.38 27.6I

Hesse 55.6!
7-I7 4-4I
3233

Klein Steinheim
76-3 6.2
1I.O
26.4

Langsdorf!

50.85

49.02

14-36 5.14

12.90 10.27

0.26

0.31

28.38

25-9!

IRELAND. -The deposits of bauxite in Glenariff Valley, Ireland, are said to resemble those of Germany, in that they are intimately associated with volcanic rocks, from which they have been probably derived by decay. The ore occurs in the form of bedded deposits; and, in this particular, they resemble the French deposits. They are associated with flows of dolorite and beds of tuff, wh1r.h both underlie and overlie the bauxite deposits, with the beds further overlain by pisolitic iron ore and clays. Hayes says, 3 that both the beds of iron ore and bauxite are probably lacustral deposits derived from the decay of the underlying dolerite and tuff; and that they probably represent both alteration in place and secondary replacement of the beds of volcanic rock.
The Irish bauxites are said to range high in alumina, silica and

I Richards, Joseph W., Loc. Cit., p. 42. 2 Ibid. 3 Si.>:teenth Ann. Report, U. S. Geol. Survey, Part III, I895, p. 549

I8

OCCURRENCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF BAUXITE

titanium oxide. The best material ranges as high as from 8 to II

per cent. of silica, with about 6 per cent. of titanium oxide, and
froth 0.5 to r.s per cent. of iron oxide. Those, averaging low in

silica, contain considerably over IO per cent. of iron oxide. The

composition of the Irish bauxite is shown, to some 4egree, in the

following analyses :_r

Irish Hill County Antrim Glenrave

Al203 Fe203 Si02 H20

. 48.!2
2~36
795 . 40.33

43-44 2.!!
!5.05
3570

6!.89. !.96 6.or 27.82

FRENCH GurANA.-Deposits of bauxite are also reported as occurring in French Guiana; but our knowledge concerning the mineral in this locality amounts to hardly more than a mention of its existence.
AMERICAN LOCALITIES

Thus far, the American localities include only three known areas of bauxite in commercial quantities. These are the GeorgiaAlabama district ; the Arkansas district ; and a small area in southwestern New Mexico. Only two of these, the Coosa Valley deposits of Georgia and Alabama, and those of Arkansas, are available at present. The New Mexico deposits, should they prove to be in workable quantities, are not yet available, on account of inaccessibility and the lack of transportation facilities. The extent and character of the New Mexico deposits are but meagerly known.
ARKANSAS. -The bauxite deposits of Arkansas have been known since I89I, when they were discovered by the Geological Survey of Arkansas. They have been described by Branner, 2 Williams3 and Hayes.4 In I89I, Dr. John C. Branner, State Geologist of Arkansas, published an account of these deposits in the American Geologist, in which he advocated their genetic relationship to the eruptive syenites of that State. ;

I Richards, Joseph W., Aluminium, Baird & Co., Phila., r8g6, 3rd E;dition, p. 42.
2 Bauxite in A1kansas, American Geologist, March, r8gr, Vol. XII, pp. rSr-183. The Bauxite Deposits of Arkansas, Jour. of Geol., r897, Vol. V. n 3 Jgneozts Rocks of Arkansas, Ann. Rept. Geol. Surv. of Arkansas, 1890, Vol. II, pp. 22, 29-3r, 124-125 and 162.
4 The Arkansas Bauxite Deposits, Twenty First Ann. Rept. U.S. Geol. Surv., Part III, pp.
435-472.

OCCURRENCE AND DIS7RIBUTION OF BAUXITE

Dr. Branner says : -
"The Arkansas beds occur near the railway in the vicinity of Little Rock, Pulaski County, and near Benton, Saline County. The exposures vary in size from an acre to twenty acres or more, and aggregate over a square mile. This does not in all probability include the total area covered by bauxite in the counties mentioned, for the method of occurrence of the deposits leads to the supposition that there are others as yet undiscovered by the Survey. In thickness the beds vary from a few feet to over 40 feet, with the total thickness undetermined; the average thickness is at least IS feet.
"These Arkansas deposits occur only in Tertiary areas and in the neighborhood of eruptive syenites ("granites"), to which they seem to be genetically related. In elevation they occur only at and below 300 feet above tide level, and most of them lie between 26o and 270 feet above tide. They have soft Tertiary beds both .above and below them at a few places, and must therefore be of Tertiary age. As .a rule, however, they have no covering, the overlying beds having been removed by erosion, and are high enough above the drainage of the country to be readily quarnea. Erosive action has removed a part of the bauxite in some cases, but there are in all probability many places at which it has not yet been even uncovered. It is pisolitic in structure, and, like all bauxite, varies more or less in color .and in chemical composition. At a few places it is so charged with iron, that attempts have been made to mine it for iron ore. Some of the samples from these pits assay over so per cent. of metallic iron. This ferruginous kind is exceptional, :however. From the dark-red varieties it grades through the browns and yellow to pearl-gray, cream-colored, and milky-white, the pinks, browns and grays being the more abundant. Some of the white varieties have the chemical composition of kaolin, while the red, brown, and gray have but little silica and iron, and a high percentage of alumina.''

The deposits form somewhat continuous beds, varying in thickness; and are beginning to attract considerable attention. Although known since r89r, only a small quantity of the ore has yet been shipped; but it is now stated, that preparations are being made for a large output in the near future. As a rule, the Arkansas .deposits are less pure, and of a lower grade than those of the Georgia-Alabama area.
The following results closely approximate the general average .composition of the Arkansas bauxite:-

SiOz AlzO 3 Fez03 TiOz HzO
Total

White IO.O 52.0 4.0

Red 4.0
S30 IO.O

4.0

4.0

30.0

29.0

-

IOO.O

IOO.O

20

OCCURRENCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF BAUXITE

Dr. C. W.. Hayes, of the U. S. 'Geological Survey, spent some time, during the spring of 1900, in a detailed field-study of the Arkansas bauxite deposits; and his results are incorporated in a. very full report, issued by the U. S. Geological Survey. I The principal points developed in this study by Doctor Hayes have been abstracted and are briefly outlined below by the present writer.
The bauxite area is 20 miles long by three to four miles wide,. and extends in a southwesterly direction from near Little Rock. The deposits are spread out in beds or layers, ranging in thickness.
from nothing to 40 feet, with a probable average of ro to rs feet.
The area is divided into two districts, which occupy the extremities of the area. Several scattered deposits occur between the two districts. In the Bryant district, which is the most southwesterly one, the ore occurs in two distinct forms: (r) granitic bauxite, and ( 2) pisolitic bauxite. The former, or granitic variety, forms. the basal portions of the beds; and, in most cases, it rests immediately on a layer of kaolin derived by decay from the syenite. This type of ore is spongy in texture, showing partial traces of the granitic structure, in which the individual feldspars are replaced by a porous skeleton of alumina. It is probable, says Hayes, that this variety of bauxite is, in every case, derived, directly from the syenite, by the decomposition of the feldspar and elceolite; and,. the removal in solution of silica, lime and alkalies, the alumina. alone remaining, of the original constituents.
The pisolitic type of ore is more uniform, than that of the Georgia-Alabama district; and it forms the upper parts of the beds. In the same section, the two types of the ore are not sepa-rated, as a rule, by any sharp and definite line.
Thus far, only the pisolitic type of ore has been found in the Fourche mountain district, which, when nearest the syenite mar-gin, rests directly on a layer of kao1in, as in the Bryant district. Those deposits, more distant from the syenite margin, are prob-ably interstratified with sedimentary beds of Tertiary age.
The few scattered deposits, found between the two districts, are
I Tlze Bauxite Deposits of Arkansas, Twenty First Ann. Rept., U.S. Oeol. Surv., Part III, pp..
435472

OCCURRENCE AND DZSTRZBUTJDN OF BAUXITE

2I

said to resemble, in their mode of occurrence, the Georgia-Alabama deposits.
The chemical composition of the Arkansas bauxite varies within wide limits. The granitic type is the purest; and, in selected samples, it contains less than three per cent. of silica and one per cent. of iron oxide. It corresponds in composition to the formula Al 2 0 3 3H 2 0-the trihydrateof alumina, gibbsite. In the white bauxitic kaolins, the silica ranges as high as 20 to 30 per cent., and the iron oxide assays a~ much as 50 per cent. in some of the highly ferruginous types of material.
Concerning the origin of the Arkansas deposits, Dr. Hayes says, that they are so intimately associated with the igneous rocks of the region, that genetic relationship between the two is at once suggested. The characteristic pisolitic structure of the upper portion of the deposits indicates chemical precipitation. The granitic bauxite, forming the lower or basal portions of the beds, and the boulders, are evidently of a different origin from the pisolitic variety. The bauxite was probably laid down on the syenite rather than on the kaolin, as there is no indication that the kaolin is an intermediate product between the fresh syenite and the bauxite.
In his report on the igneous rocks of Arkansas, Dr. J. Francis
Williams suggested two theories, to account for the deposition of the bauxite. r The first theory was, that the bauxite was formed by the decomposition of a bed of clastic material, which was derived principally from the syenite. The second one, which he regards as the more probable, involved the action of the waters of the Tertiary sea on the still highly heated igneous rocks, by which, under high temperature and pressure, the constituents of the syenite were dissolved and brought to the surface in solution, the water emerging as hot springs.
Dr. Hayes has pointed out, however, a number of serious objections to this theory; and, after a clear statement of the main or essential facts, which a theory for the origin of the bauxite deposits must explain, he has outlined the following one :-2
1 Op. cit. p. 124.
2 Twenty First Ann. Rept., U. S. Geol. Surv., Part III, pp. 464-465.

22

OCCURRENCE AND D.!STR.!BUT.!ON OF BAUXITE

'' The syenite of the bauxite region was intruded under a light cover of Paleozoic rocks. These were subjected to rapid erosion and the surface of the syenite was exposed. Either its subjacent portions retained a considerable portion of their original heat or a fresh supply of heat ~as furnished by renewed intrusions or dynamic disturbances. The region was then covered by a body of water probably cut off from the sea, and salt or highly alkaline. The alkaline waters by some means gained access to the heated portions of the syenite and dissolved its minerals. The heated waters returned to the surface heavily charged with the constituents of the syenite in solution. They were still efficient solvents, however, and acted upon the syenite at the surface, removing most of the silica along with the lime and alkalies, but leaving the alumina and depositing in place of the constituents removed about as much more alumina as the rock originally contained. Some of the alumina brought to the surface in solution was thus deposited by this metasomatic process, replacing a part of the silica removed from the syenite, but a larger part was thrown down as a gelatinous precipitate on the bottom of the water body and somewhat evenly distributed over the undulating syenite surface, at the same time acquiring the pisolitic structure and becoming mingled with the boulders of aluminized syenite. Most of the spring exits were in the immediate vicinity of the syenite areas, so that there the water was most. strongly impregnated with the various salts in solution and hence precipitation of the alumina was most rapid. Wherever the ascending solutions found their way to the surface by an isolated conduit through the Tertiary sediments already deposited a local deposit of greater or less extent was formed. The precipitation of the alumina must have taken place almost immediately after the solution emerged from the conduit, otherwise the bauxite would have been much more widely disseminated, or even entirely dissipated, in the surrounding sediments.
" The formation of the bauxite bed marks a single episode in the history of the region, during which conditions were very exceptional. This episode was abruptly inaugurated and as abruptly terminated. Conditions returned to the normal, and the change from the unusual chemical deposits to the ordinary sedimentary beds is sharp and distinct. The formation of the chemical deposits may have been terminated by a cessation of circulation of the chemical solvent, by a sudden exhaustion of the heat supply, or by a change in the conditions of the water body in which the deposits were being formed. The latter cause appears the more probable one for the production of so abrupt a change. If such a water body were comparatively small, of exceptional composition, and protected from the incursion of detrital sediments, as appears probable, the establishing of free connection with the open sea would introduce changes which might completely alter the character of the deposits being formed."
Dr. Hayes says; that the theory outlined above is the best at present available; though-it is, he says, confessedly unsatisfactory and incomplete.
The following analyses will indicate the character and composition of the bauxite from Pulaski county, Arkansas: _r
I Spencer, ]. W., Tlze Paleozoic Group, GeoL Surv. of Georgia, r893, p. 236.

OCCURRENCE AND DZSTRZBUTZON OF BAUXITE

23

Alz 03 Fez 03 Si02 TiOz HzO

. 55-59
. 6.o8
. IO. I3
. 28.99

Total . 100.79

57-62 I.83 II.48
28.63 99-56

ss.s9 I9-45 5-II

46-40
22. rs
4-89

I7-39 26.68 97-84 roo. r2

58.6o 9-II 3-34
28.63 99-68

62.05 r.66 2.00 3-50 30-31
99-52

55-64 I.95 10.38
3-50 27.62

5I.90 3.16 r6.76
3-50 24.86

99- 09 roo.28

NEw MExrco.-The New Mexico deposits of bauxite occur in the southwest part of the Territory, near Silver City. They were first discovered some six or eight years ago; but, on account of their inaccessibility, they have never been worked. Exact information concerning these deposits has not yet been published. The most accurate account of them, known to the writer, is that given by Professor William P. Blake. r Mr. Blake describes the deposits of New Mexico in part, as follows : -
"In a region about half a mile square, of nearly horizontal strata of volcanic origin, there has been extensive alteration and change by solfataric action, or possibly by decomposition of disseminated pyrites producing aluminous solutions, which, flowing slowly by capillary movement from within outward, suffer decomposition at the surface with the production of sulphate of alumina (alunogen), in crusts and layers upon the outer portions of the rock, attended by the decomposition of siliceous crusts and the separation of ferric sulphate; while the rocks so traversed appear to be deprived of a part, at least, of their silica and of their alkalies with the formation of bauxite. The alunogen is thus an outer deposit, while the bauxite is not a deposit, but is an internal residual mass in place. Its color is generally bluish-white; structure amorphous, granular, without concentric or pisolitic grains. When dried in the sun and air it will still lose about 20 per cent. by ignition. It gives only about r per cent. of soluble matter by leaching with water; is infusible and reacts for alumina. The amount of residual silica and alkalies has not yet been ascertained, and no careful full analysis has been made. The composition is no doubt variable in samples from different places, for the original rocks give evidence of a great difference within short distances. The rocks appear to have been originally highly basic, volcanic porphyries and basalts, accumulated in massive beds of brecciated fragments, the outlines of which have nearly disappeared, so that the mass appears to be homogeneous; careful observation as the rocks are freshly broken out discloses, however, the outlines of former fragments."
This description apparently indicates, that the bauxite deposits of New Mexico are somewhat closely similar to, though not entirely like, those at Vogelsberg, derived from a basic volcanic rock, by decomposition and alteration in place.
I Blake, Wm. P., Alzmogen and Bauxite of 1Vew JVfexico, Trans. Amer. Inst., Min. Engrs., r894, Vol. XXIV, p. 57r.

24

OCCURRENCE AND D.!STR.!BUTJON OF BAUX.!TJ:;

GEORGIA-ALABAMA.- In point of origin and occurrence the Georgia-Alabama bauxites form an important group of deposits, entirely different from those of oth<;r known areas. They do not occur i.n the form of stratified deposits, nor have they been derived from the decay or decomposition of pre-existing rocks. On the other hand, they occur as well-defined compact masses in the form of pocket deposits, entirely different from the enclosing or surrounding material, usually grouped about certain centers and along certain lines~ The bauxite area extends, as an irregular belt, from Adairsville, Georgia, southwest to Jacksonville, Alabama; and, the deposits are limited, for the most part, to the Coosa Valley.
The Georgia portion of this area forms the subject of the present report; and, therefore, it does not require further mention here.
While the belt of deposits in Alabama is nearly as long as its northeastern correlative in Georgia, work has been entirely limited to an area in Cherokee county, known as the Dyke district, which extends southwestward from the Georgia line for a distance of four miles. This district is one of greater dynamic forces than the corresponding districts in Georgia, resulting in a somewhat larger number of deposits of bauxite, of larger size, and made up usually . of several connecting ore-bodies. So great have been the effects of the dynamic agencies operating in this district, that the rocks are profoundly disturb.ed, rendering :it difficult, if not impossible, frequently to determine their original position and composition. The faults of the Dyke district are quite unlike those of the Bobo district in Georgia. The ore-bodies are distributed along the northwestern base of Indian mountain, which. is an extensive mass of Cambrian (Weisner) quartzite.
The following are analyses of the white and red types of bauxite from the Rock Run district, in Cherokee county, Alabama :-1

Al203 . Fe2 03 . Si02 . Ti02. H20.

. 58.2r 3.60 2.90
340 . 31.89

White 6r.68 6r.oo
1.20 2.20 2.10 2.!0
3.12 3L45 3!.58

6r.87 2.38 0-40
30.50

Red 4093 53.87 22.6o 8.r6
8.99 452
20.43 24.86

I McCalley, Henry, Repo1t on the Valley Regions of Alabama, Part II. T!te Coosa Valley Region, Geol. Surv. of Alabama. 1897, pp. 779, 78r.

BAUXITE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

PLATE II

EXPOSURE OF KNOX DOLOMITE, HOWARD CE:IIENT QUARRY, BARTOW COUNTY, GEORG IA.
Ill

OCCURRENCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF BAUXITE
A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE DISCOVERY OF BAUXITE IN GEORGIA
The first discovery of bauxite in America was in r887, at a point a few miles northeast of Rome, in Floyd county, Georgia. A few fragments of the unknown mineral were picked up on the Holland lot, two miles north of the Ridge Valley Iron Company's furnace at Hermitage. The intimate association, in this locality, of the bauxite with deposits of limonite, which latter deposits had been worked to some extent, led to the discovery of the mineral, bauxite. The bauxite fragments were highly ferruginous and .deep-red in color, and were taken by their discoverer, James Holland, to Edward Nichols, President and Acting Chemist of the Ridge Valley Iron Company, thinking they represented an ore of :iron. Mr. Nichols attached no special importance to the find at that time; but, shortly afterwards, he made a chemicalanalysis of the fragments. Finding the percentage of iron low a-nd that of alumina correspondingly high, as compared with iron ores in general, Mr. Nichols identified the material as the mineral, bauxite. He briefly described the discovery and occurrence of the mineral in the Transactions of the American Institute of Mining Engineers for r887. r
Bauxite mining in the United States had its beginning in Georgia, when, in April, r888, the deposits of the mineral on the Holland property, lot 61, 2Jrd district of Floyd county, were first -opened and worked. The first shipments of the ore were made in May, r889, to the Pennsylvania Salt Company at Natrona, Penn., .and to Greenwich Point, near Philadelphia. This lot of ore is said to have been used for the manufacture of both alum and metallic aluminum. In r889, 728 tons of the ore from Georgia in-cluded the total output of bauxite from the United States.
Work in the Alabama field, which marks the continuation of the Georgia area to the southwest, was bt;:gun in r89r, when the total output from Alabama, for that year, was 292 tons. The next year, 1893, proved an extremely active one in the Alabama territory, resulting in a greater production than in Georgia; and
1 Nichols, Eclward, An Aluminum Ore, Trans., A.mer. Inst., Min. Eogrs., 1887, Vol. XVI, p.
li05.

26

OCCURRENCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF BAUXITE

the production for each successive year since, has been greater for Alabama than for Georgia.
Companies, operating bauxite deposits in the two States, claim,. that the tardiness in development of this industry in Georgia, islargely to be attributed to the greater benefits and more generous. provisions in property leases, obtainable in Alabama. Vastly more than half of the Georgia-Alabama product is used in the manu~ facture of alum; while the remainder is employed in the extrac-tion of the metal, aluminum.
Extensive deposits of bauxite were discovered in Pulaski and Saline counties, Arkansas, in r8gr, by the Geological Survey of that State. 1 Prior to I2 or r8 months ago, the Arkansas deposits. remained practically undeveloped. Since that time, however, theyhave attracted considerable attention; and, in the near future,. they will doubtless contribute very largely to the increase in the production of this mineral in the United States.
The New Mexico deposits, discovered several years later, have not yet been seriously considered as workable areas.
The following tables show the production of bauxite and alum-inum, respectively, in the United States from r88g to rgoo. The: amounts are stated in long tons ( 2,240 pounds per ton):-

Production

o..f B auxz"te

z"n

the

United States _from

I 889

to

I

900

2 '

Years
r889 !890 1891 1892
1893 t894 !895 !896
1897 !898 r8gg 4 rgoo 6

Georgia Long Tons
728 r,844 3,30I 5,IIo 2,415 2,050 3,756 7,313 _7_,50_7 3
15,736 20,7I5

Alabama Long Tons
-----
292 5,408 6,764 9,016 13,3I3 rr,o51 13,083
___ 3
I4,499 65o

Total Long Tons
728 r,844
3,593 10,518
9,179 rr,o66 I7,069 I8,364 20,590 25,I493 35,2805 21,365

Value $ 2,366
6,0I2 rr,675 34,183 29,507 35,8I8 44,000
47,338 57,652 75,437 !25,5985 78,310

I Branner, John C., Amer. Geol., I8gr, Vol. VII, pp. 18I-I83. 2 Twentieth Ann. Rept., U.S. Geol. Surv., 1899, Part VI, p. 269.
3 Production for 1898 not separated by States. The production for Georgia and Alabama.. included together as one total.
4 Twenty First Ann. Rept., U. S. Geol. Surv.. I899-I9oo, Part VI, p. 270.
5 Includes 5,045 long tons produced and sold by Arkansas.
6 Tlze Jlifinemllndust1-y, 1902, Vol. X, p. II.

OCCURRENCE AND DJSTRZBUTJON OF BAUXZTE

Productz"on of Alumz"nztm in the Unz'ted States from z883 to I900 r-..

Calendar Years r883 r884 r885 r886 r887 r888 r88g r8go r8gr r8g2
!893 1894 r895 I8g6
r897 r8g8 r8gg rgoo

Pounds

83

150

283

3,000

-'

rS,ooo

rg,ooo

47,468

6r,28r

150,000

. 259,885

333,629

550,000

920,000

I,300,000

4,000,000

5,200,000

5,200,000

6,ooo,ooo-

1 Twentieth Ann. Rept., U. S. Geol. Surv., 1899, Part VI, p. 267.

CHAPTER II
'THE GENERAL GEOLOGY OF THE GEORGIA BAUXITE REGION
Since the occurrence and distribution of the deposits of bauxite are intimately related to the various geologiC phases of the region, it is very essential, from an economic as well as a scientific viewpoint, that some account of its geology be given. The ore-bodies are observed to occur within certain limits of elevation, and to further sustain fairly definite relations to the ridge-valley topography. They are found somewhat ~rregularly grouped about certain centers, and along certain lines of structural weakness, and :are also definitely associated with certain rock strata.
ToPOGRAPHY.- The accompanying map indicates, to some degree, the surface configuration of the region in the contour lines, .and in addition to the ore distribution, shows the various geologic formations and the delineation of the faults of the ordinary Appa1achian type. The distribution of the ore-bodies is limited for the most part to the great Appalachian Valley province, which extends southwestward into Alabama, and is limited on the west, by the Cumberland Plateau, and on the east, by the Appalachian Mountains.
The Appalachian Valley province forms a long narrow belt, composed of successively smaller or subordinate north-south valleys, separated by moderately high and fairly steep-sided ridges. 'The valleys are prevailingly deep and narrow, and have been determined by the underlying soft shales and limestones, by the usual processes of erosion. The form and attitude of the ridges .are determined by the character of the rock and the position of the strata composing them. Accordingly, the ridges may vary from approximately symmetrical to unsymmetrical types, the latter type predominating; and from those, with irregular, narrow crests,
(28)

GEOLOGY OF THE GEORGIA BAUXITE REGION
to those, of broad and regular fiat tops. As would be expected, the highest aud most persistent ridges of the region are composed of sandstone, which forms the hardest and most resistant rock in the area.
The Knox dolomite occupies the entire eastern part of the Valley province, and is rendered highly siliceous by abundantly included masses and lenses of chert or flint, of varying sizes. On weathering, the Knox dolomite surface is covered with a heavy mantle of the insoluble siliceous material, chert and clay, which,. on account of extreme prevalence, rarely leaves an exposure of the magnesian limestone to view. The resistance offered by thisless easily eroded siliceous limestone by the usual processes of weathering, gives rise to a broadly undulating surface, which is. intermediate in elevation between the high sandstone ridges and the corresponding deeply incised valleys, etched in the soft shalesand limestone. Only where the Knox dolomite is cut by faults of . the ordinary Appalachian type, of sufficient throw to expose the underlying soft shales, as in the Bobo district, is it characterized by very pronounced ridges.
As pointed out by Hayes, I these topographic features, which owe their present form to the attitude and character of the rocks. and the operative reducing forces, record the geographic cycles, through which the region has passed. A correct interpretation of them enables us to formulate, to some degree, the forces that have been operative, and to reconstruct the past geologic history of the area. As with most land areas, the one in question, has been subjected to at least a series of successive elevations and depressions-land oscillations. The periods of elevation were sufficient, to increase the activity of the streams and to proportionately augment other forces of erosion, in accomplishing the down-wearing of the land-surface. After each elevation, the periods of quiescence were of sufficient duration, to enable the streams to establish a system of uniform base-levels over the entire region ; and. the area was furthermore stationary, for a time sufficient to admit of the interstream areas being reduced to a level, approximating-_ that of the stream base-levels. The hard sandstone rocks proved,. of course, the most resistant, and were, therefore, the last of the:
I Sixteenth Ann. Rept., U. S. Geol. Surv., rSgs, Part III, pp. SSI-554

_,30

GEOLOGY OF THE GEORGIA BAUXITE REGION

-rock areas to be reduced. These, however, were never entirely -reduced during any single period of erosion; but they marked partially unreduced residuals, standing in slight relief above the general level of the nearly undulating surface of the erosion-plane_peneplain.
Accordingly, the present topographic forms indicate traces of three periods of base-leveling and planation. The first and most complete reduction was probably accomplished near the close of Cretaceous time. The surface of the Cretaceous plain is marked by the approximate level of the subordinate sandstone ridges of the region. The higher ridges, such as Indian mountain in Ala-bama, formed residuals on the general upland level of the plain. 'The ridges of sandstone, north of Coosa river, also mark the remnants of this plain. The interval, during which the formation of this peneplain was accomplished, was perhaps the longest, and the planation, the most complete of the entire number. An uplift of the area once more renewed the activity of the streams, and they. were engaged in a second reduction or base-leveling. Only the :.softest rocks, however, were base-leveled during this period, as the region suffered a second uplift before the hard and somewhat in:soluble siliceous Knox dolomite was reduced to the stream-levels. The intermediate surface elevations of this formation, therefore, mark the level of the second plain. The last period of base-leveling was confined to the valleys of the major str.eams, namely, the Coosa and Oostanaula rivers. Cumulative deposits of debris along the lower stretches of the streams indicate .periods of depression, following those of general uplift in this region.
The present streams are now engaged in a further lowering of their channels, as a result of the latest recent uplift in the region.

I STRATIGRAPHY
As seen from the accompanymg map, the rocks of this area range from Cambrian to Carboniferous in age. They include schists, slates, limestones, shales, sandstones and conglomerates, in <Considerable variety. These have all suffered profound metamorphism, and in consequence are considerably changed, as a rule, in 1ithologic character and structure. As yet, no rocks of igneous origin are known to occur within the area. The accompanying

GEOLOGY OF THE GEORGIA BAUXITE REGIO.V
111ap and geologic column mark their distribution and order of geologic sequence. No deposits of bauxite have been found, so far, in association with rocks higher in the series than the formation immediately above the Knox Dolomite; hence, descriptions -of the rocks belonging to the Upper Silurian, Devonian $.nd Carboniferous are omitted; and _only descriptions of the formations below the Upper Silurian, with which the known bauxite deposits .are associated, are given.
THE CAMBRIAN ROCKS
Named in order, from the oldest to the youngest, the following formations among the Cambrian rocks of the region are recognized: the Weisner Quartzite; the Beaver Limestone; the Rome Sandstone; and the Conasauga Shale.
THE WEISNER QuARTZITE. r - The Weisner Quartzite is exposed in the southern part of the region forming Indian mountain, the greater part of which is in Alabama. Hayes describes the Weisner quartzite as follows: - 2
"In the southern portion of the region the Rome sandstone is underlain by the weisner quartzite, which consists of a series of interbedded lenticular masses of -conglomerate, quartzite and sandy shale, and probably represents a delta deposit which may be contemporaneous with the lower portion, but more probably is older than any part of the Rome. The relations of these lower formations have an indirect bearing on the bauxite deposits, since they have in a large degree influenced the structure of the region with which the deposition of the ore is directly connected.''
THE RoME FORMATION.- This formation occupies a narrow belt in the middle portion of the map, with a northeast-southwest trend. Its estimated thickness is between 3,ooo and 4,ooo feet. Accurate measurements, however, are impossible, since the rocks have been considerably folded and crumpled, and the above figures are probably subject to some variation. The lower r,soo to 2,ooo feet of the Rome series consist of alternating layers of sandstone and shale, of varying thickness. Passing upward near the top, it is composed principally of shales, containing but few, thin, siliceous layers or beds. The rocks vary in color, from brown to darkgreen for the shales, and from white to reddish-brown and purple
r Chilhowie Sandstone of Safford. 2 Ann. Rept., U. S. Geol. Surv., r895, p. 555.

32

GEOLOGY OF THE GEORGIA BAUXITE REGION

for the sandstones. The heavy bedded sandstones indicate, in somewhat numerous ripple-marks, deposition in shallow water~ with increasing depth shown in the deposition of the immediately overlying shales and limestone.

THE CoNASAUGA SHALES. -The Conasauga formation takes its name from the Conasauga Valleyin Georgia, on the Dalton sheet of the United States Geological Survey. The Conasauga formation lies immediately above the Rome formation, and has an estimated thicknes-s of between r,soo and 3,000 feet, subject to some variation from conditions obtaining, similar to those stated in the case of the Rome formation above. The formation at its base consists of thin layers of limestone interbedded with shales, which pass near the top into blue seamy limestone and calcareous shale. In lithologic character, the rocks belonging to this formation vary from very finely granular, highly aluminous or clayey shales to somewhat massive siliceous limestone, with the former type predominating.
The following analyses indicate the general composition of the Middle Cambrian shales of the bauxite region : -

I

SiOz

ss:o2

Alz03

2I.02

Fez0 3

s.oo

FeO

1.54

MgO

2.32

C:aO

r.6o

NazO

o.8r

KzO

319

H 2 0 at IIo0 C:. (hygroscopic)

2-44

. H 2 0 above II0 C:. (combined)
TiOz

s.6s o.6s

PzOs

o.o6

MnO

trace

BaO

0.04

SrO

trace

LizO.
so 3
Cl

0,03 0.02 trace

C:Oz

o.83

Carbonaceous Matter .

0.32

Total .

.

. 100.54

II 52.82 26.17
946 r.o8 trace 0,20 2.71 0.23 7.00
99.67

Fig. I

...I~I
~_I

mI . 1--...d .;l

-.

--

-
-'

. ~
:~ ::::::;

I --::-:-. =-~

r~-'.. ~=.-~-------=------.:....:..:--:-:'i ! ... ~:.::~::_:;
~--~ , -_-_.-~ ;.:::,::.:..:-::=:.~.:..:'.~.<

~~--~ ==tI

Generalized Stratigraphic Section of the Georgia Bauxite Field. Scale, approximately, 2,ooo feet= I inch.

GEOLOGY OF THE GEORGL4 BAUXITE REGION

I. Middle Cambrian Shale, Coosa Valley, near Blaine, Cherokee county, Alabama; Dr. H. N. Stokes, Analyst, BulL No. r68, U. S. Geol. Surv., r9oo, p. 283.

II. Oostanaula Shales, about two miles northwest from Carters-
ville, Bartow county, Georgia; J. M. McCandless, Analyst,
Paleozoic Group, Geol. Surv. of Georgia, r893, p. 285.

Where best exposed, the lithologic characteristics of the rocks. indicate the following sequence in this formation : Upper part,.. calcareous passing into blue limestone; middle portion, prevailingly shaly; bottom part, thin layers of interbedded limestone and. shale.
The following are analyses of specimens of the dark-blue, seamy limestone, forming the upper portion of the Conasauga Shale, collected by the writer 5 miles north and 5 miles south of Rome~ Georgia, respectively; and analyzed by him in the Survey laboratory:-

CaC03 MgC03

. .

+ Fez 0 3 Alz 0 3
. SiOz

Moisture

I
92.89 2.I2
0.97 4.II
o.ro

II
9I.4I 4.5I I.28 2.89 O.I2

Total

IOO.I9

I00,2I

I. Specimen collected from the Rome public road, r milenorth of Six Mile Station.
II. Specimen collected 5 miles north of Rome at Buckhead creek quarry.
Owing to the marked similarity in the physical and chemicar characteristics of the Rome and Conasauga formations near thepoint of contact, the separation of the two becomes exceedingly difficult at times.
The following analyses afford some idea of the composition of the more or less siliceous and clayey, thin-bedded limestones, of variable texture, interbedded with the Oostanaula Middle Cambrian shales :- r
I Spencer, J. W., The;Paleozoic Group, Geol. Surv. of Georgia, r893, pp. 263, 264.

.34

GEOLOGY OF THE GEORGIA BAUXITE REGION

CaC0 3 MgC03 Alz 03 Fez 03 FeO SiO z . HzO . Organic matter
Total

I 74-38
8.79 3-50 2.05
9957

II 43-50 26.oo
5-45
r.8o 22.IO
I.OO
0.13
9998

III 55.00 26.ro
6.ro
2.00
IO.OO
0.30 o.so
roo.oo

I. Three miles southwest .of Rome, Floyd county, Georgia;
J. M. McCandless, Analyst.
II & III. Specimens of hydraulic limestone, used for the manufacture of cement, near Kingston, Bartow county,
Georgia; William J. Land, Analyst.

THE SILURIAN ROCKS

THE KNox DOLOMITE:- Hayes groups the upper portion of the Knox Dolomite as Silurian, and the lower part as probable Cambrian. r Because of the general absence of fossils and the striking uniformity in lithologic character, attempt at a division of the formation, as Hayes remarks, appears impracticable just now, and the entire series is therefore treated in this report as a -whole, under the Silurian. The Knox Dolomite is the most uniform and persistent formation in the region ; and, in connection with the ore deposits, it forms the most important one of the rock terranes. It marks the lowest division of the Silurian, immediately above the Conasauga shales, and has an estimated thickness :of 3,ooo to 41000 feet. It is composed of massively bedded, partially crystalline, gray magnesian limestone. An abundance of -included silica, in the form of nodules and layers of chert or flint -is a prevailing characteristic of this dolomite. The soluble carbonates of calcium and magnesium are carried away in solution upon weathering, leaving the chert and other insoluble portions of the rock, which form a vari-colored siliceous clay with chert fragments as a surface covering. The prevailing depth of this residual material leaves but few exposures of the dolomite visible, except -where the streams have cut through into the underlying fresh rock.

I Sixteenth Ann. Rept., U. S. Geol. Surv., rSgs, Part III, p. 555

GEOLOGY OF THE GEORG.Z:.4. BAU:."Jr':ZTE RE CION

35

The following analyses of the Knox Dolomite series of limestones, of the Georgia bauxite region, give some idea of their composition :- r

CaC03 .
MgC03
} Alz03
Fez0 3 SiOz Moisture

I 5344 4I.15
I. 5o
375

II 52.05 36.32
2.68} 2.10 6.47

III 52.64 39-44
I. 76
6.25

IV
34.070 55736
r I.236
l.-
7252 I.622

Total

9984

9962

100.09

999I6

I. Cave Spring, Floyd county, Georgia; J. M. McCandless,
Analyst.
II. Egyptian Quarry, Mr. Gibbons' farm, near Hall's station,
Bartow county, Georgia; J. M. McCandless, Analyst. III. Fine-grained, light-gray dolomite, Dyke's creek; J. M.
McCandless, Analyst.
IV. Ladd's Mountain, three miles southwest of Cartersville, Bartow county, Georgia. Analyzed at the Pratt Laboratory, Atlanta, Georgia.
The Knox dolomite passes upward into the blue, fossiliferous 1Chickamauga limestone. Over most, if not all, of the bauxite :region, however, the Chickamauga limestone is entirely absent, :the conditions pointing apparently to a stratigraphic break in this :area.
The following analyses indicate the general composition of the Chickamauga limestone in the Georgia area:- 2

. CaC0 3
MgC03 Al203 Fez03 Insolnble
Total

I
9437 2.IO
:~23}
.---
. 98.70

II 95203
2.,171
0-400
2.300
100.074

III 55-47 25.33
950 8.r6
98-46

IV 91-40
375 r.8o 2.82
9977

I. Cedartown, Polk county, Georgia; Wm. J. Land, Analyst.

II. Devitte Lime Ouarry.

1 Spencer, J. W., Tlze Paleozoic Group, Geol. Surv. of Georgia, 1893, p;>. 265, 266, z6i.
2 Ibid., pp. z68 z69.

36

GEOLOGY,..OF THE GEORGIA BAUXITE REGION

III & IV. Light-colored, crystalline limestone~in the valley of Lookout creek, south of Trenton, Dade county,..
Georgia; J. M. McCandless, Analyst.
STRUCTURE
As is shown in a subsequent part of this report, in an attempt to. explain the genesis of the bauxite deposits, it is observed, that the. ore~bodies bear a definite genetic relationship to the structural. features of the region. The rocks of the region represent unques~ tionable sedimentaries; and, when originally laid down on the sea 'bottom, they must have preserved a more or less horizontal. position. This original position, however, has been profoundly disturbed, as is shown in the tilting and folding of the rocks at. steep and varying angles. In this section, as with Appalachian. folds in general, the folds show unequal dips on the two sides of the arch and belong to the unsymmetrical type. They further: harmonize with the normal Appalachian type in gentle dips on. the southeast sides, and correspondingly steep ones on the north- west. The continued action of the same forces, which produced. the folding, resulted in the fracturing and breaking across of the. strata in many places -jaultz'ng.
Two classes of faults have been observed in the region, which. show marked differences in many particulars. These are desig~ nated by Hayes I as (a) minor thrust faults, and (b) major thrust. faults. The two apparently bear no, c-lose relationship to each other. From field evidence, they were probably formed at different. periods of disturbance. The minor thrust faults were likely developed first, and are therefore the older. The two types of fau:lts. usually characterize separate or different parts of the area.
THE MINOR THRUST FAULTS. -This type of fault is characteristic of certain portions of the area, namely, Six Mile Station~. Silver Creek and Cave Spring, to the south of Rome; and in general, they represent the ordinary or normal Appalachian type o fault. Hayes describes the minor thrust faults as follows: - 2
I Geology of a Portion of t!ze Coosa 'valley in Geo?-gia and Alabama, Bull., G. S. A., 1893, Vol. V,. pp. 465-480. Bauxite, Sixteenth Ann. Rept., U.S. Geol. surv., 1894, Part III, pp. 557-560.
:~ Ibid,, PP 473-474

GEOLOGY OF THE GEORGIA BAllXITE REGION

37

"A great majority of these faults extend nearly due north and south, and hence intersect the main structure axis of the region at angles of 30 or 40. Immediately south of Rome at least seven of these minor thrusts occur within a belt three miles wide. They vary in length from 3 to 8 miles and overlap along the strike. 'The strata are thus cut into a number of narrow strips which form monoclinals dipping steeply toward the east. In the vicinity of Cave Spring is another series of faults similar in most respects to those south of Rome.
"Between Indian and Weisner mountains there is less regularity in the arrangement of the minor thrusts, and their general trend is somewhat east of north. A strip of Knox dolomite from one to four miles in width extends from near Cave Spring toward the southwest, lying north of Indian and south of Weisner mountains. This belt of dolomite is intersected by a series of nearly parallel thrustfaults which cut diagonally across, separating it into irregular monoclinal blocks. The faults disappear in the belt of Conasauga shale on the north, while their throw is greatest at the northern edge of the dolomite, decreasing southward, and in some -cases disappearing within the dolomite area. These faults give rise to the narrow oelts of shale which branch from the northern belt and extend varying distances :toward the south, forming narrow valleys among the dolomite hills."
THE MAJOR THRUST FAULTS. -At least three of this type of thrust faults occur within this area, namely, the Rome, Coosa and Cartersville faults. They are characterized by the low inclination -of the fault-plane, approximating to, or quite, horizontal, when visible, and the great horizontal displacement of the rocks. The borizontal displacement is measured in miles instead of in feet. r

MINERALS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BAUXITE
Several aluminous minerals are found associated with the bauxite. These deserve some mention. They are gibbsite, halloysite and kaolin or clay.
GIBBSITE.- This mineral differs from bauxite in being crystalline instead of concretionary or clay-like in structure, and in -containing a larger percentage of water. Its chemical formula is AI (OH) 3 , or A1 2 0 3 3H 2 0; and, when pure, it contains 65.4 per cent. of alumina and 34.6 per cent. of water. This mineral is -called hydrargillite, when in crystals, and is sometimes associated with corundum deposits when in this form. As gibbsite, it is
1 For a complete description of this type of thrust-faults, the reader is referred to the following publications by Dr. C. W. Hayes, who describes them in considerable detail, after tracing -them in the field:-
Tlze Overtlzrust Faults of tlze Soutlzern Appalaclzians, Bull., Geol. Soc. Amer., r8gr, Vol. II, pp. I4I-I54
Geology of a Portion of t!ze Coosa Valley in Georgia and Alabama, Ibid., 1893. Vol. V, pp. 465-480.
Bauxite, Sixteenth Ann. Rept., U.S. Geol. Surv., r8g4, Part III, pp. 558-s6o.

38

GEOLOGY OF THE GEORGIA BAUXITE REGION

stalactitic in form. It has been observed in the deposits of bauxiteof the Hermitage district in Georgia, where it occurs incrustingcavities in the bauxite. The i1. crustations are colorless and transparent, and have not been observed to be more than one-eighth of an inch in thickness in any case; and, as a rule, it is much less. In some of the Arkansas deposits, gibbsite appears to be moreabundant, and in larger masses, of a slightly reddish-white color,. than in the Georgia ore-bodies.
HALLOYSI'I'E. -This mineral has the same chemical composition as kaolin, from which it differs essentially in having a larger
+ percentage of water. Its composition is H 4 Al 2Si 20 9 AQ., or + 2H 20. Al 20 3 2Si02 AQ.; and, when pure, it contains 435 per
cent. of silica, 36.9 per cent. of alumina, and 19.6 per cent. of water. It is usually light (white) in color, and compact in texture,. breaking with a conchoidal fracture; and is easily cut with a knife ; but it can not be scratched with the finger-nail. Its occurrence here is in the form of well defined veins, of varying size, cut-ting the bauxite, and in irregular masses and nodules of variousdimensions, usually small, however. These are often lens-shaped~ and are highly polished and slickensided, indicating subsequent movement in the bauxite masses.
KAOLIN OR CLAY. -From an economic standpoint clay is. vastly the most important associate of the bauxite deposits. Likehalloysite, it is also regarded as a silicate of alumina, having thechemical composition, when pure, H 4Al 2Si 20 9 , or 2H 20 .. Al 2 0 3 2Si02, yielding silica, 46.5, alumina, 395, and water,. I4.0. It is very abundant in the bauxite area, where it occurs. surrounding the ore-bodies, and, in many cases, cutting them, in the form of dikes, veins or "horses." It shows considerable vari-ation in texture, color and composition. The clay, associated with the bauxite, is quite different in character, and is readily differentiated from that derived from the weathering of the Knox dolomite. The two types of clay bear no resemblance to each other,. and are always sharply differentiated. The residual clay is very impure, containing, in most cases, commingled fragments of chert and sandstone, in various stages of decay. -These fragments of;.,_ siliceous material are entirely absent from the bauxite deposits.

GEOLOGY OF THE GEORG.IA BAUX7TE REG.ION

39'

proper, and their associated clays or kaolins; and, in this respect, the deposits of bauxite are entirely different from those of the nearby limonite. The limonite beds are almost invariably intimately associated with large and small fragments of the residual siliceous rocks. In color, the associated bauxitic clay varies from white and cream, through pink and purple, to chocolate-brown~ with the mottled pink-and-white predominating. It varies from hard and compact in texture, resembling halloysite, to a soft, putty-like material. The bauxitic clay and ore are frequently observed to pass by imperceptible gradations into each other.
The following is an analysis of specimens of the white clay from the Flowery Branch bauxite deposit in the Hermitage district: - 1

Si0 z (combined) SiO 2 (free sand) Ti02
Alz03 Fez03 MgO NazO KzO Hz 0 (combined) H 2 0 (hygroscopic)
. Total .

40-40 o.So !.95 38.6o I.45 0.30 0.02 0.09 r6.35 0.35
. 100.31

An analysis of a pure white, non-gritty, slickensided specimen

of kaolin, collected from the Bobo bank in the Bobo district,

yielded the writer, in the Survey laboratory, the following re-

sults:-

Molecular Ratio-

SiOz

TiOz

Alz03

Fez03

CaO

MgO

NazO

KzO

HzO, at I00 C.

Hz 0, combined

Total

.

43-3I

6o

none

43-08

I02

none

none

none

none

none

0-43

14.12

r8

!00.94

.721

I. 70

-422

I.OO

r.ss

I Spencer, J. W., Paleozoic Group o.f Georgia, Geol. Surv. of Georgia, 1893, p. zSr.

40

GEOLOGY OF THE GEORGiA BAUXITE REGION

The ratio of Si0 2

:

Al 0 2

3

:

H 20

is nearly 2:

r:

2,

as

required

by the formula of kaolin, 2H 2 0.Al 2 0 3 .2Si0 2

The bauxitic clays are found in great abundance, and in numer-

ous cases they possess a high degree of purity. In view of their

abundance and excellence, it is indeed quite remarkable, that they

have not thus far been utilized for some purpose. The white and

cream-colored clays are the purest, and they apparently possess

the important properties of whiteness and plasticity, and harden-

ing under heat in an eminent degree, which, in many cases, cer-

tainly fits them for use in the manufacture of a fine quality of

porcelain. Finely pulverulent silica is found in considerable quan-

tity in the same region, frequently along with the clays. If suffi-

cient clay be mixed with the silica to bind. it together, the mixture

might be successfully employed in the manufacture of fire-brick.

'The highly colored types of clay are rendered fusible by the pres-

ence of the iron ox:id~ contained in them, and might be utilized,

to some degree, :in the manufacture of common pottery or stone-

ware and bricks. From an economic standpoint, these clays form

an important group of deposits, which, from their quantity and

general quality, should be profitably employed for various uses.

I RON AND MANGANESE ORES ASSOCIATED WI'rH THE BAUXITE
DEPOSITS
The bauxite belt is coextensive with a large part of the iron and manganese area. Somewhat extensive deposits of brown iron ore have been worked over a considerable part of the bauxite belt. In the Hermitage district and at several banks in the Bobo dis-
at trict, the brown ore is found in nearly direct contact with the
bauxite, and deposits of the two mine;als .occur all Hmes in the vicinity of each other. The manganese, while intimately associated with the deposits of brown iron ore, is not :so closely related to the bauxite ; although they are frequently found close together.

Fig. 2

~~:~:~~0:~00{1 ?.:.-.--::---"-._~_0";_~:~~-~~21lb~~"'~~:;~

~-?>;~:~;-~~~: 'o}Jlsolito/-~6'h_:}:~-:ftt:lf~"~t'o6>'1;;'f.~/~f:.N~'~~o-~ "Z~';,~,J::fi~;J/::~.;~;-;,~~ ~~'~\"\~1~ltft.~;;;{;:'0'~~3~,4~ ~~~ ----- 0

o oo oaoo o

v:oo... . :.

0

0

0 0 '"0 '

t \ pt_______ - ( dOepref}l no '\ o o o o o-o0'-f oo oBoutt'o' mof

0 0 0
'[

""'""
' /

~1/~Clflt'- TatllS.

=:: - / >

'-, "---

'"



_\-- I I --\ -- d.''-/!Jk.- '

~ln-own. ---------- - -_- --------

s --------S-t-ion 1lo~->"-l.ng-t~lJe .R-e-la--t-io-n-s--o-[._U__1_e_,B.._auxite an d t'l w.. .R. esl.<1t tal M_antle. (After Hayes).

'"

l'ig. 3

~ o J1 o!-;; .. ...~_...,... --- ~

, . ,"I'
;-

.:;,o.:',~.~~ ;__f_!__~ ~1f..I,. k ~c~,-~r-t{1,:1J1:i::-:..4~>_:-!..:-

c.~11'~'-.~-uI-"-J-Pr.-"3,'-!1"L~,.'t.-,t.~!<>t-.~ Jl~~}li.*'i.~~' ;.f,..i...:~-.J--.l!2'".t'(l.'l."~;~-.-:-<....::-L"._'.f.:'.?l~.l,._.--,.!..-.,-,-o;~~,;.::.:{:~:-'_--.'.q..J,._~_.,9,_-. '_'l.~ :t-~. '?t.'~'t .}., .Jt -~ 1.~1{.;-:,~- v~~$~(~\ 1\L~}.,.'-~ ~ ,~,:

~ ~;o~ ~ g{) ~~ ~ ~ ooo\'-o"~ ~ o<' (r./'o<:j.~"~!~;-~o::-o"::. '~~oc\).:ao~~-~l;~'\""-"(: ~:{/ ~~~ 4 ;.-;-:-; . _..- C

r-:..\o ;
Q 00 0

0

q o'

0'
9o
~

o0o'Do0oogoOoo o0p#o000oo0oD:ooo4Id6o~o0"ocoQ"o~<Doc0o>oO:~a0"00Qo,o6~.0~0o:ooo(1-~ (I,Oo(.v) /v\b\'o

"-.
\

,''I.="L---..'._', <'-,(o)..,_-, _"0-'9~:c'iO//-)'~('-- -~')

'0\&.}'',\
lo_',_\'l\o

C'~,\'-;. ' Z'.,~.._'\,''------.-:-:/_!:/ ~/-::....,___:: c::':\,\'--.I..._'f~"o"~~\o0\o\

0 .\ f
\'o~\Ol

t\...~v ~o~ ~0- 'ie--...:..,:~ t1..10' ~ '1:{,~...-..~'~ ~ 'I' r

0 0 o 0

o 0<J0 0 0 0 0 o 0 0 o0 0 IJ ' -...._ ....'.-'

-::::..:.:___''b_~..:-r_> :/ ____.:=,._--:>-,____ '-~-. . ~ ~o'- 0 \ _o_,__c-,..--t! 0

"' " tl

I

0

0 00 0 0

~ o---/--o-P-TE-0-~---~~-_':_'_-_-_--=7-----~-"'----- 0 --;;;-......

_"_________ --

Sketch of i.h.e Mary Bauxite Mine, Floyd County, Georgia.
Scale, 24 Feet= I Inch. A. Main Ore-body (:Fine, Pisolitic Bauxite). B. Pisolitic Bauxite in White Clay. C. Motlled Clay Coli-
:aiuing Few Pisolites. D. Hard, Mottled Bauxite. .E. Mottled Clay Containing Angular Chert. Ji: Cherty Clay, Surface Soil.
(After Hayes).

CHAPTER III

I. CHEMICAL COMPOSITION r

There are three recognized hydrates of alumina; namely, the monohydrate, Al 2 0 3 .H 2 0, or AlO(OH), known as the mineral .diaspore, and containing-
Alumina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85.0 per cent.
Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . rs.o " "

Alumina . . . -. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 739 per cent.

Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ill , . . . . . 26.r ''

'' ;

and the trihydrate, Al 2 0 3 .3H 2 0, orAl (OH) 3 , known as hydrar;gillite and gibbsite, containing-

Alumina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65-4 per cent. Water . - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34.6 " "

The chemical formula generally given for bauxite is Al 2 0 3 .2H20 or A1 2 0(0H) 4 2 , the dihydrate of alumina, containing the percentages of alumina and water as given above. Some analyses,

however, give Al 2 0 3 H 2 0 like the mineral diaspore. Roscoe and

Schorlemmer 3 give the formula

(Al,Fe) 0 2

(OH) 4 for

bauxite;

but, as Phillips says, 4 this seems not to apply to the Georgia-

Alabama material.

Phillips and Hancock conclude, 5 after a chemical investigation

of the Georgia-Alabama bauxite, based upon the solubility of the

alumina in different strengths of sulphuric acid, that it consists of

1 Watson, Thomas L., Tlze GeM-gia Bauxite Deposits; Their Clzemica! Constitution and Genesis; Amer. Geologist, Vol. XXVIII, July, 1901, pp. 25-45.
2 Dana, E. S., A System of lvfineralogy, 1893, Sixth Edition, p. zsr. 3 Roscoe and echorlemmer, A Treatise on Clzemistry, Vol. I, p. 444
4 Phillips, W. B., and Hancock, David, The Commercia! Analysis of Bauxite, Jour., Amer. Chern. Soc., 1898, Vol. V, p. zrr,
5 Ibid., pp. 2IO, 213-216.

(4I)

42

CHEMICAL COMPOSZTZON

a mixture of the trihydrate, A1 2 (0H) 6 , or A1 2 0 3 .3H 2 0, with. clay, and probably a lower hydrate, Al 2 0 3 .2H 2 0, the trihydrate being the base or essential part.
In the reports issued by the United S~ates Geological Survey,. on the Mineral Resources of the United States, the mineral,
bauxite, is referred to as the trihydrate of alumina. In a report, "On the Coosa Valley Region of Alabama," Henry
McCalley concludes, 1 after a study of the same belt of bauxite deposits in Alabama, that the mineral is a trihydrate of alumina.
Dr. C. W. Hayes says, 2 that the chemical composition of the Arkansas bauxite varies within wide limits, of which the granitic type is the purest. He states, that this type corresponds to the
formula, Al 2 0 3 3H2 0, the trihydrate, gibbsite. After a study of many hundreds of analyses of the French baux-
ites, Laur makes the following statement, concerning the compo-
sition and chemical constitution of bauxite:- 3
"When these minerals [bauxitesJ are studied, not in isolated specimens but iu
mass, it is quickly noticed, that there is in their composition one constant, so to speak, namely, the general proportion of anhydrqus alumina, Al 2 0 3 , the average of which is about 66 to 69 per cent. This figure is given by the analyses of thou- sands of shipments.. Representing this constant by A, we find three variable ele- ments, e, besides, namely, water, silica, and ferric oxide; and it is a remarkable fact, that the sum of the weights of these is constant also at about 27 per cent. We will represent it by Pe.
"Finally, the various accessory substances (titanium, vanadium, etc.) which occur even in the purest bauxites, present a constant total of about 3 to 4 per cent..
+ These we represent by C. "Thus, the centesimal formula of the bauxites : 68 to 70 Alz 0 3 27 (SiO z ,. Fez 03, Hz 0) +4 (sundry accessories) may be written in general form as A+Pe
+C.
"But the three variable elements of Pe have the singular property of replacing one another, in whole or in part, separately increasing, diminishing, or totally dis- appearing, without change of the total of 27 per cent., and without altering the fixed mineral species, which is, according to our view, the bihydrate of alumina,. forming the base of the mineral. These varying substitutions give rise to the different types . . . . ''
I McCalley, Henry, Report on the Valley Regions of Alabama, Part II, On tlte Coosa ValleY' Region of Alabama, Geol. Surv. of Alabama, 1897, pp. 79-84.
2 Hayes, C. W., op. cit. 3 I,aur, Francis, Tlze Bauxites: A Study of a LVew Mineralogical Family, Trans., Amer. In st. Min. Engrs., Virginia Beach Meeting, February, r894. Author's separate, 9 pages, p. 4
~

CHEMICAL COlJ1POSITION

43

Continuing, Laur distinguishes four types of bauxite, whose formulce are given as follows : - r

$
" (r) Mixed bauxite of Baux, A+ Pe, .

(2) Pale bauxite of Villeveyrac, A+ Pe, .
(3) Red bauxite of the Var, A+ Pe, ..
+ (4) Pure ba=ite of Alabama, A Pe, .

f YzHz 0
L YzSiO z

+ {

YzHz 0 YzFez 0

}
3

C

. [ 2Hz0 J+ C."

Laur says:- 2
"And it may be affirmed that the basis of the bauxite is the bihydrate of alumina or hydrargillite, with about 27 per cent. of water, which has not yet been, but may be some day, developed in workable deposits."
In referring to the Georgia-Alabama type, Laur gives the following description : - 3
"HYALINE BAUXITE. -Finally, there has been discovered in Alabama and. Georgia, and in the Yellowstone National Park, a fourth variety of bauxite, in which silica_ and ferric oxide are not found, and two equivalents of water determine the type. It is this form which occurs as an easily discernible admixture in the siliceous bauxite of the Villeveyrac variety. As may there be observed, the miner- alogical type remains the same, only the particles of bauxite have a more glaucous,. translucent, slightly horny appearance, and are soft, easily scratched with the :finger-nail. This is the bihydrate of alumina, and the formula is, therefore,
A+ Pe [2HzO] + C
" It is nothing else than amorphous hydrargillite, nearly pure, with 3 to 4 per cent. of accessory constituents and 27 per cent. of water.
"This variety has not yet been thoroughly tested by continuous exploitation and. repeated analyses. It is yet in the beginning of its development, and what has. been produced so far is a pale bauxite of the Villeveyrac type, but containing nodules of hydrargillite in considerable abundance.''

An abstract in the Chemisches Centralblatt for r892, page r4, of an inaugural dissertation by A. Liebreich, in which an account of the derivation of bauxite from basalt, with special reference to the German deposits is given, says: 4 "Chemical analyses show certain differences in the composition of bauxite from different places,. the smaller amount of water in the French bauxite referring it to

I Ibid., p. 7 2 Loc. cit., p. 7. 3 Ibid., p. 6. 4 Packard, R. I,., Mineral Resources of the United States, r891, p. I49

44

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION

cdiaspore, while the. Vogelsberg mineral is probably gibbsite (hy-

drargillite) [the trihydrate of alumina].''

I have gotten together as many authentic analyses of the Georgia

bauxites as possible, which are tabulated below, and from them I

have calculated the ratio of alumina (Al 2 0 3 ) to water (H 2 0). The percentage amounts of the impurities, silica (SiO 2 ), titanic
oxide (TiO 2 ) and ferric oxide (Fe 2 0 3), are also given. Calculations are made and given for the two types of bauxite, namely, the

non-ferruginous type, in which iron enters as an impurity; and

the ferruginous type, in which the iron replaces a part of the

.aluminum. The analyses were carefully selected; and, in the case

-of the non-ferruginous type, only those which gave 55 per cent.

and more of alumina were used. This minimum percentage of

.alumina, 55 per cent., in the non-ferruginous type, is the lowest

amount of alumina, indicating the purest grade of the ore or min-

,eral. In the ferruginous type, all analyses are included, that show

:ro.s per cent. and more of ferric oxide.

Unless otherwise stated, the figures given in the columns of

;analyses below were obtained by analytical methods, which yield

the soluble alumina. On a 55 per c~nt. alumina basis, however,

the small percentages, shown in the insoluble residues (Si0 2 ), indicate that the soluble alumina is also practically the total

,alumina. This conclusion is based on a close comparison of the

analyses given below, with numerous analyses, in which the total

:alumina was determined; and also from the analyses of several

samples, in which the soluble and the total alumina were sepa-

rately determined. The analytical methods in general use, at

present, by bauxite chemists, are essentially the same as those used

in the Pittsburgh. Testing Laboratory, and are so modified, as to

-extract only the soluble alumina, leaving the insoluble alumina,

which is present mostly as the silicate, in the form of admixed

clay, and probably as a lower hydrate, practically undissolved.

As Phillips and Hancock have shown I , the soluble alumina is

:dissolved at roo C. by sulphuric acid of 50 B., and is combined

with water in the form of the trihydrate.



I The Commercial Analysis of Bauxite, ]our., Amer. Chem. Soc., 1898, Vol. XX, p. 217.

CHEMICAL COlY.!POS.lT.lON

45

( I)
Analyses JY.!ade in the Pz"ttsburgh Testz"ng Laboratory, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania I

I

No.

HzO

Alz03

I I SiOz I TiOz Fez 03

Total

I

I 2
3

32.66 3L70 30.03

57.18 59-50

I

54-55

r.86 I

2.93 I. 54

I

6.40 5-40 399

T.90 0-47 9-09

4 5

31-40 3306

58.55 58-45

4-54 3-24

I

2.95 2.65

I.40 I.63

6

3I.36

57.8I

7-4I

tr.

2.36

7

30-53

62.52

5-36

tr.

0.71

8

30.16

55-97

7-56

3.51

r.65

9

3L23

57-50

3-52

6.57

1.40

ro

32.20

5639

3-08

4.13

2.35 I

II

30-70

62.03

3.66

3-44

0.23

12

30-56

58.96

5.8o

5.00

2.90

r~ ~.)
14

32-40 32.23

I

5968 59-42

2.6o 3-50

4-32

0.23

4-48

none

I5

31.86

59.16

4.26

4.80

none

I6

30.03

56.75

7.84

3.I3

r.86

I7 rS

31.23 30.23

57-75 56.9r

5-55 8.33

3-56 2.73

r.87 I.63 I

I9

3I.50

6I.98

3.22

o.86

1.I8

20

30.66

57-72

5-05

3-5I

I.90

2I

31.97

58.98

4-37

4.28

0.14

22

32.23

56.39

2-43

8.24

0.7I

,.,~
-.)

31.4

58.o8

5-40

3.68

tr.

24

33-27

6r.5o

1.28

2.76

I.19

25

32-47

6o.88

2.67

3-II

0.7I

26

32.66

62.08

0.71

4.10

0.59

27

29.87

57.I7

6.84

5.I6

I.47

28

30.58

5758

5.I4

3-41

2.63

Average

31.435

58.622

4-274

3-79I I I.507

L------~------~

3.042

574; r.ooo, or

9572

r.oo Alz 0 3:3.04 Hz O=Alz 0 3 .3Hz 0.

99629 '

I Furnished by courtesy of Mr. John R. Gibbons, Supt., Georgia Bauxite Mining Company.

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
( 2) Analyses JV!ade by BoDth, Garrett and Blair, Philadelphia, and the Pittsburgh Testing
Laboratory, Pittsburgh, Penn. I

;I No.

HzO Al203 SiOz

TiOz Fez03 Total

I 2

3 4 5 6

7

.

8

9
IO

'

II
I2

'

I3 I4

!

IS

16

I7 I8

I9

;;

20

30.08

55.56

4.85

3.26

5 .62

35.00

6o.oo

o.8o

365

0.65

34.20

58.90

I.40

4-30

1.20

32.60

6o.8o

o.85

390

I.82

28-40

6r.25

5-IO

4.80

0.45

32.70

6r.o8

I. 55

3-95

0.72

32.40

58.72

r.8o

6.20

0.88

30.70

6I.64

4-30

3.IO

0.36

32-70

59.08

2.30

4.80

I.I2

32.IO

54-96

I. 5o

5-0S

6.39

31.6o

55-30

8.04

4-04

1.02

30-40

58.34

3-35

3-40

4-5I

30.70

59.22

330

3.60

3.!6

3054

57.06

6.32

3.68

r..So

32.20

57-56

3-35

4-40

2.40

3!.00

6o.o6

4.20

3.8o

0.94

3L70

6I.3I

I.40

455

I.04

30.80

62.68

1.30

4-70

0.52

30.70

57-73

s.IO

5-35

I.I2

31.40

s6.96

6.03

4.05

1.69

Average 31.596 58.9ro

3342

4I79

1.87

'-------,-------J

I.7ss

577

3.042

r.ooo, or

Alz 0 3:3. o4Hz O=Alz 0 3. 3HzO.

939I

99897

(3)
Analyses Made by the Pittsburgh Testing Laboratory 2

;

i

No.

j:

HzO Alz03 SiOz

Ti02 Fez03

Total

'

I

2

3 4

28.40

57-92

I2.o8

none

1.33

28.oo

67.53

I.34

2.92

tr.

32.00

6o.6r

2.47

4.I8

0.2I

31.00

6o.63

3-20

4-76

tr.

Average 29.85

6I.672

4772

2.955 I 0.385 99634

'--

r.658

8. II2

2.745

r.ooo, or

Alz 0 3 :2. 75Hz O=Alz 0 3. 3Hz 0. -----

I Furnished by the courtesy of Mr. John H. Hawkins, Supt., Republic Mining and Manufac;.turing Company.

2 Furnished by the courtesy of Mr. B. F. A. Saylor, Supt., Dixie Bauxite Company.

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION

47

.Specimens of Bauxite Collected by J. W. Spencer, Fonner State Geologist, and Analyzed by
Prof H. C. White in t/ze Laboratory of the University of Georgia, at Athens I

No.

I HzO AlzO 3

SiOz

TiOz

Fez0 3

Total I I

I 2 3 4
Average

I 27.42
3 r. ro

58.6r 59.82

8.29

3-IS

6.62

none

3I.43

6r.25

L98

2.38

3I.50

6r.88

2.13

I

4.04

30-362

60.34 I 4-75

2-39

'---------.--

r.686

8.84

2.853

r.ooo, or

Alz 0 3 :2.85Hz 0 =Alz 0 3. 3Hz 0.

2.63

2.16

I .82

.,

0.21

I.70

l 99-54

(5)
.Specimens of Bauxite Collected and Analyzed by Thomas L. Watson, in the Laboratory of the Geological Survey.

No.
I

HzO Alz03

SiOz

I TiOz FezO 3

Total

I 2
3
) Average

3I.69

57.26

33-00 I 64.91

27.I5

63.60

I 30.613 6r.g2o

0-99 I
0.62 6.43
2.68

']'.63 I.o5 I.95
3-543

r.89 0.28 0.28
o.8r6

'---------,--------'

I.700

.607

7-039

2.8oo

r.ooo, or

Alz 0 3:2. 8oHz O=AlzO 3-3Hz 0.

99-582

Ferruginous Bauxite

'
No. HzO AlzO 3 FezO 3 SiOz TiOz Total

---

--- ---

Analyst

I 32.20 2 27-35 3 27.07 4 29.60
I 5 30.10
- -6 - -24-.06-
Av'age 28.396
L577

5I.I4 52-40
52-30

13.86 I2.6o
13.33

I-40 3-95

I

3-40 3-70

I

3-70 3-60

Pittsburgh Testing Laby.

"

"

"

"

"

"

I

53-3I 12.92 r.r6 3.22

H. C. White, Athens, Ga.

s6.ro I0.64 2.56 none

" "

" "

- - - 52-40 10-44 ---

4.2I

-8-.79-

Thos.
---

L.

Watson,

Atlanta,

Ga.

52-941 12.29 2.83 3-78 100.23 .1

'-------v----'

.519 .076

6. 6r

1.577 595 2.650 r.ooo, or

. Alz 0 3 :2.65Hz O=Alz 0 3 3Hz 0.

1 Spencer, J. W., Tlze Paleozoic Group, Geol. Surv. of Georgia, r893, pp. zrs-zzo.

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION

In his report, "On the Coosa Valley Region of Alabama," Mr~ Henry McCalley gives several analyses of the Alabama bauxite, showing 22 per cent. and more, of Fe 2 0 3

SUMMARY

Non-Ferruginous Bauxite

Alz03

HzO

SiOz TiOz Fez03

(I )

58.622

3!.435

4.274 379I I.507

574

I.746

'-----v-

I.OOO

3042

9572

( 2) .

58.9ro
577 I.OOO

31.596 I.755 3042

3342 4.179 I.870
'-----v---_1
939I

( 3)

6!.672

29.850

4.772 2.955 0.385

.604

r.658

'-----v---_1

I.OOO

2.745

8.II2

(4)

60.340

30.362

475 2.39 1.700

59 I

r.686

'-----v-

I.OOO

2.853

8.84

(5)

6r.920

30.6I3

.68 3543 o.8r6

.607

I.700

'-----y-

I.OOO

2.8oo

7.039

Average

.591

I.709

r.ooo

2.892, or

Alz 0 3 :2.89H zO=Al2 0 3 .3Hz 0.

8.590

Total 99.629 99897 99634 99540 99.582 99.656

Ferruginous Bauxite

Alz03

Fez03

52.941

12.290

.519

.o76

'-----v----'

595 r.ooo

I.577 2.650, or

Al" 03 :2. 65Hz O=Alz 03. 3H2 0.

SiOz TiOz 2,83 378
'---v----'
6,6r

Total I00.23

From the prevailing pisolitic structure of the mineral, bauxitet in all known workable deposits, it seems a little remarkable, that separate analyses of the matrix and pisolites have never been un- dertaken. While it is generally true, that the pisolitic structure grades into a structureless mass, the pjsolites or concretions are, as a rule, perfectly sharp, and distinct from the enclosing matrixt and the two may or may not have the same chemical composition. The question of chemical composition or relationship betweerr

BAUXI TE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

PLATE Ill

F.XPOSURE OF Rl';D SHAT.F. A'r 'l'HE Ff.OYD COUN'l'V ROCK QUARRY, NEAR ROllfJ;;, GltORGfA.

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION

49

matrix and pisolite has an important economic, as well as scientific, bearing. So far as the writer can find out, separate analyses of the matrix and pisolites have never been made; Thus far, all analyses of the pisolitic bauxites represent results obtained from samples, that included mixtures of the two.
Having in view the idea of possibly settling this point, the writer selected specimens of the ore, and carefully separated matrix and pisolites,- and separately analyzed them in the laboratory of the Geological Survey, with the results shown below. Sufficient time was not at my disposal, however, in which to make as exhaustive a series of analyses, as I had hoped; but the ones here given are, I believe, of both value and interest in illustrating, if not entirely establishing, the comparative chemical composition of the two parts of the mineral.
No atterp.pt has been made at separate analyses of isolated thin layers of the pisolites, or concretions, from each other, nor of the layers from the enclosed powder. In those concretions, showing scarcely more than a trace of iron oxide, many of the very thin layers were colored highly by the presence of iron; while the majority of the layers were entirely free from the iron coloring. This well illustrates the variableness in composition, as well as in almost every physical property of the mineral, arising from the peculiar conditions of formation in t~e presence of associated iron and alumina in the same solution.
The sampies were carefully selected and prepared for analysis, and were freed, as far as possible, from any adhering clay. A brief, but complete, description of each sample, prior to and during its grinding for analysis, is given below.

Pisolites

,--

Maddox Bobo

AlzO;;

52-36

H 20 (combined) . 33.I7

SiOz

3-74

TiO z

9-70

Fez 03 . . . . 0.76

HzO (roo C.). 0.20

CaO I

MgO Na20

I
t
I

KzO J

none

57.26 3I.69 0.99
7-63 I.89 0.39
none

~
Warrior 52-40 24.06 4.2I 8.79 I0-4:J. 0.39
none

Total.

99-93 99-85 I00.29

Maddox 64.9I 33.00 0.62 r.o5 0.28 0-53
none
!00.39

Matrix

Church
46.92 2I.68 20,46
9.80 0.28
0-34

Watters 63.60 27.I5 6-43 I.95 0.28 o.s6

none none

9948 99-97

Perr---y--48-30 28.or
3-I7 9-75 trace 0.53
none
9976

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
THE Prsor.I1'ES
The Maddox Sample. -Ten pisolites nearly spherical in shape, ranging from three-eighths to one inch in diameter, were selected for the sample. The pebbles were freed, in the usual manner, from all adhering clay. They were hard and firm, and could not be scratched with the finger-nail ; but they were readily scratched with a knife, and could be pulverized only in a heavy porcelain mortar by hard pounding. They were of a uniform dull grayishbrown color. Eight of the pisolites were solid throughout, breaking with a hackly or uneven fracture, and showed slightly porous or spongy interiors, due, likely, to a loss of water on contraction from drying after formation ; and they were dark grayish-brown in color. Several pisolites sh~wed partially powdery interiors, of a lighter color than the outer solid portion. In only one of them was the concentric (layer) structure apparent. It was composed of variously colored layers enclosing a small powdery nucleus.
The Bobo Sample.- Six pisolites, nearly spherical in shape, ranging from three-quarters to one and one-half inches in diameter, Vl!'ere seleCted. for the sal?l'ple, and were prepared as the Mad:dox sample, described above. They were of the same color and hardness, as the Maddox sample, but they differed as to the concentric structure, the 'layers-:bein~stronglymarkedrin each one~ Each pisolite was formed about a small structureless, indurated nucleus, which varied from red to lavender in color.
The Red Warr-ior Sample.- Six pisolites, of the usual shape, and varying from three-quarters to two inches in diameter, were used for the sample, which was prepared, as described a,bove. They were deep red in color, with pronounced concentric structure, and :were composed of several nuclei- compound. The interiors were of a deeper red in color, witli a majority of them harder than the outer portions. Several showed a red powdery interior without concentric structure. The interiors of several pisolites showed a light-colored, hard, horny mass, closely resembling gibbsite.
THE MATRIX
The Maddox Sample.- A hard, pisolitic ore, composed of a dense and compact cream- to buff-colored matrix, in which were

CHEMZCAL COMPOSZTZON

sr

thickly embedded pisolites, one-quarter to one-half inch in diameter. The matrix breaks with a hackly, partially conchoidal frac-_ ture. The pisolites make up more than half of the mass, and vary from red to cream and buff in color. The matrix could not be scratched with the finger-nail.
The Church Sample.- A very soft, flour-like, white- to creamcolored, clayey material, without trace of the pisolitic structure.
The Perry San-zple.- A hard, pisolitic ore, composed of a dense and compact buff-colored matrix, in which were embedded pisolites varyi~g in size, and from pink to white in color. The two (matrix and pisolites) are approximately in the ratio of I : r. The matrix breaks with a hackly fracture and can not be scratched with the finger-nail.
The Watters Sample. -A very soft, structureless, flour-like, white to cream-colored clayey material, closely resembling the Church material, described above.

It will be observed from the analyses, that the pisolites indicate more uniformity in composition, than the matrix; .but the analyses further show no appreciable difference in the composition of the two parts of the mineral.
In its purest form, bauxite contains more or less foreign material, either chemically combined or mechanically admixed. I!on sesquioxide, present in variable amounts, ranging from a trace to percentages equal to and occasionally exceeding that of the alumina, is usmilly present, in part replacing the alumina and in part only as an impurity. So common is iron, as a constituent or impurity, that it serves as a commercial basis for classifying the ore as (a) light-colored or non-ferruginous bauxite, and (b) red-colored or
ferruginous bauxite, averaging from ro to, in extreme cases, so
per cent. of iron oxide. Titanium is invariably present, ranging usually from r to ro
per cent., when estimated in the form of titanium dioxide. Analyses indicate, that this constituent averages higher in the pisolitic ore, and :is lowest for the structureless bauxitic clays. The form, in which the titanium exists in the ore, is seemingly dependent, in large measure, upon the origin of the bauxite. A study of those

52

CHEMICAL COJV.lPOS.lT.lON

deposits, derived from basalt and similar igneous rocks, indicates, that the titanium occurs in the form of free oxide, or as titanic iron oxide. This is true of the Vogelsberg deposits in Germany, as shown in the study of thin sections of the bauxite by A. Liebreich. I Also, of the Ober-Hessen deposits, by Lang. 2 Very little, if any, of the titanium in the Georgia deposits exists as free oxide; as a microscopic examination of a large number of thin sections of the mineral failed to indicate the presence of free oxides. Separations, by means of heavy solution and by elutriation, confirm the microscopic evidence.
Approximately 200 grammes of the powdered bauxite, consisting of both matrix and pisolites mixed, were placed in a separatory funnel, nearly filled with Thoulet solution, of specific gravity slightly less than quartz, and thoroughly shaken. After standing for r2 ho"urs, less thantwo grammes of the material fell. This was carefully drawn off and examined microscopically. The grains proved to be colorless and transparent, and more or less rounded under the microscope. Th:ey were made up almost entirely of quartz. Not a single individual was positively identified as free oxideoftitanhim, or a titanium bearing mineral.
An examination of numerous thin sections of both matrix and pisolites, under the microscope, also indicated the general absence of titaniferous minerals.
Chemical analyses bf the purest bauxites invariably show .some silica, which varies from a fraction of one per cent. to several per cent., inthe pures't ore, and from 30 to 35 per cent., in the low grade types of material-ba-uxitic clay. The ;;ilica is usually present in the form of the hydrated aluminum silicate, clay, which is invariably admixed iri varying proportions with the bauxite. It
ims 1.aclrsooscop.pree.sent, to some extent, as free- silica, as is shown by the
In addition to these, other common impurities, such as lime, magnesia, phosphoric and carbonic acids, and sometimes the alkalies, soda and potash, amounting to, usually, scarcely more than a trace in each case, are mentioned by various writers. The Georgia

I Abstracted by R. I,. Packard, Mineral Resources of t!ze United States, r8gi, P rso. 2 Ibid., p. 149.

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION

53

bauxite appears generally to be free from these last named impurities. No trace of them was found in any of the specimens analyzed by the writer.

RESUME

From the preceding data, it is clear, that the formula, given by

Laur r for the French bauxites and applied to the Georgia-Ala-

bama mineral, the hi-hydrate of alumina, is not applicable to the

Georgia deposits. The average percentages of Al 2 0 3 and H 2 0 in the best grade of the Georgia mineral certainly correspond to

the formula jority of the

Al ana

2
l

0 ys

3
e


s

3 ,

H
a

2
v

0, ari

t a

h b

e le

t

ripe

hydrate rcentage

of alumina. of alumina

,

In a mainsoluble

in roo C. of 50 B. sulphuric acid, is pre;;elit, which ranges from

a fraction of one per cent., in the purest ore, to from 40 to 45 per

cent: in the. associated bauxitic clays, which are elsewhere shown

to grade into each other. This insoluble alumina is probably

present in the form of the hydrous aluminum silicate, clay, admixed

possibly, as Phillips suggests, 2 with a lower hydrate of alumina.

Thus the Georgia bauxite, in its purest form, is, in most cases, a

mixture, whose base or essential part is the tri-hydrate of alumina.

All gradations, in which the soluble alumina ranges from 6o or

more per cent. to less than one per cent., or from the pure tri-

hydrate of alumina into the bauxitic clay, corresponding to the

hydrous aluminum silicate, are known.

As remarked by Liebreich, 3 chemical analyses of the mineral

from different localities show differences in chemical composition.

Thus we have analyses, which correspond to the three hydrates

of alumina, namely, the mono-, di- and tri-hydrates, which strik-

ingly illustrate the variable character of the so-called mineral,

bauxite.

So far as the writer can gather, from the various accounts and

descriptions, in which analyses of bauxites from the principal

localities, both foreign and American, are given, much depends on

the origin, as to the chemical constitution of the mineral. Indeed,

if the results can be relied on; we might put it a little stronger,

I Laur, Francis, OJ;. Cit. 2 Phillips, W. B., and Hancock, David, OJ;. Cit; 3 Packard, R. L., OJ;. Cit.

54

VARIETIES OF THE BAUXITE

and say, that the origin controls the chemical composition. Alumina forms, however, in all cases, the basis, and ranges from 55 to 85 per cent., according to locality, with correspondingly variable proportions of water of chemical combination, ranging accord-
ingly from rs to 34 per cent. Thus, deposits of the mineral are
known, which correspond, on analysis, with the three hydrates of alumina, namely, the mono-, di- and tri-hydrates.
While the so-called mineral, bauxite, corresponds in chemical composition, according to locality, to the three natural hydrates of
alumina; as arule, no resemblance in physical properties, known
at present, is shown, to the minerals, diaspore (mono-hydrate) and gibbsite (tri-hydrate). . Since this correspondence, therefore, in chemical composition, to the three hydrates does exist, the question is naturally suggested, whether the mono- and tri-hydrates, known as the minerals diaspore and gibbsite, do not really occur, with physical properties different from those usually recorded, and closely resembling those of the mineral, bauxite? In other words, is not 'what is called bauxite in some localities, diaspore or gibbsite in a different physical state? Or, whether the commonly accepted formula for baux-
or ite, A1 2 0 3 2H 2 0 Al 2 0(0H) 4 must be modified, according to
locality, to correspond to the mono-, di- or tri-hydrate, as the case may be, the general formula to be applied, irrespective of locality, and in its broadest usage, to be written Al 2 0 3 NH 2 0, in which N is variable and may correspond to one, two or three molecules of water.
Certainly if chemical work has any value in determining the constitution of material, we are forced to accept one of the two alternatives.

2. VARIETIES OF THE BAUXITE!
It must be understood in the beginning, that the classification of the ore into types or varieties is by no means well defined or differentiated at all times, but that the several types here designated grade imperceptibly into each other. The classification serves, however, as a convenient basis for description of the .indi-
I Hayes, C. w., Sixteenth Ann. Rept., U, S. Geol. Surv., 18941 Pt. III, p. 562.

VARIETIES OF THE BAUXITE

55

vidual deposits. The bauxite in the Georgia area shows considerable variation in color and hardness, chemical composition and structure. The concretionary structure is characteristic of all the varieties of the bauxite; although it becomes almost entirely absent in some cases.
The following types, based on structure, were previously recognized by Hayes, and in essential details they are in accord with the writer's observations: (r) Pebble ore; (2) Pisolitic ore; (3) Oolitic ore; (4) Vesicular ore; (5) Amorphous ore.
In the first three varieties, the size of the concretions and the character of the matrix are made the basis of differentiation. In the vesicular and amorphous types of ore, "the degree of compactness of matrix and concretions and the relative amounts of the two components '' are the distinguishing factors.
(r) PEBBLE ORE.-In this type, the matrix is soft, and is not sufficiently strong to hold the pebbles together, when worked or handled; hence they fall apart like loose gravel, when mined. The pebbles vary greatly in size; but the majority of them, perhaps, measure between three-quarters and one and one-half inches in diameter. They may be simple or complex in structure; perfectly rounded and spherical, to irregular in outline; with the nuclei usually powdery and enclosed by hard concentric layers of varying thickness.
(2) PISOLITIC ORE.-The pisolitic differs from the pebble type of ore in the size of concretion and the firmness of the matrix. The matrix is usually hard and compact, with the concretions between a quarter and a half inch in diameter, and hard, so that both matrix and concretion break with a conchoidal fracture.
(3) OoLITIC ORE.- The oolitic differs from the pisolitic type, by a decrease in size of the concretions. The concretions of this type vary from the size of a pea down to the smallest ore-grain.
(4) VESICULAR ORE: -This type consists of a compact, dense matrix, from which the concretions have fallen out. In either type of the hard concretionary ore, the concretions, when softer than the matrix, frequently weather upon exposure and fall out, giving a typical vesicular ore on the surface, which grades into the concretionary varieties in the fresh ore underneath.

VARIETIES OF THE BAUXITE
(5) ,AMORPHOUS ORE.- This type, as the name implies, cqnsists of the structureless bauxitic clayey matrix, in which concretionary structure is scarcely, if at all, visible. It varies from soft to hard and dense material, closely resembling halloysite.
In all of the types, the ore varies from deep red in color, in which the aluminum is replaced by iron in all proportions, to white and cream-colored. Color serves, then, in a general way, to classify1the ore into (a) Ferruginous, Red-colored Bauxite/ an:d (b) Non-ferruginous, Wki'te to Cream-colored Bauxite.

BAUXITE DEPOSI TS OF GEORGI A

PLATE IV

ANOTHER VIEW IN THE FI.OVD COUNTY RED SHALE QUARRY, NEAR RO~!E, GEORGIA.

CHAPTER IV.
DISTRIBUTION AND DESCRIPTION OF THE INDIVIDUAL BAUXITE DEPOSITS IN GEORGIA
The distribution of the ore- bodies, so far known in Georgia, is
shown on the accompanying map. The deposits are limited to six contiguous counties, namely, Walker, Chattooga, Gordon, Bartow, Polk and Floyd, which constitute the middle and south parts of the so-called Paleozoic Group, in northwest Georgia. Of these, Bartow and Floyd counties include the vast majority of the ore-bodies, grouped into fairly well defined districts. The remaining counties include only one or two deposits each, widely separated, as a rule, from each other.
While all parts of the region have a similar geologic history, the two districts possess certain peculiar structural geologic features, with which the ore distribution is apparently intimately associated. That geologic, as well as geographic relations, serve as a basis for the grouping of these deposits is apparent from the individual descriptions of the two districts, given below. The two may be conveniently designated (r) The Hermitage District, and (2) The Bobo District. A third district_, less well defined than the Hermitage and Bobo districts, which includes the deposits of Chattooga and Walker counties, is designated The Summerville District. The deposits of Polk county occur in its extreme northern part, just across the Floyd county-line, and constitute the most southern, of the Bobo district.
The occurrence of bauxite in Gordon county is near Calhoun, in the central-western part of the county, about 15 miles north of
Hall's station. A belt, I2 to rs miles :in width, in which bauxite
has not yet been discovered, separates the extreme northern de-
(57)

BAUXITE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA
posits of the Hermitage district from those of Gordon county. The ore-bodies in this county are, therefore, best described under a fourth and separate district, designated The Calhoun Dz'strz'ct.
The ore-belt continues southwestward into Alabama, for a distance nearly equal to that in Georgia ; but no active developments have been made outside of the Dyke's district in Cherokee county, whose eastern limit is the State-line between Georgia and Alabama.
Somewhat extensive deposits of iron ore occur, more or less closely associated with the bauxite, throughout the Georgia belt. The associatio11 of the bauxite with the iron ore deposits is particularly marked in the Hermitage and Bobo districts. The deposits of iron in the Hermitage district were somewhat extensively worked, for many years previous to the discovery of the closely associated bauxite. Indeed, it was the working of the iron deposits, that led to the discovery of bauxite in the Hermitage district.
A description of the geology of the region is given elsewhere in this report. The conditions peculiar to each district are given in the classification and description of the individual deposits below.
I THE HERMITAGE DISTRICT
In number of deposits, the Hermitage district is the largest in the State. It includes an area of more than 50 square miles, lying between Rome, Kingston and Adairsville, east of the Oostanaula river, and north of the Etowah river. It further occupies the contiguous northeastern and northwestern portions, respectively, of Floyd and Bartow counties. As a rule, the deposits are irregularly distri,buted over the district; but, in some cases, they are sufficiently numerous and near together, to form separate smaller groups, such as the Ridge Valley deposits, etc. As may be seen on the map, the distribution of the ore-bodies in this district, as a whole, is into a roughly oval-shaped area in outline. The northwestern limits of the area are along a line of contact between the Knox dolomite plateau and the underlying Connasauga shales.
The geologic structure of the region is comparatively simple~ with no visible lines of fracture or faulting at the surface, such as

BAUXITE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

59

characterize the Bobo district The surface-rock consists almost entirely of the massive Knox dolomite, which is only slightly folded. At several points, however, the underlying shales appear at the surface in narrow anticlines, indicating more or less folding of the overlying limestone. The most noteworthy case is near Barnsley, where the shale exposures are traceable, for several miles to the south, as long and narrow arched belts. The Cambrian shales are further exposed along the valley occupied by the Western and Atlantic Railway, to the east of Barnsley, and again at Kingston. Wherever exposed, the shales are much broken and crushed. The magnesian limestone is prevailingly covered with a thick mantle of vari-colored, siliceous residual clays derived therefrom, and not entirely free from commingled fragments of chert. The surface is thickly strewn with large and small, angular and. subangular fragments of the chert. Owing to the depth of residual decay, exposures of the underlying rocks are rare. Beside private individuals, the following companies either own or have worked, under lease, the various deposits in this district :-
The Republic Mining & Manufacturing Company; The Georgia Bauxite & Mining Company; The Dixie Bauxite Company; The Southern Bauxite Mining & Manufacturing Company. The first three companies have operated very extensively in the Hermitage district; while the latter company's property, in Georgia, lies, for the most part in the Cave Spring section of the Bobo district. The following is a list of the known deposits of bauxite in the Hermitage district:-

6o

BAUXITE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

Land Divisions

Name

County Section IDistrict Lot Remarks

. . Holland Spring

,

. . Holland House . Holland .

.

Church

. ..

Floyd
"

' .

" "

.. . . Ridge Valley No. I " Lot ro3" .

. . . "Lot ro4" : . . . Ward . . Braden

.. .

. Ridge Valley No.3 .

. . .. . . . . . . . . Stockade
Grier
. . . . Pinson

. .

. . Ridge Valley No.4. . . Maddox.
. . . . . . . . Watters

. . . . Wright

. . Burney

. . .

. . . Ridge Valley No. . . . Hardee
.. "Lot 29" :
. Davis No. I

2 .. .

.

.

. .

. . " "
. . . . . Veach.

2

.

. McGuire No. I .

. ..

. . " "
. . . Terry-Shaw

.2 .

. . Sheets.
. . Morrow

. ..

. Montague & Co

. . . . .. . . . . Connaseena
Mary

.

. . . Holt
Julia Warring.
. Spurlock

. . . .

" " " " " " " " " " " " " "
Bartow
" " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " "

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
3 3
3
3 3
3 3 3 3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3 3 3

Green Akin

.

.

" "

3 3

"Lot ITS"

"

3

23

6r Worked

23

6r

"

23

6r

"

23

6r

"

23

6o

23

103 Worked

23

104

"

23

I36

!'

23

I37

"

23

20 Prospected

23

2I Worked

"2~
IS

22

"

3I Prospected

23

59

23

I38 Worked

23

I47

"

23

I34 Prospected

23

I48

"

I6

I

"

I6

6o

!6

29

I6

6 ProspeCted

15

I06 Worked

IS

27 Prospected

IS

23

"

I6

I42

"

r6 Ioand2I Worked

I6

22 Prospected

I6

36

"

r6

97

"

r6

I28 Worked.

r6

54

"

I6

6s

"

r6

II7

"

r6

ro8 Prospected

16

!02

"

r6

98

"

5 16

7 andro6
ns

"

LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION OF THE INDIVIDUAL DEPOSITS
THE H9LLAND SPRING BANK. -This deposit, owned by the
Republic Mining & Manufacturing Company, is located on lot 6I, 2Jrd district, 3rd section, Floyd county, and is from 450 to 500 yards west of the Church bank. It has been opened to some ex-
tent, and a fair quantity of the ore, taken out. The work done
consists of a shallow pit, from 30 to 45 feet in diameter, with a 36foot tunnel, from 6 to 8 feet high, driven into the eastern slope,

BAliXlTE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

6r

at the base of a low dolomite ridge. Several drifts have been

opened on each side of the tunnel. Veins and "horses" of pink-

and-white mottled clay, several feet ~n width, cut the ore-body.

The exposure is not sufficient to show the extent of the ore. The

ore is a soft bauxitic clay, through which are scattered the small,

vari-colored concretions. The concretions are small, and, when

perfectly formed, are regular and spherical in outline, varying

from deep-red through lighter shades to white in color. They con-

sist of walls made up of layers of several thicknesses enclosing the

white-and-red powder. Some hard ore is met with, consisting of a

firm and compact buff-colored, siliceous appearing matrix, in which

the oolites are embedded.

Numerous irregular partially lens-shaped areas of perfectly

white halloysite, averaging from a fraction of an inch to several

inches in diameter, are thickly scattered through the amorphous

type of ore- bauxitic clay. The workings had not reached the

limits of the ore on either side.



so THE HOLLAND HousE BANK. -This opening is from to 75

paces east of the Holland Spring bank, on lot 6r, 2Jrd distriCt,

3rd section, Floyd county. The two are similarly situated with

reference to the ridge, and the workings and character of the ore

are closely similar. The openings in the Holland House bank are

not sufficient to show the extent of the deposit; although a cut

from 30 to 3S feet long, and from IS to 20 feet deep, showed ore

through its entire length. The ore-body is covered with a red clay,

and is further cut by a series of vertical clay dikes, of small dimen-

sions and of the same color as the covering. A partial parallel

banding to the outer surfaces was observed in several places in the

clay dikes. The ore is generally of a poorly defined pisolitic type,

with the concretions scattered through a soft, clayey matrix. The

entire mass crumbles readily. Occasional boulders, "dornicks" of

hard ore, varying from a few inches to several feet in diameter, are

mixed with the body of soft ore.

The following analysis furnished by Mr. John H. Hawkins,

Superintendent of the Republic Mining & Manufacturing Co.,

Hermitage, Georgia, represents an averageof about roo tons of

the ore:-

62

BAUXITE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

Al203 Fe20 3 Ti02 . Si02 . Ignition.
Total

5I.65 1.29 3-49
10.62 3245
9950

THE HOLLAND BANK.- This deposit is three miles due east from the Hermitage furnace, and 300 yards north of the Church bank on lot 6r, 23rd distriCt, Jrd sectz(m, Floyd county. Previous to 1895, the Holland bank furnished a considerable part of the ore shipped from Georgia, and the work done was more extensive and in a more systematic way, than at most of the other banks. It was from this locality, that James Holland picked up fragments of the highly ferruginous bauxite in r88r, and subn1itted them to Mr. Edward Nichols, Acting Chemist to the Ridge Valley Iron Company for analysis, thinking they represented an ore of iron. An analysis was made, which resulted in a lower percentage of iron and a higher percentage of alumina as compared with iron ores in general, and led Mr. Nichols to identify the material as the mineral bauxite; In r887, Mr.. NiChols briefly described the re-
sults in the "Transactions o.f the American Institute of Mi'ning
Engineers.'' In r888, the bauxite on this pr<?perty was opened for the first time, which marked the inauguration, or beginning, of the bauxite mining industry in Georgia.
The ore-body is enclosed by a deep-red to chocolate-brown, sometimes mottled clay; and, from the workings, it was apparently nearly circular in outline. The working consists of one circular pit, roo feet in diameter at the top, with the ore removed to a depth of from so to 6o feet. Nearly the entire mass of ore has ,been removed to this depth, except a little ferruginous ore still in contact with the surrounding clay.. At the time of the writer's visit,, in August, r899, the opening was nearly half filled with water, and the examination of the bottom of the pit was impossible; but he was informed, that the ore was by no means exhausted, when operations were suspended.
Above the surface of the water in the pit, the enclosing clay walls had an angle of slope approximating 45, which, if uniform

BAUXITE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

for the entire depth of the pit, would indicate that the ore would

become entirely exhausted at an additional depth of from 20 to 30

feet.

Nothing but red ore was in sight, at the time of the writer's

visit, a large amount of which, judging from the extent of the

dump-piles, was rejected, on account of the high percentage of iron.

The type of ore commonly represented in this bank is vesicular,

forming originally, perhaps, the pisolitic variety. It consists of

concretions, averaging a quarter of an inch in diameter, embedded

in a harder and lighter colored matrix. More often, the concre-

tions are represented by cavities of a darker colored lining than

the matrix, partially :filled with :fine powder.

.

The character of the ore is well shown in the- following analy-

sis, r which represents an average of ro6 cars of bauxite from this

bank:-

Alz03 Fez03 Ti02 SiO 2 Ignition.
Total

52-93 9-23 3-49 455 29.8o
IOO.Oo

THE CHURCH BANK. 2 -This W?-S the only one of the Hermitage group of deposits working in August, 1899. It is located on lot 6r, 2Jrd district, Jrd section, Floyd county, about 350 yards south of the Holland bank. According to aneroid measurements, it is 40 feet lower than the Holland bank. Two openings have been worked, located zoo yards from each other in an eastwest line, representing a large quantity of ore removed from both. The most westerly one of the openings is the older, and consists of a cut, zo feet wide, 200 feet long, and 30 feet deep.. Conditions indicate, that the main body of the ore has been removed from this
I From John H. Hawkins, Supt. of the Repu?lic Mining & Manufacturing Company, Hermitage, Georgia.
2 The writer was informed, in September, rgor, that the Churclz bank in the Hermitage district had been exhausted. The Republic Mining & Manufacturing Company was working, during rgoz, the cl eposits on lots I03 and IO of the Hermitag~ district, and the "Fat John" bank of the Bobo district. The writer visited the "Fat John" bank, during the summer of rgoz. and found the results very satisfactory. The deposit is a large one, and the grade of ore good (See half-tone of the" Fat Jolzn ".bank.)

BAUXITE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA
opening, leaving a lean bauxitic clay. On the assumption, that the Holland deposit extends 20 feet below the bottom of the present pit, the limit of the two ore-bodies is observed to be on the same level.. If, as is probable, the two had the same upper limits, the Church bank has suffered considerably more erosion than the Holland bank. This has resulted in the removal of the bulk of the original body of ore from the Church deposit. The bottom and sides show a white, and occasionally slightly mottled, bauxitic clay containing embedded concretions of various sizes, along with a few scattered small boulders of the compact pisolitic type of ore. This opening was abandoned, on account of the material, exposed at present, ranging too high in silic~, to be utilized by the present methods.
The most easterly opening, the one working during the summer of r899, consisted of a circular pit, from 150 to 200 feet in diameter at the top, which had been worked to a depth of from 35 to 40 feet. The surrounding clay is prevailingly light in color. The walls of the opening are nearly vertical, without appreciable narrowing of the ore-body at the 40-foot depth ; on the contrary, it has equal lateral dimensions at this depth as at the t9p, and the ore maintains its uniform quality and character throughout. The bottom of this opening had not reached the local base-level of the neighboring ravines. The ore-body is cut by two series of parallel vertical clay seams or dikes. The principal series, including the largest seams, which average 2 feet in width in case of the widest ones, trend east and west. The smaller ones average from two to .six inches in thicki1ess, cutting the principal series at right angles, and accordingly having a general north-south direction. The seams are not uniform in thickness, and all contain more or less commingled ore. As a rule, the smaller seams contain mixtures of the soft type of ore ; .while that associated with the larger seam's is mostly of the hard compact variety. The proportion of ore to clay in the seams is not large enough to render separating from the clay, by washing, profitable; hence, the associated ore is usually rejected along with the clay.
Both soft and hard types of ore are met with, the former greatly predominating. It- is prevailingly white or light in color, with a

BA UX.!TE _DEPOSITS OF GEORG.fA

small proportion of the ore, near the surface, highly ferruginous and red iti color. The uniformly light-colored ore from this deposit is strongly contrasted with the prevailing red ore from the almost adjacent Holland bank on the north. The enclosing clays, as well as the ore, are also generally light-colored. The smaH area of red ore, near the limits of the ore-body proper, would seemingly favor the suggestion, that some of the ferruginous bauxite owes its red color, not to iron as an original constituent, but as a probable secondary infiltration and replacement, subsequent to the deposition of the ore. The hard type of ore is the usual boulder form, compa~t pisolitic variety, made up of concretions enclosing a white powder, the whole embedded in a dense, firm light-colored matrix.
The ore is raised by steam, on an inclined track with cable. An average of 300 tons of this ore yielded the following results : - r

Al20 3 Fez03 TiOz SiOz Ignition .
Total

55-30
I.OZ
4048.043r.6o
IOO.OO

An analysis, made of a specimen of the soft and structureless bauxitic clayey matrix, yielded the writer, in the Survey laboratory, the following results:-

SiOz . TiOz . Fez0 3 Alz03 Hz 0 at I00 C. H2 0 (Combined)
Total ...

20.46 9.80
0.28
46.92 0.34
2I.68

THE RIDGE VALLEY BANK No. r . - On lot 6o, 23rd district, Jrd section, Floyd county, four test-pits, of average dimensions, have been opened. The pits are in pairs, and are approximately soo feet apart, along a north-south line. The northern-
r From John H. Hawkins, Sup't, Republic Mining & Manufacturing Company, Hermitage~ Georgia.

66

BAUXITE DEPOSITS OF GEORG.lA

most two show a white ore; while the southern ones indicate a very ferruginous red ore. So far as is opened, the o:re belongs to the hard type. The openings are entirely insufficient to show the extent and form of the ore-body. The work has been wholly in the nature of prospecting, with no. shipment of ore yet made.

LoT "ro3," 23RD DISTRICT, 3RD SEC'l'ION, FLOYD CoUNTY.-
On this lot, four openings have been made within from 400 to .500 feet of each other. It is estimated, that approximately 500 tons of ore have been shipped from the main pit. This opening is roughly elliptical in outline, 25 feet long, r8 feet wide, and 35 feet deep, and was partially filled with water at the time of the writer's visit in August, 1899 ; but he was informed, that the ore had been entirely exhausted. The ore from the main opening was of the pebble type, and light in color.
Three test-pits, within a radius of roo feet from each other, and west 400 feet from the working described above, have been dug. In these, a highly ferruginous red-colored ore is shown. The orebody is probably a large one; although its exact limits can not be d e:fined, on account of insufficient development. The association of a highly ferruginous ore with one nearly free from iron, as is shown in the analysis below, and light in color, within a few hun~ dred feet, is a very noteworthy feature; It is quite similar to the grades of ore found in the Holland and Church banks, previously described.
The following analysis I represents an average of 40 tons of ore from the main opening on "lot I03" :-

Al203 Fe2 03 TiOz SiOz Ignition .
Total

57.06 r.So 3.68 6.32
30.54
99-40

"LoT ro4," 23RD DISTRICT, 3RD SECTION, FLOYD CouNTY.-
Several test-pits, of average size, have been sunk in different places on this lot, revealing a fair grade of soft, white ore mixed with
I From John H. Hawkins, Sup't, Republic Mining & Man'ufacturing Company, Hermitage, Georgia.

BA UXZTE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

some of the compact boulder type. No regular work has been done on this lot, and no ore has yet been shipped.

THE WARD BANK.- This deposit is located on lot IJ6, 23rd district, 3rd section, Floyd county. Very little work has been done, and only one car of the ore had been shipped, up to August, 1899. The developments are entirely too meager to define the limits of the ore-body ; although present conditions would favor an estimate of a moderately extensive deposit. Specimens of the ore show the pisolitic type, consisting of perfectly spherical concretions, from a fourth to a half-inch in diameter, embedded in a compact light-colored matrix. When broke:n, the interiors of the concretions are seen to be filled with a red powder.
THE BRADEN BANK. -Considerable prospecting has been done on lot IJJ, 23rd distriCt, 3rd section, Floyd county. Three shafts, having the following dimensions, have been sunk: -(r) 4 X 5-foot opening and 32 feet deep; (2) 4 X 5-foot opening and 40 feet deep ; and (3) 4 X s-foot opening and 42 feet deep.- A medium light-colored bauxite was pierced at a depth of 3 or 4 feet from the surface, composed of a cherty clay soil. None of the shafts penetrated the entire depth of the ore-body. One hundred and fifty yards southeast of the shafts, a pit 30 x 40 feet, and 8 feet deep, was dug in a solid body of ore, after removing a residual soil covering to the depth of three ~eet. One hundred and fifty yards northeast of the pit, less than half-a-dozen smaller prospect openings, averaging six feet in depth, have been made. Ore was found
in all the openings, varying from a ferruginous to a: non-ferrugi-
nous type. The following partial analyses, 1 made on specimens of ore col-
lected from this lot, will give some idea of the character of the bauxite:-

Al203 .. Fez03 .. Insoluble Matter .

I

II

62.53

I.97 I.OJ

546 5.15

THE RIDGE VALLEY BANK No. 2.-0n lot I, I6tfz district, 3rd section, Bartow county, one test-pit has been opened, revealing

I Fllrnished by Mr. B. F. A. Saylor, Sup't of the Dixie Bauxite Company.

68

BAUXITE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

a hard, siliceous, bauxitic clay, flinty in appearance, and breaking with a conchoidal fracture, but easily cut with a knife, and closely resembling the mineral halloysite.
In the Dykes district, near Rock Run in Cherokee countyt Alabama, a similar prospect, after passing through the same material for a depth of from 7 to ro feet, exposed a 40-foot deposit of ahigh grade of oolitic ore, of whitecolor.

RIDGE VALLEY BANK No. 3 -Lot 20, 23rd district, Jrd section, Floyd county, has been prospected to some extent and a white pebble _type of ore, found. The extent of the deposit is. wholly unknown, since practically no developments have been undertaken.

THE STOCKADE BANK. -This deposit is located on lot 2I, 23rd dz"strict, Jrd secli'on, Floyd county. Numerous openings oc- . cur; and 6o tons of the ore are estimated to have been shipped.. The openings are in the nature of shafts and pits in a slight ravine, with a north-and-south alignment. In some cases, the ore was found at the surface; while in others, a covering of residual clay, from ro to r6 feet in depth, was removed, before the ore-body was encountered. The deepest opening is near the head of the ravine. It was worked to a depth of 35 feet, without penetrating the entire depth of the deposit. The ore is of the hard, compact,. ferruginous boulder type. The following analysis r is of an average of 6o tons of the ore, which gives an accurate idea of its. character : -

Alz03 Fez03 TiOz SiOz Ignition.
Total

s8.34 4.5I 340 335 30-40
, roo.oo

Dr. Spencer 2 gives the following results, on analysis of a "white porcelanous mass, with. subordinate pisolitic grains, associated with white clay beds upon the side of a ridge,'' in the same lot:-

I Furnished by John H. Hawkins, Sup't, Republic Mining & Manufacturing Company. 2 The Paleozoic Group o.f Georgia, Geological Survey of Georgia, 1893, p. zr6.

BAUXITE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

Alz03 Fez03 TiOz . SiOz . Ignition .
Total

46.72 2.14 0.87
29.01 20.15
. 98.92

The following analysis r is of specimens of white clay from the Flowery Branch bauxite deposit on the same lot :-

Alz03

Fez03

KzO

NazO.

MgO

TiOz

SiOz (Combined)

SiOz (Free sand)

H 2 0 (Combined)

H 2 0 (Hygroscopic)

Total

.

38.6o I.45 0.09 0.02 0.30 1.95
40-40 o.So r6.35 0.35
. 100.31

Mining was suspended on this lot some years ago.

THE GRIER BANK. -This deposit is located on lot 22, 23rd district, 3rd section, Floyd county. Only one opening has been made, and this is in the form of a circular pit, worked to the depth
of from rs to 20 feet, with an estimate of approximately 25 tons
of the ore taken out. The pit was sunk on a 3-foot-square surface outcrop of the ore. The opening is more in the nature of a prospect, than an attempt at regular working; and neither the lateral nor the vertical limit of the ore-body has been reached. The soft pebble type of ore predominates, mixed, to some degree, with the hard pisolitic variety of bauxite. It is very similar to that of the Church bank, described above. An average of 20 tons of the ore gave the following results on analysis:- 2

Alz03

Fe20i

TiOz .

SiO 2

.

Ignition.

Total

59.22 3.!6 36o 330
30.70
9998

I Spencer, J. W., op. cit., p. zSr. 2 Furnished by John H. Hawkins, Sup't, Republic Mining & Manufacturing Company.

70

BAUXITE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

THE HARDEE BANic- Near the northwest corner of lot 6o, 16th d-istrict, 3rd sectz'on, Bartow county, in a slight depression on the south -side of a ridge, is an outcropping, in tl1e form of scattered fragments of bauxite over an area, from soo to 6oo feet in length. The longer axis of the area, over which the fragments are strewn, has an east-west direction. Some four or five test-pits have been dug along the axis of the area, revealing, for the most part, a ferruginous ore mixed with some of a lighter color.
Near the center of the same lot, and 300 yards south of the above deposit, on top of the ridge, is a second deposit of bauxite, belonging to the pisolitic variety, made up of red oolites sparingly scattered through a light to pink colored matrix. Some prospecting in the nature of test-pits has been done. Both deposits have good promise as. to quality and quantity.
THE PINSON BANK.- Two test-pits have been sunk on lot JI, 15th district, 3rd section, Floyd county; and a light solid body of ore has b~en shown in each. So far as prospecting has extended, the ore is the hard, oolitic type, usually pink in color, and mixed with some pebb~e ore.
THE RIDGE VALLEY BANK No. 4- One small opening, from which a quarter of a ton of hard, white bauxite has been shipped, has been made on lot 59, 23rd district, Jrd section, Floyd county. Present indications point to no very extensive body of ore.
THE MADDOX BANK. -This deposit is located on lot 138, 2Jrd district, 3rd section, Floyd county. The openings consist of two large connecting pits in a north-and-south line. The work done has been very extensive, and in a systematic manner. The pits are nearly circular in outline, and have the following dimensions : South pit, 6ox 130 feet; worked to a depth of 32 feet, with a 27-foot depth of ore. The north pit has approximately the same dimensions, and has -been worked to a depth of 25 feet. At the time of the writer's visit, the two openings were filled with water, to within ro to I 5 feet from the surface ; but the writer was informed, that the ore was not entirely exhausted in the bottoms. The water filling the pits is a turbid green in color.
The entire deposit was originally covered, to a depth of from

BAUXITE .DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

JI

3 to 6 feet, with a bright-yellow, siliceous residual clay, containing a considerable quantity of commingled angular masses of chert, of various sizes. It is further situated on a broad and even surface-plain of dolomitic limestone, whose surface, in turn, is thickly strewn with chert fragments. The walls of the openings vary but slightly from the vertical, showing apparently a large amount of ore still in sight.
The ore is of the pisolitic variety, prevailingly white in color, although some highly ferruginous red masses occur. The oolites, or concretions, vary in size from an eighth to an inch in diameter, and are usually white and perfectly rounded in outline. In these, the concentric (layer) structure is highly developed. Some of the layers are red ; but the majority are light in color, and frequently the two colored layers alternate in the same individual. The concretions are embedded in a compact, buff-colored matrix. Both hard and soft ore are represented. The ore-body is cut by the usual number of clay seams and "horses," some of which were apparently of large size in this deposit. It is estimated, that several thousand tons of the ore have been worked, and shipped from this property.
The following partial analyses r give a general idea of the character of this ore : -

Al203 .
Fez 03 . SiOz HzO.

I 62.73
2.86
4-73

II 6I.78 2
3-32 2.76
32.II

III 62.54
I.36 5-46

Separate determinations of silica and iron oxide m different specimens of the ore gave the following results:-

SiO 2 Fe203 . . , . . . . . . . . .

I 936 3.5I

II

III

3.!6

I9.64

The silica in the first and third columns of the last determinations evidently represent an imperfectly washed ore. The following partial analyses are of specimens of clay from the ''horses,'' cutting the ore-body in the two pits:-

I Furnished by Mr. B. F. A. Saylor, Sup't, Dixie Bauxite Company. 2 Includes T'iO 2

72

BA UX.ITE DEPOSITS OF GEORGZA

Al203
Fez03 Insol. Matter .

North Pit 40.60 4633 o.g9
4330 4375

South Pit 45.05
37-42 3r.8o 38.8o

A determination of the insoluble matter in the waste, from the

ore-washer in the Maddox bank, gave ~o. 70 per cent.

Separate analyses of the pisolites and matrix, made by the writer

in the Survey laboratory, on selected samples of ore from the Mad-

dox bank, gave the following results:-

Si02 .
1:'i0 2
Fe203
Al203 H20at roo C.,
H 20 (Combined)
Total . . .

Pisolites 374 9-70 0.76 52-36 0,20 33I7
9993

Matrix o.62 r.o5 0.28 64.9I 0-53 3300
roo 39

One of the largest plants for washing; drying and hoisting ore in the bauxite district is located on the side of the Maddox opening, and is in excellent condition.
THE WATTERS BANK. -This deposit is located in the northwest corner of lot I 47, 2Jrd dz'strz'ct, Jrd sectz'on, Floyd county, 5 miles slightly east of north from Rome. It is owned by the .Southern Bauxite Mining and Manufacturing Company, whose post-office is Cave Spring, Georgia. The deposit occupies the southeast slope, and near the top, of a broad and gently sloping dolomite ridge, whose surface is thickly strewn with angular fragments of chert of various sizes. Measurement with the aneroid barometer gave an elevation of 971 feet for the deposit, above sealevel.
This is one of the most e:xtensive deposits, yet worked in the State, yielding a rather uniformly high-grade ore. More than 25,000 tons of the ore had been shipped, up to September, r9or.
The deposit consists of two distinct ore-bodies, separated from each other by a distance of 40 yards in a northwest-southeast direction. The ore-bodies are enclosed in the light- and varicolored mottled clays, the light-colored clays predominating. On the north side of the northwest body, where the ore had been ex-

THF. "FA'r JOHN" BAUXT'rf{ MINH, FLOYD COUNTY, GEORGIA.

BA UX!TE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

73

hausted in September, r9or, at a depth of So feet, the angle of slope of the surrounding clays with the ore-body was approximately 35 degrees. Near the centre of the pit, the ore continues to a depth of more than r4 feet below the So-foot level on the north side, referred to above. The surrounding clays, enclosing the northwest ore-body, are the same on the north and south sides, and are generally light in color; although the purple tints are much in evidence. The dimensions of the pit were 200 feet long, rso feet wide, and S4 feet deep. The ore-body is covered by an average of I5 feet of yellow-and-red residual cherty clay. The ore is almost entirely of the soft, light-colored pisolitic and gravel types, admixed, to some degree, with boulders of the hard pisolitic ore (' 'dornick ").
The southeast ore-body, which occurs lower down the slope, has been worked to a depth of only 40 feet. The bauxite is mostly of the soft, ferruginous, pisolitic or gravel type, carrying a greater percentage of iron oxide than the light-colored ore from the northwest pit. The ore-body is cut by an east-west clay dike or "horse," 30 feet in width. Some boulders of hard ore (" dornick") occur admixed with the soft red ore.
The general character of the two grades of bauxite from the Watters bank is well shown in the following commercial analyses,
made by Mr. S. L. Graham of Rome, Georgia : -

. I. A Lght Colored, Non-ferrugnous Bauxite, from the Northwest Ore-body

. Si02
. Fe20 3
. Alz03

530 0.94 '59.2I

6.22 1.32 57-70

6.24 I.I4 58.ro

6.85 1.34 57-0I

6.92 0.72 57.82

6.01 1.59 57-IO

9.68 r.r8
54-I7

7.14 I.36 5358

Si02
Fe20 3 .

. 5.56 9-53 IO.IO II.03 5-79 4.82 r8.69
I.OI I.78 0.93 0.73 o.66 o.68 o.88

Al203

. 6r.I8 58.47 53-2I 52.89 54.63 56.87 43-IO

2. Red Colored, Fe1'ruginous Bauxite, from the Southeast 01'e-bocly

Si02 Fe20 3 Al203
SiOz Fe2 0 3 Al20 3

9-40 L53 . 5I.27

9-95 r.6o
49-80

. 10.95
. I.89
49-75

933 2.04 49-96
ro.6o I.67. 49.18

13.62 2.II 47-49
II.20 2.I8 48.26

10.70 I. 75 49-25
8.85 r.67 52-33

II.95 r.6o 48-30
9.8o I.45 51.57

74

BAUXITE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

A comparison of the analyses of the two grades of bauxite, from this bank, shows a higher average in SiO 2 and a lower average in Al 2 0 3 , for the ferruginous type, than for the light-colored or nonferruginous ore. The iron oxide in the red bauxite of the Watters bank averages very low indeed; and, in no single analysis, is it shown, to be sufficiently high, to, in any way, affect the general good qualities of the ore for alum manufacture.
This property was first opened late in the summer of I9oo. The work was in the form of shafts and tunnels, with several opencuts. Three shafts were sunk, having depths of 33, 55 and 6o feet~ respectively. The shafts roughly formed an equilateral triangle, the shortest line, connecting the nearest two, being I 65 feet in length. After piercing several feet of a residual cherty clay covering, each shaft was in ore the remaining depth. The main cut was begun well down ne~r the middle slope of the ridge, and con-
tinued directly into the ridge, N. 33 W., for a distance of 235
feet, when the depth became too great for the width of cut for open work, and a tunnel was driven the remaining distance, 350 feet. The ss-foot shaft caught the tunnel near the middle of its course, and the 6o-foot shaft fixed the northwest limit.of the tunnel. The level of the cut extended to the valley, by means of bridge work ; a track was laid for the entire distance ; and the waste was carted off by trucks, and dumped .from the elevated portion of the track to the valley bottom.
Subsequently, open-work was employed for mining the ore, and the shafts and tunnels were destroyed, and were replaced by two large roughly circular pits, 40 and 84 feet deep, respectively.
A siding, a fraction more than two miles long, has been run to the bank, from the Southern Railway, at a point six miles north of Rome.
While engaged in field-work on the manganese deposits of Floyd county, during the summer of Igoz, the Watters bank was still being worked, yielding large outputs of good ore.
THE WRIGHT BANK 1 . - This deposit is located on top of the same ridge, approximately ISO yards northeast fro:tn the Watters 6o-foot shaft, in the southwest corner of lot IJ4, 23rd dz'strz'ct, Jrd

1 Also known as the Hight Bank.

BAUXITE DEPO.S7TS OF GEORGIA

75

section, Floyd county. The deposit has never been worked; but it has been thoroughly prospected by numerous test-pits, most of which indicated a high-grade ore of the hard, white type. Several openings were drilled to a depth of 2 5 feet. The section showed three feet of a red, cherty soil covering, and 22 feet of bard, white bauxite. The drilling did not pass through the entire depth of the ore-body. The prospects indicate a large deposit of ore, closely similar to that on the adjacent Watters property.
Some additional prospecting has recently been done on the Wright lot, revealing a large deposit of very good ore, quite similar to that mined on the adjoining lot- the Watters. No ore had been shipped up to September, rgor; although approximately two cars of the ore had been mined. The following commercial analysis of a specimen of the ore
from this bank, made by Mr. S. L. Graham, of Rome, Georgia,
indicates its general character : -

Si02
Fe2 0 3 ....... _11._1203 .

. .. 5.20 per cent.
I.38 " " 57-32 " "

This property is owned by the Southern Bauxite Mining &

Manufacturing Company.

THE BURNEY BANK. -This deposit is located on the top of the same ridge, about 200 yards west from the Watters bank, on. lot I48, 23rd district, 3rd seclion, Floyd county. The prospecting consists of one open-cut, 30 feet long, exposing a white, amorphous, bauxitic clay through its entire length. Several small test-pits have been dug in places, near the cut, with ore found in most of them. The developments are entirely insufficient, as yet, to define the limits and shape of the ore-body.

LoT 29, r6TH DISTRICT, 3RD SECTION, BARTOW CouNTY.Three shafts have been sunk to a depth of 30 feet, within a radius of roo feet of each other, near the north line of the lot. The shafts penetrated ore for their entire depths. Both soft pebble and hard oolitic types of ore, usually red in color, occur mixed together. The present conditions favor a large body of ore.
THE DAVIS BANKS. -Openings have been made on two land

BAUXITE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA
lots, approximately three miles southwest from Adairsville, in separate deposits of a pisolitic type of bauxite. The deposits differ widely in color and in the percentage of iron in the ore.
On lot 6, z6th district, 3rd secli'on, Bartow county, one pit, 5 feet deep, r 5 feet long and 6 feet wide, located on a ridge 300 yards east of the Davis dwelling-house, was opened about fourteen months prior to the writer's visit in r899. The ore-body is covered by a deep-red, residual, cherty clay, derived from the limestone and the included chert. The surface of the ground is heavily strewn with angular chert fragments, of varying sizes. About roo pounds of this ore was shipped to Nashville, Tenn., for exhibition at the Nashville Exposition. in r897. A compact body of highly ferruginous ore is shown in the pit. It is not sufficiently well exposed to say, whether the ferruginous ore is confined to the outer limits of the deposit next to the enclosing clays, as is often the case, or whether it dominates the entire body. The pisolites vary from a quarter to an inch in diameter, readily crumbling to a brick-red powder. The matrix is prevailingly deep-red in color, and mottled light-buff in places. While a solid body of ore is shown in the pit, developments are not sufficient to define its limits, or to say what quantity of ore is present.
The second opening is on lot zo6, I sth district, 3rd section, Bartow county, approximately half-a-mile northeast of the one described above, and two miles southwest from Adairsville. The prospect is in a nearly level field, covered with a cherty soil, derived from the limestone. A few scattered fragments of the ore, on the surface, led to its discovery. The main pit is 25 feet long, ro to I2 feet wide, and 8 feet deep. Several smaller test-pits have been dug within a few yards of the large one, revealing ore, of the same character. The openings cover approximately So feet square of surface, which would indicate a large ore-body. The main pit was sunk some years ago, and one car-load of the ore, shipped. The ore-body, where exposed, is enclosed by a light-colored bauxitic clay, and, in several places, is cut by clay seams of the same color. Unlike the ore on lot 6, this is prevailingly a light-c.olored . ore, averaging very low in iron. The pisolites are somewhat smaller, averaging a quarter of an inch, and less, in diameter, and

.BA [/X.!TE DEPOS.!TS OF GEORG..lA

77

are closely crowded in a compact light-colored matrix. The ore is remarkably uniform in character, in all the openings. Some boulder-ore occurs near the top of the main pit, mixed with the surrounding clay.

THE VEACH BANK.-This deposit is located on lot 27, I5th district, 3rd section, Bartow county. Several prospect openings have been made; but not more than one car-load of the ore has been shipped. The main pit is 25 feet long, I2 feet wide and rz feet deep. About four feet of a deep-red, plastic clay were removed, before the ore-body was reached. Several smaller pits have been dug near the large one; but ore was not found in all of them. The ore is prevailingly red in color, with occasional lighter colored areas, closely resembling the Davis bank on lot 6. The pisolites vary from a quarter- to a half-inch in diameter.

THE McGuiRE BANKS. -A small opening has been made in a highly ferruginous red-colored pisolitic type of ore on lot 23, I5th dzstrz'ct, 3rd section, Bartow county. The pit is irregular in outline, 6 to 8 feet deep, and is located near the top of a dolomite ridge in a body of woods. The opening is cut through from 3 to 4 feet of deep-red clay before striking the ore-body. Several small boulder outcrops of red bauxite occur near the pit. The pisolites vary from a quarter- to a half-inch in diameter.
On lot I 42, I 6th dZ:strz"ct, 3rd sectzon, Bartow county, near the east line of the lot, and a quarter of a mile west of the Western and Atlantic railroad, four test-pits, averaging 3x5 feet, and seven
feet deep, have been opened. The pits cover approximately so
square-feet of surface. A good quality of hard, white pisolitic ore was found in all the openings. It is stated, that the ore will not exceed three per cent. of silica, and one per cent. of iron oxide~ and it will, therefore, average more than 6o per cent. of alumina. The ore-body is located at the head of a ravine near the top of a dolomite ridge. At the time of the writer's visit, the property was under lease to a St. Louis firm ; but no work had been done.

THE TERRY-SHAW BANKS. -This deposit, operated by the Georgia Bauxite Company, is located on top of a high dolomite ridge, with an east-west line passing directly through it, which forms the north-and-south boundary line, respectively, of lots IO

BAUXITE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

and 2I, I6th district, 3rd sedion, Bartow county. Lot IO is known as Mrs. Terry's; and lot 2I is owned by Mr. Frank Shaw. Fragments of bauxite are strewn over the surface for a considerable distance, in both lots. Two large open-cuts have been made and a considerable quantity of the ore, taken out. The largest cut is approximately roo feet long, 25 feet wide and from 15 to 20 feet deep; while the next one is not quite so long and wide; but it has been worked to nearly the same depth. A number of test-pits have been opened at different points near the cuts, with ore showing in most of them.
The ore is prevailingly red in color, and, for the most part, is of the hard, pisolitic type. The pisolites are usually small in size, crumbling in some cases to a red powder, but hard and :firm in others, breaking with a conchoidal fracture. They are embedded in a compact, red-colored matrix. The ore is stained, in places, with manganese oxide, which, in many cases, is in the form of small crystals. The ore-body outcrops at the surface, and is enclosed by a deep-red clay, containing, near the surface, abundant commingled fragments of chert. Soft ore is not entirely absent, mixed with the predominating hard boulde.r type.
The. following analyses give a good idea of the character of the ore from the Terry and Shaw properties :-

Al2 03 Fez03
. . . TiO z
. SiOz
. HzO.
Total

Shaw r
53-32 2.I4
904 2.66 32.26
. 9942

Terry r 58.9r 4-72 trace 4-46 29.r6
9725

Terry r 5352
2.ss 3.26 7.02 3097
97.62

Terry I 57.8I
2.36 trace 7.4I 3I.36
9894

Terry I
4994 4.28 4.I8 II.38 30.07
9985

Terry I 62.52 0.7I trace 536 30-53
99.I2

Alz03. Fez 03 . TiO z SiO 2 HzO.

Terry r
5597 r.65 35I 756
3o.r6

Total . 9s.85

Shawr
58.58 0.74 2.68
22.53

Shawr
5733 5-00
333 436

Shawr 58.25 2.38
3-07 543

Shawr
5730 2.59 3.28 5.28

Shawz 55.56
5.62 3.26 4.85 30.08
9937

Shaw3 5r.22
4-83
I3.33 29.82
9920

I Furnished by Mr. John R. Gibbons, Snp't of the Georgia Bauxite Mining Company. 2 Furnished by Mr. John H. Hawkins, Sup't, Republic Mining & Mannfacturing Company. 3 Spencer, J. W., The Paleozoic Group, Geol. Surv. of Georgia, r893, p. 218.

BAUXITE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

79

THE SHEETS BANK. -One small test-pit has been sunk on lot 22, I6th d-istrict, Jrd sectz''on, Bartow county, revealing a lightcolored, pisolitic type of ore~ No attempt at working has been made, and the extent of the ore-body is entirely unknown.

THE MoRROW BANK I. -This deposit is one and a quarter miles northeast from the Holt bank, on lot 36, I6th district, Jrd section, Bartow county. Several test-pits have been opened, resulting in the finding of ore in only two of them. The two pits indicating ore are approximately 20 feet apart. So far as the prospecting extends, a light-colored, hard, pisolitic type of ore is shown. The developments are insufficient to define the extent and shape of the ore-body.

MONTAGUE & COMPANY'S BANK 2 .-One mile slightly south of east, from Barnsley, on lot 97, I6th d-istrict, Jrd sect-ion, Bartow county, one small pit has been opened in a deep-red residual clay on the side of a limestone ridge. The pisolitic type of ore is shown. The pisolites are deep-red in color, varying from an eighth- to a half-inch in diameter, and are embedded in a reddish but lighter colored matrix. Several other smaller pits have been opened near each other, and the one just described reveals ore of the same character. The property is said to be owned by a Chattanooga company. No work has been done. The following partial analysis3 made of specimens of "earthy, and white with reddish concretions," located on the side of the ridge, gives some idea of the character of this ore : -

Alz03
. Fez03
SiOz
HzO .
Total

43.18 8.74 zS.rr 19.22
99-25

THE CoNNESENNA BANK.- This deposit, worked by the Georgia Bauxite and Mining Company, is located three miles southeast of Barnsley, and a quarter- to a half-mile west of Connesenna creek,
I Originally known as the Newman bank. 2 Marked as the Conway lot on the map.
3 Spencer, J. W., Tlze Puieozoic G1oup, Geological Survey of Georgia, I893~ p. 2I7.

8o

BAUXITE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

on lot .128, z6th distriCt, 3rd section, Bartow county. The ore is found in the bottom and on the sides of a moderately deep, narrow ravine, which cuts directly into the eastern side of a dolomite ridge ; and it is also found scattered over a surface of from 400 to 450 feet in length. Two open-cuts, averaging more than 200 feet in length, and, in one case, from 30 to 40 feet deep, have been opened, indicating the removal of a considerable quantity of the ore. The ore is distributed in streaks and pockets through a red, white and mottled clay. The clays contain more or less of the pebble and boulder types of ore scattered through them. The indications were, that the soft pebble type of ore predominated; although boulders of the hard ore, of various dimensions, were, by no means, uncommon. The pisolites, or conc~etions, vary from an eighth to three-quarters of an inch in diameter, often light in color, though prevailingly red, as a rule. The conditionsstrongly

indicate, that the present deposit represents the lower limits of a once very extensive body of ore, the greater part of which, has been removed by erosion.
The following analyses indicate the general character of the ore, from this property :-

Alz03 Fez03 TiOz
. SiOz
. HzO
Total

II
57.18 !.90 6.40 r.86
32.66
IOO.OO

III
'
59-50 0-47 540 2-93
3!.70
IOO.OO

III I 52.84 ro.rs 4.71 2.34 2993
9997

IV 1
5455 909 399 I. 54
30.03
9920

vr
6346 I.42
o.so

VI 2 6r.88 0.2! 404
2.!3 3I.so
9976

A good grade of light-colored ore,not yet tested, is reported to be on the property of Mr. Knowles, of Rome, Georgia, near the Connesenna bank.
THE MARY BANK.- This deposit, owned by the Georgia Bauxite and Mining Company, is about three miles north of the Connesenna bank, and is located on lot 54, z6th district, Jrd section, Bartow county. The work has been done on a very extensive scale, and the deposit, sufficiently opened to show a large body of ore.
I Furnished by Mr. John R. Gibbons, Sup't, Georgia Bauxite Mining Company. 2 Spencer, J. W., Tlze Paleozoic G1ozep, Geological Survey of Georgia, 1893, p. 220.

BAUXI TE DEPOSI TS OF GEORGIA

PLATE VI

'niB GVLI.IVU. BAUXlTB KllCB (liOIUUUU.Y 'niB ARKilCGTON), WAI.JtBil COVlCTY, GEORGIA.

BAUXITE .DEPOSITS OF GEORG.IA

8r

The deposit is further located on the eastern slope of a broad dolemite ridge, separating the valley of Tom's creek from the valley of Connaseena creek. The ridge surface, is covered with a yellow..,. colored, cherty, residual soil derived from the limestone, with1 an average thick~ess of three feet covering the ore-body. The:workings extend over approximately half-an-acre of ground, to 8! depth of 20 feet. The ore varies somewhat in character; but the greater part of the deposit consists of the pisolitic type. The pisolites or concretions are usually small in size, varying from an~ eighth of an inch to one inch in diameter, generally red in color;. and embedded in a lighter red to cream-colored, slightly porous matrix. In some cases, both matrix and pisolites are deep-red in color. A second variation in the ore may be seen near the contact of the ore-body with the surrounding clay. The texture is compact, and both matrix and concretions break with a conchoidal fracture. The color is usually some grayish tint mottled with red. Gibbsite is rather a common associate, in this type of ore, at the: Mary, bank, and is found lining the cavities of the matrix in: places.
The following analyses kindly furnished by Mr. John R. Gibbons, Snp't of the Georgia Bauxite Mining Company, of Linwood, Georgia, give a good idea of the prevailing character of the Maryore:-

Alz03 Fez03 TiOz SiOz HzO.

I
62.03 0.23
3-44 3.66 30.70

II
58.96 2.90 s.oo 5.8o
:)0.56

III
5968 0.23
432 2.60 32-40

IV
5942 none
448 350 32,23

v
59.I6 none 4.80 4.26 3I.86

VI
5926 4.86'
33I 2.98 28.86

Total

. roo.o6 I03.22

9923

9963 roo.oS

9927

Alz03 Fez03 TiO z SiOz HzO
Total

VII
63.0I 2.84 358 I.04
29.83
. I00.30

VIII
56.75 r.86 3I3 784
30.03
99.6I

IX
5775 I.87 356 555
3L23
9996

X
53.23 ILI7 3.20 0.79 3L50
9989

XI
56.9r I.63 2.73 8.33
30.23
9983

XII
61.98 r.rS o.S6. 3.22
3I.50
9874

82

BA UX.ITE DEPOS.ITS OF GEORG.!A

Alz 03 Fe203
. . TiOz
SiOz
HzO .
Total .

XIII 5509
r.18 353 970 28.33
9983

XIV
5772 !.90
351 505 30.66 -98.84

XV 58.77
I.01
496 r.6o

XVI 56.o7
r.8o 3.16
935

XVII
5694 2.66
376 8.43

XVIII 5726
2.17
353 725

THE HOLT BANK.- This deposit is located on lot 65, I6th distrz'ct, Jrd section, Bartow county, on the top of a broad dolomite ridge, from a half to three-quarters of a mile north of Barnsley.
One opening, from 25 to 30 feet deep, and as many feet wide, has been made, showing a compact, and what appears to be an excellent body of ore. The following section is exposed near the entrance to the pit:-
A yellowish white cherty clay soiJ, three feet thick ; A stiff, plastic, white-and-pinkish-red mottled bauxitic clay, containing scattered cavities, the size of the concretions of the ore, 3 feet; Light-colored pisolitic bauxite. The ore is of the pisolitic type, with the co'?cretions varying from a quarter to an inch in diameter, prevailingly white in color, and embedded in a white to slightly reddish stained, compact matrix. In the north and northwest corners of the opening, the pebble variety of ore prevails. Occasional large boulders of the hard 't dornick" ore are distributed through the mass of pebble ore. Developments are yet insufficient, to state the exact limits and form of the ore-body ; but indications favor a large deposit of excellent ore. The character of the ore is well brought out in the following analyses, kindly furnished by Mr. John R. Gibbons, Sup't of the Georgia Bauxite Mining Company, of Linwood, Georgia:-

Alz03 Fez0 3 TiOz
. Si02 .
HzO
Total

58.55 I.40 2.95 454 31.40
. 98.84

58-45 I.63 2.65 324 3306
9903

57-50 I.40 6.57 352 31.23
100,22

4971 r.18 2.57 2I.47 24.66
9959

51.03 I.43 2.50 20.92 23.86
9974

5639 2.35 413 3.08 32.20
98.15

55.83 0,92
2.55 12-49

BA UXJTE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

An analysis, made of a specimen of ,the soft, cream-colored bauxitic clay, from the Holt bank, yielded the writer, in the Survey laboratory, the following results:-

Si02 . TiOz . Fe20 3 Alz03 H 2 0 at roo C.
2 0 (combined)
Total ....

40.I6 9-25 trace
35.80 0.50 I5.05
I00.76

THE JuLIA BANK.- This deposit, owned by the Georgia Bauxite and Mining Company, is located about a mile southwest of Barnsley, on lot I I?, I 6th district, 3rd section, Bartow county. This property formed a part of. the original Godfrey Barnsley estate. The surface of the immediately surrounding country is generally level, with an altitude little less than 900 feet; and the bottoms of the neighboring ravines and some portions of the surface are covered with coarse fragments of chert. The work done has been more extensive than at any other bank in the .Hermitage district. Two large bodies of ore have been exposed in working, and are approximately 350 feet apart, with a northwest-southeast alignment.
The northwest deposit has been more extensively worked than the other, and its limits and form are fairly well known. The opening is roughly circular (oval) in outline, with the lateral dimensions at the top, from 200 to 250 feet. It is said to have been worked to a depth of go feet. Irregular tongues of the ore are to be seen cutting into the surrounding clays on the sides of the pit. These have not been worked entirely out. The southeast ore-body has been worked to a depth of 6o feet, with the lateral dimensions of the opening, about the same as those on the northwest deposit. The writer was informedl that the depth of the ore had been reached in the northwest pit, but not in the southeast one. This, however, could not be verified by the writer, since the two openings were nearly filled with water, at the time of his visit. Dr. C. W. Hayes has examined and accurately described the two ore-bodies, and I quote in full from his report:- r
I Sixteenth Ann. Report, U. S. Geol. Surv., r894-'95 (1895), pp. 572-574

BAUXITE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA
"The best contact of the ore body [northwest bodyJ with the surrounding
mantle is shown on the east side of the pit where the drainage ditch leaves it. The outer portion of the ore body, particularly near the surface, forming a band from I to 3 feet thick, is deeply stained with iron. This ferruginous ore is in contact with mottled clay which at a depth of 20 feet or more is plastic like putty, and white, g_ray, or pink, but nearer the surface is harder and more ferruginous. The outer portion of the mottled clay shows faint traces .of steeply inclined bedding and contains a few boulders of bauxite. It merges gradually into the surrounding ferruginous, siliceous clay which contains fragments of chert and coarse granular sandstone. The upper surface of the ore body is smooth and even and slopes gently toward the west, a little more steeply than the present land surface. The sharp contact of the ore with the overlying siliceous clay is entirely different from its contact with the same material around its edges. It is evident that the upper portion of the deposit, how much it is impossible to say, has been removed by erosion, and the smooth erosion surface subsequently covered by the 3 or 4 feet of residual clay now resting upon it. The ore body is penetrated by several masses of clay having the form of narrow vertical dikes ; two of these are nearly parallel and cut entirely across the ore body from side to side. They are nearly straight
and vertical, 3 or 4 feet thick at the top and decreasing downward to I or I Yz feet
at the bottom of the pit. They are composed of yellowish clay similar to that overlying the ore with which they are continuous, and they contain some fragments or small lenses of bauxite. The clay composing the dikes shows a somewhat distinct banding parallel with their outer surface. In addition to these two principal dikes several smaller ones intersect the ore body at varying angles, generally vertical, but sometimes inclined. .Some of these are mere clay streaks an inch or less in thickness, but however thin they always extend entirely to the surface.
''These dikes were undoubtedly formed subsequent.to the deposition of the ore body. As will be shown later, in discussing the origin of the bauxite, it probably contained, when first deposited, a much larger amount of water than at present. Indeed a part at least may have been originally in a semi-gelatinous condition. As the ore gradually lost a part of its water its bulk decreased and shrinkage cracks were formed, widest at the top where the desiccation was most rapid. These cracks were filled chiefly from aboye by the overwashed residual clay, but also partly from the sides. Further shrinking of the ore body opened the cracks again and they were again filled by material from above and from the sides. These successive fillings produced the observed banding parallel with the sides of the dike.
"The bauxite from ~his bank is mostly coarse pebble ore. It resembles a mass of somewhat compact and partially cemented gravel without any trace of bedding. The individual pebbles are mostly from one-quarter of an inch to 2 inches in diameter and are both simple and complex. The simple pisolites seldom reach rYz inches in diameter, while the complex are seldom under three-quarters of an inch. Taking all which are an inch or thereabouts, perhaps two-thirds would be simple and one-third complex. The latter are not generally so nearly spherical as the former, though in many cases it is impossible to distinguish them by their external form. Scattered throughout this mass of pebble ore are numerous well-rounded boulders from 2 inches in diameter, the larger complex pebbles, up to 2 feet. They

BA UX.!TE DEPOS.!TS OF GEORG.fA
are composed of quite uniform pisolitic ore made up of soft pisolites embedded in a dense, compact matrix. This material is quite similar to that forming the main ore body at the Mary mine. The complex pebbles and bowlders were doubtless derived from some preexisting ore body in the immediate vicinity which was broken down and worked over by water while this deposit was forming. The fragments of the previously formed ore were not only rounded by wear of the currents, but received layers of fresh material which helped to round out or conceal their surface irregularities. The amount of rounding which the bowlders have suffered by wear would indicate that they had traveled some distance ; but it is more probable that the rounding was produced largely, if not wholly, by the strong ascending currents of a spring or geyser.
"From the northeast side of the pit a tunnel penetrates 20 feet into a mass of amorphous bauxite consisting of cream-colored material, having a compact uniform structure somewhat like halloysite but not so hard. This material contains from I4 to 20 per cent. of silica, less than half the per cent. contained in halleysite, and little or no iron. It may be regarded either as a mL-,;:ture of bauxite and halloysite, or perhaps more properly as a bauxite, in which all the iron and part of the water were replaced by silica. There is no present demand for this material, but it will undoubtedly some time find utilization, its freedom from contamination by iron being an extremely desirable feature for some purposes.
"The second ore body is about 350 feet southeast of the one above described. Although it has not been worked so extensively, numerous test pits show it to be probably fully as large as the other. The character of the ore, however, is quite different, approaching more closely to the pisolitic than the pebble type. In general the pisolites are much smaller, being mostly under half an inch in diameter with, so far as observe<..l, no complex pisolites or rounded bowlders. Portions of the ore closely resemble the material composing the bowlders of the first described deposit. Indications of somewhat extensive limonite deposits are seen in contact with the bauxite along one side of the ore body. Fragments of bauxite are found on the surface for a quarter of a mile in a southeast direction from these deposits. Until further prospecting has been done it will be impossible to say whether other deposits exist in this region or whether this :float all comes from those now known. It seems highly probable, however, that other deposits will be discovered in the immediate vicinity when systematic prospecting is undertaken."
\Nork had been suspended for several months prior to the writer's visit in r8gg. The equipment consists of a commodious drying plant, and machinery for hoisting and handling the ore. The output from this property in 1895 was estimated at 400 tons per month.
On the same lot, 300 yards east of the Julia mines, a compact, hard, white ore has been found. Two small test-pits, three by five feet, and seven feet deep, have been .sunk about 6o feet apart, showing- four feet of solid ore.
v
The character of the ore from the Julia mines is well shown in the following analyses:-

86

BA UX.ITE .DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

Alz03 FezO 3 TiOz SiOz
HzO .
Total

II
58.98 0.14 4.28 4-37 3I.97
. 9974

Al 2 03 Fez03 TiOz
. SiOz .
HzO
Total

VIII 1 58.o8 trace
3.68 5-40 3I.40
98.56

III
59-46 0.20 4.00 4-93

III I
58.9r 0.20 6.75 333

IVI

VI

59-22 0.2I
2.44 8.30 28.83

55.83 0.2I
356 13.33 2743

99.00 ' 100.36

VII
5639 0.71 8.24 2-43
32.23
roo.oo

IXI
54-44 4-25 4-38 2.89 32.30
98.26

xr
6r.5o I.I9 2.76 I.28
3327
roo.oo

XI 1 6o.88
0.7I 3-II 2.67
- - 3247 9984

XII 1 62.08
o.59 4.10 0.71 32.66
100.14

XIII 1 60.75
0.7I trace 8.99 29.27
9972

VII 1 52.25 0.2J 8-484-40 31.73
97-09
XIV 1 55-75
2.85 5-IO 473

Alz03 Fe20 3 Ti02
. Si02 .
HzO. ' Total .
Al203 Fe203
. TiOz
SiOz HzO
Total

XV 1
53.14 I-40
3-73 II.I6

XVI 1
46.72. 8.28 2,60
r8.r5
23.33 --
99.08

XVII 1
57-46 2.37 2.63 7.28
-28- .33
98.07

XVIII 1 56.9r
I.OO
4.20 23.30

XIX 1
55.05 4.00 3.08 rr.6o

XX 1
57.17 I.47 5.r6 6.14
-29-.87
99.81

XXI 1 5758
2.63 3.41 5.r4 30.58
99-34

XXII 1 53.08 0.72 3-45 r6.7r 25-44
99-4

XXIII 2 6o.o6
094 3.8o 4.20 31.00
IOO.OO

XXIV3 67.53 trace 2.92 I.34 28.oo
99-79

XXV3 6o.6r
0.2I 4.18 2-47 32.00
9947

xxvi3
6o.63 trace 4.76 3.20 31.00
9959

THE WARRING BANK4.-0n lot Io8, z6th dz"strzd, Jrd sectz(nz, Bartow county, some prospecting has been done, and one car-load of the ore, shipped. The openings show a medium light-colored to white ore, low in iron and high in silica. The surface indications are, by no means, extensive. The developments are insufficient, however, to show the extent and shape of the ore-body.

1 Furnished by Mr. John R. Gibbons, Sup't of the Georgia Bauxite Mining Company.

2 Furnished by Mr. John H. Hawkins, Sup't of the Republic Mining & Manufacturing Com-

pany.



3 Spencer, J. W., The Paleozoic Group, Geological Survey of Georgia, r893, p. 219.

4 Also known as the Seay lot.

BA UX/TE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

The following is an analysis made of specimens of this ore, described by Spencer as "white, small grained pisolitic in mass":- I

Alz03 Fez03 SiOz . HzO .

45.2I 0.52 35.88 IJ.I3

Total

THE SPURLOCK BANK.- One and a quarter miles east of Hall's station, on lot 102, I6th dzstrict, 3rd sectzon, Bartow county, a prospect pit, 3x 7 feet, and six feet deep, shows a soft, pink-colored, amorphous bauxitic:clay.
THE GREEN BANK.- One mile west of Hall's station, on lot 98, 16th dt.strict, Jrd sectio;z, Bartow county, some prospecting has been done, and a bauxitic clay, similar to that on the Spurlock place, was found.
THE AKIN BANK. 2 -About two miles east of Hall's station, on lot 7, 5th dzstrzCt, Jrd section, and lot I06, 16th district, Jrd sectzon, Bartow county, some prospecting has been done, and a good quality of white bauxite, found. No regular work or mining has
been done. The ore is principally found on lot 7
LoT rrs, r6TH DISTRICT, 3RD SECTION, BARTOW CouNTY.-
About two and a half miles west of Hall's station, on the Barnsley estate, bauxite is found on lot I 15, r6th distrz"ct, Jrd section, Bartow county. Both the hard, boulder, pisolitic, and soft,pebble types of ore are reported, covered by a yellowish, residual siliceous clay.
The following analysis indicates a very high grade ore from thi.s lot: - 3

Alz 0 3 Fez 0 3 TiOz SiOz . HzO .
Total

6I.25 I.82 2.38 I.98
3I.43

I Loc. cit.

2 Formerly known as the Sherman Place

3 Spencer, J. W., Tlze P.zleozoic Group, Geological Survey of Georgia. r893, p. Zig.

:ss

BAUXITE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

The type, or variety, of ore yielding specimens, from which the analysis was made, is described by Spencer as ''white, small _grained pisolitic in mass," and situated on a flat-topped ridge.

2. T:a;E BOBO DISTRICT
In area, the Bobo district is the largest in the State. It includes all the known deposits of bauxite in the south half of Floyd county, and those of the northern part of Polk county. It is in strong contrast in topography with the Hermitage district. The area is cut by a number of parallel faults of the ordinary Appalachian type, which have an approximate north-south course. Long and narrow southward strips of the soft Cambrian shales are brought in contact with the Knox dolomite, resulting in the formation of deep and narrow valleys etched in the shale belts, that .are limited by correspondingly high and steep-sided ridges of Knox dolomite, more or less irregular in form, and extending in .a nearly north-south direction. The faults are easily located -where the shales are exposed; but they apparently die out toward the south in the Knox dolomite, which appears unbroken. To the southward, the ridge-valley type of topography becomes less strongly accentuated, and finally merges into a broad, undulating plateau. The lines of fracture very evidently extend for a greater Dr less distance in the magnesian limestone southward; but they are not visible, since the dolomite occurs on both sides of the faults, with its surface covered to some depth by residual chert and clay. Where the faults are visible, the strata are observed to -dip steeply to the east with the fault-blocks overlapping each -other.
In the Hermitage district, it was observed, that the bauxite de}Josits were frequently irregularly grouped about certain centers. In the Bobo district, they apparently follow or lie along approximately north and south lines, which, in the northern part of the area, are closely coincident with the lines of fracture-faults. For this reason, the ore-bodies of the Bobo district undoubtedly bear a very intimate relationship to the structural lines of weakness (faults), a condition referred to later.
The altitude of most of the ore-bodies in this district have been

B A UXI TE DEPOSI TS OF GEORGIA G E N E RAL VI E W OF THE GULLIV E R BAUXITE PLANT, WAT. K E R COU N TY, GEORGIA .

BAUXITE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA
measured as accurately as possible with an aneroid barometer, and are found to be remarkably uniform. Several of them are found above the 950-foot level, and as many are found below the 8sofoot level; but the majority lie between these limits, more often near the 900-foot level. This difference in elevation is readily accounted for, on the grounds of subsequent erosion. The ridges rise to greater elevations in most cases. Dr. Hayes has previously noted the uniformity in altitude, of these deposits, and has discussed its significance and bearing on their possible age, which is elsewhere discussed in this report. r
The following is a list of the known deposits of bauxite in the Bobo district : -.
1 Sixteenth Ann. Rept., U. S. Geol. Surv., r89~-'95 (rS95), p. s;JI et seq.

BA UX.ITE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

Land Divisions

I

Name

County Section District Lot

Remarks

Penny. .

Gordon

Culbertson Fat John

.

Reel Warrior .

Bobo

. Lanham.
Woods

Hatch . Little Lamb

. .

Floyd
" " " "
",,
"
"
"

4 4 4 4 4 4 4
4 4 4

"Lot 620"
. Henry.
Burkhalter.

" " "

4 4 4

Moseley . "Lot 765"

.

" "

4 4

"Lot 766"
. "Lot 749"
. . Louis Reynolds

" " "

4 4 4

"Lot 6go" "Lot 678"

.

" "

4 4

"Lot 692"

"

4

. . "Lot 677"
Doyle " Lot go6 " .

" " "

4 4
4

Willis Reynolds

"

4

Louis Reynolds

Minter

.

" "

4 4

. Howell
Brannon.

.

" "

4 4

Minter

"

4

"Lot 23" "Lot 685" Hawkins

. .

" " "

4 4
4

. Whorton
Ritch

. ",,

3 3

Fomby

"

Bonsack . Reese Cochran : "Lot r2" "Lot 682"

.
. .
.

" " " " "

3 3 3
3 3 4

Freeman Bigelow Broadaway.

"

3

Polk

3

"

3

3 1072, ro89

3 IOI7, IOI8

3

999

3

6o7

3

6o6

3

535

3

536

3

55 I

3

552

3

534

3

620

3

910

3

89I

3

820

3

765

3

766

3

749

3

750

3

6go

3

678

3

692

3

677

3

8g6

3

906

3

833

3

76I

3

687

3

r6o

22

I4

22

I3

22

23

3

685

3

?

22

59

22

l5I

22

I 50

22

I29

22

6o

22

I82, I83

22

I2

3

682

23

332

22

?

22

53

Worked Prospected
" " "
Worked Prospected
" " "
Prospected
" "

LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION OF THE INDIVIDUAL DEPOSITS
The Cave Spring section, as is shown on the accompanying map, includes three deposits, grouped along a north-south linet within half-a-mile of each other, and not more than two miles a

BAUXITE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

9r

little east of south from the town of Cave Spring. These form the most southwesterly known deposits in the State, and are within a comparatively short distance of the Alabama State-line. vVhile they are removed some little distance from the Bobo district proper, they are properly grouped in this district, on geologic grounds. Their mode of occurrence is geologically identical with those of the Bobo district. They form the most interesting series of deposits in the State, from the standpoint of erosion, which furnishes a possible clue to the vertical limits of the ore-bodies. The most northerly deposit has the greatest altitude above sea-level; and :field-study indicates, that it has suffered but little, if any, erosion. The most southerly one, on the other hand, is in a deep valley of erosion, 170 feet below the northernmost deposit, and half-a-mile distant therefrom. After being worked to a depth of 20 feet, it is entirely exhausted, indicating that nothing more than the remnant bottom portion of the deposit was left, the greater bulk having been entirely removed by erosion. The middle orebody, a quarter of a mile north and south, respectively, from the other two, is 90 feet higher than the southern deposit and 8o feet lower than the northern one, indicating, from its position, as well, that a considerable part of this one has been removed by erosion. It will be observed, therefore, from the geologic position and occurrence of this series of ore-bodies, that some idea may be gained of the possible original depth of the bauxite deposits. A detailed description of these three deposits is given below.
THE PENNY BANK. -This is the most southwesterly known deposit in the State. It is located one and a half miles a little east of south from Cave Spring, on lots I,072 and I,o89, 3rd district, 4th sectzon, Floyd county, in a deep and narrow ravine, at an elevation of 780 feet above sea-level. The summit of the surrounding ridge is from roo to I 75 feet higher. This deposit is said to be entirely exhausted. Operations had been suspended for so long a time: prior to the writer's visit, and the opening had caved in to such an extent, that no ore was visible. The actual form and size of the ore-body, also, were not clearly discernible. The opening was in the shape of a cut from 40 to 50 feet wide, roo feet long in

BA UXZTE DEPO.SZTS OF GEORGIA

a north-south direction, and probably averaging 20 or more feet in depth.
The white-and-pink mottled clay, surrounding the ore-body, was exposed in a number of places. At several points in the cut, the clay dips under the ore-body at an angle of from 30 to 40 degrees, as nearly as could be determined. The ore was apparently a mixture of coarse gravel, whose concretions measured from half-an-inch to one and. one-half inches in diameter, and fine pisolitic bauxite. The pisolitic type of ore showed a pronounced pinkish to red color, for both pisolites and matrix. The indications are, that a considerable quantity of ore has been removed.

THE GoRDON BANK. -This deposit is located on lots I,OI7 and z,oz8,3rd district, 4th section, Floyd county, about a quarter of a mile further north, and in the same ravine, as the Penny bank. Aneroid measurements show this deposit to be from go to 95 feet higher than the Penny bank. The ridge has an elevation at this point of
from so to 75 feet above the ore,..body. A tunnel has been driven
into the east side of the ridge at the above elevation, exposing a part of the ore-body. The beginning of the tunnel is in a red clay, the relationship of which to the ore-body is not entirely shown. A few test-pits have been sunk near the tunnel, showing simj}ar conditions. The ore, thus far exposed, is prevailingly white in color, and is, for the most part, of the amorphous type, mixed with some boulders of hard and light-colored pisolitic ore. The tunnel leads from a circular-shaped pit from 50 to 75 feet in lateral dimenswns.
The work is mostlyin the nature of prospecting, and is entirely insufficient to reveal the extent and character of the ore-body. The following partial analysis,r sampled from 40 tons of firstgrade ore, gives some idea of its character:-

Alz 0 3 (soluble) . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56.12 Fe z 0 3 , I. 38
THE CuLBERTSON BANK. -This deposit is located a quarter of a mile north of the Gordon bank, at the approximate altitude of the old peneplain, 950 feet, and So feet above the Gordon bank,

r Furnished by the Southern Bauxite Mining & Manufacturing Company, Cave Spring,

Georgia.





BA WUTE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA.

93

on lot 999, Jrd d-istrict, 4tk sect-ion, Floyd county. The ore outcrops over a surface of approximately 30 feet square. A cut, 20 feet long, ro feet wide and three feet deep, has been opened on the outcrop, exposing a solid, compact body of ore. The ore is a pink-colored typical oolitic variety, and apparently promises well as to extent and quality. The following partial analyses indicate the character of the ore : -

Alz03
. Fe20 3
Si02
HzO .

II
39-75 I.62
4L47 r6.r4

IF 49-72

III 2 4S.ss

IV 2 49-80

Dr. Spencer describes the specimens of ore, from which the above analysis was made, as follows: ''Small pisolitic concretions in mass, grayish white, with some iron stains,'' occurring on top of ridge.3
It will be observed, that these three deposits have a nearly due north-south alignment, and are in close proximity to each other. The indications are, that the three were deposited at the same elevation, and at about the surface altitude of the old peneplain in this section. If this be true, the Culbertson bank has suffered practically no erosion since deposition; while the Penny bank has been removed almost entirely, and the Gordon, in greater part, by subsequent erosion. The most southerly one of the three deposits, the Penny bank, was exhausted at a depth of from 20 to 25 feet, which would indicate, in case the deposits had the same depth, a remaining deposit of rro and 190 feet, respectively, for the Gordon and Culbertson banks.

THE FAT JOHN BANK.- This deposit is located on lot 6o7, 3rd district, 4tfz section, Floyd county, ro feet below the summit ; and on the southwest side of the highest point of a broad dolomite ridge. The surface of the ridge is covered with chert fragments, of various sizes and angularity. Three test-pits, of small

I Spencer, J. W., The Paleozoic Group, Geological Survey of Georgia, 1893, p. zr6.
2 Furnished by the Southern Bauxite Mining & Manufacturing Company, Cave Spring, Georgia.
3 Op. cit., p. zr6.

94

BAUXITE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

dimensions, had been dug near each other, revealing a solid com-

pact ore in each one. The ore is exposed at the surface, J.n differ-

ent sized fragments, scatter~d over an area, so feet square. The

ore is of the pisolitic type, varying from light to red in color. The

pisolites range from a quarter of an inch to one inch in diameter,

with the nuclei composed of a red powder enclosed by lighter col-

ored hard and firm walls, several layers in thickness, the whole

embedded in a dense, compact, buff-colored matrix. The character

of the ore is shown in the following analysis, kindly furnished by

Mr. John H. Hawkins, Sup't, Republic Mining & Manufacturing

Company, of Hermitage, Georgia:-

Alz03 FezQ3

.

. .

. .

.
.

.



. .

.

6I.3I I.04

TiOz

Si02 HzO

. . . . .

4.ss I.40 3I.70

THE RED WARRIOR BANK.-. On the adjoining lot, No. 6o6, to the west of the Fat John bank, is an extensive deposit of bauxite, so feet lower in elevation, it being in all probability, a continuation of the same ore-body, inasmuch as scattered fragments and partially buried boulders of the ore are readily traced over the surface between the two. The two combined represent roo square yards of surface, roughly circular in outline. If the surface indications are a true index to the extent of the deposit, a very large body of ore occurs on the two lots, Nos. 6o6 and 607. The developments, however, are wholly insufficient to determine the extent and shape of the ore-body. The surface outcrops are composed of boulders of the pisolitic type of ore, light-pink to red in color. The prospecting on lot 6o6 consists of two open-cuts, 2S and 30 feet long, from 5 to 6 feet wide, and IO feet deep. Both cuts are in solid, compact ore. Several small ,test-pits had been dug near the cuts, each of which showed ore of a similar character.
The openings show, for the most part, the pebble type of bauxite, embedded in a soft, clayey material. The pebbles vary from a quarter of an inch to two inches in diameter, usually red in color. The larger pebbles are oval-shaped and compound. The smaller ones are spherical and simple. Small boulders, of different di-

BAUXITE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

95

ameters, are mixed with the pebble ore. The boulder ore is of the pisolitic type, with pisolites and matrix colored red. The following analyses1 kindly furnished by Mr. John H. Hawkins, Sup't, Republic Mining & Manufacturing Company, show the character of the Red vVarrior ore : -

Alz03 Fe20 1 TiOz SiOz HzO

I 59.08
I. I2 4.8o 2.30
32.]0

II
54-96 6.39 5-05 r.8o 32.IO

III
5I.I4 I3.86 3-40
I.40 32.20

An analysis, by the writer in the Survey laboratory, of the deep1ed pisolites collected from the Red Warrior bank, gave the following results : -

SiOz ... TiOz . Fe2 0 3 Alz03 Hz 0, at roo C. Hz 0 (combined)

4.2I 8.79 I0.44 52-40 0.39 24.06

Total .

. I00.29

THE BoBo BANK.- This is the most extensively worked deposit in the Bobo district. It is located on lot 534, 3rd district, 4th section, Floyd county, about three miles a little west of south from Six Mile station (Van's Valley) on the Southern Railway. The deposit is near the 900-foot contour on the eastern side of a broad dolomite ridge. The ridge is steeply sloping, with its highest point about rso feet above !he deposit. Its slope is covered by several feet of residual clay, containing fragments of chert mixed with the clay, and strewn over the surface. The contact, where observed, between the residual clay and the ore-body was perfectly sharp, and no fragments of chert were found in the deposit of bauxite. The pit, from which the ore has been removed, is roo feet long, from 35 to 40 feet wide and from 20 to 25 feet deep. The ore has been exhausted laterally, but not in depth. The indications are, that probably from 35 to 50 feet more of ore is obtainable. A shaft, r6 feet deep, was sunk, from the bottom of the pit in a solid body of white pebble ore, of superior quality. It is

BAUXITE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

estimated, that 3,ooo tons of the ore have been shipped from this openmg.
Approximately, 75 feet above the head of the pit and near the top of the ridge, several test-pits have been dug, revealing the same grade and quality of ore, as described from the working above. Since the ore has been worked out laterally- in the larger opening, that, shown in the pits higher up the ridge, apparently represents a separate deposit. The ore-body in the large cut is enclosed by a white-and-pink mottled clay, which dips under the ore, on the west side of opening, at an angle of about 45. At several places in the opening, the bauxite appears to pass, by imperceptible gradations, into a light-colored bauxitic clay.
The ore is very white or light-colored, and of the pebble type, entirely, or nearly, free from iron stain. The pebbles varyfroma quarter of an inch to one and a half inches in diameter, crumbling easily; and are embedded in a soft, white, clayey matrix. Both matrix and pisolites crumble with readiness, and are mixed in equal parts of the matrix and the pebbles. Near the center of the opening, on the north side, numerous red boulders, of large dimensions, of the hard pisolitic type, were mixed with the soft ore. Occasional halloysite lenses and masses were observed in the orebody.
The deposit was worked, under lease, by the Southern Bauxite Company, when it was first opened, early in the spring of r89r. It was worked continuously for a period of nearly two years. The character of the ore from the Bobo bank is well illustrated by the following analyses:-

Alz03 Fez03 Ti02 SiOz HzO.

II
6I.25 0-45 4.8o 5.IO 28.40

ur
6r.o8 0.72
395 I . 55 32.70

III I
58.72 0.88 6.20 r.8o 32.40

IV 1 6I.64 0.36 3.IO
430 30.70.

vz 5982
2.I6
6.62 3I.IO

Analyses of the hard, white, concentric structured pisolites, and of a pure white kaolin from the Bobo bank, yielded the writer,~in the Survey laboratory, the following results :-

r Furnished by Mr. John H. Hawkins, Sup't, Republic Mining & Manufacturing Co, 2 Spencer, J. W., Tl~e Paleozoic Group, Geological Survey of Georgia, 1893, p. 218.

BAUXITE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

SiOz . TiOz . Fez03 Alz03 H 2 0 at I00 C. Hz 0 (combined)
Total ....

Pisolites 0.99 763 I.89
57.26 0.39
3I.69
. 9985

97
Kaolin 43.31 none none 43.08 0-43
I4.I2

The analysis of the pisolites corresponds to the formula A1 20 3 .3H20; while that of the kaolin has the Si0 2 : A1 2 0 3 : H 2 0 ratio approximately 2 : I : 2, corresponding to the formula 2H 20.A1 2 0 3 2Si0 2
The analyses indicate one of the highest grade ores, yet worked in the State. The soluble alumina averages uniformly high, with practically no iron; and the silica is proportionally low. This is a most desirable ore.
THE LANHAM BANK. -.Near the southwest corner of lot 536, Jrd district, 4th section, Floyd county, and close to the base of a dolomite ridge, and 90 feet below the Bobo bank, some half-dozen test-pits have been sunk, only three of which showed ore. The
rs pits indicating ore covered a surface area of from to 20 feet
square. The ore-body is covered by three feet of residual red clay; and it is of the oolitic variety. The oolites are white to pink in color, embedded in a buff- or light-colored compact matrix. The interiors of the oolites are usually filled with a white powder.
THE WOODS BANK.- This deposit is located near the central western portion of lot 55 I, Jrd district, 4th section, Floyd county, on the west slope of a steep and broad dolomite ridge. The aneroid barometer gave an elevation of 94r feet above tide-level. One shaft, 22 feet deep, has been sunk, penetrating a solid body of ore,. for its entire depth. Several test-pits have been dug within a few feet of the shaft, and ore was found in each one. The. ope~ings are arranged in a roughly circular shape, including about 25 feet square of surface. The ore-body is covered by two feet of a lightcolored, residual, cherty soil. Numerous boulders, of large size, scattered over the surface, first led to the discovery of this deposit.
The ore is a high-grade, white- or cream-colored pebble variety,

BAUXITE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

closely resembling that of the Bobo bank. The pebbles vary in size; but they are generally large. Some boulders of the hard, pisolitic type are mixed with the soft ore, and are made up of white pisolites embedded in a firm, compact, buff-colored matrix. vVhile developments are yet insufficient, to give the limits of the ore-body, conditions are favorable to a large deposit of high-grade ore. The following analysis, kindly furnished by Mr. John H. Hawkins, Sup't., Republic Mining & Manufacturing Company, indicates a very high-grade bauxite:-

Al203 Fez0 3 TiOz SiOz HzO

62.68 o.sz 4.70 1.30 30.80

THE HATCH BANK.- On the west side of an adjacent, parallel .dolomite ridge, across a deep and narrow valley opposite the Woods bank, a very small prospect opening has been made, revealing a white bauxitic clay, or amorphous type of ore. The opening, according to aneroid measurements, is 91 r feet above sea-leve~, and is nearly half-way up the steeply sloping ridge. Scattered fragments of chert prevail over the ridge surface. The open,ing is near the east central part of lot 552, Jrd district, 4th section, Floyd county.

THE LITTLE LAMB BANK.- On lot 534, Jrd district, 4th sectwn, Floyd county, near the center of the lot, and about half-way up the south slope of a. ridge, is a small prospect opening' showing a white amorphous ore.

LoT "6~w," 3RD DISTRICT, 4TH SECTION, FLOYD CouNTY. -In the northeast corner of lot 62o, fragments of a light-colored, hard, pisolitic type of ore are scattered over a small area of surface. No prospecting has been undertaken. The lot belongs to Mr. A. W .. Bobo, of Van's Valley.

THE HENRY ;BANK. -This is probably the largest surface exposure of bauxite, yet known in the Bobo district. It is located near the center of lot 9zo, Jrd dzstrict, 4th section, Floyd county, near the Polk county-line. According to aneroid measurements,

PLA TE VIII 'fHE DF.AN LTMF.STONE QUARRY, ON THE SUMMERVIT.T.U ROAD, ROME, GEORG IA,

BA UX.ITE DEPOS.ITS OF GEORG.IA

99

it. has an altitude of 885 feet above sea-level. It occurs on the western side of a gently sloping ridge, only a short distance east of the public road; and it covers an oval-shaped area of surface, approximately soo by 8oo feet in dimensions.. The neighboring ravines all show ore. The ore-body is covered by two feet of residual clay, containing commingled chert fragments. One shaft, 40 feet deep, penetrated ore for its entire depth. Several test-pits have been sunk near the shaft, revealing, in each one, ore, of a closely similar character.
The ore is a hard, pisolitic variety; and, as a rule, it is highly ferruginous, carrying a larger percentage of iron oxide. l\IIuch light-colored bauxite is present, with the depth of color (red) in~reasing toward the outer portions of the ore-body. The pisolites are small, and well rounded in shape, usually deep-ted in color, and powdery in character. The pisolites make up, by far, the mass of the ore, the proportion of the matrix being considerably less than that of the pisolites, which is also of deep-red color. The ore, exposed at the surface, close1y resembles the vesicular type, until broken open, when the pisolites are observed to have fallen out, apparently on prolonged exposure, from ~eathering. The pit, nearest the base of the ridge, is 6o feet below the uppermost limits of the Dre-body, and shows a compact deposit of bauxite. The characte~ "Df the ore is well shown in the following analyses:-

Alz03 Fez0 3 SiOz
HzO

II
59-00 6.23 5-92

III 62.28 2.9I
3.46

III 1 57-2I I2.I4
2.97

IVI
56-48 8.17 7.60

yz
56.ro 10.64
2.56 30.IO

. Spencer characterizes the type of bauxite, yielding the results given in column V, as follows: "Light reddish porous mass, as the interior of the grains :is largely dissolved away; somewhat earthy. .At a depth the mineral :is not likely to be so porous as on top, and consequently richer in alumina. It occurs on side of a ridge.'' Other determinations of silica and iron oxide gave the following results : -

I Furnished by Mr. B. F. A. Saylor, Su:p't., Dixie Bauxite Co."
2 Spencer, J. W., The Paleozoic Group, Geological Survey of Georgia, r893, p. zr7.

roo

BA [},.'{!TE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

SiOz

. . . . . . . 2.08

Fez 0 3 . . . . . . . . . . .

5.70

13. ro

1.99

In the northeast corner of the same lot, and in the valley, 200" yards north of the Henry bank, occurs a white bauxitic clay in the bottom of a ditch, 5 or 6 feet deep. The clay contains pebbles of bauxite, varying from a quarter of an inch to two inches in diameter.

THE BURKHAL'I'ER BANK.- A short distance north of the Henry bank, in the bottom of the same valley, on lot 89I, Jrd district, 4th sectioJZ, Floyd county, at an altitude of 82r feet above sea-level, three small prospect~pits have been opened. The openings are from rso to 200 feet apart, with ore shown in each one. The ore is highly ferruginous, and is closely similar to that of the Henry deposit. The iron content may possibly decrease with the depth of ore, on working. The following is an analysis 1 of pieces. of the ore which appeared as a whitish mass, with occasional pisolites, the sample having been collected from the side of a nar-row gully, some little distance from the openings :-

Alz03 Fez03 'riO z Si02 . HzO .
'I'otal

58.6r 2.63 315 8.29
27.42
IOO.IO

LoT 8gz, 3RD DrS'I'RICT, 4'I'H SEC'I'ION.- On the adjoining lot east of the Burkhalter place, No. 892, Jrd distriCt, 4th sect-ton,. Floyd county, at a point 200 yards' east of the deposit on lot 89I, is a small outcrop of a highly ferruginous ore. The deposit occurs. directly in the valley, at the base of the west slope of the dolomite ridge. No prospecting has been undertaken. The surface ore is.. in every respect similar to the red ore of the Henry deposit.
THE MoSELEY BANK.- This deposit is located near the south line of lot 82o, Jrd dz"strz"ct, 4tlz section, Floyd county, near the base of the west slope of a dolomite ridge, with an altitude of 850 feet. above sea-level. It is further situated about 200 yards southeast.
I Spencer, J. W., Tlte Paleozoic Group, Geological Survey of Georgia,.r893, p. 217.

BAUXiTE .DEPOSITS OF CEORC.!A

IOI

from New Prospect church. One pit has been opened in a solid body of ore, from which one car-load of the ore has been shipped. The dimensions of the opening are rz feet long, 8 feet wide and 6 feet deep. The prospecting is wholly insufficient, to indicate the extent and shape of the ore-body.
The ore is of the pisolitic variety, and is very light in color. The matrix is dense and compact, varying from cream to pink in color, through which are distributed the white and regularly rounded small pisolites.
Near the center of the same lot, No. 8zo, immediately on the east side of the Haney Mill road, and r 50 yards north of New Prospect church, an exposure, in the form of large boulders of light-pink, pisolitic bauxite, occurs. The specimens show up well, and fragments of the ore are scattered over a dozen or more square feet of surface.
LoT 765, 3RD DISTRicT, 4TH SEcTION, FLOYD CouNTY. - A white amorphous bauxitic clay is exposed in shallow ravines near the south line of lot 765. No prospecting has been done.
LoT 766, 3RD DISTRICT, 4TH SECTION, FLOYD CouNTY.- Near the southwest corner of lot 766, is a small exposure of white piso]itic bauxite. This is known as the Hatch place. No prospecting has been undertaken.
LOT 749, 3RD DISTRICT, 4TH SECTION, FLOYD COUNTY. -Near -the northeast corner of lot 749, on the two slopes of the ridge, at an altitude of goo feet above sea-level, a small prospect pit has been made in a light-colored bauxitic clay.
THE LEWIS REYNOLDS BANK.- This deposit is in the northwest corner of lot 750, Jrd district, 4th section, Floyd county, about 200 yards north of the water-parting- a broad, fiat divide - sep.arating the Rome and Cedartown drainage. The ore-body has an elevation, according to aneroid measurement, of 875 feet above sea-level.
Two shafts, 35 feet in depth, have been sunk, penetrating a :solid body of ore. The ore-body is covered by four feet of a light--colored, residual cherty clay. The ore is of the pisolitic type. The pisolites are generally small in size, averaging one-eighth of

I02

BA UX.ITE DEPOSITS OF GEORG.!A

an inch in diameter. They are pink in color, and are embedded in a hard, compact, buff-colored matrix. Larger concretions, of irregular shape, averaging from three-quarters of an inch to one inch in diameter, and white in-color, are frequently met with in the same matrix. Some red ore is shown in one of the shafts. The conditions favor a good body of ore. The following partial analyses, furnished by Mr. B. F. A. Saylor, Supt., Dixie Bauxite Com.pany, give some idea of its character:-

Si02 -

7.2o

Fe2 0 3 . . .... _ . . . . . . . .... 2.62

IO.o8

Insoluble Matter. Fe2o ... . Al2 0 3 .... . H 2 0 (Combined) .

IZ.08
!.33

Lo'I' 69o, 3RD DIS'I'RIC'I', 4'I'H SEC'I'ION, FLOYD CouN'I'Y. -Near the center and north line of lot 690, is a small exposure of red,. mottled bauxitic clay containing a few scattered pisolites.

Lo'I' 678, 3RD DIS'I'RIC'I', 4'I'H SEC'I'ION, FLOYD CouN'I'Y.- On lot 678, on the east slope of a dolomite ridge and at an altitude of 975 feet above sea-level, several prospect-pits have been opened. The material exposed is mostly a white bauxitic clay, passing by imperceptible gradations into an imperfect oolitic type of ore.

Lo'I's 677 AND 692, 3RD DIS'I'RIC'I', 4'I'H SEC'I'ION, FLOYD CouN'I'Y.- Near the center of the east-and-west line, between lots 67T and 692, on the south slope of a ridge, at an elevation of 960 feet above sea-level, are ~omewhat extensive surface indications of an amorphous-vesicular type of bauxite. The exposure is mostly Oil; lot 692, where several small prospect-pits have been opened, showing a red ore, of the type mentioned above. Fragments of the bauxite are scattered over a considerable surface.

THE DOYLE BANK.- In the valley bottom, near the base of the west slope of a steep dolomite ridge, on lot 896, Jrd district, four test-pits have been opened, in each of which ore was found. The elevation of this deposit is 900 feet above sea-level. The ore is exposed over a surface of 50 feet square, and is of the soft pebble type. The pebbles vary from a quarter to one-and-a-half inches

BAUX.!TE DEPOS.!TS OF GEORG...4.

I03

in diameter. They are prevailingly white in color, although some red pebbles are distributed through the mass. The conditions favor a fairly large body of ore, of good quality. The following is an analysis of the ore from this property:- r

Al20 3 Fe20 3 TiOz
SiOz .
H20 .

52.!3 I. I2 2.08
19-56
24.2!

Total

99-IO

1'he specimens of ore, yielding this analysis, are described by Spencer as follows: "Large concretionary pellets partially dissolved away, leaving a semi-vesicular mass somewhat poorer in alumina than would be expected. It occurs in the valley."

LoT 906, 3RD DISTRICT, FLOYD CouNTY.- On lot 906, 3rd dz"strict, Floyd county, a quarter of a mile north of the Polk countyline, a small exposure of the mixed pebble and boulder type of ore is found.

THE WILLIS REYNOLDS BANK. -On lot 833, .Jrd distnd, 4th sectz"on, Floyd county, about 75 yards north of the Doyle bank, ore is exposed over a surface area, roo feet square. Two test-pits have been opened, ore showing in each. The elevation of this bank is goo feet above sea-level. The ore is of a soft pebble type of bauxite. The pebbles vary from a quarter of an inch to two inches or more in diameter. The ore is very white and practically free from iron-oxide staining. Some boulders, of hard pisolitic ore, are distributed through the soft pebble bauxite. The pebbles readily fall out of the soft clayey matrix, on handling, in the case of the soft ore. The ore on this lot is in every respect similar to that of the Doyle bank, which is about seventy-five yards farther south. The following determinations of the insoluble matter in the washed and unwashed ore have been made,2 which would indicate the presence of considerable siliceous material mixed with the ore~ probably in the form of clay:-

Washed Ore Insoluble Matter . . . . . . . . 3 ro

Unwashed Ore Difference

r6.6o

13.50

I Spencer, J. W., The Paleozoic Group, Geological Survey of Georgia, 1893, p. zr6.
2 By B. F. A. Saylor, Supt., Dixie Bauxite Co.

104

BAUXITE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

THE LEWIS REYNOLDS BANK.-Approximately half -a-mile from the Willis Reynolds bank, and on the opposite side of the valley, in the southwest corner of lot 76z, Jrd district, 4tlz section, Floyd county, is an exposure of bauxite. The ore is scattered over about 50 feet square of surface, at an elevation of 976 feet above sea-level, in the form of small fragments and boulders, occupying the eastern basal slope of a high and steeply-sloping dolomite ridge. The top of the ridge shows an elevation of r,roo feet above sea-level, by aneroid measurement. The fragments of ore, exposed on the surface, are of the red-colored pisolitic type, some of which are more highly colored than others.
THE MrN'I'ER BANK, No. r.- On the east side of the broad dolomite ridge, along the main Cedartown public road, and at an elevation of r,ooo feet, a bauxitic clay is exposed on lot 687, Jrd district, 4th section, Floyd county. A small test-pit has been sunk to the depth of four feet, revealing a light-colored bauxitic clay, through which are sparingly distributed somewhat imperfect concretions of bauxite.
THE HoWELL BANK.'- This deposit is located on the dolomite
ridge, half-a-mile east of Mr. A. vV. Bobo's dwelling-house, on lot
z6o, Jrd district, 4tlz sect.Z:on, Floyd county. Several prospect-pits have been opened on the top and on the east slope of the ridge. The opening on the top of the ridge has an elevation of 971 feet above sea-level. The pit on the east slope of the ridge is 8o feet lower than the topmost one. The or~-body is covered by several feet of a residual cherty soil, with the surface of the ridge strewn with chert fragments, of varying sizes. The ore is of a hard, ferruginous, pisolitic variety, containing pisolites of various diameters. The property is owned by Mr. R. S. Perry, of Cave Spring, Georgia.
THE BRANON BANK. 1 -Near the west side of lot I4, 22nd district, 4tlz section, Floyd county, in a slight depression or shallow ravine, on the public road, and at an altitude of 931 feet above sealevel, some prospecting has been done, in what is probably a limited deposit of ore. Two pits have been opened near each other,

I Formerly known as the Howell bank.

BA U..YITE DEPOSiTS OF GEORG/A

ros

:and about two tons of the ore, taken out, none of which has been shipped, however. The lateral dimensions of the larger pit are 40 by 20 feet, exposing a slightly cream-colored, almost pure white ore. The ore is soft, and contains only a few small pisolites distributed through it. Some parts of the ore-body grade into the pisolitic type, although the most of it belongs to the amorphous variety. The opening probably represents the lateral dimensions of the ore-body; and, where the mottled clay is exposed, the indications strongly suggest, that the depth of the deposit is very :slight.
About 250 yards west of the above opening, near the west side of the same lot, a second opening has been made, which is 6o feet in elevation above the one just described. Two test-pits, of small dimensions, have been opened, revealing ore somewhat similar to that on lot IJ, but somewhat more ferruginous. The developments .are insufficient to state the size and shape of the ore-body.
Still a third opening, on the east-west line of lot I4, about half.a-mile due east from the Branon bank, has been dug, showing an ore, similar to that in the other openings, on this lot. The pit was opened to a depth of only three feet.
THE MINTER BANK, No. 2. -This deposit is located in the eastern part of tot IJ, 22nd district, 4tlz section, Floyd county, in a -depression on the west slope of a dolomite ridge, at an altitude of 950 feet above sea-level. The deposit had just commenced working, .a few days prior to the writer's visit, with an average force of r8 hands per day; and, in all, not more than two car-loads of the ore had been removed. On the north side of the opening, a yellow, white and red, mottled clay, surrounding the ore-body, dips under the ore at an angle of about 25 degrees. A few feet south of the day exposure, is a "horse", of white, putty-like clay, containing some ore. Both the "horse" and the ore were nearly worked out.
The ore. is a soft-white to cream-colored pebble variety, of apparently high-grade. The pebbles -:ary in size; are prevailingly white in color; and are embedded in a soft, clayey matrix, both of which readily crumble in handling and working. So far as developments extend, the boulder type of ore is shown to be almost en-

I06

BA UXJTE DEPOSJTS OF GEORGJA

tirely absent. The main body of the ore is of the amorphous type,. passing by imperceptible gradations into the pebble variety.
On the north side of the ridge, a quarter of a mile north from the above opening, and in the northern part of the same lot,. bauxite has been very extensively worked, at an elevation of 991 feet above. sea-level. The main pit, from which about r,ooo tons of the ore have been removed, has been worked to a depth of 40 feet, with lateral dimensions, 50x75 feet.- A highly mottled clay forms the pit-lining on all sides; but, in some places, ore is found back of the clay outside of the working. The clay has a nearly vertical_ dip on all sides. The ore-body has, by no means, been exhausted in depth. It is very similar to that mined in the east- ern. part of the same lot. It differs, however, in containing a con-siderable percentage of the hard boulder type of ore. Some of the boulders were said to weigh as much as two tons.
Several small test-pits have been opened about a dozen paces. from the main pit, each of which shows ore. Besides this, on top of the ridge, about 300 yards from this working, and from. 40 to 50 feet in elevation above the main opening, prospecting shows. similar ore. Scattered boulders of the ore on the surface led to the discovery of this deposit. The character of the ore is well shown in the following partial analyses, kindly furnished by Mr~
J. C. Lamb, of Rome, Georgia : -

A12 0 3 ' Fe20 3 Si02
Insoluble Matter

6r.8r I.I2 6.90 7-90

6I.40 I.I2
7.00 8.oo

42.6!
28.70 30.00

17.22 r8.28

Al20 3 Fe20 3 . .. . Si02 .... . Insoluble Matter

. 27.60 . 28.8o

8.73

6.80-

Screenings, passed through a 7{ -inch mesh sieve, gave:-

Insoluble Matter . . . . . . . . . Si02 ............. .

r3.sr . . . . !2.53

Likewise, the lumps from screening yielded:-

Insoluble Matter. Si02 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

14.70 13.72:

THE CHURCH BAUXI'fE MJNF., FI.OVD COUNTY, GEORGTA.

BA UX!TE DEPOSiTS OF GEORGIA

IOJ

"LoT 2 3"- In the south half of lot 23, 22nd district, Floyd county,. eight openings, mostly in the form of test-pits, have been made within 200 feet of each other, exposing a large body of high-gradebauxite. The openings are on the east side, and near the top,.. of a high dolomite ridge. The ore is of the pisolitic type, generally white, though occasionally colored a pale pink by iron oxide_ The owner of this property, Mr. Earle Sloan, of Charleston, S.C.,. informs the writer, that numerous analyses of the ore show an average of more than 6o per cent. of alumina, averaging proportionately low in both iron oxide and silica. The developments. indicate a large body of bauxite of excellent grade.
"LoT 685." -Surface indications point to a considerable deposit of a low-grade, siliceous bauxite on lot 685, 3rd district, Floyd county. The property is owned by Mr. Earle Sloan, of Charleston,.. S. C. Little or no prospecting has been done.
THE HAWKINS BANK.-On a lot in the 3rd district, 4th sectzon, Floyd county, along both sides of a plantation road, is a surface area, from I75 to 200 yards square, strewn with fragments of a hard pisolitic bauxite. Some half-dozen test-pits, of small dimensions, have been sunk in different places, the most of which showed ore. The ore is a hard, pisolitic type of bauxite, highly ferruginous, as is shown by its prevailing deep-red color. The ore-body will likely prove a large one, and the ore, upon depth in working,. may change to a lighter color, containing, should this prove true,. less iron oxide.
On another lot in the Jrd district, 4th section, on top of a ridge, two small prospect-pits have been opened, showing a light-colored ore, of seemingly good quality. Indications point, however, to only a slight deposit of the ore.
THE WHoRTON BANK.- Near the top of a dolomite ridge, at an altitude of r,oso feet above sea-level, on lot 59, 22nd district, Jrd section, Floyd county, a good deposit of ore is shown in several prospect openings. The surface of the ridge is thickly covered by chert fragments. The openings consist of one test-pit, of average dimensions, and a shaft, sunk to the depth of 25 feet. A solid body of ore is shown in both openings. The shaft did not penetrate the entire depth of the ore-body. The ore is of the oolitic

ro8

BAUXITE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

type. The matrix is hard and compact, and the concretions, or -oolites, soft and powdery, easily crumbling under pressure of the hand. It is light in color and apparently of good quality ; and a large deposit is indicated from the present developments. The following is an analysis of this ore, furnished by Mr. John H. Hawkins, Supt., Republic Mining and Manufacturing Company:-

Alz03 Fez03 TiOz SiOz Ignition .
Total

5773
I.I2
535 5.10 30.70
. IOO.OO

THE RITCH BANK.- In the northwest corner of lot I5I, 22nd district, 3rd section, Floyd county, two pits, 50 yards apart, and with a north-south alignment, have been opened at an elevation of 85r feet above sea-level. The south pit is 25 feet long by six feet wide, and six feet deep, with a shaft of unknown depth sunk from the bottom of the pit. The depth of the shaft could not be determined, on account of its being filled with water at the time of the writer's visit. The north pit is r8 feet long by six feet wide and four feet deep. The deposit is covered by three feet of a stiff red plastic clay. The type of ore is different in the two openings. That exposed in the south pit is a .hard, pisolitic variety and highly ferruginous. The pisolites vary in size. They are deepred in color, and are held together by but little cementing material ; and, in many cases, they are coated with a black covering of manganese dioxide. A few boulders, of light color, are to be observesl, the matrix of which is hard and dense, and buff in color, with the pisolites more or less pink.
The ore exposed in the north pit is a white amorphous type, with small and imperfect oolites sparingly distribut~d through it. Determinations of the insoluble matter and the iron oxide, 1n specimens of the Ritch ore gave - r

Insoluble Matter.

. . . 2.65

6.go

FezO 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1 Furnished by Mr. B. F. A. Saylor, Supt., Dixie Bauxite Company.

BAUXITE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

109

THE FoMBY BANK.- Some propecting has been done in the northeast corner of lot I 50, 22nd district, Jrd section, Floyd county, a quarter of a mile north of and at approximately the same elevation as the Ritch bank. Loose fragments of bauxitic clay and hard light-colored pisolitic bauxite, scattered over the surface of a knoll, lead to the location of this deposit. One test-pit, eight feet long by six feet wide and four feet deep, is opened in a white bauxitic clay. A few feet from the pit, a shaft, 35 feet in depth, has been sunk, penetrating, for the most part, a white clay, similar to that of the pit. This clay contains some hard, pisolitic, and soft, pebble ore. It is stated that further developments were abandoned, on account of the scarcity of ore. The amorphous, clayey material carries imperfectly formed concretions, which, to some degree, resemble an imperfect pebble ore. A specimen of the clay from the ore-body yielded 45 20 per cent. of insoluble matter. Other specimens of the ore gave- I

Insoluble Matter . FezO 3

2.JO

I.20

2.35

AL,03 Fez03 SiOz

5369 14.80
2.62

64.60 0.95 4.00

63.00 I.73 3.21

6I.47 2.98 I.96

64.09
-' ) . . J~. T L
3.22

65.74 0.85

THE BONSACK BANK.-In lot I29, 22nd distrzd,]rd section, Floyd county, 9rr feet in elevation, and a half-mile east of the Southern Railway, is an extensive surface exposure of bauxite. Fragments of the ore are somewhat thickly strewn over an area of at least roo square yards of surface. A part of the exposed ore is in the nature of boulders, of fairly large dimensions. Three test-pits have been opened at different points over the area, but near together. The first and largest is r 2 feet long by 4 feet wide, and from 6 to 7 feet deep ; the second is 4 x 4 feet and 8 feet deep ; and the third has approximately the same lateral dimensions as the second, but it is not quite so deep. The pits all reveal a solid, compact body of ore. They are about 50 yards apart, with lines connecting them, forming a triangle. The exposed ore is of a hard, pisolitic type, for the most part, and is deep red in color. The matrix and pisolites usually have the same color. Light-colored ore

I Furnished by Mr. B. F. A. Saylor, Supt., Dixie Bauxite Company.

IIO

BAUXITE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

is by no means absent. It occurs frequently mixed with the pre-dominating red bauxite. The indications, here, are very favorable for a large ore-body; and the red ore, found at present on the surface, will very likely give way to a very much lighter-colored ore upon increased depth in working ; insuring, if this be true, a decreased percentage of iron oxide, with, other things being equal, a corresponding increase in alumina.
Through the kindness of Col. Junius F. Hillyer, of Rome, Georgia, the owner of this property, the writer is able to furnish the following analyses of the two grades of ore, which were made by the Pittsburgh Testing Laboratory in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania:-.

Al203 Fez03 TiOz SiOz H20

Red Ore
. 52.30 52.40 . 13.33 !2.60
3.6o 370 370 395 . 27.07 27.35

Light-Col- ored Ore
s6.g6 r.6g
405 6.03
3I.40

THE REESE BANK. -This deposit is located on lot 6o, 22nd .distrz'ct, 3rd sectz'on, Floyd county, about 200 yards east of the Southern Railway, in a slight depression on the slope of a dolomite ridge, and at an elevation of 871 feet. The ore is exposed in a test-pit about 30 x 40 feet, with an average depth of ro feet. It is prevailingly light in color, and of the coarse pebble variety. The pebbles vary from a quarter of an inch to three inches in diameter, and are both simple and complex in structure. They :are embedded in a soft, white, clayey matrix. It very closely resembles the ore from the Julia bank in the Hermitage district, described on pages 83 to 86 of this report. Some large boulders pf hard pisolitic bauxite are mixed with the soft ore; but -the soft pebble type greatly predominates. In some places, the ore has a reddish color, due to slight iron staining. The ore-body is .almost in contact with a considerable iron ore deposit, exposed in .an adjoining pit. The present developments indicate a fairly large ore-body, of good quality.

THE BIGELOW BANK.- r This deposit is located in Polk county, on a broad dolomite plateau, at an elevation of r,osr feet above

I Known at present as the Williams property.

BAUXiTE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

III

sea'"level; and an eighth of a mile south of the Floyd county line. The ore is exposed in a prospect pit, .6 x IO feet, and about 4 feet deep. It is slightly pinkish in color, and it belongs to the pisolitic type. The pisolites varyin size; are light in color and powdery; and they crumble under slight pressure. The matrix is moderately :firm, clay-like material, which greatly predominates in quantity over the proportion of pisolites. The following are partial analyses of specimens of the Bigelow ore, kindly furnished by
Mr. J. C. Lamb, of Rome, Georgia:-

Insoluble Matter SiOz ..... Fez03

Surface Ore Mixed _with Clay

g.os

43-36

S.og

4I.76

I.22

THE BROADAWAY BANK.- On the same broad plateau, but 20 feet higher than the Bigelow bank, surface indications of ore are rather extensive, on lot 53, 22nd district, 3rd section, Polk county. Some half-dozen test-pits, of small dimensions, have been opened, ,extending over several hundred square feet of surface, with ore found in each one. The ore is prevailingly white, though mottled with small red to pink-colored patches in places, and is, for the most part, of the amorphous type, containing sparingly-distributed, imperfect pisolites. Some few fragments of the hard pisolitic type of ore were observed in places. \Vhile the developments are yet insufficient to speak with certainty, the conditions suggest an ore-body of more than the average dimensions. The following represents partial analyses of specimens of this ore, furnished by Mr. B. F. A. Saylor, Supt., Dixie Bauxite Company:-

Alz 03 .. Fez 0 3 ... . SiOz .... .
Insoluble Matter

. ss.97

2.86

. 9-24

8.r6

. I0.37

On lot I79 I6tlz distn'ct, Polk county, owned by Mr. J. H. Shaw, of
Cave Spring, several fragments of hard pisolitic, ferruginous bauxite were found in the valley near Mr. Shaw's dwelling-house.
On lot I82, I6th district, Polk county, owned by the Southern

112

BAUXITE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

Bauxite Company, Cave Spring, surface indicatio11s, similar to those mentioned on lot I79, appear.
THE CoCHRAN BANK.-Fragments of light- colored bauxite and abundant rounded concretionary pebbles of the ore are somewhat thickly strewn over a surface area, from 150 to 250 feet square, on lots z82 and I8J, 22nd district, Jrd section, .Floyd county. The area is mostly on lot r83 ; but it crosses near the middle of the north line of the lot, into 1ot 182. The ore fragments occupy a. portion of the western slope of a steeply sloping dolomite ridge,. whose summit elevation is 940 feet above sea-level. The upper limits of the ore-body are fifty feet lower than the summit of tl1e ridge. Fragments of ore are traceable over an elliptical shaped surface from 250 to 300 feet in length. Southward from this area. and near the top of the ridge, are excellent surface indications of a moderately large body of brown iron ore.
The surface material indicates a preponderance of the hard,. pisolitic type of bauxite, generally light in color, though sometimes stained red by iron oxide. Boulders, measuring from one to two feet in diameter, are commonly found over the surface. There is abundant evidence of considerable pebble ore, in the nature of more or less perfectly spherical concretions, of variable diameters, and light in color, covering parts of the surface. As a. rule, the pebbles are very hard and compact, breaking with a. conchoidal fracture. No prospecting has been undertaken.
LoT No. r2, 22ND DISTRICT, 3RD SECTION, FLOYD CouNTY.- Several small test-pits have been opened in a red bauxite on this lot. The surface indications are not very extensive, and developments are insufficient to define the size and shape of the ore-body.
LoT No. 682, 3RD DISTRICT, 4TH SECTioN, FLOYD CouNTY.- This deposit is located on the eastern slope of a steep dolomite ridge, whose surface is thickly covered by angular chert fragmentst on lot 682. The principal opening, from which probably one carload of the ore has been removed, but not shipped, is near the head of a deep and narrow ravine. The opening was more in the nature of an open-cut, and had caved in on all sides, leaving no ore in place visible; and the depth could not, therefore, be determined,.

BAUXITE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

PLATE X

THE WATTERS BAUXITE MINE, FLOYD COUNTY, GEORGIA.

BA U:.Y.!TE DEPOS.!TS OF GEORGJ:A.

II3

The ore removed froni the opening is piled to one side of the cut ; it is a hard, white, pisolitic bauxite. The matrix is firm and compact, containing nearly pure white pisolites, of variable size, which crumble with much readiness. The matrix forms more than a half of the bauxitic material. Numerous smaller prospect openings have been made, higher up and lower down the ridge slope; and, in some cases, several hundred yards from the large cut, some of the pits show iron ore. The developments are entirely inadequate to define the limits and form of the ore-body.
An analysis, made of fragments of the hard, compact, cream-colored matrix separated from the pisolites, in: a specimen of the ore collected from lot 682 and analyzed by the writer in the Survey laboratory, yielded the following results:-

Si02 . Ti02 . Fe203 Al203 H 2 0 at roo C. H 2 0 (combined)
Total ....

I3.I7 975 trace
4830 0.53 28.or
9976

THE FREEMAN BANK.-Near the center of lot 332, 23rd district, Jrd section, Floyd county, and about a quarter of a mile south from the Etowah river, several test-pits have been opened near the bot.tom of a deep and narrow ravine. The ore is covered by several feet of a deep-red cherty clay. Very little ore is exposed in the openings. It is of the hard, pisolitic type, deep-red in color, closely resembling that of the Bonsack bank. The deposit has an altitude of only 651 feet above sea-level. An analysis of specimens of this ore gave the followi.ng results : - r
Al203 Fe20 3 Si02 .

3 THE SUMMERVILLE DISTRICT The Summerville district is less well defined than the ones previously described. As yet, only five deposits of bauxite are known
I Furnished by 1fr. B. F. A. Saylor, Sup't., Dixie Bauxite Company.

1r4

BAUXITE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

in this district. They are widely separated, and occur in different, but adjoining, counties, as follows_: Three, near Summerville, in Chattooga county; a fourth, near Trion Factory, in the same county; and a fifth, a short distance from McConnell~s station on the Chattanooga Southern Railway, in the southern part of Walker county.

LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION OF THE INDIVIDUAL DEPOSITS
THE TAYLOR BANK.-Twoseparate ore-bodies, 400 yards apart, and in a nearly north-south line, have been opened near the base .and along the eastern slope of a dolomite ridge, which limits the Chattooga valley on the west. The ridge has a northeast-southwest trend, and by means of a fault, of the ordinary Appalachian type, the Knox Dolomite is brought in contact along its eastern base with the soft drab-colored Cambrian shales, out of which .shales the Chattooga valley has been eroded. The deposits of bauxite are located ne~r the fault-line, along the western limits of the town of Summerville, and are 768 feet above tide-level.
The most southerly one of the deposits is exposed in half-a-dozen -or more test-pits, extending over a surface area of from 200 to 300 feet. A majority of the pits showed ore. In the largest opening,. the ore is associated with halloysite; and, in all cases, with a white-and-pink mottled clay. Near the top of several of the open-ings, some pebble ore is exposed; although the hard, pisolitic type_ -of bauxite predominates, which in most cases is highly ferruginous. The pisolites vary in size and hardness. As a rule, they crumble with readiness to a powder, breaking, however, at times, with a conchoidal fracture. Not much ore was in sight at the time -of the writer's visit; and it was scattered thr~mgh a large mass of bauxitic clay. The top of the ridge in the wagon-road was 200 feet above the ore deposit, giving an altitude of 968 feet for the ridge-summit above tide-level.
_The most northerly one of the two deposits is in the rear of Mr. Taylor's dwelling-house. It has been somewhat extensively worked. About roo tons of the boulder-ore have been shipped
from this opening. The ore-body is exposed in a cut, from 75 to
roo feet long; and it has been worked to a depth of from 20 to 25

BAUXITE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

II5

feet. The cut has a west course, directly into the east slope of the

ridge. No work had been done for some years previous to the

writer's visitr and the cut had caved in, to such an extent, on all

sides, that the exact conditions were not clearly visible. After

the removal of several feet of a residual cherty clay, the entire cut

was in a white, structureless, bauxitic clay containing the embedded pisolitic type of ore, usually light in color, a~d but slightly

stained with iron. The clay is uniformly light-gray, and frequently

vesicular in type, from the falling out of the original pisolites.

Only the boulder-ore has thus far been shipped, the bauxitic clay

or matrix probably containing too much silica to be utilized.

The bauxite is in contact, along its eastern side, with a vein of

limonite, from :five to seven feet thick and dipping about 8o de-

grees to the east. This vein was not entirely visible, at the time

-of the writer's visit; but Dr. Hayes describes it as composed ''of

two sheets of solid limonite, each about a foot thick, separated by

.a layer of ferruginous clay." I The ore is further associated with

.a considerable amount of carbonaceous clay and impure lignite,

the exact relationships of which were not fully determined. The

following are the results of an analysis of specimens of the ore

from the opening in the rear of Mr. John D. Taylor's house:-~

. Alz03 . Fe203; Ti02 .
SiOz Ignition.

57-56 2.40
4-40
335 32.20

THE ScRUGGS BANK. -On lot I5, 4th district, Chattooga county, near the limits of the town of Summerville, and on the public road -in front of Mr. J. T. Scruggs's dwelling-house, some prospecting was recently done, and a good grade of bauxite, exposed in some half-dozen openings. The openings are near together, and extend -over approximately one acre of ground. The deepest opening reached a depth of 40 feet in bauxite and bauxitic clay. A second -opening was sunk :fifteen feet in solid ore.
The ore is an excellent grade of white pebble and gravel bauxite,

I Sixteenth Ann. Report, U.s. Geol. Survey, 1894-'95 (r895), p. 587.
2 Furnished by Mr. John H. Hawkins, Supt., Republic Mining and ::.1:anufacturing Company.

II6

BAUXITE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

the concretions being held in a soft clay-like matrix. The ore is. generally free from iron oxide. The pebbles or concretions range in size from a sixteenth to a half-inch in diameter. The ore averages about 3 per cent. in silica, and I per cent. in iron oxide. One car-load of the ore is reported to have been shipped.
On the west side of the bauxite deposit, a little higher up the ridge slope, occurs a good grade, apparently of brown iron ore, one car-load of which is reported to have been shipped.
This deposit of bauxite represents the most southwesterly one,. of three deposits found near or within the town of Summerville, the Taylor bank being the northernmost one. The Scruggs deposit is less than a quarter of a mile southwest of the deposit occurring within the town limits, and at the west end of Main street. The three deposits occur along a fault-line at the base of a low Knox Dolomite ridge, and near the contact of the dolomite with the Middle Cambrian shales. At the Scruggs bank, no dolomite is. exposed, although excavations in the cherty clay, derived from the limes\one, have been made, exposing a section more than fifty feet. in depth. Much chert has been removed from the Scruggs bank for road purposes.
TRION FAC'I'ORY.-About three miles northeast of Trion Fac- tory, a small deposit of bauxite has been found, from scanty sur- face indications. A little prospecting has been tlone, resulting in. the exposure of a hard, red-colored ore.
THE ARMINGTON BANK.-r This deposit is located in the southern part of vValker county, eight miles due north from the Taylor bank at Summerville, near McConnell's station on the Chattanooga Southern Railway. The deposit is in an elevated portion of the western part of the valley, about a quarter of a mile east of a. very high and steeply sloping dolomite ridge. One open-cut, about 50 feet long, and one shaft, 39 feet deep, with several small test-pits near by, constitute the entire prospecting done. Nearly an acre of the surface is thickly covered by large and small fragments of bauxite. A solid body of ore was shown in each of the opemngs. Near the top of the excavations, considerable pebble:

I Also known as the Thurman bank.

BA U/UTE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

II7

<Ore is shown, the pebbles ranging in size from a half-inch to two .and three inches in diameter. The bulk of the ore, however, is the hard pisolitic variety, generally light in color, though deeply stained with iron in many places. By aneroid measurements, the ore-body has an altitude of 868 feet above tide-level. About one car-load of the ore has been shipped. The character of the ore is well shown in the following analysis :-

Alz 03 Fez 03 Ti02 SiOz . Hz 0 (combined) Moisture

rr
. 75-03 I.84 0.96 2.66
. r6.oo \ 3.00)

II2
6o.oo o.65 3-65 o.So
35.00.

III2 s8.9o
I.20 4-30 !.40
34-20

IV2 6o.83
I.82
3-9 o.Ss
32.60

Total.

. 99-49

IOO.IO

IOO.OO

IOO.OO

These :6gures indicate an excellent grade of ore, very low in iron oxide and silica ; and the surface indications and developments undoubtedly point to a large deposit of bauxite. 3

4 ISOLATED DEPOSITS
In addition to the deposits of the two districts above described, several isolated deposits occur in the region. None of these, however, have yet been worked, and their true value remains un.known. Their location is indicated in the accompanying general map.
CALHOUN
A single deposit occurs about one mile northeast of Calhoun. 'The map, plate I, is an accurate representation of the geology of the region around Calhoun.
THE BAILEY BANK. -The William Bailey place is located approximately one mile northeast of Calhoun, the county-seat of
I Hayes, C. W., Sixteenth Ann. Rept., U.S. Geol. Survey, r895, p. 587. 2 Furnished by Mr. John H. Hawkins, Supt. Republic Mining and Manufacturing Company. 3 Since the field work was completed on this report, Mr. John H. Hawkins, of Rome, Georgia, bas established a commodious plant at the Armington Bank, and has mined a large quantity of the ore. From the length of time working and the amount of ore shipped, this is one of the largest deposits of bauxite yet opened in the State. See plate of the Hawkins plant.

rr8

BAUXITE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

Gordon county, and is 'owned by Hon. 0. N. Starr, of the above town. The bauxite deposit occurs about half-a-mile east of the Oostanaula river, along a transverse ravine in the northeast slope of a cherty limestone ridge. The surface of the ridge is somewhat heavily covered with large and small angular fragments of the chert. Fragments of a hard and red ferruginous bauxite, of various sizes, litter the surface from near the top of the ridge for nearly the entire length of the ravine. The deposit is not so extensive as the scattered surface fragments would indicate. Along the middle and lower portions of the ravine, the fragments of ore are not in place, but have been washed down from near the top of the ridge, where the ore-body is located.
One small opening was made near the middle of the slope of the ridge, ten or more years ago; _but no ore was shipped, and no work has subsequently been done. The ore exposed is of the deep-red ferruginous, pisolitic type. The pisolites are hard and red in color; and in size, they vary from an eighth of an inch to half-an-inch in diameter. They break with a conchoidal fracture, and the usual concretionary structure is generally absent. The concretions are held in a hard and dense buff-colored matrix, of which the concretions make up more than half of the total ore-mass.
The writer was reliably informed, that the ore becomes lighter in color and therefore freer from iron oxide, in passing from the surface toward the interior of the ore-body. No exact estimate of the size of the ore-body could be made, from the lack of development; but the surface indications would favor a fairly large deposit.

I7TH DISTRICT, BARTOW COUNTY
THE T. M. MARTIN PROPERTY. -In the r7th district, Bartow county, approximately five miles southwest from Kingston and three miles west of the Etowah river, a good' grade of light-colored bauxite is reported on Mr. Martin's place. No work has been done, and none of the ore has been shipped.

CHAPTER V
THE GENESIS, AGE, ESTIMATION AND USES OF THE GEORGIA BAUXITE
I. GENESIS OF THE GEORGIA BAUXITE DEPOSITS r
From the brief statement, or summary, given in the early part of this report, of the known workable deposits of bauxite, it readily follows, from their widely varying geologic modes of occurrence, that the same explanation can not apply to each locality. In some localities, the deposits occur in regularly stratified beds ; in others, they unquestionably represent alteration or residual deposits ; while in others, still, they form well-defined pocket deposits, entirely distinct from the enclosing residual material. It is evident~ therefore, that the above strongly contrasted modes of occurrence of this mineral renders a general explanation for the accumulation of its various deposits for all localities, entirely beyond question.
The conclusions reached in the study of one type can not be ap-
plied to the explanation of another. The bauxite deposits in the Georgia area have been previously
studied in considerable detail by Dr. J. W. Spencer, formerly State
Geologist of Georgia, and by Dr. C. W. Hayes of the U. S. Geological Survey. Both Spencer and Hayes have offered explanations. for the accumulation of the ore-bodies, which differ greatly from each other. The two theories are separately taken up and discussed below.
Spencer suggested the following theory to explain the origin of the Georgia bauxite deposits : - 2
"This is an open question. Its situation along with the iron and manganese ores. in dolomites suggests a common genesis. The formation skirts the crystalline
r Watson, Thomas L., Tlze Georgia Bauxite Deposits: Tlzeir Clzemical Constitution ancl Genesis, Amer. Geologist, Vol. XXVIII, July, 1901, pp. 25-45.
2 Tlze Paleozoic Group, Geol. Survey of Georgia, r893, pp. 225-226. (II9)

I20

GENESIS OF THE GEORGIA BAUXITE

rocks of Central Georgia, whence the materials were originally obtained. Prof.

Branner says that the Arkansas beanxite, although in Tertiary rocks, is located near

eruptive syenites, or hornblende granites. Such rocks in Georgia have given rise,

in part, to the iron and manganese minerals. The feldspar, in others, contains the

aluminium, and there remains only the necessary solvent to transport and deposit

it as the mineral bauxite.

"In the weathering of the rocks carbonic and vegetable acids remove the iron,

ma,nganese, lime, etc., from the hornblende, and potash and soda from the feld-

spar. So also carbonic acid in water can dissolve small quantities of alumina;

thus the same waters can remove the iron, manganese and alumina. The alkalies

derived from the decay of feldspars can also dissolve the alumina. Thus trans-

ported, the alumina may be precipitated in the lagoons in which the ferruginous

. and manganiferous clayey limestones were being formed. The white clays associa-

ted with the beauxite and iron ore deposits are usually of fine texture, indicative of

deposition in quiet waters. The frequent replacement of part of the alumina by

ferric oxide further shows the presence of both metals in the original solution, but

in variable quantities. at different times and places.

''Upon the subsequent decomposition of the Knox limestone, the calcareous

matter being removed, the ores were concentrated, leaving accumulations of beaux-

ite more prominent than in the original beds.

'

''The position of the beauxite appears to be more or less in pockets and lenticular

masses in certain strata, and if workings are ever carried beneath the decayed

rocks, the mineral will likely be found in pockets in compact limestone. Indeed,

some of the apparent clays may be found to be the soluble aluminous mineral,

which is so far as known in Georgia, generally more or less oolitic and concre-

tionary, as are the iron and manganese deposits. The beauxite beds or pockets are

less interrupted, and are much more extensive than the latter named mineral."

Briefly summarized, Dr. Spencer's explanation for the accumulation of the bauxite deposits in Georgia is: (a) The source of the alumina was from the crystalline rocks of Central Georgia. (b) The alumina was carried to its present place by carbonated or alkaline waters, and precipitated in the lagoons, in which the ferruginous and manganiferous, clayey limestones were being formed. (c) The ores were further concentrated, upon weathering of the Knox limestone; the soluble calcareous material of the limestone was removed in solution; and the insoluble aluminous material, bauxite, was accumulated and left more prominent than in the original beds.
Dr. Spencer's theory fails to explain the following essential conditions and characteristic modes of occurrence of the Georgia orebodies, which have recently been studied in considerable detail by the writer. These are-
(r) The deposits are compact ore-bodies, existing in the form of

BAUXITE DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

PLATE XI

MACHINERY OF THE REPUBLIC MINING AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY'S BAUXITE DRYING PLANT, HERMITAGE, FLOYD COUNTY, GEORGIA.

GENESIS OF THE GEORGIA BAUXITE

IZI

well-defined pockets; e~.nd, as a rule, with the vertical nearly equal to the horizontal dimensions. This mode of occurrence of the bauxite can not, by any known possible process, apply to the accumulation of ore-bodies, which have resulted from weathering.
(2) The relationship of the bauxite and its associated kaolins to the surrounding residual siliceous material. In no instance, has gradation from the bauxitic clay into the enclosing residual days been observed; but, on the contrary, the line between the two is at all times definite and pronounced. Not the slightest re.semblance is shown in the two types of clay. Furthermore, the -ore-bodies are free from inclusions of the residual material. The concentration or accumulation of ore deposits from weathering .n situ usually shows more or less residual material variously admixed. This forms the most convincing evidence, in the case of deposits derived from rock-weathering. This point is well illustrated in the case of the somewhat closely associated manganese and some of the iron deposits in the bauxitic area of Georgia.
(3) The relation of the deposits to the present topography of the region, and their altitude above sea-leveL Upon Spencer's theory, the ore-bodies, if they represent accumulation from weathering of the Knox limestone, should occur only at definite and uniform positions in that formation. The deposits, on the contrary, do not conform to these conditions ; but they an: found in all parts of the Knox Dolomite, giving, as Hayes has shown, a stratigraphic range of at least 4,ooo feet.
(4) vVhile the bauxite deposits in question are somewhat closely .associated with those of iron and manganese, more particularly the iron ore-bodies, it by no means follows, as Spencer states, that the conditions suggest "a common genesis." In fact, recent work in this region has shown, that t'he three types of ore-deposits have likely had different o~igins. The manganese deposits of the Cartersville district represent undoubted residual accumulations, con-centrated by physical and chemical processes incidental to weathering. Only a small percentage of the iron ore deposits of this region are believed by Hayes r and McCallie to represent accumu-
1 Hayes, C. W., Geological Relations of t!ze Iron Ores in tlze Cartersville District, Georgia, Trans., Amer. Inst. Min. Engrs, I9or, Vol. XXX, pp. 403-419.
2 McCallie, S. W., Geol. Sur,;ey of Georgia, BulL ro-A.

!22

GENESIS OF THE GEORGIA BAUXITE

lations from residual decay. The irop. and manganese ores are

more intimately associated than any two metalliferous deposits

known in the area; artd yet, with several exceptions, they are

shown to have different origins.

The above facts constitute some of the essential features of the

bauxite deposits, which must be accounted for in any satisfactory

explanation. It is very apparent, that the process of bauxite accu-

mulation outlined by Spencer can in nowise apply to the Georgia

deposits ; and the assumption, that they exist in the form of beds.

instead of separate pockets, is wholly misleading.

.

After a detailed study of the structural geology of the regiont

and of the ore-bodies, Dr. C. W. Hayes says,r that any theory of-

fered to satisfactorily explain the bauxite deposits must give-

(r) The source from which the material was derived.

(2) The means by which it was'transported.

(3) The process of its local accumulation.

Hayes discusses separately each one of the three premises given

above, in considerable detail, the greater part of which I quote

from his report.2

1'HE SouRCE o:F 'I'HE MA'l'ERIAI,.- Concerning this, Hayes says: ''Immediately underlying the ore is in most cases the Knox dolomite, but this formation could' scarcely have furnished the material for the deposits since, so far as known, it. contains only a small amount of aluminum and that always in the form of the silicate as clay.
"1'he process by which the small amount of iron contained in the dolomite was segregated during the weathering of the rock into masses of limonite is wholly in- applicable to the segregation of aluminum as bauxite. Iron does not ordinarily occur in sedimentary rocks as the silicate but as the oxide and carbonate, compounds which readily unite with the organic acids in the soil to form soluble compounds. From such solutions the iron is precipitated by oxidation and so forms. limonite. Aluminum, on the other hand, although much more abundant than iron in the sedimentary rocks, is practically all in combination with silica, forming a. compound which is almost or quite unaffected by organic acids or other chemical agents active in rock weathering at the earth's surface.
''Beneath the Knox dolomite there is throughout the whole of this region a great mass of calcareons clay shales which are probably the source of the alumina fonning the bauxite. 1'he Connasauga shales are generally several thousand feet in
thickness and they contain from rs to 20 per cent. of alumina. Although this
is in combination with silica, the conditions requisite for its removal are also pres-
ent.

I Sixteenth Ann. Rept., U.S. Geol. Surv., 18951 Part III, p. 587. 2 Ibid., pp. 587-591.

GENESiS OF THE GEORG.!A BA UX.!TE

I2J

THE MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION.-" The faults of the region have been described at some length. In the Dyke district [Alabama] they are numerous and profound, and practically obliterate all other structures. In the Bobo district they are also numerous, but have less displacement and greater regularity. Even theHermitage district, in which no faults of the ordinary type are known, probably overlies a great shear zone, the major thrust plane of the Rome fault. Hence, it is safe to say that the strata of the entire bauxite region have been intersected by many fractures, while in some places the rocks have been crushed and ground up
so that they form a breccia. * * * *
''In the bauxite region the numerous faults intersect the massive dolomite by comparatively sharp fractures, while in the underlying soft shale the motion was . distributed through a wider zone and many fractures were formed instead of a sin- gle one, as in the dolomite. Water containing oxygen in solution flowed downward through the open fissures in the dolomite and percolated slowly through the
underlying shales. In addition to rs or 20 per cent. of alumina which the shales
contain, they always hold a considerable amount of iron, mostly as the sulphid,e, and also some potash, together with more or less lime, magnesia, and free silica_ Various chemical reactions are possible under such conditions. The first and most important is the oxidation of iron sulphide to sulphate which takes place theoretically, as follows:
FeSz +Hz 0+70=FeSO 4 +Hz SO 4
"In this way a powerful chemical agent is furnished, namely, sulphuric acid,. which is capable of taking potash and alumina away from the silica with which they are combined in the shale. In the presence of an abundant supply of potash the double sulphate of potassium and aluminum or ordinary alum would be formed, the process being precisely the same as that formerly employed on a large scale for the artificial preparation of alum from aluminous shales. The supply of potash failing, the principal products of the oxidation of the shale would be iron and aluminum sulphates, both of which are easily soluble, and therefore can be carried any distance by the circulating currents so long f).S the chemical conditionsremain the same.
THE PROCESS OF LOCAL ACCUMULATICJN.- "Sooner or later the water bearing these salts in solution would reach a point where the current was directed upward by reason of a lower outlet or the uneven temperature of different portions of the fissure. The solution would at once encounter new chemical conditions, causing a new set of reactions among its constituents. The ferrous sulphate would remain practically unchanged except by an oxidizing agent, which it would meet only at the surface when exposed to the oxygen of the air. It would there be slowly oxidized, the iron separating as hydrated ferric oxide or limonite. The aluminum sulphate, however, is a much less stable compound. It does not require exposure to the air to break it down, but a weak base, such as calcium carbonate, is sufficient. The reaction which would take place in such a case is theoretically as follows, omitting, for the sake of clearness, the water with which both the aluminum sulphate before the reaction and the alumina afterward are combined:-
Alz (SO 4) 3 +3CaCO 3=Alz 0 3 +3CaSO 4 +3CO z.

124

GENESIS. OF THE GEORGIA BAUXITE

"The carbonic 'acid passes off as a gas, the calcium unites with the sulphuric acid, forming calcium sulphate or gypsum, which remains in solution, while the alumina, which is entirely insoluble, forms a light, gelatinous precipitate.
"On leaving the shales in which the aluminum sulphate is formed by the oxidizi11g process above described, the ascending solution would pass through from .soo to 4,ooo feet of limestone before reaching the surface. During this passage a large amount of lime would necessarily be taken into solution, and the conditions would then be favorable for the reaction as given above. The reaction in nature was doubtless more complicated than that indicated, and instead of simple hydrated alumina the precipitate at first formed probably contained some basic aluminum s::tlphate. It also contained varying proportions of iron and silica, which replaced an equivalent quantity of the water in combination with alumi.na. The iron and .silica remain in the bauxite, while the sulphuric acid has been removed by subse-
quent reaction. * * * * * *
''The ascending currents reached the surface upon or near the faults, forming large springs which were probably thermal, and may in some cases have formed geysers. The precipitated, gelatinous alumina was carried upward by the water and probably at the same time compacted into the concretipns of various sizes which characterize the bauxite. These concretions must have b.een kept in motion for a long time either in the subterranean passage or in the basin of the spring, while successive layers of material were deposited on their surface. The concretions formed in this manner accumulated about the springs and in some cases after they had solidified were broken up, the fragments worn more or less smooth by the currents, and new material was deposited in concentric layers upon the outer .surfaces. Such worn and renewed fragments form the complex pisolites, pebbles,
.and bowlders which are found in most of the deposits. * * * * *
"In general, the greater the proportion of silica in the precipitate the less tendency did it have to form concretions. This is not an invariable rule, but holds in most cases. Hence the siliceous bauxite or bauxitic clay remained in suspension longer than the bauxite and was carried by the overflow out of the basin or deposited about its edges. The bedding often observed in the days -adjoining the bauxite deposits doubtless originated in the quiet overflow from the springs, and its steep dip is due to subsequent settling of the adjacent residual materials.''
Hayes has briefly summarized his theory as follows: - 1

"The deposits are there [Georgia-Alabama region] found embedded in residual day derived from the weathering of limestone. The limestone overlies a great mass of shales, and the formations are intersected by numerous faults, along which water has in the past found easy access to great depths. The shales are made up largely of silicate of aluminum. They also contain considerable iron sulphide in the form of pyrites. It is believed that the surface waters, carrying oxygen in solution, gained access to these shales and, by oxidizing the pyrites, set free sulphuric acid. This, under the conditions present, decomposed the aluminous shales, forming alum and sulphate of aluminum. Ascending currents carried these 8alts in solution to the surface, and, coming in contact with the limestone
I T!te Arkansas Bauxite Deposits, Twenty-first Ann., Rept., U. S. Geol. Surv., I899-rgoo (I90I), Part III, p. 46r et seq.

GENESIS OF THE GEORGIA BAUXITE

125

Juring their upward passage, they were decomposed, forming sulphate of lime and aluminum hydroxide, together with basic sulphate of aluminum, which was subsequently changed to aluminum hydroxide on exposure to the air. The aluminum hydroxide thus produced formed a gelatinous precipitate which collected about vents of springs. It was kept in motion by the ascendi11g water and thus formed concentric structures. The reactions indicated above are all known to take place in nature, and the process is one which is readily understood."
Briefly summarized, then, the main or essential facts, which a satisfactory theory for the origin of the Georgia deposits of bauxites must explain, are now stated in full, as follows:- I
(r) The bauxite deposits in the Georgia district are mostly confined to the Knox Dolomite; although some scattered deposits in the Dyke1s district of Alabama, a continuation of the Georgia belt, are found in beds immediately overlying the Knox Dolomite. They are not found at any definite or uniform position in the Dolomite; but they are associated with all parts of the formation, having therefore a wide stratigraphic range.
(2) The ore occurs in the form of distinct pocket deposits, of
varying sizes and disconnected, with the vertical nearly equal to the horizontal dimensions. This mode of occurrence could by no possible means be made to apply to the weathering of a limestone containing lenticular beds or masses of the ore.
(3) The absence of foreign material, such as might be derived from the decay of the rocks, in which the ore-bodies occur. The bauxitic clays and kaolins, which surround the ore-bodies, proper, bear no resemblance whatever to the enclosing highly siliceous residual clays derived from the weathering of the limestone; but, on the other hand, the two types of clay are strongly contrasted, without the slightest indication of com.mingling with, or gradation into, each other. Furthermore, the two types of clay haYe evidently had different origins.
(4) The location of the deposits with reference to sea-level (altitude), and their relation to the present topography. Some of the ore-bodies are found below the Sso-foot level, and a few occur above 950 feet; but, where erosion has not removed any considerable part of the deposits, they are generally found near the goofoot level.

I Some of these were stated in connection with Dr. Spencer's theory.

:!26

GENESIS OF THE GEORGIA BAUXITE

(5) The prevailing pisolitic structure of the bauxite. While the process of formation of the pisolitic structure in aluminous compounds or materials has not been observed in nature, so far as the writer is aware, the process producing the same structure in calcareous and siliceous materials has been fully observed and described. In these cases, where the process of formation of the -pisolitic structure has been observed, it plainly resulted from the deposition of the material in solution or from its suspension in the form of a fine precipitate. The precipitated material collects about nuclei, of some foreign substance, or about compact portions of the :same precipitate, and the whole is kept in motion, which causes the exposure of fresh surfaces,_on which additional layers of the :material are deposited, resulting in the concentric structure. Hayes says this applies to all material having a pisolitic structure.
(6} The groupi?g or occurrence of the ore-bodies along apparent lines of weakness and about certain centers. Reference to the accompanying map makes this point clear.
(7) The prevailing absence of igneous rocks from the bauxite area. The nearest area of known igneous material to the bauxite deposits is the Corbin porphyritic granite area, about five miles east of Cartersville, which is shown by Hayesr to be Pre-Cambrian in age. This granite is located some distance from the nearest point of the bauxite area, and no connection whatever ,can be traced between the deposits and the granite mass.
The theory which best conforms to these premises is the one .already outlined by Dr. Hayes, as given above, which, as set forth by its author, is based on the three essential features required of any :Satisfactory theory, namely, (r) the source from which the material was derived, (2) the means by which it was transported, and (3) the process of its local accumulation. Each of the three premises -is fully discussed above; and it is only necessary here to summa-rize the essential points under each one.
(r) THE SouRCE OF THE MATERIAL.-The Knox dolomite, with its mantle of residual clay, in which the deposits are found embedded, contains, as is shown by the analyses, a very small per-
I Hayes, C. W., Trans. Amer. Inst. Min. Engrs., Washington Meeting, February, I900.

GENESIS OF THE GEORGIA BAU...){ITE

I2J

-centage of alumina, which, by the process of accumulation required; is believed to be entirely inadequate as the source of the material.
Four analyses of the Knox dolomite, made by the writer in the Survey laboratory, showed its composition to vary within the following limits : -

SiOz ..
Alz 0 3 (
Fez 0 3 S
CaC0 3 MgC03 .

375 to 7.25 per cent. r.23 to r. 76 per cent.
. 34.07 to 5344 per cent. . 36.32 to 5573 per cent.

The following analyses of the Knox dolomite and its accompanying residual clay, from Morrisville, Calhoun county, Alabama, were made by Dr. W. F. Hillebrand,r and the rock was described by Professor I. C. Russell. 2 They are inserted here to illustrate the chemical changes accompanying the weathering of this rock. In his description of the rock, Professor Russell makes the following statement : "The original rock in this instance was a grayishwhite dolomite, typical of its class over a large area in the southern part of the Great Appalachian Valley, while the clay left by its decay is a fair sample of the red soil of the South.' '3

Constituents

SiOz

Alz03

Fez03

FeO

.

MgO

CaO.

NazO

KzO

Hz 0 at rro C.

(

Hz 0 above II0 C. S

COz

Total

Fresh Dolomite
324 0.17 0.17 o.o6 . 20.84 2958
0.30
. 4554 . 9990

Residual Clay
5542 22.17 8.30 trace
r.45 0.15 0.17 2.32 2.!0 776

As indicated by the above analysis, the residual product clearly
I Analyses o.f Rocks; Laboratory of tbe U. S. Geol. Surv., r88o to r899; by F. w. Clarke; Bull.
No. r68, U.S. Geol. Surv., rgoo, pp. 258 and 295. 2 Subaerial Decay o.f Rocks and Origin o.f the Red Color o.f Certain Formations; Bull.No. 52,
U. S. Geol. Surv ., r889, pp. 24-25. 3 Ibid., p. 24.

GENESIS OF THE GEORGIA BAUXITE

represents a highly siliceous, ferruginous clay, in which barely more than a trace. of the original more soluble calcium and magnesium salts is retained.
This formation is, everywhere in the district, underlain by several thousand feet in thickness of calcareous clay or aluminous. shales, which contain from 20 to 30 per cent. of alumina, as indicated by the analyses, in addition to the other constituents com- monly found in the deposits, such as silica, titanic and iron oxides~ The Connesauga shales are, for these reasons, believed to have been the source of the material.
The following analyses indicate the general composition of the Middle Cambrian shales of the bauxite region : -

Si02 Al20 3 Fe20 3 FeO MgO CaO Na20 K20. H20at:iroC. H 2 0 above IIo C.
. 'riO 2
P20s MnO. BaO SrO Li20
. so3
Cl C02 Carbonaceous Matter

I 55.02 2I,02
s.oo I. 54 2.32 r.6o o.Sr
3.19 2.44 s.6s o.6s 0.06 trace 0.04 trace 0.03 0.02 trace o.83 0.32

II 52.82 26.r7
9-46
r.o8 , trace 0,20
2.7I 0.23 (hygroscopic) J.oo (combined)

'total . . . . . . . .. roo.54

99.67

I Middle Cambrian shales, Coosa valley, near Blaine, Cherokee county, Alabama; Dr. H. N. Stokes, A11alyst; Bulletin No. r68, U. S. Geol. Survey, rgoo, p. 283.
II Oostanaula shales, about two miles northwest of Cartersvillet
Bartow county, Ga.; J. M. McCa11dless, Analyst; Spencer, J. W., Paleozoic Group, Geological Survey of Georgia, r893t
p. 285.

BAUXI TE DEPOSI TS OF GEORGIA

PLA TE XII

G E NERAT, VmW,OF 'rH E BAUXITE DRYING PLAN'r OF THE R E P UBLIC MINING AND MANUFACTURING COl>1PANY, HERMITAGE , FLOYD COUNTY, GEORGIA.

GENESIS OF THE GEORGIA .BAUXITE

I29

(2) THE MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION.- The formations of this region, both limestone and shale, are intersected by numerous faults, which are described elsewhere in this report. These lines of fracture doubtless afforded easy access in the past for the percolation of water to great depths. In addition to the silicate of aluminum, which composes the greater part of the shales, the Connesauga shales contain considerable iron disulphide in the form of disseminated pyrite. The descending waters, carrying oxygen in solution and percolating through the shales, oxidized the pyrite, setting free sulphuric acid, which, under the conditions present, decomposed the shales, forming the sulphates of aluminum and iron. The ascending waters returned these salts to the surface in solution, where, coming in contact with the limestone during their upward passage, the salts were decomposed, forming sulphate of lime and aluminum hydroxide, along with the basic sulphate of aluminum, which, on exposure to the air, was converted. into aluminum hydroxide.
(3) THE PROCESS OF LOCAL ACCUMULATION. - The ascending currents are believed to have reached the surface near or upon the fault lines, forming large springs, and the aluminum hydroxide,. produced as described above, formed a gelatinous precipitate, which collected about the vents of the springs.
In the accumulation of the bauxite, Hayes describes the process of formation of its pisolitic structure as follows:- I
"From analogy with pisolitic sinter and travertine now forming, such conditions would appear to be highly favorable for the production of the structure actually found in the bauxite. The precipitate was apparently collected in globular masses by the motion of the ascending water, and constant changes in position permitted these to be coated with successive layers of more compact material. Finally, after having received many such coatings, the pisolites were deposited on the borders of the basin, and the interstices were :filled by minute oolites formed in a similar manner or by the flocculent precipitate itself. Slight differences in the conditions prevailing in the several springs, such as concentration and relative proportion of the various salts in solution, also temperature and flow of the water, would produce the variation in the character of the ore observed at different points."
The theory, above outlined, was originated and applied by Dr. Hayes to the group of deposits in question, to whom is accorded
I TransaGtions, Amer. Inst. Min. Engrs., Op. cit.

130

GENESIS OF THE GEORGIA BAUXITE

the entire credit. The theory is reviewed and discussed here at some length, for the reason, that, after a careful study of the same region by the writer, Dr. Hayes's theory more completely covers the -essential features required of a satisfactory theory, than any yet .advanced, and explains the conditions in the field as the writer saw them. The theory is also extended by Dr. Hayes, to cover the similar deposits in Alabama, which represent the southwest exten:sion of the Georgia belt into that State.

II. AGE OF THE BAUXITE DEPOSITS
It was stated in the early part of this report, that the majority of the bauxite deposits occur between the elevati'ons of 900 and 950 feet above tide-level. Those occurring at lower levels indicate, in those cases where worked, shallow deposits, which representonly remnants, perhaps, of originally more extensive ore-bodies. It has been further shown, that the region has passed through several periods of base-leveling (planation), in which the remnants of at ]east two more-or-less distinct peneplains are preserved. The evi-dences of the first and older plain are preserved in the harder sandstones and quartzites of the region; and it is referred to Cretaceous .age by Hayes. I The second plain is better preserved, and, therefore, more pronounced, as shown by the surface of the Knox dolomite plateau to the north, and its corresponding ridge crests to the south, of the Etowah river. The formation of this plain was probably during Eocene time. Numerous measurements show the surface of the Eocene plain to be about 950 feet above tide-level. The elevation, then, of th~ Eocene base-leveled plain and that of a majority of the bauxite deposits is approximately the same. The nature of the ore-bodies indicate, that they are surface, pocket
deposits, with no very extensive depth. In this event, they must have been formed near the close of the period of the Eocene baseleveling. Also, if their genesis is that, which is elsewhere described and discussed in this report, then it follows, that deposition occurred prior to the uplift and elevation of the Eocene plal.n; otherwise, tliey would have different positions from that shown at present, from the nature of their formation. From the above considera-
I Sixteenth Ann. Rept., U. S. Geol. Surv., rSgs, Part III, p. 592.

GENESIS OF THE GEORGIA BAUXITE

I3I

tions, the period during which the formation of the present deposits occurred, was near the close of the Eocene.

III. METHOD OF ESTIMATING THE ORE-BODIES
The method, suggested by Hayes for estimating the ore-bodies, if diligently followed out by intelligent workers, will doubtless prove of vast economic importance in the working of some of the Georgia-Alabama bauxite deposits. r The method is based entirely on the character and mode of occurrence of the ore-bodies. It ,considers, first, that, in the few cases where the ore-body has been entirely or nearly exhausted by working, the resulting depression is fairly regular and cup-shaped in outline. Naturally, there are, -of course, many exceptions to this form of opening. Second, the -occurrence of the deposits in somewhat regular groups, with indi-cations, that all deposits belonging to the same group have approximately the same depth. It necessarily follows from this, that those deposits occupying the highest positions contain the largest .amounts of ore, because they have suffered the least erosion; and, conversely, that the lowest deposits contain only the remnants of perhaps originally more extensive bodies. Third, the kind of ore is considered as furnishing a possible clew to the amount present ; but this varies so greatly, that it cannot be relied on.
In conclusion, it must be said, that pocket forms of ore-bodies .are at best irregular and uncertain as to quantity. Surface indiCations cannot be relied upon in all cases, and prospecting, of a .systematic kind, often fails to indicate the amount as well as the quality of the ore present. Not until the ore-bodies have been entirely worked out, can any exact estimate be formed of the amount of ore originally contained. However, it is believed, that, in the case of the Georgia bauxite deposits, the above method, when dili_gently and intelligently applied, will prove to be of considerable econom1c value in many cases.

IV. THE USES OF BAUXITE
At present the bauxite mined in Georgia and Alabama is used ;almost exclusively in the manufacture of alum and the aluminum
I Sixteenth Ann. Rept., U. S. Geol. Surv., r895, Part III, pp. 593-594

I32

GENESIS OF THE GEORGIA BA UX.!TE

alloys and compounds, and the metal aluminum.- More than three-

fourths of the ore is consumed, at present, in the manufacture of

alum; while the remainder is employed in the manufacture of the

metal aluminum, its alloys and compounds. These proportions.

are subject, however, to more or less variation from year to year,.

dependent upon numerous conditions.

Bauxite is also employed, to some extent, in the manufacture of

certain aluminum salts used in the manufacture of baking-powders.

and dyes. A by-product, alumino-ferric cake, which is obtained in.

the purifying process, is said to be of value for sanitary and de-

odorizing purposes.

The price of the crude ore varies considerably, from time to time,.

according to several conditions, the most important ones of which

are purity and supply. When the Georgia bauxite was :first mined,

the :first-grade ore commanded a price of $9.00 per ton in the-

markets. There is little or no demand, at present, however, for

other than a high-grade ore. For the past few years, the price has.

varied but little from $5.00 per ton for :first-grade Georgia-Alabama.

bauxite.

The quotations on first and second grades of Georgia-Alabama

bauxite showed some advance at the beginning of I 90r. The quo-

tations for January, 1901, on the Georgia-Alabama product were-

as follows:-



First grade Georgia-Alabama bauxite $6.oo per ton. Second grade Georgia-Alabama bauxite $5.50 per ton.

Some of the Georgia producers were, in September, 19or, marketing their :first-grade ore at $J,oo per ton.

CHAPTER VI

'THE TECHNOLOGY OF BAUXITE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ALUMINUM AND ALUM

I. ALUMINUM MANUFACTURE

Various aluminous compounds have been employed in the exiraction and manufacture of the metal, aluminum. Of these compounds, the following are considered the most important:-

:Bauxite . Cryolite Corundum Kaolin .

Composition . Alz 0 3 . 2H 2 0 . 3NaF. AlF3 . Alz03 zH z 0 . .A:lz 0 3 . 2SiO z

Per Cent. Alz03
739
24.I
roo.o
395

Per Cent. Al 39 r
!2.8
52.9 20.9

For the past few years, bauxite and cryolite have become the principal minerals used in the production of aluminum, largely due, it is claimed, to their purity. As yet, native alums have not been found, to any considerable extent, in commercially workable quantities; but, if found, they would doubtless prove a valuable source of the metal. Corundum is very hard to crush; and, when broken in fine pieces, it becomes more valuable in the market as an abrasive, than as an ore of aluminum. The extensive and rapid development of bauxite mining in certain districts has resulted in excluding corundum as a source of aluminum; and it is claimed, that not one pound of the metal is produced at present from this mineral. The extensive, nearly inexhaustible beds of kaolin, of great purity, mark it as one of the most important natural ores of aluminum; but, as yet, no process sufficiently cheap for separating the aluminum from the silica has been discovered. The discovery of a sufficiently cheap process is all that is necessary, however, to

(133)

134

TECHNOLOGY OF BA UX!TE

make kaolin the main source of the metal in the aluminum industry. The ordinary clays are much too impure to become a source of aluminum; and they could in nowise compete with the extensive beds of nearly pure kaolin, of which there are vast deposits in Georgia.
Prior to r89r, when the recently discovered deposits of bauxite in Georgia and Alabama had begun to be worked, the source of the ore for the extraction _of the metal; aluminum, was confined almost exclusively to the Greenland cryolite, a double fluoride of sodium and aluminum, Na 3 AlF 6 , containing 12.8 per cent. of aluminum. Cryolite was first used for its soda by soap-makers;. and it is still used in making soda and alumina salts, and, to some extent, a white glass, an imitation of porcelain; and it is in general use, at present, as a fl..ux. The entire supply is from the west. coast of South Greenland. It is claimed, that natural cryolite is. found to be too impure for use in many operations, which aim to produce pure aluminum; and several methods for the preparation. of the artificial salt have been suggested. The importers sell what they term a pure prepared cryolite at $6o per ton. The crude cryolite is quoted in the E1zgz'neerz"ng and Mz"nz"ng Journal, for
January, r9or, at 6t cents per pound or $130.00 per ton.
The metallurgical processes formerly in vogue for the extrac-tion of metallic aluminum from cryolite, involving the use of thevery costly material, metallic sodium, taken in connection with the remote locality of the cryolite (Greenland) entailed a proportionately high cost on the cryolite, and necessarily caused a corre-spondingly high price to be placed. on the finished product or metal. The price of the metal was controlled, therefore, by the processes employed in its extraction and by the cost of the mate-rial used. Conversely, the change in the metallurgical process. and the substitution of a much cheaper material for the extraction, have correspondingly lowered the cost of the product.
Upon the discovery of bauxite in commercially workable quan-tities near at hand, closely followed changes in the metallurgy,. which resulted in a considerable decrease in the cost of extraction,. and therefore in the cost of the metal. Assuming all other' condi-tions to be equal, the price of first grade bauxite, which is $5.00

TECHJVOLOGY OF BAUXITE

135

as against $r3o.oo per ton for cryolite; and the percentage of alu~inum, which is 39.1 per cent. in bauxite against 12.8 per cent. in cryolite, are factors which would very greatly favor bauxite as the source of the metal. As is well known, the conditions of mining and handling the two minera1s, and, indeed, mostr if not all others, are vastly in favor of the bauxite.
Aluminum was first isolated, and some qf its physical properties determined, by Wohler in r827. Wohler succeeded in isolating the metal by reducing the chloride of aluminum by means of metallic potassium. The chemical process, afterwards employed for the extraction of the metal, as developed by H. St. Claire Deville and others, consisted in substituting the double chloride of aluminum and sodium for aluminum chloride, and using metallic sodium instead of metallic potassium as the reducing agent.
Metallic aluminum is now extracted in commercial quantities from its ores by means of electro-metallurgical processes. Broadly speaking the metallurgical processes may be said to include two general steps :- 1
(r) The preparation of aluminum compounds for reduction. (2) The reduction of the aluminum compounds.
Under the first heading, the following compounds are included: Alumina; the chlorides of aluminum, including the double chloride of aluminum and sodium; the fluorides of aluminum, including the double fluoride of aluminum and sodium; and the sulphide of aluminum. Of these, alumina is vastly the most important; and it is prepared in commercial quantities from -
(a) Aluminztm sulphates or alums; (b) Bauxite; (c) cryolite.
The attention of the earlier workers was mainly directed to the reduction of the chlorides of aluminum and of sodium and aluminum, and of cryolite, by means of metallic sodium or potassium, based on various methods. The principal one of these was that of Deville, first discovered in r854 It was improved and changed~

I Richards, Joseph W., Aluminum, Its Properties, JVIetallurg-y and Alloys, 1896, 3rd Edition, pp. 13)-44!.

TECHNOLOGY OF .BAUXITE
from time to time, until as late as r886, when it was modified by Castner; and it is known, at present, as the Deville-Castner process. The lowest cost for producing aluminum by this process, however, is placed between four and five shillings; and this necessitated its being abandoned in r89r.
The reduction of cryolite by means of metallic sodium or potassium was never entireJy successful; although the Grabau process, it is claimed, was successful in reducing unusually pure aluminum, averaging more than 995 per cent. on actual analysis; but the process was too expensive to compete with the best commercial grade of the metal produced by electrolytic methods.
The investigation of electrolytic processes was, for some time after the beginning, directed along two general lines: -
(I) Deposition from aqueous solutions, and (2) Non-aqueous, electric processes.
While numerous methods have been advocated by various investigators, for the production of aluminum from aqueous solutions, no commercial results have yet come from this general principle. Of the various methods proposed for the production of aluminum from non-aqueous electric processes, the following are the most important:-
The Cowles Brothers' process, patented August r8th, r885; The Hall process, worked on a small scale February, r886, and patented April 2nd, r889; The Heroult process, patented in France, April 23rd, r886.
THE CowLES BROTHERS' PROCESS.- The Cowles Brothers' process, which employs electricity, is said to be rather better adapted for the production of certain valuable alloys than of pure aluminum. This process is briefly described as follows:- I
"The inventors use a furnace, the iron cover of which contains openings, for the escape of the carbon monoxide evolved. At the bottom is a stratum of powdered coal, saturated with milk of lime, about a hand's-breadth in depth. Over this 1s spread the mixture to be reduced, consisting of broken corundum, mixed with fragments of charcoal and the requisite quantity of copper (i. e., for
1 Rudolph von Wagner, JJ!lanual of C!temical Teclmology, 1892, p. 222.

TECHNOLOGY OF BAUXiTE

1 37

ihe formation of bronze) in small grains. By means of a rectan:gular frame of sheet-metal, it is arranged that the coarser materials lie only in the middle. The electrodes, which enter the hearth, :serve for the production of a powerful electric arc. They are blocks of carbon, 7. 5 centimeters, in square sections of 75 centi-
meters in length. * * * * * * After the charge of ore, more
charcoal is spread, in the first place, between the wall of the hearth and the sheet-metal frame, and, after its removal as a layer, to cover the whole. The furnace is then closed with its cover, .and the current is passed through." I

HALL's PROCESS.- The Hall process for obtaining aluminum by electro-metallurgy was instituted by the Pittsburg Reduction ,Company, at Pittsburg, Penn., in r888. The manufacture of aluminum in the United States, for some years, has been nearly, if not -entirely, by the Hall process. Packard briefly describes this process as follows : - 2
''The process [Hall] consists in providing a bath of fused flu-orides to which alumina is added, and then reducing this alumina by the current from a dynamo. The bath :is contained in carbonlined iron pots or crucibles, which form the cathodes, while the .anodes are large carbon cylinders which are made to dip into the baths. The specific gravity of aluminum being greater than that -of the bath employed, the metal sinks to the bottom of the pots,
.and can be tapped off. To make alloys the required metal (e. g.,
-copper) may be introduced into the pot containing the bath and alumina, and, becoming melted, forms a cathode with which the .aluminum, as it is reduced from the alumina unites to form the alloy." 3

I For a more detailed description of the Cowles Brothers' process, the reader is referred to .the following papers:-
Richards, }os. W., Op. Cit., pp. 329-3--t-7Mabery, Chas. F., Proceedings, Amer. Asso. Adv. Science, Ann.Arbor Meeting, August zS,
-r885. Hunt, T. Sterry, Trans., A mer. Inst. Min. Eng., Halifax Meeting, Sept. r6, r885. Thompson, W. P., Journal of tlze Society of Clzenucal Industry, April 29, 1886. Read before
-the Liverpool section of the Society.
2 The Production of Aluminum in 1894, r6th Ann. Rept., U.S. Geol. Surv., 1894, Part III, p. 540.
3 For a more detailed description of the Hall process, the reader is referred to Richards, Jos. "W., Aluminum, Its Properties, Jl;fetallurgy and Alloys, 1896, 3rd Edition, pp. 37:2-386.

TECHNOLOGY OF BA UXZTE
THE HEROULT PROCESS. -The Herault process, invented by P. L. V. Herault, of Paris, France, and patented in r886, differs-. but slightly from that of the Hall process. Concerning this, Mr. Richards says: I "The idea or principle involved in the above
[Heroult processJ is exactly similar to Hall's process, and when
Heroult applied for United States patents in r886 the two claimsinterfered, and the evidence given in the Patent Office, showed Hall to be the prior inventor, so that the process in this country belongs entirely to Hall. It is evident that the process was discovered by these two inventors, on opposite sides of the ocean, at very nearly the same time, and entirely independent of each other."'
Various methods for the production of aluminum compounds,. other than by .means of metallic sodium or potassium and electricity, have been reported; but no use commercial1y has yet re-sulted.
PRODUCTION.- The production of aluminum in r898 amounted- to 5,2oo,ooo pounds, an increase of 30 per cent. over the amount produced in r897 2 A marked increase has been noted each year,. in the production, over the previous year; and the industry hasgrown from 83 pounds 'in r883 to more than s,ooo,ooo :pounds in r.898. In 1898, the product was valued at $r,7r6,ooo with a de-cline in the price of the metal, in the first stage of its manufacture,,
from 37 Yz to 33 cents per pound. The price for sheets, wire, and)
other manufactures retained their usual cost. The production of aluminum and its variety of ~ses continue to increase.
On account of completeness and the continued interest in the metal aluminum, the following quotations are taken from a paper
published by Mr. R. L. Packard in the Mineral Resources of the-
United States, for the year, r89r, entitled Alunzz"num, Its Sources: and Uses : -
USES
"Besides the metallurgical use of aluminum in casting iron and steel, to be re-ferred to below, the metal is_used for an infinity of small articles as has always been the case, and for which its lightness, strength, and freedom from tarnish eminently adapt it. Indeed, with a total production of between soo and 6oo tons, of which, perhaps, 300 only are available for manufactured articles, no extensive use
I Richards, Jos. W., Aluminum, Its Proj;e1ties, JJ;Jetallurgy and Alloys, 1896, 3rd Edition, p. 3872 Twentieth Ann. Report, U. S. Geol. Surv., r899, Part VI, p. 267.

TECHNOLOGY OF BAUX.!TE

1 39'

on the large scale could be expected. The newspapers have frequently spoken ofthe Swiss steam launch of aluminum. A life-boat of aluminum was under construction at Stralsund, Prussia, in December, r89I. It was expected that the lightness of the metal would be of great advantage in dragging the boat over the sandsand in hoisting and lowering it. The list of proposed uses continue to increase. Disregarding them, the actual use is sufficiently varied. Small articles, viz., drinking cups, rulers, and paper-cutters, perfumery stands, smokers' sets, ash-receivers,. toothpick and match holders, watch cases, lemonade shakers, card-receivers, butter dishes, rings, spoons, picture frames, bracelets, napkin rings, sleeve and collar buttons, scarf and shawl pins, penracks, dog collars, key chains, hairpins, pencil cases, and pannikins are advertised.
"In Germany aluminum tubing is used for penholders, umbrella handles, walking sticks, billiard cues, chair legs, photograph frames, and newspaper holders.
" Powdered aluminum mixed with chlorate of potassium has been used for flash- lights instead of magnesium. It is said to make an excellent light and to give no smoke like magnesium.
"Mr. Alfred E. Hunt, president of the Pittsburg Reduction Company, in alecture delivered in March, r89r, gives some information in regard to the use of aluminum in railroad work. He says that the metal has been used, on account of its lightness, for slide valves (experimentally) ; for valves to control the passage of the air from the storage to the brake cylinders in the new and larger forms of the Westinghouse air brake, the inertia of the heavy iron or brass valves being a serious consideration ; for the fan blades and frames of windmills ; in semaphore signal disks and their moving frame work.
"The use of aluminum for canteens and military equipments in the German army has suggested a similar use in this country, and aluminum curb bits, saber-belt plates, canteens, meat cans, cartridge-belt plates, and spoons and forks have been submitted to the War Department in Washington for consideration. The object is to save weight and avoid rust.
"Tl}e substitution of aluminum for glass flasks for the army and its use in general for vessels which are designed for holding foods and drinking fluids have given rise to experiments in Germany to test the action of various fluids upon the metal. The results are on the whole favorable to its employment for such pur-poses. It must be remembered that the aluminum of commerce contains small quantities of other metals and metalloids, sometimes amounting to 2 per cent., so that it is virtually an alloy. The resistance of aluminum to acids has long been a popular belief, and, before giving the results of the experiments as to the action of drinking fluids upon aluminum, the following account of some experiments with nitric and sulphuric acids is given to show that the former belief in the resistance of the metal to all acid except hydrochloric must be modified. Undoubtedly the physical condition of the metal operated on, as well as lts chemical composition, makes a great difference in its power to resist the action of acids, a finely divided metal being much more easily attacked than the same metal in large pieces. G. A. LeRoy ( Chemisches Centralblatt, r8g2, Bd. I., No. 2, p. sr) found that nitric and sulphuric acids of different strengths acted upon aluminum as shown below under the conditions specified. He used aluminum foil having the composition 98.29 per cent. to 99 6 per cent. alumin1:1m, r.6o per cent. to 0.30 per cent. iron, and o. ro per cent. to 0.25 per cent. silicon. The foil was polished, freed from fat with caustic:

TECHNOLOGY OF BAUXZTE
soda, washed with alcohol, dried in the bath, cut up, weighed, and introduced into the acids. In this fine condition the action of the acids was as shown in the following table, the weight being the amount of metal dissolved expressed in grams per square meter. The action lasted twelve hours.
AC'l'ION OF VARIOUS ACIDS ON ALUMINUM FOII~

ACIDS

Temper-

Specific ature

Gravity (centi-

grade)

A

Samples

B

c ID

Pure H2S04

Common H2SO 4
Pure HzS04 -

Common H2SO4

. . Pure H2S04
Pure H2S04

PureHN03

. CommonHN03

. .Common HNO 3

. Pure HzS04 .

. Common H2SO4
PureHN0 3

.

Common HNO 3

I.842 I.842 I.7II I.7II r.58o I.263
1.383 1.383 1.332 I.842 1.842 I.382 I.382

150-200 150-200 150-200 150-200 150-200 150-200 150-200 150-200 150-200
I50o 1500
1ro0o00

Grams
r8.4o 2I.OO
24.50 25.80 19.00 4.60 17.00 20.50 !6.30 240. 267.

Grams Grams Grams

r8.9o 16-40 14.50

2I.30 I7.50 r6.4o

25.00 22.00 20.00

25.70 24.60 22.40

r8.oo 1790 r6.3o

2.60 340

r6.oo I5.50 14.50

19.60 r8.oo r6.6o

r6.3o 14.00 13-40

225 . 150. 200.

250. 210.

220.

} Violent Violent action. action.

" According to these results almost pure aluminum, 995 per cent., is attacked even in the cold by nitric and sulphuric acids, so that the metal should not be used in apparatus for preparing these acids.
"As to the action of drinking fluids, coffee, tea, beer, wines, brandy, etc., the following appears to be the state of the case : Messrs. Liibbert and Roscher, ( Chem. Centralbl., r89r, Bd. II., No. r8, p. 780) tested the resistance of aluminum to the action of alcohol, ether, aldehyde, coffee, tea, wines and antiseptics, by allow-ing aluminum leaf to remain in concentrated solutions of the different liquids four days at the temperature of the room, and the fluids were examined either directly for alumina or were evaporated and the ignited residue so examined. The conclusion reached was that aluminum possesses only a slight degree of resistance to the .agents named, except alcohol, ether and aldehyde, and that it is therefore unsuitable for wares which are to be used for acid drinks, coffee, tea, etc., or articles which .are to be cleaned with soda or soap. Its application in daily life would therefore be very limited.
"On the other hand; G. Rupp, (Dingler, 283, I, January 21, r8g2,) criticizes the methods employed by Liibbert and Roscher for determining the action of the fluids by estimating the alumina contained in them, as well as the use of aluminum leaf for their experiments, which is attacked much more easily than the compact metal, the former being acted on even by boiling water, while the latter is unaffected. His own experiments were made upon aluminum vessels (canteens, drinking cups, etc.) and foil, the object being to determine the availability of the metal for use in the army. The carefully dried and weighed vessels were filled with the different :fluids or the foil was immersed in them, and the action was allowed to continue

TECHNOLOGY OF BAUXITE
four, eight and twenty-eight days, at the temperature of the room with frequent stirring. The fluids included wines of different kinds, beer, kirschwass~r, cognac, coffee, tea, milk, drinking water, r per cent. solution of tartaric acid, acetic acid (r per cent., 4 per cent., roper cent. solutions), vinegar (roper cent.), soda solution ( r per cent.), besides butter, honey and preserved fruits. The articles were then cleaned, dried and weighed, to determine the loss of weight. The results, which fill a large table, showed that in most cases there was absolutely no action and in the few cases where there was a perceptible loss of weight it was so trifling as to be disregarded. To the objection that continued drinking of fluids containing a small quantity of alumina would eventually be dangerous, the author points out that the ash of all the fluids usually drank contains alumina, as well as most foods and drinking water itself. His conclusion is that there is no objection to the use of aluminum or canteens and similar vessels.
"These conclusions of Rupp were confirmed by Dr. A. Arche (Dingler, Vol. 284, No. II, p. 255), whose experiments show that the purity of aluminum (using the percentage of silicon as a means of classification) has much to do vv-ith its power of resisting the solvent action of fluids, and they also show that the mechanical preparation of the' metal is an important factor. He found that hammered aluminum was least attacked, rolled metal came next, and then the drawn metal, while cast metal was much more easily attacked (by acetic acid).
METALLURGICAL USE
"The quantity of aluminum used in this country in the manufacture of iron and steel castings is probably from 25 to 30 per cent. of the total production. In Europe it is estimated by Professor Wedding to be 54 per cent. This use, as was explained in the last number of this series, consists in adding from o. ro to o. rs per cent. of aluminum to iron or steel just before casting, by which blow-holes are prevented and sounder castings are produced. This use is becoming general. The beneficial effect, as was shown by experiments referred to last year, is due in part at least to the deoxidizing action of aluminum upon carbon monoxide at a high temperature, a reaction which was demonstrated directly between the metal and the gas. This subject has not yet received an exhaustive examination. For-this purpose it would be necessary to know the composition of the iron or steel operated
on in each case and make comparative tests on the different specimens. It is also
probable that the method of melting employed has an-effect on the result. "A detail of manipulation in the method of applying aluminum, especially in
castings for steam and pump cylinders and other castings intended to resist high pressures, is reported in Dz"ngler's Journal (Vol. 284, No. II, p. 255). The addition is made by first forming a mixture of aluminum and iron, which is effected by placing the proper quantity of heated aluminum in the bottom of a small ladle, running some iron into the ladle from the furnace, and waiting until the mixture begins to stiffen. Then the iron to be operated on is run into a large ladleand the iron-aluminum mixture is poured into it, whereby an intimate mixture of the whole is effected. For roo kilograms of iron to be operated on, 200 grams of aluminum are used (=0.20 per cent.). The iron is not poured ?-t once from the large ladle, but is allowed to stand until it is orange yellow and a thin film begins to form on the surface. As soon as this occurs the film is removed and the iron is poured. The mold should be kept full. No reason is assigned for this procedure,

TECHNOLOGY OF BAUXITE

but it appears that iron containing aluminum is inclined to shrink excessively and that this tendency must be obviated by pouring as cold. as. possible.
"According to a paper read by Mr. J. W. Langley, at the Glen Summit meeting -of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, the practice in the United States in pouring ingots is as follows : The aluminum, in small pieces of ~ or ~ pound weight, is thrown into the ladle during the tapping, shortly after a small quantity --of steel has already entered it. The aluminum melts almost instantaneously and diffuses with great rapidity throughout the contents of the ladle. The diffusion seems to be complete, for the writer has never seen the slightest action indicating want of homogeneity of mixture, all of the ingots poured from one ladle being pre-cisely alike so far as the specific action of the aluminum is concerned. The quantity of aluminum to be employed will vary slightly according to the kind of steel .and the results to be obtained. For opened-hearth steel, containing less than 0.50 per cent. carbon, the amount will range from 5 to ro ounces per ton of steel. For Bessemer steel the quantities should be slightly increased, viz., 7 to r6 ounces. For steel containing over o.5011o per cent. carbon, aluminum should be used cau-tiously; in general between 4 and 8 ounces to the ton. If these statements are put in the form of percentages, it will at once be seen how extremely minute is the .quantity of aluminum which causes such marvelous results, for the numbers are:

4 ounces= o.or25 per cent. 5 ounces= o.or56 per cent. 8 ounces= 0.0250 per cent. . . r6 ounces= 0.0500 per cent.

. = I-8ooo . = I-65oo =I-4000 ~ = I-2000.

SOLDERING

"From the articles which occasionally appear in the trade journals, both "in this

, country and Europe, and the patent list, it appears that the difficulties of soldering

aluminum have not been overcome. Some of the new solders are introduced here

without comment.

"Chloride of silver has been recommended as a solder. It is to be finely pow-

-dered and spread along the junction to be soldered and melted with the blow pipe.

Mr. Joseph W. Richards makes an alloy of aluminum I part, zinc 8 parts, tin 32

parts, and phosphor-tin, containing 5 per cent. phosphorus, I part. The aluminum

is first melted, then the zinc is added, and :finally the tin, which has been melted

separately and mixed with the phosphor-tin. The alloy is poured into small bars

for use. The object is to provide in the phosphorus a powerful reducing agent to

prevent the formation of the film of oxide which usually prevents the intimate con-

tact of the opposed surfaces. (United States patent 407789, October 5, I8gr.) An-

. other formula is, cadmium so parts, zinc 20, tin 30. The zinc is first melted, then

the cadmium is added, and finally the tin. (Dngler's Journal, Vol. 284, No. 6,

-page 144.) Electroplating the surfaces with copper and then applying the solder

~was mentioned last year.



" Other solders which have been used are composed of-

TECHNOLOGY OF BAUXITE

I43

COMPOSITION OF CERTAIN SOJ,DERS FOR ALUMINU:I>f

. Aluminum
. . Copper . Zinc

. .

.

. .

I
I

I I II

III

. .

Per cent. I2 8 So

Per cent. 9 6
ss

Per cent.
7 5 88

IV

v

Per cent. 6
4 90

Per cent. 4 2 94

"In making these. solders the copper should be melted first, the aluminum then added, and the zinc last. Stearin is used as a flux to prevent the rapid oxidation of the zinc. V/hen the last metal is fused, which takes place very quickly, the operation should be finished as rapidly as possible by stirring the mass, and the alloy should then be poured into an ingot mold of iron, previously rubbed with fat. The pieces to be soldered should first be cleaned thoroughly and roughened with a file and the solder placed on the parts in small fragments, the pieces being supported on a piece of charcoal. The place of juncture should be heated with the blast lamp. The union is facilitated by the use of a soldering tool of aluminum. "This last is said to be essential to the success of the operation. Alloy I. is recommended for small objects of jewelry; alloy IV. is said to be the best adapted for larger objects and for general work, and is that most generally used. The success:ful performance of the act of soldering appears to require skill and experience, but the results obtained are said to leave nothing to be desired. Soldering tools of -copper or brass should be avoided, as they would form colored alloys with the aluminum and solder. The skillful use of the aluminum tool, however, requires some practice. At the instant of fusion the operator must apply some friction, and, as the solder melts very suddenly, the right moment for this manipulation may be lost unless the workman is experienced.

ALLOYS
"It is regretted that no statistics of the production of aluminum bronze and fer-ro-aluminum in this country can be given for r89r. Both of these valuable alloys .have been produced by the Cowles Electric Smelting and Aluminum Company for .a number of years, and have found their way into the market on a considerable .scale. The ferro-aluminum made by this company was used as a vehicle for adding aluminum to iron and steel in making sound castings when that method was first introduced. Aluminum bronze is coming into use in Germany for torpedoes Dn account of its strength and non-corrodibility, and for telephone wires. It was estimated that z8o,ooo kilograms would be used during r892. The 5 per cent. bronze has been used for some time for nozzles of gas motors on account of its nonoxidizable character, and the I2 per cent. bronze is used for the pins of needle ,guns, for which purpose it is said to be better than steel.
"The number of patents which have been granted for aluminum alloys, either where that metal forms a minor ingredient or has small quantities of other metals added to it for special purposes, shows that experimenting in this direction is in.creasing. As yet much of this experimenting is done without definite knowledge .or aim on the part of inventors. Doubtless, in time, valuable conclusions may be derived from this kind of work, after rigid experiments with a definite purpose or

144

TECHNOLOGY OF BAUXITE

idea have been undertaken. Of ailoys formed with a specific purpose in view, that: containing a small quantity of titanium, and another containing silver, were de- scribed last year. Others are mentioned in a lecture by Mr. Hunt, president of the Pittsburg Reduction Company, whose statements are valuable because they are based on knowledge and experience. He says:
" 'The alloys of from 2_% to 12 per cent. aluminum with copper, have so far achieved the greatest reputation, With the use of 8 per cent. to r2 per cent. aluminum in copper we obtain one of the most dense, finest grained, and strongest metals known, having remarkable ductility as compared with its tensile strength. A roper cent. aluminum bronze can be made in forged bars with roo,ooo pounds. tensile strength, 6o,ooo pounds elastic limit, and with at least ro per cent. elongation in 8 inches. An aluminum bronze can be made to fill a specification of 13o,ooo pounds tensile strength and Sper cent. elogantion in 8 inches. Such bronzes. have a specific gravity of about 7.so, and are of a light yellow color. For cylinders. to withstand high pressures such bronze is probably the best metal yet known.
" 'The s to 7 per cent. aluminum bronzes have a specific gravity of 8.30 to 8, and are of a handsome yellow color, with a tensile strength of from 7o,ooo to 8o,ooo pounds per square inch, an elastic limit of 4o,ooo pounds per square inch. It will brobably be bronzes of this latter character that will be most used, and the fact that such bronzes can be rolled and hammered at a red heat with proper precau- tions will add greatly to their use. Metal of this character can be worked in a.lmost every way that steel can, and has for its advantages its great strength and ductility, and greater power to withstand corrosion, besides its fine color. With the price of aluminum reduced only a very little from the present rates, there is a strong probability of aluminum bronze replacing brass very largely.
" 'A small percentage of aluminum added to Babbitt metal gives very superior results over the ordinary Babbitt metal. It has been found that the influence of the aluminum upon the ordinary tin-antimony-copper Babbitt is to very considerably increase the durability and wearing properties of the alloy. Under compressive strain aluminum Babbitt proves a little softer than the ordinary Babbitt. A sample 1_% inches in diameter by r_% high began to lose shape at a pressure of 12,ooo pounds. A similar sample of the ~ame Babbitt metal without the addition of the aluminum (having a composition of 73 per cent. antimony, 37 per cent. copper~ and 89 per cent. tin) did not begin to lose its shape until a compressive strain of 16,ooo pounds had been applied. Both samples have stood an equal strain of 3s,ooo pounds. In comparative tests of the ordinary Babbitt metal and the aluminum Babbitt metal, the latter has given very satisfactory results.
"' The following alloys have recently been found useful : Nickel-aluminum, composed of 20 parts nickel, and 8 parts aluminum, used for decorative purposes; rosine, composed of 40 parts nickel, 10 parts silver, 30 parts aluminum, and 20 parts tin, for jewelers' work ; sun bronze, composed of 6o parts cobalt (or 40 parts cobalt), IO parts aluminum, 40 (or 30) parts copper ; metalline, composed of 35 parts cobalt, 2S parts aluminum, ro parts iron, and 30 parts copper.
" 'Prof. Robert Austin has discovered a beautiful alloy containing 22 per cent. aluminum and 78 per cent. gold, having a rich purple color, with ruby tints.
" 'The addition of from 5 percent. to IS per cent. aluminum to type metal composed of 2S per cent. antimony and 7S per cent. lead makes a metal giving sharper castings and much more durable type.'

TECHNOLOGY OF BAUXZTE

1 45

"Mr. A. H. Cowles makes an alloy for electrical purposes consisting of manganese r8 parts, aluminum I.2 parts, silicon 5 parts, zinc 13 parts, and c_opper 67.5 parts. This alloy has a tensile strength of 26,ooo kilograms and 20 per cent. elongation. Its electric resistance is greater than that of ' neusilber,' and it is therefore .especially applicable for rheostats. ( Cheraiker-Zeitzmg, March 12, 1892.)
"Mr. C. C. Carroll makes an aluminum alloy for dentists' fillings, consisting of silver 42.3 per cent., tin 52 per cent., copper 4.7, and aluminum I per cent. It is reduced to powder and then forms an amalgam with mercury. (U.S. patent475382, May 24, I 892.)
"Mr. Chas. B. Miller has patented an antifriction alloy of lead 320 parts, antimony 64, tin 24, aluminum 2. (U.S. patent 456898, July 28, r89r.)
"Mr. Thomas MacKellar has patented an alloy for type metal of lead 65 parts, antimony 20, and ro parts of an alloy consisting of equal parts of tin, copper and aluminum. The tin-copper-aluminum alloy is :first melted, the antimony added to it, and the mixture is then added to the melted lead. (U. S. patent 463427, November II, r89r.)
"An aluminum bronze alloy contains aluminum r2 to 25 parts, manganese 2 to 5, copper 75 to 85. It is the product of John A. Jeancon. (U. S. patent 446351, February ro, r89r.)
"The antifriction metal (Babbitt metal plus aluminum) contains antimony 7.3
parts, tin 89, copper 3.7, with from J to 2.5 parts of aluminum. It is patented by
Alexander W. Cadman. (U.S. patent 464147, December r, r89r-.)
ALUMINUM IMPORTED AND ENTERED FOR CONSUMPTION IN THE UNITED STATES FROM 1870 to I89I

Year ending- I Quantity Value
I

I Year ending- Quantity Value

June 30, r87o. .

I87I .

1873.

1874

r875 . 1876.

.

I877.

1878. 1879.

.

:I r88o.
r88I .

Pounds
.
2.00
~83.00
434-00 139-00 I3I.OO 25!.00 284-44 340-75 5J7.IO

$ 98
341 2
2,125
1,355 I,4I2 I,S:')I
2,978 3,423 4,042 6,071

June 30, r882. r883. r884.
r885 . Dec. 3I, r886 .
r887. r888.
r889. 1890.
1891 .

.. Pounds 566.so $ 6,459 426.25 5,079

595-00 8,416

l 439-00
452.!0

4,736 5,369

1,260.00 I2,II9

.

1,348.53 998.oo

I4,o86 4,840

2,osr.oo 7,062

3,9o6.oo 6,263"

TECHNOLOGY OF BAUXITE

I11~ports of Crude and Manufactured Alumnum from I89I to z898 r
..... -. ~

Crude

Cal endar Year Quan-
tity

Value

Leaf
Packs Value of roo

Plates, Sheets, Bars and Rods
Quan- Value tity

Manufacture

Total Value
....

r89r r892
!893 !894 r895 r896
!897 r898
1899

Pound:S
3,922
43 7,8r6 5,306 . 25,294
6g8 r,822
6o 53,622

$6,266 SI
4,683 2,514 7,8I4
59! r,o82
30 9.425

Pounds

10,033 II,540

$

I,I35 !,202

- ---$
- ----

r,r6r 1,036

$

8,562 2,289

r8,7oo I,903

r,679 8,265

ro,78o I,2IO

386 4,IIO

6,6ro
4,657 4,260

646 523

------

r,84r 2,365

I'0130I 3.479

368 4,424 $ 3,o58

22! 4,729

2,000 693

174 r8,442 8,99! 4,675 13,870 II2 4,254 2,4!3 5,303 17,253

'

By the Hall process, the price of the metal varied from $s.oo
per pound for ingots to $7.00 and $9.00 per pound for sheets; but early in the year 1899 these prices were reduced to approximately one-half, in lots of r,ooo pounds or more. Two other methods have been employed to som~ extent in the manufacture of the metal. One, a modification of the chemical process by Deville in r8s6, involving the use of sodium, was introduced about r89r. The other, a method by electrolysis, closely resembling that by Hall, was introduced by Herault in r899. Neither of these, how.ever, was ever established in the United States.

2. ALUM MANUFACTURE
By far the greater part of the bauxite mined in Georgia is consumed in the manufacture of alum, and only a very small proportion of the ore is used in the extraction of the metal, aluminum.
All the alums of commerce are artificial preparations. Potash and ammonia alums occur, to some extent, as natural products; but, on account of their very limited occurrence, they are more of mineralogical than of technical or commercial interest. Concern-
1 Twenty-first Ann. Rept,, U.S. Geol. Surv., I899-I900, Part VI, p. 269.

TECHNOLOGY OF BAUXITE

1 47

ing the principle, upon which the artificial preparation is based, including the classification of the aluminous material, from which alum has been made, Wagner says:- r

MATERIAL OF ALUM MANUFACTURE.- "The manufacture of alum is based on the formation of aluminium sulphate and sodium aluminate from the various alum ores. These ores of earths, necessitating different methods of treatment, may be divided into four groups, v1z. :
[r.J "Those which contain alumina, potassa and sulphuric
acid in such proportions that the addition of an alkaline salt is not requisite. To this group belong the alum-stone and several varieties of al uni-shale.
[ 2.J ''Those in which the aluminium sulphate is alone present
necessitating the addition of alkali salts in large quantities. To
this group belong the alum-shale and alum-earths found in the brown-coal formation.
[3.] ''Those in which alumina only is contained, and to which both sulphuric acid and alkali salts must be added. To this group belong- (a) clay, (b) cryolite, (c) bauxite, aluminia terhydrate (gibbsite), (d) refuse slack.
[4.] "To the fourth group belong those materials, such as feldspar, containing aluminia and potash in sufficient quantity, but needing the addition of sulphuric acid.''
Only the preparation of alum from the mineral, bauxite, will be considered here. The manufacture of alum from its various ores and earths may be found in any of the standard text books on chemical technology, which must be consulted by those who would pursue the subject further.
The method first used in the preparation of alum from bauxite consisted in first disintegrating the mineral by igniting with sodium carbonate, or with a mixture of sodium sulphate and charcoal. In either case, the ignited mass yiel<ils, upon lixiviation, the aluminate of sodium. Carbonic acid gas is then passed through the solution: precipitating the hydrated gelatinous alumina, the sodium combining with the carbonic acid to form sodium carbonate, which remains in solution. The precipitated alumina is then

I Manual of Chemical Technology, r892, p. 435

TECHNOLOGY OF BAUXITE
treated with sulphuric acid, and the solution is either evaporated to obtain aluminum sulphate (so-called concentrated alum), or is treated with a potassium or ammonium salt and converted into alum. I
Naturally enough, the source of the bauxite employed in the manufacture of alum at this time was principally, if not entirely, from the French deposits.
At present, the method in vogue in the United States, for the manufacture of alum, eliminates the use of sodium carbonate, and consists of the direct treatment of the ore (bauxite) with sulphuric acid of a certain strength, usually 50 B. As the method now stands, certain important points must be considered in the selection of the ore used in the manufacture of the alum. These may be given as follows: - 2
r The easy solubility of the alumina in sulphuric acid. The strength of sulphuric acid usually employed in the manufacture of alum, and, to some extent, by commercial chemists in the deter-
mination of the soluble alumina in bauxite, is 50 B. So far as
this point enters as a consideration, the valuation of the ore is based directly on the amount of so1uble alumina, and not on the amount of total alumina contained in the ore. Sulphuric acid, of 50 B., therefore, is not sufficiently strong to dissolve the total alumina in the Georgia-Alabama ore ; but it is adopted as a standard strength for removing all soluble alumina, without taking into solution deleterious amounts of certain impurities within certain limits, which are almost always present. The composition of the ore will condition, of course, the percentage amount of soluble alumina present.
2 Freedom from substances in the ore, generally as impurities, which, on going into solution, are likely to affect the quality of the alum or other products. This desideratum is a most important one, in the case of bauxites high in iron oxide ; as this constituent dissolves in part and passes into the product. Some limitation is necessarily placed, therefore, on the percentage of iron and other
I Wagner, oj;. cit., p. 438. 2 Phillips, W. B., and Hancock, David, Tits Commercial Analysis o.f Bauxite, Journ. Amer. Chem. Soc. r8g8, Vol. XX, pp. 209-2IO.

TECHNOLOGY OF BAUXZTE

I49

impurities present in the ore, used for this purpose. It is claimed, that an ore, averaging ro per cent. of ferric oxide and 20 per cent. of silica, can be readily employed in the manufacture of alum. Unfortunately, only the best grade of ore has been shipped. This is not due to the fact, however, that the other grades of ore can not be used; but it has undoubtedly resulted directly from the fact, that the Georgia mines were new enterprises, which had to meet the competition of cheap foreign ores, of established reputation.
As stated above, the demand, at present, is for first grade bauxite only, with scarcely any demand for second grade material. This lessens the danger of contamination from the presence of iron oxide.
A method for the manufacture of alum, recently patented by Dr. Edgar Everhart of Atlanta, Ga., and employed by him at his ' manufacturing plant in this city, consists in treating bauxite with nitre-cake, sodium sulphate, instead of with free sulphuric acid. So far, the results are reported to be satisfactory; and, on account of the utilization of the by-product, nitre-cake, it is said to be much cheaper than that in which the free acid is used.

CHAPTER VII
METHODS OF MINING, TRANSPORTATION AND PREPARATION OF THE GEORGIA BAUXITE FOR SHIPMENT
NATURE OF THE DEPOSITS TO BE MINED.- The problem to be dealt with in the Georgia area is principally that of mining an ore, distributed in somewhat irregular, disconnected pockets, ' which grades into an enclosing structureless bauxitic clay. The clay surrounding the ore-bodies is always in strong contrast with, and different from, the mantle of overlying siliceous clay, derived from the decay of the associated rocks. The ore-bodies are usually covered with from one to ten feet of the siliceous residual clay; but they are frequently exposed on the surface, with scanty, or no clay covering. The deposits generally occupy the summits and slopes of the limestone ridges; and, at times, they are found in the valleys near the basal slopes of the ridges.
As a rule, the size of the ore-body is sufficiently large to warrant working, other things being equal, except in case of some of the valley deposits, the greater portions of which have been removed by erosion. The ore is very variable in composition, and is so deceptive in appearance, that its quality cannot be determined by the eye alone. Its value depends of course upon the percentage of alumina present and the freedom of the ore from impurities. At present, more than three-fourths of the bauxite is used in the manufacture of alum, and there is but little demand for any, except the first-grade ore. Bearing this in mind, the worker is confronted with two leading questions, which must be considered in the opening and successful working of any deposit. These are the percentages of insoluble matter (silica and iron oxide) present in the ore. The source of the silica is mostly, if not entirely, the
(rso)

METHODS OF MiNING
admixed bauxitic clays; while the iron oxide IS in part a chemical constituent replacing the alumina, and in part an impurity derived from the infiltering from the surrounding rocks. In many cases, where the iron is present as an impurity, the ore, after working to some depth, is considerably freer from iron oxide contamination and is of good grade. This, of course, can only be determined by intelligent preliminary investigation, of such nature as the sinking of prospect-shafts of sufficient depth, near the centre of the ore-body.
Again, in the present methods of alum-making from bauxite, only what is termed soluble alumina, in a certain known strength of sulphuric acid, is extracted. If then aluminous material, of a more refractory nature, is used, in which the alumina is but slightly soluble in the above strength of acid, such as clay, the material must be rejected. For this reason, due care should always be had, in working a deposit, that the clay content be at the minimum,. and for the separation of the ore from the invariably associated clay. This, however, cannot, in many cases, be done in working, since the ore and clay are variously mixed, and grade imperceptibly into each other. In those deposits, where the hard types of ore predominate, this condition is not a desideratum ; but, in the case of soft ore, the gradations into a structureless clay invariably occur, and the line to be drawn is by no means an easy one.
It sometimes happens,_ from the position of the deposit, that the methods of operation to be applied in one case cannot be applied in another. In places, where the capping of residual material is heavy, and where the ridge slope is very steep, underground work is frequently necessary; but, in most other cases, operations 1n open-cuts or pits can be more cheaply employed.
THE PRESENT METHODS OF MINING.- With one exception, the only systematic mining done in the Georgia area is by means of open-cuts or pits and shafts. In case the deposit is located on the ridge-slope, a level cut is made, sufficiently wide for a tramway or for barrows, and deep enough to give a good working-face on reaching the ore-body. This cut usually serves, also, to drain the working. The method of mining on the Watters property, five miles northeast of Rome, consists, in a large degree, of under-

METHODS OF MJNING

ground work (tunnels and drifts), with some open-cuts and shafts. With these exceptions, all the rest of the mining in the bauxite region consists of small pits and prospect-holes.
The method of mining in open-cuts or pits, such as that recently employed at the Julia and the Maddox mines in the Hermitage district, consists in raising the ore by means of steam-hoists or derricks. At the Church bank, in the same district, the ore is raised by means of an inclined cable and cars, operated by steam. In the working of shafts, the usual method of hoisting by a hand windlass is practiced; although, in some cases, the steam-hoist or derrick doubtless might be employed to some advantage and profit.
As a rule, the ore is easy to mine, because of its comparative .softness beneath the surface. It is soft enough, in most cases, to be dug up with the pick; although blasting is necessary in some cases. Notwithstanding the readiness with which the ore can be r:emoved from its place, more or less expense is involved in mining, o:h account of its variableness in quality, which makes it necessary to assort the ore. Several grades of ore are found in every deposit, and the various grades are separated, in the pit, by means of screens and the hands, and are kept so, afterwards.
In no case, has any one of the banks been opened to the depth of permanent ground-water-level, which fact, when taken in connection with the land slope, causes no trouble in drainage. The only trouble, thus far experienced, is with surface water.

MINING MACHINERY. -With the exception of washers and

dryers, the use of expensive machinery should be avoided, since it

is both unnecessary and unwarranted by the nature of the deposits.

Boilers and hoists constitute, when required, the only necessary

machinery. The equipment should be as light and portable as

possible, so that, when one deposit is exhausted, it can be easily

moved to another.



PREPARATION OF THE ORE PREVIOUS '1'0 SHIPPING. -vVhen removed from the pit, the ore contains a large percentage of un. combined water, which, unless expelled or driven off before shipment, makes. it a very important item 1n connection with the high freight-rates paid on the ore at present. A large percentage of the

PREPARATION FOR SHIPPING

1 53

ore, however, has been shipped in the past without drying. The moisture is expelled by subjecting the ore to an artificial drying process, which is the one mostly employed; although the natural process of drying under sheds has been practiced to a limited extent. Several forms of artificial dryers have been used. At the Julia mines in the Hermitage district, the operators first experimented with a form of dryer, which consisted of sheets of boileriron covering brick arches, on which the ore was spread out; but this was abandoned, as unsatisfactory, as well as expensive. The company then operating the Julia mines replaced the form of dryer just described, with an improved furnace erected at Linwood, a station on the Western & Atlantic railroad, several miles distant from the mines, from which station the ore is shipped. The construction of the furnace, a brick cupola with a central flue, was such that free circulation of the hot air through the ore was insured.
A form of drying, practiced at some banks, consists of piling the ore on a platform of wood, and setting fire to the wood. While the heat produced has been found sufficient, in most cases, to greatly reduce the weight of the ore by expulsion of the moisture, the disadvantages of the process are readily apparent.
The most improved form of dryer, the one commonly employed, at present, at the largest mines, consists of a large, slightly inclined rotary-cylinder, continuous feeder, which was first built and operated by the Southern Bauxite Company at the Warhoop banks in Alabama. The cylinder is maintained at a red heat, and the ore, which requires 20 minutes to pass through it, is frequently passed through, a second time, which practically insures theremoval of all the moisture from the bauxite.
Screening is employed before shipment in case of the coarsegravel ore. This removes the greater part of the siliceous clayey matrix and slightly increases the percentage of alumina over that in the unscreened ore. In the case of pebble ore containing a large amount of clay matrix, washing, by means of a log-washer similar to that used in the treatment of the iron and manganese ores in the same section of the State, is often employed. The log-washer operated at the Julia mines is said to have given very satisfactory

IS4

PREPARATION FOR SHIPPING

results. The process is a very simple and inexpensive one; and, if more extensively used in the case of certain low-grade ores, it would doubtless prove very profitable. By this means, an ore, that has practically no value at present, could be so assorted as to be classed as a high-grade material.

THE EFFECT OF CALCINING ON THE SOLUBIL:iTY OF AtUMINA:
-Phillips .and Hancock r have recently published some results, showing the effect of heating on the solubility of the alumina, causing the expulsi<;:>n of certain percentage amounts of the chemically combined water in bauxite. The results are as follows:-

Bauxite dried at roo C., not calcined .

Loss on calcining r2.55 per cent. H 2 0 .

"" "
"" " "" "

r8,55 " " "
26.6o " " " 32. IS " " "

Soluble Alumina Per Cent. . sg.oo . 57:6o . 5710 . 53.10 . 20.40

These results certainly show a tendency toward a decrease in the solubility of alumina on calcination, which, as the authors state, does not seriously affect the alumina solubility, until about 8o per cent. of the total combined water is removed. Quoting from these authors, "With a loss of about 38 per cent. of the water there is a loss of r.4o per cent. soluble alumina; with a loss of about 58 per cent.. of the combined water the loss of soluble alumina is r.9 per cent. ; with a loss of about. 82 per cent. of the combined water there is a much greater loss of soluble alumina; viz., 59 per cent., while the loss of s.oluble alumina rises to 38.6o per cent., when the material is thoroughly calcined."
These results would seem to indicate, that the heat might' be continued, until more than half of the combined water was removed, without seriously affecting the solubility of the alumina.
The investigation of this point was undertaken by the authors, with special reference to the drying of the ore previous to shipment ; and also, looking to the possibility of establishing uniformity in the methods employed in the chemical analysis of the ore.

I The Commercial Analysis of Bauxite, Journ. Amer. Chern. Soc., 1898, pp. 220-221.

TRANSPORTATION

I 55

The conclusion reached is, that the heat used in expelling the moisture from the ore before shipment should not be sufficient to cause a loss of combined water.
MARKETS. -The principal markets at present are New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Buffalo, Brooklyn, Bayonne, Syracuse, Cleveland, Natrona, Lockport and Chicago, where the alum and aluminum works are located. A little of the ore has been shipped to Germany, on account of its superior quality.
TRA)TSPORTATION.- The entire bauxite region in Georgia is traversed by numerous railroads, which offer outlets to various points north, south, east and west, and afford abundant facilities for transportation. Most of the workable deposits of bauxite are located almost immediately along the lines of railroad, and none are more than a few miles distant therefrom. As a rule, the country roads, connecting with the railway points in this area, are especially good, and are among the best highways in the State. On account, therefore, of nearness to the railroad points, and the prevailingly good condition of the county roads, the cost of transportation by teams is reduced to a minimum. At present, the market for this ore, as seen above, is confined exclusively to the North, where the chemical plants utilizing it are located.
STREAMS. -The immediate region is further traversed by a number of large streams, which, with their multitude of ramifying tributaries, insure ample water-supply and facilities at all seasons. Among the principal streams, may be mentioned the Etowah and Oostanaula rivers, which unite at Rome to form the Coosa river, which latter, after joining the Alabama, empties into an arm of the Gulf of Mexico, Mobile bay.

SUGGESTIONS
Since the beginning of the bauxite industry in the GeorgiaAlabama area, new deposits of the mineral have naturally been added, from year to year, to those then known. With scarcely an exception, the existing deposits are included within the limits of the Coosa Valley area. The various companies, engaged in the mining of this mineral, have, from the beginning, persistently

SUGGESTIONS
prospected for additional sources of supply. From the period of time, the;refore, during which the deposits have been worked, the continued search instituted for new ones, in connection with the accurate knowledge of the geology of the area, and the nature and occurrence of the ore-bodies, makes it now safe to say, that we can not hope to greatly extend, if at all, the present limits of the well known Georgia area. The occurrence of the ore is in the form of pocket deposits, which is positive evidence of their exhaustible nature. At the present rate of output, I however, the amount of the marketable grade of ore is probably sufficient to last for many years.
The possible yield is greatly limited by the fact, that nearly all but the first-grade material is discarded, thereby necessitating the ' exclusion of a vast quantity of ore, which should, by proper skill and manipulation, find ready utilization at good prices. This condition was, perhaps, made necessary in the beginning, when markets had to be established, in order that the home material might compete with the cheap and less pure foreign bauxites of long standing and reputation. The principle has been so rigidly adhered tol by both operator and consumer, during the period of working in the American fields, that it has resulted in creating a demand for the first-grade ore only, with practically no sales for the lower-grade bauxite.
The writer believes, after a careful survey of the Georgia fields~ that the time is not far distant, when a change from this state of affairs must take place, and that the grade of ore, now regarded as inferior and cast aside, will, from necessity, be accepted. Otherwise, new fields, yet unknown, must be discovered and developed,. if they exist.
It is apparent, that, :in the present methods of alum-manufacture, mixing the different grades of bauxite, which has been practiced to some extent, is undesirable, except to a very limited degree, inasmuch as the value of the ore is based on the amount of soluble alumina in sulphuric acid of certain known strength. Treatment of the low-grade, siliceous bauxite with 50 B. sulphuric acid, for
I The year 1899, when the writer began the field-work for this report.

SUGGESTION.!:>

157

three hours, is not sufficient to extract the alumina, owing to its form of chemical combination in the bauxitic clays and kaolins.
Since the field-work on this report was begun, the supply of first-grade bauxite has become exceedingly limited in the GeorgiaAlabama territory. The price for the first-grade ore has increased
from $4.50 per ton in r899 to $7.00 in r9or, with every probability
of a continued increase. This leaves us confronted with a vast quantity of low-grade ore, not yet marketable, which should be utilized in some way. This grade of bauxite, for reasons already stated, can not be profitably employed in the manufacture of alum by the present process; hence, it does not pay to ship it.
In view of these conditions, two alternatives are suggested to the writer, whereby the low-grade ore may be successfully utilized.
First, a change or modification in the present process of alum manufacture is necessary to the use of the lower grades of bauxite. So far as the writer is able to judge, this seems, for several reasons, unlikely just now. The second, which is probably the more plausible and likely one, is, that the low-grade bauxite, which does not pay to ship, at present, must be worked up on the ground, into .anhydrous aluminum oxide, and this product, placed on the market for the manufacture of both alum and the metal aluminum.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
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Bischof, C., Analysis of Bauxite. The Metallurgical Review, r878,
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Branner, J. C., Bauxites of Arkansas. Third Biennial Report, Bureau
of Mines, Manufactures, and Agriculture of the State of Arkansas for r893 and 1894, Little Rock, r894, r r9-rzs. Ibid. Fourth Biennial Report of same, 1896, ros-r ro. Bauxite in Arkansas. Amer. Geol., r89r, VII, r8r-r83; also, see Engr. and Min. Journ., r89r, 114; Trans., Federated Inst. M. E., III, r,o57; Journ., Iron and Steel Inst., r89r, I, 275; Science, r89r, XVII, 17.
The Bauxite Deposits of Arkansas. Journ. Geol., r897, V, 263289.
Brewer, W. M., The Warhoop Bauxite Bank, Alabama. Engr. and
Min. Journ., r893, LV, 461.
Cole, G. A. J., The Rhyolites of the County Antrim (Ireland) with a
Note on Bauxite. Sci. Trans., Roy. Dublin Soc., 1896, Ser. II, VI, I05-I09.
Collot, L., Age de la bauxite dans le Sud-est de la France. Compt.
Rend~r,s, r887, CIV, rz7-r3o. Abstract, Neues Jahrb~ f. Min.,
r888, I, 452. Age des bauxites du Sud-est de la France. Bl&ll., Soc. Geol. de
France, 3me Ser., XV, 331-345.
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Collot, L., Sur la bauxite d' Ollieres. Description geologique des environs
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D'Aoust, Virlet, De la Formation des oolithes et des 'rnasses nodulaires.
en general. Bull., Soc. Geol. de France, 2me Ser., r857-'8, XV, 187-205. Sur le mineral de fer alumineux pisolithique de J11ouries, dit aussi des Bat&x. Bull., Soc. Geol. de France, 2me Ser., r864-'5, XXII, 418-420.
Daub:ree, A., Sur l'existence de gisernents de bauxites dansles departements
de l'Herault et de l' Ariege. BtLll., Soc. G~ol. de France, 2me Ser., r868-'9, XXVI, 915-918.
Note sur un silicate alumineux hydrate, depose par la source thermale de Saint-Honore (Nievre) d1.Lpuis l'epoque romaine. Oomptes Rendus, 1876, LXXXIII, 42 r. Les eaux suterraines aux epoques ~nciennes. Paris, I 887' 96.
Damour, A., Note sur un hydrate d'al'LLmine je?'rt&gineuse trouve dans
/
l'Ue d'Egine, Grece. Bull., Soc. Geol. de France, r864-'5, XXII, 4I3-4I6.
Deville, H. Sainte-Claire, De la prgsence de vanadium dans un min-
eral altLmineux du 1l1idi de la France. Ann. de Ohemie et de Phys., 3me Ser., r86r, LXI, 309-342.
Analyse d'une batLxite du Paradon. Ann. de Ohemie et de Phys., 3me Ser., LXI, 309. Abstract, Jahresbericht der Ohernie, r86r, 98o.
Dieulafait~ Les bauxites, let&r ages, leur o1igine. Oornptes Rendus, r88r, XCIII, 8o4-8o7.
Ditte, A., Sur la preparation de l'altLmine dans l'industrie. Oomptes
Rend1.LS, CXVI, 509-510.
Preparation indust1ielle de l' alt&mine. Ann. Ohe?nie et de Phys., I893, XXX, 280-282.
Drechsler, E., Analyse des Bau:tites a'I.Ls der Wochein. Dingler's Poly.
Jm&rn. 1872, CCIII, 479-481.
Fabre, G., Note sur les failles et fentes abauxite dans les environs de
Mende. Bull., Soc. Geol. de France, r869-7o, XXVII, 5r6-5r8.
Fuchs, Ed., et de Launay, L., Traite des g~tes minera1.~x et metalli
feres. Paris, 1893, I, 595-599

BIB1JOGRAP.f!Y

r6r

Handy, J. 0.~ Analysis of Bauxite. Journ. Amer. Chern. Soc., r896,
XVIII, 766.
Hauer, F. von, (Bauxite, Krain.) Jahrb. der K K Geol. Reichscmstalt,
r866, XVI, 457
Hayes, C. W., Bauxite. Mineral Resources of U.S., 1893, 159-167.
Geological Relations of the Southern Appalachian Bauxite Deposits. Trans., Amer. Inst. Min. Engrs., 1894, XXIV, 243-254.
Bauxite. r6th Annual Report, U. S. Geol. Survey, 1893-'4 (r895), Part III, 547-597. The Arkansas Bauxite Deposits. 2rst Annual Report, U. S.
Geol. Survey, Part III, r899-I9oo, 435-472. Abstract, Journ.
Geol., r9or, IX, 737-739 The Overthrust Faults of the Southern Appalachians. Bulletin, Geol. Soc. Amer., 18r9, Vol. II, pp. I4I-I54 Report on the Geology r~f Northeastern Alabama, and Adjacent Portions of Georgia and Tennessee. Geological Survey of Alabama, r89z, 85 pages.
The Southern Appalachians. National Geographic Monograph, r895, Vol. I, No. ro, pp. 305-336. Geology of a Portion of the Coosa Valley in Georgia and Alabama. Bulletin, Geol. Soc. Amer., r894, Vol. V, pp. 465-480.
Physiography of the Chattanooga District in Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama. 19th An.nual Report, U. S. Geological Survey, r897-'98 (r899), Part II, pp. r-58.
- - - - - - and Campbell, M. R., Geomorphology of the South-
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Hunt, .A. E., Bauxite (Discussion). Trans., Amer. Inst. M 1.n ...h.J' ngrs.,
r8 94, xxrv, s55-86r.
The Properties, Uses, and Processes of Production of Aluminum .. Technology Quarterly, r89r, IV, r-35 . . Aluminum. Mineral Resources of the U. S., r892, 227-254 I
Jannettaz, Ed., La composition d'une variete pisolithiq?.te de bauxite.
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Gibbsite et Bm&xite, de la GLtayane francaise. B1.tll., Soc. J11in. de .France, I, 70-]I, PaTis, r879.

I In addition to the metallurgy of aluminum and a description of the aluminum ores, this contributioo. contains a desci"iption of the methods for analyzing bauxite.

BIJJlJOGRAPNY
Lang, J., Ueber Ba1~xit von Langsdorf. Bericht der Deutschen Cherr"tis chen Gesell., I884, XVII, 2892-2894. Abstract, Neues Jahrb. f. .Min., I886, II, 342.
Laur, F., The Bauxites: A Study of a New Mineralogical Family.
Trans., Amer. Inst. Min. Engrs., I894, XXV, 234-242.
On Bauxite. Minutes of the Proceedings; Inst. Civ. Engrs., 1894-'5, CXX, Part II, 442.
Liebrich, A. von, Ba1~xit. Zeitschr. fur Kryst. u. Mineral., XXIII,
296. Bcn~xit. Be1icht der Oberhes.s. Gesellschaft fur nat1w. u. Heillmmde, XXV III, 57-98.
Beitrag zur Kenntniss des Bauxits vorn Vogelsberge, I892. Abstract, Chernisches Centralblc~tt, r892, p. 94 McCalley, H., Alabama Bauxite. Proc,, Ala. Indust. and Scientific Soc., I892, II, 20-32.
Bauxite Mining. Science, 1894, XXIII, 29-30.
Bauxite. The Mineral Industry, I893, II, 57-67.
The Valley Regions of Alabama. Part II. On the Coosa Valley Region. Geological Survey of Alabama, I897, 862 pages.
Meunier, S., S'L&r l'existence de la bauxite a la Gt&ayane francaise. Cornptes Rend'L&s, 1872, LXXIV, 633-q34. Abstract, Jahresbericht der Chernie, I872, 1099. S'L&r l' origine et la rnode de jorrnation de la ba'L&xite et du fer en grains. Co'mptes Rend'L&s, I883, XCVI, I737-I740.
Response a des observations de M: A'l.&ge et de .ll!J. A. de Grosso1.iv1e
S'l.&r l' histoire de la ba'l.&xite et des rninemls siderolithiq1.~es. Bull., Soc. Geol. de France, 1889, XVII, 64-67.
Mierzinski, Dr., D1:e Fabrication des Al'l.&rnini'l.wns. Vienna, 1885.
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Mineral Resources, U. S., 189I, p. I47 r
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1 This paper contains numerous references, to which the writer has not had access. 2 For production, statistics, metallurgy etc. of aluminum and alum, the reader is referred to the artnual volumes of the Mineral Resources of the United States from r88z to date, U. S. Geological Survey.

BIBL.IOGRAPHY
Petersen, Th., E1.uber den Anamesit von Rudigheim bei Hcma1.u 1md clessen bmuxitische Zersetzungsprodncte. Jahresben:cht de Phys. Ver. ztu Frankj1urt a. JW 1891-'2, ro.
Ueber BaLu.ritbildang (Bei. d. XXVII, Vers. d. Oberrhein. Geol.
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(Brezil). Bull., Soc. Min. de France, 1885, VII, 220-222. Spencer, J. W ., Aluminium Ores. Geological Survey of Georgia
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Sutherland, James, The Preparation of Aluminum from Bauxite
Engr. and Min. Journ., r896, LII, 320-322.
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I 863.
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A Handbook of Chemical Technology, New York, 189r, pp. II3 1 259-260.

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Watson, Thomas L., The Georgia Bauxite Deposits: Their Chemical
Composition and Genesis. Amer. Geol., 1901, XXVIII, 25-45.
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r883; XXJI, 314"

INDEX

A

Bank, The Branon,........................ 104-105

The Burkhalter,........................ 100

Age of the Bauxite Deposits .............. 130-131 --,Analysis of Bauxite from, ............ 100

Akin Bank, The,... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S7 Alabttma-Georgia Bauxite.................... 24 - - - - , Analyses of Bauxite from. . . . . . . . 24 Alum and Aluminum, The Technology of
Bauxite in the Manufacture of, ............ 133 Aluminum and Alum, The Technology of
Bauxite in the Manufacture of, ............ 133 Aluminum Manufacture .................. 183-13S

- - , The Burney,... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 --,The Church,......................... 63- 65 - - , Analyses of Bauxite from, . . . . . . . . . . . 65 --,The Cochran,.......................... 112 - - , The Connesenna,................... 79- 80 - - , Analyses of Bauxite from,............ SO --,The Culbertson, ..................... 92- 93 --,Partial Analyses of Bauxite from,... 93

, Cowles Brotl1ers'

--,The Doyle,.......................... 102-lOi~

Process ...... 136-137 --,Analysis of Bauxite from, ............ 103

- - - - - - - - - - , H a l l ' s Process .... 137 --,The Gordon,........................... 92

----------, Herault Process, The, ............. 138
Aluminum, Production of, .................. 138 -----------,in the United
States.......... 27 American Bauxite Localities................ 18 Amorphous Ore .................... . . . . . . . . . . 56 Analyses ..... 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 32, 33, 34, 35, 39,
45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 62, 63, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 71, 72, 73, 75, 78, 79, SO, 81, 82, 83, S6, 87, 92, 93, 9:1,, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 102, 103, 106, 108, 109, 110, 111, 113, 115, 117, 127, 12S.

--,Partial Analysis of Bauxite from,.... 92 - - , The Green,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S7 --,The Grier, ............................. 69 - - , ~'l..nalysis of Bauxite from,............ 69 --,The Fat John, ....................... 93- 94 --,Analysis of Bauxite from,............ 94 --,The Fomby, ........................ i ... 109 --,Analysis of Bauxite from, ............ 109 - - , The Freeman, ......................... 113 - - , Partial Analysis of Bauxite from, .... 113 --,The Hardee,........................... 70 --,The Hatch, ............................ 98 - - , T h e Hawkins, ......................... 107

- - - - , Cambrian Shales................... 128 --,The Henry, ......................,.... 98-100

- - - - , Knox Dolomite..................... 127 - - , Analyses of Bauxite from, ......... 99-100

- - - - - - - - - - , Decay .............. 127 --,The Holland, ........................ 132- 63

Arkansas, Bauxite in,........................ 18 --,Analysis of Bauxite from,............ 63

----,Composition of Bauxite from,.. 89 --,The Holland House ................. 61- 62

-----,Analyses of Bauxite from, ...... 23 - - , Analyses of Bauxite from,.... . . . . . . . . 62

Armington Bank, The, .................... 116-117 - - , The Holland Spring,................ 60- 61

-------,Analyses of Bauxite from, 117 ---,The Holt, ............................ S2- 83

Auge, M ...................................... H --,Analyses of Bauxite from, .......... 82- 83

- - , The Howell, ........................... 104

B

--,The Julia,............................ 83- 86

Bailey Bank, The, ........................ 117-118 Bank, JYfontague and Company's, ......... 79 --,Analysis of Bauxite from, ........... 117 --,The Akin, ... , ......... : ................ 87 - - , The Bailey,......................... 117-118

--,Analyses of Bauxite from............ 86 - - , The Lanham,..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 --,The Lewis Reynolds, .......... 101-103.104 --,Partial Analyses of Bauxite from, .... 102 --,The Little Lamb, ...................... \l8

--,The Bigelow, ....................... 110-111 --,The Mttddox, ........................ 70- 72

--,Partial Analyses of Bauxite from, ... 111 --,Partial Analysis of Bauxite from, .. 71- 72

--,The Bobo, ............................ 95- 97 --,The Mary, ............................ 80- 8:2

--,Analyses of Bauxite from, .......... 96- 97 --,Analyses of Bauxite from, .......... 81- 82

- - , The Bonsack,....................... 109-110 --,The McGuire,........................... 77

--,Analyses of Bauxite from, ............ 110 --,The Minter, No.1, ........ : ............ 104

--,The Braden, ........................... 67 --,The Minter, No.2, ................. 105-106

--,Partial Analysis of Bauxite from,.... 67 --,Partial Analyses of Bauxite from, ... 106

(r6s)

r66

IND.EX

Bank, The Morrow, .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Bu,uxite, Production of in" the United

- - , T h e Moseley, ...................... 100-101 --,The Penny, .......................... 91- 92

States, ............................ 26 , Uses of, ... . . ..... . .. .. .... . .. .. . .131-132

--,The Pinson,........... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

, Vu,rieties of, ....... : ............. 54- 56

--,The Red Warrior, ................... 94- 95 Bibliogmphy ..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .159-164

--,Analyses of Bauxite from............ 95 Bigelow Bank, The, ....................... 110-111

- - , The Reese,.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

,Partial Analyses of Bauxite

--,The Ridge Valley, No.1, ............ 65- 66

from, ....................... 111

- - - - - - - - - - , N o . 2 , ........... 67- 68 Blake, W. P.,...... .......... ...... ............ 20

-----------,No.3,.............. 68 Bobo Bank, The,.. . . . -...................... 95- 97

- - - - - - - - - - , N o . 4 , .............. 70

, Analyses of Bauxite from, .... 96- 97

--,The Rich, .............................. 108 Bobo District, The, ........ ................ 88-113

, Partial Analysis of Baux-

,Location and Description of

ite from .................. 108

the Individual Deposits

----Scruggs,....................... 115-116

0 f, ......................... 90-113

----Sheets,........................... 79 Bonsack Bank, The, ....................... 109-110

- - - - Spurlock,....................... .. 87

,Analysis of Bauxite from, .. 110

----Stockade, ...................... 68- 69 Braden Bank, The, ........................... 67

---------, Analysis of Bauxite

, Partial Analyses of Bauxite

from, .............. 68- 69

fr~om,........................ 67

----Taylor, ........................ 114-115 Branner, John C., ......................... 18, 26

--------, Analyses of Bauxite

Branon Bank, The, ........................ 104-105

from, ................. 115 Burkhalter Bank, The,....................... 100

-----Veach, .. ,................... . . . . . . 77

, Analysis of Bauxite

----Ward,............................. 67

fiom, ....................... 100

----Waring, .........................86- 87 Burney Bank, The, ........................... 75

Partial Analysis of

Bauxite from,........ 87 ----Watters, ........................ 72- 74

c

, Analyses of Bauxite

Calhoun District, ... . .... ... . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .117-118

from, ................. 73 Calhoun, Bauxite near, ...................... 117

-----Whorton, ...................... 107-108 Cambrian Rocks, The,........ : ............... 31

---------, Analysis of Bauxite

Cambrian Shales, ............................ 128

from, ............... 108 - - - - - W i l l i s Reynolds', ................ 103

Campbell,

M.

R.,

.'.

Analyses . . . . . . . . . . .

of, . . .

. .

. .

. .

. .

. .

. .

. .

. .

. .

. .

. .

. .

. .

. .

128 12

-----------, Partial Analy-

Chemical Composition of GeorgiaBauxite 41- 54

sis of Bauxite

Chemical Composition of Georgia Bauxite,

from, ........ 103 Analyses of, .... ................. 45, 46, 47, 48, 49

-----,The Woods, .................... 97- 98 Chemical Composition of Georgia Bauxite,

--------, Analysis of Bauxite

Ana.lyses of Piselites,...................... 50

from, .................. 98 Chemicu,l Composition of Georgia Bauxite,

-----,The Wright, ................... 74- 75 Analyses of Matrix........ .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

--------, Partial Analysis of

Chemico.l Composition of Georgia Bauxite,

Bauxite from,........ 75 Analyses Resume, .......................... 53

Banks, The Davis,.......................... 75- 77 Church Bank, The,......................... 63- 65.

---;The Terry-Shaw, ................... 77- 78

, Analyses of Bauxite from, . . 65

--------, Ann,lyses of Bauxite

Clarke, F. W., .... ............................ 127

from, ................ 78 Cochran Bank, The,.......................... 112

Bartow County, 17th District, Bauxite of, .. 118 Oona.sauga Shales, The,...................... 32

Bauxite Deposits, Age o:f, ................. 130-141

, Ano.lyses of, ........ 32, 33, 34

--------, Genesis of the Geor-

Connese1ina Bank, The, .................... 79- 80

gia, ................. 119-130

, Analyses of Bauxite

--------,Iron and Manganese Ores

from,.................. SO

Associn,ted with,....... 40 Coquo.nd, M. H.,..

14

Bauxite in Georgia, A Brief Sketch of the

Cowles Brothers' Process, Mo.nufacture of

Discovery of, ........................ .'....... 25 Aluminum by... ......................... 136-137

Bauxite in the Manuf!tcture of Aluminum. Culbertson Bank, The, ..................... 92- 93

and Alum, Technology of, ................. 133 Bauxite, Isolated Deposits of, ............... 117

'

Partial Analyses of ite fro111,........

Baux........

llS

INDEX

-~- 411 Dana, E. S., ............ ....................
Davis Eanks, The, .......................... 75- 77 Discovery of Bauxite in Georgia, A. Erief
Sketch of the,...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Distribution and Description of the Indi-
vidual Bauxite Deposits in Georgia ..... 57-118 The Hermitage District ................ 58- 88 Location and Description of the Individual Deposits ...................... 60- 88 The Eobo District ...................... 88-113 Location and Description of the Individual Deposits ...................... 90-113 The Summerville District ............ 113-117

Minerals Associated with the Bauxite.. 37 Gibbsite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Halloysite .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Kaolin or Clay. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Genesis of the Georgia Bauxite Deposits 119-130 Source of the Material ........... 122. 126-128 Means of Transportation ........... .'123. 129 Process of Local Accumulation 123, 124; 129 Georgia, A. Erief Sketch of the Discoverv of Bauxite in, ..............................-.... 25 Georgia Bauxite Deposits, Genesis of, ... 110-130 Georgia Bauxite Region, General Geology of,............ . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . . . . . .. 28 Georgia-Alabama, Bauxite of,............... 24 Germany, Bauxite of, ...................... 15- 17

Location and Description of the Individual Deposits ...................... 114-117
Isolated Deposits...................... 117-118 Calhoun District.......... . .......... 117-118 17th District, Eartow County, ........... 118 Distribution and General Occurrence of
Bauxite .............................. 13- 24 Doyle Eank, The,.......................... 102-103

----,Analyses of Bauxite from,........ Gordon Bank, The, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ------, Partiii,l Analysis of Bauxite
from, ........................ Green Bank, The, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Grier Eank, The,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -----,Analysis of Bauxite from,......

17 92
92 87 69 69

-----,Analysis of Bauxite from, .... 104
H

E
Estimating the Ore-Bodies, Method of, ..... 131 European Localities of Bauxite ........... ,13- 18
F

Hall's Process, Manufacture of Aluminum. 137 Hancock, David, ........................ 41, 44, 53 Hardee Bank, The,:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Hatch Bank, The, ............................ 98 Hawkins Eank, The, ....................... 107 Hayes, C. W ., ...... 12, 17, 18, 20, 21, 29, 31, 34,

Fat John Bank, The, ....................... 93- 94

36, 37, 42, 54, 83, 89, 115,

-------.,Analysis of Bauxite from,. 94

117, 121, 122, 124, 126, 129-131

Faults, Georgia Bauxite Region.......... 36- 37 Henry Bank, The, ......................... 98-100

- - - - , Major................................. 37

, Analyses of Bauxite

---,Minor ................................ 36

from, .................. 99-100

Fomby Bank, The, ............................ 109 Hermitage District, The, ................... 58- 88

------,Analysis of Eauxitefrom, .... 109 -

, Location and Descrip-

France, Bauxite of, ........................ 13- 15

tion of the Individ-

- - - , Analyses of Bauxite from, ........ 14- 15

ual Deposits ....... 90-113

Freeman Bank, The, .......................... 113 Heroult Process, Manufacture of Aluminum

------,Partial Analysis of Baux-

by, .......................... 138

ite from, .................. 113 Hillebrand, W. F.,........................... 127

French Guiana, Bauxite in,....... .. . . . . . . . . . 18 Holland Bank, The, ........................ 62, 63 ------,Analysis of Bauxite from, .. 63

Holland House Bank, The, ................ 61, 62

G

-----------, Analysis of

General Geology of the Georgia Bauxite

Bauxite from,. 62

Region, The, .... ,........................... 28 Holland Spring Eank, The, ................ 60, 61

Topography.............................. 28 Holt Eank, The, ............................ 82, 83

Stratigraphy ............................. 30

, Analyses of Bauxite from, .... 82, 83

The Cambrian Rocks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Howell Bank, The,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

The Weisner Quartzite................... 31 Hunt, T. Sterry, ............................. 135

The Rome Formation...... . . . . . . .. .. . . . . 31

The Conasauga Shales................... The Silurian Rocks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Knox Dolomite .................... .. Structure ................................ . The Minor Thrust Faults ............... . The Major Thrust Faults ............... .

32 34 34 Illustrations, List of,......................... 8 36 Introduction .............................. 11, 12 36 Ireland, Bauxite in,.......................... 17 37[ ---,Analyses of Bauxite from, ........ 18

r68

iNDEX

Iron and Manganese Ores Associated with

Matrix' ....................................... 50

the Bauxite Deposits . .. . . . . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . . 40 Mary Bank, The, ........................... 80- 82

Isolated Deposits .................... ,,. .. 117, 118 -----,Analyses of Bauxite from, ... 81, 82

McCalley,Henry, .................... 12, 24, 42, 48

J

. McCallie, S. W., .............................. 121

McGuire Banks, The, ........................ 77

Julia Bank, The, ........................... 83- 86 Merrill, G. P., . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 15

-----,Analyses of Bauxite from, ...... 86 Method of Estimating the Ore-Bodies ...... 131

Minerals Associated with the Bauxite .... 37- 39

K

Gibbsite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Halloysite .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Kaolin, Analyses of,......................... 30

Kaolin or Clay . . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. . 38

Knox Dolomite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

- - - - - - - , Analyses of. . . . . . . . . . . . 39

- - - - - - - . , Analyses of, ............. 35, 127 _ _ __.:.___' Analyses of residual decay

Minor Thrust Faults......................... 36 Minter Bank No. J, The, ..................... 104

fron1, ...................... 127 - - - - - - - 2, The, ................. 105, 106

--------, Partial Analyses of

L

Bauxite from, ........ 106

Lanham Bank, The,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 Laur, Francis, ........................ 14, 42, 43,53 Letter of Transmittal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Lewis Reynolds Bank, Tl1e, .......... 101, 102, 104

Montague and Company's Bank............ --------------,Analysis
of Bauxite from, ......

79 76

----------, Partial Analysis of

Morrow Bank, The, . . . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. 79

Bauxite from, ..... 102 1\!l:oseley Bank, The, ...................... 100, 101

Little Lamb Bank, The, ...................... 98

Localities, European of Bauxite,.......... 13- 1S Lot "12", 22nd District, Floyd County... 112, 113

N



----,Analysis of Bauxite from, ........ 113 New Mexico, Bauxite of.......... :.......... 23

Lot "23", Floyd County ...................... 107 Nichols, Edward, ......... ~.............

25

- - "29", 16th District, Bartow County.... 75

-,- "103", 23rd District, Floyd County...... 66

0

- - - - , A n a l y s i s of Bauxite from,.,...... 66

Lot "104", 23rd District, Floyd County .... 66, 67 Occurrence and Distribution of Bauxite .13- 24

- - "115", 16th District, Bartow County .. 87, 88 Oolitic Ore.................................... 55

- - - - , Analysis of Bauxite from,........ 87 Ore-Bodies, Method of Estimating the, ..... 131

Lot "620", 3rd District, Floyd County....... 98

-- "677" and "692", 4th Section, Floyd

p

County ................................. 102

- - "678", 4th Section, Floyd County....... 102 Packard, R. L., ............ , .16, 43, 52, 53, 137, 138

- - "682", 3rdDistrict, Floyd County .... 112, 113 Penny Bank, The, ....... , .................. 91, 92

----,Analysis of Bauxite from, ........ 113 Phillips, W. B., .......................... 41, 44, 53

Lot "685", Floyd County ... , ................ 107 Pinson Bank, The, . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 70

- - "690", 4th Section, Floyd County....... 102 Pisolites .. . . .. . . . ... .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . . . 50

- - "749", 4th Section, Floyd County ....... 101 Pisolitic Ore.................................. 55

- - "765", 4th Section, Floyd County ....... 101 Production, Aluminum, ...... : .............. 138

- - "766", 4th Section, Floyd.County ....... 101

, in the United States 27

- - "81l2", 4th Section, Floyd County....... 100

, Bauxite in the United States.. 26

- "906", Brd District, Floyd Com1ty ....... 103 Property, The Martin, ........................ 118

M

R

Mabe1y, Charles F., .......................... 136 Red Warrior Bank, The, ................... 94, 95

Maddox Banlc, The,c ....................... 70- 72 - - - - - - - - , Analyses of Bauxite

------, Partial Analysis of Bauxite

from,... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

fron1, ...................... 71, 72 Reese Bank, The, ............................ 110

Major Thrust F:J,ults......................... 37 Richmds, Joseph W., ...... 15, 17, 18,135,137, 188

Manganese and Iron Ores Associated with

Ridge Valley Bank No.1, The, ............ 65, 66

the Bauxite Deposits .. .. . . . . . .. . .. . . .. . .. . 40

2, The, ............ 67, 68

Martin Property, The, ....................... 118

3,The, .............. 68

INDEX

Ridge Valley Bank ~o. ,The,.............. 70 Ritch Bank, The, 108 -----, Partial Analysis of Bauxite
from, 1~~
Rome Formtttion, The, ..................... . Roscoe, H. E.,... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Russell, I. .c., ................................ 127

u
United States, Production of Aluminum in, 2T , Production of Bauxite in,... 213
Uses of Bauxite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1i31, 132
v

ViLrieties of the Bauxite ................... 54- 50:

s

Pebble Ore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Pisolitic Ore .................... ~ ....... . 55

Schorlemmer...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Oolitic Ore ............................... . 55

Scruggs Bank, The, ...................... 115, 116

Vesicular Ore ................. :. ........ . 55

Sheets Bank, The,............................ 79

Amorphous Ore ......................... . 56

Silurian Rocks, The,......................... 34 Veach Bank, The, .......................... . 77

Spencer, J. W., ........ 12, 22, 33, 35, 39, 47, 68,

Vesicular Ore . . . . .......................... . 5~

69, 78-SO, 87, 93, 96, 99, 100, 103, 119

Spurlock Bank, The,......................... 87

w

Stockade Bank, The, ....................... 68, 69

- - - - - - , Analyses of Bauxite from 68, 69

Stratigraphy, .Georgia Bauxite Region. . . . . . 30

Structure, Georgia Bauxite Region......... 86

- - - - , :Minor Thrust Faults, The,....... 36

----,Major Thrust Faults, The, ....... 87

Summerville District, The,............... 113-117

---------,Location and Descrip-

..

tion of the Indi-vidual Deposits ..... 114--117

Wagner, Rudol:Qh,............................ 136 Ward Bank, The,............................. 6T Warring Bank, The, ...................... 86, ST -------, Partial Analysis of Bauxite
from; ...................... 8T
watters Bank, The, ........................ 72- 74
------,Analyses of Bauxite from,.. 73:
VVright Bank, The, ......................... '74, 75 ------,Partial Analysis of Bauxite
fron1, ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

Weisner Quartzite, The, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

T

Whorton Bank, The, ..................... 107, 108

------,Analysis of Bauxite from, .. 108

TaOle of Contents . .......... :. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5- 7 Williams, J. Francis, ....................... 18- 21

Taylor Bank, The, ........................ 114, 115 Willis, Bailey,................................ 12

-----,Analysis of Bauxite from, .... 115 Vvillis Reynolds Bank, The, ................. 103

Technology of Bauxite in the Manufacture

----------, Partial Analyses of

of Aluminum and Alum ................... 133

Bauxite from, ..... 103

Terry-Shaw Banks ......................... 77, 78 Woods Bank, The, .......................... 97, 98

--------,Analyses of Bauxite

------,Analysis of Bauxite from,.... 98

from ................... 78

Thompson, W. P., ............................ 136

y

Topograghy, Georgia Bauxite Region . . . . . . 28

TrionFactory,Bauxitenear, ................ 116 Yeates, W.S., ............................... . 12.