Mineralogy Field Trip,

Mineralogy Field Trip, Fall 1997

The following is a "rough sketch" of the itinerary used for the field trip. This document includes many abbreviations, and no serious attempt at editing grammatical errors has been made.

3M QUARRY, LITTLE ROCK

Contact persons: Steve Wright, office. 490-1509 x194

John Ellerbee (blasting supt) Cell # 944-2835

Don Owens says that as you are entering the quarry to head over toward the cut on the south side of the quarry where the contact is with country rock. From near the cut is a road going up to the first bench up from the bottom. On that bench is a large xenolith that Don calls a roof pendant. Good sharp contact exposed. May see a large boulder were pegmatitic phase brecciated country rock (xenolith).

Miarolitic zones are not consistent throughout the quarry. At different times they show up in different areas. Drive around and look at piles for signs of cavities (dark spots surrounded by bleached-looking rock). Don said that there is a haul road going up and around toward the left as you go into the slot on the south side contact. He recommended going up there, but I forget why (for overview?).

TAKE MY SPECIAL ROCK SPLITTER AND POSSIBLY THE GEOLOGY DEPT. ONE AS WELL.

The 3M Quarry

Left: Euhedral feldspar in nepheline-bearing syenite pegmatite. Right: Spheroidal weathering of nepheline-bearing syenite in natural outcrop just outside the quarry.

PYRITE LOCALITY SOUTH OF HOT SPRINGS

From 3M take I-30 past Hot Springs exit to SH-84. Go W 7 mi to SH-128. Turn N and go 2.5 mi to where it takes a 90 degree bend to W. Rock wall on E side of road just before the bend has pyrite cubes in slate. Best spot is in the middle of the rock wall. Park at north end. To get to Mt Ida, continue on 128 about 4 mi to SH-290 and turn left (west) and go 2.1 mi to SH-7. Go N to Hot Springs. Catch US-270 W to Mt Ida. (This locality turned out to be not too good for pyrite, but some nice faults are exposed).

MAULDIN MOUNTAIN WAVELLITE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY QUARRY

Stop by the Forest Service office on left before enter Mt. Ida. Gretchen Hunt (867-2101-w, 867-4508-h) will accompany us to the pit. She said there is an exposure of a wavellite vein on the western side of the pit. Pit is about 3.5 mi NW of Mt Ida on US 270, then turn E on a side road just before going thru Mauldin Mountain. Go about 2/3 mi to entrance to pit on N side of road.

SUNNY STANLEY'S FISHER MOUNTAIN QUARTZ MINE

A sign on E side of Mt Ida on US 270, "Stanley's Crystals" (across from a Dairy bar). Go S about 0.2 mi to shop. At shop get key & map. Drive to mine. Where park cars, look off to W; far end of the disturbed area, top of ridge is exposure of natural otc of veins. Look at. Then go to main diggings, toward S. Will find small points on ground, esp if rained. Also may find pockets not yet excavated in walls. Will have to return keys to Mt Ida.

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