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Southeastern Section - 61st Annual Meeting (1–2 April 2012)

Paper No. 44
Presentation Time: 7:00 PM-9:00 PM

X-RAY DIFFRACTION ANALYSIS OF SLATE AND PHYLLITE FROM THE ROCK-RUN, OREMONT, TECUMSEH, AND ETNA MINING DISTRICT, BORDEN SPRINGS, QUADRANGLE, CHEROKEE COUNTY, ALABAMA: A COMPARISON WITH THE ROCKMART SLATE IN POLK COUNTY, GEORGIA


LUNSFORD, Joel D.1, TEFEND, Karen S.1 and KATH, Randy L.2, (1)Department of Geosciences, University of West Georgia, 1601 Maple Street, Carrollton, GA 30118, (2)Geosciences, University of West Georgia, Carrollton, GA 30118, jlunsfo2@my.westga.edu

Geologic mapping of the Borden Springs 7.5 minute quadrangle by Kath and Crawford (2012) reveals the complex relationship between slate of the lower Cambrian Chilhowee Formation, Middle Ordovician Rockmart Slate, and phyllite along the metamorphic front in the hanging wall of the Emerson-Talladega Fault. Because these units are all similar, from a mapping perspective, a combined qualitative and quantitative x-ray diffraction study was completed to compare the mineralogy of the different units.

The mineralogy of the Rockmart Slate was best summarized by Renner (1989). Based on this work, the Rockmart Slate near Rockmart and Benedict, Georgia, consists of muscovite + chlorite or muscovite only assemblages. Renner’s samples south of Esom Hill were comprised of muscovite + paragonite + chlorite. Renner also collected several samples on the southeast side of Indian Mountain near Etna that consisted of assemblages of muscovite + paragonite, muscovite + chlorite + paragonite, muscovite + chlorite and muscovite-only. All samples were quartz-bearing.

Based on the detailed geologic mapping by Kath and Crawford (2011) from Cartersville to Etna, some of the samples Renner analyzed were not Rockmart Slate. Samples south of Esom Hill are part of a phyllite package that trends southwest toward Borden Wheeler Springs; furthermore, samples from the Etna area are slates of the Chilhowee Formation.

Samples of Rockmart Slate from near Rockmart and Van Wert are characterized by the assemblage of chlorite + muscovite + albite, similar to those summarized by Renner. Slate from the Chilhowee from the Tecumseh Furnace area is characterized by the assemblage of muscovite + chlorite. Phyllite from the hanging wall of the Emerson-Talladega Fault contains chlorite + muscovite. Based on our current study, the mineralogy of these formations cannot be used as a distinguishing factor; therefore, we have started a geochemical investigation to help discriminate among these units.

Session No. 1--Booth# 44

Undergraduate Research (Posters)
Saturday, 31 March 2012: 7:00 PM-9:00 PM
Grand Ballroom (Marriott Rennaissance)
Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 44, No. 4, p.8
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