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Deposit Synonyms
BOOLEROO CLAY; CAREY; PM 282; WHITE CLIFFS
Mineral District
Deposit Summary
clay as deeply weathered metasediment of the Craddock Quartzite Member, with production of fire clay from 1956-61 of 1337 tonne and from 1991-2013 >200 tonne. Resource probably >>37,000 tonne.
Deposit Description
J.M. CAREY, white clay developed on bed of deeply weathered slate in sequence of folded, interbedded shale and sandstone of the Craddock Quartzite Member. The clay deposit is located near the axis of a syncline. It was described as a fairly high quality kaolinitic clay which has been described as a "semi-ball clay." Relict bedding and laminations are visible. There are thin lenses and gritty interbeds representing remnant quartz veining, and siltstone interbeds. Chemical analysis of the grit free material returned values of 67.9%SiO2, 21.92%Al2O3, 0.58%Fe2O3, 0.14% MgO, 0.24%CaO, 0.20%Na2O, 0.22%K2O, 1.21% -H2O, 7.03%+H2O, 0.66%TiO2, and 0.2% Cl.
Opened by BHP in the 1920s for white clay for refractory use at the Port Pirie smelters. Re-opened in 1951, with production of fire clay from 1956-61 of 1,337 tonne and then from 1991-2013 >200 tonne. Resource drilling by the Geological Survey in 1951 in 6 holes, 5 of which tested the resource at the site of the quarry, and 1 hole drilled ~950m to the NNE. The drilling identified ~6m of overburden of silcreted Tertiary sandstone over white kaolinitic clay to 5m thickness. Resources of grit-free clay were estimated at 37,600 tonne for removal of 7100 tonne overburden. No account was taken of resources of gritty clay. The hole drilled to the NNE penetrated a considerable thickness of somewhat gritty white clay. Observations of the surrounds reveals north of the road widespread bleached bedrock compared to south of the road. In the northern areas silcrete is found in abundance. It was concluded that the hard, resistant caprock has protected the soft bleached rock from erosion. In places where the silcrete has been eroded the clayey material underneath has also. A program of drilling to prove up 1Mt was recommended but not implemented. Prospects appear good for finding considerable additional resources. Bulk mining would probably require a washing plant to remove the gritty material.
Discovery Year
~ 1920
Commodities
Clay, Kaolin
Ore Minerals
Kaolinite
Gangue Minerals
Quartz
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