Volume 30, pages 219-229,
GEOLOGY OF QUARTZ CRYSTAL DEPOSITS
RICHARD E. STOIBER,* CARL TOLMAN! AND ROBERT D. BUTLER#
INTRODUCTION
Quartz crystal was, before the war, a minor nonmetallic resource. Wartime demand
for large-sized clear single crystals of quartz for use in making quartz
oscillator plates for radio frequency control has emphasized the strategic
importance of this industrial mineral. Quartz crystal of usable quality is of
limited occurrence, and little has been written regarding the geology of the
deposits although there has been considerable work done during the war period.
There are also interesting relationships to be brought out between the
mineralogical and geological characteristics of quartz and the problems inherent
in the supply and use of this commodity. It is the purpose of this paper to
discuss the geology and mineralogy of quartz crystal deposits and to point out
the interdependence of quartz crystal geology and the supply situation in
Brazil.
The information contained in this article has been gathered during more than
three years' work by each of the authors in the government service on problems
involving quartz crystals. Geological description is in part the result of the
authors' work but is chiefly compiled from unpublished work of others. Most
important is the work of the geologists and mining engineers employed in Brazil
by the Foreign Economic Administration, to whom acknowledgment is particularly
made. Unpublished information of the U. S. Geological Survey on domestic
deposits has not been included, but publication by that agency is expected in
due course. Much of the geological information on quartz deposits throughout the
world remains to be correlated. Some is still restricted. The interim
observations in this paper may, however, serve as an introduction to an
understanding of the geology of this commodity and the relationship of the
geology to the problem of supply.
SIZE AND QUALITY STANDARDS AND THEIR EFFECT ON SUPPLY
The minimum size and quality requirements for quartz crystal to be economically
usable are somewhat indefinite and depend upon the manufacturing method to be
used, changing economic factors such as price, and to some degree upon the
preference of the user. Individual crystals are required to be approximately 100 grams (about 4 oz.) to grams (about 42
lbs.) in weight; shape is a factor in material less than 200 grams in weight.
Crystals both larger and smaller find some use in the oscillator plate industry.
The former are difficult to saw and are high priced; the latter require more
labor in their use and will usually not allow fabrication of the ¾" square
or 1" square plates. Industry has accommodated itself to the use of unfaced
crystals above 200 grams in weight. The quality of the stone is also a
fundamental factor. Many types of defects are considered in classifying radio
grade crystal. The clarity of the stone determines whether it meets the minimum
acceptable quality levels. Generally 50 per cent of each stone must be free from
any visible defects when the stone is suitably illuminated. Usable crystals are
further subdivided on the basis of additional tests. If less than one-half the
volume is eyeclean, use of the stone is generally uneconomic. National Bureau of
Standards specifications are slightly higher.
These requirements both as to size and quality, as stated, are considerably
different from the acceptance standards in use before the war. In general,
stones less than 2 lbs. in weight did not find ready acceptance and the presence
of several natural faces was usually required; various minor imperfections now
allowable were considered to render crystals unusable. Of the companies
manufacturing oscillator plates, only one of the twenty-eight which reported in
February indicated that the quartz crystals they used averaged less than 1
lb. in weight. This company used crystals averaging ¾ of a pound. Nineteen of
the twenty-eight companies reported that 1 lb. was the minimum size. In the
earlier days of the war the trend toward the use of smaller-sized stones began
and by early their use was general throughout the industry. It is estimated
that in February , 25% of the consumption was of crystals from 200 to 500
grams in weight, and 75% of the consumption was of crystals 500 grams and
heavier. In , 30% of the consumption was estimated to be less than 200 grams,
50% to be 200 to 500 grams and only 20% to be 500 grams and higher. There was
considerable emphasis on minor defects during due to desire of the
manufacturers not to jeopardize badly needed production by using raw material of
questionable quality. However, in , with the advent of more efficient
manufacturing techniques, larger plant capacity and increased demand for raw
material, the defects were widely accepted and successfully utilized. Quality
standards were relaxed somewhat to the present minimum standards which have been
described. The development of the use of smaller sizes and lower quality
crystals was of great importance in connection with supply in that it rendered
usable large quantities of hitherto rejected material.
SUPPLY OF QUARTZ CRYSTAL
The supply of quartz crystal which is used in the U. S. comes almost entirely
from Brazil. Deposits are known and worked in USSR1 and small deposits have been
investigated elsewhere. Some quartz has been used by the U. S. industry which
has been mined in the states of Arkansas, Virginia, North Carolina and
California, and a small amount of material has been imported from Guatemala,
Colombia and USSR. Since the production has been very small from sources other
than Brazil, it has had no appreciable effect on the overall United States
supply situation.
U. S. imports of Brazilian quartz for consumption in were 67,052 lbs.; in
, 126,521 lbs.2 Imports since are measured in hundreds of tons rather
than in thousands of pounds. The problem of insuring availability of quartz
crystal for necessary war production has received the cooperation of private
industry and government throughout the war period both in U. S. and Brazil.
Buying of quartz was instituted in Brazil by the U. S. Government in , and
production has been reserved to the United Nations. U. S. Government purchases
in Brazil have been under the successive auspices of Metals Reserve Company and
the U. S. Commercial Company, a subsidiary of Foreign Economic Administration.
Government-purchased quartz has been sent to the National Bureau of Standards,
graded and placed in the national stockpile in custody of the Metals Reserve
Company. Quartz is released by the War Production Board from the stockpile to
consumers when justified and is used for the manufacture of quartz crystal units
and other strategic items for the armed services. Private importers who were
actively engaged in importation of quartz before April have continued in
business under WPB regulations and have provided a large part of the quartz
imports used for these strategic items during the war period. This quartz is
supplied direct to consumers. The grading practice employed by the importers
varies somewhat from that of the Bureau of Standards, but the variation in the
standards of quality required by industry due to differences in processing
methods have served to allow quartz graded by both NBS and the private importers
to find an appropriate market.
GEOLOGY OF QUARTZ DEPOSITS
The geology of quartz deposits in various parts of the world is only beginning
to become known. Such material as is available has in most cases not yet been correlated due to pressure of war work. In the discussion
which follows, the description of deposits and general observations on the
geology and mineralogy are made with the realization that studies will become
available which will provide more detailed information.
Quartz in Australia
Productive quartz deposits in Australia are located in northern New South Wales
at the Kingsgate mining camp, twenty miles from Glen Innis. Crystals of various
sizes have been produced and used by Australian oscillator plate manufacturers
but the production has not met Australian requirements.
The mines in this camp were worked for molybdenite and bismuth in the last war.
During the present war, some of the mines have been reopened for quartz
crystals. The mineralized area in which quartz occurs has been worked over a
zone 1 3/4 miles long and 2 mile wide, which is within a granite near the
contact with slate.3 Here there are scores of pipes three to sixty feet in
diameter. These pipes plunge in all directions and some of them have been shown
to extend to depths of 500 feet. Some pipes are bordered by slate along part of
their extension in depth but none is entirely within the slate. Molybdenite,
wolframite and native bismuth as well as carbonate and oxides of bismuth are
present and gold and silver are associated with the bismuth. Within the pipes or
in branches or bulges which are tributary to them, are open cavities lined with
quartz. In some cases the crystals occur on the hanging wall side. Less than 1
lb. of usable quartz per ton of rock mined was reported from various operations
over a period of several months. The occurrence stands out as the only described
example of usable crystals in a deposit economically productive of metallic
minerals.
Quartz in Guatemala
Guatemala quartz deposits are located4 in the Department of Baja Verapaz, north
of Guatemala City and occur in an area of gneisses and schists. The occurrences
are characteristically small gash veins in the schists. The veins contain
fine-grained quartz at the border and well-formed crystals in the clay material
which occupies the central part of the veins. The crystals in the few tons of
radio grade quartz produced have been largely 200-500 grams in weight.
Quartz in Colombia
A productive quartz deposit has been developed in Colombia near the town of Muzo,
Boyaca, Colombia.5 It consists of one principal vein and numerous subordinate
veins. These veins are localized by fractures in a drag fold structure on the
vertical limb of a tight anticline in the Cretaceous slates (Villeta formation).
Milky fractured comb quartz fills the main vein which averages about 32 feet
thick and dips 30 degrees. Iron oxide and calcite are the only associated
minerals reported. Significant amounts of usable crystals persisted to only a
few meters in depth. The quartz crystal is well terminated at one end and the
clear crystals line irregular cavities. The cloudy base of the crystals
necessitated extensive trimming. A few tons of merchantable crystals largely 200
grams to 500 grams in weight have been produced, although a few crystals weighed
up to 13 kilograms.
Quartz in Madagascar
Before the war some quartz was imported from Madagascar and used for the
manufacture of oscillator plates in this country. Although Madagascar quartz had a reputation of poor quality, it appears to have been as good or better
than the quartz now in use in the oscillator plate industry. The most productive
deposit in bedrock is reported to be some 200 miles south of Tananarive. Usable
quartz occurs in well-formed crystals, lining vugs in veins of milky quartz. No
other minerals are reported from the deposit. Alluvial deposits are reported
from several localities; one of these is near Vohemar near the northeast end of
the island. Scattered information suggests that the production from Madagascar
consists of a somewhat larger proportion of larger-sized crystals than the
Brazilian production:
Quartz in the United States
The search for radio quality quartz in the U. S. during the war period has been
stimulated by the War Production Board, Metals Reserve Company, the U. S.
Geological Survey and numerous private concerns. As a result of these efforts a
good deal more than formerly is known of the occurrence of radio grade quartz in
the U. S. Information regarding the localities in the U. S. has been gathered
and is being correlated by the U. S. Geological Survey. The remarks included in
this paper serve to mention only a few points of interest regarding quartz in
this country.
The greatest number of usable crystals has come from Arkansas, California, western North Carolina and southwestern Virginia. The Arkansas deposits
have recently been described and preliminary information about other deposits in
U. S. has been released.6 Crystals of good quality have been purchased in
Arkansas but no mines have been worked much beyond the development stage,
largely because of the cost involved. In several of the prospects which were
worked, crystals were mostly in the smaller weight class; in one other the
crystals were characterized by excessive electrical twinning.
Crystals have been produced in southwestern Virginia and western North Carolina
largely as a result of activity stimulated by the United States Government. With
one or two exceptions the crystal has not been found in place in veins but has
been found in the weathered mantle on the farms of the region. The crystals are
in general larger than 200 grams. In the same localities where the crystals have
been found, veins of massive quartz outcrop. So far as is known these veins have
not been explored except by one or two prospect pits. The genetic connection
between the outcropping veins and the crystals in the soil has not been
established.
Most of the quartz produced in California has come from buried placers in the
Sierras. Individual crystals are of very large size but available information
does not suggest that any large amount of crystal is to be expected from this
source.
In general, the widespread search and examination of reported occurrences of
radio grade quartz in the U. S. has indicated areas of some promise as has been
mentioned above. In California and in Arkansas where the greatest amount of
exploration has been carried on, the results suggest that there is no large
tonnage available. From the results obtained, it appears that production from
domestic sources could not be great enough to contribute significantly to the
requirements such as were demanded by this war.
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF QUARTZ
DEPOSITS IN BRAZIL
The principal quartz deposits of Brazil are situated in the states of Minas
Gerais, Goiaz and Baia. So far as is known none of the other states yield
significant quantities except Espirito Santo and Para. Quartz of good quality is occasionally reported from Paraiba, Matto Grosso, Maranhao,
Amazonas, Pernambuco and Ceara. Almost no quartz crystal occurs south of the
latitude of Rio de Janeiro.
The relative production of the various Brazilian states has been estimated as
follows: Minas Gerais 35%, Goiaz 30%, Baia 20%, Espirito Santo 5%, all others
10%.
Minas Gerais
About three-fourths and perhaps more of the production of Minas Gerais is
realized from a zone beginning just north of Belo Horizonte and extending
northward to the Serra de Minas and Serra do Cabral (Fig. 1). The zone of
producing areas is about 250 kilometers wide as there are deposits near Pitangui,
west of Belo Horizonte and at Itamarandiba, northeast of Diamantina. The trend
of this zone coincides with the railroad line north of Belo Horizonte, and it
may be that eastward and northeastward extensions are present but unexploited.
Promising occurrences have been reported to the north in the valley of the Rio
Jequithinhonha,7 but these are comparatively undeveloped due to their
geographical remoteness. The most important center of production is around Sete
Lagôas but Montes Claros, Curvelo and Diamantina to the north within this same
productive zone are also prominent centers. Crystal from central Minas Gerais
has a reputation for good quality. Some of the occurrences in this state have
been described by Kerr and Erichsen.8
Goiaz
Approximately half the production from Goiaz is mined near Pium in the hills
west of the Rio Tocantins in the north central part of the state (Fig. 1). The
nearest center is Porto Nacional. At least one-quarter and perhaps one-third of
the production of the state originates in southeastern Goiaz near the town
Cristalina. Anapolis, and Ipameri, approximately 125 kilometers further south,
are the principal shipping points for all Goiaz crystal. Other producing areas
are present in east central Goiaz and in the northern and western parts of the
state.
Baia
The most important producing district in Baia is located in the north central
part of the state, east and south of the Rio Sao Francisco, southwest of
Joazeiro on the river, and has been designated as the Mimoso-Alegre-Batateiras
district (Fig. 1).
FIG. 1
The other producing region of importance lies in the central part of the state
and is virtually continuous with the north central area. Various centers of
production have been reported from the southern and southeastern parts of the
state, for example Conquista, from which excellent quartz has been obtained. In
general the districts in Baia are situated east of the Rio Sao Francisco. Information is extremely scanty regarding the
area between the producing areas in Baia and those to the south in Minas Gerais.
This region is most inaccessible and may contain important deposits of crystal
not yet developed.
Espirito Santo
Numerous small deposits occur in the central part of the state near Vitoria and
south of the Rio Doce.
Summary
The regions in Brazil which produce quartz lie in four belts or zones which
trend north to northeast in direction as shown in Fig. 1. These belts are: (1)
Northern Goiaz - extending for at least 600 kilometers in the northwestern part of
the state, west of the Rio Tocantins; (2) Southern Goiaz - extending from the
vicinity of Cristalina, Goiaz, northwards along the Goiaz-Minas and Goiaz-Baia
border for 500 kilometers with ultimate northern extremity not known; (3) Minas-Baia
- extending some kilometers from Pitangui and Sete Lagôas in Minas Gerais
to the vicinity of Sento Se and Joazeiro on the Rio Sao Francisco in Baia; and
(4) Coastal - a belt some 300 kilometers in length, including the deposits in
Espirito Santo, and those near Aimores, Minas Gerais, at the northern end of the
belt. The northern Goiaz zone continues into the adjacent state of Para.
TYPES OF GEOLOGIC OCCURRENCES IN BRAZIL
For convenience of description the Brazilian quartz deposits may be classified
into the following types: -
1. Veins and composite lodes
2. Pipes and pockets
3. Blanket deposits
4. Pegmatites
5. Eluvial and alluvial deposits
Deposits of the first three classes mentioned are gradational one to the other.
The striking feature of all the deposits is the extremely small proportion of
usable crystal in relation to the total quartz. Enormous quantities of milky
bull quartz are mined to produce a few kilograms of usable clear crystal. The
production comes from hundreds of mines or diggings, very few of which involve
underground mining. It is estimated that during the war period there have been
no more than six to twelve mines in Brazil in which there has been production of
one ton a month for any length of time. Most diggings produce less than 500
pounds per month and many only 50 or less.
Veins and Composite Lodes
Veins and composite lodes yielding commercial quartz are a particularly
important type of deposit in the southern part of the Minas-Baia belt. Wall
rocks are commonly shale or shale and granite. In other parts of Brazil veins
occur in quartzite or sandstone although in these rocks the yield from
accompanying bedded replacements, pipes or pockets is the more important.
In the shale near Sete Lagôas in Minas Gerais lodes are fairly persistent along
their strike, although in most instances individual shoots or lenses within the
veins are not so persistent. The quartz commonly forms conformable bedded
deposits in the walls of the vein proper. Because of the varying nature of the
crystal occurrences in the walls as well as the variation in width of the lode
or vein system, mining widths may show a wide range in any one deposit.
Veins, lodes and their accompanying bedded deposits contain milky bull quartz,
clay, manganese and iron oxides, and remnants of country rock. Clear crystal
occurs in groups or individuals embedded in the bull quartz or in places in vugs
usually nearly filled with material. The clear quartz appears to have formed at
a later stage than the bull quartz. Manganese oxide is more abundant in the
vicinity of crystal and usually can be considered as an indicator. This
association does not assume genetic significance as the time of formation of the
crystal and the oxide could have differed greatly.
The best example of a lode in shale is furnished by the Guachi mine near Sete
Lagôas (Fig. 2). The vein system has an approximate north-south strike and
moderate westerly dip averaging about 60 degrees. Mining has occurred along a
strike length of 400 meters and to a depth of some 25 meters below the original
surface. The wall rock is weathered shale, yellow in color, lying immediately
below a red clay capping which contained some crystal. The system is composed of
a series of lenses which pinch out both vertically and horizontally. Greatest
mining width reached was a few meters, but horses of country rock occupied much
of the cross section. The distribution of values was erratic. The workings at
the Guachi mine have now been abandoned because with depth the yield of crystals
became uneconomic.
An excellent example of a vein system occurring along a shale-granite contact is
afforded by the Onca Mine, also in the Sete Lagôas District. This has been one
of the most productive mines with a steady production of one to two tons of mine
clean quartz per month. Fig. 3 illustrates the main vein workings, and Fig. 4
represents a geologic cross section of the deposit. The strike length exposed on
the mine workings is 500 meters. The workings reach a depth of 30 meters beneath the original surface.
The vein strikes approximately north-south and dips to the west
at moderate angles ranging from 45 degrees to 65 degrees. The rock on the east
(footwall) side of the vein is weathered granite, on the west (hanging wall)
side is weathered shale. The lode is composed of a system
of quartz stringers, veins, and lenses occupying a position in the shale
adjacent to the granite. Horses of shale are common. Along the contact and
decreasing away from it into the hanging wall, the shale is somewhat folded and
distorted with extremely variable dips. It appears in general to have moderate
dips, slightly flatter than the contact dip near the contact, and to become
flatter to the west. Quartz also occurs along the bedding planes in the crumpled
shales of the hanging wall (Fig. 5).
FIG. 2. Looking south along the strike of the vein system at the Guachi mine,
near Sete Lagôas, Minas Gerais. Mining of nearly vertical vein by hand methods
in foreground. Red overburden has been stripped off and mining will advance to
center of picture. Old workings are in background pit on same vein zone although
individual veins pinch out along the strike.
FIG. 3. Looking south along strike of the vein zone, Onca Mine, Sete Lagôas,
Minas Gerais. Weathered shale to the right is the hanging wall. Footwall of
granite is in shadow to the left.
Due to the structure of the lode and the varying quantity of hanging wall
quartz, mining widths vary greatly, ranging up to 20 meters in places. It is
held that the granite has intruded the shale, or the shale has been faulted
against the granite, or the shale was deposited adjacent to an eroded granite
ridge. H. K. Shearer who has done the most work in the region advocates the
depositional contact.
The important deposits near Pium, Goiaz, as described by H. K. Shearer
9 are best
classed as veins. Wall rocks are schists of sedimentary derivation and
intercalated quartzite. Weathering has rendered the formations soft. The quartz
occurs in irregular veins and lenses, transecting the schist and quartzite.
Individual crystals of bull quartz attained enormous sizes. Shearer mentions one
2.5 meters in length and 1.5 meters in diameter. Clear crystal of commercial
value represents only a fraction of the material which is mined.
Pipes and Pockets
Pipes or irregular conical or funnel-shaped masses and pockets of quartz occur in Baia, southeastern Goiaz, Minas Gerais and perhaps else
where. Wall rocks are quartzite or sandstone. The sizes of the pipes and pockets
show great variations, and accompanying veins, pods, bedded replacements, and
lenses are common. Some deposits which are classed with pipes are more in the
nature of elongated pods. There is little essential difference between a pipe, pocket or the common blanket deposit in
quartzite or sandstone. Some of the deposits in the vicinity of Cristalina,
Goiaz, include all variations. Zones of small pockets, veinlets and replacement
masses lie in sandstone along a north trending structural axis. The deposits in
the Cristalina district have been described by W. D. Johnston Jr.
10
FIG. 4. Cross section of Onca Mine. After H. K. Shearer.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Natural Quartz Slab.
FIG. 5. Official U. S. Navy Photograph. Veins in folded shale of the footwall,
Onca Mine, Sete Lagôas, Minas Gerais. Veins contain quartz and manganese oxide.
Similar veins, somewhat larger than most of those in the picture are the source
of much good crystal.
Perhaps the best example of a pipe-like deposit is afforded by the Alegre mine
some 20 kilometers south of Mimoso, Baia. The country rock is compact,
fine-grained quartzite. According to F. D. Hanson
11 the pipelike mass of quartz
is localized at the intersection of two fairly prominent groups of closely
spaced joints or fissures of small displacement. The bulk of the material in the
pipe is coarse milky bull quartz containing some comb quartz and well-formed
crystals. The pipe is approximately 10 meters by 15 meters in horizontal
dimensions and has been mined to a depth of 15 meters. The walls are extremely
irregular and pockets, tongues and masses of quartz protrude from the margins
into the surrounding rock. Clear crystals occur in irregularly shaped pockets
within the bull quartz throughout the volume which has been opened. There is no
clue to the structural distribution of the valuable material. Pockets are filled
in varying degrees with clear crystal which is well terminated. Replacement of
the country rock was the dominant process although the silica may have been
provided from the surrounding quartzite.
An interesting and common feature of the crystal from the Alegre Mine is the
presence of phantoms of manganese oxides in many of the otherwise clear
crystals. Except for this defect, the crystal is reported to be of good quality.
Blanket Deposits
11a
Blanket replacement deposits are well developed at Mimoso and elsewhere in Baia,
at many places in Minas Gerais, and in Goiaz. It is common for this type of
deposit to be associated with veins in shale sandstone, or quartzite, and with
pipes, pods, and associated forms in sandstones and quartzites. The deposit at
Mimoso is not associated with accessory types and furnishes a spectacular
example of blanket deposit from which there has been important production.
FIG. 6. Pits in shale, some of which extend down to lower bull quartz horizon,
Mimoso, Baia. Walls of broken rock between pits are shored up with boulders of
bull quartz which have been mined in search for crystal. Stripping has exposed
upper quartz horizon in left center of the photograph. Man in center stands on
top of upper quartz horizon.
Mimoso lies about 200 kilometers west of Bomfim, Baia, in the midst of a
dissected plateau with sandstone and quartzite exposed at the surface. Shale
underlying the sandstone is exposed in the valleys. A broad flat anticlinal dome
with its axis trending east-west shows an indefinite terrace on its southern
flank. Dips range from 4 degrees to 7 degrees and the terrace is essentially
horizontal. Three beds of replacement quartz occupy closely spaced positions in
the shale country rock (Figs. 6, 7
and 8). The horizontal continuity of these beds has not been entirely
established. The middle bed is relatively insignificant, thin, and restricted in
its occurrence and will not be discussed further. All the beds
contain residual masses of shale. Here and there erosion has exposed the beds
but for the most part they are covered by partly weathered shale. The upper bed
probably underlies an area of about 2.5 square kilometers on the south flank of
the dome. It ranges in thickness from less than one to two meters. The lower bed
underlies a known area of about 2 square kilometers more or less coextensive
with the terrace but extending beyond its limits, particularly to the west and to the south down the
dip. It ranges in thickness from about 1 to 4 meters. The average separation
between the two beds is about 8 meters. Each bed has produced large quantities
of crystal.
FIG. 7. Blanket deposit. Mimoso, Baia. Coarse-grained bull quartz and pockets
from which commercial crystal has been removed.
FIG. 8. Cross section of the important blanket deposit, Mimoso, Baia. After J.
C. Schell. Looking northeast. Horizontal distance represented is 350 meters.
Vertical scale exaggerated.
The best production from the upper bed was realized from the central part of the
area along a belt parallel to the structural terrace and overlapping its extent
towards the crest of the dome. Many parts of the lower bed have been prospected
up to this time but the best production has been obtained from a small zone of
about 10,000 square meters area, lying in the structural terrace. Small abrupt
folds striking northeast-southwest occur in the vicinity of the best crystal
(Fig. 9), and tiny quartz-filled joints are present in the shale beds.
Prospecting along the trends of folds or groups of joints has been fairly
successful. In the outlying part of the district active prospecting along these
features has, however, not yet disclosed commercial crystal.
Manganese and iron oxides and clay are the only visible minerals accompanying
the quartz. The lower bed, for example, consists of massive bull quartz of
varying crystallinity, some of the crystals being fairly well-formed. At planes
thought to be localized or at least related to the structural features in the
shales, manganese staining becomes more prominent and continued work at times
leads to a pocket of crystal. The pockets range from a few centimeters in size
to several meters and are filled to varying degrees with well-formed crystal not
all of which, however, is a commercial product. The commercial crystal
characteristically contains "blue needles." Pockets may be within the
massive bull quartz or make out into the roof or bottom. There does not appear to be a favored
vertical position within the quartz bed for the development of crystal. Enormous
quantities of material have been mined at Mimoso. Much of the work, however, has
been in an attempt to reach the crystal zone itself so that the ratio of earth
moved to crystal produced has depended upon the depth of the bed.
At the Rosilho mine, southeast of Mimoso, a steeply dipping vein flattens near
the surface to form a blanket of small extent in the country
rock which is sandstone. Adjacent to the bull quartz blanket the sandstone is
noticeably silicified. This occurrence provides a clear example of wall rock
alteration adjacent to a quartz deposit. In general, however, observation of the
effects of wall rock alteration is difficult due to the extensive weathering.
FIG. 9. Small fold in shale. Mimoso, Baia. These folds appear to be related to
concentration of crystal in the bull quartz exposed in the bottom of the pit.
Pegmatites
True pegmatites have not contributed appreciably to the quartz production of
Brazil. It is suspected that the pegmatite belt of eastern Minas Gerais may
contain some crystal, but production from true pegmatites appears to be
insignificant. Deposits from Teofilo Ottoni, Minas Gerais, are reported to be of
pegmatite type. It is possible that the crystal from the swamp-covered alluvial
deposits of Espirito Santo is of pegmatitic derivation as suggested by Knouse.
12
Veins or masses with feldspar could be classed as pegmatitic or possibly as deposits allied to the pegmatites.
Two representatives of this type are known: one near Conquista, Baia, the other
near Oliveira dos Brejinhos, Baia. The crystal from Conquista is of excellent
quality and although material from Oliveira dos Brejinhos is supposed to be
good, no first hand data are available.
Oliveira dos Brejinhos lies about 60 kilometers southeast of Jardinopolis which
is on the Rio Sao Francisco. The quartz mine is a few kilometers west of the
town. According to F. L. Knouse,
13 a formation composed mainly of
fine-grained quartzite strikes north-south and dips 60 degrees west. from a
ridge west of Oliveira dos Brejinhos. Two sill-like masses of quartz and
kaolinized feldspar constitute the deposit. One is about 4 meters thick, the
other about 2, and they are separated by about 7 meters of country rock
quartzite. About 80% of the bodies consists of a quartz core; kaolinized
feldspar with tourmaline needles lies along both the foot and hanging walls.
Commercial crystal occurs throughout the quartz but particularly so in the
kaolinized footwall.
The deposit near Conquista, Baia was examined by D. de C. Smythe.
14 Vertical
veins a few centimeters in thickness cut sandstone and gneiss exposed along the
slopes of a low hill. The veins have a central zone of quartz and margins of red
feldspar. Crystals are large and some of them contain usable portions.
Eluvial and Alluvial Deposits
Eluvial deposits of quartz occur throughout the crystal-producing region of
Brazil. They grade on the one hand into alluvial deposits and on the other into
primary material in place. The surface zone at Pium may be considered as eluvial,
and there are numerous examples in Minas Gerais (Fig. 10). Crystal is mined from
many places where eluvial and alluvial processes and primary deposition are all
important and it is difficult to diagnose the actual relations. Float at the
surface has been the common indicator of underlying deposits (Fig. 11). Quartz
from eluvial deposits may show a considerable degree of rounding. It is probable
that while some of these deposits may be the eroded roots of primary deposits,
others may overlie primary deposits and represent erosion of a considerable
thickness of overlying material concentrated by gravity without lateral
movement.
Undoubtedly alluvial deposits occur throughout the crystal-producing region, but
so far as is known are best represented in central Minas Gerais and Espirito
Santo. Present streams occasionally yield commercial stones as a by-product of
diamond placering. In general alluvial deposits lie buried beneath clay, particularly red clay, or beneath swampy ground as in
Espirito Santo.
15 They are characterized by small-to-medium-sized stones,
the commercial ones being of good quality though usually somewhat rounded (Rollados),
contained in a relatively thin bed of clay. In places several beds occur
separated by a meter or so of noncrystal-bearing clay, sand or gravel.
FIG. 10. Eluvial deposit, northwest of Sete Lagôas, Minas Gerais. Crystals are
picked from the dirt which is broken down by picks and shovels. A carry-all
removes the material to the dump.
FIG. 11. Prospect pits in residual weathered rock representative of the hundreds
of such pits near Sete Lagôas, Minas Gerais. The bedrock in this region is red
shale. Rock fragments are bull quartz.
The Gameleira mine furnishes an excellent example of an alluvial deposit. It
lies about 70 kilometers north of Curvelo, Minas Gerais. A bed of
crystal-bearing yellow clay with maximum thickness of one meter underlies a
varying quantity of red clay along the flanks of a very gently sloping hill. The
thickness of the red clay overburden ranges from two to six meters.
SUMMARY OF MINERALOGY OF BRAZILIAN DEPOSITS
The mineralogy of the crystal deposits in bedrock is extremely simple. Quartz
crystals are not produced in quantity from the same veins which produce other
minerals. A black manganese oxide mineral frequently occurs in the
crystal-bearing sections of the quartz veins and chlorite and limonitic stain
are common. Several other minerals are reported, such as tourmaline, anatase,
rutile, pyrite, an amphibole and clay minerals. A crystal supposed to have come
from one of the mines in quartzite in Baia contains a small fairly perfect
diamond included in the cap. Inclusions of pyrite are very rare. Quartz said to
have originated near Xique-Xique, Baia, is yellow in color and contains fluid
inclusions, hydrogen sulphide being given off when scratched. Shearer
16 reports
a minute quantity of associated pyrite and arsenopyrite from deposits near Pium,
Goiaz. Chlorite is commonly included in the crystals from the Pedra Verde mine
in the Mimoso district of northern Baia. More thorough mineralogical study will
undoubtedly add to the list of associated minerals. These associated minerals
are, however, rare except for the oxides of manganese and iron, clay minerals
and chlorite, so rare that specimens of them from crystal mines are unusual.
The crystals occur in vugs or pockets in the milky vein quartz. The ratio of
milky or cloudy bull quartz to clear crystal varies but has been estimated as
lying between 10,000 to 1 and to 1.
Quartz crystals occur in the veins in all sizes from the most minute to those
famous crystals which weigh over five tons each. Some idea of the size
distribution may be had from the following figures calculated from records of
the weight classification of material purchased by the U. S. Government over a
part of the war period.
The statistics show the greater rarity of the heavier (larger) crystals but also
indicate that a surprising percentage fall in the 300-700 gram (approximately ½
lb.-1½ lbs.) category. It should be pointed out that there are certain
limitations on the data since the figures were not compiled for the purpose to
which they are being put in this paper although they nevertheless serve as a
basis for a quantitative estimate. The figures represent size distribution of crystals in the 200-10,000 gram weight class
which have been prepared for market and sold to the U. S. Government. Actually
one end of many of the crystals may have been trimmed to remove cloudy areas;
therefore, the figures indicate smaller-sized crystals than would actually be
the case if the data related to newly mined untrimmed material. To an important
degree material under 200 grams also finds a market and is very plentiful. It
may be estimated that there are at least twice as many crystals of 100-200 gram
weight class as all the larger sizes.
QUARTZ CRYSTALS PURCHASED FOR NATIONAL STOCKPILE DURING PART OF THE WAR PERIOD*
Crystal Weight Group
Weight in Grams
Percentage of the Total Number of
Crystals Which Were in Each
Weight Group
200- 300
55.5
300- 500
29.5
500- 700
10.4
700- 1,000
2.1
1,000- 2,000
1.8
2,000- 3,000
0.5
3,000- 4,000
0.2
4,000- 5,000
<0.1
5,000- 7,000
<0.1
7,000-10,000
<0.1
* Data based on over l2 million crystals.
It is noteworthy that little of the clear quartz on the market is without a
recognizable crystal face. Many of those unfaced crystals sold are fragments of
larger crystals which did occur with natural faces present. From figures
available it appears that the percentage of material in the 200 gram to 10,000
gram weight range which contains no recognizable face is from 5 to 20% of the
total. Examination of the mines also points to the same conclusion. Anhedral
quartz in the veins is almost entirely milky; translucent patches are rare or
absent. While this might be expected, this contrasts with the condition of the
massive quartz in some of the North Carolina-Virginia quartz veins in which
translucent but not clear areas of vein quartz are sometimes seen.
GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY IN RELATION TO COMMERCIAL PRACTICE AND SUPPLY
The interdependence of the mineralogical and geological factors, commercial
practice and the problem of supply is well illustrated by the war
time crystal program; mineralogical differences in quartz crystals are reflected
in crystal classification and affect commercial practice. Crystals are
classified by weight in the Brazilian market. Twelve weight groups are
recognized: less-than-200 grams, 200-300 grams, 300-500 grams, 500-700 grams,
700- grams, 1-2 kg., 2-3 kg., 3-4 kg., 4-5 kg., 5-7 kg., 7-10 kg., and 10
kg. up. Crystal is further subdivided according to quality grades A, B, C, and
D. Both the quality and weight classes have acquired legal status due to the
incorporation of these in the Brazilian tabela, a table of prices used in
levying export taxes.
The procedures followed in the manufacture of oscillator plates are adapted to
the shape and size of the crystals utilized, but it is generally not practical
to use shape as a basis for classification. The National Bureau of Standards
has used the shape of quartz crystals in classification of the material in the
less-than-200 gram weight group. A minimum length parallel to the c-axis and a
minimum diameter perpendicular to the c-axis is required. Shape is not
considered in classifying the stones in the heavier weight groups.
The shape of the commercial crystal is affected by the practice of trimming
stones to remove the poor quality material. It is particularly common for quartz
crystals to contain veils toward the base of the crystal and these are removed
by expert trimmers who take advantage of the fact that crystals break easily
along planes roughly parallel to rhombohedral faces.
Several features of the geology of the crystal deposits in Brazil which have
been described have an important bearing on quartz crystal supply. The deposits
are individually very small producers and are distributed over a large area,
localized in four belts which do not coincide with the most populated regions of
the country. As has been pointed out most of the mines produce less than 500
pounds of radio quality crystal per month and many only 50 or less, so that the
total Brazilian production comes from several hundred deposits. The sedimentary
rocks in which the deposits occur are frequently deeply weathered, allowing open
pit mining without the use of explosives or machinery. Thus great numbers of
individuals are engaged in independent mining in their own diggings. These
people lead a nomadic existence, moving from one area to another because most
small deposits are soon worked out and more favorable ground is opened
elsewhere. In most areas transportation is difficult and so a condition of local
trading has sprung up where the miner sells the crystal to a local merchant
rather than direct to the quartz exporter. The merchant accumulates crystal and
then disposes of it to another buyer. The crystal usually passes through many
hands before reaching the exporter. This results in an appreciable time lag between production and the
arrival of the quartz in the ports of Rio and Sao Salvador from which it is
exported (Fig. 12). The various size and quality classifications used
by the exporter further complicate the supply situation, particularly since so
many producers are involved. The grade of the material and the judgment of
quality are the considerations which determine the price to be paid or received,
but because of the difficulty of appraisal much crystal is traded in lots at an
overall price.
FIG. 12. Quartz boxed for boat shipment to U. S. Graded by weight class and
quality. Rio de Janeiro.
Price per pound paid for crystal in the United States varies depending on the
weight of the stone, and the percentage usability as indicated by the grading
scheme. As an indication of the wide range of price it is sufficient to note
that quartz from the government stockpile is sold at prices varying from $2.25
to $46.20 per pound.
SUMMARY
Quartz crystal production is almost entirely confined to Brazil. The price
structure, the classification terminology and the methods of classification are
all derived from Brazilian experience. Commercial practices are related to
geologic features of the quartz crystal deposits.
The deposits of quartz crystal in Brazil appear to form a "mineral
province." Features which characterize this, province that appear to be
significant may be summarized as:
1. The deposits lie in four elongated belts, widely separated and roughly
parallel to one another.
2. Most of the deposits in bedrock are in Paleozoic sedimentary rocks which are
not highly folded.
3. Most of the area in which the deposits occur is characterized by deep
weathering.
4. Most of the deposits in bedrock are quartz veins, or flat-lying blanket
deposits of milky quartz roughly parallel to the enclosing sediments, or a
combination of these two types. The clear crystal usually occurs in vugs or
pockets and appears to have formed later than the bulk of the milky quartz.
5. The deposits are characterized by very few minerals in important quantity
other than milky quartz.
6. Veins are apparently unrelated to other mineralization.
7. The veins are exploited for no product other than quartz crystal.
8. With few
exceptions single deposits produce not more than 500 pounds of usable crystal
per month.
Information available indicates that quartz deposits in bedrock throughout the
world, except those in Australia, conform to most of the characteristics listed
above. They depart from the Brazilian type in the nature of the surrounding
rocks and the extent of the weathering. The Australian deposits differ in many
respects. The recurring habit noted in some localities in Brazil and in
Australia of the crystal occurring in subsidiary veinlets or branching pods,
offshoots from the main body, is perhaps worthy of note.
In summary, most of the characteristics listed as typical of the Brazilian
province appear from present data to be generally applicable to quartz crystal
deposits.
NOTES
*
Long Branch Signal Laboratory, Signal Corps Ground Signal Agency, Bradley Beach,
N. J.
! Foreign Economic Administration, Washington, D. C.
# Foreign Economic Administration, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
1 Foreign Commerce
Weekly, 15, No, 6, p. 28 ().
2 Minerals Yearbook, Review of , U. S. Bureau of Mines, p. ().
3 Van Wagenen, H. R., Unpublished FEA Reports ().
4 Schmidt, W., Houck, J. G., and Irving, Earl M., Unpublished FEA Reports (
and ).
5 Burns, W., Singewald, Quentin D., and Leland, G. R., Unpublished FEA Reports
( and ).
6
Miser, Hugh D., Quartz veins in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas and Oklahoma:
Econ. Geol., 38, 91-118 (). Engel A. E. J, and others, Geological
investigations of U. S. quartz crystal deposits with special reference to those
of Arkansas: Presented at A.A.A.S. Section E Meeting Sept. . Quartz crystal
deposits of western Arkansas: Dept. of Interior Information Service, Nov. 9,
(announces availability of maps of the main quartz-bearing areas and
individual deposits). The Rough Diamond Crystal Mine and the Calaveras Crystal
Mine, Calaveras Co., Calif.: Dept. of Interior Information Service, Sept, 4,
.
7 Johnson Fred E., Unpublished FEA Report ().
8 Kerr, P. F. and Erichsen, A. L, Origin of the Quartz Deposit at Fazenda Pacu,
Brazil: Am. Mineral., 25, 487-499 (). Bibliography of earlier papers on
quartz crystal in Brazil is included.
9
Shearer, H. K., Crystal Producing Areas of Northern Goiaz and Southeastern
Pará: Unpublished FEA Report ().
10 Johnston, W. D., Jr., Crystal de Rocha em
Cristalina, Estado de Goiaz: Div.
fomento produção mineral (Brazil), Avulso No. 57 ().
11 Hanson, F. D., Unpublished FEA Report, .
11a According to W. D. Johnston Jr., who has recently carried out detailed
studies in some of the quartz districts, certain deposits classed as blanket
type furnish indications that filling of open spaces by quartz could have been
more important than replacement in the formation of the deposit. F. D. Hanson
and W. D. Johnston Jr. have in preparation a paper describing the details of the
deposit at Mimoso.
12 Knouse, F. L., Cristal de Rocha no Estado do Espirito Santo: Div. fomento
produção mineral (Brazil), Avulso No. 55 ().
13 Knouse, F. L., Unpublished FEA Report, .
14 Smythe, D. de C., Unpublished FEA Report, .
15 Knouse, F. L., Cristal de Rocha no Estado do Espirito Santo: Div. fomento
produção mineral (Brazil), Avulso No. 55 ().
16 Shearer, H. K., Crystal Producing Areas of Northern Goiaz and Southeastern
Baia, Brazil: Unpublished FEA Report, .
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