5
deposit of potential metallurgical gravel (Figure 2b). The
gravel under the terraces was correlated to a gravel outcrop
on a terrace on the opposing hillside at the same elevation
as the gravel under the terraces. It was hypothesized that the
gravel deposit originally occurred as a buried layer under
the terraces that extended across the valley when it was full
of sediment and had been eroded away in the valley during
the formation of the valley. The lack of fabric in the gravel
on the hillslopes indicated a colluvial mass wasting origin of
the white metallurgical gravel in pits on the lower terrace.
The presence of “sugar rock” and the heavily oxidized
surfaces on the gravel clasts demonstrated the low quality
of the buried gravel. It was hypothesized that erosion broke
down the weak, weathered gravel (sugar rock) into smaller,
strong, coherent, unweathered metallurgical gravels that
were naturally rounded by fluvial processes and ultimately
deposited in the wetlands.
It was recommended that the Ole Gravel Pit not be
reopened. The client decided not to partner in the min-
ing venture. Nevertheless, the owner reopened the pit in an
attempt to profitably mine the gravel. His attempt failed.
The lesson here is to utilize all local observation points
available (pit exposure) – and cast about a little farther from
the site (outcrop on adjacent hillside). Much of the expense
of drilling and equipment rental could have been avoided if
that geologic information had been considered.
“THIS GRAIN OF SAND”
Ah! If I had the eyes to see,
And brain to understand,
I think Life’s mystery might be
Solved in this grain of sand.
(From Robert Service, A Grain of Sand, in, Carols of an
Old Codger, 1955)
A client was considering purchasing a property. The pur-
chase price was unexpectedly high due to the purported
existence of large amounts of proppant (frac sand) underly-
ing the entire property.
The property is mostly on an upland Flatwoods ecosys-
tem. Flatwoods are located on poorly drained flats between
rivers (interfluvial zones) on the Gulf Coastal Plain. A
smaller part of the property occupies a lowland floodplain
and low terraces of a sluggish, low gradient stream.
In the upland areas of this report, most of the
Quaternary Gulf Coastal Plain deposits consist of three
Pleistocene related formations, from oldest to the young-
est, being: the Williana (Louisiana) or the Willis (Texas)
the Montgomery (Louisiana) or the Lissie (Texas) and
the Prairie (Louisiana) or Beaumont (Texas) Formations.
Only two of these formations are relevant as far as the prop-
erty in question is concerned the Williana/Willis and the
Montgomery/ Lissie Formations.
The lowlands and low terraces portion of the prop-
erty are underlain at depth with either/or the Williana/
Willis formation and the Montgomery/Lissie formations.
Everywhere throughout the lowlands those two formations
are overlain with the modern floodplain and two associ-
ated higher, older terraces. In more recent reports many of
those terraces are referred to as the Deweyville Formation
(Wisconsin or early to middle Holocene). For simplicity,
throughout the remainder of this report the sediments
underlying the modern floodplain as well as the higher
terraces on the property in question are referred to as the
Deweyville Formation.
Potential Minerals Reported
An active sand processing plant exists on one of the
Deweyville Formation terraces. A dredge mines sand from
ponds created in the floodplain and Deweyville Formation.
The sand is processed into a variety of products including
Figure 2b. Distribution of potential metallurgical gravel when considering geology
deposit of potential metallurgical gravel (Figure 2b). The
gravel under the terraces was correlated to a gravel outcrop
on a terrace on the opposing hillside at the same elevation
as the gravel under the terraces. It was hypothesized that the
gravel deposit originally occurred as a buried layer under
the terraces that extended across the valley when it was full
of sediment and had been eroded away in the valley during
the formation of the valley. The lack of fabric in the gravel
on the hillslopes indicated a colluvial mass wasting origin of
the white metallurgical gravel in pits on the lower terrace.
The presence of “sugar rock” and the heavily oxidized
surfaces on the gravel clasts demonstrated the low quality
of the buried gravel. It was hypothesized that erosion broke
down the weak, weathered gravel (sugar rock) into smaller,
strong, coherent, unweathered metallurgical gravels that
were naturally rounded by fluvial processes and ultimately
deposited in the wetlands.
It was recommended that the Ole Gravel Pit not be
reopened. The client decided not to partner in the min-
ing venture. Nevertheless, the owner reopened the pit in an
attempt to profitably mine the gravel. His attempt failed.
The lesson here is to utilize all local observation points
available (pit exposure) – and cast about a little farther from
the site (outcrop on adjacent hillside). Much of the expense
of drilling and equipment rental could have been avoided if
that geologic information had been considered.
“THIS GRAIN OF SAND”
Ah! If I had the eyes to see,
And brain to understand,
I think Life’s mystery might be
Solved in this grain of sand.
(From Robert Service, A Grain of Sand, in, Carols of an
Old Codger, 1955)
A client was considering purchasing a property. The pur-
chase price was unexpectedly high due to the purported
existence of large amounts of proppant (frac sand) underly-
ing the entire property.
The property is mostly on an upland Flatwoods ecosys-
tem. Flatwoods are located on poorly drained flats between
rivers (interfluvial zones) on the Gulf Coastal Plain. A
smaller part of the property occupies a lowland floodplain
and low terraces of a sluggish, low gradient stream.
In the upland areas of this report, most of the
Quaternary Gulf Coastal Plain deposits consist of three
Pleistocene related formations, from oldest to the young-
est, being: the Williana (Louisiana) or the Willis (Texas)
the Montgomery (Louisiana) or the Lissie (Texas) and
the Prairie (Louisiana) or Beaumont (Texas) Formations.
Only two of these formations are relevant as far as the prop-
erty in question is concerned the Williana/Willis and the
Montgomery/ Lissie Formations.
The lowlands and low terraces portion of the prop-
erty are underlain at depth with either/or the Williana/
Willis formation and the Montgomery/Lissie formations.
Everywhere throughout the lowlands those two formations
are overlain with the modern floodplain and two associ-
ated higher, older terraces. In more recent reports many of
those terraces are referred to as the Deweyville Formation
(Wisconsin or early to middle Holocene). For simplicity,
throughout the remainder of this report the sediments
underlying the modern floodplain as well as the higher
terraces on the property in question are referred to as the
Deweyville Formation.
Potential Minerals Reported
An active sand processing plant exists on one of the
Deweyville Formation terraces. A dredge mines sand from
ponds created in the floodplain and Deweyville Formation.
The sand is processed into a variety of products including
Figure 2b. Distribution of potential metallurgical gravel when considering geology