Masters Theses

Date of Award

5-1993

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Geology

Major Professor

Otto C. Kopp

Committee Members

Steve Driese, Richard Arnseth

Abstract

Samples from Tertiary and Cretaceous clay deposits were collected from three areas of concentrated mining activity in east-central Georgia. Clay lenses occur at the top of the Tertiary Huber Formation ending a fining upward cycle and are separated from overlying sediments by a sharply defined unconformity. Clay lenses at the top of Cretaceous (?) sediments are also separated by a sharply defined unconformity, overlain by coarse, cross-bedded sand deposits ranging from 5-10 meters thick, which comprise the lower Huber Formation. Along the northern edge of the field area, the Huber Formation onlaps the Piedmont in some areas, whereas the Cretaceous sediments are absent. Preliminary investigations of samples from the Tertiary Huber Formation yield XRD crystallinity indices ranging from 0.18-0.48, indicating the presence of poorly-crystallized kaolinite. Well-crystallized kaolinite from Cretaceous clay lenses yield crystallinity indices ranging from 0.55-1.43. Scanning electron micrographs of Tertiary samples exhibit subhedral to anhedral, mostly submicrometer (around 74% <0.5 micrometer) clay agglomerates and individual particles. Photomicrographs of Cretaceous samples reveal euhedral, psuedohexagonal kaolinite plates and vermicular stacks of kaolinite. The differences in internal structural order between Cretaceous and Tertiary kaolin samples taken in consideration along with the differences in particle size distribution and morphology indicate that the Tertiary kaolins do not represent reworked Cretaceous kaolins.

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