Description
Silas V. Morefield
Commodities
PrimaryFeldspar, Mica
SecondaryBeryllium, Tantalum, Niobium (Columbium), Lithium, Copper, Manganese, Sulfur-Pyrite
Commodity typeB
Deposit
Deposit sizeS
WorkingsSurface/Underground
Orebody formLINEAR TO IRREGULAR
Ore controlFracture, Foliation Planes, Dike
Materials
Ore mineralsAlbite, Beryl, Cassiterite, Chalcopyrite, Galena, Ilmenite, Manganotantalite, Microlite, Muscovite, Pyrite, Pyrolusite, Rutile, Topaz
GangueApatite, Biotite, Fluorite, Garnet, Labradorite, Monazite, Oligoclase, Quartz, Tourmaline, Zircon
Geology
Host rockSchist,Gneiss · Gneiss, Schist Chopawamsic Formation
Associated rockDiabase · Diabase Dikes
StructureNe-Sw Trend, Faults
Tectonic settingPiedmont
Economic & production
Development statusPast Producer
First production1929
Discovery year1929
Identification
Deposit ID10084287
MRDS IDW101536
RegionNA
Data scoreB
Coordinates37.36062, -77.91388
References
SWEET, P. C, AND PENICK, D. A., JR., 1986, MOREFIELD PEGMATITE MINE REOPENS-VIRGINIA'S ONLY ACTIVE UNDERGROUND GEM MINE; VIRGINIA MINERALS, VOL. 32, NO. 2: VIRGINIA DIVISION OF MINERAL RESOURCES, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA.LEMME, R. W., JAHNS, R.H., AND GRIFFITTS, W. R., 1952, MICA DEPOSITS OF THE SOUTHEASTERN PIEDMONT, PART 2. AMELIA DISTRICT, VIRGINIA, U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 248-B, PP 103-139.PEGAU, A. A., 1932, PEGMATITE DEPOSITS OF VIRGINIA: VIRGINIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 33, 123 P.GLASS, J. J., 1935, THE PEGMATITE MINERALS FROM NEAR AMELIA, VIRGINIA; THE AMERICAN MINERALOGIST, VOL. 20, NO. 11, PP. 741-768.BROWN, W. R., 1962, MICA AND FELDSPAR DEPOSITS OF VIRGINIA: VIRGINIA DIVISION OF MINERAL RESOURCES, MINERAL RESOURCES REPORT 3, 195 P.1929 DIREXPL S.V. MOREFIELD - DUG OPEN CUTS, MINED1931 DIREXPL SEABOARD FELDSPAR CO. - MINED OPEN CUTS1934 DIREXPL S.V. MOREFIELD - MINED OPEN CUTSLEMKE, ET AL. (1952)