Big Star Deposit

The Big Star Deposit is a potassium and aluminum mine located in Sevier county, Utah at an elevation of 6,348 feet.

About the MRDS Data:

All mine locations were obtained from the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. The locations and other information in this database have not been verified for accuracy. It should be assumed that all mines are on private property.

Mine Info

Satelite View

MRDS mine locations are often very general, and in some cases are incorrect. Some mine remains have been covered or removed by modern industrial activity or by development of things like housing. The satellite view offers a quick glimpse as to whether the MRDS location corresponds to visible mine remains.

Site Name

Primary: Big Star Deposit
Secondary: Wilson

Commodity

Primary: Potassium
Primary: Aluminum
Tertiary: Kaolin

Location

State: Utah
County: Sevier
District: Marysvale Region/Henry District

Land Status

Land ownership: Private
Note: the land ownership field only identifies whether the area the mine is in is generally on public lands like Forest Service or BLM land, or if it is in an area that is generally private property. It does not definitively identify property status, nor does it indicate claim status or whether an area is open to prospecting. Always respect private property.

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Type: Surface/Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: E. G. Nelson

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Replacement
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Year: 1915
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral In Place
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: L

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Intermontane Plateaus
Physiographic Province: Colorado Plateaus
Physiographic Section: High Plateaus Of Utah
Physiographic Detail: Antelope Range

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Form: SEVERAL LENSES

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Name: Volcanic Breccia (Agglomerate)
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Pliocene

Name: Volcanic Breccia (Agglomerate)
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Pliocene

Name: Volcanic Breccia (Agglomerate)
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Oligocene

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: 6 ANALYSES RANGE FROM 23.3 % TO 97.8 % ALUNITE

Materials

Ore: Kaolinite
Ore: Alunite
Ore: Natroalunite

Comments

Comment (Reserve-Resource): MAIN MASS ALTD BRECCIA ARGILLIC AND PYRITIC RATHER THAN ALUNITIC

Comment (Geology): TUFFS ARE INTERCALATED WITH PYROXENE ANDESITE.

Comment (Workings): 2 QUARRIES AND 3 ADITS MADE DURING 1918 .

Comment (Reserve-Resource): HIGH GRADE NATROALUNITE MAINLY IN ONE LENS SAYS CALLAGHAN (1973, P. 101)

Comment (Commodity): PROJECT 9350 - 01393 ALUNITE RESOURCES

Comment (Location): WEST OF ANTELOPE RANGE, NORTH SIDE OF ANTELOPE CANYON, A MILE FROM THE RAILROAD AND 700 FT. ABOVE IT.

Comment (Production): AMOUNT OF MATERIAL SHIPPED IS UNKNOWN

Comment (Deposit): Discovery Year: WW1

References

Reference (Analytical Data): SRC.REF: THOENEN, J. R., 1941 , USBM R. I. 3561 , P. 29 .

Reference (Deposit): CALLAGHAN, E., 1938 , PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE ALUNITE DEPOSITS OF THE MARYSVALE REGION, UTAH: USGS BULL. 886 -D, P. 127 - 128 .

Reference (Deposit): CALLAGHAN, E., 1973 , MINERAL RESOURCE POTENTIAL OF PIUTE COUNTY, UTAH AND ADJOINING AREA: UTAH GEOL. AND MINERALOG. SURVEY BULL. 102 , P. 96 - 101 .

Reference (Deposit): KERR, P. F., AND OTHERS, 1957 , MARYSVALE, UTAH, URANIUM AREA: GEOL. SOC. AMERICA SPEC. PAPER 64 , 212 P.

Reference (Deposit): THOENEN, J. R., 1941 , ALUNITE RESOURCES OF THE UNITED STATES: USBM REPT. INV. 3561 , P. 29 - 30 , 38 .

Reference (Deposit): 1936 GEOLMAP E. CALLAGHAN - G. F. SEAGER: UTAH GEOL. AND MINEROLOG. SURVEY BULL. 102 , FIG. 57 .

Reference (Deposit): 1957 GEOLMAP P. F. KERR, AND OTHERS: GEOL. SOC. AMERICA SPEC. PAPER 64 .

Reference (Deposit): WW1 DIREXPL E. G. NELSON: QUARRIES

Reference (Production): CALLAGHAN, E., 1938 , USGS BULL. 886 -D, P. 127 .

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