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Origin of bauxite at Eufaula, Alabama, USA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2018

T. C. Lukas ,
F. C. Loughnan  and
J. L. Eades
T. C. Lukas
Affiliation:
Dept. of Geology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA
F. C. Loughnan
Affiliation:
School of Applied Geology, University of NSW, P.O. Box 1, Kensington, New South Wales 2033, Australia
J. L. Eades
Affiliation:
Dept. of Geology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA
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Abstract

An autochthonous origin for the bauxite deposits of the Eufaula district, south-eastern Alabama, appears to have received general acceptance but, compared with younger residual bauxites of the present day tropical regions of the world, the Eufaula deposits have a number of features that are difficult to reconcile with development in situ. In an attempt to resolve the enigma, a detailed study was undertaken of cores from three drill holes that intersected a complete succession through one of the Eufaula deposits. Although the results are not conclusive, it is believed that much of the observed phenomena can be explained on the basis of an essentially transported origin for the deposits.

Kurzreferat

Kurzreferat

Allgemein wird angenommen, daß die Bauxit-Lagerstätten des Eufaula-Distrikts, Südost-Alabama, autochthonen Ursprungs sind. Verglichen mit jüngeren residualen Bauxiten der heutigen tropischen Regionen der Welt haben die Eufaula-Lagerstätten jedoch eine Anzahl von Merkmalen, die sich nur schwer mit einer Entwicklung in Situ vereinbaren lassen. Zur Klärung dieses Sachverhalts würden drei Bohrkerne mit der kompletten Abfolge einer der Eufaula-Lagerstätten untersucht. Obwohl entgültige Schlußfolgerungen noch nicht gezogen werden können, lassen sich die meisten der beobachteten Phänomene auf der Basis eines in wesentlichen transportierten Ausgangsmaterials der Lagerstätte erklären.

Resumen

Resumen

Se ha aceptado generalmente el origen autóctono de los depósitos de bauxita del distrito de Eufaula, al sureste de Alabama. Sin embargo, comparando con las bauxitas residuales más recientes de las actuales regiones tropicales del mundo, los depósitos de Eufaula presentan una serie de características que son dificiles de reconciliar con su desarrollo in situ. En un intento de resolver este enigma, se ha realizado un detallado estudio sobre muestras procedentes de tres perforaciones que atraviesan una serie completa en uno de los depósitos de Eufaula. Aunque los resultados no son concluyentes, creemos que muchos de los fenómenos observados pueden explicarse suponiendo que los depósitos se forman esencialmente por arrastre del mineral.

Resume

Resume

Une origine autochtone est généralement admise pour les gisements de bauxite du district d'Eufaula dans le Sud-Est de l'Alabama. Cependant, comparés à des bauxites résiduaires plus récents issues de régions actuellement tropicales, les gisements d'Eufaula présentent un certain nombre d'aspects difficilement conciliables avec une formation in situ. Dans le but de résoudre cette énigme, une étude détaillées des carottes de trois forages effectués à travers un gisement entier d'Eufala a été entreprise. Bien que les résultats ne soient pas concluants, il est vraisemblable que la plupart des phénmènes observés peuvent être expliqués en admettant une origine essentiellement due au transport des sédiments.

Type
Research Article
Information
Clay Minerals , Volume 18 , Issue 2 , June 1983 , pp. 127 - 138
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 1983

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