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Kings Creek Mining District, Cherokee County, South Carolina, USAi
Regional Level Types
Kings Creek Mining DistrictMining District
Cherokee CountyCounty
South CarolinaState
USACountry

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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
35° North , 81° West (est.)
Estimate based on other nearby localities or region boundaries.
Margin of Error:
~28km
Köppen climate type:
Mindat Locality ID:
64636
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:64636:4
GUID (UUID V4):
0


A mining district of baryte deposits that lie in a belt a few miles wide in York and Cherokee Counties. The deposits occur in the so-called Carolina barite belt that extends for about 20 miles from Crowders Mountain, 4 miles east of Kings Mountain in adjacnet North Carolina, southwestward to near the junction of South Carolina Highways 103 and 105, about 5 miles east of Gaffney, SC.

The baryte occurs in discontinuous veins and replacement masses in a quartz-sericite schist along the contact between the Battleground schist and the Bessemer granite, both of Precambrian age. The width of the outcrop of the sericite schist containing barite ranges from a few feet to more than 1,100 feet. The zone of schist and barite generally strikes N45ºE and dips 60ºSE. Local folds disturb this trend only slightly between the various deposits.

The barite of the veins is white to rose, is massive, granular, or coarsely crystalline, and occurs locally in a system of veins that are en echelon along the strike and dip of the schist. Some veins, however, cut across the foliation of the host rock. The maximum width of the veins is 8 feet, and the average about 18 inches (45 cm). The contacts between the veins and the schist are rather distinct, although some fragments of sericite schist are included in the outer parts of the veins.

Minerals associated with the barite veins in the Carolina belt are galena, sphalerite, and calcite in the area around Crowders Mountain, and various sulfides of iron and copper near Kings Creek, SC. Other minerals occurring with the barite are tourmaline, magnetite, and chlorite.

Much of the wall rock near the veins contains barite as disseminated fragments or aggregates ranging in size from fine flakes to clots an inch (2.5 cm) or more long. Near the veins these partly replaced rocks contain as much as 20% barite. The content of barite diminishes away from the veins in an irregular manner.

Studies of thin sections (Van Horn, et al) indicate that the barite replaces quartz and sericite and also occurs as interstitial filling in the sericite schist.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded from this region.


Mineral List

Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

25 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded

Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!

Rock list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

Albite
Formula: Na(AlSi3O8)
Aurichalcite
Formula: (Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6
Baryte
Formula: BaSO4
Localities: Reported from at least 9 localities in this region.
Beraunite
Formula: Fe3+6(PO4)4O(OH)4 · 6H2O
Bornite
Formula: Cu5FeS4
Cacoxenite
Formula: Fe3+24AlO6(PO4)17(OH)12 · 75H2O
Chalcanthite ?
Formula: CuSO4 · 5H2O
Chalcopyrite
Formula: CuFeS2
'Chlorite Group'
Chloritoid
Formula: Fe2+Al2O(SiO4)(OH)2
Epidote
Formula: (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Fluorite
Formula: CaF2
Galena
Formula: PbS
'Garnet Group'
Formula: X3Z2(SiO4)3
Goethite
Formula: Fe3+O(OH)
Hematite
Formula: Fe2O3
Magnetite
Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2O4
Malachite
Formula: Cu2(CO3)(OH)2
Muscovite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Localities: Reported from at least 7 localities in this region.
Muscovite var. Sericite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Localities: Reported from at least 7 localities in this region.
'Psilomelane'
Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
Pyrolusite
Formula: Mn4+O2
Quartz
Formula: SiO2
Localities: Reported from at least 7 localities in this region.
Quartz var. Milky Quartz
Formula: SiO2
Quartz var. Rock Crystal
Formula: SiO2
Rockbridgeite ?
Formula: (Fe2+0.5Fe3+0.5)2Fe3+3(PO4)3(OH)5
Schorl
Formula: NaFe2+3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
Strengite
Formula: FePO4 · 2H2O
'Tourmaline'
Formula: AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
Variscite ?
Formula: AlPO4 · 2H2O
'Wad'
Wavellite
Formula: Al3(PO4)2(OH)3 · 5H2O

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
Bornite2.BA.15Cu5FeS4
Chalcopyrite2.CB.10aCuFeS2
Galena2.CD.10PbS
Pyrite2.EB.05aFeS2
Group 3 - Halides
Fluorite3.AB.25CaF2
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
Goethite4.00.Fe3+O(OH)
Magnetite4.BB.05Fe2+Fe3+2O4
Hematite4.CB.05Fe2O3
Quartz4.DA.05SiO2
var. Rock Crystal4.DA.05SiO2
var. Milky Quartz4.DA.05SiO2
Pyrolusite4.DB.05Mn4+O2
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
Malachite5.BA.10Cu2(CO3)(OH)2
Aurichalcite5.BA.15(Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
Baryte7.AD.35BaSO4
Chalcanthite ?7.CB.20CuSO4 · 5H2O
Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
Rockbridgeite ?8.BC.10(Fe2+0.5Fe3+0.5)2Fe3+3(PO4)3(OH)5
Strengite8.CD.10FePO4 · 2H2O
Variscite ?8.CD.10AlPO4 · 2H2O
Beraunite8.DC.27Fe3+6(PO4)4O(OH)4 · 6H2O
Cacoxenite8.DC.40Fe3+24AlO6(PO4)17(OH)12 · 75H2O
Wavellite8.DC.50Al3(PO4)2(OH)3 · 5H2O
Group 9 - Silicates
Chloritoid9.AF.85Fe2+Al2O(SiO4)(OH)2
Epidote9.BG.05a(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Schorl9.CK.05NaFe2+3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
Muscovite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
var. Sericite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Albite9.FA.35Na(AlSi3O8)
Unclassified
'Chlorite Group'-
'Psilomelane'-
'Tourmaline'-AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
'Wad'-
'Garnet Group'-X3Z2(SiO4)3

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
H Aurichalcite(Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6
H BerauniteFe63+(PO4)4O(OH)4 · 6H2O
H CacoxeniteFe243+AlO6(PO4)17(OH)12 · 75H2O
H ChalcanthiteCuSO4 · 5H2O
H ChloritoidFe2+Al2O(SiO4)(OH)2
H Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
H GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
H MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
H MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
H Rockbridgeite(Fe2+0.5Fe3+0.5)2Fe33+(PO4)3(OH)5
H SchorlNaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
H StrengiteFePO4 · 2H2O
H VarisciteAlPO4 · 2H2O
H WavelliteAl3(PO4)2(OH)3 · 5H2O
H Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
BBoron
B SchorlNaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
B TourmalineAD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
CCarbon
C Aurichalcite(Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6
C MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
OOxygen
O AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
O Aurichalcite(Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6
O BaryteBaSO4
O BerauniteFe63+(PO4)4O(OH)4 · 6H2O
O CacoxeniteFe243+AlO6(PO4)17(OH)12 · 75H2O
O ChalcanthiteCuSO4 · 5H2O
O ChloritoidFe2+Al2O(SiO4)(OH)2
O Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
O GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
O HematiteFe2O3
O MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
O MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
O MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
O PyrolusiteMn4+O2
O QuartzSiO2
O Rockbridgeite(Fe2+0.5Fe3+0.5)2Fe33+(PO4)3(OH)5
O SchorlNaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
O StrengiteFePO4 · 2H2O
O TourmalineAD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
O VarisciteAlPO4 · 2H2O
O WavelliteAl3(PO4)2(OH)3 · 5H2O
O Quartz var. Rock CrystalSiO2
O Quartz var. Milky QuartzSiO2
O Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
O Garnet GroupX3Z2(SiO4)3
FFluorine
F FluoriteCaF2
NaSodium
Na AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Na SchorlNaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
AlAluminium
Al AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Al CacoxeniteFe243+AlO6(PO4)17(OH)12 · 75H2O
Al ChloritoidFe2+Al2O(SiO4)(OH)2
Al Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Al MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Al SchorlNaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
Al VarisciteAlPO4 · 2H2O
Al WavelliteAl3(PO4)2(OH)3 · 5H2O
Al Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
SiSilicon
Si AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Si ChloritoidFe2+Al2O(SiO4)(OH)2
Si Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Si MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Si QuartzSiO2
Si SchorlNaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
Si Quartz var. Rock CrystalSiO2
Si Quartz var. Milky QuartzSiO2
Si Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Si Garnet GroupX3Z2(SiO4)3
PPhosphorus
P BerauniteFe63+(PO4)4O(OH)4 · 6H2O
P CacoxeniteFe243+AlO6(PO4)17(OH)12 · 75H2O
P Rockbridgeite(Fe2+0.5Fe3+0.5)2Fe33+(PO4)3(OH)5
P StrengiteFePO4 · 2H2O
P VarisciteAlPO4 · 2H2O
P WavelliteAl3(PO4)2(OH)3 · 5H2O
SSulfur
S BaryteBaSO4
S BorniteCu5FeS4
S ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
S ChalcanthiteCuSO4 · 5H2O
S GalenaPbS
S PyriteFeS2
KPotassium
K MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
K Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CaCalcium
Ca Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Ca FluoriteCaF2
MnManganese
Mn PyrolusiteMn4+O2
FeIron
Fe BerauniteFe63+(PO4)4O(OH)4 · 6H2O
Fe BorniteCu5FeS4
Fe CacoxeniteFe243+AlO6(PO4)17(OH)12 · 75H2O
Fe ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Fe ChloritoidFe2+Al2O(SiO4)(OH)2
Fe Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Fe GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
Fe HematiteFe2O3
Fe MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Fe PyriteFeS2
Fe Rockbridgeite(Fe2+0.5Fe3+0.5)2Fe33+(PO4)3(OH)5
Fe SchorlNaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
Fe StrengiteFePO4 · 2H2O
CuCopper
Cu Aurichalcite(Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6
Cu BorniteCu5FeS4
Cu ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Cu ChalcanthiteCuSO4 · 5H2O
Cu MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
ZnZinc
Zn Aurichalcite(Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6
BaBarium
Ba BaryteBaSO4
PbLead
Pb GalenaPbS

Localities in this Region

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This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

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