Assessment of Carbonate Mineral Resources in Virginia

Virginia contains significant carbonate rock resources, including high purity limestone (>95% wt% CaCO₃) and dolostone (>40% wt% MgCO₃), representing highly valued commodities to electric power generation, metallurgical, water treatment, agricultural, and other industries.

The goals of the assessment are to:

• Compile a single database containing all carbonate sample locations, geochemical data, geologic units and other information  gathered by the Virginia Division of Geology and Mineral Resources (DGMR).
• Develop a web-based map and information system that will be useful to landowners, government bodies, and private industry concerning the occurrence of potential economic resources.
• Complete a quality assurance assessment of all existing unpublished data.

High purity limestone, also referred to as high-calcium limestone, provides great benefits to Virginia through the economic impact of the mining industry and the environmental benefits of many of its uses.  Demand for high purity limestone is anticipated to continue to grow largely due to its use as a flue gas desulfurization reagent in scrubber systems at industrial plants that burn coal. High purity carbonate rocks that are characterized by high reflectance qualities are used as fillers for paint, paper, and plastic materials.  Because transportation costs can dramatically increase the cost for necessary commodities such as carbonate rock, it is necessary to develop an understanding of the spatial distribution of this important resource.  By publishing a complete relational database with over 6,100 geochemical analyses of carbonate rocks, the Division of Geology and Mineral Resources hopes to provide a useful tool for land owners, carbonate rock producers and consumers, government agencies, and land-use decision makers.

Example of carbonate geochemical sample locations color-coded by CaCO₃ content, with railway, primary road, and existing mine location overlays.  Middle Ordovician-age strata that include high purity limestone units are highlighted in blue.

Example of whole rock geochemical data (portion of table).  Values are in weight percent.

The assessment will include over 6,100 geochemical results, trace element analysis and chlorine analysis for approximately 400 samples, and reflectance data for nearly 900 samples.  Sample locations in latitude and longitude coordinates, geologic age and formation name, sample collector, and county data will be included in the database.  Maps showing the distribution of carbonate rocks and indicating areas of high purity limestone and dolostone will also be presented.

The current assessment includes both published and unpublished data gathered by the DGMR.  The following table summarizes the number of analyses by publication status and analysis type that will be included in this assessment.

Selected References

Cooper, Byron N., 1945, Industrial limestones and dolomites in Virginia:  Clinch Valley district, Bulletin 66, 259 pp.

Cooper, Byron N., 1944, Industrial limestones and dolomites in Virginia:  New River-Roanoke River district, Bulletin 62, 98 pp.

Edmundson, Raymond S., 1958, Industrial limestones and dolomites in Virginia:  James River district west of the Blue Ridge, Bulletin 73, 137 pp.

Edmundson, Raymond S., 1945, Industrial limestones and dolomites in Virginia:  northern and central parts of Shenandoah Valley, Bulletin 65, 195 pp.

Giannini, William F., 1991, Analysis of carbonate rocks – northern Virginia, Publication 108, 104 pp.

Giannini, William F. and Hostettler, Karen K., 1994, Analysis of carbonate rocks – northwestern Virginia, Publication 135, 160 pp.

Miller, M. Michael, 2007, Lime, 2006 USGS Mineral Yearbook, pp. 43.1-43.12.

Sweet, Palmer C., 1986, Virginia’s lime industry, Virginia Minerals, Vol. 32. No. 4, pp. 33-43.

Sweet, Palmer C., Fordham, Jr., Oliver M., Giannini, William F., 1987, Carbonate materials suitable for desulfurization of flue gas, Virginia Minerals, Vol. 33 No 4, pp. 33-36.

Whitlock, William W., 2001, Analyses of carbonate rocks in the Virginia portion of the Middlesboro 1:100,000 sheet, Virginia Minerals, Vol. 47 No. 1, 7 pp.

For more information, contact Billy Lassetter 434-951-6361, or email to william.lassetter@dmme.virginia.gov.