ar ae ICAL SURVEY. Bulletin No. 74 Poel ZO) AVES. ve 39, 65/4: COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA pu. 77 wih ae cave ; DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS James F, Woodward, Secretary so BUREAU OF TOPOGRAPHIC AND GEOLOGICAL SURVEY George H. Ashley, State Geologist i ceeanundieecanhenabectinneeniasen rene pee ees = Re a ee: See eee a SS I a a CHROMITE IN PENNSYLVANIA By Je ROSS Corbin Former large output. For several decades in the ninetcenth century Pennsylvania and Maryland furnished almost the total world's supply of chromite. The deposits in these states were of enormous size, aS can be realized from the production figures of 100,000 tons for the Reed™ mine (Harford County, Maryland) and 120,000 tons for the Wood** minc, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. In comparison, the largest body of chromite recently mined in the United States, *** and a truly large deposit for chromite (at Castle Crags mine; on Little Castle Creek, Shasta County, Californin) Contained only 12,000-18,000 tons. It is justifiable to assume, fron the information at hand, that deposits of chromite as large as those formerly worked can be discovered in Fennsylvania by explorations based on careful rcoloric and magnetiG surveys. Geologic relation: In Pennsylrania the chromite deposits occur in rocks which, because of their composition and location, are called the "State Line serpentines." ‘The soil of the region in which these rocks occur is unproductive; hence the name "The Barrens” has been applicd to the land underiain by serpentine, Serpentine areas extend in a westerly dircction through Delaware , Chester, and Lancaster Countics. The outcrops then trend southwest, cross the State Line, and continve to a noint in Maryland northwest of Baltimore, Chromite deposits, both massive end sands, have been found at several places in this area. eee * Mineral Resources of the United States, 1883-1884; p. 568, 19885. *Genth, 3, A., Second Geol, Survey of Pennsylvania, Report B, p. 41, bs i Diller, J. S., Recent Studies of Domestic Chromite Deposits, Trans. A. I. M. E., Vol. LXITZ, p. lll, 1920. ae TA ara } sa) ; yy { an ee a RE + EPA ER OT Ea hs ua iZ\ bs . / Ly i “ & \ [x a BANON_- aL BERKS , id, ie Rae aR oo \ See Pa Pin PNGEN a) Pada pe ‘ < \ “ i; a q rs VA o OQ : 1 x we, Ree ) AF iy: se 4 “i ‘ v ra wi te A ‘ > ee ‘ +s pea) le a\Ps e ' id es ner Lge 1G \ Foth a hy re ae Expt tes A hy C A\ i zy F re %_ : ‘ / :, 5 Nets a 7 oan tae f A v6 "? ee < Sy \ Al aa / C oe 4 “ £ \ Mihir : ad cine zf « ) Nes \ = ° “SS Pte 4° § & 7) Res % ij > u om : ee ) cy nw (Q ‘ay, if ? - H sea a oes YORK SY 4 rik Lees "| . ; ey i! p v\ ‘AN {> & es P \W eo = jy a ee ee Res : pe MARYLAND serpentine areas in southeastern Pennsylvania. Chromi te production has been greatest in southern Chester and Lancaster counties. Definition. Cirorite: is black, heavy, nard iinersl resomblineg > marne tito wane Containing a nenbiin percentare of chromium, ) The word pemeeetoslo fenecralstrade termicorsmaterial of variable composition, Ideal chromite is expressed by the formula FeO.Cro0z, and is composed of 68 per cent chromic oxide and 62 ner cent iron oxide, Chromite is related to a group of minerals (spinel group) which contains various proportions of chromium, iron, magnesium, and other metals, Because of this relationship it is common to find chromite whieh contains magnesia (MgO) in place of part or all of tne ison oxide (Fed), and which contains eluminsa (AloOs) Sire ee et Fu thi > (e503) in place ef part of the oxide of chromium (Cr-0-). For these reasons chromite, even when mineralogically pure Person bent ts the 68 per cent Cre0Oz required by the formula for the ideal mineral, The writer has examined hundreds of samples in which the pure chromite (mineral) contained only 35 - 45 per cent chromic oxide, and it is possihle that material called "chromite" may contain much less. The importance or this substitution or replacement feature. of the mineral is at least twofold: (1) chromite may be so strongly magnetic as to ‘appear to be magnetite, thus being deceptive as to its true character, and (2) labor and money may be uselessly expended in trying to concentrate mechanically beyond the actual chromic oxide content of the mineral. The true solution of such difficulties is to Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2022 with funding from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Alternates https://archive.org/details/chromiteinpennsyOOcorb_O — be had only by very careful examination. Pennsylvania chromite, however, is of very high grade. Uses. Chromite is difficult to melt, is chemically inert, and is physically strong. For these reasons it is used in lump or crushed condition for lining metallurgical furnaces Chromite is the source from which are obtained the various alloys and chemicals containing chromium, Chemical combinations of chromiun with other elements way be used for producing beautiful red, yellow, orange, and green pigments and dyes; as a mordant; as an oxidizing or a bleaching agent in chemical manufactures; and as an agent in tannin. leathers. However, by far the largest tonnage of chromium is consume: in the manufacture of alloy steels. For use in metaliurgical processes chromite is smelted into an alloy of chromium and iron, called ferrochromium or ferrochrome, The quantity of chromium present in ferrochrome may be 50 - 70 per cent, and the alloy may contain up to 10 per cent carbon, fFerrochrome is added to steel duriag the process of manufacturing alloy steel, The proportion of chromium in alloy steels ranges from less than 1 to more than 20 per cent. Chromium increases the hardness of steel without increasing the brittleness.' Alloy steels such as tungsten-steel, manganese-steel, nickel-steel, molybdenum-steel, etc., all contain chromium in addition to the tungsten, manganese, nickel, or molybaenum., This fact indicates chromium's very important position in alloy steel manufacture. Since the steel industries are manvfacturing alloy steels in increasing provortions it is evident that the importance of chromite production as 2 "key" industry is increasing. proportionate consumntion by industr ies, The following ee ear quotation” indicates the approximate ratios of the industrial demands for chromite: "Harly in 1918 the War Industries Board, after a canvass of the consumers, made an estimate of the quantities of chromite that would be requireg in 1918 by the different domestic industries. The total estimated requirement was 169,000 tons of 50 per cent ore, which, recuced to percentages by uses, amounted to the following figures: Bor 1errochrome 52 per cent, for chemicais 31° per’cent, for metractories 1% per cent. These figures, however, are only approximai and would not apply to a normal year, but they show the order of magnitude of the requirements of the several industries." Present production. About three-fourths of the present world production of chromite is obtained in Rhodesia (British | South africa) and New Caledonia (an island about 600 miles east from Australia.) Other localities from which’more or less‘important quantities have heen obtained are Canada, Greece, Baluchistan, Russia, Turkey (Smyrna), India (lysore), and the United States (California and Oregon). The re is no recorded production of chromite in Pennsylvania for many years. ©, cs Vike rasan ein a ho See ea 2 i Pra eS Oe ‘ , Sif na AapiES Mineral Resources of the United States, 1920, pt. I, pe 22; 1921. eye mn Op MER Rgre ern a oe PAST ERT ETS Ney . i] ~y Ps ‘OR we. "th ea ‘ h T fee a de ae Me ae ae GC | Re OE aM ke “y t EAN APR ae bit od is x Sade MOS SAA fs ee } ror f LETS tend Line ita A Re Re Ds) tan igh ude OR Eb ee La Bee LA a a Oe ea ania “) La rpm eat te any co) tei Wee a hum peel i me si pty i Wea! 1a > ity i Wy eae , ys ! sh é - vy acne sity i a AEN mine Yh a \ it £ Wit Ly) Desa Bhs ts ie See sar UR. 6 08 od Noni ean clRT Sy Aa Ce cee . . Ri in ty x Rats bee Piya ety epements | 14, Or ob seni See SH: cont ny PRI, Va) WG AWA END DN RY PbS MN SDT i a Ni Oe ae 1p St oe 4 Sane ra i NON Nt we aay rt iat a4 7 HA ry “if (s sh hi ley Cay Lpiahe ase Ne NE eRe 0 hea A a ae PO CREE SA Mh oA eth MR do ho We gee pte ONL A ie de aka dav nn COM. RRL RAR RU ne (ere Ode ( “a re ae out sae y i : Pi Ake eee re ot f 5 TNA g3 at © ty oes * A Al i) i ip ie ye in Wid Wh He rik Meda daly! ls f hia oneo ye A i ; 4 ' fon ' q PY ‘Saar PACE rstenss ays ei f Ni { an ee a4 yt i " is tie r nh } h he any oy i! { ry rf Hal Nae ” “, r ‘ " Veet itt x i CONAMGd ‘ mn he Ma yh OF SRA) \ : i rt dias ti r edhe y Boe B pod, he Hb tits ee ty py ie f Ne wd Ra | ‘ A) « ” ‘7 at} - an eee ia” oe AT Teor Delus av ‘ft ” ° ots , a! d ine. ‘ oy } bo tirti's a A acty H oy. ox 7S} ; Po an PR ee cyte ih eB pI | ea ie % f ety atte agit pone f NE PRO | funy SiN), UA AEE CES ef ay ares ont . a. we ay yoy Lt ee eS ty Ui eT Yo ye hte A he ge wes res Maa ed r wi Be | os i . 7 ana ih ee ; , dary da ap fh sien Cea ety ey MUNN! Oe bipno on vi saety’ aC Or} hee rt Bay Hons Oa at ceed ok ee eR Ty CR TRE 30 (Age Na Mla Cele PG te yy, : } hy ta8 Cpe Ans rp fh : 4 Meret 2 ty aeeyite on yh ee ‘. Tape UR eM at yy cet WiC die 8 L anes enh: iT vad oi , (me ny 7 4 met v TP 4? ob \ a ie Po he ee i oe Ce RRA BOE ay om Bre mR Ce Wainy 14 at =| cyt " saiail oy 1 as Gadel ba ae red? n Ge tt ’ ey Mid ale Malad ay! ey A ote ° } * oO ey ¢ ‘t iP sol ws a's yt i\ n Cees Me ty 7 ae bane ML aAS it Pies? enw ot oy te y) Ran 1 Wh py ek BOSS rd fi ME al ay ee ek ve we é po pene view esnint bal pik abet ed | y rm % in we r us oe .s . t " oer Tae A) ea ‘ at soy’ Coase Y ry tee yt rive f bah h . i ‘) Np by J iy an BF i RY. aU ve 04 sad B72) Ye fe , Mier cot, eee i tA M Tick RT ET BE Rt ke A] ge Gia ay ete ay Bf OE dk a eS ey en het a a ait t De as Wate Me Fi ay able vig ta ia ‘te a og tal ve an o Bh hy ’ Dae sh a a) Ni OT a et } iNet nity a . m ae 1) ht fy ey a) " Ct olay ia by 4 2 : Fed at sift Ma: 5 ea Seah uit ong a aoe eng esi 3 Nay a ay Las ve a fore 8 he Q» pate Yg eit Hay mow SEE ANNAN Mi i, i aM Le , of bis ie ale w.din coastal (ye ya eh Oye , ee 3, TIAN x NN mm * on ik j h ¢ hf fi, y ae OE Mite y mA ‘ev! at Mh in le oye, be me % sa WO Lor: ae nd? AOSD } PAE KANT WS * e, otat ba r oe ee iY | Pye a A Th ’ aha SIP shy a SY i * Ms S| epeaes opal! SRC igi BOON Lisiaplid ma 2 Ae ed a on ‘ Uy AA net Se dha any ed i i P sith! Mpa en. 4 Oy. 4 i ae rer awa Ar) fm (i a (Noe } 19 + hee, ns te ean ry N 4 tio Aah ae * i A pe 5 Cvey He ¢ Wy eae at Au, (i se ‘ethet iy, :f ts ; Teh egy wi t 54) ) Hi yn) ft ee Mah grat mn | ‘ Pay wy, pais cat : oy m9 % ik oli A h ay, v ” WEY ai ety / ay Te _s 1) Ce eR #) vik , ft ow. Ce | Ry tie Fi aie ae aye ‘oly ae a u a8 ne ‘ ce A) if on hay eh Pe Les, Ak Se Ny ' a me <4 ; eo. bis $5 9 mM aoa ait ) Wi) ), y ita ae tS! 2 e aN weet (si) he ee aS We ade ohh a ’ y oo Ea en ' wiwid O scl Yaw wie gs fits yp Pe ems dak ah bean A ree ti 4 ‘" ; bite) , | si Heth BS basa oh Sygate 4 ¢ his ag icy) fie Ce ay i MAT aN! y Dp \ o a SB EC ook agheeeioede AE | “apie nek BRA Ve rE ernie . e me af ( d fy ep uy % Wiad he ry. Lat eb. ta ecu ¥, ‘ + aot a pit Se \ van ° ¥ 4 yh, Teiaein ‘ iy mu ht na PDS Lo Mis Ba ‘RE IR ah RPL ERRORS Ts MAY om Pa. sane i nein : f f eh a , Loe GaN ae Te yer a POPES ELMS iat Ah ah olde free TO oN apres i ne ae ff peeres ‘i My "3 ty $y Pap : ri 4 1) a Oa : Wee WiRehes Fateh 6 PEWS a ie eng ror ‘y Hea beet ee) cing) BD RS rh NEED MeL SY A ] 5D sitet nt ‘ rine wait onan ry i eek ry ‘i i at ' NE n ee $} ive 7a bs Wh doe sy ay $0: sarge eh raritatnd ove a ‘wets Highs one Pa pe tania Nn a } UN asp a) ai i Is, rag ana 1p a a ade Mes ue ee Ta ae ay gr oe guedls bende herrgsis i jana fool SAE a The following table shows the relations between domestic pro- duction and imports in the United States: Domestic sales, imports, and anpsrent consumption OF chromite in tne United States, 1913 and 1917-1921." ao oe ee ae eee ee eee ene eee Cmte ee Domest:3 sales | Inports “alll ick EO SET [VAL Ata tl seo SA 5 a a Malu Zea Aver- | Avere= Long age | Long age tons Value value | tons Value value SES ace aw MRE HAREM ULE AIG Ge oe RALE DIG RESINS FRE IM i ta ar — 1913 255 . $2:854 $11.19| €f;180 $622,821 $9.56 1917 43,725 1,049; 400 24,00)... 72,063 1;110;659 15,41 1918 62,430 3,955 :567 47.99} 100,142 2,892:825 28.89 1919 5,079 129 202 Wi Sb .461 161,404. 301,497 22.50 1920 2,502 44: 857 13.93! 150,875 1,921, 624 12.79 1921 282 2,900 10,28 | 81. 836 654.602 8,00 j Apyarent available supply Long Aver- Tear tons Value age value 1913 65 }455 $625,675 59,56 1917 115,788 2,160,059 18,66 1918 182,572 6 848-392 37.51 1919 66 483 1;510;799 22.78 1920 162); 77-7 1,966;681 12.87 1921 82;118 “G6. BOR 8,01 * Mineral Resources of the United States, 1921, Fart I, p. 16, 1922, nrices,. Stream chrome or sand ore contains about 45 per cent chromic oxide where ample opportunity has been given for concentration by running water, The following analyses indicate the compositious of Pennsyi- vania chromites: * See reports Second Pennsylvania Geological Survey Vol. CCC, pp. l Seo Vhs BPP, (40, 43. wo a A yt % Sua Au ae " AN WA ANG wees AN a ; Je AY at ee Vpetidty NS Ros ROM get de My y nt - Nat J ‘ thy “ By ivis * v aed The ANB ES ao. a) : A ‘ Ae ue ve ( : } " AW We we erin er a”, (Sa wel we AN . Aen \ rf x r wa ee ae eh hel Wi) Nase ah Re) | Pi tS MMI SR Oa Gh RACE RR a ate RD. NRA . Ky a : } AeA PA aN yay i Nea NTE wees Saba SRDS ASE SSN Hon AN SANS i Doar hy Doty OP art Ran) vai a NMR ¢ Bie We ‘ i. Fite ns 4 , vy yo . 1 PFN ua OREN hel x vi A , i. \ Se wk Ca bb i i yy ae aie ’ - PN vet 4 wee a OM: 4 hare dy yi NS x ey ‘ i) ‘i han ini ad Y al MMe SN? invent oy i tore On gibeorone Maeve at aN ay ! PrP en can MteR a | GRAM mh wath fa Wali sNa at La hak Wl \ ‘ ; . “> hay Wiggers AWGN Any Nae Md we % i ( { \ A, : Nie a “ne ny nl ils * ‘ o ; Ohh wipe INI os RBs A LARS oe IRD A RO AL eae Ki Wee Ai ony tes) vis: AUN RAO . t Apel i i i G ean ee ‘ A), | rat i \ Jen ab ily Ta Rey i A ie wah TNS Prac ACRE 1 aha fh anit ; i Wh RC ath CPM Harpy, fy rol yeu Ae OW ae AME Pa ALE Oe Nf) eS PU " MM tS eri Wi) if ath . Ay tt i st iV wi ie | RU I'S, RENE QO en a eR Ra A Ua ? 1 , 7 iy 5 ¥ A edits ‘ Uh ei ; ¥ ; ti Fa ee PHARMA MONG Se ADs St AR aR wi ht waar 7 ‘ake i aN . ‘ ; ‘ Ady.) var y j { i My Hf ie Rea wh i ” : Mit f a Ho ‘ Hy aN Wy CY a Rie \ aya a ) as 4 M83 Wa nk we ») ty My My ‘ % vA ( wy if i ) { p ne Yi { : yy f r Wien ith eS vel Aw TN re gt “iy nee hy i, AO ary A a REALS fr peat ely he oo MT y tel is vay Mi my 4 ha thy ON Ah vA hae ey ie ih ne ae pha A ah! Walia 4 . ft j ‘ Aya tsi, Het i 4! a tos Ou Be 4 ory rn aonb Pe a He Ole abay hd Peale ean en Onis F Nate whe ISM Sv alan ; Pa: AO MRA Gani BOW NMR UMAR 2) SAN RAT gt \ Wo Hy PN ss * Rnany yy ! jth { 1 , ne Ale Vs sv bly e ht, Pay " yy ¥ tly on " ; Want Wy ‘ i ‘ Ua a RR Eh A Chobe x No aa Wy 4 | ENG «i Pe) eda) AL oe ea A ' Vii a sie HE ot \ Mi Mere ‘ ve Ay | ‘ y ' n AOR a PINS Ps Cra) vi " Lee f ie 0 } . r 7 is ) iv Pape it oy bd iy a cn a phy sit vats ts 4 i 4 ‘ H om me tf uy " A Ne » “ mv | yer ea A ‘ We 4 u v 4 ¥ ae t% sy ne, Wee ‘ 4 ;: wes eA ie ¥) a \ i a Ry Ne oe neler Rea *; Mary ea et kaa Wat w Analyses of Pennsylvania chromite. am oP Pos os 4. ahi 6. Cr50g 24.26 52,64 ap MeL Ss 60.836 63.384 52306 FeO 14.54 16.00 35,14 ---- re 26.64 Fe20 --- a= --- 38.952 O8+665 7.41 Al203 4,40 10,00 vs Fe gr 0.928 aa 5.98 NiO --- --~ --- 0.100 BeeBe 0,14 CoO --~ -- = --~ re -- trace Mm0 --~ -—— teed ~~ -—== 0.39 MgO 26.07 See --- --~- ~~ 6.59 Cad 0.45 0.36 --- ~--- ~--= —-- Side 24.20 5.60 Pe 18) 0.619 ---= ~~ = Loss on ignition 7.44 1.90 --~ ~--- ~--~ --~ eee 101.36 99.72 99.32 101.435 104,329 100.45 ee em 1. Bird's-eye ore from dump, Wood's Mine, Lancaster County. Sample collected by the writer. This ore could be concentrated. 2, Massive ore from dump, Wood's Mine, Sample collected by the writer. 3. Chester County ore. 4, Chester County ore. 5. Massive ore, Wood's Mine. Sp.gr. 4.568. 6. Chromite erystals, Hibbard's farm near Chrome Run, Delaware MoOunuy emote 4.70% Analyses 3-6 from Second Pennsylvania Geological Survey Vol. B, pe 435. Present conditions in Pennsylvania, ‘During the orld War several‘old mines were unwatered, examined, and some ore was shipped. However, no new mines were develonved to the point where operations could continue after the cessation of war-time stimulation. Since the armistice some small developments and some stock=-selling have been reported, but production has not been attaincd. Puture prespects in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania chromitcs are of excellent gradc. The individual deposits are large. Thev are situated near points of consumption, and under such local conditions that cconomic mining should be practicable. It is contrarily reported that the known deposits are worked out, and that there is "plenty" of ore left underground in the abandoned mines. Operations during the war period showed that at least some ore remained in the old mines and in the old dumps, I% is probable that a small, carefully-designed, modern plant of scmi-port- able type could operate profitably under present markct conditions, ae tie . Hh ahi yaar ; mn ye j hh ha ae y at y in Pe ei “e ; 1 N SS eee We Aah) A we iy aide eel n We, ihe ain eM ily, 10 } ; oe ' deabootnn hpi ty a Se yt NRA lt Pah A Aion Ate’ Atte roreietety! Ae! fet fh; % } ti i) i, y 4G i ge is % v By RelA ty { ae Uh Ok vA Moh encie int « iY " i i ¥ ! ng ey (ian ay Wy Bs Ud mh RRA Ae | a is Large future developments will take place with the discovery of new large ore bodies. During previous mining operations many of the valuable deposits were accidentally discovered by underground develop= ments, thus proving beyond question that ore bodies exist close to the surface without showing any visible surface indications. Chromite ore bodies are magnetic and affect magnetic instruments in much the same way that magnetite does, although with less intensity, Very careful meesurements of the earth's local magnetism at numerous ‘places throughout th serpentine area would indicate the presence, approximate shape, size, and depth of such ore bodies, It is believed that many Square miles in southeastern Fennsyl- vania afford particularly favorable geological conditions for the formation of deposits of magnetite, chromite, and other minerals which do not appear at the surface, A careful coordinated inagnetic Survey would indicate the location of those ore bodies near the surface which affect the local magnetism, besides furnishing magnetic data for use by local land surveyors. ‘This Bureau has conceived the idea of making such a survey for the benefit of the State as a whole, The cooperation of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey has been assured in such wor’, The proposed investigation would bring results of great value + : . . : : _to the State, to the industries, to the communities near which and: to the owners of the land under which the deposits occur, However, work of this type must be deferred for the present because of lack of funds.