Perlite Resources of 

the United States

' By MARION C. JASTER

"A CONTRIBUTION TO ECONOMIC GEOLOGY

G E O LOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1027-1

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1956
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Douglas McKay, Secretary

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

W. E. Wrather, Director

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office 

Washington 25, D. C.
CONTENTS

Page

Abstract........................................................................................................................................................... 375

Introduction and history.................,_.................................................................................................. 375

Source of data and acknowledgments ......................................................................................... 376

Petrology and geology..................A........................................................................................................ 376

Annotated list of perlite occurrences

in the Western United States ....................................................................................................... 379

Reserves .......................................................................................................................................................... 391

Mining, milling, and processing .................................................................................................. 392

Economic aspects ...................................................................................................................... 393

Key to index map of perlite resources of

the United States, including processing plants ........................................................ 394

Literature cited ................................................................................................................................ 400

Index......................v............................... ^ 403

ILLUSTRATION

Plate 44. Index map of perlite resources of the United States,

including proce'ssing plants ..................................................................... In pocket

TABLE

Table 1. Published chemical analyses of the 6 common volcanic

glasses- -- --- -- --.. - -- ----- -.----------- -'-------------»-------- 377

A CONTRIBUTION TO ECONOMIC GEOLOGY

PERLTTE RESOURCES OF THE UNITED STATES 

By Marion C. Jaster

ABSTRACT

This report abstracts the published information on geologic occurrence and 

distribution of perlite in the United States. Perlite is important in the growing 

light-weight aggregates industry. The geology and petrology of perlite are described and brief mention is made of mining, milling, processing, economic 

factors, and reserve figures where known. Atable of analyses of the rhyolitic, 

latitic, and dacitic perlite, welded tuff, pitchstone, and obsidian is included 

mainly to show the water content. The index map shows known deposits and 

the geology of areas in which possible deposits may be found. The locations 

of processing plants are indicated to show their economic relationship to the 

deposits and to markets.

INTRODUCTION AND HISTORY

The marked growth of the light-weight aggregates industry and 

the introduction of naturally occurring materials not heretofore 

, used in light-weight construction have caused a demand for basic 

knowledge of these materials.

The purpose of this report is to give the location of perlite deposits which are nowbeing mined and of many which may achieve 

H economic importance, and to provide brief notes concerning these 

deposits. The occurrence of perlite as well as some features of 

mining, processing, and utilization are briefly stated.

Many geology students have noted that some volcanic glass 

when inserted in a bunsen flame, will froth or intumesce, but 

only recently has this property been1 utilized commercially. 

Obsidian was reported to have been expanded and used in abrasive 

bricks in Germany in 1924. Perlite is reported to have been 

treated in a kiln at Las Vegas, Nev., in 1940 and the product 

mixed with gypsum for plaster. About 1941, Lee Boyer, an assayer of Superior, Ariz., while experimenting with perlite for 

use as an enamel, built an experimental gas-fired furnace in 

which the perlite was flash-popped. The product was placed in 

y a classifier in which the heavy impurities dropped to the bottom, 

and the white, frothy product was recovered. Soon many small 

plants were built so that experiments could be made in the treatment and uses of perlite. Some of the products were of indif-
376 CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONOMIC GEOLOGY

ferentvalue and were rejected by the building trades. Later the 

Perlite Institute was organized to set commercial standards, and 

the industry achieved a firm competitive footing.

SOURCE OF DATA AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This compilation was prepared entirely from available published 

reports; geologic maps were the chief source of information on 

the geologic distribution of the perlite deposits.

The writer is indebted to Eugene Callaghan, director of New 

Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources, for his suggestions and for furnishing information on the geology and petrology 

of perlite and information on the New Mexico deposits. Special 

thanks are also due Aaron C. Waters, department of geology, 

Johns Hopkins University, for his suggestions and criticism and 

for information on the Washington and Oregon deposits.

PETROLOGY AND GEOLOGY

In commercial usage the term "perlite" refers to any naturally 

occurring glass of igneous origin that will expand when either 

slowly or quickly heated to yield a frothy, light product. The 

term is also applied to the expanded product. In strict petrologicalusage the term "perlite" is restricted to a single variety 

of volcanic glass in which strain incident to cooling has yielded 

a concentric or "onion" structure of fracturing which may be 

visible to the naked eye or may be observed only under the microscope.

The volcanic glasses that froth to a product of commercial 

grade on heating generally have a chemical composition corresponding to that of rhyolite when computed on a water-free 

basis, although some are dacite. Table 1 gives the chemical 

analyses of the common volcanic glasses. The silica content is 

normally greater than 70 percent. The water content may range 

from less than 1 percent in some obsidian to as much as 10 percent in some pitchstone. Most of the volcanic glass used commercially has a water content ranging from 3 to 5 percent. Volcanic glass having the chemical compositions of latite, andesite^ 

or basalt are not usedo According to a report by Goranson 

(1931), it was demonstrated in the laboratory that a glass of the 

composition of granite or rhyolite can retain as much as 10 percent water, depending on the confining pressure, There is some

controversy as to whether the water is in a molecular state or 

is dissociated. Thermal curves show that upon heating, the water 

is released at a regular rate so .that partial crystallization is not ' 

a necessary state of the glass in so far as tne water is 

concerned.
Table 1 Published chemical analyses of six common vol

1

i

P f^ru J

?

TlOs - - < I

i !

Rhyolltlc j 

perlite j

i ~- i J i 

10,82

2,46 I

,20 *

,80 :

2

<CQ 

4,40

ov 

.2,94 ; 

I'p 

-.03 i 

,12 !

100,15 !

2 

Andes it ic 

.perlite

.65,13

TR 73 i

p pll '

T 86 >'

1 4Q ' j_ ^r j? ,

5

/T'/-V r" 

.62 i

2 93 *- yJ t

-Z Q<^

r- r\ ' 

,52

I cn

i-Q 

,58 .

I-T1

,.23

-07-:

i no P7" t

Da

pe

A

1

10

1. RhyoTitic perlite, 'New Zealand.. ^Washington, 1917, p, 73,')

2.. .Andesltic perlite, Eureka, Nev, <(Hague., 1892, p.. 264, and 

Huntting, 1949, p.. 12.'9 .An examination by .R, L.. -Smith ^personal communication^ of .the chemical analysis oi the rock indicates that the designation -".andesitic" perllte 'is Incorrect. Tlie 

relatively fiigh silica content and nearly 7 percent of total 

alkalies .are characteristic of quartz latite or rhyodacite..

-'3, .Dacltlc perlite. C

4.. 'Welded tuif.. 2 'm

north -of Jemez, 

to be a welded t

although describ

5. Pitchstone, avera

6. Obsidian, averag
378 CONTRIBUTIONS TO-ECONOMIC GEOLOGY .

Petro graphic ally, glass may be essentially free of crystalline 

material but most .glass contains microscopic crystallites and 

also large crystals or phenocrysts which may range in proportion 

from a percent or so to as much as 50 percent or more in rocks 

known as vitrophyres. Spherulites are common and may make up 

most of the rock. With increasing crystallization, the glass 

becomes crowded with minute grains, grading into stony rhyolite. 

This crystallization may take place throughout a mass or in 

alternate bands of almost microscopic proportions, and is probably 

more closely related to original variations in water content than K 

to rate of cooling. Glass may also be devitrified by the effects 

of steam from fumaroles or hot springs. Volcanic glass also 

devitrifies in time under the normal conditions of burial. Hence 

very few occurrences of undivitrified glass older than Cretaceous 

are known. Under certain conditions of devitrification, glass may 

yield an aggregate in which a montmorillonite type of clay is the . 

end product. Silicification or opalization of glass may also take 

place by processes operating subsequent to the emplacement of 

the body of glass. Recognition of the crystals and devitrification 

products is critical in evaluation of a perlite deposit, as the 

presence of any of these materials beyond certain low limits will 

make a deposit commercially unusable.

The glass itself may show a variety of characteristics depending* 

in part upon its water content and its eruption history. It may 

range through all shades from black to nearly white. It may be 

red, green, or brown but very rarely blue. Some, dense varieties,, 

such as obsidian, break withconchoidal fracture. Certain varieties have closely spaced concentric fracture patterns or "onion" . 

structure, the true perlite of the petrographer. Some glass has 

a columnar or prismatic jointing that may yield needles of glass 

on disintegration. Other, varieties contain vesicles and show 

strong flow structure, the "pumiceous perlite" of the commercial" 

operator. Pumice, which commonly occurs as discrete fragments, is a variety of glass, and most pumice will expand when 

subjected to heat treatment, The fine fragments of glass In volcanic ash will also generally expand. Fragments "welded, " or 

partly melted together by natural processes to make a solid glass 

known as welded tuff or ignimbrite, likewise may be expanded. /,

Many large deposits of perlite and pitchstone are intrusive, occurring as dikes, sills, and particularly as a quickly cooled 

selvage on the margin of volcanic necks or other intrusive bodies.

Solid glass or perlite has a hardness between 5.5 and 7. The

specific gravity ranges between 2. 2 and 2. 4 and the weight from 

139 to 150 pounds per cubic foot.

glass is a product of igneous processes within the*

the earth and With possible rare exceptions is not a product of any environmental effect subsequent to eruption. VolCcLuiC 

Which iS erupted Violently through the agency of contained
PERLITE RESOURCES OF THE UNITED STATES 379

gasses as clouds of particles may accumulate qn the earth's 

surface as pumice and ash. Glass which is broken into particles 

^by less violent" evolution of gas, and which flows from craters 

or fumaroles will, if retaining sufficient heat and fluxing agents, yield a compact glass or welded tuff. Still less violent or slow 

eruptions of nearly congealed glass will, on reaching the orifice, 

expand into a dome. If more material is erupted than canbe contained in' a dome, the glass will spread over the surface as a 

flow. Owing to its viscosity at the time of eruption, glass may

 *contain flow structures of considerable variety and arrangement. 

Gas trapped as bubbles maybe retained sufficiently long to induce 

crystallization and devitrification in the immediate vicinity,

^ yielding structures known as lithophysae. Other structures have 

been discussed previously. Because of the delicate balance between the glassy and crystalline states, part of a mass of glass may 

change to lithoidal rhyolite. This may take place either after flow-

^agehas ceased or just as the mass comes to rest.' Single masses' 

have been observed to change along the flow banding from solid 

glass through a zone of intricately interlayered glass and rhyolite 

to rhyolite without appreciable glass. The reasons for the change 

from glass to lithoidal rhyolite are not clearly under stood but are 

probably related to segregation of volatiles into layers during

. ^flowage. As most of the water present in the glass is absent in the 

lithoidal material, the chief cause of crystallization and devitrification is probably in the mechanism for release of water during 

cooling. 

As undevitrified siliceous volcanic rocks are limited to the west-

. ernpart of the United States, all deposits of perlite occur there. 

Volcanic ash deposits reach into the Great Plains States. Although 

rare occurrences of volcanic glass are known in volcanic sequences as old as Cretaceous, most glass occurs in sequences

 'of Tertiary or Quaternary age. Rocks of similar nature in the 

older systems are thoroughly devitrified. Mono Craters, Calif., 

and probably many other occurrences are younger than the last 

glaciation in the area and some are post-Columbian. Perlite, 

pumice, and volcanic ash in Oregon occur in rocks ranging in age 

from Eocene to post-glacial. The perlite deposits that have been 

worked commercially are of Eocene and Oligocene age. Commer-

 cial pumice and ash deposits of Oregon are chiefly Pleistocene and 

post-glacial.

ANNOTATED LIST OF PERLITE OCCURRENCES IN THE 

WESTERN UNITED STATES

In this section the term "perlite" is used in the commercial, 

sense. All types of occurrences are reported here, with such
380 e6ftTfefBUfl(3N$ for ECONOMIC GEOLOGY

ferief ii^oifiaaat-ion as could fee gleaned ftfom many sources.. The 

geology of tfer'y few deposits Ms "been- studied adequately;.

Depds'its a-ife lifted alpMfeet-icaliy by States, and by counties 

tM States*, f he nuffib©^ altef the name of the deposit 

to the iiiLffibeited location On the map (pi.. 44),

 

Deposits nor% of Winfcleman (11).- (Wilson and Roseveare, 1945,- p.* 5.-)1

Gi*eenlee- County*

Undeveloped gray to black perlite^ associated with agglomerate.- (Wood,- ; 

.194&, p, 11,)'

Maa?icopa!- County?

Deposit of dar'k^gr'ay perlite nea-f Aquilav (Wood,- 1948,- p.- 11.-) ^ 

Deposits iri the western part- of fee county.- (Wilson and Rosevear'e, 1945,-

p/ 5.-)

The following information on Mohave, Final,- and Yuma Counties was taken

f-fom- Wil-son and Roseveare (1945, p.- 5-8).

- Comity?

Peril te deposits nor'fe of Haviland (4) and southwest of Yucca (3) are less than 

2 miles from the Santa- Fe railway^ They are in sees. 22, 26, 27, 28, 34, and35,- T.- 17 $,( R,- 18 W",,- in the Black Mountains,

Per lite occurs in the east-central- part of the Black Mountains,- in T.- 22 and 

23 N.- , R.- 19 and 20 W'.- (1).- It occurs along the ridges for 3 miles south of the 

Producers mine;

In sec.- 2y T.- 22 N.- ,- R-.- 20 W.- (2),- a mass of perlite about 25 feet thick and 

dipping 30 ° west rests upon- thick volcanic br'eccia and is overlain by tuff.- This - 

outcfop extends southward for' about- one-quarter mile.-

The'Biack- Mountains attain- an-aititude of 5 # 500 feet-.- The southern and central 

parts of the rang'e ar'e' mostly" Tertiary volcanic r"oCksy which are 8,- 000 to 

10,- 000 feet thick and Consist- chiefly of trachyte, andesite,- ' latite,- tuff, a-nd> 

basalt.- Intheuppdr'part 6f thi& volcanic series,- the perlite Ganges in thickness 

from- 25 to 100 feet,

West of the Superior" mining district-,- large deposits of perlite are Common

within a n;orthwest*tf ending' area about- 10 miles long and- 2| miles wide^ These 

deposits (7, 8, 9) are from 3 to 7 miles from Superior",- which is near" the MagiHaArlZOna- Rail-r'oad,- U.- S.- Highway 6O,- and the Ray highway. j

The- perlite of the Superlo]* area- rests upon tuff or' breccia and is underlain

fey glassy rhyolite.- Some of the occ'ur'rences are as much as a few hundr'ed- feet

in wid-Si but vary greatly in a-reai extent.-

1f urn a- Cfotmty ;

A deposit- (5)' ifi fee CRocolate' Mountains/

Theiafbrirtat-ionortlnyo County was obtained from Norman and Stewar't (1951, 

p, 104-106),

Inyo Courifey?

The Coso deposit (24),- T, 21 and 22 S<, R« 38 E.-,- Mount Diablo base line 

and meridian*,- is about- 7 miles northeast of Coso Junction and 2 miles west of 

Coso Hot Spring's, The perlite deposits are domes associated with pumice.- ;
PERLITE RESOURCES OF -THE UNITEP STATES '381

1

These domes are conical masses which rise to an average height of .300 feet 

above granitic hills, The perlite in places is pumiceou?, light gray -and 

green, and shows weLUdeveloped flow banding. Black obsidian is associated

 > -with the perlite, which in some places grades into a mixture with pumieeous 

obsidian..

The Fish Springs deposit (19), sees,. 19 and .30, T, 10 S,, R. 34 E,, Mount 

Diablo base line and meridian, is 7 miles south of Big Pine and .3 miles -west of

f* Fish Springs.. The deposit is at the eastern end of a hill near the base of the 

.Sierra "Nevada,. The hill is composed mainly of glassy volcanic rocks.. The 

pumieeous perlite at "the top grades downward into a rather flaUlying :zone of 

a more pumieeous perlite which is about 40 feet thick. Beneath this pumieeous

"^ -perlite is a brecciated obsidian underlain by a glassy perlitic yitrophyre..

The Brooke deposit (20), sees, 24 and 25, T, 10'S,, R. 33 E,, and sees. 29 

and .30, T.. 10 S,., R,. 34 E,, Mount Diablo base line and meridian, is ;7 miles 

south of Big Pine and 3| miles west of Fish Springs... The geology -and yarie^

-" ties of perlite as a whole on the Brooke property -are the same as those in the 

Fish Springs deposit,.

The Sheephead Mountain deposit (26) is in the western part of T, ;21 N,, 

R. 5E., San Bernardino base line and meridian, about 8 miles southwest of

* Shoshone, A series of lava flows and tuffs that dip steeply toward -the east and 

strike about N, 15° E, make up the east side of Sheephead Mountain, The best 

grade of perlite is found at the base of the mountain in a flow 25 to 40 feet thick, 

Opalized-tuff occurs between two perlite flows', In the lower perlite small fracr 

tures are filled with opalized tuff.

The Shoshone deposit (27) is in sees, 26 and 35, T, :22 N,, R, -6 E,, San 

Bernardino base line and meridian, on the east side of Dublin Hills about -2 miles

, west of Shoshone, The Dublin Hills consist of lava flows, tuffs,, and breccias

 that are above Paleozoic sedimentary rocks. The perlite occurs in lenticular 

flows and irregular bodies over lying tuffs and breccias, and is'belpw -and grades 

into spherulitic -and vesicular rhyolite,. The upper part of the perlite flow con=- 

tains many lithophysae partly filled with quartz, chalcedony, and caleite, 'The 

perlite is greenish gray and contains scattered crystals of quartz, orthoclase;

.. -and biotite. The perlite at -the bottom of the flow is pumieeous -and brecciated

' in places, and the tuff under the perlite is changed to opalite^.

The -Southern Death Valley deposit (25) is about 22 miles south of Furnace 

Creek Inn, and 4 miles southwest of Bennetts Well, Death Valley National

^ Monument, The perlite flow varies in thickness -and dips steeply toward Death

*' Valley, It rests upon a flow of porphyritic rhyolite and is overlain by rhyolitie 

tuffs and agglomerates. The periite is light gray -and ranges from soft and 

pumieeous to dense and glassy material. The perlite shows a welL-developed 

perlitic structure.

The .Staats de.pos.it (23), in the southern part of T, 18 S., R, 38 E,,, Mount

( Diablo base line -and meridian, is about 13 miles south of Keeler, and at the 

northern end of Coso Range.. The perlite is a plug,-dome intruded into flati lying tuffs, agglomerates, and andesitie flowsf Light?gray perlite around the 

outside rim of the dome contains many fragments of black obsidian where it is 

in contact -with the tuffs and agglomerates.. The perlite deposit is about 10 feet 

thick -and is very pumieeous at the center of the dome,

Other occurrences of perlite in Inyo County are reported at Salisbury Pass 

about 12 miles west of Shoshone, -and in Grapevine Canyon,

Kern County:

The following information on Kern County was obtained f rbmTueker, Sampson, 

and Oakeshott (1949, p, 249), with the exception of the Black rand Grey Eagle 

deposits,

Perlite (31) crops out in many places in see, 22, T, 31 S,, R, .34 E,, Mount 

Diablo base line -and meridian, Dark=-gray perlite (Miocene) occurs as irregiular flows associated with perlite breccia, rhyolite flows, tuffs, domes of dacite, 

and lake beds.

Black Eagle (29) and Grey Eagle deposits (28) consist of two 160^acre placer 

, claims in the El Paso Mountains on the ridge north of Last Chance Canyon, in
382 CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONOMIC GEOLOGY s

sec. 4, T. 29 S., R. 38 E., and sec. 32, T. 28 S., R. 38 E., Mount Diablo ^ 

base line and meridian, 7-g- miles north of Saltdale. (Tucker, Sampson, and 

Oakeshott, 1949, p. 249 and Chesterman, 1950, p. 200.) The perlite occurs in x. 

flows of rhyolite that in places rest upon large flows of basalt. Locally, tuffs 

and lake (lower Pliocene) sediments rest upon the perlite. Perlite is exposed 

in many places on the Grey Eagle claim. In the southern half, it is 200 feet 

wide. In places the perlite and volcanic ash are overlain by basalt. Two deposits v 

are on the Black Eagle claim. An exposure 1, 000 feet long, 600 feet wide, and 

30 feet thick is on the south end of the claim. . Other deposits (30) in Kern County are 8 miles north of Cantil in the El Paso 

Mountains and in sec. 27, T. 30 S., R. 36 E., Mount Diablo base line and ?. 

meridian. (Calif. Div. Mines Min. Inf. Ser. 1948, p. 1, and Min. World, 1948, 

v. 10, no. 7, p. 64.)

Lake County: '< ' 

Southwest and east of Clear Lake dacite is overlain by a large flow of pumiceous

obsidian. Parts of this obsidian have expanded to a light white fluffy material.

(Chesterman, 1950, p. 200.)

w.

Lassen County: 

Deposits of gray perlite (5) on the west flank of Hot Springs Peak, 4 miles

northeast of Wendel, are associated with andesitic agglomerates and dikes of

rhyolite. (Chesterman, 1950, p. 200.)

Modoc County:

Perlite deposits are in the northern part of Warner Range near Sugar Hill and 

Fandango Peak (1,2). On Sugar Hill, light-gray perlite flows occur with lithoi-V 

dal rhyolite and olivine basalt. Near the top of the flow, thin lenticular bodies 

of fractured grayish obsidian are in soft, friable perlite. On the west side of 

Fandango Peak, a perlite flow is overlain by basalt and underlain by rhyolite. 

The flow is about 100 feet thick, but 2 miles south of the peak the flow thins 

out and becomes more pumiceous. (Chesterman, 1950, p. 200.)

the Evening Star deposit (3) is in the NW|NEi, sec. 22, T. 46 N., R..14 E., 

Mount Diablo base line and meridian. The perlite is gray and has a pearly 

luster. The perlite fragments do not exceed 4 inches in diameter. A few bands 

of reddish agglomerate transect the deposit. (O'Brien, 1948, p. 350.).

Mono County:

Dark-gray perlite (18) occurs as irregular lenslike bodies in tuff and brownishpink rhyolite north and east of Casa Diablo Hot Springs. (Chesterman. 1950, 

p. 200.)

Napa County:

 A perlite deposit ;(11)' is-reported 2 miles 'east"of the railroad station at 

Rutherford, 60 miles north of San Francisco, sees. 32, 33, 34, and 35, T. 8 N., * 

R. 5 W.r Mount Diablo base line and meridian. The perlite occurs in flows 

which range from a fewtens of feet in the southern end of the deposit to -several 

hundreds of feet at the northern end. It lies upon tuffs and conglomerates and 

is overlain by tuffs and dacite of Pliocene age. Two deposits (12) have been 

reported along State Highway 295 about 5 miles east of Napa; one is in a roadcut 

on the edge of the Basalt Rock Company's Mount George pumice deposit, and 

the other is in a roadcut about half a mile to the east. These deposits may be 

of commercial value. (Davis, 1948, p. 171.) " '>

The Perlit^ Aggregates, Inc., deposit(lO) is in the Conn Valley near St. Helena.

It covers 272 acres and is said to be of good quality, (utiey, 1951, P . ?6.>

A deposit (is) of perlite lies 2 miles southeast of Bismark Knob. (Chesterman, 1950',.p. .200.)" \ > - 
383

Riverside County:

In the Little Chuckawalla Mountains (48) about 38 miles southwest of Blythe 

large deposits of perlite are found in- Tertiary volcanic rocks. (Chesterman, 

1950, p. 200.) .. .-.. ,

San Benito County:

A large perlite deposit (21) crops out at Pinnacles National Monument. The 

rock is dark gray, has well developed perlitic structure, and contains small 

globules of black obsidian. It is found along the Chalone Creek about threequarters of a mile north of an abandoned Civilian Conservation Corps camp. 

The perlite ranges in thickness from 30 to 60 feet and surrounds a central plug 

ofrhyolite. Other deposits are in the northern part of sec. 15 and along Chalone 

Creek. (Calif. Div. Mines Min. Service, 1953, p. 6. )

San Bernardino County:

The following information on San Bernardino County was taken from 

Chesterman, 1950, p. 201, except where otherwise indicated.

San Bernardino County contains more perlite deposits than any other county 

in California. Most deposits are in either Miocene or undifferentiated Tertiary 

volcanic rocks. Deposits ,(32) in the hills a few miles 'north of Pilot Knob are 

part of a series of volcanic rocks which include tuffs, agglomerates, breccias, 

andesite and basalt-flows,, and .basalt dikes. These Tocks dip gently westward 

and are underlain by tuffaceous lacustrine sediments. The perlite flows range 

in thickness from a few tens of feet to more than 100 feet. Deposits (33) of 

perlite similar to those near Pilot Knob are exposed . in the vicinity of Black 

Canyon, which is 18 miles south of Pilot Knob, _and 4 miles north of Coolgardie 

Camp. These flows are associated with- basalt flows, tuffs, agglomerates, 

breccias, and lake deposits, perhaps not older than middle Miocene.

Large deposits (36) of perlite are exposed in. Miocene volcanic rocks 6 miles 

north of Klondike and 12 miles north of Bagdad, stations on the Santa.Fe railway. The gently to steeply dipping flows in which the perlite occurs are 100 feet 

thick in some places, and are between tuffs and pumiceous rhyolite.

On Clipper Mountain' (Tucker and Sampson, 1943, p. 535,. and Chesterman, 

1950, p. 201) about 18 miles northeast of Amboy, perlite occurs 'in a group of 

volcanic and pyroclastic rocks (38). It is overlain by platy rhyolite ,and underlain by brecciated perlite, tuffs, and sandstone. . .

Large deposits (39) of perlite are in the Turtle Mountains about 30 miles 

southwest of. Needles." The perlite is found in flows ranging in thickness from. 

a few feet to more than 20 feet. Angular and rounded perlite fragments are associated with tuffs and pumiceous perlitic rhyolite in these flows. Andesite and 

basalt dikes in places cut the other volcanic rocks and tuffs. ; ,

Irregular lens- shaped deposits (35) of perlite are in the Newberry Mountains, 

6 miles south of Newberry.

Perlite (37) has been found on the southeast slope of the Granite Mountains 

1 mile east of the Amboy-Kelso road, and 18 miles northeast of Amboy in 

sec. 10(7), T. 8 N. , R. 13 E. , San Bernardino base line and meridian. (Tucker 

and Sampson, 1943, p. 535. )

Siskiyou County:

Large deposits of perlitic rhyolite are on Mount Hoffman in the Medicine Lake 

Highland (Chesterman, 1950, p. 201). These deposits are underlain by basalts 

andandesites. The deposits are probably in the form of a dome built up by successive outpourings of viscous perlitic rhyolite. The-, flows range from 50 to 

150 feet in thickness. ' . ...

Solano County:

Perlite depo'sits (14) are found along Green Creek, see. 15, T. 5 N. -, R.. 3 W. , 

Mount Diablo base line and meridian, about"5 miles north of Cordelia.-, The perlite
384 CfiNfiiiEiufiONS to ECONOMIC GEOLOGY

is grayish white to dark gray, Tuffs and flows of rhyolite and basalt of the 

Soriom'a volcanics (Pliocene) afe associated with the peflite, It occurs as if « 

fegulaf lexis-shaped bodies and fanges from 10 to 50 feet in thickness and many 

hundreds of feet long, (Calif, Div, Mines Inf, Service, 1951, p, 2, )

Sohoma dotihi-ys

Oh the Annadei Fafms,- hear Lawndale (8),- two types of perlite occur, one 

contains obsidian, and the other does not* Light--gf ay perlite is found in an old 

railroad cut 3 miles northwest of Lawridale, The lenticular deposit occurs in a 

platy fhyolite, In softie places the perlite is bfecciated, and contains black 

obsidian and Clay, A peflite flow of variable thickness is exposed at a flagstone 

quaff y on the Annadei Fafms , This deposit underlies tuff and basalt and does 

hot Contain obsidian, (Ghestefmah, 1950, p, 202, )

Peflite oCCufs as flows and lenticular bodies in rhyolitic tuff on the A. W. 

Ffazief property (7) in sees, 1 and 11, T, 6 N. , R, 6 W, , Mount Diablo base 

line and meridian, about 4 miles northeast of Glen Ellen and State Highway 12* 

The flows are above silicified rhyolite tuff and af e overlain by f iebeckite rhyolite, 

The peflite is1 light gfayj the upper part of the flow contains spherulites of fadi-' 

atihg fiber d of quartz and potash, also feldspaf and lithophysae,

Ah extensive deposit (6) Of peflite is found in the NEi sec, 7, T, 6 N, , R, 7 W. , 

Mount Diablo base line and rnef idian, about thf ee=f ourtlis of a mile north of the 

$teuben School, The peflite is light gfay and contains quartz, feldspar", and 

biotite, ''It forms a flow of variable thickness and length and overlies f hyolite 

tuffs which, in tuf h, af e ovef lain and underlain by flows of dark gr ay, platy,

iiiassive andesite* H (Ghestermaiij 1950, pj 8is82 t )

GOLORABO

All information on Golof ado was ; obtained from Bush (1951, p, 326=331) except 

where otherwise indie-ated,

dhaffee dountyj

The Nathf op (Ruby Mountain) deposit (2) is in sees, ll, 12, and 13, T, 15 S. , 

R, 78 W« , at ah altitude of about 8, 000 feet, It is on the east side of the Arkansas 

Biiivef , and less than a mile east of the Denvef & Rio Gr ande Westef h Railroad 

at Nathf op, A peflite flow believed to be mofe than 15 feet thick is along the 

east side and nof th end of Ruby Mountain,

Siiste!1 doUlity!

The Rosita Hills deposit (6) is in.Secg. 32 and 33, T, 22 Si, R, 71 W,, and 

ihsecss 5 and 6, T, 23 S, , R» 71 W, , \ to 2 nlileS south and southwest of Rosita, 

at ah altitude of about 8, 700 feet. The peflite is in a flow, 40 to 75 feet thick,

overlain by rliyolite and underlain by bedded tuft. Overburden ranges from

6 inches to % feet in thickriesSi

It is said that a f eddieh=br own peflite deposit oCCUf s nOfth of the towns of 

Westcliffe and Silvef Cliff,

Eagle GoUnty;

A per lite. deposit is ori the south and east flanks of Basalt Mountain, north of

the town of Basalt*

f-r^mont dotintyt 

Gray peflite with sCattefed pellets of obsidian occufs at the nofth end of Ruby

Mountain; (Wood, 1948, p» 11.) '

Peflite deposits have been f epof ted on the westef n slope of the FfOnt Range, 

and north of the town on iStillwatef i
PERL1TE RESOURCES OF THE UNITED STATES I 3bb

Gunnison County:

The Morning Star deposit (3) is in sec. 35(7), T. 50 N., R. 5 E.- about 9j miles 

from the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad at Sargents. It is at an approximate altitude of 9,800 feet. Two dikes are reported to dip rather steeply. The 

larger dike, granular and vesicular, is about 50 feet thick. The smaller dike is 

about 5 feet thick.

. Rio Grande County:

A perlite deposit is reported between Del Norte and Monte Vista.

Saguache County:

The Prossers Rock deposit (7) is in sees. 6 and 7, T. 47 N., R. 5 E., at an 

altitude of about 9, 500 feet. Perlite is exposed on the east side of Prossers 

Rock, on a ridge 300 to 350 feet above Razor Creek. At the top of the flow the 

perlite is 7 feet thick, and another layer 7 feet thick occurs at the bottom of the 

flow. Between these exposures, perlite and a small amount of obsidian are 

found. Perlite is estimated to be about 60 to 70 feet thick,' interbedded with 

some obsidian.

Cochetopa Dome deposit (8) is in sec. 36, T. 46 N., R. 2 E., at an altitude 

of about 9,700 feet, 1 mile north of State Highway 114, and about 24 miles south 

of the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad at Parlin. Perlite flows exposed 

in the south-facing cliffs of the Cochetopa Dome have a thickness of about 45 feet. 

The cliffs are about l£ miles long.

Cathedral deposit (9) is in the SW| of T. 45 N., R. 1 W., at an altitude of 

about 10, 500 feet. The flow crops out.in a 300-foot cliff, most of which is said 

to be perlite.

Other deposits reported in this county are south of Prossers Rock deposit, 

north of Cochetopa Dome deposit, in an area in the north-central section of the 

county, west of Needle Creek, and west of Mineral Hot Springs.

 NEVADA

All information on Nevada was taken from Cochran (1951, p. 8-18) except 

where otherwise noted.

Clark County:

The NuLite Insulated Homes, Inc., mine (24) is 12 miles west of Searchlight 

and 21 miles east of Ivanpah, Calif. The property covers 280 acres extending 

into San Bernardino County, Calif. It crops out in an area 2 miles long and 

1 mile wide; its average thickness is about 50 feet.

The Searchlight Insulation Products mine (23) is in the S^ sec. 9 and , N$ 

sec. 16, T. 28 S., R. 63 E., and comprises 180 acres. The deposit consists 

of two flows whichinclude thinlayers of andesite or dacite. Overburden is thin. 

One flow is 1, 500 feet long, 240 feet wide, and 21 feet thick, whereas the other 

is 2,600 feet long, 500 feet wide, and averages 100 feet thick.

The U. S. Perlite Manufacturing Company deposit (20), comprising 10 placer 

claims, is about 20 miles south of Goodsprings. Limestone and dolomitic limestone surround the deposit, which ranges from 15 to 200 feet in thickness. The 

perlite is black, glossy, and granular, mixed with reddish dacite and obsidian.

The Morelight Company deposit (25) and the Basic Materials Company deposit (26) are near Searchlight (0. S. North, U. .3. Bur. mines, personal 

communication), and the Continental Engineering Service deposit (19) is near 

Las Vegas (Chem. & Metall. Eng., 1945, p. 170).

Lincoln County:

The Kopenite, Inc., deposit (14) is 35 miles southwest of Caliente, approximately in T. 4 S., R. 63 E. The deposit is a large flow of perlite resting upon 

an andesite flow. Pellets of obsidian, which are not harmful to the expanded
386 CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONOMIC GEOLOGY

material, are included in the perlite. The deposit is 8, 500 feet long, 800 feet 

wide, 20 feet thick, and has very little overburden.

The Robb deposit (15) is about 14 miles southwest of Elgin. The deposit 

occurs between two porphyry flows.

The Johnston and Fitchett deposit (16) underlies 480 acres in the S-| sees. 27, 

28, and 29, and NT sees. 33, 34, and 35, T. 8 S., R. 66 E. Flows of dacite, 

rhyolite, and perlite have a thickness greater than 1, 000 feet. The flows are 

distorted; dips range from horizontal to 80°. The perlite occurs as lenticular 

beds in dacite and rhyolite or both ranging from 4 to 50 feet thick.

The Snow deposit (9) comprises two lode claims in the Goldsprings mining district, in sec. 23, T. IN., R. 70 E. The perlite at one location is 1,320 feet long, 

600 feet wide, and 50 feet thick. It is part of a dacite flow.' The perlite is glassy, 

greenish black, and has a considerable amount of contamination. At the second 

location the perlite flow is 2,640 feet long, 1, 320 feet wide, and 100 feet thick. 

It is granular, blackish gray, and contains very little contaminating material.

The Leech deposit (5) is in the SEi sec. 16'and NE| sec. 21, T. 3 N., R. 68E., 

23 miles northeast of Pioche. The property comprises two placer claims of 

40 acres. The deposit, overlying an andesite flow, is 600 feet long, 500 feet 

wide, and 50 feet thick. The perlite is dark gray to black, glassy, and contains 

little contaminating material.

The Free deposit (7) is in sees. 5 and 6, T. 2 N., R. 69 E., 14 miles northeast of Pioche. A light-gray perlite overlies a dacite flow. Many stringers of 

dacite are in the perlite, but generally it is free of contaminating materials. 

The deposit is 800 feet long, 300 feet wide, and 25 feet thick.

The Eccles and Minto deposits (12) are in sees. 7, 8, and 17, T. 43., R. 

63 E., less than 6 miles east of Caliente. The two deposits are no doubt one 

continuous bed underlain by a rhyolite flow. The deposit is flat-lying except in 

the lower part of the flow. The Eccles deposit is of very good quality perlite 

with very little overburden. The Minto deposit is of very good quality granular 

perlite, and most of it is capped with andesite.

The Acoma deposit (13) occurs in sees. 22 and 23, T. 5 S., R. 70 E., 6 miles 

south of Acoma. The perlite overlies and is partly covered by a dark-reddish 

andesite, and is comparatively free from overburden.

The Hollinger deposit (6) comprises three placer claims in sees. 3 and 10, 

T. 3N., R. 68 E. It occurs between two vitreous flows. There is little overburden.

The Combined Metals Reduction deposit (Fairview) (8) occurs in the foothills 

of Ely Range in the SW| sec. 28, T. 4 N., R. 69 E., about 26 miles north of 

Pioche.

Other deposits in the County are the Boykin (Pulcepher) deposit (17) southeast 

of the Acoma deposit, 7 or 8 miles from the Union Pacific Railroad (Cochran, 

1951, p. 9); Grant deposit (10) 4fc miles from Caliente (Lenhart, 1950, p. 99); 

and Delamar Company deposit (11) near Caliente (O. S. North, personal communication).

Nye County:

One perlite deposit in the Doughboy Group (18) is 5 miles from Beatty, and 

another is south of Fallen in the Beatty district. (Min. World, 1949a, p. 80.)

Pershing County:

Perlite deposits (3) are the United States Gypsum Company mine near Lovelock 

(Eng.Min. Jour., 1950, p. 128), and a deposit in Cow Creek area,at the northern end of Seven Troughs Range, northwest of Lovelock (Pit and Quarry, 1949, 

p. 57).

NEW MEXICO

Much of the information on New Mexico was furnished by Eugene Callaghan, 

director of New Mexico Bureau of Mines.
PERLITE RESOURCES OF THE UNITED STATES 387

Grant County:

The McDonald ranch deposit (12) is about 16.5 road miles northeast of Separ, 

in sees. 1, 2, 11, and 12, T. 22 S., R. 15 W., and sees. 18, 19, 29, and 30, 

32 T. 22 S., R. 14 W. Perlite crops out in a narrow belt extending northwest 

for more than 9 miles along a shallow canyon and adjacent slopes. The perlite occurs as a tabular flowlike mass, having a maximum exposed thickness of 

100 feet. It is locally underlain by stratified tuffs and breccias, and overlain 

by welded tuff (?), spherulitic rhyolite, and basalt. Although highly variable in 

color and texture, the segments of commercial value consist of pale-gray to 

dark bluish-gray glass with pronounced perlitic structure. The El Paso perlite 

Company has been developing a southeastern segment of this deposit.

The Pyramid Mountains deposit (11), about 8 miles south-southeast of 

Lordsburg, is exposed in an arcuate outcrop that encircles the north, west, and 

southeast faces of the Leitendorf Hills. The glass attains a maximum thickness 

of several hundred feet in the west face of the hills. It is capped by breccia on 

the north, bounded by, and perhaps partly underlain by, a massive, welded 

felsite breccia on the west, and capped by crumpled, flow-banded rhyolite on 

the southeast. The glass ranges from an unfractured type to that having 

a finely perlitic texture, and the color ranges from resinous dark brownish-red 

to olive and dark green. Physical properties and chemical analyses indicate a 

perlitic pitchstone phase of sodic rhyolite. Parts of the deposit have been commercially exploited.

Luna County:

The Hermanas deposit (13) is meagerly exposed in a group of low hills about 

three-fourths of a mile north of Hermanas, a siding on the Southern Pacific 

Lines. The rock exposed in and adjacent to a shallow shaft consists of variably 

devitrified perlitic pitchstone of dark brownish red to 'olive green and of resinous 

luster. The glass is locally capped by rhyolitic flows andiscutbylithoidalflow 

bands, and ribs and irregular masses of felsite. This deposit appears to have little 

commercial value, because of the large proportion of interlaced lithoidal material.

Sandoval County:

Deposits (3) of volcanic glasses occur at a number of localities in the Jemez 

Mountains. The more accessible of these are in Cochiti, Bland, and Peralta 

Canyons, approximately 28 miles west of Santa Fe. A deposit at Bear Springs 

is about 8f miles farther west.

The'Bland Canyon deposit (2) consists of a series of variably cemented rhyolitic breccias, which are overlain by massive Bandelier welded tuff. Irregular 

ribs and dikelike masses of dense, flow-banded vitreous to pitchy, pale-gray 

to dark-green and black glass cut the breccia. The structure of the deposit 

suggests that it is a breccia dome.

In Peralta Canyon, sec. 28, T. 17 N., R. 5 E., a perlite mass (4) that exhibits gradational contacts with lithoidal rhyolite is exposed. The perlite is 

overlain on the east by stratified tuffaceous sands and gravels containing boulders 

of perlite. The internal structure of the perlite body is typified by conspicuous, 

complexly arranged flow-banding, in parts of which glassy to lithoidal porphyritic rhyolite is interleaved with porphyritic perlite. Local zones of autobreccia truncate the flow banding. A few small segments of the mass consist 

of pale-gray, highly perlitic to pumiceous perlite of commercial grade.

In the vicinity of Bear Springs (5), T. 17 N., R. 4 E., highly vitreous, green 

to gray perlite is poorly exposed at several places on a broad, rubble-covered 

slope, and in adjacent shallow canyon walls. Brecciated zones in the glass are 

cemented by reddish glass and lithoidal rhyolite. Many parts of the mass are 

contaminated by hydrothermally devitrified glass, and by an abundance of 

spherulitic nodules that contain cores of chalcedony and opal. The prevalence 

of impurities, together with the high costs of transportation from the area, will 

inhibit development of this deposit.
388

Sierra County:

Deposits (10) of perlite crop out in several areas west of Lake Valley. A 

deposit about 1 mile southwest of Lake Valley contains an irregular flow sheet 

of pale-gray to dark bluish-gray perlitic glass. The glass is capped by crumpled, platy, felsitic rhyolite, and underlain by rhyolitic tuffs and breccias. The 

upper part of the perlite body contains an abundance of conspicuous spherulitic 

and lithoidal flow bands. Future exploitation of this deposit would appear to be 

limited to a very small-scale, selective mining program.

Socorro County:

The Great Lakes Carbon Corporation deposit (8) is about 3 miles southwest 

of Socorro, on the southeastern flank of the Socorro Mountains. Operations 

were begun in 1949 on this deposit which has since become one of the largest domestic sources of crude perlite. The deposit has the form of a glass dome, with 

diametersof approximately one-third and one-half mile, and an exposed vertical 

continuity of more than 450 feet. The eastern and western margins of the deposit 

are defined by high-angle normal faults, between which the perlite mass forms 

a horst block. To the north and south, the perlite is overlain by a sequence of

breccias and massive to thin-bedded, weakly to highly indurated vitric tuffs 

that grade upward into clays, sands, gravels, and their indurated equivalents. 

The entire sequence was faulted, beveled, and covered by a sheet of Quaternary(?) basalt, which has been largely stripped off by subsequent erosion. The 

glass is a pale-gray to buffish-gray., conspicuously flow-banded, pumiceous 

rock of rhyolitic composition. It is remarkably uniform in quality throughout 

most of the deposit except for a segment at the northeastern margin, where it 

is interlayered with lithoidal rhyolite flow bands and, in places, has been altered 

to montmorillonite.

Several deposits (9) of volcanic glass are in the volcanic terrain south of 

Magdalena and west of the Magdalena Mountains. One of the larger of these is 

in sees. 14 and 23, T. 3 S.., R. 4 W., where perlite is exposed in the east wall 

of Agua Fria Canyon.. The perlite occurs as a tabular mass as thick as 200 feet, 

overlying porphyritic-spherulitic rhyolite along an intergradationalcontact... 

An ascending sequence consisting of about 460 feet of perlite breccias, stratified pumiceous tuffs, and two distinct rhyolitic flows with black vitrophyre basal 

selvages overlies the perlite. The perlite is predominately a pale-gray, conspicuously porphyritic rock of fine-grained perlitic structure., and rhyolitic

composition. The occurrence of bands of abundant spherulites and bands and

zones of complete hydrothermal devitrification of the glass in this deposit 

seriously depreciate its commercial potentialities.

Taos County:

At No Agua Mountain, approximately 7 miles north of Tres Piedras, an extensive deposit (1) of perlite is being exploited by two companies. No Agua

Mountain embraces a cluster of four subconical peaks encircling a breached

central valley. The rocks composing these peaks include several textUTal Van* 

eties of volcanic glass, massive rhyolitic breccias, and other fragmental volcanics. The overall form and structure of the mass suggest that it originated

as a volcanic dome.. Gray to buff, flow-banded, pumiceous glass, with physical 

characteristics Similar to those Of the Socorro perlite, forms commercialgrade bodies that extend over a large area,.

Valencia County:

The United States Gypsum Corporation is mining a perlite deposit (6) about

8 .miles northeast Of Grants, at the eastern end of Grant .Ridges,. The rocks 

in this area, Which is on the western margin of the Mount Taylor volcanic field., 

Consist Of Sandstones and .shales of the .Mesaverde formation, pumiceous tuff, 

felsitic rhyolite, and several types of volcanic glass. The sequence is capped 

by thin basalt flows and is intruded by a basaltic neck at one point. Among the 

several types of volcanic glass are two of commercial quality: a pale bluishgray, highly perlitic type, and a massive., pale-gray, pumiceous type. The
PERLITE RESOURCES OF THE UNITED STATES 389

pumiceous glass crops out in a series of spur ridges that extend northward and 

northeastward from below a cliff of massive, felsitic rhyolite. The largest of 

these spurs is about 200 feet high.

OREGON

Baker County:

Perlite (3) occurs in the southern part of the county, in the Dooley Mountains 

(Mason, 1951, p. 14).. In the vicinity of Pleasant Valley, it is associated with 

tuffs of probable Pliocene age (Alien, 1946, p, 2).

Harney County:

Perlite has been found on Juniper Ridge (4) southwest of Burns (Mason, 1951, 

p. 14). In the Steens Mountains (5) rhyolite flows and intrusive bodies occur 

with perlitic margins which are probably of Pliocene age.. In the Harney Basin 

perlite occurs in rocks of the Danforth formation (Pliocene). (Alien, 1946, p. 2.)

Lake County:

The Paisley deposit (6) is 10 miles south of Paisley, on the highway to 

Lakeview. (Mason, 1951, p. 14.)

Malheur County:

The Sheaville deposit (8) is in the eastern part of the county (Mason/ 1951, 

p. 14); another deposit (7) is in the Cedar Mountains near Owyhee (Alien, 

1946, p. 9).

The Lady Frances mine (2), now abandoned, is on the Deschutes River near 

Frieda in sec. 24,'T. 6 S., R. 13 E. (Alien, 1946, p. 10). The perlite is in 

the Clarno formation (Eocene), according to Alien (1946, p. 2). This information 

is divided by a strong unconformity between andesitic tuffs, breccias, and flows 

and an upper rhyolitic series in which the perlite occurs. More recent investigations (A. C. Waters, 1955, personal communication) have established the fact 

that the unconformity recognized by Alien can be traced far to the east,. To the 

east it definitely separates the Clarno from the John Day (Oligocene).; and is 

an excellent stratigraphic marker. Therefore, the rhyolite and associated perlite at Frieda is John Day, but the andesites beneath the unconformity reported 

by Alien are truly Clarno. Another deposit, known as the Axford-Hunt (1), is 

in the SW| sec. 16 and extends into SE-f- sec. 17, T-. 6 S., R, 14 E. (Mason, 

1951, p. 14; Alien, 1947, p. 61).

TEXAS 

Hudspeth County:

Thin beds of pitchstone, vitrophyre, and perlite occur with rhyolite near 

Eagle Spring and Panther Bluff (6),. Thin beds of welded tuff interbedded with 

tuffaceous sediments are found south of Wind Cany on. (Gillerman, 1953, p.. 53.)

UTAH 

Beaver County:

The Utco Products Company deposit (7) .is in T.. 27 N,, R, 9 W., about 

14 miles northeast of Milford. The perlite is light gray-blue and occurs in 

flows. (Cochran, 1951, p. 20.)

Perlite, Inc., is reported to own a deposit (8) near Milford (R. J. Roberts, 

personal communication).

Millard County:

The Huntsman deposit (4), T. 23 S., R. 8 and 9 W., is less than 5 miles 

east of the Unicfn Pacific Railroad's main line between the stations of Cruz and 

Bloom Siding, and about 23 miles west of Kanosh. Part of the perlite is covered 

by a rhyolitic flow, but only a slight intermingling of'rhyolite with the perlite 

.occurs in the exposures. (Cochran, 1951, p. 18-19.)
390 CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONOMIC GEOLOGY

The Utah Pumice and Perlite Company deposit (6) is 6 miles north and east 

of Black Rock and 30 miles north of Milford. It comprises 40 acres of patented 

mining property and 120 acres of placer claims. Perlite and pumice occur in 

adaciticflow. The perlite is light gray to tan, and semipumiceous. (Cochran, 

1951, p. 19-20.)

Other deposits are the Christensen Construction Company's deposit (5) near 

Pumice, and the Day deposit (3), 2| miles from Bloom (R. J. Roberts, personal communication).

Washington County:

The Wilson deposit (10) is reported to be near Veyo (R. J. Roberts, personal 

c om munic ation).

WASHINGTON

All information about the State of Washington was obtained from Huntting 

(1949, p. 7-60) unless otherwise indicated.

No perlite deposits in Washington have been used commercially. Most of 

them are perlitic vitrophyre which cannot compete with the higher grades of 

perlite.

Chelan County:

Three formations are in the Wenatchee area (2). The oldest rocks are a thick 

Series Of arkOSiC Sandstones and coarse conglpmerates of the Swauk formation 

CEocene). Intruded into the Swank formation are dikes, SlllS, necks, and perhaps small laccoliths, of material ranging in composition from basalt through 

andesite, dacite, and rhyolite. The silicic rocks are light in color. Some of 

the necks have a glassy groundmass, and some have perlitic glass phases.' 

The intrusive rocks cut the Swauk formation of early Eocene age. The Yakima 

basalt of Miocene age overlies unconformably both the Swauk and the intrusive 

rocks.

The Rooster Comb and Dry Gulch deposits are in the Wenatchee area, near 

the northeastern end of the ridge between Dry Gulch and Squillchuck Canyon. 

The Norco Well deposit is on Wenatchee Heights, less than 2 miles southeast 

of the Rooster Comb deposit. These three deposits are in a nearly straight 

line and are within an area of 25 square miles.

The Dry Gulch deposit consists of blue-gray perlite exposed on the south side 

of a dome-shaped hill rising 150 feet above the valley level at the mOUtll Of Dry 

Gulch. The deposit has been classified as soda-rhyolite and dacite porphyry 

with a perlite margin.

The Rooster Comb deposit, a blue-gray perlite body, is exposed at the southeast corner of the NWiNWi sec. 22, T. 22 N., R. 20 E. The perlite probably 

is a facies of the dacite which surrounds it. This deposit is similar to the 

Dry Gulch deposit.

The Wenatchee Heights deposit consists of devitrified perlitic rhyolite. 

Phenocrysts of quartz and feldspar comprise 5 percent of the material.

Klickitat County:

The Satus Creek deposit (3).is on the Yakima Indian Reservation m sw^sec. 9,_

T. 6 N., R. 16 E. It is on the east bank of Satus Creek at an altitude Of 

4, 700 feet, about 1-| miles north of Indian Rock. The material is light gray and has a distinctive sheen, which may result from refraction of light by the thin, 

onioniike layers of periite. Some of the exposed perlite is vQT'y vesicular, individual VeSiCleS leSS than 1 millimeter in diameter being so numerous as to 

give the rock a pumiceous structure. 

/ The fOllOWing perlite deposits are located in the -White River basin (1) on the

western side of the Cascade Mountains, 20 miles north Of Mount Rainier andapproximately 40 miles east of Tacoma.

King County:

Near Cyclone Creek gray perlite is exposed at an altitude of 2, 375 feet on the 

south slope of Grass Mountain. The deposit is in SEiSWi sec. 27, T. 20 N.,
PERLITE RESOURCES OF THE UNITED STATES 391

R. 8E., less than one-half mile west of Cyclone Creek: and 1 mile north of White 

River. Andesite is associated with the perlite. The unweathered perlite is 

black, but after weathering, the color changes to light gray. The perlite has a 

rough granular texture and flow-banded structure. Laboratory tests show that 

this perlite has an average water content of 2.86 percent; the SiC2 averages 

81.34 percent. After expansion, the Cyclone Creek perlite is a buff color, 

which is not actually detrimental, although white is the most desirable.

Pierce County:

The Cliff (White River) deposit is in the SWi sec. 11, T. 19 N., R. 8 E. 

Greenish-gray and black perlite 4 feet thick overlies soft tuff and is exposed 

for about 50 feet; the size of the entire deposit is not known. This deposit is 

probably a part of a huge landslide block. The perlite has a conchoidal fracture 

and a glassy to resinous luster. The material tested from these Miocene volcanic rocks expanded only slightly when heated. (Valentine, 1949, p. 67; 

Huntting, 1949, p. 50.)

The Divide (Mineral Creek) deposit is in the "center of sec. 14, T. 19 N., 

R. 8 E. The greenish-black perlite is exposed to a height of 20 feet for a distance of 100 feet in an old railroad cut. The perlite body is irregular and is 

mixed withbentonitic clay. Four feet of silicified andesite overlies the perlite. 

The perlite is vitreous and is characterized by flow-banding and well-developed 

perlitic structure.

Two masses of black perlite are exposed along a steep hillside on the north 

side of Milky Creek, a tributary to Clearwater River. These deposits are near 

the head of the creek, in the NEiNEi sec. 35 and the SEiSEi sec. 26, T. 19 N., 

R. 8 E., at an altitude of about 4,000 feet. The perlite has a conchoidal fracture 

and a glassy to resinous luster.

Many minor occurrences of perlite are in andesite flows in the White River 

area. However, the large number of spherulites cause this perlite to be unsuitable for commercial use.

The Mashel River deposit is in NW-J- sec. 30, T. 16 N., R. 6 E., about 12 miles 

west of Mount Rainier. It is at an altitude of about 1,900 feet. The average 

width of the deposit is about 10 feet. The deposit is in a flow showing platy 

structure and having little banding. About 10 percent of the rock is white to 

colorless small feldspar crystals in the black glass. The Mashel River deposit 

is associated with the Keechelus andesitic rocks and may be of commercial interest.

Occurrences of perlite have been reported in Benton, Clark, Cowlitz, 

Skamania, and Yakima Counties. Very little has been published about these 

deposits. (Valentine, 1949, p. 67; also Huntting, 1949, p. 57-60.)

WYOMING

Yellowstone National Park:

 Perlite occurs in bands of dark-gray rhyolite which forms a cliff on the east 

side of the Firehole River, opposite Excelsior Geyser and the Midway Geysei1 

basin (1). These bands are alternately vitreous and lithoidal. In some places 

the centers of the perlitic shells are black glass with surrounding thin, lightgray shells. Perlite occurs in this manner in many localities in Yellowstone 

Park. (Diller, 1898, p. 151.)

Very little information has been published on the reserves of perlite in the United States. This is due presumably to the fact that the 

use 01 perlite is relatively new. Much field work needs to be done 

to locate workable deposits of perlite, and more exploratory work 

is necessary' before a reasonable estimate of reserves can-be
392 CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONOMIC GEOLOGY

given. However, a few companies have published estimated reserve figures.

Sixteen deposits of perlite in Nevada and Utah have been examined 

and described by Cochran (1951, p. 23). These deposits are estimated to have total reserves of more than 4,000,000 tons of suitable quality material. Of the deposits examined, only 6 were in 

production and 2 others were being considered for development.

The reserves of the Rosita mining district 1 near Westcliffe, 

Colo., are reported to be 20,000,000 tons. However, a considerable part of the district is of little importance because of transportation difficulties.

In the mountain ranges 4 miles southwest of Socorro, N Mex. 

(Min. World, 1950, p. 29), a perlite deposit is reported to contain 

many millions of tons. Deposits in Grant County, New Mexicc 

(Pit and Quarry, 1953, p. 162) are estimated to contain approximately 2, 000, 000 tons of high-grade perlite.

The Fairview, Hollinger, and Grant mines in the vicinity oJ 

Caselton, Nev. (Lenhart, 1950, p. 99), presumably have manj 

millions of tons of perlite in reserve. The Grant mine alone is 

reported to contain more than 14,000,000 tons.

A deposit on the Spring Valley ranch of Fred Holt near St. Helena, 

NapaCounty, Calif. (Pit and Quarry, 1951, p. 66), is reported tc 

contain 5,000,000 tons of perlite.

The Perlite Aggregates, Inc./deposit (Utley, 1951, p. 76), in 

the Conn Valley near St. Helena, Napa County, Calif., is said tc 

contain 125,000,000 tons of perlite. Quarrying was started April 

10, 1951. This company's original plant produced 900 bags a day, 

but with installation of a second unit, the production was increased 

to 2,000 bags daily.

MINING, MILLING, AND PROCESSING

Commercial perlite deposits in the United States are on or close 

to the surface and open-pit methods of quarrying are generally 

used. Mining is simple and inexpensive, with disposal of overburden and transportation in general being the major problems.

Milling of perlite centers on the comminution of the rock to the 

desired screen Size. Both wet and dry processes are used 

(Gustafson, 1949, p. 315). The wet process reduces the dust 

hazard but requires about 15 tons of water per ton of perlite.

Most companies prefer the dry method.

Although there has been no standardization of sizes, the following 

sizes are commonly accepted as satisfactory for delivery to the 

trade for expansion (Wilfley and Taylor, 1950, p. 82):

Concrete aggregate; Minus 8 mesh, plus 30 mesh (15 percent 

plus or minus).

Plaster aggregate: Minus 14 mesh (or minus 16), plus 50 mesh 

(15 percent plus or minus).

Plaster aggregate: Minus 20 mesh (maximum 25 percent minus 

100 mesh).

Taylor, C. W., 1949, Perlite-championof the lightweights, address made to Colorado 

Mining Assoc., Denver, Feb. 1, 6 p.
PERLITE RESOURCES OF THE UNITED STATES 393

Fines: Minus 30 mesh (maximum 10 percent plus 30 mesh). 

For information on processing the reader is referred to Murdock 

and Stein (1950, p. 111-116).

ECONOMIC ASPECTS

The post-World War n building activity brought about increased 

research in construction materials (Gustafson, 1949, p. 313). 

The trend was toward lighter weight aggregates to relieve the dead 

load on steel frame buildings. As search for lighter weight aggregates progressed, other useful qualities such as sound and heat 

insulation, nailability and lightness, with consequent saving in 

labor costs, became important considerations. The search finally 

led to the expansion of perlite.

According to the Perlite Torch (1951, p. 1), perlite cannot compete with structural sand and gravel when a moderately high compressive strength for concrete is required, but when lightweight, 

fire-resistant insulating concrete is desired, perlite has much to 

offer.

Perlite-gypsum plaster has a relatively low coefficient of thermal 

conductivity which retards heat transfer (Perlite Institute, 1950). 

Such a plaster combined with metal lath to a thickness of 2-| inches 

has achieved a rating of 2 hours'resistance to heat, fLa'me, and 

smoke in recent tests in Chicago by the Underwriters' Laboratories, 

Inc. In addition, fireproof ing of steel columns and floor beams by 

if inches of perlite-gypsum plaster and metal lath has been rated 

at 4 hours safe protection by the same laboratories.

Perlite is used as an insulating concrete to fill ship bilges 

(Perlite Torch, 1952, p. 4). The condensation of water and seepage through seams causes water to collect in ship bilges; this 

problem has been solved by filling the bilges with perlite concrete, 

and then the large bilge covers can-be discarded to reduce the dead 

weight. It has been found (Perlite Torch, 1951, p. 2) that when 

perlite is substituted for ordinary foundry sand to surround the 

pouring riser, the insulating qualities of perlite prevent excessively rapid cooling of this part of the mold, with consequent improvement of the casting.

Loose perlite (Ralston, 1946, p. 9) is also used as an insulating 

material elsewhere. It can be either poured or blown into place 

between walls already constructed or into hollow concrete masonry; 

used as a wall filling, it will not compact but will remain loose as 

originally placed.

In addition to having a low bulk density and being a good heat and 

sound insulator, perlite is mildew- and vermin-proof. It will not 

deteriorate or give off any objectionable odor when wet, and being 

nonhygroscopic it has a low absorption. Expanded perlite (Barberii, 

1949, p. 280, 283-284) is used in drilling oil wells to seal off the 

loss of oil through porous formations.

Perlite fines (Atlantic Pe"rlite Co., no date, 5 p.) resulting from 

processing, are that part of the material in the size range of minus 

100 mesh. There has been little use for this material but with its
394 CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONOMIC GEOLOGY

application to oil-well drilling and as fillers and filters they are 

finding their place in industry.

Perlite is. competitive with pumice, pumicite, bloated shales 

and clays, and vermiculite. Prices for perlite as of June 1954 

are as follows (Min. World, 1954, p. 86): Crude, f. o.b. mine 

per short ton, $3 - $5; plaster grades, crushed and sized, f. o.b. 

plants per short ton, $7 - $9; and concrete grades, crushed and 

sized, $6 -$8. Expanded perlite is packed in multiwalled bags and_is 

usually sold by the bag, ranging in price from 15 to 40 cents a cubic 

foot (North, 0. S., personal communication).

Many factors must be taken into consideration to evaluate properly the profitable marketing of perlite. The size of the deposit 

and the minimum cost necessary to remove overburden are major 

items. Transportation facilities to the loading point and sizing 

plant must be reasonably good. Expansion characteristics, as they 

relate-to the softening range, ratio and temperature of expansion, 

and color of product, must be determined. Such factors as com?, 

pressive strength,;mortar strength, absorption rate, freezing and 

thawing, thermal expansion^ and thermal conductivity must also be 

determined. Because perlite is found only where geologically recent volcanic activity has occurred in the Far Western States, 

freight is a vital consideration in the production of perlite. Economics demands that crude perlite be shipped to expanding plants 

scattered throughout the United States close to consumers' markets. 

Only after it has been brought close to the distribution centers is 

it expanded and its bulk density drastically reduced.

KEY TO INDEX MAP (PL. 44) OF PERLITE RESOURCES OF THE UNITED 

STATES (INCLUDING PROCESSING PLANTS) .

Arizona: 

Deposits and processing plants in Motiave, Yuma, Maricopa, Final, and 

Gila Counties.

1. Deposit in Black Mountains, T. 22 and 23 N.,' R. 19 and 20 W. 

2. Deposit in sec. 2, T. 22 N., R. 20 W.

3.. Deposit southwest of Yucca in Black Mountains.

4...Deposit north of Haviland in Black Mountains. 

. 5. Deposit in Chocolate Mountains. 

'6. Perlite Industries of Arizona plant, at Phoenix.

7.-Perlite Industries of Arizona mine at Superior.

8...E. E. Swift mine at Superior. 

' "' 9.'.G.hemi-'C6te Perlite Co. mine at Superior.

 - lO.'/.Casa'Grande Perlite Co. deposit, south'of Casa Grande.

 ll;,;;Deposit'north of Winkleman. '.

Arkansas:

ess 

Ten

'Little' Rock.

Processing plant in Pulaski County. 

1. 

 - Tennessee - . I , Products and - Chemical ' Corp.. i / 800 . West Second, Norm
PERLITE RESOURCES OF THE UNITED STATES 395

California:

Deposits and processing plants in Modoc, Lassen, Sonoma, Napa, Solano, 

Contra Costa, Marin, Mono, Fresno, San Benito, Inyo, Kern, San 

Bernardino, Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Diego Counties.

1. Deposit in Warner Range, sees. 15, 22, T. 48 N., R. 15 E., Mount 

Diablo meridian.

2. Deposit in northern part of Warner Range,- in vicinity of Sugar Hill and 

Fandango Peak.

3. Evening Star deposit, NW|NE| sec. 22, T. 46 N., R. 14 E., Mount 

Diablo meridian.

4. A. R. Close property, sec. 8, T. 39 N., R. 14 E., Mount Diablo meridian.

5. Deposits exposed on west flank of Hot Springs Peak, 4 miles northeast 

of Wendel.

6. Large deposits occur on the south flank of Taylor Mountain, sees. 7, 8, 

T. 6 N., R. 7 W., Mount Diablo meridian.

7. Frazier property, sec. 1 and 11, T. 6 N., R. 6 W., Mount Diablo 

meridian.

8. Two deposits on Annadel Farms: (1) 3 miles northwest of Lawndale in a 

railroad cut, (2) in sec. 22, T. 7 N., R. 7 W., Mount Diablo meridian.

9. NapaPerlite Co., Fred Holt ranch, near St. Helena, sec. 33, T. 8 N., 

R. 5 W., Mount Diablo meridian.

10. Perlite aggregates, Inc., N| sec. 34, T. 8 N., R. 5 W., Mount Diablo 

meridian.

11. Deposits occur in sees. 32, 33, 34, and 35, T. 8 N., R. 5 W., Mount 

Diablo meridian, 2 miles east of Rutherford railroad station.

12. Two occurrences on State Highway 29, about 5 miles east of Napa: (l)in 

roadcut. on edge of Basalt Rock Co;, Mount George pumice deposit, 

(2) in roadcut about one-half mile east of first occurrence.

13. Deposit 2 miles southeast of Bismark Knob, sec. 28, T. 6 N., R. 5 W., 

Mount Diablo meridian.

14. Deposits occur along Green Creek, sec. 15, T. 5 N., R. 3 W., Mount 

Diablo meridian, about 5 miles north of Cordelia.

15. Perlite Aggregates, Inc., plant near St. Helena.

16. American Perlite Corp. plant at Richmond.

17. Perolite Products Co. plant at Sausalito.

18. Deposit northeast of Casa Diablo Hot Springs.

19. United States Mining Corp. deposit, sees. 19 and 30, T. 10 S., R. 34E., 

Mount Diablo meridian, 7 miles south of Big Pine and 3 miles west of 

Fish Springs.

20. American Perlite Co. (Brooke) deposit, sees. 24 and 25, T. 10 S., 

R. 33E., and sees. 29 and 30, T. 10 S., R. 34 E., Mount Diablo 

meridian, 7 miles south of Big Pine and 3| miles west of Fish Springs.

21. Deposit at Pinnacles National Monument, along the Chalone Creek about 

three-quarters of a mile north of an abandoned Civilian Conservation 

Corps camp.

22. Perlite products plant, 93 Van Ness Avenue, Fresno.

23. Staats deposit, southern part of T. 18 S., R. 38 E., Mount Diablo 

meridian, about 13 miles south of Keeler.

24. Coso deposit, T. 21 and 22 S., R. 38 E., Mount Diablo meridian, 

about 7 miles northeast of Coso Junction and 2 miles west of Coso Hot 

Springs.

25. Southern Death Valley deposit, about 22 miles south of ' Furnace 

Creek Inn, and 4 miles southwest of Bennetts Well, Death Valley 

National Monument.

26. Sheephead Mountain deposit, western part of T. 21 N., R. 5 E., 

San Bernardino meridian, about 8 miles southwest of Shoshone on east 

flank of Sheephead Mountain.

27. Shoshone deposit, sees. 26 and 35, T. 22 N., R. 6E., San Bernardino 

meridian, about 2 miles west of Shoshone on east side of Dublin Hills.
396 CONTRIBUTIONS JO ECONOMIC GEOLOGY

28. Grey Eagle deposit in sec.. 32, T, 28 S,., R, 38 E.., Mount Diablo meridian. 

The Black Eagle and Grey Eagle deposits comprise two 160^aere placer 

claims in the El Paso Mountains on the ridge north of Last Chance Canyon,

29. Black Eagle deposit in see. 4, T. 29 S,, R. 38 E., Mount Diablo meridian. 

.30, Deposits in see, 27, T, .30 S.., R. .36 E,, Mount Diablo meridian, 

8 miles north of Cantil in the El Paso Mountains.,

3.1. Outcrops in many places in sec, 22, T. 31 S,, R. 34 E,, Mount Diablo 

meridian,

32. Deposits in low hills, a few miles north of Pilot Knob, T, 29 S,, R, 44 E,, 

Mount Diablo -meridian.

33. Deposits ;n vicinity of Black Canyon, 18 miles south of Pilot Knob and 

4 .moles north of Coolgardie Camp, T, 31 S,., R. 44 E,, Mount Diablo 

meridian.

More-"Lite Co, deposit near Ivanpah.

Deposit in Newberry Mountains, 6 miles south of Newberry, 

California Perlite Corp, deposit, 6 miles north of Klondike and 12 miles 

north of Bagdad station on Santa Fe railway,

37. Deposit on southeast slope of Granite Mountains, sec, 10(7), T. 8 N., 

R. 13 E., San Bernardino meridian,

38. Deposit on Clipper Mountain about 18 miles northeast of Amboy,

39. Extensive deposits in Turtle Mountains, about 30 .miles southwest of 

Needles,

40. NuLite Insulated Homes plant at Fontana.

41. Panacalite Pacific, Inc., plant, 825 E. 60th Street, Los Angeles.

42. Paramount Perlite Co. plant, 16236 South Illinois Street, Paramount.

43. Peerless Perlite Co, pliant, .2807 South Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles,

44. McClure & Erickson Corp. plant, 2416 Bedessen Avenue,- Los Angeles,

45. United States Perlite Co, plant, 612 South Flower Street, Los Angeles.

46. Redco, Jnc,., plant, 11831 Vose Street, North Hollywood,

47. More--Lite Co, plant, Crestmore,

48. Extensive deposits at Little Chuckawalla Mountains, about 38 miles south-- 

west of Blythe,

49. Harborlite Corp, pla.nt, 696 Montgomery Freeway, Chula Vista,

Colorado:

Deposits and processing plants in Denver,, Chaifee, Gunnison, Fremont,Custer, 

Saguache, and Huerfano Counties,

1. Persolite Manufacturing Co. -plant at Denver^.

2. Nathrop deposit, sees. 11, 12, and 13, T, 15 S,, R, 78 W,

3. .Morning Star deposit, sec. 35(?), T. 50 N., R. 5 E,, near White-Pine, 

about 9^ miles from Sargents,

4. Deposit near headwaters of Tallahassee Creek.

5. Great Lakes Carbon COPR. (AleXite Engineering Division of Alexander 

Film Company) plant-at Florence.

6. Rosita. Hills deposit, sees. 32 ana 33, T. 22 S,, R, 71 W,,3 and sees. 5

and 6, T. 23 S., R. 71 W,

7. Prossers Rock deposit, sees, 6 and 7, T. 47 N., R. 3 E..

8. Cochetopa Dome deposit, sec, 36, T, 46 N., R, 2 E,, about 24 miles 

from Parlin.

9. Cathedral deposit., SW|, T, 45 N,, R. 1 W,

10. Polvo Blanco deposit, near Gardner,

District of ColumbiaProcessing plant, 

1. Atlantic Perlite Co,, .1919 Kenilworth Avenue, N, E., Washington, D, C.

Iloridaj

Processing plants in Duval, pade, and Indian River Counties.

1. Tennessee Products and Chemical Corp. at Jacksonville,.

2. Airlite Processing Corp., Verno,Beach.

3. Florida Perlite Company, .5137 N. E. Second Avenue.,'Miami,
PERLITE RESOURCES OF THE UNITE13 STATES 397

Illinois:: * 

Processing plants in Lake, Cook, Will, and Champaign Counties.

1. Lake Zurich Cement Products Co., Lake Zurich..

2. Silbrico Corp,, 5901 West 66th Street, Chicago,

3. American Bildrok Co., 2001 West Pershing Road, Chicago.

4. F, E, Schundler and Co.-, Inc., 504 Railroad Street, joliet,

5. Rholex Corp.- of Illinois, 310 East Bradley Street, Champaign,

Indiana;'

Processing plants in Lake and Scott Counties.

1. United States Gypsum Co.,- East Chicago,

2. Airlite Processing Corp.-, Vienna,

iowa*

Processing plants in Webster and Polk-Counties,

1. United States Gypsum Co., Fort Dodge,

2. MidwestPerliteProducts, Inc., 1120 Railroad Street, West Des Moines,

Kansas;

Processing plant in Wyandotte County, 

1, Panacalite Perlite, Inc.-, Kansas City*

Louisiana; 

Processing plants in. Caddo and Orleans Counties,

1. R. S, Allday Clay Products, Inc., Shreveport.

2. Alatex Construction Service, 4516 D'Eniencourt Street, New Orleans.

Maryland:

Processing plant in Baltimore County.- 

1. Perma-Rock Products, Inc., 19 West Franklin Street, Baltimore.

Massachusetts:

Processing plant in Suffolk County. 

lf The Whittemore Co., 35 HarrisonStreet, Roslindale*

MichiganProcessing plant in Kent County.- 

1.- Gregg Products Co., 528 Bridge Street, Grand Rapids.

Minnesota;

Processing plants in Hennepin and Ramsey Counties.

1. Johnston Manufacturing Co., 2825 East Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis.

2. Minnesota Perlite Corp., 315 West 86th Street, Minneapolis,

3. Mac Arthur Co., 936 Raymond Avenue, St.- Paul.

Missouri:

Processing plant in St. Louis County. 

1, Precast Slab and Tile Co.-, Inc., 1367 South Kingshighway Blvd., St. Louis.

Nebraska:

Processing plant in Douglas County, 

1, Richlite Perlite Co., 2325 South 27th Street, Omaha.

Nevada;

Deposits and processing plants in Washoe, Pershing, Churchill, Nye, Lincoln, 

and Clark Counties.

1. United States Gypsum Co, plant at Empire.

2. Sno-Lite Products Co. plant at Reno.

3. United States Gypsum Co, deposit near Lovelock,

4. United States Gypsum Co. deposit near Fallon,
398 CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONOMIC GEOLOGY

5. Leech deposit, v SEi sec. 16 and NEi sec. 21, T. 3 N., R. 68 E., 

23 miles northeast of Pioche.

6. Hollinger deposit, sees. 3 and 10, T. 3 N., R. 68 E.

7. Free deposit, sees. 5 and 6, T. 2 N., R. 69 E., 14 miles northeast

east of Pioche.

 8. Combined Metals Reduction Co. deposit (Fairview), SW| sec. 28, T. 4 N., 

R. 69 E.

9. Snow deposit, sec. 23, T. IN., R. 70 E., in Goodsprings mining 

district.

10. Grant deposit 4| miles from Caliente.

11. Delamar Perlite Co. deposit near Caliente.

12. Eccles and Minto deposits, sees. 7, 8, and 17, T. 4 S., R. 63 E.

13. Acoma deposit, sees. 22 and 23, T. 5 S., R. 70 E., 6 miles south of 

Acoma.

14. Kopenite, Inc., deposit, approximately in T. 4 S., R. 63 E., 35 miles 

southwest of Caliente.

15. Robb deposit, about 14 miles southwest of Elgin.

16. Johnson and Fitchett deposit, sees. 33, 34, and 35, T. 83., R. 66 E., 

13 miles northwest of Carp.

17. Boykin (Pulcepher) deposit, southeast of Acoma deposit, 7 to 8 miles 

from Union Pacific Railroad.

18. Deposit in Doughboy Group, 5 miles from Beatty.

19. Continental Engineering Service deposit near Las Vegas.

20. United States Perlite Manufacturing Co. deposit, about 20 miles south 

of Goodsprings and 12 miles from Roach Station on Union Pacific 

Railroad.

21. Nevada Panacalite, Inc., plant at Henderson.

22. Searchlight Insulation Products Co. plant at Searchlight.

23. Searchlight Insulation Products Co-, mine, S^ sec. 9, and N§- sec. 16, 

T. 28 S,, R. 63 E.

24. NuLite Insulated Homes, Inc.,' mine, 12 miles west of Searchlight and 

21 miles east of Ivanpah, Calif.

25. More-lite Co. deposit near Searchlight.

26. Basic Materials Co. deposit near Searchlight.

New Jersey:

Processing plants in Passaic and Middlesex Counties.

1. PerAleX'of New Jersey, Inc., 64 Barclay Street, Paterson.

2. Coralux Perlite Corp. of New Jersey, Metuchen.

New Mexico:

Deposits and processing plants inTaos, Sandoval, Valencia, Socorro, Sierra, 

Grant, and Luna Counties.

1. Extensive deposit at No Agua Mountain, about 7 miles north of Tres

Piedras.

2. Bland Canyon deposit.

3. Numerous deposits in Jemez Mountains.

4. Deposit in sec, 28, T, 17 N,, R, 5 E,, in Peralta Canyon.

5. Deposit in vicinity of Bear Springs, T. 17 N., R. 4 E.

6. Deposit about 8 miles northeast of Grants, at the eastern end of Grant

Ridges.

7. Great Lakes Carbon Corp. plant near Socorro.

8. Great Lakes Carbon Corp. deposit about 3 miles southwest of Socorro.

9. Several deposits occur near and in sees. 14 and 23, T. 3 S., R. 4 W.

10. Deposit about 1 mile west of Lake Valley.

11. Pyramid Mountains deposit, about 8 miles south-southeast of Lordsburg.

12. McDonald ranch deposit, about 16J miles by road northeast of Separ, in 

sees. 1, 2, 11, 12, T. 22 S., R. 15 W., and sees. 18, 19, 29, 30, 32, 

T. 225., R. 14 W.

13. Hermanas deposit about three-fourths of a mile north of Hermanas, a 

siding on the Southern Pacific Lines.
PERLITE RESOURCES OF THE UNITED STATES 399

New York:

Processing plants in Erie and Onondaga Counties.

1. Buffalo Perlite Corp., 100 Sugg Road, Buffalo.

2. Minerals Processing Corp., 520 Van Rensselear Street, Syracuse.

North Carolina:

Processing plant in Rowan County. 

1. Carolina Perlite Co., Inc., Granite-Quarry.

Ohio:

Processing plants in Cuyahoga, Summit, and Hamilton Counties.

1. The Cleveland Gypsum Co., 1276 West 3d Street, Cleveland.

2. Geotic Industries, Inc., 765 Home Avenue, Akron.

3. Indoken Perlite Co., St. Bernard, Cincinnati.

Oklahoma:

Processing plants in Tulsa and Oklahoma Counties.

1. Ozark-Mahoning Co., Ozark Chemical Division, Tulsa.

2. Midwestern Perlite Corp., Oklahoma City.

Oregon: 

Deposits in Wasco, Baker, Harney, Lake, and Malheur Counties.

1. Axford-Hunt deposit, northeast of Lady Frances mine, SWi sec. 16, extending into SE\ sec. 17, T. 6 S., R. 14 E.

2. Lady Frances mine, on Deschutes River, sec. 24, T. 6S., R. 13 E.

3. Deposit at Dooley Mountains in southern Baker County.

4. Deposit at Juniper Ridge, southwest of Burns.

5. Deposit in Steens Mountains.

6. Deposit 10 miles south of Paisley on U. S. Highway 395 to Lakeview.

7. Deposit in Cedar Mountains near Owyhee.

8. Northwest Perlite Corp., 9 miles north of Jordan Valley.

Pennsylvania:

Processing plants in Lehigh, Allegheny, and Delaware Counties.

1. Pennsylvania Perlite Corp., Schoenersville.

2. Panacalite Perlite Co., 340 North Braddock Avenue, Pittsburgh. 

.3. Perlite Manufacturing Co., Carnegie. 

4. Perlite Products Co., Inc., Primes.

Tennessee:

Processing plant in Davidson County. 

1. Tennessee Products and Chemical Corp., Nashville.

Texas:

Deposits and processing plants in Tarrant, Dallas, Nolan, Midland, and 

Hudspeth Counties.

1. Texas Perlite Corp. plant, 2611 North Sylvania Street, Fort Worth.

2. Texas Panacalite Co. plant, 117 North Britain Road, Irving.

3. United States Gypsum Co. plant at Sweetwater.

4. Perlite Industries, Inc., plant at Terminal.

5. Perlite of Houston, Inc., plant, Houston.

6. Small deposits of perlite near Eagle Spring and Panther Bluff.

Utah:

Deposits and processing plants in Salt Lake, Tooele, Millard, Beaver, and 

Washington Counties.

1. Utco Products Co. plant at Salt Lake City.

2. Combined Metals Reduction Co. plant at Bauer.

3. Roy A. Day & Associates deposit, 2| miles from Bloom.

4. Huntsman deposit, T. 23 S., R. 8 and 9 W., about 3| miles east of 

Union Pacific Railroad main line between stations of Cruz and Bloom 

Siding, and 23 miles west of Kanosh.
400 CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONOMIC GEOLOGY

5. Christensen Construction Co. deposit near Pumice.

6. Utah Pumice and Perlite, Inc., deposit 30 miles north of Milford,

7. Utco Products Co. deposit, T. 27 N., R, 9 W., about 14 miles northeast of Milford.

8. Perlite, Inc., deposit near Milford.

9. Perlite, Inc.., plant near Milford. 

10. LeRoy A. Wilson deposit, 9 miles from Crestline, Nev.

Virginia:

Processing plant in Hope well County. 

1. Virginia Perlite Corp., Hopewell,

Washington:

Deposits in Chelan, Klickitat, King, and Pierce Counties.

1. White River area.

2. Wenatchee area,

3. Satus Creek deposit.

Wisconsin:

Processing plants in Outagamie and Milwaukee Counties.

1. Midwest Perlite Co., 912 West College Avenue, Appleton.

2. Badger Perlite Co., 3101 West Mill Road, Milwaukee.

Wyoming:

Deposit in Yellowstone National Park.

1. East side of the Firehole River, opposite Excelsior Geyser and the 

Midway Geyser basin.

LITERATURE CITED

Alien, J. E., 1946, Perlite deposits near the Deschutes River, southern Wascq 

County, Oregon: Oreg. Geol. and Min. Industry Short Paper 16, 17 p,

 , 1947, Another perlite deposit in Oregon: Ore Bin, v. 9, no. 8, p, 59=66, 

Atlantic Perlite Company, no date, Character and properties of perlite fines,

5 p., Washington, D. C. 

Barberii, E. E., 1949, Perlite used as mud-additive material proves highly

effective in tests in combating lost circulation: Oil and Ga3 Jour., v. 48,

no. 12, p. 280, 283-284.

Burbank, w, s., Levering, T, S,, Goddard, E, N,, and Eckel, E, B,, 1935,

Geologic map of Colorado: U. S. Geol. Survey. 

Bush, A. L., 1951, Sources of lightweight aggregates in Colorado: Colo. Sci.

Soc. Proc., v. 15, no. 8, p. 303-368, 

Calif. Div. Mines Min, Inf. Service, 1948, Notes on current mining activity

in California: v, 1, no, 3, 9 p.

 1951, Mining and industrial news notes: v. 4, no. 4, 8 p.

 1953, Discovery of perlite in San Benito County: v. 6, no. 6, 9 p. 

Campbell, M, R., Emery, W, B., Heald, K, C,, and others, 1925, Geologic

map of Wyoming: U. S. Geol. Survey.

Chem. and Metall. Eng., 1945, v. 52, July, p. 140, 142, 170, 172. 

Cnesterman, C. W., 1950a, Perlite deposits in Sonoma County: Calif. Jour.

Mines and Geology, v. 46, no. 1, p. 81-82. 

,_^4950b, Pumice, pumicite, and perlite: Calif. Div. Mines Bull. 156,

p. 1QQ-203.

Cochran, K. L., 1951, Perlite resources, Meadow Valley Wash area, Clark 

and Lincoln Counties, Nev.; Beaver and Millard Counties", Utah, Union Pacific

Railroad Co., 24 p.

Darton, N. H., 1928, Geologic mapofNewMexico; U. S, Geol. Survey. 

Darton, N. H., Lausen, Carl, and Wilson, E. D., .1924, Geologic map Of

Arizona: Ariz. Bur. Mines. 

Davis, F. F., 1948, Mines and mineral resources of Napa County, Calif,:

Calif. Jour. Mines and Geology, y. 44, no. 2, p, 159^188.
PERLITE RESOURCES OF THE UNITED STATES 401

Diller, J. S., 1897 (revised), Description of the Roseburgquadrangle, Oreg.: 

U. S. Geol. Survey Geol. Atlas, folio 49. [1898]

 1898, The educational series of rock specimens; U. S. Geol. Survey

Bull. 150..

Eng. and Min. Jour., 1950, v. 151, no. 5, p. 128. 

Gillerman, Elliot, 1953, Fluorspar deposits of the Eagle Mountains Trans-Pecos

Texas: U. S. Geol. Survey Bull. 987. 

Goranson, R. W., 1931, The solubility of water in granite magmas: Am. Jour.

Sci., ser. 5, v. 22, p. 481-502. 

Gustafson, F.D., 1949, The mining, milling, and processing of perlite: Am.

Inst. Min. Met. Eng. Trans., v. 184, p. 313-316. 

Hague, Arnold, 1892, Geology of the Eureka district, Nevada: U. S. Geol.

Survey Mon. 20. 

Hewett, D. F., 1931, Geology and ore deposits of the Goodsprings quadrangle,

Nev.: U. S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 162, geol. map. 

Huntting, M. T., 1949, Perlite and other volcanic glass occurrences in

Washington: Wash. Div. Mines and Geology Rept. Inv. 17, 77 p. 

Johannsen, Albert, 1932, A descriptive petrography of the igneous rocks,

Univ. Chicago Press, v. 2, 428 p. 

Lenhart, W. S., 1950, Processing perlite ore for controlled expansion: Rock

Products, v; 53, no. 10, p. 98-100. 

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402

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PERLITE RESOURCES OF THE UNITED STATES 403

INDEX

Page

Abstract........................................................................................ 375

Acknowledgments.-........-........-..---......-.-...........-.--.--..... 376

Data, source of ....................................................................... 376

Definition of perlite. .......................................................... 376

Economic aspects............................................................ 393-394

Geology..-.......-- - ... -376-379

Glasses, volcanic, characteristics................... 378,379

chemical analyses..............................................._............ 377

devitrification....... ........... ............................. 378,379

History................................ .......................................... 375-376

Introduction .......................................................................................375

Literature cited------------- 400-402

Milling- --..- -- - ------- - . 392

Mining ............................................................................................... 392

Occurrence, annotated list by states and 

counties...................... .......................................... 379, pi. 44

Arizona......................... ............................. ..... .380

Occurrence Continued Pa*e 

C alif ornia... . . - - - 380-384 

Colorado- . . .. - ........................ 384-385

Nevada........................... ................................... 385-386

New Mexico-- ....................................- 386-389

Oregon --......... ................... .. ........ ................. 389

Texas- 389

Utah,................................................-..-. .... ........ 389-390

Washington........................ . . 390-391

Wyoming........................................... . .............................. 391

Origin....................... ........................................................... 378,379

Perlite Institute..............._........._.................................................376

Petrology................................................................................. 376-379

Processing ................ - . .. ........................392

Processing plants, locations according to 

states.... ................................. .......................... 394- 400

Reserves.................................. ............................................391-392

U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1956 O - 369665