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Clinoptilolite of 

Possible Economic Value in 

Sedimentary Deposits of the 

Conterminous United States

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1332-B

8 *?

Clinoptilolite of 

Possible Economic Value in 

Sedimentary Deposits of the 

Conterminous United States

By RICHARD A. SHEPPARD

CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONOMIC GEOLOGY 

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1332-B

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON:! 971
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

ROGERS C. B. MORTON, Secretary

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

William T. Pecora, Director

Library of Congress catalog card No. 78-610524

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

Washington, D.C. 20402 - Price 20 cents
CONTENTS

Page

Abstract _.__.-......._......._.._---_-___--__-_._._._.._.._.----.-_ Bl

Introduction..____...______._...___-_--__-_-_.-___-..___..__._.._.._ 1

Acknowledgment.. _._._.__.___..______-_-_--___._.-.__....._.-._---. 2

Chemical and physical properties.-_.-__-----.-_..._.._..__...__._._.__ 2

Occurrences. _____________-_-._..._____--__---______....___._-_-___- 3

Economic considerations...._._.__.-.___-__-_______.___.______..___.. 9

References cited..__.._..._..__.__.__.__.._..._..._._._._.._....___-. 10

ILLUSTRATIONS

Page

FIGURE 1. Plot showing the compositional variation of clinoptilolite and

heulandite..__...____..______.__...___._.._.._.._...._.. B2

2. X-ray diffractometer trace of clinoptilolite from a tuff bed in the

Barstow Formation of California. .____ _._.._.___........_. 4

3. Map showing occurrences of clinoptilolite in sedimentary rocks of

the conterminous United States...._.._.____.._._...-..... 10

TABLE

Page

TABLE 1. Occurrences of clinoptilolite in sedimentary rocks of the conterminous United States.-______---_._____________________ B5

in

CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONOMIC GEOLOGY

CLINOPTILOLITE OF POSSIBLE ECONOMIC

VALUE IN SEDIMENTARY DEPOSITS OF

THE CONTERMINOUS UNITED STATES

By RICHARD A. SHEPPARD

ABSTRACT

Clinoptilolite is a very common zeolite, and it has formed in sedimentary rocks 

of diverse lithology, age, and depositional environment. Extensive and nearly 

monomineralic beds of clinoptilolite are especially common in Cenozoic rocks that 

originally contained silicic vitric material. Clinoptilolite is potentially valuable 

for many industrial and agricultural processes, and it may find extensive use in the 

control of water pollution by the removal of ammonia from wastewater.

INTRODUCTION

This report summarizes the chemical and physical properties of the 

zeolite clinoptilolite and briefly discusses its occurrence in sedimentary 

deposits of the conterminous United States. Clinoptilolite is potentially valuable for many industrial processes, and it may find extensive use in the control of water pollution as an agent for the removal of 

ammonia from wastewater (Mercer, 1969).

Zeolites are among the most common authigenic silicate minerals 

that occur in sedimentary rocks. They have formed in rocks that are 

diverse in lithology, age, and depositional environment (Hay, 1966). 

Authigenic zeolites are especially common in Cenozoic sedimentary 

rocks that originally contained silicic vitric material. Nearly monomineralic beds of zeolite are known from many areas of the United 

States, but most zeolitic sedimentary rocks consist of two or more 

zeolites as well as clay minerals, silica minerals, and feldspars of 

authigenic origin. Zeolitic rocks also commonly contain relict vitric 

material and pyrogenic or detrital grains.

Clinoptilolite is probably the most abundant authigenic zeolite that 

occurs in sedimentary rocks. The original description of clinoptilolite 

was of material from amygdales in a basaltic rock from Wyoming 

(Pirsson, 1890; Schaller, 1932). Occurrences of this zeolite, however, 

have subsequently been reported chiefly from sedimentary rocks, 

especially those originally rich in silicic vitric material.

Bl
B2 CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONOMIC GEOLOGY

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Grateful appreciation is expressed to those colleagues in the U.S. 

Geological Survey who contributed to this assembly of data on occurrences of clinoptilolite.

CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

Clinoptilolite is a member of the heulandite structural group. 

Although there is still some disagreement on the distinction between 

the closely related zeolites of this group, most workers agree that 

clinoptilolite is the Si-rich (Hey and Bannister, 1934; Mumpton, 1960) 

and alkali-rich member (Mason and Sand, 1960). The compositions of 

clinoptilolite and heulandite from various rock types are presented 

in figure 1. Except for a slight overlap in the Si:Al+Fe+3 and 

Na+K:Na + K+Ca+Mg ratios, plots of the compositions form two 

clusters. Heulandite characteristically has a Na+K:Na+K+Ca+Mg

i.o

o 

0.75

A

o 

o

o

z

0.50

0.25

O

o o A

A

.**

2 3 4 5 e

Si: AI+Fe"1" 3

FIGURE 1. Plot showing the compositional variation of clinoptilolite and 

heulandite. O, clinoptilolite from sedimentary rocks; A, clinoptilolite from volcanic rocks; , heulandite from igneous rocks.
CLINOPTILOLITE OF POSSIBLE ECONOMIC VALUE IN U.S. B3

ratio less than 0.5 and a Si:Al+Fe+3 ratio near 3, whereas most 

clinoptilolites have a Na+K:Na+K+Ca+Mg ratio greater than 0.6 

and range in Si:Al+Fe+3 ratio from about 4.0 to 5.0. The clinoptilolites 

from sedimentary rocks show a range in Si:Al+Fe+3 ratio of about 

3.9-5.6. Sodium is the predominant cation in most clinoptilolites; 

however, potassic clinoptilolites are known in California (Sheppard 

and others, 1965) and in Japan (Minato and Takano, 1964). The few 

analyzed clinoptilolites that have a Na+K:Na+K + Ca+Mg ratio 

less than 0.6 are calcic specimens from volcanic rocks in Bulgaria 

(Kirov, 1965) and in Italy (Alietti, 1968).

Indices of refraction and thermal treatment have also been used to 

distinguish clinoptilolite from heulandite. Mason and Sand (1960) 

suggested that clinoptilolite can be identified by a /3 index of refraction 

of 1.485 or lower and that heulandite can be identified by a 0 index of 

1.488 or higher. Most clinoptilolites from sedimentary rocks have a 

mean index of refraction of 1.471-1.483 and a low birefringence of 

about 0.003. Heulandite is thermally unstable above about 250°C, 

whereas clinoptilolite is stable to at least 750°C (Mumpton, 1960; 

Shepard and Starkey, 1964). However, some members of the 

heulandite structural group from sedimentary rocks display anomalous 

optical properties and exhibit anomalous thermal behavior, and these 

members cannot be conveniently classified as clinoptilolite or 

heulandite (Hay, 1963; Shepard, 1961).

Clinoptilolite occurs as platy or prismatic crystals that are 0.005-0.3 

mm (millimeter) long; however, most clinoptilolite crystals are 0.01- 

0.02 mm long. Some of the large clinoptilolite crystals show progressive or oscillatory zoning (Sheppard and Gude, 1969b, p. 13). Because 

of the relatively small crystal size and the optical and physical properties that are similar to the other authigenic zeolites, X-ray powder 

diffraction techniques are generally used for positive identification of 

clinoptilolite. A typical X-ray diffractometer trace of clinoptilolite is 

shown in figure 2.

OCCURRENCES

Clinoptilolite is the zeolite most often reported from sedimentary deposits in recent years, and it occurs in many rock types 

from lacustrine, fluviatile, and marine environments (table 1, fig. 3). 

Although clinoptilolite is most abundant in rocks of Cenozoic age, 

it has been found in rocks as old as Jurassic in New Mexico (E. S. 

Santos, oral commun., 1970). Occurrences of clinoptilolite are 

especially common in the Western United States. Clinoptilolite is also 

a common and locally abundant constituent in Tertiary sedimentary 

rocks of the Coastal Plain from southeastern Texas to North Carolina 

and northward to western Kentucky (fig. 3).

At the localities listed in table 1 the clinoptilolite content of the 

rock samples ranges from less than 1 percent to nearly 100 percent.
B4 CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONOMIC GEOLOGY

ea 

0

CO 

LU 

LU 

K 

O 

LJ 

O

O

Jtt

2 o

2
CLINOPTILOLITE OF POSSIBLE ECONOMIC VALUE IN U.S. B5

TABLE 1. Occurrences of clinoptilolite in sedimentary rocks of the 

conterminous United States

(Locality numbers are shown in figure 3. Asterisk (*) indicates localities where beds are at least 

1 foot thick and contain at least 75 percent clinoptilolite]

Locality Occurrence References 

Montana

1. Near Vaughn, Cascade County. .. Tuff and tuffaceous siltstone and Cobban (1955, p. 110); Fox

sandstone in the Taft Hill, (1966, p. 13); R. E. Van 

Vaughn, and Bootlegger Mem- Loenen (written combers of the Blackleaf Formation mun., 1968). 

of Cretaceous age.

2. Near Big Sandy, sec. 22, T. 29 N., Sandstone in the Wasatch Forma- J. D. Vine (oral commun., 

R. 14 E., Chouteau County. tion of Eocene age. 1970).

3. Near Harlem, Blaine County..... Bentonite in the Bearpaw Shale of Berg (1969).

Cretaceous age.

4. Near Turner, Blaine County ... ....do..............-.---.----. Do.

5. Near Livingston, Park County_. Tuffaceous mudstone, siltstone, and Roberts (1963); Sims

sandstone in the Livingston (1969). 

Group of Cretaceous age. 1

6. Near Joliet, Carbon County...... Bentonite in the Claggett Forma- Berg (1969).

tion of Cretaceous age.

7. Near Bridger, Carbon County.... Bentonite in the Thermopolis Shale Do.

of Cretaceous age.

8. Near Acton, Yellowstone County.. Bentonite in the Bearpaw Shale of Do.

Cretaceous age.

Idaho

9. Near Preston, Franklin County*.. Tuff in the Salt Lake Group of late Deffeyes (1959a).

Tertiary age.

Washington

10. Near Renton, King County...... Sandstone and conglomerate in un- D. R. Mullineaux (oral

named marine formation of commun., 1969). 

Oligocene age.

Oregon

11. Near Bearbones Mountain, Lane Tuff and lapilli tuff in the Little Moore and Peck (1962, p. 

County.* Butte Volcanic Series of Oligo- 188); Peck and others

cene and Miocene age. (1964, p. 15, 40).

12. Near Stein's Pillar, Crook County. Tuff in the John Day Formation of Waters (1966).

Oligocene and Miocene age.

13. Near the Painted Hills, Wheeler Tuff and claystone in the lower part Hay (1962, 1963). 

County.* of the John Day Formation of

Oligocene and Miocene age.

14. Near Deep Creek, Wheeler Tuff in the lower part of the John Fisher (1962,1963); Wilcox 

County.* Day Formation of Oligocene and and Fisher (1966).

Miocene age.

15. Swayze Creek, near Durkee, Tuff in unnamed lacustrine forma- A. J. Gude 3d (oral comBaker County. tion of Pliocene age. mun., 1970).

16. Sucker Creek, Malheur County*. . Tuff, and tuffaceous sandstone in the Kittleman and others

Sucker Creek Formation of Mio- (1965). 

cene age.

17. Near Sheaville, Malheur County*. Tuff probably equivalent to part of Sheppard and Walker

the Sucker Creek Formation of (1969). 

Miocene age.

18. Near Rome, Malheur County_.. Tuff and tuffaceous sandstone in Regis and Sand (1966);

unnamed lacustrine formation of Studer (1967); Sheppard 

Pliocene age. and Gude (1969a).

19. East face of Steens Mountain, Tuff in .the Pike Creek Formation of Walker and Repenning 

Harney County. Oligocene(?) and Miocene age. (1965).

20. Near Harney Lake, Harney Tuff and tuffaceous sedimentary Walker and Swanson 

County.* rocks in the Danforth Formation (1968a).

of Pliocene age.

21. West face of Hart Mountain, Tuff and tuffaceous sedimentary Walker and Swanson 

Lake County.* rocks of late Oligocene or early (1968b).

Miocene age.

1 Zeolite identified as heulandite.
B6 CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONOMIC GEOLOGY

TABLE 1. Occurrences of cUnoptilolite in sedimentary rocks of the 

conterminous United States Continued

Locality Occurrence References

Wyoming

22. Near Pedro, Weston County*--_._

23. Southeast flank of North Butte, 

Campbell County.

24. Near Lysite Mountain, Hot 

Springs County.*

25. Snake River Canyon, Lincoln 

County.

26. Near Cameron Spring on Beaver 

Rim, Fremont County.

27. Beaver Rim, Fremont County*. . .

28. Near Split Rock, Natrona 

County.*

29. Near Green River, Sweetwater 

County.

30. Near Twin Buttes, Sweetwater 

County.*

Bentonite in the Sharon Springs

Member of the Pierre Shale of

Cretaceous age.

Sandstone in the Wasatch Formation of Eocene age. 

Tuff in the Tepee Trail Formation

of Eocene age. 

Shale in the Aspen Formation of

Cretaceous age. 1 

Tuffaceous sandstone in the White

River Formation of Oligocene

age. 

Tuff in the Wagon Bed Formation

of Eocene age. 

Tuff in the Moonstone Formation

of Pliocene age. 

Tuff in the Tipton Shale Member of

the Green River Formation of

Eocene age. 

Tuff and tuffaceous sandstone in

the Bridger Formation of Eocene

age.

Bramlette and Posnjak 

(1933); J. R. Gill (oral 

commun., 1970).

J. D. Vine (oral commun., 

1970).

J. D. Love (written commun., 1964).

Heinrich (1963).

Van Houten (1964, p. 65).

Van Houten (1964); Boles

(1968). 

Love (1970).

Goodwin and Surdam 

(1967).

R. A. Sheppard (unpub. 

data).

South Dakota

31. Near Chamberlain, Buffalo 

County.

32. Sheep Mountain Table, Shannon 

County.*

Bentonite in the Sharon Springs Schultz (1963).

Member of the Pierre Shale of

Cretaceous age. 

Tuff in the Arikaree Formation of Schultz (1961).

Miocene age.

Colorado

33. Near Vermillion Cliffs, sec. 30, T. Tuff in the Bridger Formation of A. J. Gude 3d (oral com10 N., R. 98 W., Moffat County.* Eocene age. num., 1966).

34. Near Como, sec. 11, T. 8 S., R. 76 Tuff and tuffaceous sandstone in D. G. Wyant (oral comW., Park County. the Denver Formation of Late mun., 1970).

Cretaceous and Paleocene age.

35. Near Creede, Mineral County*.... Tuff in the Windy Gulch Member Ratte" and Steven (1967, p.

of the Bachelor Mountain Rhyo- H7). 

lite of Oligocene age.

Utah

36. Near Mountain Green, sec. 24, T. Tuff in the Salt Lake Formation of R. A. Sheppard (unpub. 

5 N., R. 1 E., Morgan County.* Tertiary age. data).

37. Eastern flank of Topaz Mountain, Tuff in unnamed formation of Plio- D. A. Lindsey (oral cornsee. 5, T. 13 S., R. 11 W., Juab cene(?) age. mun., 1970). 

County.*

38. Gunnison Plateau, sec. 12, T. 16 S., Sandstone in the Colton Formation J. D. Vine (oral commun., 

R. 1 E., Juab County. of Eocene age. 1970).

39. Northern part of the Markagunt Tuffaceous sandstone of Oligocene Anderson (1969). 

Plateau, Iron County. and Miocene(?) age.

Nevada

40. Near Elko, Elko County......... Oil shale in unnamed formation of Deffeyes (1959a).

Oligocene age.

41. Near Carlin, Eureka County*___ Tuff in the Safford Canyon Forma- Deffeyes (1959a); Regnier

tion of Oligocene(?) or Mio- (1960). 

cene(?) age and the Carlin Formation of Pliocene age.

42. West flank of the Shoshone Range, Tuff in unnamed lacustrine forma- Deffeyes (1959b). 

Lander County. tion of Pliocene age.

43. Reese River, Lander County...... ....do ---.--.-----..-.-.... Do.

44. Jersey Valley, Pershing County*.. _.--do_--_....-------.-........ Do.

1 Zeolite identified as heulandile.
CLINOPTILOLITE OF POSSIBLE ECONOMIC VALUE IN U.S. B7

TABLE 1. Occurrences of clinoptilolite in sedimentary rocks of the 

conterminous United States Continued

Locality Occurrence References 

Nevada Continued

45. Near Lovelock, sec. 20, T. 28 N., Tuff in unnamed lacustrine forma- R. A. Sheppard (unpub. 

R. 30 E., Pershing County.* tion of late Tertiary age. data).

46. Near Eastgate, sec. 28, T. 17 N., -.-.do.------------.----------- Do.

R. 36 E., Churchill County.*

47. Teels Marsh, Mineral County.... Tuff in lacustrine deposit of Qua- Hay (1964, 1966); Cook

ternary age. and Hay (1965).

48. Near Silver Peak, Esmeralda Tuff in the Esmeralda Formation of Moiola (1964a, 1964b); 

County.* Miocene and Pliocene age. Robinson (1966).

49. Near Goldfield, Esmeralda Tuffaceous sandstone in the Siebert R. J. Moiola (written cornCounty. Formation of Tertiary age. mun., 1964).

50. Nevada Test Site, Nye County *__. Tuff and lapilli tuff of Tertiary age. Gibbons and others (1960);

Hoover (1966, 1968); 

Hoover and Shepard 

(1965).

51. Near Bullfrog Hills, Nye County.. Tuff of Tertiary age..-..----.-.. Cornwall (1962).

California

52. Death Valley, sec. 2, T. 26 N., R. Tuff in the Furnace Creek Forma- J. F. McAllister (written 

2 E., Inyo County.* tion of Pliocene age. commun., 1965).

53. Lake Tecopa, Inyo County*-..... Tuff in lacustrine depositor Pleisto- Sheppard and Gude (1968).

cene age.

54. Owens Lake, Inyo County....... Tuff and tuffaceous sediments of Hay (1964, 1966).

Pleistocene age.

55. Mojave Desert, eastern Kern Tuff and tuffaceous rocks in num- Kerr and Cameron (1936); 

County and San Bernardino erous formations of late Tertiary Ames and others (1958); 

County.* and Quaternary age. Sheppard and Gude

(1964, 1965, 1969b).

56. Near Branciforte Creek, Santa Tuffaceous sandstone in the Santa Gilbert and McAndrews 

Cruz County. Margarita Formation of Miocene (1948).

age.

57. Near Nipomo, San Luis Obispo Tuff in the Obispo Formation of Bramlette and Posnjak 

County.* Miocene age. (1933); Surdam and Hall

(1968).

58. Near Oakview, Ventura County... Bentonite in the Modelo Formation Kerr (1931).

of Miocene age. 1

59. Near San Pedro, Los Angeles Dolomitic sandstone in the Mon- Spotts and Silverman 

County. terey Formation of Miocene age. (1966).

Arizona

60. Near Wikieup, Mohave County*.. Tuff in unnamed lacustrine forma- Sheppard (1969).

tion of Pliocene age.

61. Near Dome, Yuma County*..._._ Bentonite and tuff in unnamed Bramlette and Posnjak

lacustrine formation of late Ter- (1933). 

tiary age.

62. Near Horseshoe Reservoir, sec. 3, Tuff in the Verde Formation of R. A. Sheppard (unpub. 

T. 7 N., R. 6 E., Maricopa Pliocene(?) or Pleistocene age. data). 

County.*

63. Near Nutrioso, Apache County... Tuff and sandstone in unnamed for- Wrucke (1961).

mation of Tertiary age.

64. Near Morenci, Greenlee County... Tuff and lapilli tuff in unnamed for- Sheppard (1969).

mation of Tertiary age.

65. Along San Simon Creek, Cochise Tuff in unnamed lacustrine forma- Sand and Regis (1966); 

and Graham Counties.* tion of late Cenozoic age. Regis and Sand (1967).

New Mexico

66. Near Bayard, Grant County*__ . Tuff in the Sugarlump Tuff of Oligo- Jones and others (1967, p.

cene age. 104).

67. Near Cuba, sec. 25, T. 20 N., R. 1 Tuff and tuffaceous sandstone in the E.S. Santos (oral commun., 

W., Sandoval County. Brushy Basin Member of the 1970). 

Morrison Formation of Jurassic 

age.

1 Zeolite identified as heulandite.
B8 CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONOMIC GEOLOGY

TABLE 1. Occurrences of clinoptilolite in sedimentary rocks of the 

conterminous United States Continued

Locality Occurrence References 

Texas

68. Near Coy City, Karnes County. . . Tuff and tuffaceous sandstone in the Weeks and others (1958);

Jackson Group of Eocene age. Weeks and Eargle (1963).

69. Near Tilden, McMullen County*.. Tuff in Jackson Group of Eocene Eargle (1968, p. D24);

age and the Gueydan Formation McBride and others 

of Oligocene or Miocene age. (1968).

Mississippi

70. Near Meridian, Lauderdale Tuffaceous sandstone in the Merid- Wermund and Moiola 

County. ian Sand of Eocene age. (1966).

Alabama

71. Near Nettleboro, Clarke County. . Tuffaceous sandstone in the Merid- Wermund and Moiola

ian Sand of Eocene age. (1966).

72. Near McKenzie, Butler County*.. Tuff and tuffaceous claystone in the Reynolds (1966).

Tallahatta Formation of Eocene 

age.

Kentucky

73. Near Paducah, McCracken Claystone in the Clayton(?) For- Sohn and others (1961); 

County. mation of Paleocene age and clay Finch (1966).

in the Porters Creek Clay of 

Paleocene age.

Tennessee

74. Near Jackson, Madison County... Fossiliferous rock of Paleocene age.1 Switzer and Boucot (1955).

Florida

75. Near Caryville, Washington Suwanee Limestone of Oligocene Switzer and Boucot (1955). 

County. age. 1

South Carolina

76. Near Coosawhatchie, Jasper Clay in the Hawthorn Formation Heron and Johnson (1966). 

County. of Miocene age and the Santee

Limestone of Eocene age.

77. Central South Carolina. ......... Mudstone in the Black Mingo For- Heron (1969).

mation of Paleocene and Eocene 

age.

North Carolina

78. Near Eward, Beaufort County.... Phosphorite in the Pungo River Rooney and Kerr (1964);

Formation of Miocene age. Cathcart (1968).

1 Zeolite identified as heulandite.
CLINOPTILOLITE OF POSSIBLE ECONOMIC VALUE IN U.S. B9

Localities where beds are at least 1 foot thick and consist of at least 75 

percent clinoptilolite (table 1) are marked by an asterisk. Some beds 

that have a relatively low content of clinoptilolite probably originally 

contained a high content of crystal and rock fragments. Other clinoptilolite-poor beds contain much relict vitric material or authigenic clay 

minerals and opal. Tuff beds rich in clinoptilolite are commonly white 

to pale gray, are very well indurated, and are low in porosity, and they 

generally break with a blocky to conchoidal fracture.

ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS

Clinoptilolite is used on a very limited scale in the United States 

in the extraction of radioactive cesium from atomic-energy waste 

effluent (Brown, 1962). The ion exchange and molecular sieve properties of clinoptilolite coupled with a seemingly low cost of mining suggest a much wider and more varied application in future years. Barrer 

and Makki (1964) showed that a wide range of sorbents could be produced from clinoptilolite by acid treatment. Thus, the potential uses of 

clinoptilolite are considerably increased by chemical and structural 

modifications of the natural material.

Clinoptilolite is currently mined and used for a variety of industrial 

and agricultural processes in Japan. Minato and Utada (1969) 

described the following uses: desiccant for gases, separator of oxygen 

from air, adsorbent for obnoxious odors in farm yards, filler and 

whitening agent for paper, and a soil conditioner to increase the effectiveness of chemical fertilizers. More clinoptilolite is mined in Japan 

for the last use than for any of the other uses listed.

Laboratory and pilot-plant studies by Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Battelle Memorial Institute, Richland, Wash. (Mercer, 1969; 

Mercer and others, 1970), indicate that clinoptilolite is effective in the 

removal of ammonia from wastewater. Clinoptilolite used in these 

studies was obtained from Hector, Calif. (Ames and others, 1958). 

Recent legislation in some States and cities has made the removal of 

ammonia a necessary step in the treatment of wastewater in many 

parts of the United States. Although more research is needed on the 

durability, reliability of different sources, and methods of regeneration 

(Holcomb, 1970), large quantities of this zeolite would be required for 

wastewater treatment. Mercer (1969, p. 210) estimated on the basis of 

a pilot-plant study that 480,000 cubic feet of clinoptilolite would be 

required to treat the wastewater presently discharged from Detroit, 

Mich.
BIO CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONOMIC GEOLOGY

C& --T-- J

 NORTH DAKOTA

/ 25 .24 22 I SOUTH DAKOTA

I * fXrtr**. _ O-^ * .' Op *

TEXAS

<s

500 MILES

>N-x./ \ 68. 

\ *69 

\

FIGURE 3. Map showing occurrences of clinoptilolite in sedimentary rocks of the

REFERENCES CITED

Alietti, Andrea, 1968, Heulanditi e clinoptiloliti: Mineralog. et Petrbg. Acta, v, 13,

p. 119-137 (includes English summ.). 

Ames, L. L., Jr., Sand, L. B., and Goldich, S. S., 1958, A contribution on the Hector,

California, bentonite deposit: Econ. Geology, v. 53, no. 1, p. 22-37. 

Anderson, J. J., 1969, Oligocene and Miocene (?) volcanic arenite sedimentation,

southern High Plateaus, Utah, in Abstracts for 1968: Geol. Soc. America Spec.

Paper 121, p. 586. 

Barrer, R. M., and Makki, M. B., 1964, Molecular sieve sorbents from clinoptilolite:

Canadian Jour. Chemistry, v. 42, no. 6, p. 1481-1487. 

Berg, R. B., 1969, Bentonite in Montana: Montana Bur. Mines and Geology Bull.

74, 34 p.
CLINOPTILOLITE OF POSSIBLE ECONOMIC VALUE IN U.S. Bll

4 74 TENNESSEE ^ _____ 

\ * - '-f SOlTtH .

i ARKANSAS /~~-T ^

' \ GEORGIA V 

_- - < MISS i ALABAMA'^

' 1 ' y'

conterminous United States. Data for numbered localities are given in table 1.

Boles, J. R., 1968, Zeolites and authigenic feldspar along a part of the Beaver Rim, 

Fremont County, Wyoming: Laramie, Wyoming Univ. M.S. thesis, 64 p.

Bramlette, M. N., and Posnjak, Eugen, 1933, Zeolitic alteration of pyroclastics: 

Am. Mineralogist, v. 18, no. 4, p. 167-171.

Brown, R. E., 1962, The use of clinoptilolite: Ore Bin, v. 24, no. 12, p. 193-197.

Cathcart, J. B., 1968, Phosphate in the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains, in Brown, 

L. F., Jr., ed., Fourth forum on geology of industrial minerals, Austin, Texas, 

1968, Proceedings: Texas Univ. Bur. Econ. Geology, p. 23-34.

Cobban, W. A., 1955, Cretaceous rocks of northwestern Montana, in Billings Geological Society Guidebook 6th Annual Field Conference, September 1955: p. 

107-119.

Cook, H. E., and Hay, R. L., 1965, Salinity control of zeolite reaction rates in Teels
B12 CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONOMIC GEOLOGY

Marsh, Nevada, in Abstracts for 1964: Geol. Soc. America Spec. Paper 82,

p. 31-32. 

Cornwall, H. R., 1962, Calderas and associated volcanic rocks near Beatty, Nye

County, Nevada, in Engel, A. E. J., James, H. L., and Leonard, B. F., eds.,

Petrologic studies (Buddington volume): New York, Geol. Soc. America, p.

357-371. 

Deffeyes, K. S., 1959a, Zeolites in sedimentary rocks: Jour. Sed. Petrology, v. 29,

no. 4, p. 602-609.

 1959b, Erionite from Cenozoic tuffaceous sediments, central Nevada: Am.

Mineralogist, v. 44, nos. 5-6, p. 501-509. 

Eargle, D. H., 1968, Nomenclature of formations of Claiborne Group, middle Eocene,

Coastal Plain of Texas: U.S. Geol. Survey Bull. 1251-D, 25 p. 

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CLINOPTILOLITE OF POSSIBLE ECONOMIC VALUE IN U.S. B13

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B14 CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONOMIC GEOLOGY

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