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High alumina metamorphic rocks of the Kings Mountain district, North Carolina and South Carolina

January 1, 1954

The following evidence suggests that high alumina quartzite in this district is of metasedimentary origin: high alumina quartzite occurs as well defined thin beds that can be traced up to three and one half miles along strike; many outcrops of high alumina quartzite exhibit compositional layering (i.e., kyanigte quartzite is interlayered with staurolite quartzite, and with non-kyanitic magnetiferous quartzite); high alumina quartzite beds occur in a conformable sequence of high alumina metasedimentary and metavolcanic schists. It is suggested that the high alumina quartzite beds are metamorphosed beds of sandy or silty clay; these beds probably represent one stage in the deposition of fine grained clayey clastic sediments.

No evidence was found to support the view of Smith and Newcombe (1951) that the kyanite at Henry Knob developed by hudrothermal introduction of alumina. The present study indicates that kyanite in the kyanite quartzite here, as throughout the district, is of metasedimentary origin.

Publication Year 1954
Title High alumina metamorphic rocks of the Kings Mountain district, North Carolina and South Carolina
DOI 10.3133/ofr54248
Authors Donald Brandreth Potter
Publication Type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Series Title Open-File Report
Series Number 54-248
Index ID ofr54248
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse