The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) made a reconnaissance geochemical survey of the Adams Gap and Shinbone Creek Roadless Areas (fig. 1) to test for unidentified, indistinct, or unexposed mineral deposits that might be recognized by their geochemical halos or patterns formed by the distribution of trace elements. Similar geochemical surveys based on trace element analyses have been credited with the discovery of many types of ore deposits (Rose and others, 1979). No metallic-mineral deposits are reported in the rocks of the study area, and none were found during the reconnaissance geologic mapping. However, in the vicinity of the study area, the same sequence of rocks contains abandoned prospects for manganese, iron, and pyrite.
Reports covering the mineral resources of Clay County and vicinity include Brewer (1896) and Adams (1930) on gold, Prouty (1923) on graphite, and Heinrich and Olson (1953) on mica. The mineral resources of the Talladega National Forest were evaluated by Gilbert and Smith (1973). The mineral resource potential of the two roadless areas is detailed in Robinson and others (1983) and an accompanying geologic report is given in Robinson and others (in press).
