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Clay Mineralogy, Alteration History, and Economic Geology of the Whitemud Formation, Southern Saskatchewan, Canada

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 April 2024

Robert J. Pruett  and
Haydn H. Murray
Robert J. Pruett*
Affiliation:
Department of Geosciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405
Haydn H. Murray
Affiliation:
Department of Geosciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405
*
1Present address: ECCI (Americas), Technology Center, P.O. Box 471, Sandersville, Georgia 31082.
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Abstract

The Upper Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Whitemud Formation is a potentially commercial kaolin deposit located in southern Saskatchewan and southeastern Alberta. The Whitemud Formation contains a lower kaolinitic sandstone, a middle lignite and carbonaceous shale, and an upper interbedded siltstone and claystone. The sediments that comprise the rocks of the Whitemud Formation were deposited on alluvial or upper deltaic plains located along the northwest flank of the Williston Basin.

Mineralogy and textures were determined by X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and optical microscopy. Kaolinite abundance increases upward from the underlying rocks of the Eastend Formation through the Whitemud Formation, and the abundance of smectite, micas, and feldspars decreases from the Eastend Formation into the Whitemud Formation. Vermiform kaolinite crystals are in close spatial association with feldspar and mica grains. Near the top of the Whitemud Formation, etched quartz and feldspar grains, and gibbsite suggest the presence of a strong chemical leaching environment.

Mineral distributions, presence of root remains, pedologic mottles, grain coatings composed of clay, and soil horizons indicate the Whitemud Formation sediments were modified by intense weathering in a paleosol environment.

Kaolin concentrated from selected kaolinitic sandstone deposits, and beneficiated by oxidation, leaching, and high-intensity wet-magnetic separation has a product brightness up to filler quality. Recovery of lowabrasion kaolin is low and viscosity of a fine-particle kaolin fraction is high. Economics of producing a wet-processed filler-grade kaolin is marginal.

Keywords

AbrasionBrightnessEastend FormationFrenchman FormationKaolinKaolinitePaleosolWhitemud Formation
Type
Research Article
Information
Clays and Clay Minerals , Volume 39 , Issue 6 , December 1991 , pp. 586 - 596
Copyright
Copyright © 1991, The Clay Minerals Society

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