Industrial Minerals of Alberta

Industrial minerals form an integral part of an expanding industrial economy, and an adequate and accessible supply is essential for the full development of any region. Because of comparatively low value per unit weight or volume, evaluation of deposits should consider fully the proximity to cheap transportation, and existing and potential markets. This report is intended to summarize published and unpublished information which is available on the industrial mineral resources of Alberta. Data on the more important minerals have been reviewed a number of times in the post-war years (e.g. Collins and Gregory, 1954), and a number of individual minerals have also received some attention, for example, bentonite (Byrne, 1955), and salt (Crockford, 1949). However, there has been no comprehensive account for this vital post-war period during which the production of industrial minerals has quadrupled in value (Figs. 1 and 2). The value of Alberta's production of industrial minerals was 1 million dollars in 1936, 5 million in 1946, and over 20 million in 1956. These figures are equivalent to 3.65, 5.01 and 5.18 per cent respectively of the total Canadian production of industrial minerals. The rapid expansion of the petroleum industry after 1947 naturally favored an increase in population, and the resultant increased demand for industrial minerals is indicated by the industrial minerals production statistics (Fig. 2). A map (Fig. 3) and a stratigraphic table (Fig. 4) are included to show the distribution of the more important industrial mineral deposits. These minerals receive full consideration in individual chapters. Furthermore, a number of mineral deposits which are not yet developed have also been treated in detail with the aim of creating interest in further expansion of the economy of Alberta. To maintain the comprehensive nature of this report, data on mineral deposits of only minor importance have been briefly mentioned. Most of the information contained in this report has been derived from published accounts, although some material taken from the Research Council of Alberta files has not hitherto been published. A list of references has been given at the end of each chapter and, although this procedure has led to some duplication of references, it is hoped that the arrangement will aid the reader who is interested in one particular mineral. To further this latter aim, a list of general references has been included in most chapters, in addition to those actually cited.