Most of the state is covered with sedimentary rocks, with exposures of igneous and metamorphic rocks being confined to the east-central part of the state. Alabama minerals vary from common rock-forming minerals such as clay, calcite, and quartz to precious metals such as gold.
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What kind of rocks are found in Alabama?
Alabama consists of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rock formations giving rise to numerous minerals and stones such as hematite, quartz, pyrite, agate, beryl, garnets, onyx, tourmaline, clay, marble, limestone, copper, galena, fossils and many more.
Is there Flint in Alabama?
The Flint River, 65.7 mi (105.7 km) long and draining an area of 568 sq mi (1,470 km2), is a tributary to the Tennessee River. The river rises in Lincoln County, Tennessee, and flows south into Madison County, Alabama, where most of the river’s watershed (342 sq.
Flint River (Alabama)
| Flint River | |
|---|---|
| • average | 642 cu/ft. per sec. |
Where can I dig for gems in Alabama?
The best places to collect rocks in Alabama include the areas around Tuscaloosa, Ashland, Rockford, Alexander City. You can also pan for gold and gems at the Alabama Gold Camp. These locations offer a diverse array of rocks and minerals such as agate, jasper, petrified wood, quartz, and garnet.
What is Alabama’s state mineral?
Hematite
Hematite, an oxide of iron (Fe2O3), is also known as “red iron ore” and in 1967 was designated as the State Mineral by the Alabama Legislature. Hematite was mined for many years in the Valley and Ridge area of central and northeastern Alabama.
Where are Cretaceous rocks found in Alabama?
One interesting sidelight of Alabama’s Cretaceous formations is the Wetumpka Crater, or Astrobleme. Located northeast of Montgomery, this crater-shaped feature contains Coastal Plain layers that are bent up at very high angles; this is the only place in Alabama’s Coastal Plain where the strata are so highly deformed.
Is turquoise found in Alabama?
Among the more popular gems and collectible minerals found in Alabama are agate quartz, amethyst, andalusite, apatite, calcite, emeralds, fluorite, ilmenite, magnetite, monazite, onyx, opal, rutile, tourmaline and turquoise.
What crystals are found in Alabama?
A wide variety of gemstones can be found in Alabama. The state’s official gemstone is star blue quartz found along the Flint River in Madison County. Other gems found in Alabama are amethyst, beryl, onyx, agate, staurolite, tourmaline, turquoise, opal, andalusite, jasper, or garnet.
Are there crystals in Alabama?
Small quartz crystals may be found in cavities in limestone in the rocks of north Alabama, and large quartz crystals have been found associated with the coarse-grained rocks known as pegmatites, found in east Alabama.
Can you find geodes in Alabama?
Geodes can be discovered in the streams and meadows surrounding Athens, Alabama. Numerous geodes from this region have been collected by scores of people on rockhounding Alabama adventures. The sizes found to include a quartz geode the size of small balls or even a football.
Is there gold in Alabama creeks?
The Tallapoosa River, Crooked Creek, and Wesobulga Creek are good locations for placer gold in Clay County. Look throughout this beautiful county along smaller streams and creeks, you may find some good Alabama gold locations.
Are there any diamond mines in Alabama?
Mine Overview
The Diamond Graphite Mine is near Stewartville, Alabama. Historically the site has been associated with the Alabama Tin Belt-Coosa Mining District which is now part of the Talladega National Forest.
Can you find petrified wood in Alabama?
Petrified wood occurs across the state of Alabama, where it is often called “brilliant wood” because of its discovery near Brilliant and its lustrous sheen caused by cavities lined with quartz crystals.
What is Alabama State Fruit?
Blackberries
What is Alabama State nut?
Pecans
It comes from the pecan tree which is grown all over Alabama. Pecans are good sources of vitamin B-6 and are used in many southern recipes such as pralines and pecan pie. The Act no. 82-17,adopted in 1982, made the pecan the Alabama State Nut.
Is silver found in Alabama?
Lauderdale county contains iron; iron, coal and lead and silver have been found in Limestone county; coal and iron in Jackson; coal, manganese, copper, lead and silver in Marshall; coal in Morgan (also asphalt, the first trace discovered in Alabama ; coal in Lawrence; traces of iron, coal and lead in Pickens; traces of
Were there mammoths in Alabama?
The climate cooled and the seas withdrew until the Ice Age when Alabama was home to mammoths, mastodons, and giant ground sloths. Major fossil discoveries in the state’s history include the 1842 discovery of the early whale Basilosaurus, and a later 1961 discovery of more remains from the same species.
Where are most fossils found in Alabama?
northwest Alabama
Alabama is well known for its coal-age (Pennsylvanian) plant fossils. These are most abundant in the Warrior coal basin of northwest Alabama. The best plant fossils are preserved in shales associated with coal deposits and are found in coal mines.
What dinosaurs lived in Alabama?
Ancient Alabama
- Appalachiosaurus montgomeriensis. A small tyrannosaurid dinosaur, Appalachiosaurus montgomeriensis was indigenous to Alabama and surrounding…
- Lophorhothon.
- Cretaceous Period in Alabama.
- Elasmosaur.
- Jurassic Period.
- Nodosaur.
- Pterosaurs.
Has gold ever been discovered in Alabama?
From 1830 to 1990 Alabama produced nearly 80,000 ounces of gold. The most important deposits were found in Cleburne, Tallapoosa, Clay and Randolph Counties.Gold found in Alabama comes from lode and placer sources. Much of Alabama’s gold has been produced at Hog Mountain and the Hillabee mine.
Where was the most gold found in Alabama?
The largest occurrence was found in the Hog Mountain District of Tallapoosa County in 1839. It has produced about 25,000 ounces of gold, or about half of Alabama’s total gold production.
