Quartz on display at Sarkeys Energy Center. Photo by Coyt Wisdom.
By Coyt Wisdom
Reporter
Oklahoma is known for many of its natural resources. It is one of the leading oil and gas producing states, but those are not the only natural resources that are found in Oklahoma. Various non-fuel minerals can be found in the sooner state.
Some may wonder how minerals are discovered. One of the ways minerals can be discovered is by reconnaissance mapping.
Dr. Carla Eichler, Field Geologist with the Oklahoma Geological Survey (OGS) uses reconnaissance mapping when looking for minerals and rocks.
“We will drive out and see these beautiful outcrops, and in the case of limestone, you drive out and see these limestones and they are pure, so they are good for gravel,” Eichler said. “It’s usually just reconnaissance work and seeing them in real life. There’s really no tool.”
Dr. Eichler also said the Oklahoma Geological Survey does occasionally get tips about minerals and they will find out if the mineral is economical or not.
Some may also wonder what the most valuable mineral is in Oklahoma.
According to Dr. Eichler, halite is one of the most valuable minerals in Oklahoma due to its abundance of it. Halite is typically found in western Oklahoma.
“Different types of salts like halite are usually found in western Oklahoma, and in eastern and central Oklahoma we can find different types of quartz and sands,” Eichler said.
Halite and quartz are sometimes referred to as economic minerals. However, there is another mineral that is abundant in Oklahoma.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), Oklahoma is one of the largest producers of iodine.
Iodine can be used to create LCDs.
Critical minerals can also be found in Oklahoma.
According to Dr. Lindsey Hunt, Electron Microprobe Operator with OGS, various salt deposits are found in Oklahoma and these salt deposits can help create lithium.
Some critical minerals have been important to Oklahoma since World War II.
“Copper and zinc were two of the biggest ones and that goes back to World War II,” Hunt said. “A lot of the ammunition was made here in Oklahoma.”
Dr. Hunt is helping OGS with a critical mineral project. Some of the minerals they plan on finding are chromium, arsenic and titanium.
The area that Dr. Hunt and OGS will be searching is the Wichita Mountains.
Dr. Hunt operates the electron microprobe at OGS and describes it as a “microscope on steroids.” Dr. Hunt said she uses the microprobe for chemical compositions.
“Someone will bring a rock, a sample they may not know what minerals are in it and then we will look and see what minerals are there,” Hunt said.
There are also rock and mineral shops in Oklahoma such as Good Earth Rocks Gallery in Oklahoma City. Shops like Good Earth Rocks Gallery have minerals that can be rare or valuable.
David Clupper, owner of Good Earth Rocks Gallery says good quality turquoise is one of the valuable minerals at his store. However, Clupper has more than one valuable mineral at his store.
“I would think the big three are turquoise, aquamarine and moldavite in terms of what I carry,” Clupper said.