THE MINERAL INDUSTRY OF VIRGINIA 817Feldspar.—Production was by one
company from two mines in Bedford County. 
 
shipped. Both air-entrained and nonairtrained types were produced; the latter
type accounted for most of the output. Most of the shipments were in l~ulk
and by railroad, but sizable shipments were also made by truck. Shipments
of cement in containers (94 pound paper bags) were sizable and were made
by rail and truck. 
 For the various consumer uses, portland cement was distributed as follows:
58 percent to ready-mixed concrete companies (60 percent in 1966); 18 percent
to concrete products manufacturers (18 percent in 1966); 13 percent to contractors,
including highway contractors (11 percent in 1966) and 11 percent to other
users, including building material dealers, Federal, State, and local government
agencies, and miscellaneous customers (11 percent in 1966). 
 Slightly more than two-thirds of portland cement shipments terminated within
the State; the remainder, in order of decreasing shipments, went to North
Carolina, West Virginia, Alabama, South Carolina, Maryland, Georgia, and
Florida. Masonry cement shipments went to 28 States; chiefly Virginia, North
Carolina, Maryland, West Virginia, South Carolina, and District of Columbia;
61 percent of shipments terminated in Virginia. 
 
 Clays.—Sharing in~ the decline of commodities supplying the construction
industi~ies, clay output and value were 7 and 10 percent lower respectively,
than in 
1966. About 68 percent of the clay and shale output was consumed in brick
manufacture, compared with 69 percent in 1966. The principal uses for the
balance were light-weight aggregate and in manufacturing portland cement.
Some was also consumed in the making of vitrified sewer pipe, flue linings,
pottery, clay dummies (shot-hole tampers), and other clay products. 
 Clay production was reported from 24 operations in 15 counties. The chief
producing counties in order of output were Botetourt, Russell, Orange, Chesterfield,
and Nansemond; in order of output value they were Orange, Botetourt, Prince
William, Nansemond, and Chesterfield. Five counties produced almost two-thirds
of the State output and five accounted for almost three-quarters of the value.

Table 6.—Clays sold or used by producers 
 
(Thousand short to 
ns and thousan 
d dollars) 
Year 
Short tons 
Value 
1963             
1,410 
1,558 
1964             
1,440 
1,614 
1965             
1,415 
1,657 
1966                
1,486 
1,813 
1967                
1,382 
1,623 
The output was substantially less than in 1966. The average market value
was the same as in 1966, thus the drop in total value was also substantial.
Mixed feldspar (soda and potash) was mined near the company's processing
and grinding mill in Bedford. In order of decreasing tonnage the mill output
was marketed chiefly in Maryland, Ohio, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and
New York, principally for pottery and ceramic enamel manufacture, although
smaller quantities were used in the manufacture of welding rod coatings,
soap and abrasives, and for brick glaze. 
 
 Gem Stones.—Mineral collectors and hobbyists collected a variety of
semiprecious gems and mineral specimens from various Virginia counties. The
rock and mineral varieties include agate, amazonite, blue corundum, lepidolite,
olivine, staurolite, and unakite. 
 
 Gypsum.—Production of crude gypsum declined substantially compared
with output reported in 1966. Gypsum, mined near Chatham Hill, Smyth County,
and at Plasterco, Washington County, was calcined or otherwise processed
and manufactured into plasterboard and other gypsum products by United States
Gypsum Co. at its Plasterco plant. The company also processed imported gypsum
at a plant near Norfolk for use in their products. Imported gypsum was processed
by several firms in the Norfolk area for use as a land dressing. The United
States Gypsum Co.'s Plasterco No. 6 Mine, Saltville, was awarded a Certificate
of Achievement in Safety (National Safety Competition) for operating during
1967 without a lost-time work injury. The National Safety Competition is
jointly sponsored by the Federal Bureau of Mines and the American Mining
Congress. 
 
 Kyanite—Production of crude kyanite ore and sales of the refined material
to manufacturers of refractories and other