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GSA Resources began mining and stockpiling desiccant quality bentonite from the Cheto deposit in 1987. The source of the bentonite were several large discontinuous lenses of bentonite which were not found when the area was mined during the 1940's. A drilling program managed by GSA Resources in 1978 discovered several of these lenses which were covered by less than 10 ft. of overburden. In 1987 GSA Resources negotiated an agreement with Engelhard Corporation to mine the bentonite. After mining and stockpiling bentonite for two years the company began shipping bentonite to American Colloid in Aberdeen, Mississippi where it was toll processed into desiccants and shipped to Multiform Desiccants who packaged and sold the product.
Engelhard Corporation terminated the lease after acquiring Filtrol Corporation who also produced desiccants from the Cheto bentonite and competed with Multiform Desiccants. GSA Resources continued shipping bentonite from their stockpile until American Colloid sold their desiccant business to United Desiccants. In 1990 GSA began toll processing the clay after making modifications to the facility so that it was possible to process the bentonite into desiccants. GSA Resources also mines saponite which is a magnesium bentonite at its Burro Creek deposit about 9 miles west of Bagdad, Arizona. The deposit is on State Mineral Leases and unpatented placer claims on Federal lands. The deposits contain a drill indicated reserve of 100,000 tons of high brightness saponite. The saponite has been used as a drainage aid in processing recycled fine white paper, laundry detergents, and as a rheological additive for glazes and slips.
The Lyles hectorite deposit is on State Mineral Leases. Its drill indicated reserves make it a world class deposit exceeded in size by only the Hector deposit near Barstow, California.
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