Detailed geochemical survey for east-central Minnesota, geology and geochemistry of selected uranium targets
Results of a detailed geochemical survey of approximately 6820 km/sup 2/ in parts of Aitkin, Carlton, Kanabec, and Pine Counties, east-central Minnesota are reported. Geochemical data are presented for 883 groundwater samples and 200 bedrock samples. Although all of the groundwaters in the study area have similar major-element concentrations and therefore presumably a common ancestry, small differences in the minor-element concentrations serve to characterize various aquifers, both in the Quaternary deposits and in the bedrock. All of the aquifers locally yield waters having statistically anomalous concentrations of uranium or radon, but these anomalies are spatially coincident only in a few places and particularly in three geologic environments considered favorable for uranium mineralization. These include the following: (1) Thomson Formation near the unconformably overlying Fond du Lac Formation, (2) Hinckley Sandstone near a major fault system, and (3) Denham Formation near the unconformity with the McGrath Gneiss, particularly where these rocks are faulted and overlain by the Fond du Lac Formation. One additional uranium environment characterized by thin laminae of uraniferous apatite was located in the Thomson Formation during outcrop reconnaissance and sampling. The coincidence of this and other anomalously high uranium values in the bedrock with specific uranium and radon anomalies in the groundwater confirms the usefulness of the hydrogeochemical data to uranium exploration in this glaciated terrane.
- Research Organization:
- Minnesota Geological Survey, St. Paul (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-26
- OSTI ID:
- 5267732
- Report Number(s):
- K/UR-32; TRN: 80-013309
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
58 GEOSCIENCES
AQUIFERS
GEOCHEMICAL SURVEYS
GROUND WATER
MINNESOTA
URANIUM DEPOSITS
EXPLORATION
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
MAPS
MINERALIZATION
RADON
SAMPLING
ELEMENTS
GREAT LAKES REGION
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RARE GASES
RESOURCES
SURVEYS
USA
WATER
050100* - Nuclear Fuels- Reserves
Exploration
& Mining
520500 - Environment
Aquatic- Site Resource & Use Studies- (-1989)
580400 - Geochemistry- (-1989)