Geologic study of Kettle dome, northeast Washington. Final report
This geologic study of Kettle dome, northeast Washington, encompasses an area of approximately 800 square miles (2048 sq km). The evaluation of uranium occurrences associated with the igneous and metamorphic rocks of the dome and the determination of the relationship between uranium mineralization and stratigraphic, structural, and metamorphic features of the dome are the principal objectives. Evaluation of the validity of a gneiss dome model is a specific objective. The principal sources of data are detailed geologic mapping, surface radiometric surveys, and chemical analyses of rock samples. Uranium mineralization is directly related to the presence of pegmatite dikes and sills in biotite gneiss and amphibolite. Other characteristics of the uranium occurrences include the associated migmatization and high-grade metamorphism of wallrock adjacent to the pegmatite and the abrupt decrease in uranium mineralization at the pegmatite-gneiss contact. Subtle chemical characteristics found in mineralized pegmatites include: (1) U increase as K/sub 2/O increases, (2) U decreases as Na/sub 2/O increases, and (3) U increases as CaO increases at CaO values above 3.8%. The concentration of uranium occurrences in biotite gneiss and amphibolite units results from the preferential intrusion of pegmitites into these well-foliated rocks. Structural zones of weakness along dome margins permit intrusive and migmatitic activity to affect higher structural levels of the dome complex. As a result, uranium mineralization is localized along dome margins. The uranium occurrences in the Kettle dome area are classified as pegmatitic. Sufficient geologic similarities exist between Kettle dome and the Rossing uranium deposit to propose the existence of economic uranium targets within Kettle dome.
- Research Organization:
- Cruson and Pansze, Geologists, Golden, CO (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC13-76GJ01664
- OSTI ID:
- 6873799
- Report Number(s):
- GJBX-253(80); TRN: 81-000765
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
58 GEOSCIENCES
URANIUM
MINERALIZATION
URANIUM DEPOSITS
EXPLORATION
WASHINGTON
GEOLOGICAL SURVEYS
ACTIVATION ANALYSIS
AERIAL SURVEYING
BIOTITE
CALCIUM OXIDES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
GEOLOGY
IGNEOUS ROCKS
ISOTOPE RATIO
MAPS
METAMORPHIC ROCKS
MULTI-ELEMENT ANALYSIS
NEUTRON REACTIONS
PEGMATITES
POTASSIUM OXIDES
QUANTITY RATIO
SODIUM OXIDES
STRATIGRAPHY
THORIUM
ACTINIDES
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
BARYON REACTIONS
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
ELEMENTS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GRANITES
HADRON REACTIONS
METALS
MICA
MINERAL RESOURCES
MINERALS
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEON REACTIONS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION
PLUTONIC ROCKS
POTASSIUM COMPOUNDS
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USA
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