Potential of helium as a guide to uranium ore. Final report, July 1978
The closest correlation between helium-in-soil-gas anomalies and subsurface (up to 250 meters deep) uranium deposits was found in the Southern Powder River Basin. Meaningful results were obtained only by collecting all samples in a short period of time. Helium measurements in groundwater were of potentially greater significance and of a greater magnitude. No clear correlation was found on large grids over the more deeply buried (250 to 900 meters) deposits in the Grants-Ambrosia Lake region. However, supplemental surveys conducted by Chemical Projects Limited on smaller grids in the same region do indicate a correlation. Again, helium in groundwater showed some very large concentrations in association with the ore deposits. The highest concentrations of helium-in-soil-gas yet observed were found in an expected background area at the Schwartzwalder mine. Subsequent drilling has located only minor mineralization. The explanation may lie in the structural complexity of the area. Other exploration techniques were used concurrently on a limited basis for comparison purposes: electronic radon alpha counting in the field, gamma-ray spectrometric analysis of soil samples, laboratory mass spectrometer measurements of /sup 4/He//sup 36/Ar and /sup 4/He//sup 22/Ne in soil gas samples, and chemical analysis of groundwater samples for uranium content. These other types of measurement in general did not yield results of great significance, largely because they were not made with a high enough density. Recommendations are made for future research in (1) developing and testing cumulative helium-in-soil-gas sampling systems and (2) developing further the helium-in-groundwater surveys.
- Research Organization:
- Martin Marietta Corp., Denver, CO (USA); Earth Sciences, Inc., Golden, CO (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6500132
- Report Number(s):
- EPRI-EA-813
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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HELIUM
URANIUM DEPOSITS
EXPLORATION
ARGON 36
CORRELATIONS
GAMMA SPECTROSCOPY
GEOCHEMICAL SURVEYS
GROUND WATER
HELIUM 4
NEON 22
SAMPLING
SOILS
ARGON ISOTOPES
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
ELEMENTS
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FLUIDS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HELIUM ISOTOPES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
NEON ISOTOPES
NONMETALS
NUCLEI
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RARE GASES
RESOURCES
SPECTROSCOPY
STABLE ISOTOPES
WATER
050200* - Nuclear Fuels- Exploration- (-1987)