BOTANICAL PROSPECTING FOR URANIUM IN THE CIRCLE CLIFFS AREA, GARFIELD COUNTY, UTAH
Plant-analysis prospecting may be used to locate uranium deposits in the Circle Cliffs area where the deposits lie as much as 70 ft beneath the surface of benches developed on the Shinarump member of the Chinle formation. The Shinarump comprising the benches is thicker than 70 ft at many places, however, and restricts the use of the plant-analysis prospecting method. Astragalus pattersoni and Stanleya pinnata broadly define some uraniferous localities adjacent to the contact of the Moenkopi formation and the Shinanamp member of the Chinie formation, but the general paucity of Astragalus in the Circle Cliffs area limits the usefulness of this genus. Astragalus pattersoni, Stauleya pinnata, and Aster venustus(?) may serve as guides to mineralized parts of the Salt Wash sandstone member of the Morrison formation in the Circle Cliffs area. Thick and thin sandstones of the Shinarump member generally can be distinguished by pinyon- juniper ratio studies. These studies may supplement drilling to define channelfill sandstones which are associated with ore deposits in the Circle Cliffs area. Ratio studies appear to be applicable to other areas throughout the Colorado Plateau where similar geological and ecological conditions exist. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Geological Survey, Washington, D.C.
- NSA Number:
- NSA-13-000707
- OSTI ID:
- 4289072
- Report Number(s):
- TEI-604
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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