URANIUM-BEARING MINERALS IN PLACER DEPOSITS OF THE RED RIVER VALLEY, IDAHO COUNTY, IDAHO

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1957 · U.S. Geol. Survey Bull.

OSTI ID:4335115

Armstrong, F C; Weis, P L

In late 1951 or early 1952 uranium-bearing multiple oxide minerals were first recognized in the jig-bed concentrate of the Tyee Mining Company"s gold dredge on the Red River about 10 miles south of Elk City, Idaho Co., Idaho. The gravels of the placer deposits were derived from the Idaho batholith and a roof pendant of Precambrian rocks in the batholith. Three samples taken for analysis show that the jig-bed concentrate contains 0.11% U. The nonmagnetic nonradioactive fractions of the samples assayed 0.2% Nb; columbite was not recognized in the samples. The uranium-bearing placer minerals are brannerite, euxenite, davidite, betafite, and samarskite. Euxenite, samarskite, and betafite, and perhaps ilmenite, also contain Nb. Pegmatites are the probable source of the U- and Nb-bearing minerals, but there is only a remote possibility of finding a pegmatite in the area that can be mined economically for U or Nb. (auth)

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-12-000259
• OSTI ID: 4335115
• Journal Information: U.S. Geol. Survey Bull., Journal Name: U.S. Geol. Survey Bull. Vol. Vol: 1046-C
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BETAFITE
BRANNERITE
DAVIDITE
DEPOSITS
ECONOMICS
EUXENITE
IGNEOUS ROCKS
ILMENITE
IRON OXIDES
MINERALOGY, METALLURGY, AND CERAMICS
MINING
NIOBIUM
PEGMATITES
PLACERS
ROCKS
SAMARSKITE
TITANIUM OXIDES
URANIUM MINERALS
URANIUM OXIDES