RECONNAISSANCE FOR URANIUM IN THE PUNTA ARENAS AREA, PROVINCE OF MAGALLANES, CHILE

Technical Report · Thu Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1962

OSTI ID:4827152

Knowles, P H; Bowes, W A; Moraga B, A; Serrano C, M

A reconnaissance of the Punta Arenas area in southern Chile was made to investigate the uranium potential of the sedimentary rocks of Jurassic to Tertiary age, many of which show traces of oil although only one sedimentary sequence is productive. No metallic or radioactive mineral deposits are known in this sedimentary section. No igneous rocks were examined, but a limited reconnaissance was made of the metamorphic rocks near the igneous rocks in the western zone of the sedimentary basin; where examined, no anomalous radioactivity was found in the vein-type sulfide deposits. A complete collection of several thousand meters of drill cores and sludge samples from oil exploration work was examined for radioactivity; selected localities were visited; and favorable host rocks and stractures were checked for radioactrvity. No anomalous radioactivity was noted in the drill cuttings or in potentially favorable geologic settings for uranium. On the basis of present evidence, it seems probable that uraniferous solutions did not traverse the potentially favorable host rocks and structures in the area. (auth)

• Research Organization: Division of Raw Materials, AEC; and Chile. Instituto de Investigaciones Geologicas. Santiago
• NSA Number: NSA-16-022406
• OSTI ID: 4827152
• Report Number(s): RME-4540(Rev.)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CHILE
CONFIGURATION
DEPOSITS
DETECTION
GEOLOGY
GEOLOGY, MINERALOGY, AND METEOROLOGY
IGNEOUS ROCKS
OILS
PROSPECTING
RADIOACTIVITY
ROCKS
SULFIDES
URANIUM ORES
WELL LOGGING