National Uranium Resource Evaluation, Leadville Quadrangle, Colorado

Technical Report · Thu Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:5261508

Collins, D B; Graham, D C; Hornbaker, A L

The Leadville Quadrangle in northwestern Colorado was evaluated to identify and delineate areas favorable for the occurrence of uranium according to National Uranium Resource Evaluation criteria. General surface reconnaissance and geochemical sampling were carried out in all geologic environments within the quadrangle. Preliminary data from an aerial radiometric reconnaissance were analyzed, and brief ground checks were performed. Eight favorable areas were delineated within the quadrangle. Three areas are favorable for sandstone uranium deposits and include the Glen Canyon and Entrada Sandstones in the Rifle Creek district, the Gartra Member of the Chinle Formation in the Red and White Mountain area, and the Minturn Formation in the Vail Pass area. The Horse Mountain area is marginally favorable for sandstone-type deposits in the Entrada Sandstone. An area around McCoy is favorable for nonmarine, carbonaceous shale-type deposits. Three areas, including Horse Mountain, the Hunter-Frying Pan area, and the Alma district, are favorable for magmatic-hydrothermal deposits. The granites in the St. Kevin district are marginally favorable for either authigenic or magmatic-hydrothermal deposits. All Precambrian igneous and metamorphic rocks are unfavorable for uranium deposits, except for four favorable areas and the unevaluated areas. All Phanerozoic sedimentary rocks are unfavorable for uranium deposits, except parts of five favorable areas and some of the unevaluated areas. All Mesozoic and Tertiary intrusives and extrusives are unfavorable hosts for uranium deposits. Four wilderness areas, two roadless/primitive areas, and most of the subsurface are unevaluated.

• Research Organization: Bendix Field Engineering Corp., Grand Junction, CO (USA). Grand Junction Operations; Colorado Geological Survey, Denver (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC13-76GJ01664
• OSTI ID: 5261508
• Report Number(s): PGJ/F-027-82; ON: DE82019070
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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DATA ANALYSIS
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FEDERAL REGION VIII
GEOCHEMICAL SURVEYS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
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