National Uranium Resource Evaluation: Ritzville Quadrangle, Washington
The Ritzville Quadrangle, Washington, was evaluated using criteria of the National Uranium Resource Evaluation program for identifying environments and delineating areas favorable for uranium deposits. Reconnaissance and detailed investigations included the evaluation of reported uranium occurrences, geochemical sampling, and field evaluation of aerial radiometric anomalies. Detailed investigations were conducted mainly in the northeastern corner of the quadrangle where there are two producing uranium mines, the Midnite and the Sherwood. The Midnite Mine uranium deposit is hosted by Precambrian metasedimentary rocks of the Togo Formation that are favorable for allogenic uranium deposits. Metasedimentary rocks of Paleozoic age are also favorable for allogenic deposits where they underlie a small area containing the Lowley Lease occurrence. The Sherwood uranium deposit is hosted by carbonaceous basal sedimentary rocks that probably correlate to the Eocene Sanpoil Volcanics and are favorable for sandstone-type deposits. Results of surface investigations outside these mining areas indicate environments favorable for magmatic-hydrothermal and authigenic deposits. Plutonic rocks in the quadrangle that are uranium enriched and show evidence of hydrothermal processes are favorable for magmatic-hydrothermal deposits. Plutonic rocks of the Mica Mountain area are judged favorable for both magmatic-hydrothermal and authigenic deposits.
- Research Organization:
- Bendix Field Engineering Corp., Grand Junction, CO (USA). Grand Junction Operations
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC13-76GJ01664
- OSTI ID:
- 5367126
- Report Number(s):
- PGJ/F-041-82; ON: DE82018206
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
AERIAL SURVEYING
DATA ANALYSIS
EVALUATION
FEDERAL REGION X
GEOCHEMICAL SURVEYS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGICAL SURVEYS
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
IGNEOUS ROCKS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
PLUTONIC ROCKS
RADIOMETRIC SURVEYS
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SURVEYS
URANIUM DEPOSITS
USA
WASHINGTON