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Summary geologic report on the Spor Mountain drilling project in Juab County, Utah

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5399544· OSTI ID:5399544

The NURE report of 1976 shows 5500 tons of probable and 162,000 tons of possible uranium resources in a projected widespread beryllium tuff in the project area. The goal of the the Spor Mountain drilling project was to obtain subsurface geologic data related to the tuff which would make possible a more accurate estimate of the uranium resources. In the immediate area of the drilling project, Paleozoic rocks are overlain by three groups of Tertiary volcanic rocks. The Paleozoic rocks of Spor Mountain represent an upthrown fault block in reference to the volcanic rock-filled structural basin underlying the Thomas Range to the east. Altered tuffaceous rocks at Spor Mountain are the hosts for deposits of beryllium, fluorite, and uranium minerals. The topaz-bearing rhyolite is the capping rock. BFEC geologists have concluded that nearly all the tuff units of the Thomas Range-Spor Mountain area, including the beryllium tuff, have an ash-flow origin. There were 21 rotary and 9 core holes drilled for a total drill footage of 33,358 ft, representing 21,754 ft of rotary and 11,604 ft of core footage. Analyses run on selected samples included gamma-ray spectroscopy, spectrochemical (29 elements), and assays for seven elements (U/sub 3/O/sub 8/, Mn, V, Cs, Li, Be, and Se). Specific ion analysis was run for fluorine. Gamma-ray, self-potential, resistivity, and neutron activation surveys were run on 28 holes; gamma-ray, caliper, resistivity, and density surveys were run on 12 holes; KUT surveys were run on 12 holes. Beryllium tuff was found to be present in only 20 percent of the area inferred in the publication Preliminary Study of Favorability for Uranium Resources in Juab County, Utah (GJBX--23(78), February, 1978). Also, the uranium-favorable areas as outlined in the present study represent only 18 percent of that inferred in the above-mentioned publication.

Research Organization:
Bendix Field Engineering Corp., Grand Junction, CO (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
EY-76-C-13-1664
OSTI ID:
5399544
Report Number(s):
GJBX-19(80)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English