Uranium potential of Precambrian quartz-pebble conglomerates in the United States: a summary

Technical Report · Mon Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:5409182

Anderson, J R; Goodknight, C S; Sewell, J M; Riley, J K

Based on results of field investigations for the National Uranium Resource Evaluation program and on in-depth literature review, no exposed Precambrian terranes in the conterminous United States and Alaska appear favorable for paleoplacer uranium deposits of the type found in the Witwatersrand, South Africa, and the Elliot Lake area, Ontario, Canada. In spite of similarities to the known deposits, sufficient features considered essential have not been recognized in the US terranes investigated to date. Known uraniferous quartz-pebble conglomerates were deposited between 2.0 and 3.2 b.y. ago on Archean cratons as fluvial, oligomictic detritus that included pyrite and uraninite. These conglomerates have not been depleted of uranium by subsequent deformation or metamorphism. In the United States, the known conglomerates deposited prior to 2.0 b.y. ago, some of which meet other favorability criteria, are so metamorphosed and structurally deformed that survival of any original detrital uraninite or related uranium accumulations is improbable. Nine separate terranes were field investigated, and drilling was conducted in two of them. Moderately anomalous uranium concentrations were found associated with thorium and common resistate accessory minerals; uraninite was not identified. Because most Precambrian rocks in the United States that may be favorable are still poorly known, especially in the subsurface, fair potential for discoveries of significant quartz-pebble conglomerate uranium deposits still exists. Conceptually favorable geologic environments will be worthy of further investigation as geologic knowledge of the US Archean provinces increases.

• Research Organization: Bendix Field Engineering Corp., Grand Junction, CO (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC13-76GJ01664
• OSTI ID: 5409182
• Report Number(s): GJBX-35(82); ON: DE82008700
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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