Exploration geology of Canyon breccia pipe south of Grand Canyon, Arizona
- Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc., Kanab, UT (USA)
The Canyon pipe formed by solution-collapse processes initiated in the Mississippian Redwall Limestone. The structure, alteration, and nature and distribution of uranium mineralization are similar to those documented in the Orphan pipe. Reducing conditions, characterized by 3-5% pyrite, predominate below the Moenkopi. A dense sulfide cap is present at the Toroweap-Coconino boundary. Thin oxidized zones occur below the sulfide cap and outside the pipe between reduced unaltered wall rock. Silicification is common within the pipe. Uranium mineralization occurs both inside and outside the pipe and extends over 1,600 vertical ft from the lower Toroweap to the upper Redwall horizons. Ore-grade mineralization is found mainly in the Coconino, Hermit, and Esplanade horizons. The ore assemblage consists of uraninite-pyrite-hematite, with massive copper sulfide mineralization being common in and near the ore zone. Uranium-lead isotope age determinations of 260 m.y. indicate mineralization took place before the pipe formation was complete. Calculated reserves total 60,168 tons of ore containing 884,529 lb of uranium at an average grade of 0.74% U{sub 3}O{sub 8}.
- OSTI ID:
- 5567073
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8910195-; CODEN: AABUD; TRN: 89-026785
- Journal Information:
- AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA), Vol. 73:9; Conference: AAPG Rocky Mountain Section meeting, Albuquerque, NM (USA), 1-4 Oct 1989; ISSN 0149-1423
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ARIZONA
URANIUM DEPOSITS
EXPLORATION
ORIGIN
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
ISOTOPE DATING
LEAD ISOTOPES
LIMESTONE
MINERALIZATION
PYRITE
RESERVES
URANIUM ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
AGE ESTIMATION
CARBONATE ROCKS
CHALCOGENIDES
FEDERAL REGION IX
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
IRON COMPOUNDS
IRON SULFIDES
ISOTOPES
MINERAL RESOURCES
MINERALS
NORTH AMERICA
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SULFIDE MINERALS
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
USA
050100* - Nuclear Fuels- Reserves
Exploration
& Mining