Geology of dolomite-hosted uranium deposits at the Pitch Mine, Saguache County, Colorado

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981 · Field Conf. Guideb. (N.M. Geol. Soc.); (United States)

OSTI ID:5633924

Nash, J T

Newly documented uranium ore in the Pitch mine occurs chiefly in brecciated Mississippian Leadville Dolomite along the Chester upthrust zone, and to a lesser extent in sandstone, siltstone, and carbonaceous shale of the Pennsylvanian Belden Formation and in Precambrian granitic rocks and schist. Uranium-mineralized zones are generally thicker, more consistent, and of higher grade in dolomite than in other hosts, and roughly 50 percent of the new reserves are in dolomite. Strong physical control by dolomite is evident, as this is the only rock type that is pervasively brecciated within the fault slices that make up the footwall of the reverse-fault zone. Other rocks tended to either remain unbroken or undergo ductile deformation. Chemical controls on uranium deposition are subtle and appear chiefly to involve coprecipitation of FeS/sub 2/ as pyrite and marcasite, suggesting that sulfide ion may be the reductant. (JMT)

• Research Organization: Geological Survey, Denver, CO
• OSTI ID: 5633924
• Report Number(s): CONF-8110216-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Field Conf. Guideb. (N.M. Geol. Soc.); (United States) Journal Volume: 32
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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