Mineralogy and geochemistry of Mariano Lake uranium deposit, Smith Lake district

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980 · Mem. - N.M. Bur. Mines Miner. Resour.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6033884

Place, J ^[1]; Della Valle, R S; Brookins, D G

---

1. Gulf Oil Corp., Casper, WY

The Mariano Lake uranium deposit is located on the west side of the Smith Lake district in the Grants mineral belt. Mineralization is restricted to a basal arkosic sandstone of the Brushy Basin Member of the Morrison Formation (Upper Jrassic). This sandstone is equivalent to the Poison Canyon sandstone of the Ambrosia Lake district and contains a series of paleochannels that have been mineralized. The ore displays a roll-type geometry and is located at an iron-sulfur redox interface. The deposit is chemically different from other deposits of the grants mineral belt. It is characterized by low total carbon dioxide, calcium, molybdenum, and selenium, whereas sulfur and vanadium are enriched. Arsenic and zinc exhibit regular zoning patterns across the deposit. The deposit contains an ubiquitous assemblage of pyrite, kaolinite, chlorite, illite, and illite-montmorillonite associated with vanadiferous ore mixed with organic carbon. No primary uranium minerals have been identified. Gypsum (variety selenite) is present, but calcite is absent. The age of mineralization is unknown. The ore has been remobilized, perhaps more than once, and mineralization may have occurred during mid-Cretaceous, Laramide, or post-Laramide time. Based on existing data, polygenetic models are as reasonable as a single stage of remobilization.

• OSTI ID: 6033884
• Report Number(s): CONF-7905120-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Mem. - N.M. Bur. Mines Miner. Resour.; (United States) Journal Volume: 38
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050100* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Reserves
Exploration
& Mining
050200 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Exploration-- (-1987)
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
58 GEOSCIENCES
580400 -- Geochemistry-- (-1989)
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM SILICATES
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM SULFATES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMISTRY
CHLORITE MINERALS
CLAYS
DATA
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
EXPLORATION
GEOCHEMISTRY
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GYPSUM
ILLITE
INFORMATION
INORGANIC ION EXCHANGERS
ION EXCHANGE MATERIALS
IRON COMPOUNDS
IRON SULFIDES
KAOLINITE
MATERIALS
MINERAL RESOURCES
MINERALOGY
MINERALS
MONTMORILLONITE
NEW MEXICO
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
ORES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PYRITE
PYRITES
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SILICATES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SOUTHWEST REGION
SULFATES
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR ORES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
URANIUM DEPOSITS
URANIUM ORES
USA