Depositional environment of Brushy Basin Member, Morrison Formation, in Gulf Mariano Lake mine, McKinley County

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

OSTI ID:6135316

Jenkins, Jr, J T; Cunningham, S B

The Mariano Lake mine, McKinley County, New Mexico, is developed in the lower portion of the Brushy Basin Member of the Morrison Formation (Upper Jurassic). The sandstones typically are arkosic to subarkosic, moderately to poorly sorted, medium to coarse grained, subrounded, carbonaceous, and silica cemented. Early emplacement of uranium minerals occurred along geochemical boundaries in a roll-front geometry. In the area of the Mariano mine, the Brushy Basin member was deposited as a series of stacked, lenticular-shaped sand bodies interfingering with bentonitic mudstones. Petrologic and sedimentologic data allow the interval to be divided into four depositional facies. These facies represent in-channel and flood-basin deposits of a braided-stream complex with characteristics of the present-day Platte River and Bijou Creek.

• Research Organization: Gulf Research and Development Co., Houston, TX
• OSTI ID: 6135316
• 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

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