Uranium hydrogeochemical and stream sediment reconnaissance of the Cortez NTMS Quadrangle, Colorado/Utah, including concentrations of forty-three additional elements
During the summers of 1976, 1977, and 1978, 598 water and 1657 sediment samples were collected from 1775 locations within the 19,600-km/sup 2/ area of the Cortez Quadrangle, Colorado and Utah. Water samples were collected from streams, springs, and wells; sediment samples were collected from stream channels (wet and dry) and from springs. Each water sample was analyzed for 13 elements, and each sediment sample was analyzed for 43 elements. Uranium concentrations in water samples range from below the detection limit of 0.02 to 241.47 ppB and have a median of 0.87 ppB and a mean of 3.80 ppB. Background uranium concentrations are 2 to 5 ppB in several nonmountainous regions but are much lower in mountainous areas, particularly in the northeastern portion of the quadrangle. Water samples containing high uranium concentrations (>20 ppB) generally are associated with high conductivities, high concentrations of other metallic elements, and geologic units, such as the Mancos shale, that are unfavorable for uranium mineralization. However, four ground-water samples exhibit high uranium concentrations without concomitant high conductivities or high concentrations of other metallic elements. Two of these samples were collected from sites in the Slick Rock U--V district, and two were collected in the Morrison formation in the southern portion of the quadrangle where large uranium deposits are not known. Water samples collected from the northwestern corner of the quadrangle uniformly exhibit background uranium values but generally contain high nickel concentrations. In this area, U--Cu (White Canyon-type) deposits are hosted primarily by the Shinarump member of the Chinle formation. Uranium concentrations in sediment samples range from 0.51 to 76.41 ppM and have a median of 2.76 ppM and a mean of 3.08 ppM. Background uranium and metallic element concentrations decrease to the southwest from the highest values in the northeastern portion of the quadrangle.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos Scientific Lab., NM (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- EY-76-C-13-1664
- OSTI ID:
- 6173712
- Report Number(s):
- GJBX-77(79); LA-7505-MS
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Uranium hydrogeochemical and stream sediment reconnaissance of the Shiprock NTMS quadrangle, New Mexico/Arizona, including concentrations of forty-two additional elements
Uranium hydrogeochemical and stream sediment reconnaissance of the Gillette NTMS quadrangle, Wyoming, including concentrations of forty-two additional elements
Related Subjects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COLORADO
DATA
DATA COMPILATION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GEOCHEMICAL SURVEYS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
INFORMATION
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
RESOURCES
ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION
SEDIMENTS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
TRACE AMOUNTS
URANIUM DEPOSITS
USA
UTAH
WATER CHEMISTRY