Uranium hydrogeochemical and stream sediment reconnaissance of the Raton NTMS quadrangle, New Mexico

Technical Report · Sun Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1978

OSTI ID:6566915

Morgan, T L; Broxton, D E

Notably high uranium values were found in both water and sediment samples collected from tributaries of Costilla Creek in the Culebra Range. Uranium contents in stream waters range from individual high values of 145.1 and 76.1 ppB to values slightly higher than the background concentrations in adjacent areas. Stream sediments range from 4.1 to 202.2 ppM uranium and average 30 ppM. The Culebra Range is a favorable setting for hard-rock type uranium mineralization. The uraniferous water and sediment samples call attention to this area as a possible exploration target. Numerous groups of ground waters with high uranium concentrations come from locations along the Cimarron and Sierra Grande Arches in the eastern part of the quadrangle. The Cimarron Arch is the locus of the largest group of uraniferous ground waters, with concentrations ranging between 5.2 and 103.3 ppB. Aquifers from which these samples were derived include the Fort Hays and Smoky Hill members of the Niobrara formation, the Pierre shale, and Quaternary surficial deposits. Most of the uraniferous ground waters along the Sierra Grande Arch occur in small, isolated groups that probably represent minor, local sources of uranium. Carbonate complexing of uranium may contribute to the high uranium values seen in these samples. Stream sediment samples with high uranium concentrations (10.1 to 51.4 ppM) were found in several drainages from the western front of the Taos Range. One group of locations providing high-uranium sediments is near a known uranium occurrence in the vicinity of Cabresto and Latir Peaks. The western Taos Range, which is underlain by Precambrian granitic and metamorphic rocks and Tertiary igneous rocks, is a favorable setting for hard rock uranium mineralization and may also warrant further study.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos Scientific Lab., NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 6566915
• Report Number(s): LA-7344-MS
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050200* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Exploration-- (-1987)
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
ACTINIDES
ELEMENTS
GEOCHEMICAL SURVEYS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGY
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
METALS
NEW MEXICO
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PROSPECTING
RESOURCES
SAMPLING
SEDIMENTS
SOUTHWEST REGION
SURFACE WATERS
URANIUM
URANIUM DEPOSITS
USA
WATER