National Uranium Resource Evaluation: Aztec quadrangle, New Mexico and Colorado
Areas and formations within the Aztec 1/sup 0/ x 2/sup 0/ Quadrangle, New Mexico and Colorado considered favorable for uranium endowment of specified minimum grade and tonnage include, in decreasing order of favorability: (1) the Early Cretaceous Burro Canyon Formation in the southeastern part of the Chama Basin; (2) the Tertiary Ojo Alamo Sandstone in the east-central part of the San Juan Basin; and (3) the Jurassic Westwater Canyon and Brushy Basin Members of the Morrison Formation in the southwestern part of the quadrangle. Favorability of the Burro Canyon is based on the presence of favorable host-rock facies, carbonaceous material and pyrite to act as a reductant for uranium, and the presence of mineralized ground in the subsurface of the Chama Basin. The Ojo Alamo Sandstone is considered favorable because of favorable host-rock facies, the presence of carbonaceous material and pyrite to act as a reductant for uranium, and the presence of a relatively large subsurface area in which low-grade mineralization has been encountered in exploration activity. The Morrison Formation, located within the San Juan Basin adjacent to the northern edge of the Grants mineral belt, is considered favorable because of mineralization in several drill holes at depths near 1500 m (5000 ft) and because of favorable facies relationships extending into the Aztec Quadrangle from the Grants mineral belt which lies in the adjacent Albuquerque and Gallup Quadrangles. Formations considered unfavorable for uranium deposits of specified tonnage and grade include the remainder of sedimentary and igneous formations ranging from Precambrian to Quaternary in age. Included under the unfavorable category are the Cutler Formation of Permian age, and Dakota Sandstone of Late Cretaceous age, and the Nacimiento and San Jose Formations of Tertiary age.
- Research Organization:
- Geological Survey, Golden, CO (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AI13-78GJ01686
- OSTI ID:
- 6832964
- Report Number(s):
- PGJ/F-012-82; ON: DE82022286
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Includes 10 sheets of 24x reduction microfiche
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
National Uranium Resource Evaluation: Shiprock Quadrangle, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah
National Uranium Resource Evaluation: Gallup quadrangle, Arizona and New Mexico
Related Subjects
COLORADO
URANIUM DEPOSITS
NEW MEXICO
EVALUATION
AERIAL SURVEYING
DATA ANALYSIS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GEOCHEMICAL SURVEYS
GEOLOGICAL SURVEYS
RADIOMETRIC SURVEYS
STRATIGRAPHY
DATA
FEDERAL REGION VI
FEDERAL REGION VIII
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGY
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
INFORMATION
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
RESOURCES
SURVEYS
USA
050200* - Nuclear Fuels- Exploration- (-1987)