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U.S. Department of Energy
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National Uranium Resource Evaluation: Cody Quadrangle, Wyoming

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6883467

The uranium resources of the Cody Quadrangle, Wyoming, were evaluated to a depth of 1500 m (5000 ft) using extensive surface and subsurface geologic information. Uranium occurrences that were reported in the literature, in reports of the US Atomic Energy Commission, and by people in the area were located, described in detail, and sampled. Areas favorable for deposits of uranium are delineated by analysis of surface and aerial radiometric data, by geochemical data from rock and stream-sediment samples, by interpretation of lithofacies patterns and structure derived from lithologic and electric well log data, and by analysis of gamma-ray well log data. Five surface and subsurface favorable areas encompassing parts of three geologic units are delineated in the quadrangle. One of the areas is on the southern flank of the Pryor Mountains in the northeast corner of the quadrangle. There, the Madison Limestone contains a paleokarst topography, which provided favorable sites for the deposition of uranium ores. Three of the areas contain uranium deposits in sandstones (locally with conglomerates) of the Upper Morrison and Lower Cloverly Formations. These are channel-controlled peneconcordant deposits. Two of the sandstone deposits are in the northeast corner of the quadrangle, and one is southwest of Cody along the South Fork of the Shoshone River. One area located northwest of Cody, on the southern flank of the Beartooth Mountains, has anomalous radioactivity in shear zones, along small faults, and associated with jointed portions of the Flathead Sandstone. The anomalies occur about 50 ft above the unconformity with the Precambrian basement rocks. Fourteen geologic environments involving 35 geologic units are considered unfavorable for the deposition of uranium.

Research Organization:
Garrand Corp., Salt Lake City, UT (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC13-76GJ01664
OSTI ID:
6883467
Report Number(s):
PGJ/F-043-82; ON: DE82021860
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English