National Uranium Resource Evaluation: New Ulm Quadrangle, Minnesota
Uranium resources of the New Ulm Quadrangle, Minnesota, were evaluated using available surface and subsurface geologic information and newly acquired geochemical data. Surface exposures of bed rock were sampled systematically and analyzed for uranium and 30 other elements. Geochemical anomalies revealed by hydrogeochemical and stream-sediment reconnaissance were followed up by additional sampling, and detailed surveys of radon and helium abundance in ground water were undertaken in three areas preselected on the basis of regional magnetic and gravity data. One uranium occurrence, previously unreported, was located during outcrop reconnaissance and sampling, and two areas of uranium favorability were delineated chiefly on geologic evidence. The favorable areas are underlain by the Sioux Quartzite of Proterozoic age, the basal unconformity of which is considered to be a favorable environment for vein-breccia uranium occurrences. Geologic units considered to be unfavorable are the Archean gneisses, the late Archean granites, the minor Proterozoic intrusions, the Paleozoic sedimentary rocks, the pre-Cretaceous regolith, and the Quaternary glacial drift. Though classed as unfavoable, the late Archean granites show some evidence of orthomagmatic and pegmatitic uranium enrichment and may contaihn marginal to subeconomic uranium deposits. Available data are inadequate for evaluating the favorability of the Cretaceous sedimentary section. Recommendations for improving the reliability of this evaluation include airborne electromagnetic surveys in the vicinity of the Sioux unconformity, four or more stratigraphic test holes in the Sioux Quartzite, and 15 to 20 shallow stratigraphic test holes in the Cretaceous rocks.
- Research Organization:
- Bendix Field Engineering Corp., Grand Junction, CO (USA); Minnesota Geological Survey, St. Paul (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC13-76GJ01664
- OSTI ID:
- 5368594
- Report Number(s):
- PGJ/F-052-82; ON: DE82018988
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Includes 2 sheets of 24x reduction microfiche
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
MINNESOTA
URANIUM DEPOSITS
EVALUATION
DATA ANALYSIS
GEOCHEMICAL SURVEYS
GEOLOGICAL SURVEYS
GROUND WATER
HELIUM
MAGNETIC SURVEYS
RADON
SEDIMENTS
STREAMS
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION V
FLUIDS
GASES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RARE GASES
RESOURCES
SURFACE WATERS
SURVEYS
USA
WATER
050200* - Nuclear Fuels- Exploration- (-1987)