Airborne gamma-ray spectrometer and magnetometer survey: Weed quadrangle, California. Final report

Technical Report · Fri May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1981

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5297756· OSTI ID:5297756

Twelve anamolous areas attributable to gamma radiation in the uranium spectral window, and twenty-three in the thorium channel, have been recognized and delineated on the Weed quadrangle. The majority of the uranium anomalies are located in the southwestern part of the map sheet. Most of these are correlated with the pre-Cretaceous metamorphic rock system and the Mesozoic granitic rocks intrusive into it. Of the twenty-three anomalous areas of increased gamma radiation in the thorium spectral window, most are located in the northeast and the east center in a north-south trending belt. However, this apparent alignment is probably fortuitous as the individual anomalies are correlated with several different rock formations. Three are correlated with upper Cretaceous marine sediments, six with Ordovician marine sediments, two with Mesozoic granitic intrusives, and two with Silurian marine sediments. In the northwestern part of the quadrangle, four thorium radiation anomalies are delineated over exposures of upper Jurassic marine rocks. Anomaly 6, in the southwest, warrants attention as it suggests strong radiation in the uranium channel with little or no thorium radiation. The uranium/thorium and uranium/potassium ratio anomalies are also strong, supporting the likelihood of uranium enrichment. The feature is located on line 540, fiducials 7700 to 7720. Anomaly 7, on line 540, fiducials 8390 to 8420, shows similar characteristics although a minor thorium excursion is present. Anomaly 10, on line 3010 fiducials 9820 to 9840, is also characterized by a strong uranium radiation spike, with minor thorium radiation. The uranium/thorium and uranium/potassium ratio anomalies are well defined and relatively intense.

• Research Organization: Bendix Field Engineering Corp., Grand Junction, CO (United States); Western Geophysical Co. of America, Houston, TX. Aero Service Div.
• DOE Contract Number: AC13-76GJ01664
• OSTI ID: 5297756
• Report Number(s): GJBX-391-81-Vol.1; ON: DE82005532; TRN: 82-012745
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Includes 12 sheets of 48x reduction microfiche
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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