Lithium in rocks from the Lincoln, Helena, and Townsend areas, Montana

Brenner-Tourtelot, Elizabeth F.; Meier, Allen L.; Curtis, Craig A.

Abstract:

In anticipation of increased demand for lithium for energy-related uses, the U.S. Geological Survey has been appraising the lithium resources of the United States and investigating occurrences of lithium. Analyses of samples of chiefly lacustrine rocks of Oligocene age collected by M. R. Mudge near Lincoln, Mont. showed as much as 1,500 ppm lithium. Since then we have sampled the area in greater detail, and have sampled rocks of similar ages in the Helena and Townsend valleys. The lithium-rich beds crop out in a band about 1.3 km long by 0.3 km wide near the head of Beaver Creek, about 14 km northwest of Lincoln, Mont. These beds consist of laminated marlstone, oil shale, carbonaceous shale, limestone, conglomerate, and tuff. Some parts of this sequence average almost 0.1 percent lithium. The lithium-bearing rocks are too low in grade and volume to be economic. Samples of sedimentary rocks of Oligocene age from the Helena and Townsend valleys in the vicinity of Helena, Mont. were generally low in lithium (3-40 ppm). However, samples of rhyolites from the western side of the Helena valley and from the Lava Mountain area were slightly above average in lithium content (6-200 ppm).

Genre:

USGS Numbered Series

ProdID:

8039

Citation Author:

Brenner-Tourtelot, Elizabeth F.; Meier, Allen L.; Curtis, Craig A.

Citation Contributing Office:

Citation Datum:

Citation Day:

Citation Edition:

Citation Editor:

Citation End Page:

Citation Issue:

Citation Keywords:

Citation Language:

ENGLISH

Citation Larger Work Title:

Citation LatN:

Citation LatS:

Citation LonE:

Citation LonW:

Citation Month:

Citation No Pagination:

Citation Number Of Pages:

Citation Online Only Flag:

Citation Phsyical Description:

27 leaves :fold. map (in pocket) ;30 cm.; (29 p., 1 sheet - PGS)

Citation Projection:

Citation Public Comments:

Citation Publisher:

U.S. Geological Survey,

Citation Series:

Open-File Report

Citation Series Code:

OFR

Citation Series Number:

78-430

Citation Search Results Text:

Lithium in rocks from the Lincoln, Helena, and Townsend areas, Montana; 1978; OFR; 78-430; Brenner-Tourtelot, Elizabeth F.; Meier, Allen L.; Curtis, Craig A.

Citation Start Page:

Citation Volume:

Citation Year:

1978

Type:

citation/reference

Text:

Lithium in rocks from the Lincoln, Helena, and Townsend areas, Montana; 1978; OFR; 78-430; Brenner-Tourtelot, Elizabeth F.; Meier, Allen L.; Curtis, Craig A.