Distribution of ore deposits and spectrographic analyses of some rocks and ores on the Colorado Plateau

Trace Elements Investigations 278
This report concerns work done on behalf of the Division of Research and the Division of Raw Materials of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
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Abstract

The geographic pattern of known igneous rocks and ore deposits on the Colorado Plateau suggests a zonal arrangement of several types of ore deposits around centers of igneous activity.


Spectrographic analyses of rocks and ores on the Plateau have been obtained in an effort to determine the distribution of elements and to examine the relationships between types of ore deposits and between the ore deposits and igneous rocks. Over 170 analyses of rocks and ores are given in this report. A preliminary study of these analyses suggests that the proportion of uranium, vanadium, copper, and silver in the uranium ores varies geographically, and that the pattern of variation may be in part concentric about some of the major laccolithic intrusions. It is also suggested that the following ratios of metals contained in the uranium ores are possible guides to larger-than-average ore deposits: (1) lead/uranium greater than 1, (2) lead/zinc greater than 10, and (3) zinc/geometric mean of cobalt and nickel less than 10.

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Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Distribution of ore deposits and spectrographic analyses of some rocks and ores on the Colorado Plateau
Series title Trace Elements Investigations
Series number 278
DOI 10.3133/tei278
Edition -
Year Published 1952
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Description 63 p.
Country United States
State Colorado
Other Geospatial Colorado Plateau
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