Occurrences of uranium at Clinton, Hunterdon County, New Jersey

Trace Elements Investigations 382
This report concerns work done on behalf of the Division of Raw Materials of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
By: , and 

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Abstract

An occurrence of uranium at Clinton, Hunterdon County, N. J. was first brought to the attention of the U.S. Geological Survey when Mr. Thomas L. Eak of Avenel, N. J. submitted to the Survey a sample containing 0.068 percent uranium. Subsequent examinations of the area around Clinton indicated that detailed mapping and study were warranted.


The uranium occurrences at Clinton are in or associated with fault zones in the Kittatinny limestone of Cambro-Ordovician age. The limestone generally light gray, thick bedded, and dolomitic; chert is common but not abundant. Regionally and locally, faults are the most significant structural features. The local faults at Clinton are the loci for most of the uranium. The largest fault can be traced for about 700 feet and is radioactive everywhere it crops out. Samples from this fault contain as much as 0.038 percent uranium; the average content is about 0.010 percent uranium. Uranium also occurs disseminated in two 4-inch layers of black feldspathic dolomite and in several zones of residual soil derived from the Kittatinny limestone. The black layers contain as much as 0.046 percent uranium and can be traced only about 20 feet along strike. They are cut by a small fault that is also radioactive. The radioactive soil zones are roughly elongated parallel to bedding. Soil from them contains up to 0.008 percent uranium. The uranium occurrences are best explained by a supergene origin.


The sampling, mapping, and radioactivity testing of uranium occurrences at Clinton indicate they are too low grade to be of current economic interest.

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Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Occurrences of uranium at Clinton, Hunterdon County, New Jersey
Series title Trace Elements Investigations
Series number 382
DOI 10.3133/tei382
Year Published 1954
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Description Report: 19 p.; 2 Plates: 12.09 x 11.20 inches and 12.76 x 16.20 inches
Country United States
State New Jersey
County Hunterdon County
City Clinton
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