thumbnail

Sources of the elements in the sandstone-type uranium deposits of the Colorado Plateau

Trace Elements Investigations 629
This report concerns work done on behalf of the Division of Raw Materials of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
By: , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/tei629

Links

Abstract

Sandstone-type uranium deposits of the Colorado Plateau are epigenetic. Certain elements have been added locally to the sandstone host to form the deposits; the added fraction of each element in the deposits is call extrinsic to distinguish it from the part present in the original unmineralized host. The principal extrinsic components, in their approximate order of abundance, are vanadium, iron magnesium, uranium, sulfur, arsenic, copper, lead, molbedenum, selenium, cobalt, and nickel.


At lest six possible sources of the extrinsic components of the uranium deposits may be considered reasonably likely: 1) the sandstone beds enclosing the uranium deposits, 2) the marine Mancos shales of Cretaceous ages, 3) bentonitic shales of Jurassic and Triassic age, 4) petroliferous rocks of Pennsylvanian age, 5) Precambrian crystalline rocks underlying the Colorado Plateau, and 6) magmatic reservoirs of latest Cretaceous or Tertiary age. If the major source of some of the elements of external to the sandstone beds enclosing the deposits, it is likely that several sources have contributed to some if not most of the extrinsic components and that the importance of the various sources differs from one component to the next. Precambrian crystalline rocks are considered the most likely major source of the extrinsic uranium in the deposits.

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Sources of the elements in the sandstone-type uranium deposits of the Colorado Plateau
Series title Trace Elements Investigations
Series number 629
DOI 10.3133/tei629
Year Published 1956
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Description 54 p.
Country United States
State Arizona;Colorado;New Mexico;Utah
Other Geospatial Colorado Plateau
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details