Skip to main content

Full text of "Resource assessment for Region 4, Colorado Plateau : Dinosaur National Monument adjacent - north, area GRA 2"

See other formats


1 


GEOLOGICAL  RESOURCE  AREA  |GRA)  2 


BLM    LIBRARY 
I   I    III   III! 


1  8{ 


88026533 


FINAL  REPORT 

PHASE  1:    GEM 

(GEOLOGICAL,  ENERGY  and  MINERALS) 

RESOURCE  ASSESSMENT  FOR 
REGION  4,  COLORADO  PLATEAU 


DENVER 


cov°» 


N» 


•OURANQO 


SUBMITTED  TO: 

U.S.  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR 

BUREAU  OF  LAND  MANAGEMENT 

DENVER  SERVICE  CENTER 

DENVER,  COLORADO  80225 


QE 


ill!*. 


dSLjfp  MSME/WALLABY  ENTERPRISES 

^Bl"  A  JOINT  VENTURE  OF 

MOUNTAIN  STATES  MINERAL  ENTERPRISES.  INC. 
and  WALLABY  ENTERPRISES,  INC. 


D-553A,  Building  50  Q.</7 

D«nv0r  Federal  Center  /<?,   => 

P0.  Box  25047  l(& 
Denver,  CO  80225-0047 

FINAL  REPORT 

PHASE  1:    GEM 

(GEOLOGICAL,  ENERGY  and  MINERALS) 

RESOURCE  ASSESSMENT  FOR 
REGION  4,  COLORADO  PLATEAU 


BULL  CANYON 

DINOSAUR  NATIONAL  MONUMENT  ADJACENT  -  NORTH,  AREA 

GRA  2 


SUBMITTED  TO: 

U.S.  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR 

BUREAU  OF  LAND  MANAGEMENT 

DENVER  SERVICE  CENTER 

DENVER,  COLORADO  80225 


MAY  1983 

dm  MSME/WALLABY  ENTERPRISES 

~lr  A  JOINT  VENTURE  OF 

MOUNTAIN  STATES  MINERAL  ENTERPRISES,  INC. 
and  WALLABY  ENTERPRISES,  INC. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 

SECTION  PAGE 

FOREWORD  i 

EXECUTIVE  SUMMARY     ii 

I  INTRODUCTION  1-1 

II  GEOLOGY II-l 

Physiography     II-l 

Rock  Units II-l 

Structural  Geology  and  Tectonics II-A 

Paleontology II-5 

Historical  Geology   II-7 

III  ENERGY  AND  MINERAL  RESOURCES  III-l 

Known  Mineral  Deposits   III-l 

Known  Prospects,  Mineral  Occurrences,  and 

Mineralized  Areas   III-2 

Mining  Claims,  Leases,  and  Material  Sites    .    .  III-3 

Mineral  Deposit  Types    III-3 

Mineral  Economics    III-5 

IV  LAND  CLASSIFICATION  FOR  GEM  RESOURCES  POTENTIAL   .    .  IV-1 

Leasable  Resources   IV-4 

Locatable  Resources  IV-7 

Salable  Resources    IV-13 

V  RECOMMENDATIONS  FOR  ADDITIONAL  WORK   V-l 

VI  REFERENCES  AND  SELECTED  BIBLIOGRAPHY VI- 1 

APPENDICES      (SEPARATE  ATTACHMENTS) 


FOREWORD 


This  report  is  one  of  a  series  of  eleven  reports  addressing  the  Wilderness  Study 
Areas  (WSA's)  located  in  what  has  been  designated  as  the  Colorado  Plateau,  Region 
4,  by  the  Bureau  of  Land  Management  (BLM),  Denver  Federal  Center.  The  study  was 
under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Robert  J.  Coker,  the  Contracting  Officer's  Authorized 
Representative  (COAR). 

The  WSA's  have  been  segregated  into  eleven  G-E-M  (Geology,  Energy,  Minerals) 
Resources  Areas  (GRA's).  Each  designated  GRA  constitutes  one  report.  The  purpose 
of  these  reports  is  to  assess  the  potential  for  geology,  energy  and  mineral  (GEM) 
resources  existing  within  a  WSA  and  GRA.  This  information  will  then  be  used  by  BLM 
geologists  in  completing  the  assessment  for  GEM  resources  potential  within  the 
WSA's,  and  for  the  integration  with  other  resource  data  for  the  decision  on  suita- 
bility for  recommendation  of  the  respective  WSA. 

The  reports  were  developed  and  prepared  by  the  Joint  Venture  team  of  MSME/Wallaby 
Enterprises,  Tucson,  Arizona,  by  Patricia  J.  Popp  (Geologist),  and  Barbara  J.  Howie 
(Geologist)  under  the  direction  of  Eric  A.  Nordhausen  (Project  Manager)  and  Richard 
Lundin  (Principal  Investigator),  under  BLM  Contract  No.  YA-553-CT2-1041 . 

Consulting  support  was  provided  by  a  highly  specialized  geological  team  composed 
of:  Ted  Eyde,  Dr.  Paul  Gilmour,  Dr.  Robert  Carpenter,  Dr.  Donald  Gentry,  Dr.  Edger 
Heylmun,  Dr.  Larry  Lepley,  Annon  Cook,  Walter  Heinrichs,  Jr.,  and  Charles  Campbell. 
Their  contribution  is  both  acknowledged  and  appreciated.  The  work  of  Dr.  Gilmour, 
Dr.  Carpenter  and  Dr.  Lepley  should  receive  special  acknowledgement.  It  was  from 
the  work  of  these  consultants  that  this  report  on  the  Bull  Canyon/Dinosaur  National 
Monument  Adjacent-North  GRA  was  able  to  be  completed. 


EXECUTIVE  SUMMARY 

The  BLM  has  adopted  a  two-phase  procedure  for  the  integration  of  geological,  energy 
and  minerals  (GEM)  resources  data  for  suitable/nonsuitable  decisions  for  Wilderness 
Study  Areas  (WSA's).  The  two-phased  approach  permits  termination  of  a  GEM  resour- 
ces data  gathering  effort  at  the  end  of  Phase  One.  The  objective  of  this  Phase  One 
GEM  resources  assessment  is  the  evaluation  of  existing  data  (both  published  and 
available  unpublished  data)  and  their  interpretation  for  the  GEM  resources  poten- 
tial of  the  WSA's  incuded  in  each  region.  Phase  Two  is  designed  to  generate  new 
data  needed  to  support  GEM  resources  recommendations. 

Over  10  million  acres  of  WSA's  require  GEM  resources  data  input.  These  WSA's  are 
unequally  distributed  in  eleven  western  states  of  the  coterminous  United  States. 
The  WSA's  are  grouped  in  six  large  regional  areas.  The  WSA's  within  the  western 
part  of  Colorado,  and  a  few  crossing  into  Utah,  were  included  as  Region  4,  also 
known  as  the  Colorado  Plateau  Region.  Except  for  one  small  area  at  the  southwest 
extreme  of  the  region  and  another  at  the  north  extreme,  the  region  is  within  the 
northern  half  of  the  known  Colorado  Plateau  physiographic  province. 

The  32  WSA's  within  Region  4  encompass  474,620  acres.  These  have  been 
geographically  segregated  within  11  designated  GEM  Resource  Areas  (GRA's).  This 
report  addresses  the  Bull  Canyon/Dinosaur  National  Monument  Adjacent-North  area, 
GRA  2.  Within  the  GRA  is  the  Bull  Canyon  WSA  (CO-010-001  &  UT-080-419),  and 
Dinosaur  Adjacent-North  (Unit  224:  CO-010-224;  Unit  224A:  CO-010-224A;  Unit  226: 
CO-010-226;  Unit  228:  CO-010-228;  Unit  229D:  CO-010-229D) . 

The  geology  of  the  GRA  consists  of  gentle  mountain  and  valley  areas,  cut  in  part  by 
the  Yampa  River.  The  rocks  are  mostly  sedimentary,  containing  mineralized  areas. 
In  addition,  faults  In  the  area  have  acted  to  mineralize  base  and  precious  metals. 

The  mineral  resources  of  the  GRA  include  coal,  uranium,  base  and  precious  metals, 
construction  stone,  clay,  and  sand  and  gravel.  The  coal,  uranium,  construction 
stone,  and  clay  occur  in  various  formations  of  sedimentary  rocks.  Copper,  lead, 
zinc,  iron,  manganese,  and  silver  are  found  localized  by  faults  that  occur  in  the 
GRA. 

The  WSA's  (see  Figure  1-1  and  Overlay  A)  in  the  GRA  consist  mostly  of  sedimentary 
formations  with  little  or  no  mineralization.  Unit  C0- 010-226,  which  contains  cop- 
per mineralization  in  a  faulted  zone,  is  the  only  block  in  Dinosaur  Adjacent-North 
WSA  to  have  mineralization.   Bull  Canyon  WSA  does  not  have  any  known  deposits. 

The  classification  for  the  occurrences  of  leasable  minerals,  locatable  and  salable 
resources  varies.  Due  to  lack  of  published  literature  and  geologic  field 
information,  there  is  an  unknown  potential  for  leasable  resources  in  the  GRA. 
There  is  moderate  favorability  for  locatable  resources  (base  and  precious  metals) 
in  the  Dinosaur  Ad jacentNorth  WSA,  and  an  unknown  potential  in  Bull  Canyon. 
Dinosaur  Adjacent-  North  WSA  has  a  high  favorability  for  salable  dimension  stone, 
cement  rock,  and  moderate  favorability  for  mineral  pigments  and  high  calcium 
limestone.   Bull  Canyon  WSA  has  low  favorability  for  salable  resources. 


ii 


Overall,  it  is  recommended  that  each  WSA  in  the  GRA  receive  additional  work  to 
determine  the  full  economic  potential  of  each  area.  This  work  should  include 
further  research  in  the  unpublished  and  proprietary  literature,  a  detailed  program 
of  geologic  mapping  and  sampling,  and  additional  geochemical  and  stratigraphic 
studies  to  confirm  the  occurrence  or  lack  of  occurrence  of  geology,  energy  or 
mineralized  commodities. 


iii 


SECTION  I 
INTRODUCTION 

The  Bull  Canyon/Dinosaur  National  Monument  Adjacent-North  GRA  (Figure  1-1)  is 
located  in  western  Moffat  County,  Colorado  and  eastern  Uintah  Counties,  Utah.  The 
GRA  encompasses  six  WSA's;  CO-010-001/UT-080-419,  CO-010-224,  CO-010-224A, 
CO-010226,  CO-010-228  and  CO-010-229D. 

The  GRA  area  is  located  approximately  100  miles  northwest  of  Grand  Junction,  Colo- 
rado, and  20  miles  east  of  Vernal,  Utah.  Located  within  the  GRA  are  a  number  of 
settlements  that  are  local  supply  centers  for  agriculture,  ranching,  and  mining 
activities  in  the  area.  The  towns  are  supplied  by  road  networks  from  Grand  Junc- 
tion and  Vernal,  the  nearest  regional  supply  centers.  These  towns  (Dinosaur, 
Wiley's  Resort,  Blue  Mountain,  Skull  Creek,  and  Massadonia),  are  also  local  supply 
centers  for  the  oil  and  gas  operations  in  the  area. 

The  GRA  encompasses  all  or  portions  of  Townships  3-8  North,  Ranges  99-104  West;  and 
Townships  3-7  South,  Range  26  West  in  Utah.  The  entire  area  is  bounded  by  west 
Longitudes  108°  28'  03"  and  109°  08'  00"  and  north  Latitudes  40°  15'  00"  and  40° 
36'  05".  It  contains  approximately  801.2  square  miles  (2155  square  kilometers  or 
512,770  acres)  of  Federal,  state  and  private  lands.  The  Bureau  of  Land  Management 
portion  of  these  holdings  are  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Little  Snake  and  White 
River  Resource  Area  Offices  of  the  Craig  District  Office. 

The  specific  WSA's  within  the  GRA  have  a  total  of  34,937  acres  of  Federal  land. 
The  acreages  of  the  various  contained  WSA's  are: 

Bull  Canyon  WSA  (CO-010-001/UT-080-419)  -  12,297  acres 
Dinosaur  Adjacent-North  WSA's: 

(CO-010-224)  -  4,340  acres 

(CO-010-224A)  -  1,320  acres 

(CO-010-226)  -  4,880  acres 

(CO-010-228)  -  5,200  acres 

(C0-010-229D)  -  6,900  acres 

The  Bull  Canyon  WSA  is  located  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  GRA  and  is  adjacent 
to  the  western  boundary  of  Dinosaur  National  Monument.  The  rest  of  the  WSA  units 
are  in  the  northeastern  portion  of  the  GRA  and  are  directly  adjacent  to  the 
northern  boundary  of  Dinosaur  National  Monument  (See  Overlay  A). 

Due  to  the  lack  of  available  data  on  each  WSA,  emphasis  was  placed  on  gaining  an 
understanding  of  the  mineral  potential  of  each  WSA  within  the  GRA.  Information  on 
the  mineral  resources  of  GRA  was  utilized  to  extrapolate  and  estimate  the  poten- 
tials of  the  contained  WSA's  from  the  existing  data  that  in  most  cases,  referred 
only  indirectly  to  the  WSA's.  The  purpose  of  this  contract  was  to  utilize  the 
known  geological  information  within  each  WSA  and  GRA  to  ascertain  the  GEM  resource 
potential  of  the  WSA's.  The  known  areas  of  mineralization  and  claims  have  been 
plotted  as  overlays  to  Figure  1-1. 


1-1 


The  information  contained  in  this  report  was  obtained  from  published  literature, 
computerized  data  base  sources,  Bureau  of  Land  Management  File  Data,  company  files 
and  returned  data  sheets.  The  information  was  compiled  into  a  series  of  files  on 
each  WSA  and  a  series  of  maps  that  covered  the  entire  western  portion  of  Colorado. 
After  a  thorough  review  of  the  existing  data,  a  program  of  field  checking  was 
carried  out  by  MSME/Wallaby ' s  team  of  experts.  Field  investigations  in  the  GRA 
were  carried  out  by  Dr.  Paul  Gilmour,  and  Dr.  Robert  Carpenter  on  September  2, 
1982. 

Both  of  these  individuals  are  registered  professional  geologists  and  associates  of 
MSME/Wallaby.  Further  analysis  and  study  was  provided  through  the  photographic 
interpretation  services  of  BLM  1:24,000  aerial  photos  by  Dr.  Larry  Lepley,  regis- 
tered professional  geologist  and  remote  sensing  specialist.  The  aerial  photos  used 
are  included  in  Appendix  A. 


1-2 


_9    00 
5    00 


ViJOH 
"V  JiOH 


! 

o 


4 


MN 


V) 

H 

ui 

>-? 

Ca  < 

uj     - 


'Z  CO 

O 
<0  Q 


• 

x: 


-x 

X- 


o 


1 


S_03_iWJ0h 

"e  oo    HviMn 


:* 


C    CD     !ViiOM° 


2 

£ 
i 


< 
o 

i< 

-J   J 

£5 

>_r 

°< 

o 

o 


V 

I 

i 


o 


n 


fi    t>3  1W£0H 
£    00   HVlNin 


iTT       S-<>-0- 


I      ! 


9   *03  JLVJJOW 
~C~T>"0"T¥±3OH 


p" 

B1 


Sg- 


o 


2-5 

s  - 


& 


2   =¥* 


LU 
'J 
CO  Z 
I-  LU 
Off 
ffl  UJ3 
0.O 

<oo 

UJ       < 


u, 


ri-.     v.    !■.  ' 


UJ 

z  - 

I5 

a 

z 
« 


e>!o 


u 


0 


o  o 

5.* 


0 


n 


"ft»  HWNin 


CO -010 -229  D 


CO-010-228 


CO   010  226 


CO-010-224  A 


Q  tu 
uj- 

Z< 

LU  O 

H  2 
O 
<»:  0.  O 
.Zffl 
>3  ^ 
<~  < 

ogz 


UJ 


v> 


Q 


CO-010-224 


2 


CO 


2 


o 
o 


o 


CM 
O 


CO 

o 


CO 

eg 


2 


(6Z61  'IB  *e  AeiMou  J©HV) 


Q. 
,_  < 


u2 
cr  o 
=>o 

Co 

LU 

O 


o 
o 
q 
o" 

10 
CM 


CO 


CO 

CD 


ID 
< 

O 


EXPLANATION 


Quaternary 

Qe 

(Approximately 

Qa 

2  million  years 

Qac 

before  present 

QP 

(mybp)  to 

Qf 

present) 

Ql 

Qr 

Qop 

Qtg 

Tertiary 

Tbb 

(Approximately 

62-2  mybp) 

Tbp 

Tbc 

Tds 

Tdl 

Tdd 

Tdb 

Tu 

Tuu 

Tul 

Tb 

Tbu 

Tbl 

Tg 

Tgp 

-m- 

Tgl 

Tgla 

Tgw 

Tgt 

Tglu 

Tw 

Twc 

Twn 

Twm 

Tf 

Cretaceous 

Kmvg 

(Approximately 

Kmvu 

135-62  mybp) 

Kmvc 

Kmvl 

Kmv 

Ksc 

Kbc 

Kw 
Ki 
Kla 


Eolian  deposits 

Alluvium 

Alluvium  and  colluvium 

Piedmont-slope  deposits 

Fan  deposits  and  colluvium 

Land  slide  deposits 

River-terrace  deposits 

Old  piedmont-slope  deposits 

Old  gravel  deposits 

Browns  Park.  Formation  and/or 

Bishop  Conglomerate 
Browns  Park  Formation 
Bishop  Conglomerate 

Duchesne  River  Formation,  Starr  Flat  Member 
Duchesne  River  Formation,  LaPoint  Member 
Duchesne  River  Formation,  Dry  Gulch  Creek  Member 
Duchesne  River  Formation,  Brennan  Basin  Member 
Uinta  Formation 
Uinta  Formation-upper  part 
Uinta  Formation-lower  part 
Bridger  Formation 
Bridger  Formation-upper  part 
Bridger  Formation- lower  part 
Green  River  Formation 
Parachute  Creek  Member 
Mahogany  ledge 
Garden  Gulch,  Douglas  Creek,  and  Anvil  Points 

Members 
Laney  Member 
Wilkins  Peak  Member 
Tipton  Tongue 
Luman  Tongue 
Wasatch  Formation 
Cathedral  Bluffs  Tongue 
Niland  Tongue 
Main  body 
Fort  Union  Formation 

Mesaverde  Group,  undivided 

Mesaverde  Group-upper  unit 

Mesaverde  Group-coal  unit 

Mesaverde  Group-lower  unit 

Mesaverde  Group-upper,  coal,  and  lower  unit 

Sego  Sandstone,  Buck  Tongue  of  Mancos  Shale,  and 

Castlegate  Sandstone 
Buck  Tongue  of  Mancos  Shale  and  Castlegate 

Sandstone 
Williams  Fork  Formation 
lies  Formation 
Lance  Formation  and  Fox  Hills  Sandstone 


1-4 


EXPLANATION  (cont) 


Cretaceous  (cont) 


Cretaceous 
and  Jurassic 


Kle        Lewis  Shale 

Km         Mancos  Shale 

Kh         Hilliard  Shale 

Kfd        Frontier  Sandstone  and  Mowry  Shale  Members  of 

Mancos  Shale,  and  Dakota  Sandstone 
KJcm       Cedar  Mountain  Formation  (lower  Cretaceous)  and 

Morrison  Formation  (upper  Jurassic) 
Kc         Cedar  Mountain  Formation 

KJmsc      Cedar  Mountain  Formation,  Morrison  Formation, 

Stump  Formation,  Entrada  Sandstone,  and  Carmel 
Formation 


Jurassic 

JM 

(Approximately 

Jmsc 

195-135  mybp) 

Jmsc 

Jsc 

Jsc 

Lower  Jurassic 

JTrgc 

and  Upper  Jurassic 

JTrg 

Triassic 

Trc 

(Approximately 

TrPmp 

225-195  mybp) 

Trm 

Trmd 

Trd 

Morrison  Formation 

Morrison  Formation,  Stump  Formation  and  Entrada 

Sandstone 
Morrison  Formation,  Stump  Formation,  Entrada 

Sandstone,  and  Carmel  Formation 
Stump  Formation,  Entrada  Sandstone,  and  Carmel 

Formation 
Stump  Formation  and  Entrada  Sandstone 

Glen  Canyon  Sandstone  and  Chinle  Formation 
Glen  Canyon  Sandstone 

Chinle  Formation  -  Gartra  Member 

Moenkopi  Formation  (lower  Triassic)  and  Park  City 

Formation  (Permian) 
Moenkopi  Formation 

Moenkopi  Formation  and  Dinwoody  Formation 
Dinwoody  Formation 


Permian 
(approximately 
280-225  mybp) 

Pennsylvanian 
(Approximately 
320-280  mybp) 

Mississippian 
(Approximately 
342-320  mybp) 


PP 


PPw 
PPM 
PPmr 

Mr 


Park  City  Formation 


Weber  Sandstone 

Morgan  Formation 

Morgan  Formation  and  Round  Valley  Limestone 


Mississippian  rocks 


Cambrian 
(Approximately 
600-500  mybp) 

Precambrian 
Approximately 
3400-600  mybp) 


Yu 
Wr 


Lodore  Formation 


Uinta  Mountain  Group 
Red  Creek  Quartzite 


1-5 


LEGEND 

C..Z)  -0  OIL  FIELD  ■ 

C..D     "G  GAS  FIELD 

D 
C_J  -Os  OIL  SHALE 

' x 

(    )  -C  COAL  REGION 

>— 

•  OIL  WELL  ^ 
-£  OIL  a  GAS  WELL  B 
-#■  GAS  WELL  ^ 

•  SHOW  OF  GAS  0 

3    SHOW  OF  OIL  ^ 

>4r   show  of  oil  a  gas       ^ 

•  -C  COAL  DEPOSIT  .„ 
O    -C  COAL  OCCURRENCE 

A     SHUT-IN  WELL  X 

0     C02  OR  He=HELIUM  -RICH      0 

WELL 

A     DRY  WELL-ABANDONED 

Y  ® 

Cm      MILL 

n   PLANT  O 

r\  NATURAL  GAS  PROCESSING      (| 

UQ    PLANT 

/\ 

ffift   REFINERY 

0  OIL  Ck  LIGNITE 

G  GAS  CP  PEAT 

Os  OIL  SHALE  A9  SILVER 

Oi  TAR  SANDS  Au  GOLD 

Gi  GILSONITE  Cu  COPPER 

C  COAL  CI  CLAY 

1-6 


MINERAL  OREBOO  Y 

MINERAL  DEPOS  IT 

MINERAL  OCCURRENCE 

PROSPECT 

ACCESSIBLE  AD  IT 

INACCESSIBLE  AD  IT 

VERTICAL  SHAFT 

INCLINED  SHAFT 

MINE  TYPE  UNKNOWN 

ACTIVE  OPEN  PIT,  OR  QUARRY 

INACTIVE  OPEN  PIT,  OR  QUARRY 

ACTIVE  GRAVEL  OR 
CLAY  (CI)  PIT 

INACTIVE  GRAVEL  OR 
CLAY  (CI)  PIT 

EXPLORATION  HOLE  WITH 
DATA  AVAILABLE 

EXPLORATION  HOLE  WITHOUT 
DATA  AVAILABLE 

UNPATENTED  MINING  CLAIM 
PATENTED  MINING  CLAIM 

MINERAL  OR  OIL  a  GAS  LEASE 


Ds  DIMENSION  STONE 

Fc  IRON 

Mn  MANGANESE 

Pb  LEAD 

U  URANIUM 

V  VANADIUM 

Zn  ZINC 


SECTION  II 
GEOLOGY 


PHYSIOGRAPHY 

Within  the  GRA  boundary  (see  Figure  1-1)  are  mountain  and  valley  areas  adjacent  to 
Dinosaur  National  Monument.  The  valley  of  the  Yampa  River  is  the  prominent  topo- 
graphic figure  cutting  through  the  National  Monument.  The  course  of  the  Yampa 
divides  the  GRA  into  two  distinct  north  and  south  portions.  The  area  directly 
north  of  the  National  Monument  consists  of  ridges  and  draws  that  drain  northward 
into  the  Rye  Grass  Creek,  and  Douglas  Draw  areas.  Also  within  this  area  are  a  ser- 
ies of  southward  draining  tributaries  of  the  Yampa  River.  The  topographic  relief 
is  approximately  2,000  feet.  South  of  the  river,  the  terrain  consists  of  valleys 
with  occasional  mountain  ridges  and  mesa  tops.  A  prominant  east-west  valley  cuts 
through  the  area  in  the  south-central  portion  of  the  GRA.  A  few  north-south  and 
northeast  trending  stream  systems  cut  through  the  southern  portion  of  the  GRA  and 
isolate  some  of  the  more  prominent  topographic  features  (Round  Top  Mountain, 
Martha's  Peak,  Tanks  Peak  and  Blue  Mountain).  These  drainage  systems  (Disappoint- 
ment Draw,  Hell's  Canyon  and  Wolf's  Creek),  have  canyons  associated  with  them  where 
they  cut  through  ridge  or  mesa  top  areas.  The  vertical  relief  in  this  southern 
portion   of    the  GRA  ranges    from  200  to  2,000  feet. 

The  following  addresses  the  physiography  of  each  of  the  WSA's  in  the  Bull  Canyon- 
Dinosaur  National  Monument    Adjacent-North  GRA. 

BULL   CANYON   WSA   (C0-010-001/UT-080-419) 

This   WSA  includes    a  small   portion   of    the  upper   drainage   of    Cliff   Trail   Creek   and    is 

characterized    by    a    shallow    canyon    along  the    creek    drainage.       The    vertical    relief 

within  the  WSA  is  less  than  500  feet.  This  unit,  located  in  Utah,  is  20  miles 
southeast    of   Vernal,    Utah. 

DINOSAUR  ADJACENT-NORTH  WSA'S    (CO-010-224,    224A,    226,    228,    229D) 

These  WSA's  are  located  upland  from  Dinosaur  National  Monument's  river  canyons 
along  Douglas  Mountain.  They  consist  primarily  of  portions  of  ridges,  draws,  and 
gently  rolling  valley  areas.  Some  of  the  units  have  high,  prominant  ridges  that 
rise  to  8,000  feet  in  elevation.  All  of  the  units  are  directly  adjacent  to  the 
northern  boundary  of  Dinosaur  National  Monument,  and  are  approximately  50-75  miles 
northeast  of  Vernal,  Utah.  Vertical  relief  within  the  unit  areas  is  approximately 
3,000  feet. 

ROCK  UNITS 

Within  the  Bull  Canyon/Dinosaur  National  Monument  Adjacent-North,  GRA  is  found  a 
variety  of  rock  units  that  represent  a  large  part  of  Precambrian,  Paleozoic, 
Mesozoic  and  Cenezoic  time. 


II-l 


The  Precambrian  is  mainly  represented  by  the  marine  sandstone  and  silty  shale  units 
of  the  younger  Precambrian  Uinta  Mountain  Group.  This  series  of  units  unconforma- 
bly  overlies  the  Red  Creek  Quartzite.  The  Red  Creek.  Quartzite  outcrops  within  the 
GRA  but  has  only  been  mapped  north  and  west  of  Browns  Park  (Rowley  et  al,  1979), 
and  is  considered  to  be  the  underlying  basement  complex.  The  Red  Creek  Quartzite 
is  composed  of  deformed  beds  of  metaquartzite ,  amphibolite,  minor  marble  and  intru- 
sive felsic  igneous  rocks  (Rowley  et  al ,  1979;  Gilmour,  Personal  Communication, 
1982).  Spotty  copper-iron  and  uranium  mineralization  has  been  reported  from  this 
unit  in  Utah.   (Unterman  et  al,  1954). 

The  Cambrian  Lodore  Formation  outcrops  in  the  northeast  portion  of  the  GRA  and  con- 
sists of  a  series  of  marine  sandstone,  shale  and  conglomerate  units  that  are  occa- 
sionally fossiliferous  at  or  near  the  Lodore-Madison  contact  in  other  areas  of 
Colorado  (Rowley  et  al ,  1979;  Carpenter,  Personal  Communication,  1982;  Gilmour, 
Personal  Communication,  1982). 

The  Mississippian  Madison  Formation  is  usually  found  in  contact  with  the  Lodore  and 
is  characterized  as  a  fossiliferous  and  cherty  marine  limestone  with  local  dolorait- 
ic  units  (Rowley  et  al,  1979).  In  areas  near  Douglas  Mountain,  small  base  and  pre- 
cious metal  replacement  deposits  have  been  noted  in  this  unit  (Unterman  et  al, 
1954;  Carpenter,  Personal  Communication,  1982).  Other  Missippian  units  that  out- 
crop within  the  GRA  include  the  shale,  sandstone  and  limestone  units  of  the  Humbug 
Formation  and  the  continental  and  marine  shale-sandstone-limestone  members  of  the 
Doughnut  Shale  (Rowley  et  al,  1979). 

The  Pennsylvania  Round  Valley  Formation  represents  a  sequence  of  marine  limestone 
units  with  interbedded  shale.  The  unit  is  moderately  fossiliferous  and  is  directly 
overlain  by  the  sandstone,  shale  and  fossiliferous  limestone  members  of  the  Morgan 
Formation.  The  Morgan  Formation  is  known  to  contain  base  and  precious  mineraliza- 
tion (mainly  copper-silver-iron-manganese)  within  the  GRA  in  basal  conglomerate 
units  (Unterman  et  al,  1954;  Carpenter,  Personal  Communication,  1982;  Rowley  et 
al,  1979;  Vanderwilt,  1947).  It  is  considered  to  be  a  marine  sequence  that  is  in 
conformable  contact  with  the  overlying  Pennsylvania  Weber  Sandstone  Formation.  The 
Weber  consists  of  a  series  of  eolian  and  marine  sandstone  units  that  are  thought  to 
represent  a  near-shore  dune  environment  (Rowley  et  al,  1979;  Unterman  et  al, 
1954). 

Outcrops  of  the  Permian  Park  City  Formation  are  found  in  the  extreme  southwest  cor- 
ner of  the  GRA.  This  formation,  deposited  in  areas  to  the  west  of  the  GRA,  is  com- 
posed of  a  series  of  limestone,  sandstone,  shale,  siltstone,  dolomite  and  phosphat- 
ic  shale  units  that  represent  a  period  of  marine  deposition  in  a  restricted  basin 
environment  (Rowley  et  al,  1979;  Unterman  et  al,  1954).  Commercial  thicknesses  of 
the  phosphate  bearing  units  have  been  reported  in  areas  to  the  west  and  south  of 
the  GRA  (Unterman  et  al,  1954;  Eyde,  Personal  Communication,  1982).  In  the  north- 
east portion  of  the  GRA,  the  Park  City  is  absent  from  the  section  and  the  Pennsyl- 
vania section  is  directly  overlain  by  the  Mesozoic  section. 

Pre-Cretaceous  Mesozoic  units  that  are  known  to  exist  within  the  GRA  are  the  Trias- 
sic  Moenkopi  and  Chinle  Formations,  the  Triassic- Jurassic  Glen  Canyon  Formation, 
and  the  Jurassic  Stump,  Entrada  Sandstone,  Carmel  and  Morrison  Formations  (Rowley 
et  al,  1979).  The  Triassic  Moenkopi  Formation  consists  of  a  series  of  shale  and 
siltstone  units  that  are  thought  to  be  of  continental  and  marine  origin.   Minor 


II-2 


gypsum  beds  are  locally  found  within  sandy  portions  of  the  stratigraphy  (Rowley  et 
al,  1979).  Directly  overlying  the  Moenkopi  is  the  Chinle  Formation.  In  northern 
Colorado  and  Utah,  the  Chinle  is  a  fine  grained  series  of  fluvial  and  lacustrine 
siltstones,  sandstones,  claystones  and  shale.  Within  the  GRA  the  basal  Gartra  Mem- 
ber is  usually  found  as  a  cross-bedded  fluvial  sandstone  and  conglomerate  unit. 
The  Gartra  Member  may  be  equivalent  to  the  Triassic  Shinarump  Formation  of  southern 
Utah  and  Arizona,  known  to  contain  significant  uranium-vanadium  deposits  (Rowley  et 
al,  1979;  Unterman  et  al,  1954).  The  Triassic- Jurassic  Glen  Canyon  Formation  crops 
out  in  only  the  northeast  part  of  the  GRA  and  is  a  strongly  bedded  eolian  sandstone 
unit  (Rowley  et  al,  1979). 

The  (pre-Mesaverde)  Cretaceous  units  that  crop  out  within  the  GRA  include  the  Cedar 
Mountain,  Dakota  Sandstone,  Mowry  Shale,  Frontier  Sandstone,  Hilliard  Shale,  and 
Mancos  Shale  Formations  or  Members.  The  Cedar  Mountain  Formation  consists  of  a 
series  of  fluvial  mudstone,  shale,  siltstone,  conglomerate  and  limestone  units. 
The  overlying  Dakota  Sandstone  is  made  up  of  sandstone,  shale  and  conglomerate 
units  with  thin  beds  of  coal  and  carbonaceous  shale.  The  coal  units  of  the  Dakota 
Sandstone  are  locally  important  but  thin  and  discontinuous  (Gentry,  Personal  Com- 
munication, 1982;  Rowley  et  al,  1979;  Unterman  et  al ,  1954).  The  Mowry  Shale  Mem- 
ber of  the  Mancos  Shale  is  a  siliceous  marine  shale  with  abundant  fossil  material. 
The  Frontier  Sandstone  Member  of  the  Mancos  Shale  is  a  crossbedded  sandstone  unit 
that  contains  minor  carbonaceous  shale  and  coal  beds  which  are  of  minor  economic 
important  (Rowley  et  al,  1979;  Gentry,  Personal  Communication,  1982).  The  Hilliard 
Shale  Formation  consists  of  a  single  thick  marine  shale  unit  with  minor  sandstone. 
The  overlying  Mancos  Shale  Formation  is  also  a  single  thick  marine  shale  unit.  It 
contains  minor  siltstone  and  sandstone  units  (Rowley  et  al ,  1979). 

Within  the  GRA  the  Mesaverde  Formation  crops  out  as  a  series  of  shale,  carbonaceous 
shale,  sandstone  and  coal  units  (Rowley  et  al ,  1976).  Within  the  GRA  and  in  other 
areas  of  Colorado  the  coal  members  of  this  unit  are  being  mined  (Vanderwilt,  1947; 
Gentry,  Personal  Communication,  1982). 

Tertiary  units  that  crop  out  within  the  GRA  include  units  of  the  Wasatch,  Green 
River,  Bishop  Conglomerate  and  Browns  Park  Formations  (Rowley  et  al ,  1979).  The 
Wasatch  Formation  units  that  crop  out  within  the  GRA  include  shale,  siltstone, 
claystone,  coal,  sandstone  and  carbonaceous  shale  units  which  are  thought  to  be  of 
fluvial  or  lacustrine  origin.  The  Wasatch  Formation  intertongues  with  the  Green 
River  sequence  of  marlstone,  shale,  oil  shale,  limestone,  siltstone,  sandstone  and 
fluvial  conglomerate  units  (Rowley  et  al,  1979).  The  Bishop  Conglomerate  consists 
of  sandstone,  conglomerate  siltstone,  rhyolitic  tuff,  and  limestone  units  and  is 
thought  to  represent  a  volcanic  unit  that  was  reworked  in  a  fluvial  and  eolian 
environment.  The  Browns  Park  Formation  directly  overlies  the  Bishop  Conglomerate 
and  consists  of  sandstone,  tuff  and  limestone  units  and  is  thought  to  be  a  part  of 
volcanic  cycle  that  was  active  in  Miocene  time.  The  clastic  units  appear  to  be 
reworked  volcanic  material  and  locally  contain  minor  amounts  of  uranium  and  vanadi- 
um mineralization  in  association  with  devitrified  tuffaceous  unit  (Rowley  et  al , 
1979;  Carpenter,  Personal  Communication,  1982). 

Quaternary  piedmont,  alluvial,  landslide,  and  river  terrace  deposits  are  found 
overlying  the  exposed  Precambrian,  Paleozoic,  Mesozoic  and  Tertiary  stratigraphy. 


II-3 


STRUCTURAL  GEOLOGY  AND  TECTONICS 

Tectonic  features  found  within  the  GRA  include  a  few  mapped  high  angle  faults  and 
joint  systems  in  the  northeast  and  east-central  portions  of  the  GRA.  These  west- 
northwest  and  east-northeast  striking  features  parallel  the  axial  planes  of  the 
numerous  anticlinal  and  synclinal  structures  that  are  found  in  the  area  (Rowley  et 
al,  1979).  Some  of  the  fold  features  mapped  in  the  area  of  the  GRA  may  have  impor- 
tance in  the  localization  of  oil,  gas,  and  uranium  deposits  (Heylmun,  Personal  Com- 
munication, 1982;  Carpenter,  Personal  Communication,  1982). 

In  the  Blue  Mountain  and  Skull  Creek  areas  faulting  may  have  localized  copper, 
lead,  zinc,  manganese  and  uranium  deposits  (Aurand,  1920;  Carpenter,  Personal  Com- 
munication, 1982). 

In  the  southern  portion  of  the  GRA,  the  Split  Mountain,  Blue  Mountain  (Willow 
Creek),  and  the  Skull  Creek  (Blue  Mountain)  anticlinal  structures  have  arched  por- 
tions of  the  Paleozoic  and  Mesozoic  sections,  and  may  have  been  caused  by  the  low 
angle  thrust  fault  that  has  been  mapped  in  the  vicinity  of  Round  Top  Mountain 
(Robinson  et  al,  1975;  Rowley,  et  al ,  1979). 

The  thrusting  that  occurred  in  the  GRA  is  thought  to  be  related  to  a  period  of  Ter- 
tiary deformation  which  caused  the  Precambrian  and  portions  of  the  Paleozoic  sec- 
tion to  be  thrust  over  younger  units.  Deformation  and  thrusting  have  obscured  the 
true  stratigraphic  sequence  in  much  of  the  GRA.  It  appears  that  Tertiary  units  lie 
directly  and  unconf ormably  upon  the  exposed  Precambrian,  Paleozoic  and  Mesozoic 
sections  (Rowley  et  al,  1979;  Robinson  et  al,  1975;  Heylmun,  Personal  Communica- 
tion, 1982;  Carpenter,  Personal  Communication,  1982). 

Mineral  resources  that  are  thought  to  be  of  economic  significance  have  been  found 
in  the  Douglas  Mountain  area  (See  Overlay  B) .  Mineralization  consists  of  copper- 
silver-iron-lead-zinc  mineralization  associated  with  faults  in  the  Mississippian 
Humbug  Formation  (Rowley  et  al ,  1979;  Robinson  et  al ,  197  5;  Carpenter,  Personal 
Communication,  1982;  Gilmour,  Personal  Communication,  1982).  Some  of  these  faults 
may  have  localized  the  mineralization  and  caused  some  enrichment  of  values  (Gil- 
mour, Personal  Communication,  1982;  Carpenter,  Personal  Communication,  1982). 

The  following  descriptions  address  the  structural  and  tectonic  characteristics  of 
each  of  the  individual  WSA's  within  the  Bull  Canyon/Dinosaur  National  Monument 
Adjacent-North  GRA. 

BULL  CANYON  WSA  (CO-010-001/UT-080-419) 

Structural  features  found  within  the  WSA  include  northeast  striking  high  angle 
joint  systems,  the  westward  extension  of  the  Blue  Mountain  (Willow  Creek)  anticlin- 
al structure,  and  a  portion  of  a  mapped  low  angle  thrust  plate.  Deformation  and 
thrusting  have  obscured  the  true  stratigraphic  sequence  within  the  WSA.  No  known 
unconformities  are  thought  to  exist  within  the  WSA. 

DINOSAUR  ADJACENT-NORTH  WSA'S  (CO-010-224, 224A,  226,  228,  229D) 

Structural  features  found  within  the  WSA  units  Include  high  angle,  east-northeast 
striking  fault  and  joint  systems  that  may  localize  copper-silver-iron-lead-zinc 


II-4 


mineralization  or  have  caused  significant  enrichment  of  values  within  these  depos- 
its (Gilmour,  Personal  Communication,  1982;  Carpenter,  Personal  Communication, 
1982).  The  areas  lie  on  the  southern  flank,  of  the  Browns  Park  Syncline.  Minor 
fault  and  joint  systems  that  parallel  the  trace  of  the  axial  plane  of  the  Browns 
Park  Anticline  cut  through  the  area  and  have  a  west-northwest  orientation.  These 
may  be  a  factor  in  localization  of  oil,  gas,  and  copper-silver-iron-lead-zinc 
deposits  within  the  WSA's  and  in  adjacent  areas  (Gilmour,  Personal  Communication, 
1982;  Heylmun,  Personal  Communication,  1982). 

Deformation  has  obscured  the  true  stratigraphic  sequence  within  the  WSA's  but  it 
appears  from  the  evidence  at  hand  that  there  are  no  major  unconformities  within  the 
areas.  Within  the  stratigraphic  section,  the  entire  Ordovician-Devonian  strata  is 
missing,  representing  a  probable  unconformity.  Locally,  the  Tertiary  Browns  Park 
Formation  and  the  Bishop  Conglomerate  overlie  portions  of  the  Precambrian  and  Pale- 
ozoic sections  that  were  exposed  in  Tertiary  time  (Rowley  et  al,  1979).  The  Browns 
Park  Formation  is  known  as  a  past  producer  of  uranium  (Robinson  et  al ,  197  5),  and 
may  have  deposits  associated  with  the  basal  conglomerate  that  unconformably  over- 
lies the  Precambrian  Uinta  Formation  in  unit  228  (Carpenter,  Personal  Communica- 
tion, 1982). 

PALEONTOLOGY 

Paleontological  resources  in  the  GRA  are  known  from  past  studies  of  the  oil,  gas, 
and  mineral  potential  of  the  region.  In  addition,  specific  studies  of  the  paleon- 
tological resource  potential  of  Dinosaur  National  Monument  (Sears,  1962;  Unterman 
et  al,  1954;  NPS  File  Data,  1982),  and  the  general  stratigraphy  of  the  area  were 
carried  out  by  Federal,  state  and  local  governments  and  oil  companies  (Sears,  1962; 
Unterman  et  al,  1954;  Robinson  et  al,  197  5;  NPS  File  Data,  1982;  Rowley  et  al , 
1979). 

Within  the  boundaries  of  the  GRA,  the  Cambrian  Lodore  Formation  is  known  to  contain 
trilobite,  brachiopod,  gastropod  and  marine  plant  fossils  (Unterman  et  al ,  1954). 

The  Mississippian  Madison  and  Deseret  Formations  are  also  known  to  have  fossilifer- 
ous  units  that  contain  coral,  brachiopod,  gastropod  and  crinoid  remains  (Unterman 
et  al,  1954;  NPS  File  Data,  1982).  The  Pennsylvanian  Morgan  and  Round  Valley 
Limestone  Formations  are  also  known  to  contain  fossil  bryozoa,  crinoid,  sponge, 
echinoderm,  brachiopod  and  foraminifera  material,  and  may  contain  algal  reef 
material  (Unterman  et  al,  1954;  Rowley  et  al,  1979).  Other  fossiliferous  units 
have  been  reported  from  the  Permian  Park  City  Formation.  These  units  contain 
oolites  and  other  fossil  material,  and  have  been  mined  in  other  areas  of  western 
United  States  for  the  phosphate  content  (Unterman  et  al ,  1954;  Rowley  et  al , 
1979). 

The  Triassic  section  that  is  exposed  within  the  GRA  is  known  to  contain  fossil 
material  and  reptile  tracks.  The  Moenkopi  Formation  is  a  well  known  locality  for 
fossil  reptile  tracks  in  Arizona,  Utah  and  Western  Colorado  (Unterman  et  al ,  1954; 
NPS  File  Data).  The  overlying  Chinle  Formation  is  known  to  contain  amphibian, 
reptile,  and  coprolite  material.  Within  the  GRA  and  in  other  areas  of  Colorado, 
Utah  and  Arizona,  petrified  wood  is  associated  with  this  unit  and  the  basal  Shina- 
rump  Conglomerate  (Unterman  et  al,  1954;  NPS  File  Data,  1982). 


II-5 


The  Jurassic  Carmel,  Curtis  and  Morrison  Formations  are  known  fossil  localities 
within  the  GRA  (Unterman  et  al ,  1954;  NPS  File  Data;  Rowley  et  al,  1979).  Pelecy- 
pods  and  gastropods  have  been  identified  from  the  Carmel  Formation  in  areas  west  of 
the  GRA.  (Unterman  et  al,  1954).  The  Curtis  Formation  contains  fossiliferous 
units  which  contain  saurian,  reptile,  gastropod,  oyster,  and  belemite  remains 
(Unterman  et  al,  1954;  NPS  File  Data,  1982).  The  Morrison  Formation  contains  the 
most  significant  fossil  resource  known  to  exist  within  the  GRA.  The  paleontologi- 
cal  remains  may  include  saurian  reptile,  bird,  and  mammal  remains  (Unterman  et  al, 
1954;  NPS  File  Data,  1982).  Over  150  species  of  fossil  material  have  been  identi- 
fied from  this  unit  (NPS  File  Data,  1982). 

The  Cretaceous  section  also  contains  several  units  that  contain  fossil  material 
within  the  GRA.  Plant  impressions  and  fossil  plant  material  has  been  noted  in  the 
Dakota  Sandstone  in  association  with  coal  seams  and  carbonaceous  shale  units  (NPS 
File  Data,  1982;  Unterman  et  al,  19  54;  Rowley  et  al ,  1979).  The  Mowry  Shale  Member 
of  the  Mancos  Shale  is  also  reported  to  contain  abundant  fish  scales  (NPS  File 
Data,  1982;  Rowley  et  al,  1979).  Plant  fossils,  sharks  teeth,  oyster  shells,  and 
brachiopods  are  commonly  found  in  certain  beds  of  the  Frontier  Formation  of  the 
Mancos  Shale  (Unterman  et  al,  1979;  NPS  File  Data,  1982).  Marine  fishes  and 
mollusks  are  also  commonly  associated  with  the  Upper  Cretaceous  Mancos  Shale  and 
Mesaverde  Group  units  (NPS  File  Data,  1982).  Carbonaceous  material  and  fossil 
plant  remains  have  been  identified  from  both  of  these  units  in  association  with 
coal  seams  (NPS  File  Data,  1982). 

Tertiary  units  that  are  known  to  contain  mammal  fossils  are  the  Bishop  Conglomerate 
Formation  and  the  Browns  Park  Formation.  Early  mammal  remains  have  been  recovered 
from  these  units  and  the  Uinta  Formation  in  areas  outside  of  the  GRA. 

The  following  addresses  the  paleontology  of  each  of  the  WSA's  in  the  Bull  Canyon- 
Dinosaur  National  Monument  Adjacent-North  GRA. 

BULL  CANYON  WSA  (C0-010-001/UT-080-419) 

The  Jurassic  and  Cretaceous  rock  units  that  outcrop  within  this  area  are  not  known 
to  contain  paleontological  resources  of  major  scientific  importance  (NPS  File 
Data,  1982).  The  Jurassic  Morrison  is  well  known  for  reptile,  bird  and  mammal 
fossil  material.  Reported  major  fossil  occurrences  within  this  unit  are  found  a 
short  distance  away  in  Dinosaur  National  Monument  (NPS  File  Data,  1982). 

The  Cretaceous  Frontier  and  Dakota  Sandstone  Formations  crop  out  along  the  southern 
portion  of  the  WSA,  and  may  contain  fossil  plant  and  marine  fish  remains  (NPS  File 
Data,  1982).  Saurian  reptile  remains  have  been  tentatively  identified  in  the 
Cretaceous  Cedar  Mountain  Formation.  This  occurrence  is  some  distance  away  from 
the  WSA  in  Dinosaur  National  Monument  (NPS  File  Data,  1982). 

DINOSAUR  ADJACENT-NORTH  WSA'S  (CO-010-224,  224A,  226,  228,  229D) 

Within  these  areas  the  Cambrian,  Mississippian,  Pennsylvanian  and  Permian  units  are 
not  known  to  contain  paleontological  resources  of  major  scientific  importance  (NPS 
File  Data,  1982).  The  Cambrian  Lodore  Formation  contains  a  few  fossils  in  the 
Douglas  Mountain  Area  (Units  010-226  &  228)  (NPS  File  Data,  1982),  that  are  useful 
for  correlation  of  this  unit.  These  remains  (brachiopods  and  trilobite  pieces)  are 
not  considered  of  particular  scientific  interest  as  there  are  other,   better 


II-6 


localities  for  this  faunal  assemblage  (NPS  File  Data,  1982;  Carpenter,  Personal 
Communication  1982).  The  Mississippian  Humbug  and  Madison  Limestone  Formations  are 
thought  to  be  fossiliferous  within  one  or  more  of  the  units  under  study  but  have 
not  been  extensively  studied  (NPS  File  Data,  1982;  Unterman  et  al,  1954).  The 
Pennsylvanian  Morgan  Formation  units  that  crop  out  in  unit  229D  are  also  reported 
to  contain  fossil  material  (Bryozoans,  crinoids  brachiopods  and  echinoderms)  that 
is  not  well  preserved  (NPS  File  Data,  1982). 

There  are  no  reported  fossil  localities  within  the  Mesozoic  and  Tertiary  sections 
that  are  exposed  within  the  various  WSA's. 

Potential  for  paleontological  resources  of  major  scientific  interest  is  thus  limi- 
ted to  the  few  outcrops  of  the  Tertiary  Browns  Park.  Formation  that  are  found  in 
unit  229D.  These  units  may  contain  early  mammal  remains  and,  thus,  may  be  quite 
important  (NPS  File  Data,  1982). 

HISTORICAL  GEOLOGY 

During  middle  and  younger  Precarabrian  time  the  entire  GRA  was  receiving  sediments 
from  both  cratonic  and  island  arc  sources  (Gilmour,  Personal  Communication,  1982). 
It  appears  that  this  was  a  time  of  persistent  volcanisra  and  tectonic  activity. 
Marine  deposition  of  eugeosynclinal  sediments  was  interrupted  by  the  ebb  and  flow 
of  cratonic  and  island  arc  volcanism,  and  a  period  of  extreme  deformation  was 
caused  by  plate  collisions  and  regional  uplifting.  These  older  Precambrian  units 
were  metamorphosed,  deformed,  and  intruded  by  a  series  of  younger  Precambrian  mafic 
and  felsic  bodies.  In  this  study  area,  the  exposed  older  Precambrian  rocks  are 
mainly  quartzites  interbedded  with  gneiss  and  schist  material.  Base  and  precious 
metal  deposit  types  known  as  exhalative  deposits,  are  commonly  found  in  Precambrian 
lithologies.  These  exhalative  deposits,  found  in  association  with  marine  basins 
and  rhyolitic  volcanic  systems,  and  are  commonly  associated  with  the  older  Precam- 
brian lithologies. 

The  Precambrian  sequence  is  relatively  unstudied  in  this  areas  and  has  only  been 
partially  correlated  with  other  areas  of  Colorado  (Unterman  et  al,  1954).  In  this 
area,  the  younger  Precambrian  is  preserved,  and  consists  of  a  thick  section  of 
clastic  sediments.  These  lithologies  represent  a  period  of  clastic  deposition  in  a 
marine  environment.  From  the  information  that  is  currently  available,  it  appears 
that  the  younger  Precambrian  units  of  this  area  were  deposited  in  a  deep,  marine 
basin  that  persisted  through  Paleozoic  time  (Unterman  et  al ,  1954). 

The  period  of  early  and  middle  Paleozoic  deposition  was  characterized  by  the  forma- 
tion of  a  series  of  shallow  basins.  It  is  thought  that  these  basins  were  progres- 
sively filled  by  Cambrian  and  Mississippian  sediments  (Unterman  et  al,  1954). 

During  most  of  the  Paleozoic,  the  basins  teemed  with  plant  and  animal  life.  Reef 
communities  were  formed  on  shallow  bedrock  highs  in  association  with  algal  bio- 
herms.  Northwest  striking  faults  and  shear  systems  were  active  within  the  basins, 
and  caused  much  up  and  down  movement  of  the  basement  blocks  that  formed  the  floor 
of  these  basins. 

In  the  Mesozoic,  the  area  was  the  site  of  fluvial  and  lacustrine  deposition  in  a 
terrestrial  environment.  The  Triassic  Moenkopi  Formation  overlies  the  Paleozoic 
units  throughout  much  of  the  GRA,  and  is  thought  to  represent  an  era  when  shallow, 


II-7 


fresh  water  lake  and  enclosed  basins  were  subjected  to  periods  of  desslcation  and 
shallow  water,  clastic  deposition.  The  Moenkopi  Formation  is  known  for  its  saurian 
tracks  and  vertebrate  fossils  in  other  areas  of  western  Colorado.  Thus,  it  is 
reasonable  to  assume  the  amphibian  and  reptile  life  may  have  existed  within  the  GRA 
during  this  period  (NPS  File  Data,  1982).  The  Chinle  Formation  of  the  Glen  Canyon 
Group  represents  a  time  of  Triassic  sedimentation  in  a  near-shore  environment  with 
episodes  of  eolian  deposition  of  well  cross-bedded  beach  and  dune  sand  deposits. 

Certain  fluvial  and  shallow  water  lacustrine  deposits  have  also  been  identified  in 
this  sequence  of  sandstone,  shale,  siltstone,  mudstone,  limestone  and  conglomerate. 
It  appears  that  the  Triassic  units  were  deposited  along  the  margins  of  great,  open 
seas  and  restricted  inland  basins  that  had  existed  since  Paleozoic  time.  As  the 
shorelines  of  these  seas  moved  in  response  to  orogenic  episodes  and  basin  fillings, 
the  specific  environments  in  the  GRA  changed  from  marine  to  terrestrial.  During 
this  time,  shallow-water  and  near  shore  swamps  were  formed.  In  other  areas  of 
Colorado,  these  Upper  Triassic  near-shore  sediments  are  the  host  for  copper-silver 
"redbed"  deposits  that  were  deposited  in  areas  of  rapidly  changing  Eh-pH  condi- 
tions . 

The  Navajo  Sandstone  outcrops  in  the  western  portion  of  the  GRA  and  is  thought  to 
represent  a  period  of  inland  sand  dune  accumulation  in  a  terrestrial  desert  envi- 
ronment (Carter  et  al,  1965).   This  Triassic- Jurassic  unit  thins  to  the  east. 

The  unconformity  between  the  Navajo  Sandstone  and  the  overlying  Jurassic  Carmel  and 
Entrada  Formations  is  probably  a  local  feature  that  represents  a  period  of  non- 
deposition.  The  Navajo  is  known  to  exist  only  in  selected,  desert  environments  or 
basins,  and  may  have  never  been  deposited  in  some  areas.  The  Jurassic  Entrada, 
however,  is  thought  to  have  been  deposited  during  a  period  of  terrestrial  fluvial 
and  eolian  deposition  in  small,  restricted  basins  that  eventually  coalesced  and 
buried  the  majority  of  the  resistant  Precambrian  Highland  features.  The  Jurassic 
Summerville  and  Morrison  Formations  were  being  deposited  in  near-shore  lagoonal 
environments,  or  shallow  water  marine  and  fluvial  systems.  Some  fresh  water  lacu- 
strine and  fresh  water  fluvial  deposits  have  also  been  identified  from  these  rocks. 
As  in  the  earlier  Triassic  section,  mineral  deposits  are  commonly  found  associated 
with  limey  sandstones,  shales,  and  siltstones,  deposited  in  shallow,  neritic  basins 
that  have  fluvial  channels  meandering  through  them.  Fossil  plant  material  from 
this  period  is  indicative  of  a  tropical  environment  that  was  adjacent  to  an  active 
fluvial  or  lacustrine  system. 

During  Cretaceous  time,  the  GRA  was  the  site  of  shallow  water  deposition  in  a 
lagoonal  or  swamp  environment.  The  Lower  Cretaceous  Burro  Canyon  Formation  appears 
to  have  been  deposited  in  a  series  of  meandering  river  systems  with  adjacent  ter- 
restrial lakes.  The  terrestrial,  clastic  nature  of  this  formation  is  thought  to  be 
characteristic  of  a  beach  or  littoral  environment  (Young,  1955).  The  Upper  Creta- 
ceous Dakota  Sandstone  unconformably  overlies  the  Burro  Canyon  Formation.  Clastic 
portions  of  the  Dakota  are  found  as  channel  fillings  in  the  Burro  Canyon  paleosur- 
face.  From  fossil  evidence,  it  appears  that  the  lower  sections  of  the  Dakota  were 
deposited  in  shallow  basins  or  stream  channels.  The  carbonaceous  shales  of  the 
Dakota  are  known  to  contain  abundant  plant  remains,  and  were  probably  deposited  in 
a  near-shore  swamp  or  lacustrine  environment.  Thin  coal  seams  are  known  to  exist 
within  the  Dakota  and  may  have  economic  potential. 


II-8 


During  upper  Cretaceous  time,  the  thickest  marine  deposition  occurred  to  the  south- 
east and  spread  westward  grading  laterally  into  coarser  sediments  derived  from  the 
west  and  which  are  thought  to  signify  the  initial  impulses  of  the  "Early  Laramide" 
deformation  in  the  Uinta  Range. 

This  deformation  of  the  region  brought  about  a  gradual  downwarping  of  the  Uinta  and 
Bridger  Basins  with  a  consequent  development  of  small  lakes  and  ponds  which  in  time 
became  extensive  fresh-water  bodies  into  which  accumulated  thousands  of  feet  of 
fine  sediment,  now  believed  to  be  a  source  of  some  of  the  oil  of  the  region.  As 
deformation  abated,  the  lake  basins  were  gradually  filled  by  the  streams,  eventual- 
ly creating  extensive  flood  plains  on  which  additional  thousands  of  feed  of  con- 
glomerate, sandstone  and  shale  accumulated  (Bridger,  Washakie  and  Uinta,  Eocene; 
and  Duchesne  River,  Oligocene)  which  have  been  the  source  of  vast  quantities  of 
fossil  material,  including  mammal,  reptile,  insect  and  plant  remains. 

Units  of  the  Cretaceous  Mancos  Shale  have  been  described  as  being  sandstone  and 
shale  units  deposited  in  a  near-shore  environment,  and  have  local  coal  bearing 
horizons  in  the  section. 

The  Cretaceous  Mesaverde  Group  units  crop  out  throughout  the  northeastern  portions 
of  the  GRA  and  represent  a  period  of  cyclical  deposition  of  shale,  coal,  limestone 
units  in  a  near-shore  marine  environment  adjacent  to  the  deep-water  basins  where 
the  bulk  of  the  Mancos  Shale  unit  was  deposited.  Coal  bearing  units  of  the  Mesa- 
verde Group  are  found  in  the  lower  portions  of  the  Williams  Fork  and  lies  Forma- 
tions and  are  considered  a  major  energy  resource  (Vanderwilt,  1947). 

The  Mesaverde  Group  is  overlain  by  the  Tertiary  Wasatch,  Uinta,  Green  River  and 
Browns  Park  Formations.  This  unconformity  may  represent  a  period  of  uplift  and 
erosion  prior  to  the  formation  of  the  Uinta  sedimentary  basin.  The  Wasatch,  Uinta, 
and  Green  River  Formations  found  in  the  GRA  represent  periods  of  shallow  water  ter- 
restrial lacustrine  deposition.  These  units  intertongue  and  contain  known  oil 
shale  resources.  The  shallow  water  basins  existed  to  the  east  of  the  GRA  on  the 
flank  of  the  Uinta  Arch.  The  Tertiary  Brown's  Park  Formation  was  deposited  in  a 
series  of  structural  basins  that  formed  adjacent  to  the  Uinta  Arch  and  along  it's 
axis.  These  reworked,  volcanic  and  sedimentary  units  locally  contain  uranium- 
vanadium  deposits  (Nelson-Moore  et  al,  1979).  The  Bishop  conglomerate  also  crops 
out  within  the  GRA  and  is  thought  to  represent  eroded  material  from  the  exposed 
Precambrian  and  Paleozoic  units. 

The  area  was  uplifted  and  subjected  to  erosion  in  Middle  Tertiary  times  with  the 
formation  of  the  ancestral  Green  River  Valley.  Quaternary  pediment,  Terrace  gravel 
and  eolian  deposits  formed  on  the  exposed  Precambrian-Tertiary  surfaces  and  alluvi- 
al deposits  were  formed  along  the  various  fluvial  systems  that  were  established. 

BULL  CANYON  WSA  (CO-010-001/UT-08O-419) 

Little  information  is  available  that  directly  pertains  to  the  historical  geology  of 
the  WSA.  Within  the  boundaries  of  the  WSA,  the  Upper  Jurassic  and  Lower  Cretaceous 
section  crops  out  as  a  folded  sequence  of  shale,  siltstone,  and  sandstone  units. 
The  entire  Precambrian-Lower  Jurassic  stratigraphy  is  thought  to  underlie  the  WSA, 
but  does  not  crops  out  in  the  nearby  vicinity.  The  units  that  crop  out  have  been 
uplifted  and  eroded  since  the  Laramide  Orogeny.  Quaternary  alluvial  material 
directly  overlies  the  outcropping  Mesozoic  stratigraphy  (Rowley  et  al ,  1976). 


II-9 


DINOSAUR  ADJACENT-NORTH  WSA'S  (CO-010-224,  224A,  226,  228,  229D) 

Within  these  areas  the  Cambrian  Lodore  Formation  directly  overlies  the  Uinta  Moun- 
tain Group  sedimentary  sequence  of  shales,  sandstone,  quartzite  and  gneiss.  It  is 
thought  that  the  Uinta  Mountain  Group  underlies  all  of  the  units  of  the  WSA  and  was 
laid  down  in  a  marine  environment.  The  Lodore  Formation  consists  of  sandstone, 
quartzite,  shale  and  siltstone  units  that  are  thought  to  have  been  deposited  in 
off-shore  marine  environment  (Unterman  et  al,  1954;  Rowley  et  al,  1976).  The 
Lodore  and  the  overlying  Mississippian  Madison  Formation  are  known  to  contain  lead, 
zinc,  iron,  copper,  gold  and  silver  deposits  within  various  units  of  the  WSA  and  in 
adjacent  areas.  The  nature  of  this  mineralization  suggests  a  structural  control 
within  a  series  of  favorable  host  lithologies  (Gilmour,  Personal  Communication, 
1982;  Carpenter,  Personal  Communication,  1982).  The  Madison  Formation  lies  direct- 
ly and  conformably  upon  the  Lodore  and  it  is  thought  that  the  Ordovician,  Silurian 
and  Devonian  units  that  are  found  in  other  areas  of  western  United  States  were 
never  deposited  in  this  portion  of  Colorado  (Unterman  et  al,  1954).  Within  the 
boundaries  of  most  of  the  units  of  the  WSA,  the  Madison  Formation  is  a  dense,  fine- 
grained limestone  that  is  thought  to  be  of  marine  origin.  During  Lower  Paleozoic 
time  the  area  of  the  WSA  was  a  part  of  a  major  marine  basin  and  contained  abundant 
marine  life. 

Cropping  out  in  adjacent  areas  of  Dinosaur  National  Monument  is  the  Mississippian 
Deseret  Limestone  Formation.  This  unit  consists  of  a  series  of  fossiliferous  lime- 
stone and  dolomite  units  and  is  thought  to  be  of  marine  origin  (Unterman  et  al, 
1954).  This  unit  and  the  overlying  Mississippian  Humbug  Formation  may  represent 
favorable  host  lithologies  for  base  and  precious  metal  mineralization  similar  to 
what  has  been  found  in  the  Lodore  and  Madison  Formations  (Gilmour,  Personal  Com- 
munication, 1982;  Carpenter,  Personal  Communication,  1982). 

All  of  the  Lower  and  Middle  Paleozoic  units  that  crop  out  within  the  units  of  the 
WSA  are  thought  to  have  been  deposited  in  a  marine  environment.  It  is  thought  that 
a  complete  sequence  of  post-Mississippian  lithologies  was  deposited  within  the 
areas  of  the  WSA,  and  that  these  units  were  uplifted  and  eroded  during  the  Laramide 
Orogeny.  Currently,  in  most  of  the  units  of  the  WSA  the  Precambrian-Mississippian 
section  is  all  that  outcrops.  In  unit  229  the  Tertiary  Browns  Park  Formation  was 
deposited  in  a  local  basin  after  tectonism  an  erosion  had  taken  place.  Unlike 
other  areas  of  Colorado,  this  Formation  does  not  have  any  reported  occurrences  of 
uranium-vanadium  mineralization  (Nelson-Moore  et  al,  1979;  Unterman  et  al,  1982). 

Directly  overlying  all  of  the  exposed  stratigraphy  are  a  series  of  eolian  and 
alluvial  deposits  of  Quaternary  age  (Rowley  et  al,  1976). 

Figures  II-l  through  II-6  illustrate  the  geology  and  geomorphology  of  the  GRA. 


11-10 


DINOSAUR  NATIONAL  MONUMENT 


FIGURE  11-1 
Looking  N. 
Note  ranch  trails. 


FIGURE  II-2 

Madison  (?) 

limestone 

in  foreground. 

Cambrian  (?) 

quartzite  in  middle. 


-^ft 


DINOSAUR  NATIONAL  MONUMENT 


ii-n 


.*f~ 


FIGURE  H-3 

Photo  looking  S,  Douglas 
Mountain  mine.  Mineralization  at 
or  near  contact  between  quartzite 

(in  foreground),  and  carbonates  above. 


DINOSAUR  NATIONAL  MONUMENT 


FIGURE  11-4 

Douglas  Mountain 

mine  from  S. 

(Looking  NNE). 

Limestone  outlier 

overlying  quartzite. 


_^ ,,,                     £(/&m&B&W$$lk:. 

■■■*  ;^^^^ 

ty,.£fc 

*  •  - 

*  *     «.         t 
*  *■-  zf  v*  *^. 

• 

••      ♦    .  lb*     ■ 

DINOSAUR  NATIONAL  MONUMENT 


11-12 


L** 


FIGURE  11-5 
Prospect 
(labeled  mmine" 
on  1:24,000  topo 
sheet)  located  to  SE 
of  Douglas  Mountain 
mine.  Mineralization 
associated  with 
contact  between 
limestone  "cap"  and 
underlying  quartzite. 


DINOSAUR  NATIONAL  MONUMENT 


FIGURE  II— 6 

"Mine"  in 
foreground:  Douglas 

Mountain  mine  in 
back  (looking  NW). 


DINOSAUR  NATIONAL  MONUMENT 


11-13 


SECTION  III 
ENERGY  AND  MINERAL  RESOURCES 


KNOWN  MINERAL  DEPOSITS 

The  known  deposits  in  the  Bull  Canyon/Dinosaur  National  Monument  Adjacent-North 
GRA  can  be  grouped  into  three  categories:  1)  energy  minerals;  2)  metals;  and 
3)  sand,  gravel  and  industrial  minerals.  The  following  summarizes  the  known 
deposits: 


Commodity 


Number  of  Deposits 


Coal  mines  2 

Uranium  mines  2 

Copper-iron-zinc  mines  2 

Copper- lead-zinc  mines  2 

Iron  with  assoc.  silver  mines  2 

Sand  and  gravel  pits  13 

Clay  pits  2 

Sandstone  quarries  3 


Coal  has  been  produced  from  the  Blue  Flame  and  Les  Ash  mines  which  are  located  in 
the  extreme  northern  portion  of  the  Lower  White  River  Coal  Field  in  T3N,  R102W 
(Overlay  C). 

The  three  known  uranium  mines  in  the  GRA  are  the  Skull  Creek  Coalition  Mines  Blue 
Mtn.  No.  4,  Skull  Creek  mine  and  Biles'  Shaft,  located  in  T4N,  R100  and  101W  (Over- 
lay B) .  The  current  operating  status  of  the  Blue  Mtn.  No.  4  and  Skull  Creek  mine 
is  unknown.   The  Biles'  Shaft,  however,  has  been  abandoned. 

The  base  metal  mines  are  located  in  T7N,  R101W  in  the  Douglas  Mountain  District 
(Overlay  B) .   The  primary  commodities  produced  were  copper  and  iron. 

The  sand,  gravel  and  industrial  mineral  deposits  are  located  in  the  southwestern 
and  southern  portion  of  the  GRA  (Overlay  D) . 

BULL  CANYON  WSA  (CO-01O-001/UT-08O-419) 

There  are  no  known  deposits  in  the  Bull  Canyon  WSA. 

DINOSAUR  ADJACENT-NORTH  WSA'S  (CO-010-224,  224A,  226,  228  &  229D) 

In  block  CO-010-226  of  the  Dinosaur  National  Monument  WSA,  there  are  two  copper 
mines  located  in  sections  15  and  16,  T7N,  R101W  (Appendix  A,  topographic  maps). 
The  Bromide  shaft  is  located  at  the  northern  edge  of  block  CO-010-226  in  section  9, 
T7N,  R101W.  The  Bromide  mine  appears  to  have  been  worked  intermittently  over  a 
considerable  period  of  time  (Appendix  A,  field  notes). 


III-l 


KNOWN  PROSPECTS,  MINERAL  OCCURRENCES  AND  MINERALIZED  AREAS 

The  following  table  summarizes  the  known  prospects  and  mineral  occurrences  in  the 
Bull  Canyon/Dinosaur  National  Monument  Adjacent-North  GRA: 


Commodity 


Number  of  Prospects  or  Occurrences 


Oil  and  gas  dry  wells 

Coal 

Uranium 

Manganese 

Copper 

Copper,  Manganese,  Lead,  Zinc 

Copper,  Iron,  Zinc 

Iron 

Petrified  Wood 


6  prospects 

8  occurrences 
5  occurrences 
5  occurrences 
3  occurrences 

9  occurrences 
12  occurrences 
1  occurrence 


The  coal,  oil  and  gas  prospects  are  located  in  the  southwestern  portion  of  the  GRA 
in  T5  and  6S,  R25E  (Overlay  C) . 

The  manganese  occurrences  are  all  located  in  T5N,  R99W  in  the  east  central  portion 
of  the  GRA.  One  uranium  occurrence  is  found  in  the  vicinity  of  the  manganese 
occurrences,  however,  uranium  occurrences  are  primarily  found  in  the  Skull  Creek 
Area  in  T4N,  R101W. 

The  base  metal  occurrences  are  noted  in  the  Douglas  Mountain  District  and  the  Skull 
Creek  Area  in  the  north  central  and  south  central  portion  of  the  GRA,  respectively 
(Overlay  B) . 

Copper  mineralization,  noted  in  the  field,  was  found  in  the  Douglas  Mountain  Dis- 
trict and  vicinity  (Appendix  A,  field  notes). 

Vertebrate  paleo  remains  occur  in  the  Browns  Park  Formation. 

BULL  CANYON  WSA  (CO-010-001/UT-080-419) 

There  are  no  known  prospects,  mineral  occurrences  or  mineralized  areas  in  the  Bull 
Canyon  WSA. 

DINOSAUR  ADJACENT-NORTH  WSA'S  (CO-010-224,  224A,  226,  228,  229D) 

There  are  no  known  prospects  in  the  Dinosaur  Adjacent-North  WSA's;  however,  there 
are  several  known  occurrences. 

The  CO-010-224  block  contains  7  known  iron  occurrences  located  in  sections  9,  16 
and  21,  T7N,  R102W  (Overlay  B) .  The  CO-010-226  block  contains  known  copper  occur- 
rences in  sections  16,  17  and  18,  T7N,  R101W.  In  addition  to  these  occurrences, 
copper  mineralization  was  observed  in  the  field  along  a  northwest  trending  fault 
zone  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Bromide  shaft  in  section  16,  T7N,  R101  (Appendix  A, 
field  notes). 


III-2 


MINING  CLAIMS,  LEASES  AND  MATERIAL  SITES 

There  are  7  05  unpatented  lode  claims  and  1  unpatented  placer  claim  in  this  GRA,  of 
which  53  lode  claims  are  within  the  WSA's  (Overlay  A).  The  claims  are  primarily 
situated  in  the  extreme  northern  and  southern  portion  of  the  GRA.  Two  major  cor- 
porations, Molycorp  and  Gulf  Oil  Company,  hold  claims  in  the  GRA.  The  unpatented 
claim  data  was  compiled  from  the  Bureau  of  Land  Management's  June  14,  1982,  Geo- 
graphic Index  (Appendix  C). 

There  are  8  patented  mining  claims  located  in  the  GRA,  specifically  in  sections  5 
and  8,  T7N,  R102W;  section  16,  T7N,  R101W;  sections  15,  22  and  23,  T7N,  R101W;  and 
sections  23  and  24,  T7N,  R101W  (Overlay  A  and  Master  Title  Plats,  Appendix  A). 
This  information  was  obtained  from  the  BLM's  Surface  Management  Quads  and  Master 
Title  Plats. 

Data  on  leases  was  not  obtained  for  the  entire  GRA.  Please  refer  to  the  Oil  and 
Gas  Plats  in  Appendix  A. 

BULL  CANYON  WSA  (CO-010-001/UT-080-419 ) 

As  of  June  14,  1982,  there  were  no  patented  or  unpatented  mining  claims  contained 
with  the  WSA. 

Data  on  oil  and  gas  leases  was  not  available  for  the  Bull  Canyon  WSA. 

DINOSAUR  ADJACENT  NORTH  WSA'S  (CO-010-224,  224A,  226,  228,  229D) 

There  are  approximately  53  unpatented  lode  mining  claims  located  within  the  five 
WSA's  (Overlay  A).  Specifically,  there  are  15  lode  claims  located  in  CO-010-224,  6 
lode  claims  in  CO-010-224A,  9  lode  claims  in  CO-010-226,  no  claims  in  CO-010-228 
and  23  lode  in  CO-010-229D.  The  unpatented  claim  data  was  compiled  from  the  Bureau 
of  Land  Management's  June  14,  1982,  Geographic  Index  (Appendix  C).  An  exact  number 
of  mining  claims  located  within  the  WSA's  cannot  be  derived  from  the  Geographic 
Index  since  claims  are  only  located  to  within  a  quarter-section.  However,  an  exact 
number  of  claims  can  be  obtained  through  researching  the  claim  location  notices 
recorded  with  the  BLM  by  the  claimant. 

There  are  two  patented  mining  claims  located  in  WSA  CO-010-226,  section  16,  T7N 
R101W  (Overlay  A).  The  patented  claim  data  was  obtained  from  the  BLM's  Surface 
Management  Quads  and  Master  Title  Plats  (Appendix  A). 

For  information  on  oil  and  gas  leases,  please  refer  to  the  oil  and  gas  plats  in 
Appendix  A. 

MINERAL  DEPOSIT  TYPES 

The  Bull  Canyon/Dinosaur  National  Monument  Adjacent-North  GRA  contains  known  depos- 
its of  coal,  uranium,  base  and  precious  metals,  construction  stone,  clay,  and  sand 
and  gravels. 


III-3 


The  Lower  White  River  Field  contains  the  known  coal  deposits  in  the  GRA.  Coal  for 
local  use  has  been  mined  from  the  thin  discontinuous  coal  beds  in  the  Dakota  Sand- 
stone. Coal  deposits  of  economic  significance  are  derived  from  the  Williams  Fork. 
Formation  of  the  Cretaceous  Mesaverde  Group  (Landis,  1959).  The  Mesaverde  group  is 
composed  of  shale,  carbonaceous  shale,  sandstone  and  coal  beds.  The  coal  is  ranked 
as  high-volatile  C  bituminous  and  is  noncoking  (Landis  1959). 

The  uranium  deposits  usually  occur  in  the  Jurassic  Morrison  Formation.  In  the 
Morrison  Formation  carnotite,  a  uranium  and  vanadium  oxide,  is  the  principal  ore 
mineral.  Carnotite  is  a  secondary  mineral  deposited  by  waters  that  were  in  contact 
with  primary  uranium  and  vanadium  minerals.  Uranium  and  vanadium  mineralization 
occurs  in  the  Salt  Wash  Member  and  the  Brushy  Basin  Member  of  the  Morrison  Forma- 
tion. The  Salt  Wash  Member  consists  of  interstratif ied  sandstone  and  claystone 
units.  The  unit  was  formed  as  a  large  alluvial  fan  by  an  aggrading  system  of 
braided  streams  (Craig  et  al,  19  55).  The  Brushy  Basin  Member  consists  of  varie- 
gated claystones  with  few  lenticular  conglomeratic  sandstone  strata.  The  Brushy 
Basin  was  formed  in  fluvial  and  lacustrine  environments  with  large  amounts  of  clay 
(Craig  et  al,  1955).  As  a  whole,  the  sandstone  beds  of  the  Morrison  Formation  are 
light  gray  to  buff,  fine  to  medium  grained,  lenticular,  crossbedded  and  irregularly 
bedded  (Molenaar,  1981).  It  is  thought  the  introduction  of  the  ore  was  done  by 
mineral-bearing  solutions  that  seeped  through  the  permeable  layers  after  sediments 
accumulated.  The  source  of  the  primary  minerals  is  currently  under  dispute  (Craig 
et  al,  1955). 

The  Douglas  Mountain  district  contains  replacement  deposits  of  copper,  lead,  zinc, 
iron,  manganese  and  silver.  These  deposits  are  found  in  the  Cambrian  Lodore  Forma- 
tion at  or  near  its  contact  with  the  Mississippian  Madison  Formation  (Rowley  et  al , 
1979;  Gilmour,  Personal  Communication,  1982).  The  Lodore  Formation  is  composed  of 
a  fine  grained,  silty,  fossiliferous  quartzitic  sandstones,  a  glauconitic  middle 
sandstone,  and  sericitic  shale  beds  (Unterman  et  al,  195A).  The  fossiliferous 
Madison  Formation  consists  of  limestone  and  dolomite  at  the  base,  which  is  overlain 
by  cherty  marine  limestone,  dolomite  and  marlstone  beds.  The  principal  ore  miner- 
als consist  of  hematite,  limonite,  malachite  and  azurite.  Lead,  zinc,  manganese 
and  silver  minerals  are  found  to  a  lesser  extent  (Unterman  et  al,  1954).  Minerali- 
zation was  localized  by  faulting. 

Copper-silver-iron  mineralization  occurs  in  the  Precambrian  Red  Creek  Quartzite 
units  in  areas  to  the  northwest  of  the  GRA.  This  mineralization  may  be  syngenetic 
and  associated  with  favorable  host  lithologies. 

Clay  has  been  derived  from  the  Mancos  Formation,  Dakota  Sandstone  and  the  Mesaverde 
Formation. 

Pediment  gravels  from  the  Yampa  River  and  its  tributaries  have  been  exploited,  as  a 
source  of  sand  and  gravel.  Sandstone  has  been  quarried  in  the  past.  The  source 
formation  of  this  material  is  unknown. 

BULL  CANYON  WSA  (CC-010-001/UT-080-419) 

There  are  no  known  mineral  deposits  in  the  Bull  Canyon  WSA,  therefore,  any  descrip- 
tion of  deposit  types  would  be  theoretical. 


III-4 


DINOSAUR  ADJACENT-NORTH  WSA'S  (CO-OlO-224,  224A,  226,  228,  229D) 

There  are  two  known  copper  deposits  In  unit  CO-010-226.  These  deposits  are  found 
at  or  near  the  contact  of  the  Cambrian  Lodore  Formation  and  the  Mississippian  Madi- 
son Formation.  Please  refer  to  the  aforementioned  description  on  copper  deposit 
type. 

MINERAL  ECONOMICS 

The  inherent  nature  of  discussing  the  economics  of  the  minerals  existing  within  the 
Bull  Canyon/Dinosaur  National  Monument  Adjacent-North  GRA  and  its  WSA's  can  only 
provide  for  a  general  approach  inasmuch  as  there  are  many  economic  factors  that 
enter  into  the  development  of  an  ore  body.  These  include  access,  market  value, 
grade,  transportation,  recovery  and  extraction  methods,  etc.  Therefore,  the  dis- 
cussion herein  addresses  the  U.S.  and  Colorado  demand  and  production  status  of  each 
of  the  existing  minerals  in  the  WSA's. 

The  mineral  resources  in  the  GRA  include  coal,  uranium,  base  and  precious  metals, 
construction  stone,  clay,  and  sand  and  gravel. 

Coal  is  found  in  the  Lower  White  River  Field.  There  are  two  coal  mines  and  six 
prospects  of  which  the  operating  status  and  production  are  not  known.  Coal  produc- 
tion for  Colorado  mines  is  currently  at  an  all  time  high.  Approximately  20,000,000 
tons  of  high-grade  low-sulphur  coal  was  produced  from  surface  mines  and  underground 
operations  (Colo.  Div.  Mines  Rept.,  1980;  and  Schwochow,  1978).  The  future  looks 
encouraging  for  coal  as  more  and  more  utilities  are  switching  back  to  coal  for  pow- 
er generation  (Schowochow,  1978;  Colo.  Div.  Mines  Rept.,  1980).  Changes  in  tech- 
nology and  improvements  in  combustion/distillation  techniques  will  increase  the 
demand  for  Colorado  coal,  and  coal  byproducts  (Gentry,  Personal  Communication, 
1982). 

The  uranium  deposits  occur  in  the  Jurassic  Morrison  Formation.  Three  uranium 
mines,  and  eight  occurrences  are  found  in  the  GRA.  One  mine  has  been  abandoned, 
and  the  operating  status  of  the  other  two  is  not  known.  In  addition,  production 
statistics  from  all  three  are  not  known.  Current  production  is  down  from  past  pro- 
duction levels  due  to  a  general  drop  in  the  price  of  uranium  (Eng.  and  Mining  Jour- 
nal, Dec,  1982).  Uranium  and  vanadium  are  currently  being  produced  at  very  little 
or  no  profit  by  many  of  the  major  mining  operations  in  Colorado  (Carpenter,  Person- 
al Communication,  1982).  Future  demand  for  uranium  and  vanadium  is  dependent  on 
foreign  production  and  the  needs  of  the  nuclear  generating  industry  (Schwochow, 
1978). 

Base  and  precious  metals  in  the  form  of  copper,  lead,  zinc,  iron,  manganese  and 
silver  occur  as  replacement  deposits  in  Cambrian  formations.  Currently,  a  strong 
demand  for  precious  metals  exists  in  the  U.S.  and  Colorado.  Production  and  demand 
for  base  metals,  however,  is  down  from  past  levels  due  to  a  general  down- turn  in 
the  U.S.  and  world  economy  (Eng.  and  Mining  Journal,  Dec.  1982).  Commodities  such 
as  copper,  lead,  zinc,  manganese,  and  iron  are  not  being  currently  produced  at  a 
substantial  profit  by  any  of  the  major  mining  operations  in  Colorado  (Eng.  and  Min- 
ing Journal,  DEc  1982;  Carpenter,  Personal  Communication,  1982). 


III-5 


Construction  stone,  common  clay,  and  sand  and  gravel  are  considered  "high  place 
value"  industrial  minerals.  These  minerals  are  of  economic  value  only  when  the 
deposits  are  readily  accessible,  and  in  close  proximity  to  a  market. 

The  economic  viability  of  the  mineral  resources  in  the  WSA's  in  the  Bull  Canyon- 
Dinosaur  National  Monument  Adjacent-North  GRA  are  summarized  as  follows: 

WSA         MINERAL  POTENTIAL     ACCESSIBILITY     ECONOMIC  POTENTIAL  [a] 

Bull  Canyon     This  WSA  has  no  known  mineral/economic  potential. 
(UT-080-419) 

Poor 

Good 

Poor 

Poor 

*No  known  deposits  or  occurrences  in  WSA.   Refer  to  Section  IV  for  explanation  of 
the  economic  potential. 

[a]   The  economic  potential  rating  is  notwithstanding  market  demand  fluctuations. 


Dinosaur 

Oil,  Gas 

Poor 

Adjacent- 

North  WSA 

Base  Metals 

Good 

(CO-010 

224,  224A, 

Uranium  & 

Poor 

226,  228, 

229D) 

Precious  Metals* 

Poor 

III-6 


SECTION  IV 
LAND  CLASSIFICATION  FOR  GEM  RESOURCES  POTENTIAL 

After  thoroughly  reviewing  the  existing  literature  and  data  base  sources,  MSME/ 
Wallaby  personnel  plotted  all  known  and  documented  mineral  occurrences,  mines, 
prospects,  oil  and  gas  fields,  sand  and  gravel  operations,  processing  facilities, 
mining  claims,  mineral  leases,  and  the  locations  of  anomalous  geochemical  samples 
from  the  National  Uranium  Resource  Evaluation-Hydrological  and  Stream  Sediment 
Reconnaisance-Airborne  Radiometric  and  Magnetic  (NURE-HSSR-ARMS)  programs.  This 
plotted  information  and  the  data  bases  on  each  WSA  were  made  available  to  a  multi- 
faceted  team  of  experts  which  made  three  successive  evaluations  of  the  GEM  resource 
potential  of  each  of  the  WSA's. 

The  team  or  panel  of  geological  experts  was  comprised  of: 

Dr.  Paul  Gilmour:  Base  and  precious  metal  deposits  in  western  U.S.  and  Canada, 
expert  on  Precambrian  mineral  resources. 

Mr.  Ted  Eyde:  Base  and  precious  metal  deposits  in  western  U.S.,  expert  on  indus- 
trial mineral  resources. 

Mr.  Annan  Cook:  Base  and  precious  metal  deposits  in  western  U.S.,  expert  on 
porphyry  deposits  and  mine  evaluation. 

Mr.  Edward  Heylmun:   Oil,  gas  and  oil  shale  deposits  of  western  U.S. 

Dr.  Robert  Carpenter:  Mineral  deposits  of  Colorado  and  western  U.S.,  expert  on 
geology  of  Colorado. 

Dr.  Donald  Gentry:  Expert  in  coal  and  oil  shale  deposits  of  Colorado  and  western 
U.S. 

Dr.  Larry  Lepley:   Expert  in  remote  sensing  and  geothermal  resources; 

Mr.  Walter  E.  Heinrichs:  Geophysics  and  base  and  precious  metal  deposits  of  west- 
ern U.S.,  expert  on  porphyry  copper  deposits. 

As  indicated  earlier,  Dr. Gentry,  and  Carpenter  made  certain  field  investigations  as 
result  of  the  base  data  analysis  phase.  The  purpose  of  the  field  investigations 
was  to  either  verify  the  existing  data  or  assess  relatively  unknown  areas.  Dr. 
Lepley  reviewed  all  aerial  photographs  for  observable  anomalies,  which  were  then 
investigated  by  the  field  team,  or  verified  against  the  existing  base  data. 

The  evaluations  were  then  made  on  the  basis  of  examination  of  the  data  bases,  field 
investigations  and  the  individual  experiences  of  the  members  of  the  panel  in  such 
areas  as  base  and  precious  metal,  industrial  and  energy  mineral  deposits;  oil  and 
gas  deposits;  and  geothermal  resources.  In  the  course  of  these  evaluations,  every 
attempt  was  made  to  objectively  rate  the  potential  for  a  particular  commodity  with- 
in the  respective  study  area.  In  this  effort,  the  evaluation  criteria  proposed  by 
the  Bureau  was  rigorously  used.  The  classification  scheme  used  is  shown  in  Table 
IV-1.   In  many  cases  the  lack  of  information  did  not  allow  for  a  full  determination 


IV-1 


TABLE  IV- 1 
RESOURCE  RATING  CRITERIA 


CLASSIFICATION  SCHEME 

1.  The  geologic  environment  and  the  inferred  geologic  processes  do  not  indicate 
favorability  for  accumulation  of  mineral  resources. 

2.  The  geologic  environment  and  the  inferred  geologic  processes  indicate  low 
favorability  for  accumulation  of  mineral  resources. 

3.  The  geologic  environment,  the  inferred  geologic  processes,  and  the  reported 
mineral  occurrences  indicate  moderate  favorability  for  accumulation  of  mineral 
resources . 

4.  The  geologic  environment,  the  inferred  geologic  processes,  the  reported  mineral 
occurrences,  and  the  known  mines  or  deposits  indicate  high  favorability  for 
accumulation  of  mineral  resources. 

LEVEL  OF  CONFIDENCE  SCHEME 

A.  The  available  data  are  either  insufficient  and/or  cannot  be  considered  as 
direct  evidence  to  support  or  refute  the  possible  existence  of  mineral 
resources  within  the  respective  area. 

B.  The  available  data  provide  indirect  evidence  to  support  or  refute  the  possible 
existence  of  mineral  resources. 

C.  The  available  data  provide  direct  evidence,  but  are  quantitatively  minimal  to 
support  or  refute  the  possible  existence  of  mineral  resources. 

D.  The  available  data  provide  abundant  direct  and  indirect  evidence  in  support  or 
refute  the  possible  existence  of  mineral  resource. 


IV-2 


of  the  GEM  resource  potential  and  the  panel  was  forced  to  leave  some  areas  unranked 
or  classified  for  some  commodities.  The  situation  thus  arises  where  there  is  an 
area  that  has  been  unclassified  for  a  commodity,  despite  a  reported  occurrence, 
because  it  is  next  to  an  area  where  there  is  insufficient  data  to  make  a  meaningful 
attempt  at  classification.  Nonetheless,  each  resource  has  been  additionally  rated 
as  to  what  level  of  confidence  the  panel  of  experts  attached  to  the  selected 
classification  level.  This  is  denoted  by  the  letter  associated  with  each  rate 
classification.   These  are  defined  in  Table  IV-1. 

A  further  restraint  on  this  classification  and  delineation  effort  comes  in  the  area 
of  the  lack  of  subsurface  information.  Some  areas  are  very  well  known  from  past 
exploration  efforts  and  have  an  abundance  of  subsurface  information.  Other  areas 
are  practically  unknown  due  to  an  absence  of  any  past  exploration  or  development 
efforts . 

The  WSA's,  for  the  most  part,  are  not  well  known  geologically.  For  this  reason, 
our  expert  team  had  to  extrapolate  geologic  information  from  adjacent  areas  to  make 
any  sort  of  reasonable  classification  with  some  level  of  confidence.  The  following 
pages  address  those  resources  considered  to  be  leasable,  locatable  and/or  salable 
with  associated  maps  locating  the  resource  area  (Figures  IV-1  through  3): 


IV-3 


LEASABLE  RESOURCES 

BULL  CANYON  WSA  (UT-080-419) 


Resource 

Oil  and  Gas 

Coal 

Phosphate 


Classification 

2B 
ID 
3B 


Comments 


The  WSA  contains  a  thin  Paleozoic  section. 

Lacks  coal-bearing  formation. 

Permian  Phosphoria  Formation  underlies  area 


DINOSAUR  ADJACENT-NORTH  WSA'S  (CO-010-224,  22AA,  226,  228,  229D) 


Oil  and  Gas 

CO-010-224 

2A 

CO-010-224A 

2A 

CO-010-226 

2A 

CO-010-228 

2A 

CO-010229D 

3B 

Coal 

CO-010-224 

ID 

CO-010-224A 

ID 

CO-010-226 

ID 

CO-010-228 

ID 

CO-010-229D 

ID 

Unknown  Precambrian  overthrust  potential 
Unknown  Precambrian  overthrust  potential 
Unknown  Precambrian  overthrust  potential 
Unknown  Precambrian  overthrust  potential 
Cretaceous  and  Paleozoic  section  is 
present 

Coal-bearing  formations  lacking 
Coal-bearing  formations  lacking 
Coal-bearing  formations  lacking 
Coal-bearing  formations  lacking 
Coal-bearing  formations  lacking 


IV-4 


CO-010-001 


R  25  E 


Bull  Canyon 

R  104  W 


R  103  W 


Portion  of  Unit  found  to  lack 
Wilderness  characteristics 

Existing  National  Park  or 
Forest  Service  Wilder  nets 


: /<v7r~71     Proposed  National  Park  Service 
*".°V  ■■- 1     or  Forest  Service  Wilderness 


5  Miles 


(after  BLM,1980) 
MMS/LEASABLE  RESOURCES 
Figure  IV-la 


IV-5 


CO  010  218  thru   271/N6B  Dinosaur  National  Monument  Adjacent  North 

R102W  R  101  W  R100W  R  99  W 


MMS/ LEASABLE  RESOURCES 
Figure  IV- lb 


(After  BLM.   1980) 


IV-6 


LEGEND  FOR  MINERALS  MANAGEMENT  SERVICE  CLASSIFICATIONS 


Defined  KGS  and/or  Coal  Leasing  Areas 


Areas  Prospectively  Valuable  for  Sodium  or  Potassium 


K 


Defined  Oil  Shale  Leasing  Area 


J 


Coal 
[PV] 
OG[PV] 


Areas  Identified  as  Prospectively  Valuable  for 
Coal  or  Oil,  Gas 


Coal  [NPV] 
OG  [NPV] 


Areas  Identified  as  Not  Being  Prospectively  Valuable 
for  Coal,  or  Oil,  Gas 


IV- 7 


LOCATABLE  MINERALS 

BULL  CANYON  WSA  (UT-080-419) 
Resource       Classification 


Precious  Metals 
Base  Metals 


(2A) 
(2A) 


Locatable  Energy  Minerals: 

(2A) 

Other  Locatable  Minerals: 
Unknown 


comments 


Ag  mineral  potential  associated  with 
Precambrian  Uinta  Group  units. 
Cu  mineral  potential  associated  with 
Precambrian  Uinta  Group  units. 

Uranium-vanadium  potential  associated  with 
Precambrian  Uinta  Group  units. 


DINOSAUR  ADJACENT-NORTH  WSA'S  (CO-010-224,  224A,  226,  228,  229D) 


Precious  Metals 
CO-010-224 


4D 


CO-010-224A 


2B 


3D 


CO-0L0-226 


2B 


4D 


2B 


Au-Ag  mineralization  in  Mississippian 
Madison  Formation  and  Cambrian  Lodore 
Formation  in  association  with  fault 
controlled  replacement-skarn  deposits  in 
Limestone  units.  Numerous  prospects, 
production. 

Ag  mineralization  potential  associated  with 
Precambrian  Uinta  Mountain  Group  units. 

Au-Ag  mineralization  in  Mississippian 
Madison  Formation  and  Cambrian  Lodore 
Formation  in  association  with  fault 
controlled  replacement-skarn  deposits  in 
Limestone  units.  Few  prospects,  little 
production . 

Ag  mineralization  potential  associated  with 
Precambrian  Uinta  Group  units. 

Au-Ag  mineralization  in  Mississippian 
Madison  Formation  and  Cambrian  Lodore 
Formation  in  association  with  fault 
controlled  replacement-skarn  deposits  in 
Limestone  units.  Few  prospects,  little 
production . 

Ag  mineralization  potential  associated  with 
Precambrian  Uinta  Mountain  Group  units. 


IV-  8 


DINOSAUR  ADJACENT-NORTH  WSA'S  (CO-010-224,  224A,  226,  228,  229D) 
(cont'd) 


CO-010-228 


3D 


CO-010-229D 


2B 


3C 


2A 


Au-Ag  mineralization  in  Mississippian 
Madison  Formation  and  Cambrian  Lodore 
Formation  in  association  with  fault 
controlled  replacement-skarn  deposits  in 
Limestone  units.  Few  prospects,  no 
recorded  production. 

Ag  mineralization  potential  associated  with 
Precambrian  Uinta  Mountain  Group  units. 

Au-Ag  mineralization  in  Mississippian 
Madison  Formation  and  Cambrian  Lodore 
Formation  in  association  with  fault 
controlled  replacement-skarn  deposits  in 
Limestone  units.  No  prospects  but 
favorable  lithologies. 

Ag  mineralization  potential  associated  with 
Precambrian  Uinta  Mountain  Group  units. 
Lack  of  outcropping  section. 


Base  Metals: 
CO-010-224 


4D 


CO-010-224A 


2B 


4D 


Pb-Zn-Fe-Cu-Mn  mineralization  in 
Mississippian  Madison  Formation  and 
Cambrian  Lodore  Formation  in  association 
with  fault  controlled  replacement  skarn 
deposits  in  Limestone  units.  Numerous 
prospects,  production. 

Cu  mineralization  potential  associated  with 
Precambrian  Uinta  Mountain  Group  units. 

Pb-Zn-Fe-Cu-Mn  mineralization  in 
Mississippian  Madison  Formation  and 
Cambrian  Lodore  Formation  in  association 
with  fault  controlled  replacement  skarn 
deposits  in  Limestone  units.  Few 
prospects,  no  recorded  production. 


2B 


Cu  mineralization  potential  associated  with 
Precambrian  Uinta  Mountain  Group  units. 


IV-9 


DINOSAUR  ADJACENT-NORTH  WSA'S  (CO-010-22A,  224A,  226,  228,  229D) 
(cont'd) 


Resource 


CO-010-226 


Classification 


AD 


Comments 


Pb-Zn-Fe-Cu-Mn  mineralization  in 
Mississippian  Madison  Formation  and 
Cambrian  Lodore  Formation  in  association 
with  fault  controlled  replacement  skarn 
deposits  in  Limestone  units.  Few 
prospects,  no  recorded  production. 
Prospects,  some  production. 


2B 


Cu  mineralization  potential  associated  with 
Precambrian  Uinta  Mountain  Group  units. 


CO-010-228 


3D 


Pb-Zn-Fe-Cu-Mn  mineralization  in 
Mississippian  Madison  Formation  and 
Cambrian  Lodore  Formation  in  association 
with  fault  controlled  replacement  skarn 
deposits  in  Limestone  units.  Few 
prospects,  no  recorded  production. 


2B 


Cu  mineralization  potential  associated  with 
Precambrian  Uinta  Mountain  Group  units. 


CO-010-228 


3D 


2B 


Pb-Zn-Fe-Cu-Mn  mineralization  in 
Mississippian  Madison  Formation  and 
Cambrian  Lodore  Formation  in  association 
with  fault  controlled  replacement  skarn 
deposits  in  Limestone  units.  Few 
prospects,  no  recorded  production. 

Cu  mineralization  potential  associated  with 
Precambrian  Uinta  Mountain  Group  units. 


CO-010-229D 


3C 


2A 


Pb-Zn-Fe-Cu-Mn  mineralization  in 
Mississippian  Madison  Formation  and 
Cambrian  Lodore  Formation  in  association 
with  fault  controlled  replacement  skarn 
deposits  in  Limestone  units.  No  prospects 
but  favorable  lithologies. 

Cu  mineralization  potential  associated  with 
Precambrian  Uinta  Mountain  Group  units. 


IV-10 


DINOSAUR  ADJACENT  NORTH-WSA'S  (CO-010-224,  224A,  226,  228,  229D) 
(cont'd) 


Resource 
Energy  Minerals: 
CO-010-224 

CO-01O-224A 

CO-010-226 

C0-0L0-228 

C0-010-229D 

CO-010-229D 


Classification 


2B 


Comments 


2B 


2B 


2B 


2D 


2B 


Uranium-vanadium  potential  in  Precambrian 
Uinta  Mountain  Group. 

Uranium-vanadium  potential  in  Precambrian 
Uinta  Mountain  Group. 

Uranium-vanadium  potential  in  Precambrian 
Uinta  Mountain  Group. 

Uranium-vanadium  potential  in  Precambrian 
Uinta  Mountain  Group. 

Uranium-vanadium   potential   in   Tertiary 
Browns  Park  Formation 

Uranium-vanadium  potential  in  Precambrian 
Uinta  Mountain  Group. 


Other  Locatable  Minerals: 
Unknown 


IV- 11 


C0010001 


R  25  E 


Bull  Canyon 

R  104  W 


R  103  W 


Portion  of  Unit  found  to  lack 
Wilderness  characteristics 

Existing  National  Park  or 
Forest  Service  Wilderness 

Proposed  National  Park  Service 
or  Forest  Service  Wilderness 


5  Miles 


LOCATABLE  RESOURCES 
Figure   IV- 2a 


(After  BLM,  1960) 


IV- 12 


CO  010  218  thru   271 /N6B                         Dinosaur  National  Monument  Adjacent  North 
R  1  02  W R  101  W R100W  R99W 


M(2B)(Ag) 
4(2B)  (Cu) 
-V(2B) 


(After  BLM,   1980) 


i        i i        fa 


L0CATABLE  RESOURCES 
Figure  IV- 2b 


IV- 13 


SALABLE  RESOURCES 

BULL  CANYON  WSA  (UT-080-419) 


Resource 


Sand  and  Gravel 


Classification 


2B 


Comments 


DINOSAUR  ADJACENT-NORTH  WSA'S  (CO-010-224,  224A,  226,  228,  229D) 


Dimension  Stone 


4D 


Cement  rock 


Mineral  Pigments 


4D 


4A 


Favorable  formations  are  found  within  the 
WSA:  Precambrian  Uinta  Quartzite,  Marble  in 
PC,  Weber  Sandstone,  Lodore  Limestone,  Park 
City,  Madison  Limestone. 

Derived  from  the  Ladore  Limestone,  Park 
City,  Madison  Limestone 

Pigment  production  is  from  the  Madison- 
Lodore  (?).  Mineral  pigments  have  a  high 
unit  value  therefore  moderate  potential. 


High  Calcium  Limestone 
Phosphate 


4A 
3B 


Derived  from  the  Madison  formation 

The  Phosphoria  Formation  is  a  favorable 
host  for  phosphate  deposits 


IV- 14 


CO010-001 


R  25  E 


Bull  Canyon 

R  104  W 


R  103  W 


Existing  National  Park  or 
Forest  Service  Wilderness 

Proposed  National  Park  Service 
or  Forest  Service  Wilderness 


5  Miles 


SALABLE  RESOURCES 
Figure  IV- 3a 


(After  BLM,  1980) 


IV-15 


CO  010  218  thru  -271  /N6B                        Dinosaur  National  Monument  Adjacent  North 
RJ02W  R  101  W R  100  W  R  99  W 


(After  BLM.   1980) 


h i        t i        ' 


SALABLE  RESOURCES 
Figure  TV-3b 


IV- 16 


SECTION  V 
RECOMMENDATIONS  FOR  FURTHER  STUDY 


In  the  course  of  analyzing,  assessing  and  evaluating  each  of  the  WSA's  in  the  Bull 
Canyon/Dinosaur  National  Monument  Adjacent-North  GRA  -  both  in  the  field  and  in 
available  data  -  certain  unknowns  were  uncovered  that  should  be  investigated  in 
order  that  each  WSA's  GEM  resources  be  more  fully  documented.  This  section 
recommends  the  type  of  studies  and  data  gathering  that  should  be  made  to  inventory 
more  completely  each  WSA. 

Since  this  area  is  known  to  have  minor  potential  for  oil  and  gas  resources,  it  is 
recommended  that  every  effort  be  made  to  ascertain  the  full  extent  of  this  poten- 
tial. Cooperative  agreements  should  be  made  with  various  oil  and  gas  producers  to 
obtain  proprietary  information  not  available  to  this  study.  Such  information  as 
the  projected  reserves  of  the  area,  the  importance  of  structural  zones  in  localiz- 
ing oil  and  gas  oils,  and  the  exact  identification  of  pay  zones  within  the  general- 
ly favorable  Hthologies  is  of  vital  importance  in  the  exact  areal  delineation  of 
sub-surface  potential. 

In  addition,  a  detailed  program  of  geologic  mapping  and  sampling  should  be  carried 
out  to  fully  delineate  the  extent  of  the  coal  bearing  horizons  in  the  Cretaceous 
section.  Any  sampling  carried  out  under  such  a  program  must  include  analysis  of 
the  coal  material  for  the  ash  and  sulphur  content  as  well  as  Btu  content.  Much 
work  has  already  been  done  on  lithofacies  reconstruction  in  the  Cretaceous  in  adja- 
cent areas.  Studies  of  this  nature  would  be  useful  in  determining  the  probable 
extent  of  the  coal  measures  and  thus,  the  viability  of  the  coal  as  a  minable 
resource . 

The  outcrops  of  the  Jurassic  Morrison  Formation  should  be  sampled  for  their 
uranium-vanadium  content,  and  correlated  to  other  units  in  northwestern  Colorado 
and  eastern  Utah.  Examination  of  the  Morrison  units  should  be  made  by  paleontolo- 
gists for  environments  favorable  for  the  preservation  of  vertebrate  remains. 

From  the  work  to  date  and  the  material  compiled  in  the  course  of  ths  project,  it 
appears  that  this  area  has  significant  potential  for  GEM  resources. 

DINOSAUR  ADJACENT-NORTH  WSA'S  (CO-010-224,  224A,  226,  228,  229D) 

In  this  area  the  potential  for  GEM  resources  is  largely  unknown.  Detailed  geologic 
and  geochemical  studies  are  warranted  to  ascertain  the  mineral  potential  of  the 
Precambrian  and  Paleozoic  Hthologies.  Special  attention  should  be  paid  to  possi- 
ble sedimentary  lithologic  assemblages  associated  with  Precambrian  base  and  pre- 
cious metal  systems.  Of  equal  importance  is  the  potential  for  base  metal  minerali- 
zation in  the  Cambrian  Lodore  and  Mississippian  Madison  Formations.  Stratigraphic 
and  lithofacies  mapping  should  be  carried  out  to  determine  if  any  environments  with 
characteristics  exist.  A  relatively  low-cost  way  to  accomplish  these  goals  is  to 
conduct  a  stream  sediment  and  outcrop  sampling  program  in  conjunction  with  a  geo- 
logic mapping  effort. 


V-l 


All  existing  mines,  prospects  and  known  mineral  occurrences  should  be  mapped  and 
thoroughly  sampled  to  delineate  the  full  extent  of  the  existing  mineralization  and 
the  potential  of  the  host  lithologies.  This  is  of  particular  importance  In  the 
determination  of  the  copper,  lead,  zinc,  gold,  silver,  manganese,  and  iron  poten- 
tial of  the  Mississippian  Madison  Formation  and  the  underlying  Cambrian  Lodore  For- 
mation. With  regard  to  these  specific  units,  a  detailed  study  should  be  made  of 
fades  changes  within  these  units,  and  the  correlations  with  other  units  in  western 
Colorado  and  eastern  Utah.  In  other  areas  of  Utah,  these  units  have  significant 
potential  GEM  resources  and  thus,  should  be  studied  in  those  areas  where  there  is 
available  information.  Though  the  airborne  and  ground  NURE-HSSR-ARMS  information 
does  not  delineate  any  areas  with  anomalous  base  or  precious  metal  values,  ground 
radiometrics  in  conjunction  with  the  geological-geocheraical  studies  would  be  help- 
ful in  identifying  any  areas  of  mineral  potential. 

Stream  sediment  samples  should  be  analyzed  for  their  copper,  molybdenum,  lead, 
arsenic,  uranium,  vanadium  and  gold  content.  This  data  will  supplement  the  exist- 
ing NURE-HSSR  information. 

Since  some  of  the  Precarabrian  units  have  been  used  in  the  past  as  a  source  of  local 
road  building  and  dimension  stone  material,  it  would  be  wise  to  do  further  work  on 
the  demand  for  this  material. 

In  conclusion,  from  the  work  to  date  and  the  material  compiled  in  the  course  of 
this  project,  it  appears  that  the  potential  for  GEM  resources  in  this  area  is 
largely  unknown. 


V-2 


SECTION  VI 

REFERENCES  AND  SELECTED  BIBLIOGRAPHY 

REFERENCES 

Aurand,  H.A.,  1920,  Mineral  deposits  of  the  western  slope;  Colo.  Geol.  Surv.,  Bull. 
22. 

Carpenter,  Dr.  R.  ,  1982,  Personal  Communication;  Expert  on  the  geology  of 
Colorado. 

Colorado  Division  of  Mines. 

Craig,  L.C.  et  al,  1955,  Stratigraphy  of  the  Morrison  and  related  formations, 
Colorado  Plateau  regional  preliminary  report;  U.S.G.S.  Bull  1009-E,  pp 
125-168. 

Engineering  and  Mining  Journal,  Dec.  1982. 

Gilraour,  Dr.  P.,  1982,  Personal  Communication;  Expert  on  Precambrian  mineral 
resources . 

Heylmun,  E. ,  1982,  Personal  Communication;  Knowledgeable  on  oil,  gas  and  oil  shale 
deposits  of  the  western  U.S. 

Landis,  E.R.,  1959,  Coal  resources  of  Colorado;  U.S.G.S.  Bull.  1072-C 

Molenaar,  CM.,  1981,  Mesozoic  stratigraphy  of  the  Paradox  Basin  -  an  Overview;  in 
Geology  of  the  Paradox  Basin,  Rocky  Mtn.  Assoc.  Geol.  Field  Conf .  Guidebook, 
pp  119-127. 

National  Park  Service  (NPS),  1982,  File  Data 

Nelson-Moore,  J.L.,  et  al.,  1978,  Radioactive  mineral  occurrences  of  Colorado  and 
bibliography  and  uranium  occurrences  of  the  Uravan  Mineral  belt;  Colo.  Geol. 
Surv.  Bull.  40. 

Robinson,  C.A.  et  al,  1975,  Mineral  resources  map  of  Moffat  County,  Colorado;  Colo. 
Geol.  Surv.,  Open  File  Rept.  7  5-3. 

Rowley,  P.D.  et  al,  1979,  Geologic  map  of  the  Vernal  1°  x  2°  quadrangle,  Colorado, 
Utah  and  Wyoming;  U.S.G.S.  Misc.  Field  Studies,  Map  MF-1163,  Scale  1:250,000. 

Schwochow,  Stephen  D.,  1978,  Mineral  resources  survey  of  Mesa  County  -  a  model 
study;  Colo.  Geol.  Surv.,  Resource  Series  2,  110  p. 

Sears,  J.D.,  1962,  Yampa  Canyon  in  the  Uinta  Mountains,  U.S.G.S.  Prof.  Paper 
374-1. 

Unterman,  G.E.  et  al,  1954,  Geology  of  Dinosaur  National  Monument  and  vicinity; 
Utah  and  Colorado;  Utah  Geol.  &  Min.  Surv.,  Bull.  42 


VI-1 


Vanderwilt,  J.W.,  L947,  Mineral  Resources  of  Colorado;  Colo.  Min.  Res.  Board, 
547  p. 

Young,  R.G.,  1955,  Sedimentary  facies  and  intertonguing  in  the  Upper  Cretaceous  of 
the  Book  Cliffs,  Colorado  and  Utah;  GSA  Bull.,  Vol.  66,  No.  2,  p.  177-201. 

BIBLIOGRAPHY 

Carrara,  P.E.,  1980,  Surficial  geologic  map  of  the  Vernal  1°  x  2°  quadrangle, 
Colorado  and  Utah,  U.S.G.S.  Misc.  Invest.  Series  1-1204. 

Cashion,  W.B.,  1967,  Geology  and  Fuel  Resources  of  the  Green  River  Formation, 
Southeast  Unita  Basin,  Utah  and  Colorado;  U.S.G.S.  Prof.  Paper  548. 

Collins,  M.J.,  1921,  Some  Anticlines  of  Moffat  County,  Colorado;  Master's, 
Colorado. 

Hansen,  Wallace  R.,  1977,  Geologic  map  of  the  Canyon  of  Lodore  South  quadrangle, 
Moffat  County,  Colorado;  U.S.G.S.  Geologic  Quadrangle  Maps,  GQ-1403,  scale 
1:24,000. 

Hansen,  Wallace  R.  ,  1978,  Geologic  map  of  the  Zenobia  Peak  Quadrangle,  Moffat 
County,  Colorado;  U.S.G.S.  Geologic  Quadrangle  Maps,  GQ-1408,  scale 
1:24,000. 

Hilpert,  L.S.  (ed.),  1964,  Mineral  and  water  resources  of  Utah;  Utah  Geol.  &  Min. 
Surv.  Bull.  73,  275  p. 

Mayer,  Victor  J.,  1964,  Stratigraphy  and  paleontology  of  the  Mississippi  formations 
of  Moffat  Co.,  Colorado;  Colo.  Mtn.  Geol.,  Vol.  1,  No.  1,  p  25-34. 

Miller,  A.E.,  1977,  Geology  of  Moffat  County,  Colorado;  Colo.  Geol.  Surv.,  Map 
Series  No.  3,  scale  1:126,720. 

Pruitt,  R.G.,  Jr.,  1961,  The  mineral  resources  of  Uintah  County,  Utah  Geol.  &  Min. 
Surv.  Bull  71,  p  101. 

Rowley,  P.D.,  1979,  Geologic  map  of  the  Vernal  1°  x  2°  quadrangle,  Colorado,  Utah 
and  Wyoming;  U.S.G.S.  Miscellaneous  Field  Studies,  Map  MF-1163,  scale 
1:250,000. 

Tweto,  Ogden,  1975,  Preliminary  geologic  map  of  the  east  half  of  Vernal  1°  x  2° 
quadrangle,  Colorado;  U.S.G.S.  Open  File  Report  75-588. 

Unterman,  G.E.,  1954,  Geology  of  Dinosaur  National  Monument  and  vicinity;  Utah  and 
Colorado;  Utah  Geol.  Mineralog.  Sur .  Bull.  42. 

Unterman,  G.E.,  et  al .  1964,  Geologic  map  of  Uintah  County,  Utah,  scale  1/2  inch  = 
1  mile;  Utah  Geol.  &  Min.  Surv.  Map  No.  16. 

U.S.  Geological  Survey  and  Colorado  Geological  Survey,  1977,  Energy  resources  map 
of  Colorado;  U.S.G.S.  Misc.  Geol.  Inv.  Map  1-1039. 


VI-2 


BIBLIOGRAPHY 
(cont . ) 

U.S.  Department  of  Energy,  Aerial  radiometric  and  magnetic  survey,  Vernal  National 

Topographic  Map,  Colorado/Utah,   Geo-Life,  Inc.,   230  p.,   134  fiche;   DOE 

Contract  No.  EW-77-C-13-1678;  SBA  Contract  No.  SBO-308(a)-77-C-058;  PR  No. 
79-146;  11/30/79,  Report  No.  GJBX-167(79). 

U.S.  Department  of  Energy,  Preliminary  report  on  the  geology  of  uranium  deposits  in 
the  Browns  Park  Formation  in  Moffat  County,  Colorado,  and  Carbon  County, 
Wyoming,  by  Allen  Ormond,  1957,  Report  No.  TM-D-1-18. 

U.S.  Department  of  Energy,  Reconnaissance  for  uranium  in  the  Chinle  Formation  in 
and  adjacent  to  Dinosaur  National  Monument,  Uintah  County,  Utah,  and  Moffat 
County,  Colorado,  N.  B.  Young,  January  1955,  4  p.,  2  illus.;  PR  No.  79-39; 
4/10/79,  Report  No.  TM-69. 

U.S.  Department  of  Energy,  Reconnaissance  of  uranium-bearing  deposits,  Yampa  River 
Region,  Colorado,  R.  P.  Darnell,  July  1952,  9  p.,  1  illus.;  PR  No.  79-39, 
4/10/79,  Report  No.  TM-15. 

U.S.  Department  of  Energy,  Uranium  hydrogeochemical  and  stream  sediment  reconnais- 
sance data  release  for  the  Red  Creek  Quartzite  Special  Study  area,  Vernal 
NTMS  Quadrangle,  Utah/Colorado,  including  concentrations  of  Forty-Six  addi- 
tional elements,  Sue  Goff,  et  al.,  Los  Alamos  Scientific  Laboratory,  April 
1981,  33  p.;  LASL  No.  LA-8484-MS;  PR  No.  81-96;  6/29/81,  Report  No. 
GJBX-173(81). 

U.S.  Department  of  Energy,  Uranium  resource  evaluation,  Vernal  1°  x  2°  Quadrangle, 
Colorado-Utah,  L.  C.  Craig,,  W.  J.  Hall,  Jr.,  and  S.  J.  Luft,  U.S.  Geological 
Survey,  February  1980,  2  vol.,  860  p.,  16  illus.,;  Contract  No. 
DE-A113-78GJ01686;  PR  No.  80-190;  12/17/80,  Report  No.  PGJ-026(80). 

U.S.  Department  of  the  Interior  and  Department  of  Agriculture,  1981,  Moon  Lake 
Power  Plant  Project,  Units  1  and  2,  Environmental  Impact  Statement;  Bureau  of 
Land  Management,  and  Rural  Electrification  Administration,  Vernal  District 
Office,  Utah. 


VI-3 


■