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SACATAR MEADOW G-E-M
RESOURCES AREA
(GRA NO. CA-11)
TECHNICAL REPORT
(WSA CA 010-027)
Contract YA-553-RFP2-1054
Prepared By-
Great Basin GEM Joint Venture
251 Ralston Street
Reno, Nevada 89503
For
Bureau of Land Management
Denver Service Center
Building 50, Mailroom
Denver Federal Center
Denver, Colorado 80225
Final Report
April 22, 1983
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ±
I . INTRODUCTION 2
I I . GEOLOGY 9
1 . PHYSIOGRAPHY 9
2 . ROCK UNITS 9
3 . STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY AND TECTONICS 10
4 . PALEONTOLOGY n
5 . HISTORICAL GEOLOGY n
III . ENERGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES 12
A. METALLIC MINERAL RESOURCES 12
1 . Known Mineral Deposits -^.2
2. Known Prospects, Mineral Occurrences and
Mineralized Areas 12
3 . Mining Claims 12
4. Mineral Deposit Types 12
5 . Mineral Economics 12
B . NONMETALLIC MINERAL RESOURCES 13
1. Known Mineral Deposits 13
2. Known Prospects, Mineral Occurrences and
Mineralized Areas 13
3. Mining Claims, Leases and Material Sites 14
4. Mineral Deposit Types 14
5 • Mineral Economics 14
Table of Contents cont.
Page
C. ENERGY RESOURCES 15
Uranium and Thorium Resources 15
1 . Known Mineral Deposits 15
2. Known Prospects, Mineral Occurrences and
Mineralized Areas 15
3 • Mining Claims 16
4. Mineral Deposit Types 16
5. Mineral Economics 16
Oil and Gas Resources 17
Geothermal Resources 18
1 . Known Geothermal Deposits 18
2. Known Prospects, Geothermal Occurrences, and
Geothermal Areas 18
3. Geothermal Leases 18
4. Geothermal Deposit Types 18
5. Geothermal Economics 19
D. OTHER GEOLOGICAL RESOURCES 20
E. STRATEGIC AND CRITICAL MINERALS AND METALS 20
IV. LAND CLASSIFICATION FOR G-E-M RESOURCES POTENTIAL ... 21
1 . LOCATABLE RESOURCES 22
a . Metallic Minerals 22
b. Uranium and Thorium 22
c • Nonmetallic Minerals 23
li
Table of Contents cont .
Page
2 . LEASABLE RESOURCES 23
a • Oil and Gas 23
b. Geothermal 24
c . Sodium and Potassium 24
3 . SALEABLE RESOURCES 24
V. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL WORK 25
VI . REFERENCES AND SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY 26
ill
Table of Contents cont.
Page
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Figure 1 Index Map of Region 3 showing the
Location of the GRA 4
Figure 2 Topographic map of GRA, scale 1:250,000 5
Figure 3 Geologic map of GRA, scale 1:250,000 6
ATTACHMENTS
(At End of Report)
CLAIM AND LEASE MAPS
Patented/Unpatented
Geothermal
MINERAL OCCURRENCE AND LAND CLASSIFICATION MAPS (Attached)
Metallic Minerals
Uranium and Thorium
Nonmetallic Minerals
Geothermal
LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE SCHEME
CLASSIFICATION SCHEME
MAJOR STRATIGRAPHIC AND TIME DIVISIONS IN USE BY THE U.S.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
IV
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Sacatar Meadow G-E-M Resource Area (GRA) lies astride the
boundary between Tulare and Inyo Counties in the eastern Sierra
Nevada mountains, about 30 miles north of the town of Inyokern.
The only Wilderness Study Area (WSA) in the GRA is CA 010-027.
Granitic rocks of the Cretaceous Sierra Nevada batholith and minor
related rocks, about 90 million years old, underlie nearly all of
the GRA and the WSA. In the west-central part of the WSA is a
small area underlain by much older rocks, perhaps 250 million
years old, that were intruded and metamorphosed by the Sierra
Nevada batholith.
There are no formal mining districts in the GRA. In the southern
part there has been rather small production of tungsten (a
strategic and critical metal), barite and feldspar. A very few
patented claims and scattered unpatented claims are in the
southern part of the GRA also. None of the metallic or
nonmetallic mineral mines or known prospects are within the WSA,
nor are any of the patented or unpatented claims.
There are two mines that have made small production of uranium.
One of these may be within the southernmost part of the WSA.
There are two NURE stream sediment uranium anomalies, one of which
is at the western tip of the WSA.
There are no oil and gas leases. There are geothermal leases
adjacent to the GRA, but none in the GRA.
Most of WSA CA 010-027 is classified as having no known
favorability for metallic minerals with a low level of confidence
but a small area on the west-central edge is classified as having
low favorability for tungsten, a strategic and critical metal,
with a very low confidence level. All of the WSA is classified as
moderately favorable for uranium and thorium, with a moderate
level of confidence; and as having low favorability for
nonmetallic minerals and for geothermal resources with a low level
of confidence. There is no indicated favorability for oil and
gas, sodium and potassium, coal, oil shale or tar sands.
Field examination of the uranium mine and the uranium stream
sediment anomaly that are close to or in the WSA is recommended,
as is additional stream sediment sampling in and around the WSA.
I. INTRODUCTION
The Sacatar Meadow G-E-M Resources Area (GRA No. CA-11)
encompasses approximately 141,000 acres (570 sq km) and includes
the following Wilderness Study Area (WSA) :
WSA Name WSA Number
Sacatar Meadow 010-027
The GRA is located in California in the Bureau of Land
Management's (BLM) Caliente Resource Area, Bakersfield district.
Figure 1 is an index map showing the location of the GRA. The
area encompassed by the GRA is near 36°00' north latitude, 118°00'
west longitude and includes the following townships:
T 21 S, R 36,37 E
T 22 S, R 36,37 E
T 23 S, R 36,37 E
The areas of the WSA are on the following U. S. Geological Survey
topographic maps :
15-minute:
Little Lake Monache Mountain
Lamont Peak
The nearest town is Inyokern which is about 30 miles south of the
GRA on U. S. Highway 395. Access to the area is via U. S. Highway
395 to Ninemile Canyon road. Access within the area is along
Ninemile Canyon road to Sacatar Meadow and Sacatar Canyon trails.
Figure 2 outlines the boundaries of the GRA and the WSA on a
topographic base at a scale of 1:250,000.
Figure 3 is a geologic map of the GRA and vicinity, also at
1:250,000. At the end of the report, following the Mineral
Occurrence and Land Classification Maps, is a geologic time scale
showing the various geologic eras, periods and epochs by name as
they are used in the text, with the corresponding age in years.
This is so that the reader who is not familiar with geologic time
subdivisions will have a comprehensive reference for the
geochronology of events.
This GRA Report is one of fifty-five reports on the Geology-
Energy-Minerals potential of Wilderness Study Areas in the Basin
and Range Province, prepared for the Bureau of Land Management by
the Great Basin GEM Joint Venture.
The principals of the Venture are Arthur Baker III, G. Martin
Booth III, and Dennis P. Bryan. The study is principally a
literature search supplemented by information provided by claim
owners, other individuals with knowledge of some areas, and both
specific and general experience of the authors. Brief field
verification work was conducted on approximately 25 percent of the
WSAs covered by the study.
The WSA in this GRA was not field checked.
One original copy of background data specifically applicable to
this GEM Resource Area Report has been provided to the BLM as the
GRA File. In the GRA File are items such as letters from or notes
on telephone conversations with claim owners in the GRA or the
WSA, plots of areas of Land Classification for Mineral Resources
on maps at a larger scale than those that accompany this report if
such were made, original compilations of mining claim
distribution, any copies of journal articles or other documents
that were acquired during the research, and other notes as are
deemed applicable by the authors.
As a part of the contract that resulted in this report, a
background document was also written: Geological Environments of
Energy and Mineral Resources. A copy of this document is included
with the GRA File to this GRA report. There are some geological
environments that are known to be favorable for certain kinds of
mineral deposits, while other environments are known to be much
less favorable. In many instances conclusions as to the
favorability of areas for the accumulation of mineral resources,
drawn in these GRA Reports, have been influenced by the geology of
the areas, regardless of whether occurrences of valuable minerals
are known to be present. This document is provided to give the
reader some understanding of at least the most important aspects
of geological environments that were in the minds of the authors
when they wrote these reports .
u
urn
Sacatar Meadow GRA CA-11
en
Figure 1. GRA Index Map of Region 3 1:3,168,000,
Fresno, Death Valley, Bakersfield,
and Trona Sheets
Sacatar Meadow 6RA CA-11
Figure 2
Fresno Sheet, Mathews and Burnett (1965); Death
Valley Sheet, Streitz and Stinson (1974); Bakersfield
Sheet, Smith (1964); Trona Sheet, Jennings, et al
(1962)
Sacatar Meadow GRA CA-11
Figure 3
EXPLANATION
SEDIMENTARY AND METASEDIMENTARY ROCKS
>une sand
IGNEOUS AND META-IGNEOUS ROCKS
| Qs | Dv.
Qoi I Alluvium
i<
QSC
Q(
os
<
Stream channel
deposits
Fan deposits
Basin deposits
■Qcv
Recent volcanic: Grv' — rhyolite;
Grv° — andesite; QrvD —basalt:
Orv° — pyroclastic rocks
Osf Salt deposits
Quaternary lake deposits
HH
Oy Glacial deposits
ED
Quaternary nonmannr
terrace deposit*
Pleistocene marine and
°m marine terrace deposits
Os.
ED
rED
ED
Pleistocene nonmanne
Plio-Pleistocene nonmarine
Undivided Pliocene nonmarine
^4:
Pleistocene volcanic: Opv' —rhyolite;
Cp»°-andesite; Opv0 —basalt;
Opvp —pyroclastic rocks
Quaternary and/or Pliocene
cinder cones
Poc Upper Pliocene nonmarine
0
N
0'
z
UJ
u
Pu i Upper Pliocene marine
Pliocene volcanic: Pv' -rhyolite;
pv°— andesite; p D -basalt;
f^o —pyroclastic rocks
Pmic
Middle and/or lower Pliocene
nonmarine
Middle and/or lower Pliocene marine
Undivided Miocene nonmarine
Muc I Upper Miocene nonmarine
J
Upper Miocene marine
Middle Miocene nonmarine
Middle Miocene marine
Lower Miocene marine
m
Miocene volcanic: Mv' —rhyolite;
f.".° -andesite; Mvb -basalt;
Mv" —pyroclastic rocks
lie Oligocene nonmarine
©v ■
© Oligocene marine
[ED
Eocene nonmanne
Eocene marine
Olicocene volcanir: ©v'— rhyolite:
0v° — andesite : iJv6— basalt;
©v» — pyroclastic rocks
Eocene volcanic: Ev' rhyolite;
Ev° andcsitciEv" -basalt:
Ev° — pyroclastic rocks
Epc Paleocene nonmanne
£p
Paleocene marine
£? Paleoeene marir
Cenozoic nonmanne
'-. Tertiary nonmarine
Tertiary lake deposits
Trr i Tertiary marine
EXPLANATION CONT.
Cenozoic volcanic: --. -rhyolite;
QT„=— andesite: qt„i —basalt;
CT„: — pyroclastic rocks
Ternary uranitie rocks
Tertiary intrusive (hypabyssali
rocks :Ti'-rhyolite: Jr -andesite;
T." -basalt
Tertiary volcanic: TV — rhyolite;
Tv° —andesite: Tv6 —basalt:
Tv= —pyroclastic rocks
U
0
•J)
W
2
Q
><!
5
z
•a
a
o
C£
UJ
--<
Z
o
cc
K
<
O
OJ <
> s
o
Q
a
o
z
<
cc
cc
<
Z
<
cr
m
<
u
UJ
cr
0.
Undivided Cretaceous marine
Upper Cretaceous
marine
Lower Cretaceous
marine
Kno.willc Formation
Upper Jurassic
marine
Middle and/or Lower
Jurassic marine
Triassic marine
Pre-Cretaceous metamorphic
rocks (Is - limestone or dolomite)
Pre-Cretaceous metasedimentary
rocks
Paleozoic marine
(Is = limestone or dolomite
ft Permian marine
C Undivided Carboniferous marine
CP Pennsylvanian marine
CM Mississippian marine
pSs
PS
Devonian marine
Silurian marine
Pre-Silurian meta-
sedimentary rocks
Ordovician marine
Cambrian marine
Cambrian - Precambrian marine
Jfiv
gr-m
Cv
Ov
Franciscan volcanic and
metavolcanic rocks
Mi'~ozo><- cranitic rock.-*:?' -granite
and udamrllitc:9',-nrano<lionu-;
9' ' -tonnlite and diorite
Mesozoic basic intrusive
rocks
Mesozoic ultrabasic
intrusive rocks
Jura-Trias metavolcanic rocks
Pre-Cretaceous metavolcanic
rocks
Pre-Cenozoic granitic and
metamorphic rocks
Paleozoic metavolcanic rocks
Permian metavolcanic rocks
Carboniferous metavolcanic rocks
Devonian metavolcanic rocks
Devonian and pre-Devonian?
metavolcanic rocks
Pre-Silurian
metamorphic
rocks
pSv
Pre-Silurian
metavolcanic
rocks
3Cc | Precambrian igneous and
1 Undivided Precambrian
PC metamorphic rocks
cCq = gneiss, o€s = schist
metamorphic rock complex
B"'aC«-'-| Undivide
Ediii'/J granitic
ied Precambrian
ic rocks
Later Precambrian sedimentary
and metamorphic rocks
Earlier Precambrian metamorphic
rocks 8
pCsn | Precambrian iinonhositc
II. GEOLOGY
The Sacatar Meadow GRA is the southernmost GRA in Region 3. It is
located in the southern Sierra Nevadas west of Rose Valley.
The southern Sierras are composed of a series of intrusive and
metamorphic rocks. The granitoid mass was uplifted at the end of
the Miocene to its present elevation along north-northwest
trending normal faults. Glaciation and subsequent erosion has
carved the present topography of the GRA.
1. PHYSIOGRAPHY
Sacatar Meadow GRA is located in the southern Sierra Nevadas
approximately 10 miles north of the mutual boundary point of
Tulare, Inyo, and Kern Counties. U. S. Highway 395 in Rose
Valley borders the GRA on the east.
The GRA lies in the southeastern Sierra Nevada Province along
the border with the Basin and Range Province. The major rock
types are granitic intrusives and remnants of metamorphic roof
pendants associated with the Sierra Nevada batholith.
Along the eastern flank of the Sierra Nevadas, granitic
intrusives were upthrown and tilted west along northwest
trending faults. The tilted fault block forms a steep
escarpment elevated 3,000 feet above the valley floor.
Kennedy, Sacatar and Big Pine Meadows, with an average
elevation of 6,500 feet, form the upper level of the fault
block within the GRA. The highest elevation is Ball Mountain
at 9,256 feet.
East-west drainage dissects the eastern slope forming Little
Lake, Five Mile, Dead Foot and other canyons that drain into
Rose or Indian Wells valleys at elevations of about 3,500
feet. In the higher elevations, spring fed creeks discharge
into the South Fork of the Kern River west of the GRA and into
Chimney Creek in the southern portion of the GRA at elevations
of about 6,000 feet.
2. ROCK UNITS
The oldest rocks in the Sacatar Meadow GRA are
metasedimentary . The Kernville Series, described by Webb
(1946), are remnants of Paleozoic-Mesozoic marine sediments
that were metamorphosed prior to the intrusion of the Sierra
Nevada batholith. The metasediments form roof pendants and
xenoliths within the intrusives and generally trend N 30-40 °W
(Webb, 1946).
The Kernville series is composed of phyllites, quartzite,
marble, hornfels, slate, and metavolcanics . The age of these
rocks is probably PermoCarboniferous (Webb, 1946).
The Summit Gabbro is the next oldest unit in this GRA. This
unit is represented by small isolated bodies of basic
intrusives and shows evidence of strain produced by the
subsequent intrusion of the batholith. The Summit Gabbro is
medium to fine grained, porphyritic, and contains hornblende,
biotite, plagioclase, and pyrite . The age of this unit is
probably mid-Mesozoic .
The Sacatar Quartz Diorite is the youngest pre-batholith
intrusion. This unit intrudes the Summit Gabbro in the form
of tongues and dikes. The quartz diorite grades to a quartz
monzonite and granodiorite and contains abundant ferro-
magnesians .
The Sierra Nevada batholith was emplaced during the Cretaceous
in a series of intrusions cutting the metasedimentary and
mafic rocks described above. The Isabella granodiorite varies
to granite, quartz monzonite and quartz diorite and may be
distinguished from the Summit and Sacatar intrusives by its
lack of dark minerals.
Various pegmatites and granodiorite and aplite dikes crosscut
the Kernville Series and the Sacatar and Isabella intrusions.
Older alluvium in the Sacatar Meadow GRA consists of fine
grained sediments mapped near Chimney Peak. These Quaternary
lake sediments were deposited in shallow water in high upland
depressions of the Sierras. Younger alluvium has been
deposited in the meadows and forms alluvial fans along the
range front to the east.
Within WSA CA 010-027 there is a strip of Kernville Series
rocks, a west-central protuberance and Quaternary alluvium in
small areas of valley bottom within the WSA; otherwise the
only rock type in the WSA is intrusive granitics.
3. STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY AND TECTONICS
The oldest structures in the Sacatar Meadow GRA are folds in
the Kernville Series. The folds were produced sometime during
the mid-Mesozoic when the marine sediments were compressed and
deformed prior to the intrusion of the batholith.
Veins and joint structures associated with the intrusives are
minor in this GRA (Miller and Webb, 1940).
The predominant structure is the northwest-trending Sierra
frontal fault located at the base of the eastern slope.
Major uplifting occurred during the Pleistocene though, the
fault may have been more recently active (Oliver, 1956).
10
4 . PALEONTOLOGY
Pre-Cretaceous met amorphic rocks, Mesozoic granitic rocks and
basic intrusives are the dominant lithologies within the
Sacatar Meadow GRA. These lithologies have no potential for
paleontological resouces . The only possible lithology with
potential for fossils is Quaternary alluvium.
5- HISTORICAL GEOLOGY
During the Paleozoic and early Mesozoic, shallow marine
sediments and volcanic debris were deposited in thick
sequences in the southern Sierra Nevada region. Mid-Mesozoic
compressional forces folded these sediments and produced the
metamorphic sequence of the Kernville Series. Mafic
intrusives (Summit Gabbro, Sacatar Quartz Diorite) cut the
metasediments during the folding and shortly after it
occurred. By the Late Cretaceous, the Sierra Nevada batholith
(Isabella granodiorite) had been intruded producing contact
metamorphism of the older rocks.
The Sierra Nevada underwent a series of uplifts between the
late Miocene and early Pleistocene. Northwest-southeast
trending, normal faults elevated and tilted the intrusive
block to the west and erosion produced the present
configuration of the eastern slope. The upper levels of the
fault block were carved by glaciation during the Pleistocene
and contain remnants of lake sediments deposited during that
period.
11
III. ENERGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES
A. METALLIC MINERAL RESOURCES
1. Known Mineral Deposits
The only known metallic mineral deposit found in the
Sacatar Meadow GRA is tungsten.
The Kern-Sierra Group, located in sections 29, 30, and 31
of T 23 S, R 36 E, developed scheelite-bearing tactite
bodies in several locations. The Sierra claim contains
two tactite bodies 25 feet long and 300 feet apart on the
contact between marble and quartz diorite. The ore zone
averages three to four feet in width and WO grades are
reported to be 0.6-1.5%. At the Jupiter claim, tactite
with scheelite-rich lenses about a foot long are
interbedded with schists. An 8 foot thick tactite layer
contains 0.25% WO3 , plus considerable molybdenite and
chalcopyrite . Production data for these properties is not
available (Krauskopf, 1953).
2. Known Prospects, Mineral Occurrences and Mineralized Areas
The only known mineralized areas within the Sacatar Meadow
GRA occur in the vicinity of the above described deposits
located in the southern portion of the GRA. Specific
information concerning them is not available.
3. Mining Claims
There are no patented claims in the vicinity of the
tungsten mines. Patented claim(s) in one of two sections
in the southeast corner of the GRA may lie just within the
WSA. Unpatented claims are all in the southwest corner of
the GRA and none are close to the WSA.
4. Mineral Deposit Types
The metallic mineral deposits in the Sacatar Meadow GRA
are all contact metamorphic deposits. Tungsten deposits
were emplaced along the margins between intrusive bodies
and calcareous roof pendants of the Kernville Series,
forming veins and replacement pods in the metamorphic
rocks .
5. Mineral Economics
Tungsten, listed as a strategic and critical mineral, was
produced from pods in small tactite bodies. The potential
exists for additional minor production of tungsten, but
12
the limited tonnage of these deposits would make them
unattractive to most mining companies.
More than half of all tungsten used is in the form of
tungsten carbide, a hard and durable material used in
cutting tools, wear-resistant surfaces and hard-faced
welding rods. Lesser quantities are used in alloy steels,
in light bulb filaments, and in chemicals. World
production of tungsten is nearly 100 million pounds
annually, of which the United States produces somewhat
more than six million pounds, while using more than 23
million pounds. The shortfall is imported from Canada,
Bolivia, Thailand and Mainland China, as well as other
countries. Tungsten is a strategic and critical metal.
United States demand is projected to about double by the
year 2000, and most of the additional supply will probably
be imported, because large reserves are in countries in
which profitability is not a factor — they need foreign
exchange, and therefore sell at a price that few domestic
mines can match. Tungsten prices F.O.B. mine are quoted
for "short ton units", which are the equivalent of 20
pounds of contained tungsten. At the end of 1982 the
price of tungsten was about $80 per short ton unit.
B. NONMETALLIC MINERAL RESOURCES
1. Known Mineral Deposits
The Paso-Baryta mine produced impure barite from a 10 to
15-foot wide zone with a strike length of about one mile.
The zone strikes N 10 °W to N 40 °E, dips 65°SW and appears
to be conformable with the enclosing metasedimentary
rocks. The northwest end of the deposit splits into three
narrow branches. During the 1950' s, 400 tons of ore grade
barite per day was processed in a nearby mill (Goodwin,
1958).
Feldspar was extracted from the White King mine, also
located in the southern part of the GRA. The mineral was
mined from massive pegmatitic feldspar outcrops. Several
railroad cars of this material were shipped in 1933. No
other production data is available (Goodwin, 1958).
2. Known Prospects, Mineral Occurrences and Mineralized Areas
There are some prospects in the vicinity of the barite and
feldspar mines noted above.
13
Mining Claims, Leases and Material Sites
Patented claims in the southeast corner of the GRA are
presumably on the feldspar deposits described above; there
are no unpatented claims in this vicinity. Some of the
unpatented claims in the southwest corner of the GRA
probably cover barite occurrences.
4. Mineral Deposit Types
The origin of the barite deposits is unknown. They may be
bedding deposits similar to those known in central Nevada,
that have been metamorphosed along with their enclosing
rocks; orbarite remobilized from such deposits during
metamorphism or intrusion, and redeposited in their
present sites; or deposits formed by mineralizing
solutions flowing directly from the granitic intrusive
bodies .
The feldspar deposits are pegmatites that were emplaced
during or shortly after the intrusion of the quartz
diorite.
5. Mineral Economics
The Paso-Baryta mine has large probable reserves, however,
most of the barite does not meet gravity specifications
for drilling mud and would require benefication. This
increase in production cost and the present low market for
barite probably precludes economic development of this
property at this time. However, should the barite market
revive, profitable production at the Paso-Baryta mine
would be possible.
Feldspar was mined during 1933 from massive pegmatite
outcrops. The paucity of pertinent data precludes further
discussion of the potential of this property.
More than 90% of all barite mined is used to make mud for
oil and gas well drilling, where the high specific
gravity, softness and chemical inertness of the mineral
are essential characteristics. Other uses of barite are
in barium chemicals that have a wide variety of
applications. In recent years the United States has used
nearly three million tons of barite annually; usage
fluctuates with oil and gas drilling activity. Domestic
sources produced about two- thirds of the barite used, with
Nevada being by far the largest producer. Most imported
barite is used in the states near the Gulf of Mexico,
where shipping costs by sea from foreign sources are lower
than rail transportation costs from Nevada. Barite
consumption in the United States is forecast to be about
the same in the year 2000 as it presently is, although
14
this will depend largely on oil and gas drilling activity
and the forecast may be greatly in error. Domestic
production is expected to continue to satisfy about two-
thirds of the demand. The price for crude barite is about
$25 per ton, while crushed and ground barite ready for use
as drilling mud is about $50 per ton.
Nearly all feldspar is used in either glassmaking or the
ceramic industry, but small amounts are used as a powdered
abrasive, frequently in household applications. The
United States produces nearly three-quarters of a million
short tons annually and uses a little less than this, the
remainder being exported. United States consumption is
forecast to increase to well over one million tons by the
year 2000, with domestic production supplying all or most
of this. Feldspar is a very common mineral everywhere in
the world, and the only reason for any increase in imports
into the United States will be lower foreign production
costs. The price of feldspar F.O.B. mine is about $30 per
ton.
C. ENERGY RESOURCES
Uranium and Thorium Resources
1. Known Mineral Deposits
There are two known uranium deposits within the GRA, one
of which (the Lamont Meadows mine) may be within the
southern border of the WSA. The Lamont Meadows mine is in
T 24 S, R 37 E and the Long Valley mine is in T 24 S, R 36
E (Minobras, 1978). More precise locations are not
available. Both mines have had some small scale uranium
production. Uranium and thorium minerals occur in a
pegmatite related to the Cretaceous Isabella granodiorite
and are associated with magnetite, ilmenite, and
molybdenite. There is no mention of thorium production
from these deposits.
The location of the deposits is shown on the Uranium
Mineral Occurrence and Land Classification Map included at
the back of this report.
2. Known Prospects, Mineral Occurrences and Mineralized Areas
Uranium occurrences are also found in altered shear zones
within the intrusives, along with primary minerals in
pegmatites. These occurrences are in the southern portion
of the GRA but their exact locations are not given. Some
may be within the southern border of the WSA.
15
The location of radioactive occurrences is shown on the
Mineral Occurrence and Land Classification Map included at
the back of this report.
Mining Claims
There are a number of claims in the southern portion of
the GRA some of which may be for uranium. None of these
claims are within the WSA.
4. Mineral Deposit Types
Uranium and thorium deposits occur as primary mineral
concentrations in pegmatites (e.g. uraninite and monazite)
in the GRA. Uranium also occurs as secondary minerals in
altered shear zones in the GRA, though apparently not in
economic concentrations .
5. Mineral Economics
Past production of uranium from the two uranium and
thorium pegmatite deposits indicates that uranium has been
of some economic importance within the GRA. However,
these small deposits are probably not economic for uranium
at the present time due to the oversupply of uranium on
the market. Thorium will not be in much demand for some
time especially since breeder reactors are not being
developed.
A lack of published information on the known deposits and
occurrences prevents an economic determination for uranium
and thorium in the area .
Uranium in its enriched form is used primarily as fuel for
nuclear reactors, with lesser amounts being used in the
manufacture of atomic weapons and materials which are used
for medical radiation treatments. Annual western world
production of uranium concentrates totaled approximately
57,000 tons in 1981, and the United States was responsible
for about 30 percent of this total, making the United
States the largest single producer of uranium (American
Bureau of Metal Statistics, 1982). The United States
ranks second behind Australia in uranium resources based
on a production cost of $25/pound or less. United States
uranium demand is growing at a much slower rate than was
forecast in the late 1970s, because the number of new
reactors scheduled for construction has declined sharply
since the accident at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Plant
in March, 1979. Current and future supplies were seen to
exceed future demand by a significant margin and spot
prices of uranium fell from $40/pound to $25/pound from
January, 1980 to January, 1981 (Mining Journal, July 24,
16
1981). At present the outlook for the United States
uranium industry is bleak. Low prices and overproduction
in the industry have resulted in the closures of numerous
uranium mines and mills and reduced production at
properties which have remained in operation. The price
of uranium at the end of 1982 was $19.75/pound of
concentrate .
Thorium is used in the manufacture of incandescent gas
mantles, welding rods, refractories, as fuel for nuclear
power reactors and as an alloying agent. The principal
source of thorium is monazite which is recovered as a
byproduct of titanium, zirconium and rare earth recovery
from beach sands. Although monazite is produced from
Florida beach sands, thorium products are not produced
from monazite in the United States. Consequently, thorium
products used in the United States come from imports,
primarily from France and Canada, and industry and
government stocks • Estimated United States consumption of
thorium in 1980 was 3 3 tons, most of which was used in
incandescent lamp mantles and refractories (Kirk, 1980b) •
Use of thorium as nuclear fuel is relatively small at
present, because only two commercial thorium- fueled
reactors are in operation. Annual United States demand
for thorium is projected at 155 tons by 2000 (Kirk,
1980a). Most of this growth is forecast to occur in
nuclear power reactor usage, assuming that six to ten
thorium-fueled reactors are on line by that time. The
United States and the rest of thwe world are in a
favorable position with regard to adequacy of thorium
reserves. The United States has reserves estimated at
218,000 tons of Th02 in stream and beach placers, veins
and carbonatite deposits (Kirk, 1982); and probable
cumulative demand in the United States as of 2000 is
estimated at only 1800 tons (Kirk, 1980b). The price of
thorium oxide at the end of 1981 was $16.45 per pound.
Oil and Gas Resources
There are no known oil and gas deposits, hydrocarbon shows in
wells, or surface seeps in the region; nor are there any
Federal oil and gas leases in the immediate region. The
Sierran granitic batholith underlies the entire GRA; no
potential petroleum source beds are present in the area.
There is no oil and gas lease map, nor is there an oil and gas
occurrence and land classification map in this report.
17
Geothermal Resources
1. Known Geothermal Deposits
There are no known geothermal deposits within the Sacatar
Meadow GRA.
2. Known Prospects, Geothermal Occurrences, and Geothermal
Areas
Within the GRA there are no recorded geothermal prospects,
occurrences, or areas. Six miles north of the northwest
corner of the GRA, Soda Springs (38°C and flowing 8 l/min)
is situated in a probable fault-controlled linear in the
mountain valley (Geothermal Occurrence and Land
Classification Map) . This fault does not appear to extend
southward into the GRA. Seven miles due west of Soda
Springs, Jordan Hot Spring flows 51 °C water at a rate of
285 l/min (NOAA, 1980).
Immediately to the east seven miles, within the Coso
Mountains, is the Coso Hot Springs geothermal resource
area. Over an area of several square miles, Devil's
Kitchen Fumerole, Coso Hot Springs, and an unnamed
fumerole all have measured temperatures of 97 °C (NOAA,
1980). Drilling within this Pleistocene volcanic field,
where numerous cinder cones are present, has proven the
presence of a steam reservoir above a hot-water reservoir
with temperatures of at least 204°C-218°C (California
Energy Company, personal communication, 1982).
3. Geothermal Leases
Potentially, there are an estimated 72,000 acres for
geothermal leasing within the Coso Study Area. Public
lands comprise 25,650 acres, and 41,560 acres are in the
Naval Weapons Center Withdrawal . There are a few thousand
acres of acquired and fee land as well (National
Geothermal Service, June 5, 1981).
The Coso Hot Springs KGRA extends westward into Rose
Valley. The eastern part of the Sacatar Meadow GRA
includes three sections of the KGRA (see Geothermal Lease
Map). Recorded leases are adjacent to the GRA boundary.
4. Geothermal Deposit Types
There are no geothermal resources recognized within the
GRA, but in the Coso area the U.S. Geological Survey
describes the resource as a hot-water hydrothermal
convection system (Muffler, 1979). Recent drilling has
confirmed a hot-water reservoir with a bottom hole
18
temperature in the 204 °C to 218 °C range beneath a steam
cap.
5. Geothermal Economics
California Energy Company , Santa Rosa, California is
operating a joint venture which has a contract with the
China Lake Naval Weapons Center to develop the geothermal
resource, construct and operate a power plant (s), and sell
the electricity to the Navy (Geothermal Resources Council
Bulletin, February, 1982). The contract stipulates that
the contractor will deliver electricity at a cost
guaranteed to be no more than 95% of commercial
electricity rates. The Navy expects significant savings
by 1985, the initial year projected for power production
(Geothermal Resource Council Bulletin, February, 1982).
The U.S. Geological Survey in Circular 790 (Muffler, 1979)
gives the following Coso reservoir estimates, based on the
geothermometry and other studies :
190 -240 °C Estimates of reservoir temperature
220°+ll°C Mean reservoir temperature
46+12 Mean reservoir volume (km3 )
25+_7 Mean, reservoir thermal energy
1018
(10-LOJ)
6.3 Wellhead thermal energy
(10r8J)
1.55 Wellhead available work
(1018J)
650 Electrical energy (MW for
30 yr)
The USGS estimates were made prior to the California
Energy Company discovery, and should therefore be revised
accordingly.
Geothermal resources are utilized in the form of hot water
or steam normally captured by means of drilling wells to a
depth of a few feet to over 10,000 feet in depth. The
fluid temperature, sustained flow rate and water chemistry
characteristics of a geothermal reservoir determine the
depth to which it will be economically feasible to drill
and develop each site.
19
Higher temperature resources (above 350 °F) are currently
being used to generate electrical power in Utah and
California, and in a number of foreign countries. As fuel
costs rise and technology improves, the lower temperature
limit for power will decrease appreciably — especially
for remote sites.
All thermal waters can be beneficially used in some way,
including fish farming (68°?), warm water for year around
mining in cold climates (86°F), residential space heating
(122°F), greenhouses by space heating (176°F), drying of
vegetables (212°F), extraction of salts by evaporation and
crystallization (266°F), and drying of diatomaceous earth
(338°F) .
Unlike most mineral commodities remoteness of resource
location is not a drawback. Domestic and commercial use
of natural thermal springs and shallow wells in the Basin
and Range province is a historical fact for over 100
years .
Development and maintenance of a resource for beneficial
use may mean no dollars or hundreds of millions of
dollars, depending on the resource characteristics, the
end use and the intensity or level of use.
D. OTHER GEOLOGICAL RESOURCES
No other geological resources are known. There is no
potential for coal, oil shale, tar sands or sodium and
potassium.
E. STRATEGIC AND CRITICAL MINERALS AND METALS
A list of strategic and critical minerals and metals provided
by the BLM was used as a guideline for the discussion of
strategic and critical materials in this report.
The Stockpile Report to the Congress, October 1981-March 1982,
states that the term "strategic and critical materials" refers
to materials that would be needed to supply the industrial,
military and essential civilian needs of the United States
during a national emergency, and are not found or produced in
the United States in sufficient quantities to meet such need.
The report does not define a distinction between strategic and
critical minerals.
Tungsten, listed as a strategic and critical mineral, has been
produced from small deposits in the southern portion of the
GRA. Because of the limited tonnage potential of these ore
bodies and the reported decrease in grade of ore with depth,
these would be unlikely exploration targets for significant
additional production.
20
IV. LAND CLASSIFICATION FOR G-E-M RESOURCES POTENTIAL
Geologic mapping in the Sacatar Meadow GRA is rather generalized
and it seems likely that some small roof pendants of pre-intrusive
rocks have escaped mapping, although whether any of the not-mapped
ones are large enough to host tungsten deposits large enough to
mine is debatable. Because of this possibility our confidence in
the quality of geologic mapping is only moderate. In other
respects it is high: except for the known roof pendant of
classification area M2-2A, and for the possibility of other small
pendants, WSA CA 010-027 is underlain by granitic intrusives.
Land classification areas are numbered starting with the number 1
in each category of resources. Metallic mineral land
classification areas have the prefix M, e.g., M1-4D. Uranium and
thorium areas have the prefix U. Nonmetallic mineral areas have
the prefix N. Oil and gas areas have the prefix OG. Geothermal
areas have the prefix G. Sodium and potassium areas have the
prefix S. The saleable resources are classified under the
nonmetallic mineral resource section. Both the Classification
Scheme, numbers 1 through 4, and the Level of Confidence Scheme,
letters A, B, C and D, as supplied by the BLM, are included as
attachments to this report. These schemes were used as strict
guidelines in developing the mineral classification areas used in
this report.
Land classifications have been made here only for the areas that
encompass segments of the WSA. Where data outside a WSA has been
used in establishing a classification area within a WSA, then at
least a part of the surrounding area may also be included for
clarification. The classified areas are shown on the 1:250,000
mylars or the prints of those that accompany each copy of this
report.
In connection with nonmetallic mineral classification, it should
be noted that in all instances areas mapped as alluvium are
classified as having moderate favorability for sand and gravel,
with moderate confidence, since alluvium is by definition sand and
gravel. All areas mapped as principally limestone or dolomite
have a similar classification since these rocks are usable for
cement or lime production. All areas mapped as other rock, if
they do not have specific reason for a different classification,
are classified as having low favorability, with low confidence,
for nonmetallic mineral potential, since any mineral material can
at least be used in construction applications.
21
1. LOCATABLE RESOURCES
a. Metallic Minerals
WSA CA 010-027
MI-IB. This classification area covers most of the WSA.
The classification of no known favorability is assigned
because almost all of this part of the WSA, except for
possible small roof pendants of metamorphic rocks / is
underlain by granitic rocks, and there is no evidence that
any occurrences of metallic minerals have ever been found
in them. The confidence level is rather low because there
is nothing published about metallic minerals in the WSA,
although this may well be simply because, as already
stated, there is no evidence that there are any.
M2-2A. This classification area covers the west-central
protuberance in the outline of the WSA, which is underlain
by a roof pendant of the Paleozoic-Mesozoic sediments.
Rocks of the roof pendants contain practically all of the
mineral deposits of teh southern Sierra Nevada: they
provide an appreciably more favorable environment for ore
deposition than do the intrusive rocks. This is the
reason for classifying this area as having low
favorability, with a very low level of confidence because
there is no other evidence of favorability.
b. Uranium and Thorium
WSA CA 010-027
U1-3C. This land classification covers the entire WSA and
most of the GRA. It indicates that uranium concentration
is moderately favorable at a moderate level of confidence
within the WSA. The area is covered by the Cretaceous
Isabella granodiorite . Associated pegmatites in the area
are prospective for primary mineral uranium and thorium
concentration (e.g. uraninite and monazite) . The area is
also prospective for fracture filling secondary uranium
mineralization .
Uranium has been mined on a small scale from the Lamont
Meadows mine at the southern tip of the WSA and from the
Long Valley mine west of the WSA, in the southwestern
corner of the GRA. Both of these deposits are associated
with thorium (monazite), ilmenite, and magnetite in
pegmatites . The exact location of the Lamont Meadows mine
is not available and it is not known if it is within the
borders of the WSA. Uranium also occurs in the southern
portion of the GRA as secondary minerals in altered shear
zones in the granitic rocks.
22
NURE data (Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant, 1981) shows
two anomalous uranium stream sediment samples near the
WSA. The sample near the southern tip of the WSA
indicates uranium between 7.5 and 11.9 ppm. This site is
downstream from the Lamont Meadows mine and probably
reflects past mining activity at the mine. The second
anomaly is on the west central border of the WSA and
indicates between 5.6 and 7.5 ppm uranium. This anomaly
is near the contact of the Cretaceous granitic intrusion
and Paleozoic metamorphic rocks . It may indicate a nearby
contact metamorphic uranium deposit, presumably upstream
within the WSA. No stream sediment sampling was done
within the WSA for this NURE report.
The area is moderately favorable at a moderate confidence
level for thorium deposits in pegmatites. Thorium
mineralization occurs in pegmatites at the uranium mines
mentioned above .
c. Nonmetallic Minerals
WSA CA 010-027
N1-2B. This classification area covers the entire WSA.
The granitic rocks and the small area of metamoprhics do
not have any known occurrences of nonemtallic minerals.
However, any mineral material can become an economic
nonmetallic mineral if an entrepreneur can find a use for
its particular chemical or physical properties.
Additionally, all rock can be used as fill or in other
very low-cost applications. These are the reasons for the
low favorability classification and the low level of
confidence in it.
2. LEASABLE RESOURCES
WSA CA 010-027
a. Oil and Gas
G1-1D. There has been no serious oil and gas exploration,
nor are there any recorded occurrences of oil and gas in
this westernmost sector of the Basin and Range province
where it meets the Sierra Nevadas . The entire WSA is
underlain by the Sierran granitic batholith and pre-
Cretaceous metamorphic rocks. There is no evidence of
source beds being present in the area. No lease map is
presented for oil and gas.
23
b. Geothermal
G1-2B. Even though this WSA is geographically close to an
excellent , proven geothermal resource, the geologic
environment does not appear to be very conducive to
geothermal resources. Although some faulting is present,
the essentially monolithic granite which underlies the
area is not thought to be very favorable for the geologic
processes necessary for a viable geothermal system.
Sodium and Potassium
SI-ID. There is no potential for sodium and potassium in
WSA CA 010-02 7. No map is presented for sodium and
potassium.
3. SALEABLE RESOURCES
Saleable resources have been covered under the appropriate
headings above.
24
V. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL WORK
1 . The location of the Lamont Meadows uranium mine should be
determined in the field, to learn whether or not it is within
WSA 010-027.
2. The NURE stream sediment uranium anomaly at the southwest
point of the WSA should be field checked to attempt to
determine the source of the uranium-bearing material.
3. A stream sediment sampling program should be undertaken in and
around the edges of the WSA to determine whether there are
uranium or other metal occurrences that may be within the WSA,
and to locate them if possible.
25
VI. REFERENCES AND SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Albers, J. P., R. J. Roberts, N. J. Silberling, and J. H. Stewart,
1964, Generalized stratigraphic correlation chart for Nevada, in
Mineral and water resources of Nevada: Nevada Bur. Mines Bull. 65
(U.S. 88th Cong., 2nd sess. Senate Document 87), p. 14-15.
American Bureau of Metal Statistics Inc., 1982, Non-ferrous metal
data - 1981, Port City Press, New York, New York, p. 133-134.
Bateman, P. C. and C. Wahrhaftig, 1966, Geology of the Sierra
Nevada in Bailey, E. H. (ed.) Geology of northern California:
California Div. Mines and Geology Bull. 190, p. 107-172.
Bushnell, M. M. , and Morton, P. K. , 1980, Uranium resource
evaluation, Trona quadrangle, California: California Division of
Mines and Geology. NURE report PGJ-038(81).
Dalrymple, G. B., 1963, Potassium-argon dates of some Cenozoic
volcanic rocks of the Sierra Nevada: Geol. Soc . Amer. Bull., vol.
74, pp. 379-390.
Geothermal Resources Council Bulletin (1980-82)
Goodwin, J. G., 1958, Mines and Mineral Resources of Tulare
County, California: Calif. Division Mines & Geol. vol. 54, no. 3,
p. 17-223.
Hazzard, J. C. , 1937, Paleozoic section in the Nopah and Resting
Springs Mountains, Inyo County, California: California Div. Mines
and Geology, v. 33, no. 4, p. 273-339.
Highlife Helicopters, 1980, Airborne gamma ray spectrometer and
magnetometer survey, Bakersfield and Fresno quadrangles, NURE
report GJBX-231 (80 ) .
Hopper, R. H. , 1947, Geologic section from the Sierra Nevada to
Death Valley, California: Geol. Soc. America Bull.; v. 58, no. 5,
p 393-432.
Jennings, C. W. , Burnett, J. L., and Troxel, B. W. , 1962, Geologic
map of California, Trona sheet, 1963 edition: California Div.
Mines and Geology.
Kirk, William S., 1980a, Thorium in Minerals Facts and Problems,
1980 ed., U. S. Bureau of Mines, Bull. 671, p. 937-945.
Kirk, William S. , 1980b, Thorium in Minerals Yearbook, vol. I,
Metals and Minerals, U. S. Bureau of Mines, p. 821-826.
Kirk, William S. , 1982, Thorium in Mineral Commodity Summaries -
1982, U. S. Bureau of Mines, p. 160-161.
26
Krauskopf, K. B. , 1953, Tungsten deposits of Madera, Fresno and
Tulare Counties, California: California Div. Mines Spec. Rept. 35,
83 p.
Matthews, R. A. and Burnett, J. L., 1964, Geologic map of
California, Fresno sheet, 1966 edition: California Div. Mines and
Geology.
Mayo, E. B. , 1941, Deformation in the interval Mt. Lyell-Mt.
Whitney, California: Geol . Soc. America Bull., v. 52, no. 7, p.
1001-1084.
Miller, William J., and Webb, Robert W. , 1940, Descriptive geology
of Kernville quadrangle, California: California Div. Mines Jour.
Mines and Geology.
Mining Journal, July 24, 1981, vol. 297, No. 7641.
Minobras, 1978, Uranium deposits of Arizona, California, Nevada.
Muffler, L. J. P., ed., 1979, Assessment of geothermal resources
of the United States - 1978: U. S. Geol. Survey Circ. 790.
National Geothermal Service (1980-82): Petroleum Information
NOAA/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1980,
Geothermal resources of California: Map prep, by Nat. Geophy. and
Solar-Terrestrial Data Center from data compiled by California
Division of Mines and Geology, California Geologic Data Map
Series, Map No. 4.
Noble, L. F. and L. A. Wright, 1954, Geology of the central and
southern Death Valley region, California, in R. H. Jahns (ed.),
Geology of southern California: California Div. Mines Bull. 170,
ch. 2, pt. 10, p 143-160.
Norman, L. A. Jr., and Stewart, Richard M. , 1950, Mines and
minerals resources of Inyo County, California: Calif. Div. Mines
and Gol . , vol. 47, no. 1, p. 317.
Oak Ridge Gaseious Diffusion Plant, 1981, Hydrogeochemical and
stream sediment reconnaissance basic data for Bakersfield
quadrangle, California, NURE report GJBX-419(81 ) .
Oliver, H. W. , 1956, Isostatic compensation for the Sierra Nevada
California (abs.): Geol. Soc. America Bull., v. 67, no. 12, pt. 2,
p. 1724.
Pakiser, L. C. , Kane, M. F., and Jackson, W. H. , 1964, Structural
geology and volcanism of Owens Valley region, California, a
geophysical study: U.S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 438. 69 pp.
Reed, R. D., 1933, Geology of California: American Assoc. Petrol.
Geologists, 24:1-355.
27
Smith, A. R. , 1964, Geologic map of California, Bakersfield sheet,
1965 edition: California Div. Mines and Geology.
State of Calif., Dept . of Natural Resources, 1957, Mineral
Commodities of California, Bull. 176.
Streitz, R. , and Stinson, M. C. , 1974, Geologic map of California,
Death Valley sheet, 1977 edition: California Div. Mines and
Geology.
Webb, Robert W. , 1946, Geomorphology of the middle Kern River
Basin, southern Sierra Nevada, California: Geol. Soc . Amer. Bull.,
vol. 57, no. 4, pp. 355-382.
Westphal , W. H. , and Wells, W. M. , Project San Andreas, aftershock
recording, Walker earthquake of January 28, 1961: Stanford
Research Institute. Tech. Rept . no. 6. Fig. 2.
Wright, L. A., 1954, Geology of the Alexander Hills area, Inyo and
San Bernardino Counties, California: Map Sheet No. 17 of Jahns, R.
H. (ed.), Geology of Southern California: Calif. Div. Mines Bull.
170.
y
28
▲ Patented Section
X Unpatented Section*
Windmill -r»^.
rX denotes one or more claims per section
Sacatar Meadow GRA CA-11
Geothermal Lease Maps
1:250,000
X Leased Section
- KGRA Boundary
Windmill^
^Y-tr
Sacatar Meadow GRA CA-11
M2-2A-
A
EXPLANATION
Mine, commodity
Land Classification Boundary
WSA Boundary
Land Classification - Mineral Occurrence Map/Metal lies Sacatar Meadow GRA CA-11
Scale 1:250,000
EXPLANATION
£ Uranium Mine
O Uranium anomaly from stream sediment samples
— — Land Classification Boundary
— WSA Boundary
Land Classification - Mineral Occurrence Map/Uranium Sacatar Meadow GRA CA-11
Scale 1:250,000
EXPLANATION
Za Mine, commodity
mm Land Classification Boundary
— WSA Boundary
Land Classification - Mineral Occurrence Map/Nonmetallics Sacatar Meadow GRA CA-11
Scale 1:250,000
o
oo
o
EXPLANATION
Q Thermal well
■■ Land Classification Boundary
— WSA Boundary
Land Classification - Mineral Occurrence Map/Geothermal Sacatar Meadow GRA CA-11
Scale 1:250,000
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 TO REFUTE THE POSSIBLE
EXISTENCE OF MINERAL RESOURCES.
D. THE AVAILABLE DATA PROVIDE ABUNDANT DIRECT AND INDIRECT
EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT OR REFUTE THE POSSIBLE EXISTENCE OF
MINERAL RESOURCES.
•
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.
MAJOR STRATIGRAPHIC AND TIME DIVISIONS IN USE BY THE
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Erathem or
Era
Cenozoic
Mesozoic
System or Period
Series or Epoch
Quaternary
1 Hoi
ocene
Pleistocene
Pliocene
Miocene
Tertiary
Oligocene
Eocene
Paleocene
Cretaceous '
Upper (Late)
Lower ( Early)
Jurassic
Upper (Late)
Middle (Middle)
Lower (Early)
Triassic
Upper (Late)
Middle (Middle)
Lower ( Early)
Permian *
Paleozoic
, Upper (Late)
i Lower (Early)
o M Pennsylvanian
^ «
e - I :
Upper (Late)
Middle (Middle)
Lower (Early)
"£ w ' Mississippian '
Upper (Late)
Lower (Early)
Devonian
Silurian*
Upper (Late)
Middle (Middle)
Lower ( Early)
Upper (Late)
Middle (Middle)
Lower ( Early)
Ordovician '
Upper (Late)
Middle (Middle)
Lower \ Early)
Cambrian '
Upper (Late)
Middle (Middle)
Lower ( Earlv)
Estimated ages of
time boundaries in
millions of year*
.2-3 '.
-26'-
.37-38-
.53-54.
_65_
.136.
.190-195.
.225-
.280.
.345.
_395.
.430-440.
.500.
Precambnan '
Informal subdivisions
>uch as upper, middle,
and lower, or uppt-r
and lower, or young-
er and older may be
used locally.
i70_
3,t">00 +
' Ht.lm.*!. Arthur. I"V Principle* of i
the Plrist«i-ene and Pliocene, and Ohrad.
A-".(»c. IVtruleum (M-ulogiaU, v. 4'J, no. 7.
- C«t>loirical Society of U.n.lon. IW. Th
Jour., v. 120, supp.. p. JbO-JhC. for the M
'Stern. T W.. written ct>mmun.. 1'JbB
* Includr* provincial «rrit-s accepted for
Ti-rm* dt-^nrnatinif time are in j.arenth.
the rru. and for period* where there it n
Informal nvk Urms lower, middle, and
system or of a tcrir*.
hy»iral Krulutry: 2d ni.. New Ynrk, Ronald l'rt-»«. p 360-361. for
nirh. J t) . 1*65, Aite of martn* Plei«tt*ene of California: Am.
p 1"*7. for the Pleistocene of southern California.
Phanrmtoic tim<-«cale; a symposium: Oul. Soc. London. Quart.
i.-rene through the Cambrian,
for the Precambnan
u»e in V S. Geological Survey reporti.
*rt Informal timr terms early, middle, and late may b* used for
o formal subdivision into Early. Middle, and Lite, and for epochs.
upper may be u-ed where there i* no formal subdivision of a
GEOLOGIC NAMES COMMITTEE, 1970
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Understanding 9/11