Title: (Relative mobilities and transport mechanisms of trace elements during contact metamorphism of carbonate rocks). Progress report
Abstract:samples from the Birch Creek pluton contain as much as 114 ppM U/sub 3/O/sub 8/; those from the Santa Rita Flat pluton contain as much as 23 ppM U/sub 3/O/sub 8/. Most of the intrusive rocks are grani...samples from the Birch Creek pluton contain as much as 114 ppM U/sub 3/O/sub 8/; those from the Santa Rita Flat pluton contain as much as 23 ppM U/sub 3/O/sub 8/. Most of the intrusive rocks are granite, quartz monzonite, or monzonite. Granodiorite and diorite are less common, and gabbro is rare. The average U/sub 3/O/sub 8/ content of the crystalline rock samples is 4 ppM. Samples from a quartz-monzonite pluton east of Lone Pine, California, and quartz monzonite in the Santa Rosa Hills had maximum contents of 28 and 13 ppM U/sub 3/O/sub 8/, respectively. Areas of contact metamorphism and metasomatism, such as those at the Claw prospect and Birch Creek pluton, are probably the most favorable sites for uranium deposits. There are many miles of granitic and contact-metamorphic zones in which undiscovered uranium deposits may exist. Although the overall uranium content of granitic rocks appears to be low, the pluton east of Lone Pine and the Hunter Mountain pluton in the area of the Santa Rosa Hills have sufficient uranium to have acted as uranium and detrital source rocks for uranium deposits that may now be buried in Tertiary sediments in the basins around the plutons. The Claw deposit is the only known uranium deposit of a size and grade to be of possible commercial interest.Read More