NUCLEAR FUELS 



467 



the y spectrum of potassium-40 is used for potassi- 

 um-40. 



Other direct methods that have been used in pros- 

 pecting for uranium are water analyses and geo- 

 chemical sampHng of soil and colluvium. Anomalous- 

 ly large amounts of uranium in water have led to the 

 discovery of a few deposits, but in most places water 

 analyses have not been a successful prospecting tool. 

 Many natural waters contain anomalous amounts of 

 uranium even though no uranium deposits are 

 known in the vicinity. 



Under development is an indirect technique that 

 uses the Eh and pH of water to evaluate sandstone 

 aquifers and to locate favorable areas for explora- 

 tion. If oxidation-reduction interfaces are important 

 factors in the formation of uranium deposits in sand- 

 stone, then with further development and refine- 

 ments this technique may be a useful exploration 

 tool. 



Radon, an alpha-emitting gas and one of the 

 daughter products of uranium, has been used as an 

 indirect aid in prospecting for uranium. Scintillome- 

 ters and alpha-sensitive film have been used to 

 detect its presence. 



The indirect method of magnetic prospecting has 

 been used without much success in looking for urani- 

 um deposits in continental sandstones. If the urani- 

 um were concentrated in stream channels and were 

 associated with heavy detrital minerals, particularly 

 magnetite, then the magnetic method might be a 

 useful tool. 



PROBLEMS FOR RESEARCH 



The sedimentary framework of basins containing 

 major uranium deposits in sandstone formations 

 should be studied in order to develop new guides for 

 finding new districts in these and other basins. Par- 

 ticular effort should be made to determine: (1) The 

 original boundaries and configuration of basins, 

 especially any intraformational basins within thick 

 sequences of rocks, (2) the location, relief, and 

 rock types of bordering uplands, (3) the diagnostic 

 characteristics of the proximal, midfan, and distal 

 rock facies between the margins and center of ba- 

 sins, (4) the ancient and modem hydrologic condi- 

 tions, and (5) the postsedimentary histories. 



The differences and similarities between tabular 

 deposits, such as found in the Colorado Plateau re- 

 gion, and roll-type deposits, found in Wyoming Ter- 

 tiary basins, should be studied. Comparative studies 

 of alteration patterns and the sedimentary frame- 

 work of each type are needed. Colorado Plateau de- 

 posits should be examined for possible evidence of 

 vestiges of roll-type bodies that may have been 



developed at an early stage in the formation of the 

 ore bodies. If evidence of early ore bodies is found, 

 then redistribution of uranium during compaction, 

 consolidation, and lithification of the host rock 

 should be investigated. Results of the study could 

 guide exploration for and aid resource evaluation of 

 undiscovered districts in the Plateau region, and 

 especially in Mesozoic and Paleozoic rocks elsewhere. 



The geology of uranium-bearing veins in the 

 United States should be studied in the hope of in- 

 creasing our relatively small resources of this type. 

 Knowledge of the geology and distribution of the 

 large vein deposits in Canada may aid this research. 



Continued research is needed on the development 

 of cheaper methods of extraction of uranium from 

 paramarginal and submarginal resources in marine 

 phosphorite and black shale and igneous rocks. 



The applicability of geochemical and other meth- 

 ods for prospecting and exploring for uranium 

 should be improved by additional research. 



REFERENCES CITED 



Altschuler, Z. S., Jaffe, E. B., and Cuttitta, Frank, 1956, The 

 aluminum phosphate zone of the Bone Valley Forma- 

 tion, Florida, and its uranium deposits, in Page, L. R., 

 Stocking, H. E., and Smith, H. B., compilers, Contribu- 

 tions to the geology of uranium and thorium by the 

 United States Geological Survey and Atomic Energy 

 Commission for the United Nations International Con- 

 ference on Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy, Geneva, 

 Switzerland, 1955: U.S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 300, 

 p. 483-487. 



Becraft, G. E., and Weis, P. L., 1963, Geology and mineral 

 deposits of the Turtle Lake quadrangle, Washington: 

 U.S. Geol. Survey Bull. 1131, 73 p. 



Bieniewski, C. L., Persse, F. H., and Brauch, E. F., 1971, 

 Availability of uranium at various prices from resources 

 in the United States: U.S. Bur. Mines Inf. Circ. 8501, 

 92 p. 



Bondam, Jan, and Sorensen, Henning, 1958, Uraniferous 

 nepheline syenites and related rocks in the Ilimaussaq 

 area, Julianehaab District, Southwest Greenland, in 

 United Nations, Survey of raw material resources: In- 

 ternat. Conf. Peaceful Uses Atomic Energy, 2d, Geneva, 

 1958, Proc., V. 2, p. 555-559. 



Butler, A. P., Jr., Finch, W. I., and Twenhofel, W. S., 1962, 

 Epigenetic uranium deposits in the United States, ex- 

 clusive of Alaska and Hawaii: U.S. Geol. Survey Min- 

 eral Inv. Resource Map MR-21, 42 p. 



Davidson, C. F., and Atkin, D., 1953, On the occurrence of 

 uranium in phosphate rock: Internat. Geol. Cong., 19th, 

 Algiers 1952, Comptes renduSj sec. 11, p. 13-31. 



Eargle, D. H., Hinds, G. W., and Weeks, A. M. D., 1971, 

 Uranium geology and mines. South Texas, in Houston 

 Geol. Soc. Field trip, Houston, Texas, 1971: Houston 

 Geol. Soc, 59 p., 1 pi. 



European Nuclear Energy Agency, 1965, World uranium and 

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European Nuclear Energy Agency and International Atomic 



