* Radioactive Deposits 

 < in New Mexico

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1009-L

This report concerns work done on behalf 

of the U. S. Atomic Energy Commission 

and is publishedwith the permission of the 

Commission

A CONTRIBUTION TO THE GEOLOGY OF URANIUM

RADIOACTIVE DEPOSITS OF NEW MEXICO

COMPILED BY T. G. LOVERING

ABSTRACT

Forty-five areas of radioactivity in New Mexico had been investigated by government geologists or reported in the geologic literature before 1952. Twentyone areas contained visible uranium minerals and one contained thorium minerals. 

The occurrences were in the northwestern, north-central, central, southwestern, 

and southeastern parts of the State.

The deposits in northwestern New Mexico seem to be the most promising for 

the mining of uranium ore. In western San Juan County, on the eastern flanks 

of the Carrizo Mountains uplift, carnotite ore has been taken from several prospects in the Salt Wash sandstone member of the Morrison formation. On the 

southern rim of the San Juan Basin in Valencia and McKinley Counties, carnotite is widely disseminated in the Todilto limestone and the Morrison formation 

of Jurassic age and the Dakota formation of Cretaceous age. Farther south in 

the Zuni Mountains of Valencia County joint coatings in pre-Cambrian granites 

show abnormal radioactivity, but no uranium minerals have been found.

Many types of radioactive deposits have been found in north-central New 

Mexico. This region, contains 4 radioactive copper deposits, in sandstones, 3 

radioactive lignites or black shales, 2 radioactive spring deposits, and a uraniumand thorium-bearing pegmatite district.

In central New Mexico only two deposits, one in the San Acacia or San Lorenzo 

district in Socorro County and the other in the Scholle district in Torrance County, 

had been reported. The former deposit consists of autunite, torbernite, and 

uranophane sparsely disseminated in a breccia zone near the edge of a Tertiary 

andesite flow; the latter consists of carnotite associated with carbonized wood 

and secondary copper minerals in Permian sandstones.

The radioactive deposits of southwestern New Mexico include the White 

Signal and Black Hawk districts in Grant County and the Terry prospect in 

Sierra County. In the White Signal district autunite and torbernite are associated with veins and basic dikes cutting pre-Cambrian granite and diabase. In 

the Black Hawk district pitchblende is associated with nickel, cobalt, and silver 

minerals in quartz veins cutting pre-Cambrian granite. On the Terry prospect, 

near Monticello, uranophane occurs in a breccia zone cutting limestones of 

Mississippian age, which have been altered to jasperoid.

In many of the Lea County oilfields of southeastern New Mexico the brines, 

which are associated with oil from Permian strata, are radioactive; however, the 

uranium content of these brines is extremely low, and it seems unlikely that they 

will ever become a commercial source of uranium.

315
316 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GEOLOGY OF URANIUM

The only commercial deposits of uranium ore in New Mexico, known before 

1952, are in the northwestern part of the State. A plant has been constructed 

near Grants, in Valencia County, to process this ore. The southwestern region 

also has several promising uranium deposits and additional exploration may prove 

they contain valuable reserves of uranium ore. The few tons of ore available on 

the Merry Widow claim in the White Signal district and the presence of pitchblende at Black Hawk suggest that further exploration here may discover important ore reserves. Information available on the rest of New Mexico does 

not indicate the presence of any important sources of uranium ore under market 

conditions prevailing at the end of 1951.

INTRODUCTION 

SCOPE AND PLAN OP THE REPOBT

The purpose of this report is to summarize the information available 

on uranium deposits and uranium mining activity in New Mexico 

before 1952.1 The report has been divided into three main sections. 

First, a general discussion and comparison of the geology and mineralogy of the deposits as a whole is presented in the section entitled

"Radioactive deposits." Second, in the body of the report, the radioactive localities are described by counties which are arranged alphabetically in the report. For each occurrence the location, general 

geology, mineralogy, and radioactivity are summarized and references 

are given to published reports covering the area. In the final section, 

"Conclusions" (p. 382), it is pointed out that, although the uranium

deposits in New Mexico are diversified and widely distributed, only

a few offer much hope of commercial development under economic

conditions existing in 1952.

HISTORY OF URANIUM INVESTIGATIONS AND MINING

The earliest mention in geologic literature of a uranium mineral from

New Mexico was in 1902, when a brief anonymous note mentioning

the occurrence of uraninite in the President mine near Elizabethtown,

Colfax County, appeared in tHe Mining and Scientific Press. No other

references to this occurrence are known to the author. Lindgren,

Graton, and Gordon (1910) noted the presence of carnotite in Peraita

Canyon, Cochiti district, Sandoval County and of torbernite in the 

Jerome copper mine, San Lorenzo district, San Acacia, Socorro County.

The first record of the samarskite-bearing pegmatites near Petaca

appeared in Mineral Resources of New Mexico for 1915. In 1920 the

disCOvery of autunite and torbernite in the White Signal district ana

pitchblende in the Black Hawk district In Grant County was recorded

In the Engineering and. Mining Journal (Leach, P. I., 1920). Wells

(1924) reported carnotite in the Scholle district in Socorro County and

> While this report was in preparation more recent information on the Grants district, Coyote Creek, and 

La Ventana Mesa became available and has been included.
RADIOACTIVE. DEPOSITS IN NEW MEXICO 317

in the Carrizo Mountains in San Juan County. Northrop (1942) 

mentions cyrtolite, uraninite, and samarskite from pegmatites on Elk 

Mountain in San Miguel County. During World War II the deposits 

at White Signal, Black Hawk, San Lorenzo, and Petaca were reexamined for uranium, and a new radioactive microlite deposit was 

discovered in the Rociada district, Mora County.

Since World War II the carnotite-bearing limestone and sandstone 

deposits near Grants in Valencia and McKinley Counties, discovered in 

1949 and examined by U. S. Geological Survey and U. S. Atomic 

Energy Commission geologists the following year, have attracted considerable interest. By the end of 1951 a mih1 was being set up near 

Grants to treat these ores and preparations were being made to mine 

them on a large scale. In 1950 a note in the Engineering and Mining 

Journal reported that secondary uranium minerals had been found in 

a mine in the Organ district, Dona Ana County.

Before 1952, 45 radioactive occurrences in New Mexico had been 

examined by U. S. Geological Survey and U. S. Atomic Energy Commission geologists or reported in the geologic literature. Deposits of 

carnotite in the Salt Wash sandstone member of the Morrison formation have been found on the eastern flanks of the Carrizo Mountains 

in San Juan County; although the deposits are small and scattered 

they are locally rich and a considerable amount of uranium ore has 

been shipped from them. In Grant County, southwestern New 

Mexico, autunite and torbernite are associated with pyritic quartz 

veins cutting pre-Cambrian(?) granitic rocks and younger intrusives 

in the White Signal district. There have been reports that pitchblende is present in argentiferous base-metal sulfide ore in fissure 

vein deposits of the nearby Black Hawk district. Although no 

uranium ore has been shipped from either the Black Hawk district 

or White Signal district recently, they both seem to be worthy of 

further exploration. None of the remaining radioactive occurrences 

known in New Mexico before 1952 contained known reserves of 

uranium ore under market conditions existing at that time.

During the last few years many new radioactive deposits have been 

investigated by geologists of the U. S. Geological Survey and the U. S. 

Atomic Energy Commission. Some of the new deposits are the radioactive copper deposits in Sandoval and Rio Arriba Counties, a uranophane prospect in Sierra County, radioactive coals and black shales in 

Sandoval and Mora Counties, and radioactive brine in oilfields of Lea 

County. As yet, however, no uranium ore of minable grade has been 

found in any of these localities, except possibly at La Ventana Mesa in 

Sandoval County.

Before 1952 the only uranium ore produced in New Mexico came 

from the Grants district and the Carrizo Mountains. The first shipment from the Grants district was made in the fall of 1950. Since

354333 56 2
318 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GEOLOGY OF URANIUM

that time extensive exploration has proved the existence of a large 

tonnage of ore distributed over a considerable area in this district. 

During the 1920's a few carloads of autunite and torbernite mixed with 

sericite were mined and shipped from the Merry Widow mine, in 

Grant County, to be used in "activated water" and face powder.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This report was compiled largely from published and unpublished 

reports by members of the U. S. Geological Survey on work done on 

behalf of the Division of Raw Materials of the U. S. Atomic Energy 

Commission and from reconnaissance reports by members of the 

Atomic Energy Commission. The unpublished information has been 

combined with information published in the geologic literature before 

1952. The length of each report section on a deposit is dependent 

On the amount of hitherto unpublished information available.

Unpublished memorandum reports are slightly condensed under 

the original title and the original author. The information in reconnaissance reports is summarized. Published reports by government 

geologists are abstracted with a reference to the published report. 

Other published reports are included in the bibliography and many

of them are referred to in the section entitled, "Other reported 

occurrences."

The information On the deposits hi the northwestern region has

been taken mostly from an unpublished report (1950) by Fischer and 

Strobell. Rappaport (1952) has written about the Grants district, 

and unpublished reports by Sheridan (1950) and by Rosenzweig (1950) 

also Supplied information about the district. Reports by Stokes 

(1951), Ellsworth (written communication, 1951)j and Hatfield 

(written communication, 1951) were used for information on the deposits in the Carrizo Mountains district. Most of the descriptions 

of properties in the north-central region were taken from an unpublislxed report (1951) by Bachman and Read. The deposits hi the central rsgion were examined by oott and Erickson (unpublished

report, 1951). The information on the southwestern region Was 

taken mostly from unpublished reports by Granger and Bauer (1950a, 

195la? ; t>y Ora^SOT <io Soa., iosob>, and by Bauer (1950). One repOPt

by Granger anJ BaUeP (1950) Oil foe region has ^ P^list d. McNeal wrote a report (unpublished, i950a) on the Lea County

oilfields in the southeastern region.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF NEW MEXICO

New Mexico includes parts of four physiographic provinces; these 

are (Fenneman, 1931) the Great Plains, the Southern Rocky Mountains, 

the Colorado Plateaus, and the Basin and Range. The provinces
RADIOACTIVE DEPOSITS IN NEW MEXICO 319

not only have contrasting topographic features but also have distinctive geologic features. The northwestern uranium region of New 

Mexico is in the Colorado Plateaus physiographic province; the 

deposits in the north-central region are partly in the Colorado 

Plateaus and partly in the Southern Rocky Mountains physiographic 

provinces; the deposits of central and southwestern New Mexico are 

in the Basin and Range physiographic province; and the single 

occurrence in the southeastern region is in the Great Plains physiographic province. (See fig. 49.)

The Great Plains occupy approximately the eastern third of the 

State. The southern and central parts of this physiographic province 

are characterized by gently rolling high plains of slight relief; but the 

northern part is characterized by buttes and mesas, many of which 

are capped with lava flows of Tertiary or younger age. The central, 

southern, and eastern parts of the province in New Mexico are under-. 

lain by sedimentary rocks of late Paleozoic, Triassic, Cretaceous, and 

Tertiary age.

In New Mexico the Southern Rocky Mountains physiographic 

province includes the lofty Sangre de Crisfco and southern San Juan 

Mountains, which extend southward from Colorado along both sides 

of the Rio Grande Valley and terminate at about the latitude of 

Santa Fe. Both of these ranges, which separate the Great Plains 

from the Colorado Plateaus, have cores of pre-Cambrian crystalline 

and metamorphic rocks and are flanked by Paleozoic and Mesozoic 

sedimentary rocks and Tertiary volcanic rocks.

South of the southern Rockies, the Great Plains adjoin the Basin 

and Range physiographic province which occupies the southwestern 

part of New Mexico; it is characterized by isolated mountain ranges 

separated by broad graded desert plains. Many of the ranges are 

tilted fault blocks composed of paleozoic sedimentary rocks; but some 

are composed of pre-Cambrian granite and others of Tertiary volcanic 

rocks.

North of the Basin and Range province and west of the southern 

Rockies is the Colorado Plateaus physiographic province. The New 

Mexico part of the Colorado Plateaus consists of two nearly equal 

areas. The southern part, which Fenneman (1931) calls the Datil 

section, consists of a malpais of dissected volcanic flows and tuffs. 

This rugged and little known region occupies the area between the 

middle Rio Grande valley and the Arizona State line. The northern 

part of the Colorado Plateaus of New Mexico is a land of buttes, 

mesas, and wide plains. Structurally the area is a broad basin known 

as the San Juan Basin; belts of Triassic and Jurassic sedimentary 

rocks appear around its borders. The only commercial deposits of 

uranium ore known in the State before 1952, occur in these belts within 

the Colorado Plateaus,
320 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GEOLOGY OF URANIUM

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U T H E R N /i

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P R 0| V I N C E I

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EXPLANATION

Radioactive deposit referred to in the text

1 Oak Springs deposit

2 Beautiful Mountain

3 Navajo Reservation (district 12)

4 Toadlena area

5 Cobre basin district

6 Coyote district

7 Copper City district

8 Jarosa district

9 Petaca district

106° 

EXPLANATION

11 La Ventana Mesa

12 Jerttez Springs

13 Spanish Queen 'group

14 Grants district

15 San Ysidro coalfield

16 Zuni Mountains

17 Scholle district

18 San Acacia district

19 Terry prospect

20 Virginia claim

FIGUEE 49 -Index map of New Mexico suo

21 Black Hawk district

22 White Signal district

23 Lea County oilfields

24 Elizabethtown district

25 Peralta Canyon

26 Rociada district

27 Organ district

28 Little Hatchet Mountain

29 Glorieta area

30 Elk Mountain area 

radioactive deposits.

RADIOACTITE

The 45 radioactive occurrences, imow» ^ ^o

1952, are mostly in the northwestern, north central,

parts of the State (fig. 49). At 21 of the localities uranium minerals

are visible and at 1 of them thorium minerals are also present.

In northwestern New Mexico carnotite deposits are found in lime-
RADIOACTIVE DEPOSITS IN NEW MEXICO 321

stones and sandstones of Jurassic age. These deposits are scattered 

over large areas in the Grants and Carrizo Mountains districts.

The radioactive deposits of north-central New Mexico are somewhat more diversified, but the majority of them are of two types: 

uraniferous copper deposits associated with carbonized plant remains 

in arkoses, sandstones, and siltstones of Permian and Triassic age; and 

radioactive coals and black shales of Jurassic and Cretaceous age. 

In addition, 2 radioactive spring deposits and 1 pegmatite district 

containing uranium, thorium, and rare-earth minerals are within 

this region.

In southwestern New Mexico, 2 of the 3 radioactive deposits are 

associated with veins cutting pre-Cambrian granites and younger 

intrusives; the third is in a fracture zone in brecciated Mississippian(Y) 

limestone, which has been altered to jasperiod.

At one locality in central New Mexico carnotite is associated with 

carbonized wood and copper in Permian sandstones; at another locality 

secondary copper and uranium minerals are disseminated in a breccia 

zone near the edge of a Tertiary andesite flow.

Only one radioactive occurrence had been reported from the 

Great Plains of eastern New Mexico before 1952. The deposit 

consists of a radioactive precipitate from brines associated with 

Permian rocks in the oilfields in the southeastern corner of the State.

TYPES OF DEPOSITS

The places where uranium deposits in New Mexico are found 

differ greatly in geology and topography, but deposits of a given type 

are often found in very similar areas though they may be far apart. 

The following outline shows the classification the writer has adopted:

A. Disseminated deposits.

1. Sandstones.

2. Limestones and travertine.

3. Coal and black shale. 

B. Oilfield brines. 

C. Fissure deposits.

1. Veins.

2. Breccia and shear zones. 

D. Pegmatites.

DISSEMINATED DEPOSITS

The disseminated deposits, especially those in sandstones and limestones, appear to be the most promising economically.

The disseminated deposits in sandstone include the carnotite deposits of the Grants district, in Valencia and McKinley Counties, 

the deposits of western San Juan County and many of the sandstone 

copper deposits of Mora, San Juan, and Rio Arriba Counties. In 

most of these deposits the uranium minerals are in permeable lenses
322 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GEOLOGY OF URANIUM

of continental sandstones, closely associated with carbonized wood 

fragments and other fossil plant material.

The disseminated deposits in limestone are confined, so far as is 

now known, to the Todilto limestone in the Grants district of Valencia 

and McKinley Counties. Preliminary studies of this new district 

indicate that uranium minerals most commonly form a paint or 

stain along joints and bedding-plane fractures in the limestone, though 

small carnotite pods and lenses are also scattered through the limestone. The factors that control the distribution of these pods and 

lenses have not yet been discovered. Although the secondary 

uranium mineral carnotite is the chief economic mineral in the Grants 

district, some pitchblende has been identified from deposits in tfre 

Todilto limestone (Anonymous, 1951).

The radioactive travertine deposits of Jemez Springs and Caseman 

well represent a special type of radioactive calcareous sediments. At 

Jemez Springs maximum radioactivity is associated with black sooty 

layers and lenses in the white tufa. Most of these lenses are less than 

4 feet long and 1 foot thick, but the largest are as much as 15 feet 

long and 2 feet thick. The distribution of radioactivity in the deposit 

at Caseman well was not determined.

Radioactive layers of coal and black shale are found at San Ysidro 

and La Ventana Mesa in Sandoval County and near Coyote in Rio 

Arriba County. The radioactivity is evenly distributed through 

layers that are COIHmODly less than 1 foot thick and of unknown lateral 

extent.

OILFIELD BRINES

Abnormal radioactivity has been detected in oilfields of Lea County 

in southeastern NeW MfiXiCO. The radioactivity emanates from a 

precipitate, deposited from brines, on the well casings.

FTSStJRB DEPOSITS

The fissure deposits include the quartz-Silver bUSS-ffletftl 161118 

of the Black Hawk district, the quartz-pyrite-chalcopyrite veins 

and the fracture zones of the White Signal district, the breccia zone 

in jaspeTOid On the Terry prospect, and the fracture zone in volcanic

The only vein deposits in the state containing P ^ ^_

minerals that were known by 1952 are the quartz VelnS 01 tn6 BlftCK 

Hawk district. Uranium is associated With pods and lenses of base

metal and Silver sulfides scattered tlirough. the veins. All mine

workings in the Black Hawk district are now inaccessible; therefore

the dimensions and the distribution of these ore bodies could not be 

determined. Because of information in old reports, however, it seems
RADIOACTIVE DEPOSITS IN NEW MEXICO 323

probable that the veins are narrow and the ore shoots small and 

lenticular.

The deposits of the White Signal district, the Terry prospect, and 

the San Acacia district all contain secondary uranium minerals erratically distributed as coatings on fractures and linings of voids. In all 

three places the uranium minerals were deposited recently. Uranium 

minerals in the three areas, however, differ greatly in the environment 

of deposition. In the White Signal district the deposition of secondary 

uranium minerals occurred near oxidizing pyritic quartz veins and 

basic dikes cutting pre-Cambrian granites. The Terry prospect near 

Monticello exposes secondary uranium minerals coating vugs in veinlets that cut a breccia zone consisting of fragments of a jasperoid replacing Paleozoic limestone and a feldspar porphyry. At San Acacia 

a Tertiary andesite flow has been fractured near one edge. Secondary 

uranium minerals are widely distributed through this fractured zone 

as paint and fracture coatings.

PEGMATITES

The only radioactive pegmatites in the State that have been 

studied as a possible source of uranium are those near Petaca in eastern Rio Arriba County. Rare radioactive minerals are present in 

small pods replacing feldspar. A few crystals more than an inch in 

diameter have been taken from these replacement deposits but the 

individual pods are rarely more than a foot in diameter. The pods are 

widely and erratically distributed within the individual pegmatite 

dikes.

MINERALOGY

Both primary and secondary uranium minerals are known in New 

Mexico but those of secondary origin are by far the most common. 

Table 1 indicates the locations and characteristics of uranium minerals 

in New Mexico that had been identified before 1952. The radioactive 

silver ores of the Black Hawk district and the uraninite-bearing pegmatites near Petaca (Hess and Wells, 1930, p. 17-26) are primary; 

blebs of pitchblende have been reported from the Grants district 

(Rappaport, 1952), and small amounts of uraninite have been found 

in copper sulfide nodules at Coyote Creek, Mora County. All other 

occurrences of uranium minerals thus far reported are of a secondary 

origin. These include autunite and torbernite deposits of the White 

Signal district, uranophane near Monticello, and tyuyamunite and 

carnotite deposits in Valencia, McKinley, San Juan, and Mora 

Counties. No uranium minerals have yet been found in the radioactive carbonaceous matter in Rio Arriba and Sandoval Counties, in 

the radioactive spring deposits in the valley of the Jemez River, or in 

the radioactive brines in the Lea County oilfields. The primary
324 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GEOLOGY OF URANIUM

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RADIOACTIVE DEPOSITS IN NEW MEXICO 325

deposits in the Black Hawk and Petaca districts differ considerably 

in their mineralogy, but they are similar in that both are in areas of 

pre-Cambrian rocks.

The fissure veins in the Black Hawk district consist principally of 

carbonates, silicified carbonates, barite, and jasperiod. Within this 

gangue are small irregular pockets of pitchblende, pyrite, galena, 

sphalerite, chalcopyrite, niccolite, rammelsbergite, cobalt skutterudite 

(smaltite), native silver, and argentite. Some of the rich silver ores 

are highly radioactive, but the source of their radioactivity is not yet 

known. These deposits are similar in mineralogy to some in northern 

Canada, where pitchblende is associated with silver ores.

Near Petaca, in eastern Bio Arriba County, a quartz-feldspar 

pegmatite in pre-Cambrian quartz-mica schist contains an unusual 

amount of radioactive minerals. Microcline feldspar has been cut by 

vein quartz, and both were later replaced by albite and mica. The 

radioactive minerals consist of crystals and irregular masses of monazite, fergusonite, uraninite, and samarskite that also replace the 

microcline.

The secondary uranium minerals show an even greater variation in 

mineralogic association, as might be expected because of their wider 

distribution within the State.

In the Todilto limestone deposits, carnotite is associated with black 

oxides of iron and manganese, and, in places, with pitchblende, the 

uranium carbonate rutherfordine, and the uranium silicates uranophane and sklodowskite. In the deposits in the Morrison and Dakota 

formations, on the other hand, the carnotite tends to be associated 

with carbonaceous material and secondary vanadium minerals rather 

than with iron and manganese oxides.

The radioactive copper deposits are associated also with carbonaceous material but are quite different from the carnotite deposits. 

In the radioactive copper deposits uranium minerals are rarely visible 

and radioactivity is commonly associated with deposits of secondary 

copper minerals, such as chalcocite, malachite, azurite, and chrysocolla. 

At Coyote Creek in Mora County uraninite has been identified from 

copper sulfide nodules in black shales, and tyuyamunite is sparsely 

disseminated in arkosic sandstones.

The association of radioactivity and carbonaceous material also 

characterizes the coal and carbonaceous shale beds of San Ysidoro and 

La Ventana Mesa in Sandoval County and the black shale beds near 

Coyote in Rio Arriba County where neither copper nor uranium minerals can be found.

In the oilfields of Lea County the abnormal radioactivity is associated with water rather than with petroleum. The hot spring 

waters that are depositing radioactive tufa near Jemez Springs and at

354333 56 3
326 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GEOLOGY OF URANIUM

Caseman well in Sandoval County contain only negligible quantities 

of uranium. Their radioactivity is due to the presence of small 

amounts of radium.

Near Monticello, hi Sierra County, a silicified breccia is cut by 

veinlets of quartz and fluorite. In the veinlets are vugs partly filled 

by white clay, hydrous iron oxide, uranophane, and fluorescent 

hyalite formed in that order.

URANIUM CONTENT OF DEPOSITS

The percent of uranium hi the deposits listed in table 12 indicates 

the uranium content of the richest samples on which analyses were 

available before 1952. The samples range from small hand specimens 

to channel samples many feet in length. Consequently, the percent 

figure gives, at best, only a roughly qualitative idea of the value of the 

best material in the uranium deposit. The richest samples range from 

more than 12 percent uranium for a samarskite specimen from Petaca 

down to a few thousandths of a percent for some of the radioactive 

sandstone copper deposits. Deposits hi 9 areas in the State had 

yielded, before 1952, reliable samples containing more than 0.1 percent 

uranium. These are the White Signal and Black Hawk districts in 

Grant County, the Carrizo Mountains area in San Juan County, the 

Grants district in Valencia and McKinley Counties, La Ventana Mesa 

in Sandoval County, the Petaca pegmatites in Rio Arriba County, 

Coyote Creek in Mora County, and the Terry prospect and Virginia 

claim in Sierra County. The occurrence on the Virginia claim can 

hardly be considered a deposit; it consists of one small specimen of 

uraniferous ilmenite float, the origin of which is unknown. All of the

remaining deposits described in this report were too low in grade to be

of economic interest. Their chief importance is that they outline

large areas of uranium-bearing rocks for future exploration.

The terms eU for equivalent uranium (estimated from radioactivity) and U for uranium (chemically determined) are used frequently

in assay data throughout this report. Equivalent uranium content of

a sample is what the uranium content would be if all radioactivity

Were due tO uranium in equilibrium with its daughter products. A

significant difference between eTJ and TJ may be due to differential 

Or enrichment, insufficient age for equilibrium to be estabi, or the presence of radioactive potassium or thorium.

OS.IGHIT

The original sources of uranium, from which most of the radioactive 

deposits of New Mexico have been derived, are still largely unknown. 

Magmas, from which veins and pegmatites were derived, were probably the origin of the primary uranium-bearing minerals in the veins
RADIOACTIVE DEPOSITS IN NEW MEXICO 327

of the Black Hawk district and of the samarskite, uraninite, and 

monazite at Petaca.

Determining the primary sources of the secondary radioactive 

deposits so widely scattered through the State is a fascinating problem. 

Although most of the deposits appear to be of secondary origin the 

presence of pitchblende in some of the carnotite deposits throughout 

the State indicates that they were probably derived from oxidation of 

primary uranium minerals. The origin of the solutions which deposited the primary uranium-bearing minerals is not known.

In most parts of New Mexico where radioactive deposits are known 

large areas are covered by Tertiary volcanic rocks. Some of these 

volcanic rocks, especially those of the Jemez and Mount Taylor 

fields in northern New Mexico, contain traces of uranium. It is 

possible that deposits of uranium minerals in nearby sedimentary 

rocks are the result of leaching from the volcanic rocks and later 

precipitation in the underlying sedimentary rocks. On the other hand, 

all the regions where radioactive deposits are known, except the Lea 

County oilfields, are underlain at no great depth by ancient crystalline 

and metamorphic rocks that also contain uranium-bearing minerals in 

small amounts and offer an equally probable primary source. Indeed, 

the uranium minerals of the White Signal deposits are more probably 

derived from the pre-Cambrian granite than from the Tertiary volcanic 

rocks.

Still another possibility is that the secondary uranium minerals 

may have been derived from primary uranium minerals in hydrothermal vein deposits by leaching and reconcentration in ground water. 

The primary source of radioactivity in the oilfields of Lea County is 

still unknown. Much work remains 4to be done before the original 

source of any of the secondary-uranium-mineral deposits in New 

Mexico can be determined.

DESCRIPTION OF MINES AND PROSPECTS 

GRANT COUNTY

The following information has been taken from an unpublished 

compilation report on the uranium deposits of Grant County by 

H. C. Granger, H. L. Bauer, Jr., T. G. Levering, and Elliot Gillerman 

(1953).

The known uranium deposits of Grant County are principally in 

the White Signal and Black Hawk districts. Both districts are within 

a northwestward-trending belt of pre-Cambrian rocks composed chiefly 

of granite and included gneisses, schists, and quartzites. Younger 

dikes and stocks are present in the pre-Cambrian complex. The White 

Signal district is on the southeast flank of the Burro Mountains; the
328 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GEOLOGY OF URANIUM

Black Hawk district is about 18 miles northwest of the town of White 

Signal (fig. 50).

In the White Signal district the secondary uranium phosphates 

autunite and torbernite are found as fracture coatings and disseminations in oxidized parts of quartz-pyrite veins and in the adjacent 

mafic dikes and granite; uraniferous limonite is common locally. 

Most of the known uraniferous deposits are less than 50 feet in their 

greatest dimension.

The most promising deposits in the district are on the Merry Widow 

and Blue Jay claims, The richest sample taken from the MerryWidow mine contained more than 2 percent uranium and a sample

EXPLANATION

Tyrone stock

Dikes

Fault, dashed 

where inferred

o'

Uranium deposit

1 Merry Widow claim

2 Apache Trail claim

3 Blue Jay claim

4 Monarch No. 2 claim

5 Tunnel Site No. 1 clai

6 Uncle Sam mines

7 Black Hawk district

8 Hines No. I prospect

9 Langford prospect

NEW MEXICO j 

,GRANT CO '.

IBURRO MOUNTAINS!

AND VICINITY [

FIGURE 50. Index map showing location of uranium deposits and major geologic features, BU1TO MOUflt8fflS 

and vicinity, Grant County, N. Mex.
RADIOACTIVE DEPOSITS IN NEW MEXICO 329

from the Blue Jay property contained as much as 0.11 percent; 

samples from the other properties were of lower grade.

In the Black Hawk district pitchblende is associated with nickel, 

silver, and cobalt minerals in fissure veins. The most promising 

properties in the Black Hawk district are the Black Hawk, Alhambra, 

and Rose mines. No uranium analyses of ore from this district were 

available in 1951.

There are no known minable reserves of uranium ore in either 

district, although there is some vein material at the Merry Widow 

mine of ore grade.

WHITE SIGNAL, DISTRICT

By H. C. GRANGER and H. L. BATTER, JR.

Most of the mines and prospects in the White Signal mining district 

are in T. 20 S., R. 15 W., New Mexico principal meridian, and are 

within a few miles of the store and post office of White Signal.

Gold, silver, and copper minerals were found in the White Signal 

district in the late 1800's (Keith, written communication, 1945a), and 

mining activity was begun on the Merry Widow, Apache Trail, 

Tunnel Site, and Uncle Sam properties, and on many others not discussed in this report. In the early 1900's the rich near-surface ores 

were mined out, and since that time production has been small. 

About 1920 secondary uranium minerals were recognized on old 

dumps by A. A. Leach, and offers of as much as $50 per ton for highgrade uranium ore revived mining activity. The uranium minerals, 

autunite and torbernite, were embedded in plaster plaques to be used 

in "activitating" water for drinking, bathing, and watering plants. 

Two carloads of torbernite, clay, and sericite from the Merry Widow 

mine were produced for the manufacture of radioactive face powder. 

Neither of these enterprises was successful. The Union Mines 

Development Corporation made two examinations (Keith, written 

communications, 1944, 1945a) of the uranium deposits in the White 

Signal district. Postwar interest in uranium again revived prospecting activity. Granger and Bauer, of the U. S. Geological Survey, 

examined several of the known uranium-bearing deposits in the area 

during late 1949 and early 1950.

MERRY WIDOW CLAIM

The Merry Widow claim (fig. 50) is near the center of sec. 22, T. 

20 S., R. 15 W., New Mexico principal meridian. It is 0.7 mile by 

dirt road northwesterly from the Silver City-Lordsburg highway at a 

point about 0.5 mile west of White Signal. The Merry Widow is one 

of a block of 6 claims, the Acme, Acme No. 1, Merry Widow, Merry
330 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GEOLOGY OF URANIUM

Widow No. 1, Ace in the Hole, and Deuce in the Hole, controlled in 

1950 by A. G. Hill, of Dallas, Tex.

The Merry Widow mine was located in the 1880's as a gold property 

and was operated until exhaustion of the easily accessible ores in the 

early 1900's forced suspension of mining activity. After the discovery 

of uranium in the district, the mine was reopened during the 1920's 

and two carloads of ore containing a mixture of autunite, torbernite, 

sericite, and clay were shipped. The mine was again closed down 

and no further shipments are recorded.

The mine workings were examined and sampled for uranium by 

Keith (written communication, 1945). During February and March 

1950 a geologic map on the scale of 1 inch equals 100 feet was made 

of the Merry Widow claim (pi. 17) by Granger and Bauer. Five 

exploration trenches and the 40- and 60-foot levels of the Merry 

Widow mine were mapped; 133 samples (table 2) were collected. 

The geologic map of only one of the trenches has been included in this 

report. (See pi. 18). During May 1950, diamond drilling was done 

on the Merry Widow claim by the owner and 650 feet of drill 

core was logged by Granger and Bauer.

Mine workings. The Merry Widow mine consists of a 150-foot 

shaft, inclined from 65° to 72° SE., and about 450 feet of workings on 

4 levels at 40, 60, 90, and 130 feet. In 1950 the mine was inaccessible 

below the 60-foot level. Both the 40- and 60-foot levels were mapped 

on a scale of 1 inch equals 10 feet (pi. 19).

In addition to the mine workings, 5 shallow trenches have been 

excavated on the claim (pi. 17).

Geology. The Merry Widow claim is in an area underlain by a large 

pre-Cambrian granite mass that is cut by numerous dikes ranging in 

composition from basalt to rhyolite,

The granite near the Merry Widow claim (pi. 17) is typically 

medium grained but locally coarse grained to porphyritic. It is 

composed essentially of feldspar and quartz, with less than 5 percent 

biotite. TKe feldspar is partly argillized.

Two thick diabase dikes and several thin basalt, dikes (pi. 17), 

probably of the same age, are exposed on the Merry Widow claim. 

The dikes strike northwest and dip northeast. The diabase dikes,

 which are as much as 35 feet thick, have narrow chilled borders, less 

than 3 feet thick, that are similar in texture to the basalt dikes.

The centers of the diabase dikes have a coarse ophitic texture. A

blanket of dark soil covers the diabase except near a vein where the

diabase is commonly hardened by iron oxides and silica.

Several altered gray aphanitic dikes cut both the diabase and granite

on the Merry Widow claim. These dikes, referred to as latite(?), 

are almost completely altered to clay minerals. The latite(?) dikes
RADIOACTIVE DEPOSITS IN NEW MEXICO 331

TABLE 2. Analyses of samples from the Merry Widow claim, White Signal district,

Grant County, N. Mex.

Sample no.

Trench 1 

HLB-1-1.....

2.....

3.....

4.....

5 

6 

7.....

8.....

9.....

10 

11 

12.....

13 

14.....

15.....

16 

17 

18 

19.....

20 

21.....

22.....

23 

24.....

25 

26 

27.....

28 

29.....

Trench % 

HLB-2-30 

31 

32....

33....

34....

35....

36 

37 

38 

39....

40. 

41....

42....

43 

44....

45 

46 

47 

HLB-6-48....

HLB-7-49 

Trench 6 

HLB-5-50... .

51 

52....

53 

54....

55....

56 

57....

58 

59....

60

61....

62....

63 .

Trench 8 

HLB-3-64...

65 

66 

67....

68 

69 

70 

71 

Locality 

no.

R-ll....

±v-y.----

R-10....

R-7. 

JR-8_ 

Material

.....do ...----....----...

.....do ......................

..-.do ......--.-.......-.--..

Latite ........................

. do 

.....do.... .......................

.....do... ...... .. ..... .......

.....do ........ ................

.....do ........ ...............

X -do... 

.....do..... ......................

... ..do..... .......... ............

.....do .......... .............

.....do..... ......................

.....do. ......................

.....do..... 

.... .do.. ............. .......... .

.--do .. _. -----

.....do ... 

 do 

-...do ... .. . ................

. do.. 

... ..do.. - 

..... do 

Inch thick.

Type

... do 

Grab 

...do..... ..

...do ...

...do ...

...do... ....

...do..... ..

...do... ....

...do..... ..

...do .

...do ..

...do..... ..

...do .

...do ..

...do..... ..

 do 

...do ...

...do ..

...do..... ..

...do .

...do.... ...

...do .

...do ..

...do 

...do.. ..

...do 

...do ..

...do -

.-.do.......

...do ...

...do .

...do..... -.

...do .

...do .

...do.......

...do .

...do .

...do ..

...do .

...do.......

...do.... ...

...do .

...do.......

...do.-. 

 do 

 do 

...do .

...do ..

 do 

...do.... ...

...do .

...do .

...do .

...do ..

... do.... ...

... do ...

...do .

...do... ....

...do -

Chip......

...do ..

...do... ....

...doLength 

of 

sample 

(feet)

2.7

2.9

2.0

2.5

2.5

.5

2.6

2.5

1.5

.3

1.5

1.5

2.0

2.0

2.0

2.0

2.5

2.0

2.0

2.5

2.0

1.7

2.7

3.0

2.0

3.0

3.0

3.0

4.1

3.0

3.1

2.5

3.0

3.0

3.0

2.5

2.5

3.3

2.0

3.0

3.0

3.8

2.6

3.0

6.5

3.0

3.0

3.0

2.0

3.0

3.0

1.3

2.0

1.7

2.0

2.0

1.6

1.0

2.0

2.0

1.5

2.0

1.5

2.5

.5

2.5

30.0

2.5

2.5

eU (percent)

0.004

.004

.007

.002

.002

.002

.003

.004

.004

.006

.023

.008

.005

.009

.005

.005

.004

.007

.003

.009

.004

.004

.009

.100

.029

.005

.010

.005

.006

.011

.003

.008

.006

.013

.004

.006

.005

.005

.006

.006

.011

.008

.006

.005

.004

.004

.006

.016

.020

.005

.006

.005

.020

.002

.005

.008

.005

.004

.008

.014

.007

.005

.005

.004

.005

.005

.005

.009

.006

.008

.010

.008

U (percent)

0.002

.001

.006

.001

.001

.001

.001

.001

.001

.003

.019

.004

.003

.005

.003

.003

.002

.002

.002

.007

.003

.003

.009

.11

.025

.004

.009

.004

.002

.005

.002

.005

.003

.015

.003

.003

.003

.002

.005

.004

.008

.005

.005

.003

.002

.002

.007

.010

.010

.004

.004

.002

.002

.002

.002

.003

.002

.001

.006

.010

. 002

.002

.001

.001

.001

.004

.004

.007

.005

.005

.007

.004

PsOs (percent)

0.13

.13

.54

2.61

2.69

2.60

.83

.10

.20

.09

.53

.10

.10

.14

.06

.17

.10

.07

.07

.23

.09

.13

.14

1.18

2.18

1.79

1.65

.18

.12

.08

.06

.14

.56

1.42

1.70

1.62

.35

.04

.15

.11

.04

.10

.07

.11

.09

.06

.15

.97

.46

1.72

.95

.08

.08

.07

.07

.06

.04

.08

.08

.13

.06

.04

.07

.13

' .07

.22

.23

1.48

2.54

2.31

.40

.32
332 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GEOLOGY OF URANIUM

TABLE 2. Analyses of samples from the Merry Widow claim, White Signal district, 

Grant County, N. Mex. Continued

Sample no.

Trench S Con 

73... 

74 

75 

76 

77 

78 

HLB-3-79 

80

81

HLB 82.... 

83 

HLB-9-84 

HLB-10-85 

86 

87... 

88... 

89 

90 

91 

92... 

93...

94...

HLB-10-95 

96...

HLB-11-97 

98...

99...

100...

HLB-12-101.-

102...

103... 

104...

105...

Trench 4 

HLB-4-106 

107...

108...

109...

110...

111...

112 ..

113...

114... 

115...

116...

117...

118...

119...

120...

121...

123...

124

126...

127...

isa ...

129... 

130...

131...

132...

Locality 

no.

K,....

R-5 

JR-3 - 

JR-2_ _

R-l. 

R-13---

.... ..

Material

Granite, altered... _ . . 

. .do 

Latite.. __ .-... _ ...--.-..--.

Quartz-pyrite vein, 24 in. thick.

Granite, altered ___ _ ..-.

Granite. 

/Diabase, iron-stained ___ .. 

\_ do 

 do 

Granite, torbernite _ . 

Granite, altered. .. _ -... .

Granite, altered..... _ .-.--.-..

Quartz monzonite..----. -.---...

Granite -- 

Quartz-pyrite vein and gouge ....

Latite ..... 

Granite. ........... .............

Latite 

Granite.. --.-.-.-. _ ........... 

Latite ... .....

Granite.. __ _ , _ __ .

Granite and quartz-pyrite veins. 

. do 

Type

Channel. 

Chip -

 do ...

 do .

... do 

Chip... - 

...do 

Channel. - 

 do ...

...do -

Chip. ..

Channel . . 

 do. .

...do ....

 do. .

-.do 

...do .

...do ....

Grab... 

...do -

Channel _ 

Grab .

Channel ... 

 do .

... do ....

...do... .

 do .

...do -

Grab 

Chip.... .. 

Channel ... 

..-do 

Chip... ... 

 do 

...do.... 

...do 

...do ..

 do 

 do - Channel ... 

Chip . 

ChannelChip... 

Channel ... 

Chip... 

Channel .

Chip _ .... Cnannel ... 

Chip. . 

Onannel...

Ohlp------ 

Channel 

Chip.. 

..do 

Raljwtori

Length 

of 

sample 

(feet)

2.5 

17.0 

7.0 

1.5 

3.0 

2.0 

2.5 

13.0 

14.0 

1.5 

1.7 

2.5 

2.9

2.5 

2.5 

3.0

3.0

2.5 

2.5 

2.0 

2.0 

2.0 

2.0

17.0 

3.0 

1.0 

4.5 

26.0 

29.0 

31.0 

77.0 

9.0 

26.0 

26.0 

33.0 

6.0 

18.0 

.5 

18.0 

2.0

9.0

4.0 

37.0 

e.o 

17.0 

5.0

24.0

4.0 

40.0 

40.0

eU (percent)

0.004 

.005 

.005 

'.006 

.004 

.003 

.004 

.005 

.003 

.017 

.012 

.76 

.010 

.021 

.010 

.017 

.005 

.003 

.005 

.092 

.002 

.005 

.007 

.004 

.005 

.004 

.004 

.005 

.87 

.039 

.098 

.018 

.10

.004 

.003 

.002 

.004 

.002 

.005 

.002 

.006 

.003 

.004

.002

.006 

.003 

.000 

.005 

.005 

.010

.005

.005 

.004

.007

.001 

.001 

.001 

.008 

.005

.004 

.021

U (percent)

0.002 

.002 

.002 

.006 

.002 

.001 

.001 

.002 

.001 

.020 

.015 

.67 

.006 

.020 

.006 

.020 

.003 

.001 

.001 

.10 

.001 

.001 

.003 

.001 

.001 

.001 

.004 

.001 

.092 

.034 

.077 

.014 

.070

.001 

.001 

.001 

.001 

.001 

.001 

.001 

.001 

.001 

.001 .001 

.001 

.001 

.001 

.002 

.001 

.008

.003

.004 

.001

.OO7

.001 

.001 

.001 .008 .001

.001 

.014

PsO. (percent)

0.06 

.06 

.07 

.15 

.13 

.15 

.08 

.11 

.08 

.41 

.59 

.42 

2.09 

1.60 

.26 

.66 

.08 

.47 

.05 

1.56 

.45 

.02 

1.14 

.06 

.08 

.05 

.58 

2.51 

1.69 

2.11 

1.77 

2.11 

.44

.14 

.39 

.27 

.10 

.43 

.08 

2.58 

.04 

.43 

.13 

2.02 

.03 

.10 

.03 

.19 

.06 

.28 

,03 

.30 

.07

.31

.08 

.32 

.05

.36

.07

.04 

.07

strike easterly in the southern half of the claim but strike northeaSterlj in the northern half J the dikes therefore, may be of different 

age. They are concealed by soil at the surface and can be seen Only 

in mine workings and prospect pits.

Thick northeastward-trending dikes of quartz monzonite porphyry 

(pi. 17) cut the granite in the northern part of the Merry Widow
RADIOACTIVE, DEPOSITS IN NEW MEXICO 333

claim. The porphyrylias*quartz£phenocrysts up to 8"mm across in a 

finer groundmass.

Three small exposures of a dark fine-grained rock, tentatively 

identified as diorite(?), were mapped (pi. 17). The exposures are 

irregular and discontinuous and no relation to other rocks is apparent.

A series of aphanitic greenish rhyolite dikes, exposed in an eastward-trending zone (pi. 17), are believed to be the most recent intrusive rocks on the Merry Widow claim. Other rhyolite dikes in the 

district commonly strike slightly north of east, but the individual 

dikes on the Merry Widow claim strike northwesterly.

Structure. The rocks on the Merry Widow^claim have been 

complexly faulted and fractured, but displacement can be determined 

only where the larger faults offset dikes, as much as 60 feet in some 

places. In the southern half of the claim most of the faults have 

easterly trends, but in the northern half most of them strike northerly 

or northwesterly. The significance of this change in the fault pattern 

is not known. Most of the faults have steep dips, ranging from 60° 

to vertical.

Faults on the Merry Widow claim are commonly filled by quartz 

and limonite vein material or by other intrusive rocks. Many of 

them are characterized by limonite filling or wide altered zones rather 

than by breccia, slickensides, or other direct evidence of faulting. 

Many small faults are so well cemented by quartz and limonite that 

they are very inconspicuous.

Joints on the Merry Widow claim show no persistent trend; locally 

joints may have a uniform strike, but another conflicting set may 

appear a few feet away. The persistent joint sets commonly have the 

same attitude as nearby faults or dikes, suggesting that they may be 

minor fractures in shear zones.

Uranium deposits. Most of the uranium on the Merry Widow 

claim is in the eastward-striking Merry Widow vein zone, although 

small patches of uranium-bearing rock are widely scattered throughout 

the area. The highest uranium assays in the Merry Widow vein 

zone were obtained within 100 feet of the Merry Widow shaft.

Veins of three distinct types are found on the Merry Widow claim: 

barren quartz veins; quartz-hematite (specularite) veins which apparently contain no metallic element other than iron; and quartzpyrite veins, the most common type. Uranium is associated with 

the quartz-pyrite veins. Pyrite in the quartz-pyrite veins near the 

surface is thoroughly oxidized to limonite. Quartz is commonly 

dense and erratically distributed. It occurs as pods, lenses, and 

veinlets but rarely as a prominent continuous fissure filling. Granite 

wall rock bordering the veins is stained by hydrous iron oxides and, 

in most places, either silicified or altered to clay minerals and sericite.

354333 56 4
334 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GEOLOGY OF URANIUM

Fracture zones are filled with massive vitreous limonite or cellular 

limonite containing scattered masses and blebs of vein quartz.

Where the diabase dikes are cut by the veins they are commonly 

impregnated with hydrous iron oxide and with silica which makes them 

relatively resistant to weathering.

Hydrous iron oxides are abundant in the near-surface parts of the 

veins on the Merry Widow claim. Limonite, either massive with 

conchoidal fracture or cellular, fills many of the veins. The pulverulent form of limonite is also common, and in places it invades 

the altered rhyolite. Limonite in and near the vein was produced 

by oxidation of pyrite, and perhaps of chalcopyrite. Pyrite may be 

found near the surface where shielded from alteration, as within the 

masses of vein quartz.

Bismite (bismuth trioxide), associated with small pockets of 

high-grade gold ore, has been reported from the Merry Widow mine 

but none was recognized by Granger and Bauer.

Some green minerals, exposed on the walls of the Merry Widow 

mine, are believed to be copper sulfates. They are similar in appearance to torbernite and may easily be confused with it.

Secondary uranium minerals are found at several localities on and 

near the Merry Widow claim. In the field, the flaky yellow fluorescent uranium minerals were called autunite and the flaky or tabular 

green weakly fluorescent and nonfluorescent uranium minerals were 

called torbernite. No distinction was made between torbernite and 

metatorbernite.

Autunite and torbernite usually are found in and near the intersections Of diabase OF basalt dikes with quartz-pyrite veins. Both 

minerals coat fracture surfaces and project into small cavities in the 

fracture blocks. The fractures and cavities are also commonly

iron stained. Locally, as in trench 2 (locality R 7, pi. 17) and at 

shaft 2, torbernite Crystals are disseminated in the granite and coat 

altered grains of feldspar. Although, autunite locally is most aDUndaflt Dear the Surface, torbernite is predominant a few feet below the

surface.

In 1950 the only uranium-bearing rock of economic importance 

known on. tiiis claim. wa,s within the area developed by the Merry

Widow mine (table 3). The measured uranium-bearing rock ^ ^

mine iS defined Vertically by the surface of the ground and the 130- 

foot level; horizontally it is defined by the eastern limits of the 40-,

60-, find 13(MOOt leYelS and the western limits Of tHe 40- and 130-foot

leYels, The highest grade ore is within 20 feet Of the Shift between 

the 60-foot level and the surface.

The size and grade of uranium deposits on and near the Merry 

Widow claim, exclusive of the mine, are indicated in table 4. The
RADIOACTIVE DEPOSITS IN NEW MEXICO 335

TABLE 3. Analyses of samples from the Merry Widow mine, White Signal district,

Grant County, N. Mex.

[Modified from 8. B. Keith (written communication, 1945). Keith collected 15 samples from the 130-foot 

level. The samples ranged from 0.03 to 0.08 percent uranium del.]

Sample 

no.

Distance 

from 

shaft 

(feet)

Length of sample 

(feet)

Location and description

UsOs' 

(percent)

40-foot level, west

6557

6558

6559

6560

6561

6562

6563

.6564

6565

6566

6567

6568

6569

6570

6571

6572

6573

6574

7500

7501

7502

7503

7WU

7505

7506

7507

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

2.1

2.0

3.1

2.8

4.0

2.0

3.5

3.0

3.8

4.2

3.7

5.0

2.7

3.5

2.9

3.3

1.9

2.0

.8

1.5

1.7

1.6

1.0

1.7

.8

2.2

Back; diabase, iron oxide, bismite, hyalite.-. ........................

Back; diabase, bismite, hyalite ......................................

High back; altered granite, iron oxide, gouge.... __________

Back; altered granite... . ...- __ . _____________

Back; gouge, altered diabase. ... ___________________

Back; altered granite, iron oxide. ______________ ..........

0.67

.04

.39

.34

.04

.08

.03

.38

.15

.05

.05

.42

.06

.11

.07

.06

.08

.06

.03

.14

.03

.05

.03

.03

.04

.48

40-foot level, east

7508

7509

7510

7512

7513

7514

7515

7516

7517

7518

7519

7520

7521

7522

7523

7529

7524

7525

7531

7532

7530

7526

7527

7528

5

10

15

20

25

25

25

30

37

2.0

2.1

1.2

1.3

.9

2.2

.7

2.2

1.0

.4

1.4

.2

2.4

1.5

2.2

2.3

2.2

3.4

.9

1.2

.7

3.3

3.5

3.3

3.1

Back; altered granite, iron oxide, torbernite... ___________

.....do........ _ ........... _ ....................................

0.43

Q3

.03

.31

1.76

.63

.05

.32

.21

1.90

.06

.02

.04

.34

.05

.04

.01

.04

.03

.24

.36

.02

.03

.03

.16

60-foot level, west

6250

6251

6252

6253

6254

6255

6256

6257

.6258

6259

6260

6261

6262

0

5

10

15

20

1.3

2.7

1.4

1.7

1.8

3.7

1.5

2.5

5.0

2.8

3.5

4.8

4.8

__ do ________________ . _____ . _________ ..

.. do.............................................................

stringers. 

.....do.....,-...... . . .............

0.12

.03

.05

.40

.52

.83

.92

.51

.03

.05
336 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GEOLOGY OF URANIUM

TABLE 3. Analyses of samples from the Merry Widow mine, White Signal district, 

Grant County, N. Mex. Continued

Sample 

no.

Distance 

from 

shaft 

(feet)

Length of sample 

(feet)

Location and description

UnOs 1 

(percent)

60-foot level, west Continued

6263 

6264 

6265 

6266 

6267 

6268 

6269 

6270 

6271 

6272 

6273 

6274 

6275 

6276 

6277 

6278 

6279 

6280 

6281 

6282 

6283 

6284 

6285 

6286 

6287 

6288 

6289 

6290 

6291 

6292 

6293 

6294

6295 

6296 

6297 

6298 

6299 

6300 

6301 

6302 

6303 

6304 

6305

6306

6307 

6308

6309 

6310 

6311 

6312

6313

6314 

6315 

6316

6317 

6318

6319 

6320

6321

6322 

6323

6324

6550 

6552

6553

6554 

6555

6556

25

30

35 

40 

45

50

55

60 

65

70 

75 

80

85

 90

95

100

105

110

115

120

125

130

135

140

10

15

15

20

..........

30 

35 

40

0.3 

1.1 

.5 

.5 

1.7 

1.3 

.5 

2.7 

1.7 

.8 

1.1 

2.6 

.9 

1.6 

2. 6 

2.2 

1.7 

3.3 

2.5 

1.8 

1.7 

1.3 

1.7 

1.7 

2.2 

1.6 

3.1 

.7 

2.2 

1.1 

1.0 

1.0 

1.2 

2.5 

1.8

.9 

.7 

2.6 

.6 

.9 

.4 

2.5 

.5

.6

2.7 

.7

1.1

.8 

1.9 

.6

2.0 

.6 

1.0

2.3 

1.6

2.0 

1.5 

1.8 

1.2

3.7

1.7

4.7 

2". i

4.2

1.7

1.7

2.0

Back; granite, Iron oxide....--.. _--..----..---------.

. do. 

Back; altered diabase, torbernite.. ........... . . 

BacK; granite, iron oxide, gonge... . 

West side raise, 10.5 ft above rail; gouge, altered diabase, torbernlte..

West wall of crosscut; diabase, pyrite, bismite...... .............. ...

.....do... ................ ....... . - -- - -

East wall crosscut; gouge, brecciated diabase, torbernite. _ 

Back; diabase, pyrite, ironoxide.... 

North wail of raise; granite, diabase, torbemite... ..... . ...-

North wall of drift; torbernite, granite, diabase.. 

0.04 

.12 .11

.49 

.05 

.04 

.06 

.13 

.08 

.26 

.12 

.02 

.06 

.03 

.01 

.02 

.01 

.02 

.02 

.02 

.04 

.03 

.02 

.07 

.04 

.20 

.04 

.26 

.02 

.11 

.02 

.10 

.07

.03 

.03 

.03 

.03 

.03 

.22 

.03 

.32 

.03 

.30 

.29 

.03 

.15 

.03

.13 

.02 

.11

.02 

.04 

.04 

.01

.08

.05

.06 

.36 

.10

,04

.03

.03

.24

.02 ."05

,21

.40 

.12

1 Average of analysis of duplicate samples; made at Rifle, Colo., and Tonawanda, N. Y.

2 Keith did not recognize latite in the mine. Part of the diabase and much'.of the gouge in the table are 

probably altered latite.
RADIOACTIVE, DEPOSITS IN NEW MEXICO 337

TABLE 4. Summary of analyses of samples from the Merry Widow claim, exclusive 

of the Merry Widow mine, White Signal district

Locality 

no. on 

pi. 17

Bl. 

R2__.-..-

R3- ...

K4_ ...

B6 .

B6. 

B7 .

R8 - 

R9_ ...

BIO 

Rll.___._

B12......

R13__ . 

R14......

R15 ~ .

Dimensions 

(feet)

Length

5

10

25

30 

25

6 

30

20

15

Width

1 .

2.5 

2

2 

3

2 

3

4

2.5 

.3

4

Analyses (percent)

Uranium

0.05-0.10

.01 - .02 

.01 - .02

. 01 - . 02 

.05 - .10

.008 

.01 - .02

.05 - .10

.015 

.019

. 000-2. 06

.015- .092 

.002- .01

Equivalent 

uranium

0.092

.010-0.017 

.010- .021

.017 

.076

.01(7)

.011 

. 016- . 020

. 029- . 100

.013 

.023

.018- .87

.007- .014 

.01(7)

P2 0 5

1.56

.26-0.66 

1. 60-2. 09

.41 

.42

.04 

.46- .97

1. 18-2. 18

1.42 

.53

. 44-2. 11 

.04- .13

Description

Radioactive basalt dike, torbernite 

crystals coat fractures near surface. 

Rock has been impregnated with iron 

oxides and silica. 

Altered diabase along a fault, scattered 

autunite crystals along fractures. 

Two exposures of iron-stained diabase 

25 ft apart along fault. Fracture surfaces are radioactive, no uranium 

minerals visible. 

Radioactive latite dike 2 ft wide. Radioactive zone 30 ft long, no uranium 

minerals are visible. 

Fault block of radioactive diabase 3 ft 

wide, less than 30 ft long. Fracture 

surfaces coated with radioactive hyalite, no uranium minerals visible. 

Iron-stained fracture along fault zone in 

granite: no samples analyzed. 

Torbernite coating fractures in granite 

near Merry Widow vein zone. 

Iron-stained sllicifled diabase adjacent to 

a fault and radioactive gouge from 

this fault. 

Fracture zone in a diabase dike between 

two fault veins. Fractures contain autunite, most abundantly near granite 

contact. 

Fractured iron-stained diabase dike. No 

uranium minerals are visible. 

A 2J^-in. quartz-pyrite vein and an adjacent latite dike. Vein Is only locally 

uraniferous. No uranium minerals 

were observed. 

Merry Widow mine. See table 2 for 

sample analyses. Torbernite Is largely 

concentrated along fractures in granite, 

diabase, and latite near the shaft on the 

40- and 60-ft levels. 

Fracture zone to granite and diabase. 

Torbernite coats fractures most abundantly near the contact on the diabase 

side. 

A 2-in. quartz-pyrite vein and adjacent 

argillized granite wall rock. No 

uranium minerals were observed. 

Narrow quartz vein and associated fracture zone in diabase dike. No samples 

were analyzed.

table summarizes the sample data for the 15 localities from which 

samples containing over 0.01 percent uranium were obtained.

Although only secondary uranium minerals have been found in 

the White Signal district, observations made during this examination 

suggest that some of the quartz-pyrite veins may contain primary 

uranium minerals below the zone of oxidation.

The relatively unaltered rocks on the Merry Widow claim commonly 

have a lower uranium content than the material in quartz-pyrite 

veins. The large quartz-pyrite vein near the west end of trench 1 

(pi. 18) contains 0.007 percent uranium, whereas the wall rocks on 

either side contain 0.003 and 0.002 percent. A narrow quartz-pyrite 

vein along the contact between granite and diabase in the east end of
338 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GEOLOGY OF URANIUM

trench 1 contains 0.006 percent uranium, the adjacent granite and 

diabase contain only 0.001 percent. Similar examples in the other 

trenches suggest that the quartz-pyrite veins have played an important part in the distribution of secondary uranium minerals.

During exploration of the Merry Widow vein by means of diamond 

drilling it was found that the vein material in the larger veins had 

been thoroughly oxidized by circulating meteoric waters to a depth 

of at least 550 feet. Pitchblende or other primary uranium minerals 

would probably be unstable in the highly acid waters produced by 

the oxidation of pyrite; therefore the lack of recognizable primary 

uranium minerals in the drill core merely suggests that if these minerals 

were once present they have since been removed. It is believed 

that the unoxidized parts of some of the veins may contain primary 

uranium minerals and that the distribution of secondary uranium 

minerals in altered rocks has resulted from precipitation of uranium 

from solution in meteoric waters along fractures in the more favorable 

host rocks.

There is a possible relationship between the latite(?) dikes and 

the uranium deposits. Locally, in the Merry Widow mine, the 

uranium minerals coat fractures in the latite(?) away from the diabase 

dikes. At localities R-4 and R-ll (pi. 17) the uranium is closely 

associated with the latite(?). The arrangement of the veins and dikes 

suggests that the veins were emplaced after the intrusion of the 

latite(?) and before the intrusion of the rhyolite. Perhaps the mineralbearing solutions followed soon after the intrusion of the latite(?); the 

primary ore-bearing solutions may have been derived from the magma 

that consolidated to form latite(?).

Apparently the intermediate and basic rocks have been more 

favorable hosts for the deposition of secondary uranium minerals

than have the acid rocks. The reason for this is not entirely clear

but may be due in part to the phosphate content. Certainly, it 

WOllld seem that a high phosphate content in the host rock is more 

conducive to precipitation of phosphate-bearing uranium minerals 

than a low phosphate content. Of 19 samples that contained over 

0.01 percent uranium, all but 2 contained over 0.30 percent P20s. The

average PaOs content of these samples was 1.07 percent.

Results of exploration. Five prospect trenches on the Merry

Widow claim were carefully sampled (pis. 18 and 20). The samples 

were analyzed for both uranium and phosphate (table 2) in order to

determine the relative distribution of these elements in the different

types of rocks and yeins.

The uranium content of 133 samples ranged from 0.001 to 0.11 

percent (table 2). Of these, 19 samples from 12 different localities 

contained more than 0.01 percent uranium. Results of the sampling
RADIOACTIVE DEPOSITS IN NEW MEXICO 339

suggest that the average uranium content of all rocks on the Merry 

Widow claim, where relatively unaffected by alteration other than 

weathering, was 0.003 percent or less. The phosphate content 

varies widely in the different types of rock. The average P2 06 

content of rocks on the Merry Widow claim is diabase 1.60 percent, 

basalt 1.35 percent, latite 0.37 percent, quartz monzonite porphyry 

0.45 percent, granite 0.10 percent, rhyolite 0.06 percent. Of the 19 

samples that contained over 0.01 percent uranium, only 2 contained 

less than 0.30 percent P205 . These were also the only samples taken 

more than 2 feet from diabase, basalt, or latite.

In May 1950 the owner of the Merry Widow claim explored the 

vein by means of a diamond-drill hole which collared 380 feet south 

of the Merry Widow shaft and cut the vein at a depth of about 520 

feet. The core from this hole was logged geologically at the drill 

site and also scanned for radioactivity with a Geiger counter in the 

field and a radiometric core scanner in the laboratory (fig. 51). The 

hole was drilled with an AX bit on a bearing of N. 60° E. at an angle 

of 72° and was intended to intersect the vein at a depth of about 

575 feet. The hole cut the vein between 520 and 550 feet and was 

bottomed at 650 feet. The overall core recovery was 79.6 percent. 

Most of the core is medium-grained granite composed of quartz (30 

percent), potash feldspar (60 percent), and biotite and other mafic 

minerals (10 percent). Feldspars are moderately kaolinized to a 

depth of 200 feet. From 200 to 550 feet the feldspars are weakly 

kaolinized and some of the grains are soft and greenish. Near the 

veins the feldspars are moderately sericitized. The granite from 

550 to 650 feet is unaltered.

The core from 72 to 97 feet consists of diabase from a dike which 

is fine grained near the contacts and medium to coarse grained in the 

center. The diabase is much fractured, and plagioclase has been 

altered to clay. Mafic minerals give the rock a characteristic dull 

greenish-gray color.

The core contains many quartz-pyrite veins, most of which are 

less than one-half inch thick, although a few are between K and 2 

inches thick. The veins are abundant but show no persistent orientation. They are completely oxidized to a depth of 80 feet and 

partly oxidized to a depth of 150 feet. Below 150 feet pyrite is 

oxidized only in the wider vein zones. In the Merry Widow vein zone, 

between depths of 520 and 550 feet, the pyrite in the veins is oxidized to 

limonite and the wall rock is intensely altered and stained. A 2-inch 

vein of massive limonite at a depth of 528 feet and two 1-inch quartz 

veins at 540 feet are the largest individual veins that were found in 

this zone. The latite (?) dike, locally parallel with the vein in the 

Merry Widow mine, was not recognized in the core. Many quartz-
340 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GEOLOGY OF URANIUM

Oxidation

of 

pyrite

Intense

Weak

Oxidized 

only near 

large veins 

or fractures

Alteration

of 

feldspars

Kaolinized

Serialized 

near veins

Fresh

Miscellaneous

Granite core

Diabase core

Bar graph 

showing radioactivity

torbernite in 

fractures

Average rate meter

reading 

(Roentgens/hr)

showing radioactivity

(field)

nonidentifiable 

minerals

Average rate meter

reading 

(Roentgens/hr)

Bar graph

showing radioactivity 

(core scanner)

I I L Low

i Very low 

' Barren

FIGT7BE 51. Generalized log of diamond-drill core, Merry Widow Claim, White Signal, N.

veinlets are present between, deptlxs of 380 and. 650 f66t.

The wall rock along the borders of these veins is only slightly iron 

stained.

Abnormally radioactive zones in the core were restricted commonly 

to narrow fractures less than one-eighth inch thick. Crystals of 

torbernite were noted in some of the fractures at depths of 127, 151, 

154, 156, 161, and 184 feet (fig. 51). Other radioactive fracture
RADIOACTIVE: DEPOSITS IN NEW MEXICO 341

surfaces showing no torbernite, at depths of 80, 170, 214, 229, 239, 246, 

278, 324, 510, 540, and 542 feet, were commonly coated with finegrained dark-green and white minerals, possibly a mixture of talc and 

serpentine or clay.

In the Merry Widow vein zone at a depth of 540 feet two weakly 

radioactive quartz veins 1 inch thick gave readings of twice the background count. Two feet below these veins, a fracture filled with 

amorphous dark-green and black minerals gave readings of twice to 

four times the background count. Similar black radioactive material 

was noted at depths of 278 feet and 510 feet, but no uranium minerals 

have been identified at these places. Specimens of these black fracture 

fillings from depths of 278, 510, and 542 feet were analyzed radiometrically and found to contain 0.2 to 0.3 percent equivalent uranium. 

The granite adjacent to the fractures had an equivalent uranium content of 0.01 to 0.02 percent.

The results of the core scanning in the laboratory cannot be converted to equivalent uranium content because the scanning machine is 

calibrated to measure radioactivity of sedimentary rocks. The 

assumption was made, however, that the normal or background radioactivity for the rock is 380 counts per minute. On this basis, most of 

the core is barren. Seven narrow zones have radioactivity less than 

150 counts per minute above the background and are designated as 

very low grade. One zone from depths of 540 to 546 feet gave 158 to 

384 counts per minute above the background and was called low 

grade. This zone is in the Merry Widow vein (fig. 51) and includes 

two 1-inch quartz veins and a dark-colored fracture filling.

Suggestions for prospecting. Secondary uranium minerals on the 

Merry Widow claim have been found most commonly within the large 

eastward-trending Merry Widow vein zone where this zone cuts mafic 

or intermediate dikes high in phosphate. Prospecting should, therefore, be concentrated on the intersections of quartz-pyrite veins, such 

as the Merry Widow vein, with these dikes. Any search for primary 

uranium minerals should be guided by the same principles of ore control that govern the localization of the primary base-metal sulfides 

in the area.

Reserves. The only uranium-bearing rock known on the property 

that has sufficient quantity and grade to constitute an ore reserve, 

under market conditions existing in 1952, lies close to the Merry Widow 

shaft within the Merry Widow vein zone between the 60-foot level and 

the surface.

APACHE TRAIL CLAIM

The Apache Trail uranium prospect is an unpatented claim in sec. 

2, T. 20 S., R. 15 W., a school section. In 1951 it was leased from the 

State by Mr. Charles N. Russell, Box 8, Tyrone, N. Mex., and Mrs.

354333 56 5
342 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GEOLOGY OF URANIUM

Elsie K. Wiley, 1451 South Oakhurst Drive, Los Angeles 35, Calif. 

The claim is accessible by vehicle by the following route: go 2.4 miles 

north from White Signal, N. Mex.; turn left (west) at gate onto an 

ungraded road: follow road for 2 miles to the Apache Trail prospect.

The claim was originally located for copper about 1890. Five 

cars of copper carbonate ore, averaging 5 percent copper and 5 ounces 

of silver per ton, were shipped between 1915 and 1920.

The original claim was abandoned and the present claim was located 

for gold in 1927. Bismuth, a common associate of gold in the district, 

was recognized at pit 5 (pi. 21) in a hematite-quartz vein, and 50 tons 

of ore, averaging 1 % ounces of gold per ton and 4 percent bismuth, were 

shipped. Bismuth in the ore is said to hinder concentration and 

smelting of other metals.

A 200-foot vertical shaft was sunk and 265 feet of drifts and crosscuts on the 100-foot level were driven in 1932. The bismuth gold vein 

was never found in these workings. The shaft is inaccessible below the 

100-foot level. Prospect pits have been dug at several places along 

the hematite vein.

H. L. Bauer, Jr., mapped the ground surface (pi. 21) and the IQO-foot 

level (pi. 22) during part of 3 days in May 1950. At the same time 

he collected samples and examined the surface and workings for radioactivity.

Geology. The country rock in the vicinity of the Apache Trail 

claim is a medium-grained biotite granite of pre-Cambrian age. On 

the claim the granite is cut by a fine-grained diabase dike, 1 to 2 feet 

thick, and a quartz-hematite vein 8 feet thick. The diabase dike is 

believed to be older than the vein because hematite appears to replace 

parts of the dike.

A greenish porphyritic dike, possibly andesite porphyry, is exposed 

at the eastern end of the claim. The relation of this dike to the 

hematite vein and the diabase is not known. A well-defined fault 

zone is exposed in the east drift and in the easternmost 40 feet of the 

west drift on the 100-foot level. Fragments of hematite in the fault

zone indicate that this fault zone is younger than the vein. Fault

gouge and slickensides are present on the hanging wall of the diabase

dike On the 100-foot level j other faults are also present in the old

copper stops (pit 10) and near pits 5 and 6.

The granite is fresh except at the old copper stope (pit io> and near

the quartz-hematite vein where it is altered to a soft fine-grained

material as far as 5 feet from the vein. Farther from the vein the

rook is less intensely altered and tKe original texture of the granite

can be recognized. The diabase dike is altered and soft on the 100- 

foot level and in some pits on the surface. 

Radioactive deposits. Two types of radioactive deposits are present
RADIOACTIVE DEPOSITS IN NEW MEXICO 343

on the Apache Trail claim. The larger deposit is the quartz-hematite 

vein which does not contain visible uranium minerals; the other deposit is the diabase dike that locally contains visible torbernite.

The quartz-hematite vein is composed of specularite, magnetite, 

quartz, and a massive dull variety of hematite. Gold, copper carbonate, limonite pseudomorphs after pyrite, lead, and bismuth minerals are found in or adjacent to the quartz-hematite vein locally. 

The vein is up to 8 feet thick but pinches out in places; the average 

thickness is about 3^ feet. It is resistant to weathering and can be 

traced for several thousand feet east and west of the Apache Trail 

claim. No uranium minerals were seen in the quartz-hematite vein 

although at all places where sulfide minerals were originally present, 

and locally elsewhere, the rocks were radioactive. Radioactivity readings taken along the vein at the surface and underground range from 

2 divisions on the 0.2 scale to 5 divisions on the 2.0 scale of a GeigerMueller counter with a 6-inch probe held 1 inch from the outcrop. 

Background readings on granite range from 1 to 5 divisions on the 0.2 

scale. Radioactivity readings in pit 1 range from 15 on the 0.2 scale 

to 5 on the 2.0 scale. A 3%-foot channel sample cut across the quartzhematite vein contains 0.012 percent uranium.

Radioactivity readings along the hematite vein on the 100-foot 

level range from 15 to 20 on the 0.2 scale. A 3-foot sample cut across 

the vein contains 0.011 percent uranium (table 5).

The diabase dike is highly radioactive only aj the western end of 

the 100-foot level where clusters of tabular green crystals of torbernite 

coat fractures (pi. 22). Two samples across the diabase dike at this 

locality contain 0.041 and 0.038 percent uranium, respectively. Two 

samples from diabase and altered granite in this vicinity contain 0.008 

and 0.012 percent uranium, respectively (table 5).

The small fault along the footwall of the diabase dike has been 

mineralized locally and torbernite crystals are concentrated next to 

this fault.

Suggestions for prospecting. The distribution of radioactive deposits 

on this claim suggests that concentrations of torbernite are apt to

TABLE 5. Analyses (in percent) of samples from the Apache Trail claim

Sample 

no.

BJ-4-4.

4-5.....

4-0.....

4-7.....

4-8.....

5-9.....

Location

.....do. ................

.....do....................

.....do...................

Material

.....do........ ............

granite.

ft thick.

.....do........ ............

Equivalent 

uranium

0.033

.017

.011

.010

.013

.021

Uranium

0.041

.038

.012

.008

.011

.012

Insoluble 

residue

12.44

21.73

Iron

68.67

42.03

Copper

1.36

.82
344 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GEOLOGY OF URANIUM

occur within the diabase dike where it is fractured or where it has 

been cut by faults and veins. Radioactivity of gossans along the 

quartz vein may indicate the presence of primary uranium minerals in 

the vein below the zone of oxidation.

BLUE JAY CLAIM

The Blue Jay claim is about 400 feet west of a dirt road which joins 

New Mexico Highway 180 at White Signal. The claim is about 

three-fourths of a mile south of White Signal (fig. 50). The quartersection corner of the boundary between sees. 23 and 26, T. 20 S. r 

R. 15 W. lies within the claim boundaries. The claim was located 

in 1949 by Otto and Fred Prevost, of White Signal and Silver City, 

respectively, and was leased to E. B. Killion of Silver City, N. Mex., 

in 1950. Granger and Bauer examined the radioactive deposits on 

the Blue Jay claim in March 1950 and mapped the area containing 

radioactive deposits (pi. 23) by planetable using a scale of 1 inch 

equals 30 feet. Forty-four samples were taken; both radioactive 

and barren rocks were sampled and assayed for P2 05 as well as uranium. The White Signal district had been examined previously by 

the Union Mines Development Corporation (Keith, unpublished 

reports, 1944, 1945a), but this examination did not include the Blue 

Jay claim.

Before the examination by Granger and Bauer, Mr. Killion had 

removed the overburden from, four localities on the claim by bulldozer. These localities were selected by him on the basis of abnormal 

radioactivity detected with a portable Geiger counter. No ore had 

been produced.

Geology. The Blue Jay claim is underlain by a large mass of preCambrian granite cut by a variety of dikes.

The granite that forms the country rock in the vicinity of the Blue 

Jay claim. is typically a leucocratic biotite-poor medium-grained rock

in which the feldspars are partly argnnzed. 

A diabase dike, cut by other intrusive rocks and faulted, trends

^oi-tKwesfc across the Blue Jay claim. Rock mapped as diabase in 

the northwestern bulldozer cut is intonseiy ^u^a, friable, and locally 

bleached or Iron stained. The diabase surrounding a 10-foot pit near

the western margin of the area is oieacned noai-v ~k;u and is cut

by paper-thin veinlets containing specxilarite and Slderite(?).

A dftFk-OTfty fifl6'£Jamed ^ike, abOUt 7 feet wide, which is believea 

tO Se basalt; Strikes northwest nearly parallel tO tuG diflbfllSCi

Two bodies of altered intrusive rock are tentatively identified as 

latite beCaUSe they are similar in habit and general appearance to

unaltered latite outside the mapped area. These bodies hare an
RADIOACTIVE. DEPOSITS IN NEW MEXICO 345

easterly trend and are separated by rhyolite dikes. They may have 

originally been part of a more extensive dike or plug.

A thoroughly fractured friable aphanitic dike about 8)2 feet wide 

is exposed in the northernmost bulldozer trench. It strikes about 

N. 80° E. and dips vertically. A 1- to 6-inch dike of similar material 

is exposed in a shallow pit 40 feet west of this trench. The minerals 

and the texture of the original rock have been destroyed by intense 

alteration.

A large white-to-gray rhyolite dike trends eastward across the area 

mapped and dips about 70° S. In the eastern part of the area (pi. 23) 

this dike contains four small inclusions of granite.

Most of the faults on the Blue Jay claim are occupied by dikes or 

veins. Where the faults are unmineralized they are obscure and 

display little brecciation or marginal fracturing. Two types of veins 

occupy the faults: specularite veins and quartz-pyrite veins. A 

persistent specularite vein, % to 2 inches wide and about 260 feet long, 

trends about N. 70° E. and dips steeply northward. Other specularite 

veins are short and very narrow.

Most of the veins are filled with limonite and sparse quartz and are 

bordered by argillized and, less commonly, by sericitized wall rock. 

These are believed to be oxidized quartz-pyrite veins.

Uranium deposits. The uranium deposits on the Blue Jay claim 

are most commonly found in intermediate or basic dikes near oxidized 

quartz-pyrite veins. Two secondary uranium minerals have been 

found in the deposits. One is a tabular green nonfluorescent mineral, 

probably torbernite; the other, which was not identified, is a yellow 

powdery mineral with weak yellow fluorescence. Torbernite coats 

fracture surfaces in the rock at sample localities HLB-15-137, -159, 

-163, -170, and -176 (pi. 23). At sample locality HLB-15-177 the 

torbernite coats fracture surfaces in granite and the contact between 

a quartz vein and argillized feldspar. The yellow secondary uranium 

mineral, as a dull amorphous powder, coats innumerable fracture 

surfaces in the larger aphanitic dikes. The prevalence of this mineral 

in the dikes makes these rocks the richest sampled, containing up to 

0.11 percent uranium (table 6).

Although no uranium minerals were seen in several of the samples 

containing an abnormal amount of uranium, the radioactive samples, 

rock and vein material, are very iron stained in most places, suggesting 

that the uranium may be associated with hydrous iron oxide.

Nearly all the samples that contain more than 0.01 percent uranium 

were taken from altered mafic rock near quartz-pyrite veins. The 

samples that are exceptions to this generalization were taken from 

material.in the quartz-pyrite veins, which are very iron stained in 

places, or in fractures near granite. The intense iron stain, which is
346

TABLE 6. Analyses of samples from the Blue Jay claim, White Signal district,

Grant County, N. Mex.

[Readings in divisions on 2.0 scale of the beta-gamma rate meter are in italics; others are readings on the

0.2 scale]

Sample no. on 

pi. 23 Material

Field 

meter 

readings

Equivalent 

uranium 

(percent)

Uranium (percent)

PjOs 

(percent)

Fresh rock

HLB-15-151..... 

153 

179 

180 

152 

154.....

155 

141..... 

150 

157 

143 

145 -

148 

Granite.. __________________

 do...... ...................... 

 do.....-.-....................-... .

... ..do ..

 ..do ... ...... ...... ........

. .do.. ...............................

Basalt. _______ . ...

Rhyolite _______________

.....do.... ..... .. .....................

Granite and vein material. _______ ..

 do. .................................

 do... . .... ....... ............

2 to 7 

Oto5...-

4 to 8 -

13 to 16 

0.004 

.001 

.no4

.004 

.007 

.003 

.003 

.004 

.003 

.002 

.020 

.050 

.020

0.001 

.001 

.002 

.001 

.005 

.001 

.002 

.003 

.001 

.001 

.013 

.035 

.010

0.36 

.43 

.65 

.60 

2.86 

2.95 

2.93 

2.58 

.48 

.50 

.35 

.39 

.43

Altered rock

138 

139 

140 

142 

144 

147 

158 

178 ..

156 

160 

161. _ .

162 .....

164.....

165 

166 ..

167 

168 

169 

171 

172 

174 

HO..... 

149 

173 - 

Granite, altered ______________

. ao ... . .............. ..........

 do... ..................................

 do...... ...... .....................

 do..... .........................

.....do...... .... ...........................

 do . . - . .

.....do ..............................

Diabase, leached ____ __ .. .......

Diabase, altered. ..........................

 do... .......... ...... .............

-.-..do--......-.. ______ .. ____ ... ..

 do ............ ...... ................

- .do................. ....................

... ..do...... . . _

.....do ............ ..................

Latite, altered 

 .do 

 do ....... ................ .......

.... .do 

 ..do______.......... ..........

Aprianitic dike, altered....... ..... .......

.....do.................... .................

RhyoHte, altered-- _ __ _ _ _ _-__ - - _ __

12 to 20 

11 to 18- 

2 to 6 .

4 to 9 .

5 to 9 ...

Sto5 

S... .......

2to5 

10 to 14 

StoB......

J8to5 

4 to 7 ..

2 to 5 . ..

10 to 20 

16 to 17.... 

eto8 

1O to 15- -

0.014 

.011 

.004 

.008 

.008 

.017 

.004 

.023 

.003 

.010 

.028

.024

.039 

.036 

.010 

.036 

.010 

.019 

.040 

.017 

.018

.016

.17 

.060 .012

0.009 

.006 

.003 

.006 

.009 

.010 

.001 

.020 

.002 

.008 

.020

.028 

.037 

.031 

.005 

.035 

.006 

.018 

.031 

.009 

.016

.009 

.11

.041

-OOC

0.37 

.64 

.41 

.43 

.54 

.35 

.30 

.37 

2.93 

.49 

.56

.69 

.62 

.91 

.53 

.60 

.70 

.95 

1.03 

.63 

.79

.76

.49

.85

.36

Rock showing visible torbernite

177 

159 

137 

176 

170 

Granite, visible torbernite.-. ...........

Diabase, visible torbernite- 

.... do ............ ............ ......

Latite, visible torbernite..... ...... ... .. ..

5 to 20.... .

5 to 7 

5 to 80.. 

Sto8......

0.079

.037

.036 

.018

.079 

.051

0.076

.041 .042 .017 

.085

.064

1.29 

1.00

.80 

2. 58

1.65 

.90

believed, to be indicative of oxidized pyrite in the near-surface parts

of the veins, affects the argillized and sericitized wall rock and granite 

as far as 3 feet from the vein,

Radioactivity on the Blue Jay claim -was recorded with, a betagamma counter, The radioactivity of each rock was tested by recording the minimum and maximum fluctuations of the rate-meter

needle for approximately 30 seconds; the probe was held 4 to 5 inches
RADIOACTIVE. DEPOSITS IN NEW MEXICO 347

from the rock surface. The average reading for most of the relatively 

unaltered rocks was about 1 to 7 divisions on the 0.2 scale. This 

corresponds to about 0.001 to 0.003 percent uranium in samples 

taken nearby.

Forty-four samples were collected during the examination. Channel samples were cut in most areas of abnormal radioactivity; several 

grab samples were taken in relatively unaltered rock of minimum 

radioactivity. Minimum and maximum rate-meter readings were 

recorded for many of the samples (table 6) with the probe held about 

1 inch from the rock.

On the Blue Jay claim both granite and rhyolite normally contain 

0.001 to 0.002 percent uranium. Within a few inches of fractures 

and veins the granite may contain several times this amount. A 

sample of weathered granite with torbernite was submitted by the 

owner and found to contain 0.083 percent uranium. Basalt and diabase contain about 0.001 to 0.005 percent uranium except within 

or near fractures and veins where they may contain as much as 0.085 

percent. The intensely altered latite contains from 0.006 to 0.064 

percent uranium. All aphanitic dikes are altered and contain as much 

as 0.11 percent uranium. The total area of uranium-bearing rocks 

on the Blue Jay claim is small. The aphanitic dike that is 3% feet 

thick is about 90 feet long, as determined by abnormal radioactivity 

in the soil along the indicated strike. Uranium content of the diabase 

in the bulldozer cut located in the northwestern part of the area 

(pi. 23) is abnormally high. The highest uranium concentration in 

this diabase is in an area about 25 feet square where the diabase is 

cut by an iron-stained vein or fracture.

Although the latite apparently has a high uranium content everywhere, the richest uranium concentrations in this rock are along an 

iron-stained fracture zone in the southwestern bulldozer cut.

Suggestions for prospecting. The results of sampling indicate that 

no large deposits of uranium ore are available. If prospecting is done, 

it should be concentrated along the intersections of intermediate and 

basic dikes with quartz-pyrite fissure veins and along the radioactive 

aphanitic dike exposed in the northwestern bulldozer cut.

Reserves. Results of sampling suggest that at 6 localities the 

uranium-bearing rock on the property contains between 0.01 and 0.05 

percent uranium. The largest deposit is in and along the aphanitic 

dike in the northern bulldozer cut (pi. 23).

MONARCH NO. 2 CLAIM

The Monarch No. 2 claim is in sec. 19, T. 20 S., R. 15 W., about 4 

miles west of the settlement of White Signal, and was owned by C. E. 

Russell, White Signal, N. Mex., in 1950 (fig. 50). A brief examination of the claim was made by H. L. Bauer, Jr., on May 22, 1950.
348 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GEOLOGY OF URANIUM

A milk-white rhyolite dike, which strikes N. 45° E., cuts granitic 

country rock on this claim. A massive quartz vein parallels the dike, 

which locally has been silicified and is cut by quartz stringers. Fracture surfaces in the dike are stained by limonite.

A prospect pit, 15 feet long and 2 feet deep, has been excavated 

in the rhyolite dike. A few autunite crystals were observed in the 

rhyolite, but none could be seen on the fracture surfaces. The radioactivity of the rhyolite caused a deflection of 5 to 15 divisions on the 

0.2 scale of a counter. The quartz vein was not radioactive. A grab 

sample, BJ-7-14, was taken from the dump and found to contain

0.011 percent uranium,

The Money Maker and Wild Irishman claims are southwest of the 

Monarch No. 2 claim; they include the same rhyolite dike and associated massive quartz vein but show no abnormal radioactivity.

TUNNEL SITE NO. 1 CLAIM

The Tunnel Site No. 1 claim (fig. 50) is in the SE^NEX sec. 26, 

T. 20 S., R. 15 W. and is reached by about IK miles of graded dirt 

road that turns south from State Highway 180 at White Signal, 

N. Mex.

The claim was owned by E. B. Killion of Silver City, N. Mex., 

when it was examined briefly by H. C. Granger and H. L. Bauer, Jr., 

on April 1, 1950. Development work consisted of a discovery shaft 

10 feet deep and a 250-foot adit approximately 75 feet west of the 

shaft. Two winzes, 20 and 40 feet deep, were sunk about 90 feet and 

110 feet, respectively, from the portal of the adit. Short crosscuts 

branch from the adit near the face.

The rocks on the claim are medium-grained gray pre-Cambrian

granite cut by greenish-gray rhyolite dikes. The discovery shaft was

sunk in bleached argilKzed granite near a rhyolite dike, Clay veins,

1 to 4 inches thick, that have no preferred orientation cut both the

granite and rhyolite in and near the shaft. The clay appears to be of

the kaolin type and contains no metallic minerals. Limonite-stained

cavities in the veins may indicate the former presence of disseminated 

pyrite.

The adit, which was driven N. 30° E., along a granite-rhyolite

contact, cuts several faults and vein zones. The veins cut by the 

adit a.T-6 about 1 to 2 inches thick and are slightly iron stained,' they 

appear tO foe OAidized quartz-pyrite veins.

TKe sKa,ft a-nd adit were traversed with a field COUntfir. All 111685-

urements were made with the probe beta shield open. The radioactivity on the surface averaged about 5 divisions orx tKe 0.2 scale in

the shaft and throughout the adit. An area 2 M high and 3 feet

long on the west wall, about 45 feet from the .portal of the adit, was 

abnormally radioactive. When the probe was placed on the wall,
RADIOACTIVE DEPOSITS IN NEW MEXICO 349

a maximum deflection of 7 was noted on the 2.0 scale. A channel 

sample the length of the radioactive zone assayed 0.018 percent equivalent uranium and 0.001 percent uranium. The reason for this apparent disequilibrium is not known.

UNCLE SAM SILVER MINES

The Uncle Sam silver mines are in sec. 32, T. 20 S., R. 14 W. (fig. 

50). They were visited in March 1950 by H. L. Bauer, Jr. The 

ownership of the properties is not known.

The mines are a series of abandoned shafts, adits, stopes, and prospect pits extending for about half a mile along a shear zone in preCambrian granite. The shear zone ranges from 1 to 6 feet in width, 

trends N. 400-45°W., and dips 70°-85° SW.

Quartz and sulfide minerals fill fractures in the shear zone which is 

marked by 2 to 6 feet of iron-stained granite.

Abnormal radioactivity was noted in some specimens of sulfidebearing vein material from a dump. These specimens gave readings of 

8 to 12 divisions on the 0.2 scale of a survey meter when the probe 

was placed in contact with the vein material. The background was 

5 divisions on the 0.2 scale. At the portal of an adit 500 feet southeast 

of the main shaft a silicified fracture 1 foot wide registered 10 to 12 

divisions on the 0.2 scale. A 2-inch limonite vein, in a small pit 

about 1,500 feet northwest of the main shaft, registered from 2 to 5 

divisions on the 2.0 scale. No samples were taken at the abnormally 

radioactive areas because of their small size and relatively low radioactivity.

BLACK HAWK DISTRICT

By H. C. GRANGER AND H. L. BAUER, JR.

The Black Hawk district is in sees. 20, 21, 28, and 29, T. 18 S., R. 

16 W., New Mexico principal meridian, and is about 20 miles by road 

from Silver City, N. Mex. (fig. 50). The district is reached by a dirt 

road that extends south from U. S. Highway 260 about 13 miles northwest of Silver City.

On March 19, 1950, the authors made radioactivity traverses of the 

Black Hawk mine dump and dumps from other mines on the same 

vein. Rocks along Black Hawk Canyon were tested as far south as 

2 miles from the Black Hawk mine.

Additional information was compiled from the files of the U. S. 

Bureau of Mines in Silver City, N. Mex.

The silver deposits of the Black Hawk district were discovered 

in 1881 and $1.5 million worth of silver was produced in 7 .years. 

About half of this amount came from the Black.Hawk mine; the 

remainder came from the Alhambra, Rose, and Hobson mines, all 

within a mile of the Black Hawk mine. Mining ceased in 1893 and

854333 66 6
350 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GEOLOGY OF URANIUM

TABLE 7. Samples from the Black Hawk district, collected and assayed by the

U. S. Bureau of Mines

Locality

Rosfi mfnfi dump

Alh^mhra mlnn dump

Ni 

(percent)

0.07

.18

Co 

(percent)

0.08

.10

Ag 

(oz/ton)

10.55

34.70

Au 

(oz/ton)

0.06

.02

the mines remained idle until 1917 when the Black Hawk mine was 

reopened for exploration. Reports do not show that any ore was 

mined at this time. After 1918 there was little activity in the district, 

although Leach (1920, p. 989) mentions pitchblende from the Black 

Hawk district.

In 1948 the U. S. Bureau of Mines became interested through 

Albert A. Leach, owner of the Alhambra mine, who submitted old 

reports on the mines and also several specimens that contained silver, 

nickel, cobalt, and uranium (pitchblende). The Bureau made a 

brief examination of the district on July 24, 1948, and collected two 

samples (table 7) which were not assayed for uranium.

Geology. According to an unpublished report (1918) on the Black 

Hawk mine by Weed, the oldest rock near the mine is a coarsely 

porphyritic gneiss of probable pre-Cambrian age. This rock contains 

large feldspar crystals in a groundmass of biotite and, locally, quartz. 

The gneiss is cut by aplitic dikes that grade into feldspar pegmatites. 

Dikes related to a large intrusion of monzonite porphyry are present 

near the Black Hawk mine.

According to Weed (unpublished report, 1918), pink granite, dark 

quartz diorite, and a rhyolite dike are found near the Black Hawk 

mine. He further states that monzonite porphyry and gneiss were 

found in the mine and that both rocks are cut by carbonate veins; but 

only in the gneiss are the veins ore bearing,

Ore deposits The veins in the Black Hawk district are well defined 

at fresh exposures but are rather inconspicuous in exposures at the 

surface. They cut the rocks within an area of nearly 4 square miles.

According to an unpublished report by A. A, Leach (1917), the

ganglie iH the Vein IS COmpOSed Of partly silicified carbonates. The

silicified gangue is commonly a fine-grained jasperoid. Pyrite, galena, 

sphalerite, and chalcopyrite are associated m the vein with niccolite, 

nickel skutterudite, smaltite (cobalt skutterudite), native silver, and 

argentite. Fitcnmende has been reported in the Black Hawk and Alhambra

mines, and the Black Hawk dump was carefully examined for vein 

material, but a few specimens Of Carbonate gangue containing small 

amounts of metallic sulfides were all that COUld be found.2

1 Pitchblende has been definitely identified in specimens from dumps in the Black Hawk district as a 

result of more recent work by Elliot Gillerman and D. H. Whitebread, of the Geological Survey.
RADIOACTIVE DEPOSITS IN NEW MEXICO 351

The presence of cobalt-, nickel-, and silver-bearing minerals in a 

gangue of carbonates and silicified carbonates indicates a similarity 

between the mineral assemblage in the Black Hawk district and that 

hi many deposits known to contain pitchblende.

Radioactivity. In July 1949 the engineers of the U. S. Bureau of 

Mines examined the dump of the Alhambra mine with a Geiger 

counter. They found that one small pile of ore was slightly radioactive. The Bureau also tested several specimens of cobalt-nickel 

ore from the Alhambra mine which had been submitted by Albert A. 

Leach. One specimen was found to be very radioactive, probably 

because of the presence of pitchblende.

Granger and Bauer tested a specimen of native silver from the 

Black Hawk mine, owned by Ira Wright, Silver City, N. Mex. The 

specimen, about 60 to 80 percent native silver, registers 15 divisions 

on the 2.0 scale of a field counter. The average background was about 

4 divisions on the 0.2 scale.

No radioactivity over twice normal background was observed on 

the Black Hawk or nearby dumps along the Black Hawk vein. One 

small dump about a mile south of the Black Hawk mine, on the west 

wall of the canyon, registered 10 divisions on the 0.2 scale. The 

country rock showed no abnormal radioactivity.

BLACK HAWK MINE

The Black Hawk property consists of 14 claims, 8 of them patented. 

In 1950 it was owned by the Black Hawk Consolidated Mines Co., 

Milwaukee, Wis. Ira Wright, of Silver City, N. Mex., was general 

manager.

The mine includes 4 vertical shafts and 1 inclined shaft, all caved and 

inaccessible. According to old reports, the main shaft extends from 

the surface to the eighth level, 450 feet below the surface, and a winze 

on the eighth level extends 150 feet deeper; the total depth is 600 feet.

The vein is exposed on the second level for 434 feet to the east and 

80 feet to the west of the shaft.

The Black Hawk mine is reported to have produced $650,000 in 

silver between 1881 and 1889.

AIHAMBKA MINE

The Alhambra mine is on a group of 5 patented and 3 unpatented 

claims owned, in 1950, by Albert A. and Frances 1. Leach, Lordsburg, 

N. Mex. The main shaft is reported to be 400 feet deep, and the mine 

contains several hundred feet of horizontal workings.

Records show that the Alhambra mine produced $400,000 in silver 

before 1893.
352 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GEOLOGY .OF URANIUM

ROSE MIWE

The Rose mine is on a patented claim owned, in 1950, by Mrs. 

Elizabeth J. McCabe, Pasadena, Calif.

It is reported that the main shaft is 200 feet deep and that there are 

levels at 50, 100, 150, and 200 feet. At present, these workings are 

caved and inaccessible.

Past production is reported to be $140,000 in silver.

OTHER DEPOSITS 

BINES HO, i PEOSPECT

The Hines No. 1 prospect is in the NE$ sec. 34, T. 21 S., R. 14 W., 

about 13 miles by road southeast of White Signal (fig. 50). The 

deposit was discovered by Joe Frost and Charles Russell, of Tyrone, 

in March 1950. The property may be reached from White Signal by 

traveling 1.5 miles east along the White Signal-Whitewater road and 

then turning south to the Royall Ranch. Beyond the ranch the road is 

indefinite and inquiry should be made for directions to the property.

Development consists of two pits. The deposit was examined by 

Harry C. Granger, Herman L. Bauer, Jr., and Elliot Gillerman in 

April 1950; it was re-examined and mapped by Elliot Gillerman in 

June 1950 (unpublished report).

The Hines deposit is in Bliss (?) sandstone of Cambrian age. The 

exposure is 250 to 300 feet wide and is surrounded by alluvium on all 

but the northwest side where it is in fault contact with pre-Cambrian 

granite. This fault strikes N. 30° E. and seems to dip steeply northwest.

The Bliss (?) sandstone in this vicinity consists of medium-grained 

well-cemented silicified white quartzite, grayish-green ferruginous 

quartzite, gray quartzite, sandstone, and a bed of brown mediumgrained limestone 10 feet thick, which contains gastropod fragments,

These rocks strike northwest and dip steeply to the northeast near the

two pits. A small northwestward-trending fault cuts the sedimentary

rocks a short distance north of the pits (fig. 52).

Fluorite and autunite(?) are present in quartzite breccia along a 

nearly vertical shatter zone that strikes N. 85° E. A subsidiary 

breccia zone, which strikes N. 50° W., branches southeastward from

the main zone. Scheelite occurs in a similar breccia zone that strikes

about 3ST. 75° E. It is close to, but not contiguous with, the fluoriteailtunite zone, The fluorite is white, violet, or dark purple; it is 

found as fissure fallings and matrix in the breccia in pit 2. Rare small

crystals of a yellow fluorescent material, tentatively identified as

aUtUflite, coat fracture surfaces on the c^uartzite in pit 2, but tbe-^ ai-o

generally not closely associated with the fluorite. No radioactive 

material was found in pit 1.
RADIOACTIVE DEPOSITS IN NEW MEXICO 353

.EXPLANATION

Overburden

Diabase dike

Granite

Bliss(?) sandstone

Contact, dashed where 

approximately located

Inferred contact

Fault showing dip, dashed 

where approximately located

Strike and dip 

of beds

Geology by Elliot Gilterman, June 1950 

FIGURE 52. Geologic sketch map of the Hines No. 1 prospect, Grant County, N. Mex.

The time when mineralization occurred is unknown; the paragenetic 

relation of the fluorite and the autunite(?) are inconclusive, but the 

autunite(?) appears to be later.

Radioactive breccia exposed in pit 2 gave a maximum reading of 5 

divisions on the 2.0 scale of a beta-gamma counter. Two channel 

samples across the breccia zone, one in the east end and one in the 

west end of pit 2, both contained 0.004 percent uranium (table 8). A 

grab sample, submitted by the owner, assayed 0.027 percent equivalent 

uranium.

IANGFORD PROSPECT

The Langford prospect is in the S^ sec. 25, T. 22 S., R. 16 W., about 

23 miles by road south of White Signal; it can be reached by driving 

19.5 miles south from White Signal on the Separ road and then turning
354 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GEOLOGY OF URANIUM

TABLE 8. Analyses of samples from the Hines No. 1 prospect, Grant County,

N. Mex.

Sample no.

HLB-14-134 - 

135. 

136....

Locality

Pit 2.. . 

.....do.....

Pltl......

Description

Quartzite breccia and fluorite. Channel sample 

1.5 ft long.

ft long.

Equivalent 

uranium 

(percent)

0.005 

.006

.001

Uranium 

(percent)

0.004 

.004

.001

west for 3.5 miles on a dirt road to the prospect (fig. 50). This deposit 

was discovered by Charles Russell, of Tyrone, and was undeveloped in 

1950. It was examined and mapped by Elliot Gillerman in April and

June 1950 (unpublished report).

The deposit is in a silicified breccia zone cutting fine-grained grayishpink pre-Cambrian granite. Many pegmatite dikes, 2 inches to 2 feet 

wide, are found in the granite; south and southeast of the deposit 

rhyolite and diabase dikes cut the granite also.

Two ore minerals are present; a dark-purple fluorite and a yellow 

uranium mineral, possibly autunite, associated with pink calcite in 

the silicified breccia zone. The breccia is exposed in a fault for about 

150 feet along the north bank of a small creek. The fault strikes 

N. 35° W. and dips 65° SE. The fluorite and autunite (?) are limited 

to the middle 50 feet of the exposure, but pink calcite is found along 

the entire exposed length of the fault. The vein minerals are present 

throughout the 2>z- to 3^-foot zone of breccia but are most concentrated on the footwall side of the fault. Fluorite is found as tiny 

violet to dark-purple crystals in veinlets less than half an inch wide. 

The bright-yellow autunite (?) lines cavities in the breccia less than 

5 mm in diameter. The dark-purple fluorite was found to be 

radioactive.

The radioactive breccia zone gave a maximum reading of 5 divisions

on the 2.O scale of a beta-gamma counter.

REPORTED OCCURRENCES

The following reported uranium occurrences in Grant County have

not yet been studied by the U. S. Geological Survey and are not 

included in this report: many small deposits in the White Signal

district, some of which are included in the unpublished report by 

Keith (1945a); torbernite from the Chino disseminated copper pit

Mountains; and radioactive xenoliths in Tertiary lavas in Little

Gallinas Canyon in the Black Range. Two samples of cherty material from Little Gallinas Canyon were submitted by C. H. Rogers to

the U. S. Geological Survey for analysis. They contained 0.068 and 

0.016 percent uranium, respectively.
RADIOACTIVE: DEPOSITS IN NEW MEXICO 355 

LITERATURE

:.;* 

The ore deposits of the White Signal and Black Hawk districts are

described briefly in U. S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 68 

(Lindgren, Graton, and Gordon, 1910, p. 321-324), but the discussion 

is limited to the gold, silver, and base-metal deposits. The general 

geology and mineral deposits (exclusive of uranium) of the White 

Signal district have also been discussed by Sidney Paige in U. S. 

Geological Survey Geologic Atlas, folio 199 (1916).

The first published reports dealing with uranium in these districts 

are by F. I. Leach (1920) and Granger and Bauer (1952). Each of 

these reports describes in detail a small area, usually a single property.

LEA COUNTY

The following information was abstracted from an unpublished 

report by R. P. McNeal (1950a).

Abnormal radioactivity has been detected in several of the oilfields 

of Lea County in southeastern New Mexico (fig. 49, deposit 23). 

These fields, including the Hobbs, Monument, Cooper, and Jal, are 

along the western edge of the central basin platform bordering the 

Delaware basin.

Production in these fields comes from the San Andres, Big lime (of 

drillers), and Seven Rivers formations, all of Permian age. The depth 

of producing strata ranges from 3,300 to 4,100 feet.

The positions of the radioactivity anomalies, as represented on some 

gamma ray logs by extremely high deflections, correspond closely to 

the positions of the producing strata. A precipitate which lines the 

tubing in some wells is strongly radioactive. Radioactivity anomalies 

have been noted only in those wells that produce water with the oil. 

All available evidence indicates that the radioactive elements were 

transported by water.

Localization of the radioactive fields along the west edge of the 

central basin platform and the fact that the oil production of the 

radioactive wells is from Permian formations suggest a possible relationship of radioactivity to the Permian evaporites in the Delaware 

basin to the west.

MORA COUNTY, COYOTE CREEK

The following information has been taken from an unpublished 

report by G. B. Gott and R. L. Erickson (1951) and from U. S. 

Geological Survey Circ. 334 by H. D. Zeller and E. H. Baltz (1954).

Copper-uranium-bearing black shale and sandstone of the Permian 

Sangre de Cristo formation are exposed 2 to 3 miles south of Guadalupita on Coyote Creek (fig. 49, deposit 10). The abnormal radioactivity of the shale was first discovered in 1951 by Charles B. Read
356 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GEOLOGY OF URANIUM

and George O. Bachman, of the U. S. Geological Survey. The shale 

is about 5 feet thick, dips nearly vertically, is nonmarine, and is 

overlain and underlain by arkosic sandstones. The deposits are in 

lenticular carbonaceous zones in both shales and sandstones. 

Chalcocite, pyrite, and malachite are abundant. Uraninite from 

copper sulfide nodules in the black shales has been identified, and 

tyuyamunite is disseminated in some of the arkosic sandstones. 

Zeller and Baltz (1954) conclude that copper and uranium were 

syngenetically deposited with the sediments and concentrated in the 

carbonaceous zones during lithification. They report that samples 

from some of the zones contain as much as 0.67 percent uranium and 

average 3 percent copper.

RIO ABRIBA COUNTY

Uranium minerals are present in many different places in Rio 

Arriba County. In the mountains, along the eastern border of the 

county, near the town of Petaca, samarskite is found in pegmatites 

cutting pre-Cambrian schist. A few miles south of Coyote, black 

shales of Jurassic age show abnormal radioactivity. Two copper 

districts at Jarosa and at Cobre basin, in the western part of the 

county, contain radioactive plant remains associated with copper 

minerals in sandstones of Permian and Triassic age.

PETACA PEGMATITE

Hess and Wells (1930) reported a samarskite-bearing pegmatite 

2% miles southwest of the town of Petaca (fig. 49, deposit 9). At 

the time of their examination this land belonged to Charles Springer, 

of Cimmaron, N. Mex. The claim was located for mica and included 

one of a group of pegmatites that extends about 14 miles north and 

south. These pegmatites strike northwest and dip southwest roughly 

parallel to the schistosity of the pre-Cambrian quartz-mica schist

whicH they intrude.

Within the pegmatite large masses of pink microcline as much 

as 10 feet in diameter are associated with vein quartz, white microcline, and muscovite in books up to 18 inches thick. The radioactixre minerals replace tlae micx-ocline. Ttie minerals consist of masses

of samarskite, ranging in size from microscopic grains up to pieces

an inch thick, and of imperfect crystals and larger masses of a dullreddish monazite. OTTOTC ^^^^^^

The information on this and the following three deposits has 

been abstracted from an unpublished report (1951) by G. 0. Bachman 

and C. B. Read.

A radioactive carbonaceous shale member of the Jurassic Todilto 

limestone crops out on a high mesa 4 miles south of the town of Coyote
RADIOACTIVE DEPOSITS IN NEW MEXICO 357

(fig. 49, deposit 6). The equivalent uranium content of this shale is 

estimated at 0.005 percent.

COPPER CITY GROUP

The Copper City group of prospects is in a coarse sandstone 

member of the Triassic Chinle formation in the southern part of the 

county, approximately 7 miles east of Cuba (fig. 49, deposit 7). 

Copper carbonates and sulfides associated with carbonized plant 

remains have been mined on this property. This organic matter 

contains an estimated 0.006 percent equivalent uranium. The copper 

content averages 1 % percent.

JAROSA DISTRICT

Twenty-five miles east of Cuba, in the Jarosa district on the eastern 

flank of San Pedro Mountain (fig. 49, deposit 8), copper minerals 

have been found at several places in the Cutler formation of Permian 

age. The prospects are in a radioactive zone about 4 feet thick and 

contain carbonaceous material. This zone is estimated to contain 

about 1 percent copper and 0.006 percent equivalent uranium.

COBRE BASIN GROUP

Cobre basin is in the southeastern part of the county 7 miles 

northeast of Abiquiu (fig. 49, deposit 5). Radioactive low-grade 

copper-ore bodies are found in a coarse sandstone of the Triassic 

Chinle formation. The radioactive material is localized by carbonized 

plant remains. The equivalent uranium content of these deposits 

is estimated at 0.005 percent and the copper content at 0.8 percent.

LITERATURE

The first published report on uranium-bearing material from Rio 

Arriba County was issued in 1930 by Hess and Wells (1930, p. 17-26) 

on the pegmatites near Petaca. This report is primarily about 

mineralogy and about the laboratory methods employed by the authors 

to ascertain the age of the pegmatite by determining lead-uranium 

ratios on the samarskite. An article by L. R. Page (1950) in Economic 

Geology also discusses these deposits. A reconnaissance report by 

Bachman and Read (unpublished, 1951) briefly describes radioactive 

spring deposits, coal and black shale, and sandstone copper deposits 

in Rio Arriba and Sandoval Counties.

SANDOVAL COUNTY

Sandoval County, in north-central New Mexico, just south of Rio 

Arriba County, contains many different radioactive deposits, all of 

secondary origin. Radioactive coal and black shale are found near 

San Ysidoro and on La Ventana Mesa. Hot spring waters are
358 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GEOLOGY OF URANIUM

depositing radioactive tufa at Jemez Springs and Caseman well. 

A short distance from Jemez Springs a sedimentary copper deposit, 

known as the Spanish Queen group, is associated with uraniumbearing carbonized plant remains. The Perry Robb spring deposits 

near Jemez Springs were studied in detail by Granger (unpublished 

report). Many of his conclusions about them may have wider 

applications; hence these deposits are discussed in some detail. The 

available information on the other deposits in the county is much 

more limited, and they can only be described briefly in this report.

RADIOACTIVE SPRING DEPOSITS, PERRY ROBB PROPERTY, JEMEZ SPRINGS

By H. C. GRANGER

A radioactive thermal spring deposit near Jemez Springs, Sandoval 

County, N. Mex., was brought to the attention of the U. S. Geological 

Survey by Mr. Perry Robb in January 1950. The deposit is along 

the Jemez River in sec. 14, T. 18 N., R. 2 E., New Mexico principal 

meridian (fig. 49, deposit 12). It may be reached by going north 

1.7 miles from Jemez Springs on a graded dirt road, State Highway 4.

The thermal spring deposits are in the valley of the Jemez River. 

The valley is a sharply incised canyon 1,700 feet deep; the valley floor 

is less than 1,000 feet wide and the canyon runs are about 2 miles 

apart. One of the springs has formed an elongated deposit (fig. 53) 

of calcareous tufa across the valley that has partly dammed the Jemez 

River. This deposit is a local scenic attraction and is called the 

Soda Dam. The Soda Dam and surrounding deposits were examined by the author in April 1950. A sketch map on a scale of 1 inch 

equals 100 feet was made (fig. 53); 5 samples of calcareous tufa, 4 of

thermal spring waters and 1 sample of river water were collected. 

General Geology. The oldest rock in the area, a medium-grained

pre-Cambrian granite with red feldspar, is exposed along the floor of 

the Jemez River valley. This granite underlies 700 feet of Paleozoic 

limestone, sandstone, and shale of the Pennsylvania!! Magdalena group 

and Permian Abo sandstone. The rocks are exposed as apparently 

flat-lying bedS alODg bOth Walls Of the Jemez River vaUey. They are 

capped by volcanic rocks ranging in composition from rnyollte to 

andesite of Cretaceous to Quaternary age. The most recent rocks

are thermal spring deposits Of calcareous tufa. Springs emit water 

ranging from 10° to 70° C.

Radioactivity. ]VIost of the deposits left by tke thermal SpriDgS

are Of White radioactive porous calcareous tufa, but some contain 

massive travertine and rarely pisoKtiC Calcite. NORF th8 CanjOIl

walls tufa commonly contains fragments of talus which fell while the 

deposit was being formed. Locally the white tufa contains a black 

sooty radioactive material. These black areas are commonly less
RADIOACTIVE DEPOSITS IN NEW MEXICO 359

'-''t- ^~'x''\' i! *

N \ ~\ '-' -/' | v ,\l £/ ' JS-8 ^'-LON^',-',^! # / 

' "_., x I -\s\ N I - '°/ / (

'/Vi-'v-:^,^ 1 / ^//

FIOUBK 53. Sketch map showing geology and sample locations, Perry Robb deposit, Sandoval County,

N. Mex.
360 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GEOLOGY OF URANIUM

than 4 feet long and 1 foot thick, but they may be as much as 15 feet 

long and 2 feet thick. The black material appears to follow the 

layering of tufa.

The thickness of the tufa deposits above the nearby granitic rock 

is not known but is assumed to average at least 6 feet. All the porous 

calcareous tufa is weakly radioactive. An average normal background reading is about 4 divisions on the 0.2 scale of a beta-gamma 

counter; the average radioactivity of the more recently deposited tufa 

ranges between 7 and 12 divisions. The tufa and travertine that is 

obviously older has much lower radioactivity, commonly less than 

twice the normal background. The most radioactive part of the 

deposit is the black sooty material parallel to the tufa layers. The 

radioactivity of this material ranges from 4 to 10 divisions on the 

2.0 scale.

Sampling and grade. Both the spring water and the calcareous 

tufa deposits were sampled. Water from 3 thermal springs (JS-2, 

5, 8) and the river (JS-9) contained 0.040 ppm uranium; 1 thermal 

spring (JS-7) contained 0.036 ppm uranium. Analyses of grab 

samples (table 9) cut in the white tufa contained from 0.002 to 0.0006 

percent equivalent uranium compared to 0.023 to 0.20 percent equivalent uranium in tufa that contained the black sooty material. 

Radium has been tentatively identified as the major radioactive 

element.

TABLE 9. Analyses (in percent) of samples from the Perry Robb deposit, Sandoval

County N. Mex.

Field no.

JS-L. ......

3............

4............

6............

10 

Material

Calcareous tufa... .........

.....do..... .............

..... do ......... ...... ...

eU

0.006

.20

noQ

H09

u

n nn9

001

.000

.000

000

Th02

0.02

.002

.01

.02

Ba

0.1

1.0

. 1

.1

.01

Sr

.01

.01

.01

.01

Origin oj radioactive material. According to Doerner and Hoskins 

(1925): "In the presence of a large excess of barium over radium, 

sulphate ions will precipitate radium even though the solubility 

product of radium is not exceeded." Inasmuch as the radioactivity 

from one gram of uranium is eau.iWU~* to *KO radioactivity from

5.3X10 grams of radium it is evident that the samples contained 

a large excess of barium over radium. For example, sample JS-3 

excluding the quantity of uranium and thorium, contains 1.06X10"7

percent radium and 1.0 percent barium, or a ratio of radium to bailUm

of x-oughij i to 10,000,000.

Assuming from the field and laboratory evidence that the method 

of coprecipitation described by Doerner and Hoskins was instrumental 

in precipitating the radium in these spring deposits, the calcareous
RADIOACTIVE DEPOSITS IN NEW MEXICO 361

tufa, mainly calcite, and the radioactive material, radium, have been 

precipitated from solution in thermal spring waters that have cooled 

and partly evaporated at the surface. The abnormal temperature of 

the water may be caused by igneous activity, by heat developed 

along a fault plane, or by exothermic chemical reactions. Probably 

the path of the water passes near or through a body of uncooled 

igneous instrusive rock. The calcite in the tufa could be derived 

from lime-rich beds in the overlying Magdalena group and Abo 

sandstone, alteration of calcic feldspar and other minerals in the 

ignepus rocks, or calcium-rich primary magmatic solutions. The 

lime-rich beds in the overlying formations are believed to be the most 

probable source.

The radium coprecipitated with barium sulfate must have come 

from uranium somewhere along the path of the spring waters. It is 

not known whether the uranium, from which the radium was derived, 

is an epigenetic deposit in the form of a vein or dissemination or a 

syngenetic deposit of uranium minerals in the rocks traversed by the 

spring waters. Also, it is not known whether the uranium has been 

dissolved and washed away by the spring waters or whether the 

deposit is, for the most part, still in place.

CASEMAN WELL

Slight radioactivity was found by Bachman and Read (unpublished 

report, 1951) in travertine around Caseman well, 10.6 miles north of 

San Ysidro.

SAN YSIDRO COALFIELD

Radioactive coal has been found (Bachman, G. 0., and Read, C. B., 

unpublished report, 1951) in the San Ysidro coalfield in sec. 31, T. 15 

N., R. 1 E., New Mexico principal meridian (fig. 49, deposit 15). This 

coal is in the Upper Cretaceous Dakota sandstone in beds about 1 

foot thick which grade laterally into carbonaceous shales. The coal 

is estimated to contain 0.002 percent equivalent uranium.

LA VENTANA MESA

The information on La Ventana Mesa, as. well as that on the San 

Ysidro coalfield and the Spanish Queen group, has been taken from 

unpublished reports by Bachman and Read (1951) and by Vine, 

Bachman, Read, and Moore (1953).

La Ventana Mesa is about IK miles east of La Ventana, N. Mex. 

(fig. 49, deposit 11). Radioactive coal and shale are present in the 

upper part of the Cretaceous Mesaverde formation near the top of 

the mesa, and the La Ventana sandstone member of the Mesaverde 

formation that caps the mesa contains carnotite. Uranium is also 

present in carbonaceous lenses in the basal member of the Mesaverde
362 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GEOLOGY OF URANIUM

formation and in the Dakota sandstone east of La Ventana Mesa; 

however, the only deposits of possible economic importance, so far as 

could be determined, are those on La Ventana Mesa. These deposits 

are largely concentrated in coal seams immediately beneath the La 

Ventana sandstone and appear to have been localized by tent-shaped 

structures in the beds immediately beneath the coal seams, minor 

synclines within the coal seams, joints in the overlying La Ventana 

sandstone, carbonaceous material, and porous sandstone beds. The 

zone of greatest radioactivity does not exceed 0.6 of a foot in thickness 

at most places observed. However, this zone is known to grade 

laterally into thick coal beds and a radioactive zone of greater thickness may be present. Figures 54 and 55 show the geologic relations 

of the radioactive material on La Ventana Mesa and nearby places. 

Sample analyses are given in table 10.

TABLE 10. Analyses. (in percent) of samples from La Ventana Mesa, Sandoval

County, N. Mex.-

[Preliminary analyses (unpublished report, 1951) for uranium, ash, and uranium in ash by O. 0. Bachman

and 0. B. Read]

Sample DO.

BNM-48... ...i ............................

Bl... ............................................

62..... --_-- _. .._ _.. _..-.

53 .' . . . . 

54 

56 

Equivalent 

uranium

0.032

.010

.003

.122

.003

.005

Uranium

0.02

.01

.2

Ash

80

70

45

Uranium 

in ash

0.03

.01

.5

West of the Rio Puerco the coal beds are much less radioactive than 

on La Ventana Mesa. This may be due partly to the presence of a

marine shale which becomes prominent westward in the La Ventana

sandstone. TKe marine shale has lowered the permeability of tne

La Ventana sandstone and may have deterred the passage of solutions

bearing radioactive elements. In the opinion of Vine, Bachman,

Read, and MOOre (Unpublished report, 1953), the deposits are diagenetic; uranium, was introduced, by ground water and rnay originally

have been derived from the slightly uraniferous Bandolier tuff of

Pliocene age which now covers a large area east of the Nacumento

Mountains.

Coal samples collected by Vine, Bachman, Read, and M!oore (unpublished report, 1953) contain as much as 0.62 percent U, and 1.34

percent U in the ash.

SPANISH QUEEN GROUP

By G. O. BACHMAN and C. B. HEAX>

The Spanish Queen group of copper mines and prospects, about 50

miles northwest of Albuquerque, is in the Permian Abo formation that 

crops out in the canyonwalls of the Jemez River (fig. 49, deposit 13).
Geology after C. H. Dane, 1936. U. S. Geological Surve

radioactivity survey by G. 0. Bachman and C. B. Rea

FIGURE 54. Geologic map'of La Ventana Mesa and vicinity, Sandova
364 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GEOLOGY OF URANIUM

om

!*5S,' Si? -.. . .-!>. -m

I'l'l'l'l'l'l'l'l'l I I I I

ll 1.1,1, ll 1.1 ,t ,1 ll 1111 ill I

|«z5? Jotn^

w o

4

30H3AVS3W
RADIOACTIVE DEPOSITS IN NEW MEXICO 365

Intermittent operations over a considerable period of time have resulted in the development of two small mines and several prospects, 

none of which was active in 1951. One of these small mines is the 

East Spanish Queen mine (fig. 56).

EXPLANATION 

U

U, upthrown side; D, downthrown side

^M^^M 

Inferred limits of ore body

Surface working and dump

Underground working

H 

Shaft

Caved ground

njz=t

Mine track

BNM 34

Sample location and number

Mopped by G. 0. Bochmon ond C. B. Reod, August I9SI 

FIGURE 56. Sketch map of the East Spanish Queen mine, Jemez. Canyon, Sandoval County, N. Mox.

The series of prospects on the east side of the Jemez River was 

examined and found to be variably radioactive through a vertical 

zone up to 6 feet thick. Radioactivity seems to be stronger in and 

near carbonaceous material which is also the place of concentration of 

the copper sulfides chalcocite and bornite. Estimated average equivalent uranium in the copper ore body is 0.01 percent, but selected
366 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GEOLOGY OF URANIUM

samples contain as much as 0.1 percent equivalent uranium. No 

identifiable uranium minerals were observed. The copper content of 

the deposit is believed to average about 3 percent and the inferred 

magnitude of the ore body is 20,000 tons.

One small mine has been developed in the west wall of Jemez canyon. 

Sparse copper ore is present in 6 feet of sandstone and siltstone; the 

estimated grade of the ore is not in excess of 1 percent. Radioactivity 

is apparent throughout the workings, partly due to radon gas contamination in the stagnant air. Equivalent uranium is estimated at 

0.01 percent, but selected samples may contain 0.1 percent. The 

inferred size of the sandstone ore body is about 10,000 tons.

LITERATURE

The first report on radioactive occurrences in the county was by 

Granger (unpublished report, 1951) who made a thorough investigation of the Perry Robb hot springs near Jemez Springs. This report 

was soon followed by a reconnaissance report by Bachman and Read 

(unpublished report, 1951) that describes the radioactivity at Caseman 

well, Jemez Springs, San Ysidro coalfield, La Ventana Mesa, and the 

Spanish Queen copper deposits. The Spanish Queen prospects were 

later visited and briefly summarized by Gott and Erickson (unpublished report, 1951). Read (unpublished report, 1952) and Vine, 

Bachman, Read, and Moore (unpublished report, 1953) re-examined 

the deposits in the La Ventana Mesa area.

SAN JUAN COUNTY

The uranium deposits of San Juan County in northwestern New 

Mexico are confined to carnotite disseminated in the Morrison formation. The stratigraphy and lithology of the carnotite ore strata have 

been discussed in a paper by L. C. Craig and V. L. Freeman (unpublished report, 1951). The uranium has been found only in the basal

or Salt W&sh sandstone member of the Morrison formation, The 

Salt Wash sandstone is a continental stream deposit composed dominantly of fine- to medium-grained sandstones with some interbedded 

sandy siltstones. Ore does not occur where there is little sandstone

or where the sandstone units are thin, platy, and lenticular. The 

descriptions of the carnotite deposits of the Oak Springs and Navajo 

Reservation districts follow. No reports on the deposits at Beautiful 

Mountain or Toadlena (fig. 49, deposits 2, 4) were available before

1952,

Some gas wells in the Rattlesnake field in the west-central part of 

the county -were tested (McNeal, R. P., 1950a unpublished report),

but the uranium content was negligible. Three helium-bearing gas 

wells in the northwestern part of the county were checked for radioactivity, and water samples were analyzed in the Denver laboratories
RADIOACTIVE DEPOSITS IN NEW MEXICO 367

of the Survey. No unusual radioactivity could be detected with a 

Geiger counter, and the highest uranium content in any of the water 

samples was only 0.04 parts per million of uranium.

OAK SPRINGS DISTRICT, CANYON NO. 2 CLAIM

Canyon No. 2 claim in the Oak Springs district (fig. 49, deposit 1) 

is located about 10 miles north of Redrock, Ariz., and about 1 mile 

east of the Canyon claim which is on the New Mexico-Arizona border. 

The claim was held and had been operated by Cato Sells before 1952. 

A road leads to a rim 20 feet above the mine workings.

Five small exposures have been worked, and a few tons of carnotite 

ore have been shipped.

The ore is in the Salt Wash sandstone member of the Morrison 

formation. The position of the contact between the Salt Wash 

sandstone and the Bluff sandstone is unknown. The ore is concentrated in a body 20 feet west of a basaltic dike and in bodies adjacent 

to the dike. The dike, which strikes N. 20 W. and dips vertically, is 

about 3 feet thick. Another dike of similar attitude, but only 1 foot 

thick, cuts the claim about 300 feet farther west. No alteration of 

the sandstone near the dike is evident; nor is there any noticeable 

displacement of the bed, which has a regional dip of 3° to the east. 

The ore extends 200 feet west of the dike; it extends only 12 feet to 

the east but reappears again in a small area 425 feet away from the 

dike. The sandstone enclosing the ore is light gray, fine grained, and 

shows crossbedding. Above and below the sandstone are blue-green 

clays containing a few fossil branches and other carbonaceous material. Above the upper clay seam is a massive buff sandstone. A 

second mineralized seam, not over 3 inches thick, is 15 feet above the 

main zone.

The environment and existing exposures point favorably to the 

possibility of finding more ore on the claim.

NAVAJO RESERVATION (DISTRICT 12), JOHNSON CLAIM

The Johnson claim is approximately 3 miles east of the Arizona 

State line (fig. 49, deposit 3). A measurement from an aerial-photograph mosaic showed the location to be about latitude 36°24' N., 

longitude 109°0' W. A wagon road runs to the claim, but the last 

\% miles are impassable by automobile.

In 1951 the claim was held jointly by Innes Johnson, Sr., and Innes 

Johnson, Jr., of Sanastee, N. Mex.

The area examined was on the southern and southwestern cliffs of 

a large mesa. The dip of about 15° toward the northeast causes the 

high cliffs to the south and west; to the east and northeast the mesa 

grades into the flats. The carnotite deposits are in the Salt Wash 

sandstone member of the Morrison formation about 100 feet above
368 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GEOLOGY OF URANIUM

the base. Three areas of rather strong uranium mineralization are 

spaced at about 1 mile intervals around the mesa. Between these 

areas most of the surface is covered with unconsolidated sand. Vanadium minerals are abundant on these sand slopes, but uranium minerals are sparse.

Although adequate information as to the extent of mineralization 

between the widely separated exposures will not be available without 

further exploratory work, it is felt that the few mineralized areas now 

visible do not warrant further field work on this particular claim.

LITERATURE

The first radioactivity survey in the county was made by McNeal 

(unpublished report, 1950), who investigated several gas wells in and 

around the Rattlesnake field in 1950 but found no unusual radioactivity. In the spring of the following year Ellsworth (written communication, 1951) and Hatfield (written communication, 1951) 

visited two carnotite prospects on the Navajo Reservation in western 

San Juan County. At about the same time an unpublished report 

(1951) on the distribution, stratigraphy, and lithology of the ore 

strata was prepared by Craig and Freeman. Stokes (1951) reported 

on the carnotite deposits of the Carrizo Mountains area in New Mexico 

and Arizona. The deposits at Beautiful Mountain and Toadlena 

are shown on Craig and Freeman's map but are not discussed individually in their report.

SIERRA COUNTY

The only locality in Sierra County on which uraniferous material 

had been developed before 1952 is the Terry uranop/hane prospect,

about 2 miles northeast of the town of Monticello. A piece of radioactive ilmenite "float" was picked up in the Hillsboro district and

there are rumors of pitchblende "ledges" in the Black Range; however,

a Geiger counter surrey of the area failed to locate any radioactive 

deposits.

FROSFECT, MONTTCEULO

By H. C. GRANGER

Uranophane is associated with fluorite in jasperoid breccia on the 

Terry prospect, 2 miles northeast of Monticello (fig. 49, deposit 19).

Tke Terry prospect, consisting of the Pitchblende Strikes NoS. 1, 2, 3,

and 4 claims, is just south of the San Mateo Mountains in sec. 26,

X. 1O S., It. 6W"., New ^Mexico principal meridian. In 1951 tlie claims

were owned jointly by Ray Terry, Earl Terry, W. H. Terry, and W. H. 

Terry, Jr., of Hot Springs, N. Mex. The only development work on 

the claim consisted of 2 prospect pits in the uranophane-fluorite 

deposit and 2 small pits dug in the Quaternary gravels (fig. 57).
RADIOACTIVE DEPOSITS IN NEW MEXICO 369

The prospects may be reached by driving northerly from Monticello 

for 1.5 miles on the Red Rocks ranger station road and then going 

southeasterly for 0.7 mile on a poor ranch road. From this point an 

obscure track leads northeasterly for 0.5 mile to the prospect pits.

The deposit was examined on April 27, 1950, by H. C. Granger and 

Herman L. Bauer of the Geological Survey, accompanied by Ray 

Terry, of Hot Springs, N. Mex. A pace and compass map of the 

deposit was made on a scale of 1 inch equals 10 feet, and 7 samples 

were collected.

General geology. A bed of gray and red jasperoid which strikes 

about N. 50° W. and dips 40° NE. is the oldest rock on the Terry 

uranophane prospect. Its thickness is unknown. The jasperoid is 

tentatively identified as part of the Kelly limestone of Mississippian

PS-2, 0.006

Somple locotion, number, ond 

percent uranium

FIGURE 57. Geologic sketch map and section, Terry prospect, Sierra County, N. Mex.
370 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GEOLOGY OF URANIUM

age because of its lithologic similarity to rock described by Loughlin 

and Koschmann (1943, p. 53) in the nearby Magdalena district.

Beds of partly silicified limestone and sandstone, probably belonging 

to the Magdalena group of Pennsylvanian age, overlie the jasperoid. 

These beds strike N. 10° to 20° W. and dip 40° to 45° NE. A sill of 

feldspar porphyry at least 600 feet long and 200 feet wide cuts the 

jasperoid about 300 feet north of the uranophane deposits. The feldspar porphyry is light gray and contains feldspar phenocrysts about 

3 mm in diameter in a felsitic groundmass. Quaternary gravels, composed predominantly of cobbles and pebbles of igneous rocks, are in 

fault(?) contact with jasperoid in the southwest part of the map area 

(fig. 57).

The uraniferous deposits at the Terry prospect are in a fault breccia 

that strikes N. 68° W. across the jasperoid. The dip is not known but 

is assumed to be nearly vertical. The contacts of the breccia are 

indistinct. The breccia, composed of jasperoid fragments and a few 

fragments of igneous rocks (porphyry) and limestone, grades into fractured jasperoid. The matrix of the breccia consists of silica and 

fluorite. Vugs in the fluorite are filled with white clay, and fractures 

in the fluorite and jasperoid contain uranophane and iron oxide. The 

sequence of mineral deposition is (1) quartz and chalcedony, (2) 

colorless crystals of fluorite in quartz, (3) green fluorite, (4) white 

clay, (5) hydrous iron oxide, and (6) uranophane and fluorescent 

hyalite. Silica occurs in the matrix as small quartz crystals, chalcedony, and jasper. The colorless and purple fluorite is commonly 

intergrown with quartz that was deposited contemporaneously with 

the fluorite. Vugs in the breccia are coated with fluorite crystals as 

large as 10 mm in diameter. Quartz veins cut the fluorite, and

fluorescent hyalite coats fractures in jasperoid. Green fluorite is rare 

in the deposit and in places appears to be later than the purple variety.

A white pulverulent hydrothermal clay mineral wholly or partly mis

cracks in the fluorite or fractures in the breccia.

Hydrous iron oxides on fractures in the breccia suggest that pyrite

probably is associated. witn the fluorite in tne unaltered parts 01 the

deposit. Uranophane has been deposited on fractures in fluorite; small

flat radiating groups of aeieular crystals less tnan 8 mm. in diameter

commonly coat fluorite or jasperoid. Uranophane is reported to be

more abundant in the lower 4 feet of prospect pit 1 matt lu pFeSent

exposures. Vugs in this part of the pit are lined with radiating

crystals Of uranophane as long as one-naif inch.

Radioactivity. Four channel samples and a grab sample irOul the

dump were taken at prospect pit 1, and a chip sample 4 feet long was

cut at prospect pit 2 (table 11). A grab sample of the feldspar
RADIOACTIVE DEPOSITS IN NEW MEXICO 371

TABLE 11. Analyses of samples from the Terry prospect, Monticello, Sierra County,

N. Mex.

[Radioactivity of samples P S-1 to P S-5 is given in the number of divisions on the 2.0 scale of a Qeigor counter"' 

radioactivity of samples PS-6 and PS-7 is given in divisions on the 0.2 scale]

Sample no.

PS-1

2

3...........

4...........

5.. .........

6.... .......

7.. .........

Description Radioactivity

3

3

3

3

6

4

8

eU 

(percent)

0.006

.008

.012

.037

.028

.002

.005

U 

(percent)

0.005

.006

.010

.034

.027

.001

.004

porphyry was taken so that its uranium content might be compared 

with that of the breccia.

The uranium content of samples taken in this deposit ranged from 

0.004 to 0.034 percent (fig. 57) in contrast to one dump sample taken 

by J. H. Soule (written communication, 1949), of the U. S. Bureau of 

Mines, which assayed 0.45 percent uranium oxide.

A sample of the feldspar porphyry intrusive rock contained 0.001 

percent uranium. The dump sample taken by the U. S. Bureau of 

Mines probably represents material from the bottom of prospect pit 

1, but this part of the deposit is now concealed. The presence of 

material of this grade, however, suggests that further exploration of 

the deposit, laterally or in depth, may result in finding similar grade 

ore. Other fluorite-bearing breccia zones in the jasperoid, if present, 

also should be prospected. In the southern part of the Magdalena 

district Loughlin and Koschmann (1943, p. 14-16, 53-54) described 

extensive areas of silicified Kelly limestone that might be worth 

prospecting for deposits similar to those on the Terry prospect.

RADIOACTIVE ILMENITE ON THE VIRGINIA CLAIM, HTLLSBORO DISTRICT

The following data have been abstracted from an unpublished 

report (1950b) by H. L. Bauer, Jr.

A specimen of radioactive ilmenite from the Virginia claim, Hillsboro district, Sierra County (fig. 49, deposit 20) was submitted to the 

Survey by the owner, Mr. B. 0. Bishop, of Silver City, N. Mex.

According to Mr. Bishop, development on the Virginia claim 

consists of a 52-foot vertical shaft, a 70- to 80-foot inclined shaft, and 

stopes. The openings are driven on the contact of an igneous rock 

and limestone. Vanadinite, wulfenite, galena, sphalerite, and cerussite are reported to occur at the claim.. The ilmenite specimen was 

a piece of float found 1,500 feet north of the vertical shaft and just 

below a limestone-monzonite contact. Dimensions of the specimen 

were approximately 2 inches by 1 inch by half an inch. Calcite and 

epidote were noted on one corner of the specimen. The ilmenite
372 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GEOLOGY OF URANIUM

specimen contained 1.4 percent equivalent uranium. Results of 

chemical analyses for uranium were not available when this report 

was written. Employees of the Bureau of Mines in Silver City 

examined the Virginia claim with a Geiger counter and found no 

radioactivity higher than background.

REPORTED OCCURRENCE OF PITCHBUBNDE, BLACK RANGE

This information was taken from an unpublished report (1950c) 

by H. C. Granger and H. L. Bauer, Jr.

On March 8, 1950, Mr. J. G. McPherson, Silver City, N. Mex., 

reported a possible occurrence of pitchblende in the Black Range, 

N. Mex., in or near sees. 2, 11, or 14, T. 14 S., R. 10 W., New Mexico 

principal meridian. This area was examined by Granger and Bauer 

in April 1950, but their investigation did not reveal any areas of 

abnormal radioactivity or evidence of uranium minerals.

SOCOBBO COUNTY, SAN ACACIA DISTBICT

A deposit near San Acacia (fig. 49, deposit 18) in shear zones in an 

andesitic flow contains small quantities of dolomite (?) and carnotite 

associated with secondary copper minerals, calcite, and quartz. One 

sample selected from dump material contained 0.026 percent uranium.

TOBBANCE COUNTY, SCHOLLE DISTBICT

G. B. Gott and R. L. Erickson (unpublished report, 1951) mention 

the occurrence of calcite, malachite, and azurite with carbonized 

wood, lignite, and pellets of hydrocarbon in a sandstone belonging to 

the Abo formation of Permian age from the Scholle district, T. 2 N., 

R. 5 E. (fig. 49, deposit 17). In addition, an article in the Grand 

Junction Daily Sentinel dated June 23, 1949, reports a uranium 

discovery made on June 4 of that year by William Mclllhaney, of 

Albuquerque, 3 miles north of Scholle. The article reports a large

area of low-grade radioactive sandstone and siltstone cut by a small

seam containing carnotite. A 2-pound sample from an unknown 

locality in the Scholle district was submitted to the U. S. Atomic 

Energy Commission in Grand Junction in the spring of 1949. This 

sample was reported to contain 6.65 percent UsOs, 5.35 percent ¥265,

and. 15.55 percent Cu.

VALENCIA AND McKINLEY COUNTIES

GRANTS DISTRICT

Tne folio-wing general information, on tne Grants district Las been

taken from an unpublished report (1950) by K, P, Fischer and J, D,

Strobell and from a more recent report by Irring Rappaport (1952).

The town of Grants, from which the district takes its name, is 80

miles west of Albuquerque and 60 miles east of Gallup on Koute 66
RADIOACTIVE, DEPOSITS IN NEW MEXICO 373

and the main line of the Santa Fe railroad. Uranium ore appears 

to be largely confined to sedimentary rocks of Jurassic age which are 

exposed in a belt extending northeastward from near Grants almost 

to Gallup. Another broad belt, about 25 miles east of Grants, trends 

northward. Uranium is concentrated hi two stratigraphic zones. 

The lower zone is in the Todilto limestone and overlying basal Summerville formation; the upper zone is in the Westwater Canyon sandstone 

and Brushy Basin shale members of the upper Jurassic Morrison 

formation, and overlying Dakota sandstone of Cretaceous age. These 

two zones are separated by 500 to 800 feet of barren rock.

General geology. The rocks in the Grants district, including the 

uranium-bearing formations, dip about 10° NE. from the broad Zuni 

Mountains uplift whose crystalline core is exposed about 25 miles to 

the southwest. The sedimentary rocks flanking the uplift range in 

age from Permian to Cretaceous. To the east they are buried by the 

Upper Cretaceous, Tertiary, and Quaternary volcanic rocks of the 

Mount Taylor field, but reappear east of these volcanic rocks. Northward the sedimentary rocks extend into the San Juan Basin.

A broad bench as wide as 2,000 feet in places has been developed 

on the Todilto limestone. Part of the bench is covered by a thin 

veneer of soil and by the basal beds of the overlying Summerville 

formation.

The Summerville formation consists of red-brown and white banded 

silty sandstone from 150 to 200 feet thick. The Summerville is 

overlain by the 150-foot thick Bluff sandstone, which is a massive 

white sandstone with local red and brown staining. The Bluff sandstone forms a cliff, but it is less extensive or prominent than the cliff 

formed by the Entrada sandstone that underlies the Todilto.

The Entrada, Todilto, Summerville, and Bluff formations together 

form the San Rafael group in this area.

The San Rafael group is overlain by 600 or 700 feet of Morrison 

rocks, predominantly sandstone, consisting of the Recapture shale, 

Westwater Canyon sandstone and Brushy Basin shale members; 

the Salt Wash sandstone member was not recognized in this region. 

The Morrison formation forms a steep slope interrupted by vertical 

cliffs, that rises to the Cretaceous Dakota sandstone escarpment.

The Todilto limestone is a thin-bedded dense gray crystalline 

limestone that weathers to tan, light gray, or white. Its thickness 

varies regionally from 5 to several tens of feet; where visible on the 

Rim Rock claim, the Todilto is estimated to be 12 to 15 feet thick. 

Eastward in New Mexico the formation is much thicker, contains 

gypsum, and the limestone is very fetid and bituminous. A fish 

fauna from the eastern (gypsiferous) facies of the Todilto limestone 

and the correlative Pony Express limestone member of Colorado is
374 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GEOLOGY OF URANIUM

said to be possibly marine, but no evidence of marine origin of this 

western facies of the Todilto limestone is now known.

The uranium deposits in Todilto limestone show a general tendency 

to concentrate along minor folds; the deposits also appear to have 

been lithologically controlled and are more abundant in the pure 

limestone than in the impure silty or gypsiferous facies.

Carnotite and tyuyamunite, the chief minerals, are found in thin 

isolated patches and discontinuous coatings on the joint and bedding 

surfaces. In some places they form a barely visible paint or stain, 

no more than a faint yellow coloration. In others, they are thick 

enough to form a brilliant yellow film.

In addition to carnotite and tyuyamunite, uranophane, sklodowskite 

(uranium silicates), rutherfordine (uranium carbonate), and pitchblende have been reported from the Todilto limestone.

Carnotite and abundant reddish-brown to black oxides of iron and 

manganese(?) cover the limestone and coat joint and bedding surfaces. The presence of the hydrous calcium vanadates hewettite or 

metahewettite is suspected.

Minor amounts of carnotite appear to be sparsely scattered through 

the limestone in a very patchy distribution; local concentrations are 

separated laterally by barren areas.

The Morrison formation consists of mudstone interbedded with 

sandstone and conglomerate. The Dakota formation consists largely 

of sandstone and subordinate mudstone interbedded with thin lenses 

of carbonaceous material. Uranium in the Morrison and Dakota 

formations is distributed throughout a stratigraphic range of 300 feet.

The most important uranium-bearing mineral in the Morrison and 

Dakota deposits is carnotite which "occurs as canary-yellow material 

interstitial between sand grains, as coating on mudstone galls, and as

rich laminae which follow bedding planes for short distances and then

transect these original planes at small angles" (Rappaport,1952).

Some schroeckingerite has tentatively been identified as impregnating sandstone and coating joints and bedding planes.

Description of deposits. The following are descriptions of a few 

of the deposits in the Grants area. They are modified from, unpublished reports by M. J. Sheridan (1950) and A. Rosenzweig (1950) 

and from a published report by Rappaport (1952).

GLOVER CLAIMS

The Glover claims, in sec. 20, T. 14 N., R. 11 W., New Mexico

principal rn.erid.lan, were o\vmecL by Fred Glover, of !Prtiiit, N. A^Tex:.,

in 1950, M, J, Sheridan used a Geiger counter to examine the claims 

on November 21,1950. The Glover No. 2 claim covers minor occur-
RADIOACTIVE DEPOSITS IN NEW MEXICO 375

rences 2 to 3 feet below the top of the Todilto. Carnotite with manganese oxide and abundant calcite reaches a maximum thickness of 

1 foot and is traceable for 15 feet along the outcrop. Three other 

claims with reportedly less significant showings were not examined.

T. NOS. 1 TO 4 CLAIMS

The T. Nos. 1 to 4 claims in sec. 28, T. 14 N., R. 11 W., New Mexico principal meridian, belonged at the time of examination to Henry 

Andrews, of Blue Water, N. Mex. The claims were recorded in September 1950 and examined on November 21, 1950. Four claims cover 

widespread occurrences along the east run and at the head of a northdraining canyon. Only the most southerly, Claim No. 1, was examined, 

but ore minerals can be traced almost continuously for at least 400 

feet around the run at the head of the canyon. Radioactivity, which 

is generally weak, seems to be confined to a 0.5- to 1.0-foot layer at, 

or near, the top of the Todilto. Minor radioactivity in float was 

noted 100 to 200 feet back from the run. A sample chipped from 

several points on the outcrop represents only the high-grade material and contained 0.21 percent equivalent uranium.

ANDREWS PROPERTY

An unnamed carnotite deposit to which W. C. Andrews, of Pruitt, 

N. Mex. had mineral rights in 1950 lies in sec. 19, T. 14 N., R. 11 W. 

In a U-shaped indentation in the rim. of the Todilto two outcrops 

show a zone of easily traceable ore minerals 1 to 3 feet below the top 

of the formation. One exposure on the north flank of the U is continuous for about 100 feet and shows carnotite(?) in fractures on 

bedding planes throughout a 1- to 3-foot zone. About 100 feet east 

of this exposure another 75-foot zone is continuously but weakly 

mineralized through thicknesses ranging from a few inches to 2 feet. 

Radioactivity traversing of part of the area back from the rim disclosed spotty concentrations of ore minerals. A random chip sample 

contained 0.20 percent equivalent uranium.

BOTTOMS CLAIMS

Two claims, in sec. 18, T. 14 N., R. 11 W., New Mexico principal 

meridian, were owned by Lloyd Bottoms, of Pruitt, N. Mex., when 

they were traversed with a Geiger counter on November 21,1950. The 

claims cover weakly mineralized outcrops in a south-facing rim of 

Todilto limestone. The best ore is in a 0.2- to 0.5-foot zone traceable 

radiometrically for about 25 feet. A sample taken where the zone is 

0.4-foot thick contains 0.07 percent equivalent uranium. About 400 

feet to the west and 100 feet to the east small mineralized areas were 

detected by the counter.
376 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GEOLOGY OF URANIUM

LAWRENCE ELEINS CIAIM

This claim is in sec. 24, T. 14 N., R. 12 W., and belonged to Lawrence 

Elkins, of Pruitt, N. Mex. in 1950. It is on an isolated mesa that is 

inaccessible by road. The mesa is entirely capped by Todilto limestone and the rim had, as of 1950, been only lightly prospected. Radioactive float, which is probably near its source, is distributed for about 

40 feet along a shallow gully traversing the mesa. Calcite and manganese oxides are common. A sample chipped from various boulders 

of radioactive float contained 0.39 percent equivalent uranium.

HARD WORK, RED POINT, AND OTHER CLAIMS

A group of claims that belonged in 1950 to Jim Hutton and Glen 

Williams,'{off Grants, N. Mex., are in the N}£ sec. 16, T. 13 N., R. 

10 W., New Mexico principal meridian. These claims were located in 

October 1950 and were examined in November 1950 with a Geiger 

counter. Reportedly, there are 15 claims along the rim of Todilto in 

this open area. The only mineralized area noted was in the discovery 

cut at the top of the run on one of the claims (probably the "Hard 

Work"). The cut, approximately 12 feet by 5 feet and 3 feet deep, 

exposed ore minerals in the upper 2 feet of the Todilto limestone, which 

in this locality is 7 to 8 feet thick. About 30 feet back from the rim 

ore minerals were noted in one boulder that was probably in place. 

A sample of the highest grade material in the discovery cut contained 

1.18 percent equivalent uranium. The outcrop was checked at various 

places for several hundred feet in both directions from the discovery 

cut, but no other mineralized areas were seen.

RED BLUFF CLAIM GROUP

The Red Bluff No. 1 claim belonged in 1950 to O. A. Jones et al.,

Grants, N. Mex., and is in sec. 36, T. 13 N., R. 10 W., New Mexico

principal meridian. It was examined with a Geiger counter in November 1950. Two mineralized areas are exposed in the western part 

of a northward-trending finger of a Todilto-capped bench. The

southern area exhibits, for about 75 feet along the outcrop, a weakly

mineralized zone in thin-bedded limestone near the base of the formation. The maximum thickness of mineralized rock noted was about

3 feet; a sample contained 0.14 percent equivalent uranium. About

150 feet to tke north the outcrop is continuously mineralized near the 

base of the formation for 150 feetj the deposit is less than a foot thick

except in one zone where fractures and bedding planes throughout the

8 to 9 feet of Todilto contain carnotite. A sample of the most radioactive rock contained 0.37 percent equivalent uranium.

The Red Bluff Nos. 2 to 7 claims are in sec. 4, T. 12 N., R. 9 W. and 

belonged to the owners of the Red Bluff No. 1 when they were exam-
RADIOACTIVE. DEPOSITS IN NEW MEXICO 377

ined in November 1950 with a Geiger counter. Five claims that cover 

about 3,000 feet of the run of Todilto include several widely distributed 

radioactive exposures in the upper part of the Todilto limestone. A 

location cut on the Red Bluff No. 2 claim, at one of the more promising 

places, exposes rock with weak radioactivity in the joints and seams of 

the upper 2 to 3 feet of limestone. Radioactivity was not traceable 

along the outcrop away from the cut. A sample, selected from the 

highest grade material exposed in the cut, had an equivalent uranium 

content of 0.08 percent. A further examination of the outcrop showed 

very local areas, 5 to 10 feet long, of weakly mineralized rock.

The Red Bluff Nos. 7 and 8 claims are in sec. 4, T. 12 N., R. 9 W., 

New Mexico principal meridian. They belonged in 1950 to the owners 

of the other Red Bluff claims. In one test pit of the Red Bluff No. 7 

claim carnotite coats bedding-plane and joint surfaces in the Todilto 

limestone. One sample from this pit contained 0.11 percent equivalent uranium. The Red Bluff No. 8 claim is mineralized for 50 feet 

along the run. A sample from the richest portion of the rim, where 

excavation has begun, contained 0.63 percent UaOg, and 0.53 percent 

V205 .

GRAY EAGLE, BLACKHAWK, AND BONNEY CLAIMS

0. A. Jones and J. C. Dorsett, of Grants, N. Mex., owned these 

claims, in sec. 4, T. 12 N., R. 9 W., New Mexico principal meridian 

when the claims were examined with a Geiger counter on November 19, 

1950. These claims extend about 3,000 feet along a Todilto limestone 

outcrop that is weakly and discontinuously mineralized near the top. 

The extent of individual radioactive exposures along the outcrop is 

commonly only a few feet, although one exposure was about 75 feet 

long. Locally, parts of the Todilto are strongly radioactive, and at 

these places shallow test pits were being sunk to fulfill claim location 

requirements.

A sample taken from a 3-foot thickness at an outcrop where abnormal radioactivity is traceable for 15 feet, showed an equivalent 

uranium content of 0.20 percent. Another sample from a 4-ton 

discovery-cut stockpile nearby had an equivalent uranium content of 

0.17 percent. Only the most radioactive material was sampled. A 

sample was taken from an ore bed 10 to 12-inches thick which could be 

traced a few feet only; the ore was exposed in the bottom of a gully 

100 feet back from the rim of the outcrop. It had an equivalent 

uranium content of 0.71 percent, which was the highest of any samples 

taken. A sample from the Blackhawk discovery cut, on the rim of 

Todilto where carnotite was erratically distributed through a bed 2 to 3 

feet thick and traceable only a few feet beyond the cut, had an equivalent uranium content of 0.27 percent.
378 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GEOLOGY OF URANIUM

MARK ELKINS CLAIM

On an unnamed claim in the N% sec. 19, T. 12 N., R. 9 W., New 

Mexico principal meridian, carnotite is present at the top of the 

Todilto and can be traced 150 to 170 feet along the outcrop. The claim 

belonged in 1950 to Mark Elkins, a rancher of Grants, N. Mex. The 

ore ranges from a few inches to 2 feet, in apparent thickness. Discontinuous ore was noted 4 to 5 feet below the top zone also. Soil 

cover obscures the limestone back from the run and the extent of the 

ore zone in this direction could not be determined. No exploratory 

work of any sort had been undertaken before 1950 on this deposit. 

Samples chipped at several places along the outcrop, although representative of only the more highly mineralized rock, give some indication of the probable grade. These chip samples contained an average 

of 0.25 percent equivalent uranium.

RAILROAD SECTIONS

Four railroad sections in the Grants district were examined and the 

results of these investigations (Anonymous, 1951) are summarized 

below.

Uranium minerals were seen on land belonging to the Santa Fe 

railroad, sec. 13, T. 13 N., R. 11 W., New Mexico principal meridian. 

The deposit was examined with a Geiger counter on November 20, 

1950. Carnotite is present in a V-shaped indentation in the rim of 

Todilto limestone. The mineralized zone ranges in thickness from a 

few inches to 4 feet and is continuous for approximately 900 feet along 

the outcrop. The mineral-bearing stratum is from 1 to 4 feet below 

the top of the formation and exhibits fracture- and bedding-plane 

fillings typical of other deposits in this area. The intensity of radioactivity is variable. A sample taken from a 2-foot zone at the best 

point on the outcrop shows an equivalent uranium content of 0.58 

percent. Another sample chipped from an average-looking 4-foot 

face contained 0.10 percent equivalent uranium.

A railroad section claim, belonging to the Santa Fe, in the NX sec. 

19, T. 13 N., R. 10 W., New Mexico principal meridian was examined 

with a Geiger counter on November 18, 1950. The Todilto outcrop is 

mineralized for about 1,500 feet at or near the top of the formation. 

The heaviest concentration "of radioactive material is exposed in a 2- 

foot zone that is comparatively well mineralized for about 35 feet along 

the outcrop. The extent of the mineralized ground behind the rim 

has not been determined, though rapid radiometric traverses indicate

gradual reduction to a. normal count at 5O feet. Ttie deposits TTOTG

estimated to be contained in a block 35 feet by 35 feet by 2 feet.

A grab sample from a 10- to 15-ton stockpile had an equivalent 

uranium content of 0.68 percent. Stripping exposed two other areas
RADIOACTIVE DEPOSITS IN NEW MEXICO 379

to the west with abnormal radioactivity. They measured 10 to 12 

feet along the outcrop and were as much as 1 foot thick.

Another section, sec. 25, T. 13 N., R. 10 W., belongs to the Santa Fe 

railroad. The Todilto crops out in the northwest corner of the section 

several hundred feet north of the rim. Carnotite with hematite and 

limonite is present through 1 to 5 feet of limestone continuously for 

more than 100 feet along the outcrop. Traces of ore minerals were 

found in the underlying limestone. The restriction of mineralization 

to fractures and seams has made estimates of ore potential difficult. 

Samples taken from various points along the outcrop, indicative of the 

better material, had an equivalent uranium content of 0.26 percent.

Still another section belonging to the Santa Fe railroad, in sec. 19, 

T. 13 N., R 9 W., contains uranium deposits in the Westwater Canyon 

sandstone member of the Morrison formation. The Dakota sandstone 

and Morrison formation crop out along a prominent cliff in the northern part of the section. Uranium is present in several stratigraphic 

zones in the Westwater Canyon member, both in the cliff and in 

isolated erosion remnants south of it. The ore deposits are similar in 

most respects to typical deposits in the Salt Wash sandstone farther 

north on the Colorado Plateaus. They are concentrated along channels and in sandstone rolls; carnotite is closely associated with carbonized wood fragments and limonite; clay and mudstone surrounding 

ore-bearing lenses are commonly altered from red to green. These 

deposits differ from those in the Salt Wash in having a low vanadium 

content. Several tons of ore averaging 0.67 percent U308 had been 

shipped from this property before 1953.

INDIAN ALLOTMENTS

A reconnaissance investigation was made of two radioactive occurrences on Indian allotments. The data on these deposits are summarized below.

An Indian allotment held in 1950 by the Desedillo family of Pruitt, 

N. Mex., is in sec. 26, T. 13 N., R. 10 W., New Mexico principal meridian. Here the Todilto limestone forms a south-facing cliff, and is 

mineralized for a distance of at least 70 feet, 30 feet of which contains 

variable amounts of carnotite in a 2-foot zone near the base of the 

formation. At one point where the ore was thickest, the entire 12 feet 

of limestone was mineralized for some 10 feet along the outcrop. 

Slight local folding may have helped to localize the ore. The remaining 40 feet of mineralized outcrop to the east has carnotite distributed 

along the joints; but the carnotite is confined mostly to the same 2-foot 

zone mentioned above. Away from the run the soil cover obscures 

most of the limestone; but scattered outcrops 15 feet away from the rim 

contain ore showings and a trace can be noted at 45 feet. Back of the 

run along the banks of a stream the Todilto is exposed hi the NE% of
380 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GEOLOGY OF URANIUM

the same section for several hundred feet. Two small radioactive 

areas containing mineralized float were found. Traces of ore minerals 

were noted in the underlying sandstone. A chip sample representing 

the higher grade material in the NW% section contained 1.70 percent 

equivalent uranium.

An Indian allotment, in the SW% of sec. 18, T. 13 N., R. 10 W., 

New Mexico principal meridain, was examined with the'jaid ;of a 

Geiger counter. It was under tentative lease in 1950 to Jim Hutton 

and Glen Williams, of Pruitt, N. Mex. Here the Todilto limestone is 

exposed in the bottom of a minor gully an estimated 1,500 feet north 

of the rim outcrop. Between 1 and 2 feet of overlying soil and barren 

limestone have been stripped away and an area 15 by 40 feet showing 

carnotite-mineralized joints and bedding planes has been uncovered. 

The thickness of the ore zone, indicated in a small test pit, is about one

foot. Chip samples from the pit contained 0.08 percent equivalent

uranium. A radioactivity check of surrounding soil-covered areas 

indicated a limited extent only for the stripped deposit but revealed 

other areas of abnormal radioactivity 200 feet west and 100 feet south.

JONES CLAIM

An unnamed claim, belong in 1951 to A. 0. Jones, of Grants, N. Mex., 

is in sec. 33, T. 12 N., R. 9 W., New Mexico principal meridian. It 

was examined with a Geiger counter on January 7, 1951. The deposit 

is at the intersection of two steep gullies at the base of a lava-capped 

mesa. About 12 feet of limestone are exposed. The upper 4 to 6

feet are thick bedded; radioactivity ranges from strong to weak; the 

lower portion of the limestone is thin bedded and weakly to moderately

mineralized. A selected sample of thick-bedded limestone contained

0.98 percent U308 and 0.54 percent V2 05 ; a sample of the thin-bedded 

lower limestone contained only 0.21 percent equivalent uranium.

ZUNl MOUNTAINS AREA.

Gott and Erickson (unpublished report, 1951) mention radioactivity associated with, malachite, etzaarite, eliirysoeolla, ftuoi-ite, arid

calcite in joints and fractures in arkosic sandstones and conglomerates

of Permian age and altered pre-Cambrian granite from the Zuni

Mountains, T. 11 N., !R. 12 W. (fi&. -4O, deposit 16). Selected samples

Of tlie radiOaCtlYe material contained 0,009 percent uranium, 4.5 

percent copper, and 0.02 percent V2O5 .

The first discussion of uranium In the Grants district was in an 

unpublished report (1950) by Fiscner and StroDell. This memorandum covers, in a general way, the location, history, geology, and

mineralogy of the entire district but gives little specific information
RADIOACTIVE, DEPOSITS IN NEW MEXICO 381

on the individual properties. Later in the same year most of the 

known properties were visited by Sheridan (unpublished report, 

1950) and a few by Rosenzweig (unpublished report, 1950) who 

summarized their findings in a preliminary reconnaissance report 

for each property. A preliminary report on the uranium deposits 

of the Grants district was also prepared by M. L. Reyner and M. J. 

Sheridan (unpublished report, 1950) for the U. S. Atomic Energy 

Commission. The minerals found in the district were the subjects 

of careful laboratory analyses by Gruener and Gardiner (written 

communication, 1951) who presented their results in a progress 

report to the Atomic Energy Commission. A more detailed report 

on the Grants district was prepared by Irving Rappaport (1952) for 

the Atomic Energy Commission.

OTHER REPORTED OCCURRENCES

In addition to the deposits discussed in the preceding pages, seven 

reported radioactive occurrences from the State had not recently 

been investigated by geologists of the U. S. Geological Survey or 

the U. S. Atomic Energy Commission before 1952 and, therefore, are 

not described here. These are Elizabethtown, Peralta Canyon, 

Rociada, the Organ Mountains, Elk Mountain, the Little Hatchet 

Mountains, and the Glorieta deposits.

In 1902 an anonymous note in the Mining and Scientific Press 

mentioned the occurrence of uraninite in the President mine near 

Elizabethtown in Coif ax County (fig. 49, deposit 24). No details are 

given and no further references in the literature could be found. In 

1910 the U. S. Geological Survey report by Lindgren, Graton, and 

Gordon on ore deposits of New Mexico (Prof. Paper 68) briefly 

mentions carnotite from Peralta Canyon, Cochiti district, in Sandoval 

County (fig. 49, deposit 25); but again no details are given. J. M. 

Hill mentions the presence of small noncommercial radioactive 

microlite-bearing pegmatites cutting pre-Cambrian granite near 

Rociada (fig. 49, deposit 26), in an unpublished report in 1945. 

S. B. Keith examined the Swanson-Lauer property in the Organ 

district (fig. 49, deposit 27) for uranium in 1944; but the results were 

negative. However, in 1950 a brief note appeared in the Engineering 

and Mining Journal saying that secondary uranium minerals had been 

reported from the Memphis King mine in the same district. The 

University of New Mexico Bulletin, Minerals of New Mexico, by 

Stuart Northrop (1942) lists the occurrence of uraninite, samarskite, 

and cyrtolite from pegmatites on Elk Mountain in San Miguel 

County (fig. 49, deposit 30). The same reference also lists a questionable occurrence of autunite in the Eureka district, Little Hatchet 

Mountains, Grant County (fig. 49, deposit 28). O. B. Muench
382 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GEOLOGY OF URANIUM

reported in the American Chemical Society Journal in 1938 (Muench, 

1938a) a detailed chemical and mineralogical study of a specimen of 

monazite from a pegmatite dike near Glorieta (fig. 49, deposit 29). 

In an abstract appearing in the Pan-American Geologist (Muench, 

1938b) for the same year, the locality was stated to be somewhere 

near Taos.

CONCLUSIONS

Of the New Mexico uranium deposits that were known hi 1952, 

only those in the Grants district of Valencia and McKinley Counties 

had large proved reserves of uranium ore. Table 12 shows the significant features of uranium deposits in New Mexico known before 1952. 

The carnotite deposits of the Carrizo Mountains area, San Juan 

County, are mostly small and widely scattered, but many of them 

contain pockets of good ore and it is probable that small quantities 

of uranium ore will continue to be produced from this area for some 

tune. If autunite and torbernite become commercially important 

sources of uranium, the deposits of these minerals in the White 

Signal district might constitute a valuable reserve. If continued 

exploration were to reveal the presence of substantial amounts of 

uranium oxides at Black Hawk or in depth at White Signal, these 

districts might become ore producers. The same may be said for 

the uranophane deposits at Monticello. Not enough exploration and 

development has been done at any of these places to indicate conclusively that there is or is not sufficient uraniferous material to 

constitute ore.

The pegmatites near Petaca do'not contain sufficient quantities of

uranium and thorium minerals to be minable for these elements

alone; however, it might be economically possible to recover them as 

byproducts from the production of beryl.

The low-grade uranium-bearing copper deposits in Mora, Rio 

Arriba, and Sandoval Counties might become of economic interest 

if the copper could be mined and the uranium could be recovered as a 

byproduct. With the possible exception of La Ventana Mesa the radioactive coal, black shale, and hot spring deposits in these COUntlGS 

now seem only of scientific interest, as is the radioactivity associated 

with the oilfields of Lea County.

The relatively wide distribution of known uranium occurrences in

New Mexico should encourage exploration,
TABLE 12. Significant features of radioactive deposits 

Deposit

Grant County: 

White Signal district: 

Merry Widow.

Apache TrailBlue Jay __

Monarch No. 

2. 

Tunnel Site 

No. 1. 

Uncle Sam 

silver mines 

Hines No. 1..

Black Hawk district.

Lea County: 

Hobbs field ......

Monument field .

Jal field _____

Mora County: 

Coyote Creek ....

Rio Arriba County: 

Petaca.. . .......

Coyote ...........

Copper city ......

Location

Township

20 S. 

20 S. 

20 S,

20 S. 

20 S. 

20 S. 

21 S. 

188.

18 S.

19 S. 

24 S. 

25 S.

Smiles 

lupite

26 N. 

22 N.

21 N.

Range

15 W. 

15 W. 

15 W.

15 W. 

15 W. 

14 W. 

14 W. 

16 W.

37 E.

36 E. 

36 E. 

37 E.

south of 

i.

8E. 

3E.

IE.

Section

22 

2 

26

19 

26 

32 

34

GuadaDeposit 

no. on 

fig. 49

22

21 

23

10

9 

6

7

Type of deposit

Fracture coating. . 

Vein and dike ..... 

Fracture coating.. 

.. do.... ......

Water in oil wells.. 

..-.-do-... .--..

- do..... .....

 -.do ... . ..

Disseminated . __

.. do... ..

Country rock

Granite and dikes.

Granite and diabase dike.

Granite and dikes.

Rhyolitedike .....

Granite, rhyolite 

 dikes.

Granite, gneiss and 

dikes.

Sedimentary rocks 

(Permian). 

 do. -- .

 do - -

- do 

Black shale (Permian).

Pre-Cambrian

Shale of Todilto 

limestone (Jurassic). 

Sandstone of Chinle fm (Triassic).

Minera

Autunite, to

pyrite, 

quartz. 

Torbernite 

Cu) sulfid

nite, quartz

Torbernite, 

specularite

minerals, q

Limonite, cla

als, quartz. 

Quartz, sulf

erals. 

Autunite, 

limonite, h

Pitchblende, 

galena, sp

sulfides, ca

quartz.

Uraninite, m

munite, ch

malachite.

Uraninite, sa

monazite, m

Carbonaceou

rial.

Carbonized w

per carbon

solfides.

See footnotes at end of table.
384 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GEOLOGY 4QF URANIUM

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RADIOACTIVE. DEPOSITS IN NEW MEXICO 385

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386 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GEOLOGY OF URANIUM

LITERATURE CITED

Doerner, H. A., and Hoskins, W. N., 1925, Coprecipitation of radium and barium

sulphate: Am. Chem. Soc. Jour., v. 47, no. 3. 

Fenneman, N. M., 1931, Physiography of Western United States: 534 p., New

York, McGraw-Hill Book Co.

Frondel, J. W., and Fleischer, Michael, 1952, A glossary of uranium- and thoriumbearing minerals, 2d ed.: U. S. Geol. Survey Circ. 194. 

Granger, H. C., and Bauer, H. L., Jr., 1950, Results of diamond drilling, Merry

Widow claim, White Signal, Grant County, N. Mex.: U. S. Atomic Energy

Comm. TEM 146-A, Tech. Inf. Service, Oak Ridge, Tenn. 

Granger, H. C., and Bauer, H. L., Jr., 1952, Uranium occurrences on the Merry

Widow claim, White Signal district, Grant County, N. Mex.: U. S. Geol.

Survey Circ. 189. 

Hess, F. L., and Wells, R. C., 1930, Samarskite from Petaca, N. Mex.: Am. Jour.

Sci., 5th ser., v. 19, p. 17-26. 

Leach, A. A., 1927, The mining of radium ore in New Mexico: Min. Jour., v. 10,

no. 22, p. 3-4. 

Leach, F. I., 1920, Radium ore discovered in White Signal district, New Mexico:

Eng. and Min. Jour., v. 109, p. 989.

Lindgren, Waldemar, Graton, L, C., and Gordon, C. H. ? 1910? The ore deposits

of New Mexico: U. S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 68. 

Loughlin, G. F., and Koschmann, A. H., 1943, Geology and ore deposits of the

Magdalena mining district, New Mexico: U. S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper

200. 

Muench, 0. B., 1938a, Glorieta monazite: Am. Chem. Soc. Jour., v. 60, p. 2661-

2662.

 1938b, Glorieta monazite [abs.]: Pan-Am. Geologist, v. 70, no. 1, p. 73. 

Northrop, S. A., 1942, Minerals of New Mexico: Univ. New Mexico Bull. 379,

387 p.

Page, L. R., 1950, Uranium in pegmatites: Econ. Geology, v. 45, p. 12-34. 

Paige, Sidney, 19]6, Description of the Silver City quadrangle, New Mexico:

U. S. Geol. Survey Geol. Atlas, folio 199.

Rappaport. Irving; 1952. An interim report on the ore deposits of the Grants 

district, New Mexico: TJ. S. Atomic Energy Comm. Kept. 1031, Tech. Inf.

Service, Oak Ridge, Tenn. 

Stokes, W. L., 1951, Carnotite deposits in the Carrizo Mountains area, Navajo

Indian Reservation, Apache County, Ariz., and San Juan County, N. Mex.:

U.S. Geol. Survey Circ. m,

Wells, E. H., 1924, The mining industry and mineral resources of New Mexico:

Min. Cong. Jour., v. 1O, p. 397 398.

Zeller, H. D., and Baltz, E. H,, Jr., 1954, Uranium-bearing copper deposits in

the Coyote district, Mora County, N. Mex.: U. S. Geol. Survey Giro. 334.

Anonymous, 1902, Production of rare minerals: Min. and Sci. Press, v. 84, p. 281.

 195O, New ^Mexico mining activity at Organ: Eng. and. :iyrin. Jour , v

151, no. 1, p. 116.

 1951, Santa Fe Railway Company evaluates Grants, N. Mex., uranium

deposits: Min. World, v. 13, no. 4, p. 37, 58.
INDEX

A Page

Abo formation . -.. 358,361,362,372 

Acknowledgments_..........._..__... 318

Alhambra mine.-- - 349,350,351

Analyses of samples, Apache Trail claim.... 343

Black Hawk district...................... 350

Blue Jay claim.._._..._____..... 346

Hines No. 1 prospect...___.....__.. 354

La Ventana Mesa....____.___.... 362

Merry Widow claim................ 331-332,337

Merry Widow mine.................... 335-336

Perry Robb deposit.__.__......._.. 360

Terry prospect..._......_....._.... 371

Andrews property, carnotite deposit.._..... 375

Apache Trail claim..................... 329,341-344

B

Bandolier tuff, uraniferous...._______... 362

Barium....................................... 360

Beautiful Mountain, carnotite deposit..._ 366,368 

Black Hawk district, fissure deposits...... 316,317,

322,325,326,327,328,349-352,382 

Black Hawk mine...................... 349,350,351

Black Range, pitchblende__..._.....__ 372

Blackhawk claim___..__..._____._ 377 

Bliss(?) sandstone______.___--..._ 352 

Blue Jay claim..................... 328,329,344-347

Bluff sandstone.. --.-----.----.---..----- 367,373

Bonney claims...__..-.__....__..... 377

Bottoms claims..__-..--._____.__.__ 375 

Breccia, jasperloid -- -. - 369-371 

Brushy Basin shale member, Morrlson formation.............................. 373

Canyon No. 2 claim, carnotite deposit ____ 367 

Carbonaceous material............. 325,362,365,367

Carbonized plant remains, uraniferous copper

deposits................ 321,356,357,358

Carbonized wood...--.--..---.--.-- 321,322,372,379 

Carnotite deposits...-.---..-.----..--...-. 316-317,

320-321,326, 366-368,374-379,382

Carrlzo Mountains area, carnotite deposits... 316,

317,321,326,368,382

Caseman well, radioactive travertine deposits. 322,

325-326,358,361,366

Chinle formation, copper................_.. 357

Chino disseminated copper pit...._____ 354

Coals, radioactive...... 317,321,322,357,361-362,382

Cobre basin copper district_______.... 356,357

Conclusions-______.....___...__... 382

Copper City prospects..--------._...__- 357

Copper deposits, uraniferous... 321,325,365-366,382 

Coyote, radioactive carbonaceous shale near.. 322,

356-357 

Coyote Creek, uraninite in copper sulfide

nodules............._.... 323,325,326

Culter formation, copper................_.. 357

D Page

Dakota formation, carnotite deposits....... 325,374

Dakota sandstone--- - 361,362,373,379 

Dikes, Apache Trail claim.............. 342,343,344

Black Hawk district............ ....... 350

Blue Jay claim-....------.......... 344-345,347

Canyon No. 2 claim______.____ 367 

Qlorieta deposits..__.___...____ 382 

Langford prospect__..--._.__.. 354 

Merry Widow claim...................... 330,

332-333,334,338,339; pi. 17

Monarch No. 2 claim____________ 348

Tunnel Site No. 1 claim...__...__._._. 348

Disseminated deposits.............. 321-322,366,368

Doerner, H. A., cited ._._._._..._ 360

East Spanish Queen mine.._________ 365 

Elk Mountain, minerals from pegmatite_ 317,381 

Entrada formation...___._. ._..__._.---. 373

Eureka district, autunlte_.________ 354,381 

Exploration, results of, Merry Widow claim. 338-341

F

Fault breccia, Terry prospect......__._ 370

Faults, Apache Trail claim................. 342,343

Blue Jay claim...__.____.___'.. 345 

Hines No. 1 prospect.____...__._ 352 

Langford prospect.._____._...__. 354 

Merry Widow claim.....______._. 333

Fissure deposits, breccia zone 321,322,323,352,354 

shear zone-...------.-..---.-...-.---.-- 321,349

veins................... 317,321,322-323,325,326

Folds, uranium deposits in minor...._.__ . 374

Fractures........-........'.__............... 322,

334,340,341,349,370,375,376,378,379,380

O

Geologic features..._____.___.___.. 319 

Geology, Apache Trail claim........__ 342

Black Hawk district...................... 350

Blue Jay claim..:......... .......... 344-345

Grants district......................... 373-374

Merry Widow claim......... 330,332-333; pi. 17

Terry prospect......................... 369-370

thermal spring deposits, Perry Robb 

property..________----___... 358

Glorieta deposits, monazite from pegmatite

dike----...--.----......--- 381,382

Glover claims-...----.-.--.....-.--......-- 374-375

Grants district.... . ...... 317,321,326,372-382

Gray Eagle claim........___......_...... 377

H 

Hard Work claim--..........-.--......--- 376

Hillsboro district, Virginia claim-,---........ 371

Hines No. 1 prospect.______......__ 352-353

387
388 INDEX

Page

History of uranium investigations and mining.. ........................... 316-318

Hobson mine______..___......... 349

Hoskins, W. N., cited........................ 360

I 

Indian allotments.----..-.-.-.---.--.-.--.. 379-380

J 

Jarosa copper district.---._....._...__ 356,357

Jemez Springs, Perry Robb property. ___. 332,

325,327,358-361, 366

Jerome copper mine....__________.- 316

Johnson claim, carnotite deposits. __. __ 367-368 

Joints-..... .-.-.... - 333,377,379,380

Jones claim ...-._..... ..... ....... 380

Jurassic shales, radioactivity...___ ____ 356

K 

Kelly limestone._. ......_...... 369-370.371

Langford prospect_____...______ 353-354 

La Ventana Mesa coal-seam deposits...___ 317, 

322,325,326,357,361-364,366,382 

La Ventana sandstone member, Mesaverde

formation............... ....... 362

Lawrence Elkins claim____________ 376

Lea County, radioactive brine in oilfields__ 317,

322,325,327,355,382

Limestone, disseminated uranium deposits... 322 

Little Qallinas Canyon, radioactive xenoliths. 354 

Literature............... 355,357,366,368,380-381

M 

McKinley County, description of mines and

prospects._______________ 372-381

Magdalena group. - 358,361,370 

Mapping, Apache Trail claim....... 342; pis. 21, 22

Blue Jay claim.-__...-... _ 344; pi. 23 

Hin.es No. 1 prospect- - -. - 352-353

Langford prospect........_ ......... 354

Merry Widow claim... . ..... 330; pi. 17

Soda Dam deposit...._...... __.__. 358-359

Terry prospect...______....__.. 369

Mark Elkins claim._.........________ 378

Memphis King mine, Organ district, secondary uranium minerals....__... 317,381

Merry Widow claim............. 328,329-341; pi. 17

Merry Widow mine.----- 318.320.330.334 

Mesaverde formation.---. _ 361-302

Mine workings, Merry Widow mine.......... 330

Mineralogy....... ... - 323-326

Minerals

argentite __ .... __ .......... _ .... 325,850

azurite.... ... ... .... .... ... 325,372,380

DarHe.. ________________ ... -- 325,361

beryl .. - - 382

tolsmlto ___ .__ __ _ _ _______________ 334

bismuth. .. . 342,343

boralte.. ........ ...... _. 365

calcareous tufa..... . 322,325,358-361

Page

Minerals Continued

calcite.......... 354,358,361,371,372,375,376,380

carnotite .... 316,321,322,323,324,325,361,366,

372,374,375,376,377,378,379,380,381 

cerussite.. ________..__.____ 371 

chalcedony__________________ 370 

chalcocite 325,356,365

chalcopyrite__._____________ 325,350 

chrysocolla... . .- -. 325,380 

Clay..... -... ....... 329,330,333,339, 367,370,379

cobalt. . 329,350,351 

copper 329,342,356,357

sulfates_____.__________ 334 

cyrtolite.. 317,381

epidote._______.__________ 371 

fergusonite..._______.__._.. 324,325 

fluorite... . 352,353,354,368,370,371,380 

galena.............................. 325,350,371

. hematite.... .. 342,343,379

gold.... . 329,334,342,343

hyalite... .. 370

llmenite - 371-372

jasper____._____..._...___ 370 

limonite ... 328,333,334,339,343,345,348,379 

list. . . ' 383-385

magnetite..________________ 343 

malachite 325,356,372,380

manganese oxides...______ 325,374,375,376 

mica.....__ 356

microcline..__.._._..__ _... 356 

monazite_ . 325,327,356

niccolite - . .-. - 325,350 

nickel . . 350,351

pitchblende . .- . 316,317,322,323 

324,325,327,338,350,351, 372,374 

pyrite. ___ 325.333.334,337,338.339,350.356.370 

quartz 333,343,349,350,356,370,372 

rammelsbergite.------ . 325

rutherfordine ___.________ 324,325,374 

samarskite___ - 317, 324, 325, 326, 327, 356, 357, 381

scheelite 352

schroeckingerite.-.-..-------.---- ---- 374

sericite................ .. 318,329,330,333

silver.....--- 325, 329,342,343,349,350,351,352

sklodowsklte.. -.___________ 324,325,374

smaltite 325,350

specularite _ - - _ - 343

sphalerite. .................... 325,350,371

sulflde___---......--..._-_._-__------- 349

torbernlte__---------- 310,317, 318, 323, 324, 328,

329,330,334,340,343,345,347,354,382 

travertine..... .... 358,360

tyuyamunite - - - 323, 324, 325, 356, 374

uraninite ... 316,323,324,325,327,356,381

vanadinite................................ ' 371

wulfenite 371

Monarch No. 2 claim----------------------- 347-348

Money Maker claim .... ....... 348

Mora County, Coyote Creek._. ... ..._- 355-356

Morrison formation, carnotite deposits........ 325,

366,373,374,379

Mines, description.......................... 327-382
INDEX 389

N Page

Navajo Reservation, carnotite deposit.. 366,367-368 

0

Oak Springs district, carnotite deposits__ 366,367 

Oilfields, radioactive brine... 317,322,325,327,355,382 

Ore deposits, Black Hawk district.......... 350-351

Organ district, Memphis King mine, secondary uranium minerals. ____ 317,381 

Origin of radioactive deposits.__. ____ 326-327 

Origin of radioactive material, Perry Robb

deposit......................... 360-361

Pegmatites, Black Hawk district............. 350

Langford prospect____________ 354 

near Olorieta. _____________._ 382 

near Petaca............. 316,323,326,356,357,382

Peralta Canyon, carnotite---____-.._ 316,381 

Permian formations, oilfield brines...___ 321,355 

Permian sandstone, radioactive plant remains. 356 

Perry Robb hot spring deposits....__ 358-361,360

Petaca, radioactive pegmatites near_____ 316, 

317,323,325,326,357,382 

Phosphate content of samples, Merry Widow

claim........................... 338,339

Physiographic provinces, description. ___ 318-319 

Plan of report...._______....__..._ 316

Prc-Cambrian, granites...__._______ 317 

321, 323, 327, 330, 332, 342, 344, 348, 349, 

354,358,380,381.

gneiss.-._________________ 350 

schist. ........................... 325,327,356

President mine_.____..___.-.__ 316,381

Production, Alhambramine_-.---.-.-..-.. 351

Black Hawk district.................... 349-350

BlackJSawk mine___.__._.___. 351 

Merry Widow claim_...__....._. 329

Rose mine.______. ___. ___. _ 352 

Prospecting, Apache Trail claim.....___ 343-344

Blue Jay claim........................... 347

Merry Widow claim_....._..--...... 341

Prospects, description. ____... ___... 327-382 

Purpose of report_.__......_...___.. 316

Q 

Quartzite breccia, radioactive_....... 352,353,354

R 

Radium.........__................... 326,360-361

Railroad sections, Santa Fe................. 378-379

Radioactive deposits, Apache Trail claim... 342-343

general discussion..._......_____ 320-327

Radioactivity, Black Hawk district.......... 351

Perry Robb deposit.................... 358-360

Terry prospect......................... 370-371

Rappaport, Irving, quoted.....-------------- 374

Rattlesnake field, helium-bearing gas wells... 366-

367,368 

Recapture shale...._-----------_____ 373

Red Bluff claim group...................... 376-377

Red Point claim....---...........-...--...... 376

Reserves, Blue Jay claim..................... 347

Merry Widow claim_.................. 341

Page

Rio Arriba County, prospects and mines. 356-357 

radioactive pegmatite deposits.____ 323,325 

Rociada district, radioactive microlite deposit. 317,

381 

Rose mine.............................. 349,350,352

8

Salt Wash sandstone, Morrison formation__ 317,

366,367,379

San Acacia district, shear zone deposit..___ 316

322,323,372

San Juan County, uranium deposits 321,366-368 

San Rafael group_____... ...--.___. 373 

San Ysidoro coalfield............... 322,325,357,366

Sandoval County, mines and prospects_.. 357-366 

Sandstone, disseminated uranium deposits. 321-322 

Sangre de Cristo formation..._.._-_._... 355 

Scholle district, carnotite deposits.......... 316,372

Shales, radioactive..___.___-----_---- 317,

321,322.325,355-356,357,361-362,382 

Shipment of ore:

Apache Trail claim....................... 342

Canyon No. 2 claim...................... 367

Merry Widow mine.... .....-. ...--.... 330

Sante Fe railroad sections.......__.. 379

Sierra County, uraniferous material. __... 368-372 

Sill, feldspar porphyry..--..-.........--... 370-371

Silver ores, Black Hawk district........ 323,325,349

Socorro County, San Acacia district 372 

Soda Dam deposit.._................'..... 358-359

Sooty radioactive material...-..-..--..-.--. 358,360 

Spanish Queen copper mines and prospects... 358,

362,365-366

Spring deposits, radioactive thermal 321

325,357-361 

Structure, Merry Widow claim............... 333

Summerville formation._____....--.- 373

T

T. Nos. 1 to 4 claims. ~ 375

Terry uranophane prospect, breccia zone fissure deposit.... 322,323,326,368-371,382

Tertiary volcanic rocks..................... 327,354

Thorium.................... ..... ...... 360

Toadlena, carnotite deposit _________ 366,368 

Todilto limestone, disseminated uranium deposits................. 322,325,356-357,

373-374,375,376,377,378,379-380 

Torrance County, Scholle district.. ____.. 372 

Travertine deposits, radioactive.... 321,322,358,360

Triassic sandstone, radioactive plant remains. 356,

357 

Tunnel Site No. 1 claim................ 329,348-349

U 

Uncle Sam silver mines. ................. 329,349

Uranium... 326,327,338,356,361,362,365,366,374,379 

Uranium content of deposits....__..... 326

Uranium content of samples, Terry prospect.. 371

Merry Widow claim....... ....... 338-341

Uranium deposits, Blue Jay claim.. ... 345-347

Merry Widow claim............ 333-334,337-338
390 INDEX

V Page

Valencia County, description of mines and

prospects.__._________ 372-381

Veins, barren quartz.-....__.________ 333

carbonate..____......__---------_ 350

clay-.----..--..---.-...--..-...--..-..... 348

limonite......... .__... _ 333,334,339,349

quartz...-.--.-......... 325,333,341,344,348,370

quartz-hematite. -.....--... 333,339-340,342,343

quartz-pyrlte..--.-..-.....---. 317,328,333,334,

337-338,339,341,345,347,348; pi. 18 

quartz-pyrite-chalcopyrite.--.______ 322

Page 

Veins, barren quartz Continued

quartz-silver base-metal.........--.--.--. 322

specularite.---.--.-.-.-_-.._.- 333,339-340,345 

Virginia claim.......................... 326,371-372

W-Z

Wells, helium-bearing gas _--... ____ 366-367,368 

Westwater Canyon sandstone member, Morrison formation__. ______ 373,379 

White Signal district... 316,317,323,326,327-349,382 

Wild Irishman claim._._...__._____ 348 

Zuni Mountains area.__....________ 380-381

o