Mineral Resources of the Badlands Wilderness 

Study Area and the Badlands Wilderness Study 

Area Additions, Crook and Peschutes Counties, 

:on

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Chapter B

Mineral Resources of the Badlands Wilderness 

Study Area and the Badlands Wilderness Study 

Area Additions, Crook and Deschutes Counties, 

Oregon

By JOEL R. BERGQUIST, HARLEY D. KING, RICHARD J. 

BLAKELY, and DON L. SAWATZKY 

U.S. Geological Survey

JERRY E. OLSON 

U.S. Bureau of Mines

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1744

MINERAL RESOURCES OF WILDERNESS STUDY AREAS: 

CENTRAL AND FAR WESTERN OREGON
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

MANUEL LUJAN, JR., Secretary

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

Dallas L. Peck, Director

Any use of trade, product, or firm names

in this publication is for descriptive purposes only

and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1990

For sale by the

Books and Open-File Reports Section

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Mineral resources of the Badlands Wilderness Study Area and the Badlands

Wilderness Study Area additions, Crook and Deschutes Counties, Oregon /

by Joel R. Bergquist...[et al.].

p. cm. (Mineral resources of wilderness study areas central and far 

western Oregon : ch. B) (U.S. Geological Survey bulletin ; 1744-B)

Includes bibliographical references.

Supt. of Docs, no.: I 19.3:1744-8

1. Mines and mineral resources Oregon Badlands Wilderness. 2. Mines 

and mineral resources Oregon Badlands Additions Wilderness. 3. Badlands 

Wilderness (Or.) 4. Badlands Additions Wilderness (Or.) I. Bergquist, Joel R. 

II. Series. III. U.S. Geological Survey bulletin : 1744-B.

QE75.B9 no. 1744-B 557.3 s dc20 90-13982 

[TN24.07] [553'.09795'83] CIP
STUDIES RELATED TO WILDERNESS

Bureau of Land Management Wilderness Study Areas

The Federal Land Policy and Management Act (Public Law 94-579, October 21,1976) 

requires the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Bureau of Mines to conduct mineral 

surveys on certain areas to determine the mineral values, if any, that may be present. 

Results must be made available to the public and be submitted to the President and the 

Congress. This report presents the results of a mineral survey of the Badlands Wilderness 

Study Area (OR-005-021) and the Badlands Wilderness Study Area Additions (also OR005-021), Crook and Deschutes Counties, Oregon.

CONTENTS

Summary Bl

Abstract Bl 

Character and setting Bl

Mineral resource potential and identified resources Bl 

Introduction B3

Location and area description B3 

Previous investigations B3 

Present investigations B3 

Appraisal of identified resources B4 

Assessment of mineral resource potential B4 

Geology B4 

Geochemical studies B6 

Methods B6 

Results B6 

Geophysical studies B7

Aerial gamma-ray spectroscopy B7

Analysis of linear features shown on Landsat satellite imagery B7 

Gravity and magnetics B7 

Mineral and energy resource potential B7 

References cited B9 

Appendixes fill

Definition of levels of mineral resource potential and certainty of

assessment B12

Resource/reserve classification B13 

Geologic time chart B14

FIGURES

1. Index map showing location of Badlands and Badlands Additions Wilderness 

Study Areas, Crook and Deschutes Counties, Oregon B2

2. Map showing mineral resource potential and generalized geology of Badlands 

and Badlands Additions Wilderness Study Areas, Crook and Deschutes Counties, 

Oregon B5

3. Aeromagnetic map of the region including Badlands and Badlands Additions 

Wilderness Study Areas, Crook and Deschutes Counties, Oregon B8

Contents

Mineral Resources of the Badlands Wilderness 

Study Area and the Badlands Wilderness Study 

Area Additions, Crook and Deschutes Counties,

Oregon

By Joel R. Bergquist, Harley D. King, Richard J. Blakely, and Don L Sawatzky 

U.S. Geological Survey

Jerry E. Olson

U.S. Bureau of Mines

SUMMARY

Abstract

At the request of the Bureau of Land Management, 20,727 

acres of the Badlands Wilderness Study Area and 11,303 acres 

of the Badlands Wilderness Study Area Additions (OR-005- 

021) in Crook and Deschutes Counties, central Oregon, were 

evaluated for identified mineral resources (known) and mineral 

resource potential (undiscovered). The original study area 

and the subsequent additions are considered together in this 

report. Throughout this report, "study area" refers to the 

entire 32,030 acres for which a mineral survey was requested. 

Fieldwork for this report was carried out in 1986-88. There 

are no identified resources in the study area, and no areas of 

mineralized or altered rock were found. Sand and gravel 

occur in the study area, but other sources are closer to existing 

markets. Basalt is abundant in the study area and has a 

number of uses. However, basalt is widespread in the region 

and the basalt found in the study area has no characteristics 

that make it more useful than basalt found elsewhere. There 

is a low potential for geothermal resources and for oil and gas 

in the study area.

center of Oregon. The study area is located in the northern 

part of the High Lava Plains physiographic province in an 

area of basaltic lava flows that cover the nose of the Blue 

Mountains anticlinorium, which extends northeast The High 

Lava Plains province extends generally west, south, and 

southeast of the study area and consists of relatively 

undeformed lava flows, playas, lava buttes, and scattered 

cinder cones. Topographic relief in the province is generally moderate. Most of the tributary streams are seasonal 

and most of the drainages are interior. Most of the region 

consists of lava-capped rolling hills with abundant blocky 

or platy outcrops of basalt flows. A number of the interior 

basins contain ephemeral lakes Malheur and Harney Lakes 

are good examples. Two notable volcanic features in the 

region are the scenic Newberry Crater caldera 20 mi southwest of the study area and the large number of lava tubes 

many of which are found in the northern part of the study 

area in an area known as the Badlands.

Climate in this high desert area is arid to semiarid. 

Vegetation consists mostly of juniper trees, sagebrush, bitterbrush, rabbit brush, and bunchgrass.

Character and Setting

The Badlands Wilderness Study Area is about 9 mi 

southeast of Bend (fig. 1) and lies close to the geographic

Manuscript approved for publication, August 27, 1990.

Mineral Resource Potential and Identified 

Resources

Geological, geochemical, and geophysical studies revealed no evidence of altered or mineralized rock or 

anomalies that would indicate the presence of undiscovered 

mineral deposits. The study area has low potential for geothermal, oil, and gas resources.

Mineral Resources of the Badlands Wilderness Study Area and the Badlands Wilderness Study Area Additions, Oregon B1
121° 15' 121° 00'

APPROXIMATE BOUNDARY

OF

| BADLANDS 

Alfalfa I WILDERNESS STUDY 

AREA ADDITIONS 

(OR-005-021)

APPROXIMATE BOUNDARY

OF

BADLANDS

WILDERNESS STUDY AREA ADDITIONS 

(OR-005-021)

L ^"^ CROOK CO

DESCHUTES CO

APPROXIMATE BOUNDARY

OF

BADLANDS

WILDERNESS STUDY AREA 

(OR-005-021)

Figure 1. Index map showing location of Badlands Wilderness Study Area and Badlands Wilderness Study Area Additions, 

Crook and Deschutes Counties, Oregon. Dashed lines denote jeep trails.

B2 Mineral Resources of Wilderness Study Areas: Central and Far Western Oregon
There are no identified resources in the Badlands 

Wilderness Study Area or Badlands Wilderness Study Area 

Additions (herein, Badlands Additions).

INTRODUCTION

This mineral evaluation was requested by the U.S. 

Bureau of Land Management and is the result of a cooperative effort by the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Bureau of Mines. An introduction to the wilderness review 

process, mineral survey methods, and agency responsibilities was provided by Beikman and others (1983). The U.S. 

Bureau of Mines evaluates identified resources at individual 

mines and known mineralized areas by collecting data on 

current and past mining activities and through field examination of mines, prospects, claims, and mineralized areas. 

Identified resources are classified according to the system 

described by the U.S. Bureau of Mines and the U.S. Geological Survey (1980). Studies by the U.S. Geological Survey are designed to provide a reasonable scientific basis for 

assessing the potential for undiscovered mineral resources 

by determining geologic units and structures, possible environments of mineral deposition, presence of geochemical 

and geophysical anomalies, and applicable ore-deposit 

models. Mineral assessment methodology and terminology 

as they apply to these surveys were discussed by Goudarzi 

(1984). See the "Appendixes" for definitions of levels of 

mineral resource potential and certainty of assessment and 

for the resource/reserve classification.

Location and Area Description

The Badlands Wilderness Study Area consists of 20,727 

acres, and the Badlands Additions consist of another 11,303 

acres, for a combined area of 32,030 acres, or about 50 mi2. 

Most of the study area is in the eastern part of Deschutes 

County and approximately one-fourth is in western Crook 

County. Relief in the study area is relatively low, with 

elevations ranging from 3,360 ft in the northern part to about 

3,900 ft at the top of a group of three small cinder cones in 

the southeastern part. The Badlands, in the northern part of 

the study area, is characterized by extremely rugged topography, although relief is only on the order of 100 ft

The study area is underlain mostly by Miocene (see 

"Appendixes" for geologic time chart) and younger basalt 

flows that are largely overlain by a discontinuous, thin veneer of sand and silt. Lava flow features such as pressure 

ridges, pressure domes (tumuli), lava tubes, and collapse 

features are common in the study area. Northwest-trending 

small-displacement normal faults cut the older basalt flows 

in the eastern part of the study area but do not extend into the 

younger basalt flows that cover the western two-thirds of the

study area. There are no mines or prospects in the study area, 

and no areas of altered or mineralized rock were identified.

Stream drainages are poorly developed in the study 

area, though a few seasonal streams drain the southern part. 

The Central Oregon Canal (fig. 1) runs along part of the 

northwest boundary of the study area and supplies water to 

irrigate nearby farms.

Access to the study area is provided by a network of 

unpaved roads that lead from Oregon Highway 20, which 

extends southeast from Bend (fig. 1). Graded roads around 

the perimeter of the study area are well maintained and can 

be used by 2-wheel-drive vehicles. The interior jeep roads 

are not as good, and 4-wheel-drive vehicles are required on 

many of them. The roads in and around the study area are 

generally open year-round.

Previous Investigations

Most geologic investigations of the study area have 

been conducted as part of regional reconnaissance mapping 

(Williams, 1957; Walker and others, 1967; Swanson, 1969; 

Peterson and others, 1976; MacLeod and Sherrod, in press). 

More detailed studies mention the volcanic features, geothermal resources, and tectonics (Lowry, 1940; Greeley, 

1971; Brown and others, 1980; Hawkins and others, 1989). 

MacLeod and others (1982) mapped the southwestern part 

of the study area at a scale of 1:62,500 for their study of 

Newberry volcano. Peterson and others (1976) discussed 

the identified resources and resource potential of slab lava 

throughout Deschutes County (including the Badlands area), 

and Olson (1987,1989) discussed more fully the identified 

resources of the Badlands and Badlands Wilderness Study 

Area Additions in particular. The U.S. Bureau of Land 

Management (1983, 1985) published reports that contain 

information on their mineral-resource investigations of the 

study area.

Present Investigations

Fieldwork by the U.S. Geological Survey during the 

1986, 1988, and 1989 field seasons included geochemical 

sampling and checking of existing geologic maps. Geophysical data were obtained from several sources and interpreted to help evaluate mineral resource potential of the 

study area. Geochemical samples of rocks, stream sediments, and plants were obtained from the study area and 

analyzed in U.S. Geological Survey laboratories. The analytical results are from H.D. King, U.S. Geological Survey, 

Denver, Colo. (written commun., 1990).

The mineral investigation by the U.S. Bureau of Mines 

included collection of information related to current and 

past mining activity in the region. A library search was

Mineral Resources of the Badlands Wilderness Study Area and the Badlands Wilderness Study Area Additions, Oregon B3
made for information on mines and prospects located in 

and near the study area. This search included checking 

U.S. Bureau of Land Management mining claim recordation 

indices, the Crook and Deschutes Counties mining claim 

records, and the U.S. Bureau of Mines Mineral Industry 

Location System (MILS). U.S. Bureau of Land Management 

land status and land use records as well as U.S. Bureau of 

Mines files and production records were also examined.

Because no mines, prospects, or claims were identified 

by the U.S. Bureau of Mines in the pre-field studies, fieldwork in the spring of 1986 consisted of a general reconnaissance of the area for sites possibly overlooked in the mining 

records and literature. Sand and gravel occurrences were 

identified in the study area, though no resources or mineralized sites were found, and few samples were collected.

APPRAISAL OF IDENTIFIED RESOURCES

By Jerry E. Olson 

U.S. Bureau of Mines

No mineral resources were found within or adjacent 

to the study area. Sand and gravel in the western and 

eastern parts of the study area may be suitable for local 

road aggregate or other purposes, but other sources have 

sufficient quantities for projected needs (U.S. Highway Department, written commun., 1986). An unknown quantity 

of slab lava, commonly found in young lava flows in the 

region, has been removed intermittently on a noncommercial basis from the study area (U.S. Bureau of Land Management, written commun., 1986). The quality and quantity of stone in the study area is generally less than that 

required to be of commercial value.

ASSESSMENT OF MINERAL RESOURCE 

POTENTIAL

By Joel R. Bergquist, Harley D. King, Richard J. Blakely, 

and Don L. Sawatzky 

U.S. Geological Survey

Geology

The oldest rocks in the study area are Miocene and 

Pliocene basalt flows that fringe the southeast and east margins. Horse Ridge, a shield volcano just south of the study 

area (MacLeod and Sherrod, in press), yielded a potassiumargon (K-Ar) age of 7.61±0.08 Ma (million years before 

present) (Fiebelkom and others, 1983). Basalt lava north of

the study area yielded K-Ar ages of 8.8311.36 and 5.96±2.08 

Ma (Evans and Brown, 1981).

Most of the area, however, is covered by Pleistocene 

basalt and basaltic andesite that was erupted from the north 

flank of Newberry volcano. All the lava flows in the Badlands were probably tube fed from vents higher up on 

Newberry volcano, and the broad mound about 1 mi in 

diameter that forms the southwestern pan of the Badlands 

Wilderness Study Area is probably a rootless vent, the debouching point for lava that built up a small lava fan there 

(N.S. MacLeod and DR. Sherrod, U.S. Geological Survey, 

written commun., 1990). Evidence for this origin of the 

mound is that the Skeleton Cave and Arnold Ice Cave lavatube systems lead away from Newberry volcano in the direction of the mound. The lava that forms the mound is 

degassed, which also supports the interpretation that it was 

tube fed and was not erupted from a proximal vent. 

Greeley's (1971, pi. 3) map, however, suggests a vent at the 

mound, as does the map by Peterson and others (1976). If 

the mound were a small shield volcano, there should be a 

magnetic anomaly centered over it In fact the broad magnetic anomaly shown in figure 3 is centered about 2.5 mi 

southeast of the mound, and the magnetic contours strike 

across the mound with no deflection. This evidence supports 

the idea of the mound as a rootless vent rather than a shield 

volcano (D.R. Sherrod, written commun., 1990).

The Pleistocene lava flows of the study area commonly have youthful flow features such as tumuli, pressure 

ridges, ropy surface texture, lava tubes, and collapse features. The flows are locally blanketed by the Mazama ash 

bed and older windblown sand and silt The Mazama ash 

was erupted about 7,500 years ago (Bacon, 1983) from Mt. 

Mazama, a large volcano, about 85 mi southwest of the 

study area in Crater Lake National Park.

Unconsolidated Pleistocene and Holocene deposits of 

sand and lesser amounts of silt and gravel mantle large 

parts of the study area. At higher elevations, eolian sands 

predominate, but in the lower elevations, sheetwash and 

fluvial deposits are more prevalent

In the southeastern part of the study area, three relatively small basaltic cinder cones, as high as 150 ft, are 

aligned in a northwest direction (fig. 2). The cones consist 

of scoriaceous basaltic cinders, are rounded from erosion, 

and are mantled with reddish, cindery soil.

The study area is broken by a series of subparallel, 

northwest-trending normal faults of the Brothers fault zone 

(Lawrence, 1976). In the southern and eastern parts of 

Oregon, hot-spring gold mineralization is associated with 

similar northwest-trending fault zones (Rytuba, 1989). The 

faults are well developed in the eastern part of the study 

area (the Badlands Additions) but are not evident in the 

Badlands proper, which includes most of the study area 

west of long 121°. This distribution indicates that the faulting largely predates the youngest flows that formed the 

Badlands area. Within the study area, vertical offsets along

B4 Mineral Resources of Wilderness Study Areas: Central and Far Western Oregon
2:

[

APPROXIMATE BOUNDARY

OF

BADLANDS

WILDERNESS STUDY AREA 

(OR-005-021) APPROXIMATE BOUNDARY

OF

BADLANDS

WILDERNESS STUDY

AREA ADDITIONS

(OR-005-021)

APPROXIMATE BOUNDARY

BADLANDS

WILDERNESS STUDY

AREA ADDITIONS

(OR-005-021)

L/BO.G

(entire study area)

\

EXPLANATION

n Area having low mineral resource potential (L)

B Certainty level of assessment Data only 

suggest level of potential

Commodities 

Geo Geothermal O,G Oil and gas

Geologic map units

Alluvium and colluvium (Holocene and

Pleistocene?) Sand and gravel in

stream drainages, eolian sand and silt,

and slope wash 

Basalt (Pleistocene) Pahoehoe and aa

basalt, basaltic andesite flows, andcinder cones 

Older basalt flows (Pleistocene to

Miocene) Basalt and basaltic andesite

flows and cinder cones 

Pyroclastic rocks (Pleistocene to

Miocene) Semiconsolidated subaerial

deposits of basaltic ejecta originating

from cinder cones

Contact 

Cinder cone

 «- - - Fault Dashed where assumed; ball and bar 

on downthrown side

X Gravel pit

2U Sample site showing concentrations of gold 

in parts per billion S denotes big 

sagebrush ash sample and J denotes 

juniper tree ash sample

Figure 2. Mineral resource potential and generalized geology of Badlands Wilderness Study Area and Badlands Wilderness Study Area Additions, Crook and Deschutes Counties, Oregon. Geology modified from Peterson and others (1976), Walker and others (1967), and MacLeod and Sherrod (in press).
the faults are generally measured in tens of feet or less in 

the Pleistocene lava flows, whereas on Horse Ridge, less 

than 2 mi south of the study area, vertical offsets are as 

much as 200 ft on faults in Miocene and Pliocene flows.

Geochemical Studies

Methods

A reconnaissance geochemical survey was conducted 

in the study area during the summers of 1986, 1988, and 

1989. Rock and vegetation samples were used as sample 

media in this survey. Stream-sediment and heavy-mineral 

concentrate sampling was not done because very few stream 

drainages in the study area contain suitable sediment. Geochemical samples were collected from 126 sites and include 

60 samples of rock, 64 of big sagebrush (Artemesia 

tridentata Nutt), 45 of western juniper (Juniperus 

occidentalism and 3 of rabbit brush (Chrysothamnus sp.). 

One soil sample was collected from each of the eight big 

sagebrush sample sites to aid in evaluating analytical data 

from the vegetation samples of big sagebrush. All except 

one of the 60 rock samples were from sites where no other 

samples were taken. The juniper samples were taken from 

sites where either big sagebrush or rabbit brush samples 

were collected. The vegetation samples were taken chiefly 

in the east half of the study area, where much of the ground 

surface consists of unconsolidated clastic deposits, largely 

eolian (windblown) sand of undetermined source. These 

samples were taken to test for mineralized rock underlying 

the surficial deposits. The basalt flows, pyroclastic rocks, 

and cinder cones were examined in the field, but no indications of alteration or mineralization were found. The 60 

rock samples were taken from outcrops, faults, and cinder 

cones to supplement field examinations and to provide information on possible concealed mineralized rock.

Samples of big sagebrush and rabbit brush were collected by clipping new growth, including stems, from three 

to six healthy plants within an area about 30 ft in diameter. 

The sampled plants were typically about 3 ft tall but ranged 

from 1.5 to 6 ft tall. For juniper samples, stems with attached leaves were clipped from several sides of two adjacent juniper trees. To maintain uniformity of samples, stems 

greater than about one-eighth inch diameter were excluded. 

Samples were taken from juniper trees with trunk diameters 

ranging from about 1 to 4 ft and averaging about 2 ft

Plant samples were washed in tap water, dried in an 

oven at 40 °C and then pulverized in a Wiley mill. Splits 

of the dry, pulverized plant material were ashed in a muffle 

furnace during a 24-hour period with a maximum temperature of 450 °C. The rock samples were crushed and pulverized to 0.15 mm using ceramic plates. The soil samples 

were sieved with an 80-mesh (0.18 mm) stainless steel sieve 

and the minus-80-mesh fraction was used for analysis.

All plant ash samples were analyzed for 40 elements 

by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) (Lichte and others, 1987). The plant-ash 

samples were also analyzed by another ICP-AES method 

(Motooka, 1988) for arsenic, gold, silver, bismuth, cadmium, 

copper, molybdenum, lead, zinc, and antimony to obtain 

lower limits of determination. Gold was also analyzed in 

the plant ash samples by flameless atomic-absorption spectrophotometry with graphite-furnace atomizer, using a 

slightly modified version of the method described in O'Leary 

and Meier (1986). This method provided a lower limit of 

determination of 0.001 ppm (parts per million) gold.

The rock and soil samples were analyzed by a semiquantitative, direct-current arc emission spectrographic 

method (Grimes and Marranzino, 1968). Rocks collected 

during the early part of the study were analyzed for 31 

elements; rocks and the soils collected later were analyzed 

for those and an additional four elements. The rock and 

soil samples also were analyzed by ICP-AES for antimony, 

arsenic, bismuth, cadmium, and zinc; and by atomic absorption for gold and mercury using methods described by 

Crock and others (1987).

Results

Anomalous concentrations of elements were determined by visual inspection of the raw data. Histograms and 

map plots of gold in vegetation samples also were examined. 

In evaluating data for big sagebrush, the baseline concentrations the expected or central 95 percent range of the concentration data given by Gough and Erdman (1983) for big 

sagebrush from the Western United States were consulted. 

A study using big sagebrush in the Gold Run mining district, 

near Winnemucca, Nevada (Erdman and others, 1988) was 

consulted in evaluating the data from plant samples from the 

study area. The data for this study were compared with 

those from a study of seasonal variation of element contents 

of vegetation ash from ponderosa pine and white fir taken 

from the Quartz Mountain, Oregon, hot-spring type disseminated gold deposit (Ashton and Riese, 1989).

Four samples of plant ash contain anomalous concentrations of gold. Two big sagebrush ash samples taken 

from adjacent sites in a wide area of unconsolidated valley 

fill in the south-central part of the study area (fig. 2) contain gold concentrations of 46 and 42 ppb (parts per billion). Examination of histograms of geochemical data from 

the study area suggests that these values are anomalous. 

The highest anomalous concentrations of gold were found 

in western juniper ash samples taken 0.5 mi north of a big 

sagebrush sample site that contains 31 ppb gold (21 ppb in 

juniper), and about 1 mi southwest of a big sagebrush sample 

site that contains 31 ppb gold (22 ppb in juniper). Another 

anomalous gold concentration of 26 ppb was detected in a

B6 Mineral Resources of Wilderness Study Areas: Central and Far Western Oregon
big sagebrush sample collected near Dry River in the northcentral part of the study area (fig. 2).

No other elements, including those typically found in 

association with gold such as arsenic and antimony, were 

found in anomalous concentrations in any plant sample. 

The anomalous gold values in plant samples from the study 

area are considered weak and do not necessarily indicate 

gold mineralization at or near the surface. The gold values 

may be the result of leakage upward along fractures or 

faults and may be derived from mineralized rock at some 

unknown depth. Alternatively, the anomalous values may 

come from fine-grained placer gold washed down Dry River 

during Pleistocene glacial periods from an undetermined 

upstream location, possibly from the silicic domes in the 

John Day Formation to the northeast The absence in vegetation samples of anomalous concentrations of elements 

commonly associated with gold mineralization decreases 

the likelihood of gold mineralization in the study area. Furthermore, no anomalous concentrations of gold or associated elements were found in any of the rock or soil samples 

from the study area. There is not enough evidence of gold 

mineralization to indicate even low potential.

Geophysical Studies

Aerial Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy

Analysis of aerial gamma-ray spectroscopy by J.S. 

Duval (U.S. Geological Survey, written commun., 1985) 

shows that the Badlands Wilderness Study Area has overall 

moderate radioactivity with values of 2-3 percent potassium (K), 2.5 to 4 ppm equivalent uranium (eU), and 12 to 

16 ppm equivalent thorium (eTh). The data were collected 

as part of the National Uranium Resource Evaluation 

(NURE) program, and the quadrangles covering the area 

that includes the study area are referenced in Bendix Field 

Engineering Corp. (1983). No potassium or uranium 

anomalies have been found in the study area or immediate 

vicinity. A weak thorium anomaly is present in the northern part of the study area. Although uranium occurrences 

have been found in the region (Ferns and Huber, 1984), the 

radioactivity data for the study area are typical of the region, 

may be related to underlying rocks of the John Day Formation, and probably do not indicate any undiscovered mineral resources.

eral resource potential that could not be discerned on conventional aerial photographs or by geologic field methods. 

The satellite imagery revealed that linear features are poorly 

expressed over the western part of the study area. A weak 

concentration of northeast-trending linear features lies 

southeast of the study area, and a local concentration of 

northwest-trending linear features is contiguous to the 

southeastern part of the study area. The northwest-trending 

linear features correspond to faults in the Brothers fault 

zone, which extends southeast from the study area. The 

analysis of linear features provides little new information 

with which to assess mineral resource potential.

Gravity and Magnetics

Regional aeromagnetic maps that include the study 

area (Couch and others, 1978; Connard and others, 1983) 

show magnetic signatures typical of young basaltic terrane. 

The only magnetic anomaly of note is south of the study 

area over Horse Ridge at about lat 43°53' N., long 121°05' 

W. (fig. 3). The anomaly is negative and, because of the 

widespread distribution of basaltic lava flows in the region, 

suggests that Horse Ridge has a strong reversed magnetization and therefore that the lavas in this locality were erupted 

during a time of reversed magnetic polarity. Because this 

anomaly is due to reversed magnetic polarity and not to 

mineralization, it provides no indication of mineral resource 

potential.

There is a broader positive anomaly north of Horse 

Ridge, centered at about lat 43°57'30" N. and long 

121°02'30" W. (fig. 3). The broad gradients associated 

with this anomaly indicate that its source may be below the 

surface. On regional aeromagnetic compilations, however, 

this anomaly appears fairly typical for central Oregon.

The study area is located along a very long, linear 

northeast-trending gravity anomaly that extends from the 

northeast corner of Oregon to central Oregon and may continue to the Klamath Mountains. The anomaly is probably 

related to pre-Cenozoic rocks of the Blue Mountains and 

Klamath Mountains, and was recently interpreted by 

Riddihough and others (1986) to reflect a pre-Tertiary continental margin. Although of interest from a tectonic point 

of view, this gravity anomaly does not indicate any particular favorability for mineral resources.

Analysis of Linear Features Shown on Landsat Satellite 

Imagery

Linear features shown in Landsat multispectral scanner (MSS) images (scale, 1:800,000) were mapped by photogeologic interpretation for part of central Oregon that includes the study area to elucidate features bearing on minMINERAL AND ENERGY RESOURCE POTENTIAL

Potential for oil and gas in the wilderness study area 

was determined to be low by Fouch (1983) on the basis of the 

exploration and production history of the region, the lack of 

data on thermal maturation levels, and the results of drilling 

in Neogene strata in the region. The volcanic and volcaniMineral Resources of the Badlands Wilderness Study Area and the Badlands Wilderness Study Area Additions, Oregon B7
clastic sedimentary rocks exposed at the surface to the northeast may project under the Pleistocene volcanic units of the 

study area. These sedimentary units are permissible for 

small deposits of hydrocarbon resources. A number of local 

basins elsewhere in eastern Oregon contain coaly beds or 

lignite (Fouch, 1983), and a number of oil shows have been 

found in eastern Oregon (Deacon and Benson, 1971). However, there is no geologic evidence of a sedimentary basin 

underlying the study area. As of 1984, there were three oil 

and gas leases encompassing 8,500 acres in the eastern part 

of the study area (U.S. Bureau of Land Management, 1985). 

Though there are no indications of oil or gas in or near the 

study area, and there is no evidence that the rocks in the 

subsurface are particularly favorable for oil and gas, local

APPROXIMATE BOUNDARY

BADLANDS

WILDERNESS STUDY AREA 

ADDITIONS 

(OR-005-021)

APPROXIMATE BOUNDARY

OF

BADLANDS

WILDERNESS STUDY AREA

(OR-005-021)

-100

APPROXIMATE BOUNDARY

OF

BADLANDS

WILDERNESS STUDY AREA 

ADDITIONS 

(OR-005-021)

Figure 3. Aeromagnetic map of the region including Badlands Wilderness Study Area and Badlands Wilderness Study 

Area Additions, Crook and Oeschutes Counties, Oregon 

(modified from Couch and others, 1978). Residual magnetic 

contour interval 50 nanoteslas; flight elevation 9,000 ft. Hachures indicte area of closed low.

occurrences of oil and gas are present elsewhere in the region 

and the terrane underlying the study area may be permissible 

for small deposits of oil or gas. Without additional data, the 

potential for oil and gas in the study area can be rated only as 

low, certainty level B.

The geothermal potential of the Western United States 

is discussed on a regional basis in Muffler (1979), which 

indicates no particular favorability for geothermal resources 

in the study area or immediate vicinity. No thermal springs 

or thermal wells are reported in or near the study area by 

Riccio (1978) or Muffler (1979). The nearest area having 

demonstrated geothermal resource potential is around Powell 

Buttes, about 7 mi north of the study area. At Powell 

Buttes, there is potential for 100 °C (212 °F) temperatures 

at depths of approximately 3,300 feet (Brown and others, 

1980). The location of geologically recent (late Tertiary to 

Quaternary) volcanic centers and cones in the region together with the geothermal resource potential at Powell 

Buttes indicate a regional permissibility for geothermal resources. However, the lack of evidence for geothermal 

resources in the study area and surrounding proximal areas 

indicates only low potential for geothermal resources, certainty level B.

Evidence of alteration or mineralization that might 

indicate potential for metallic resources was not found in the 

study area. Analysis of plant samples revealed a few localities with weakly anomalous gold concentrations of as much 

as 46 parts per billion (ppb). Because the gold anomalies are 

weak relative to background levels, they probably do not 

indicate gold mineralization at or near the surface. These 

anomalous gold concentrations may result from migration of 

gold upward from more mineralized rock along faults firom 

unknown depths, or from fine-grained placer gold transported 

firom outside the study area. Areas of gold mineralization 

typically have anomalous concentrations of other associated 

elements. No such anomalous concentrations of pathfinder 

or associated elements were found in any samples from the 

study area, and this greatly decreases the likelihood of gold 

mineralization. Field examinations, sample analyses, and 

evaluation of geophysical data revealed no indications of any 

alteration or mineralization, and there are no data that would 

indicate potential for gold or other metallic mineral resources 

in or near the study area.

Slab lava is found in the study area and can be used 

for facing or building stone. An unknown quantity of this 

material has been removed at random firom the Badlands 

Additions, but most of the basalt in the study area is not of 

commercial grade (Olson, 1989). Peterson and others (1976) 

report that only the top few feet of the Badlands lavas are 

jointed in such a way that they break into usable slab stone 

and that these lavas are of marginal quality for crushed 

stone because of vesicularity, the lack of closely spaced 

jointing, and limited local supply. Furthermore, basalt is 

exceedingly abundant and accessible in the region. Basalt 

has a number of commercial uses other than as building

B8 Mineral Resources of Wilderness Study Areas: Central and Far Western Oregon
stone; it also can be used as a source of mineral fiber. 

Though the basalt in the study area has an oxide content 

that makes it suitable for the manufacture of mineral fiber 

(Olson, 1989), similar basalt is widespread in the region; 

there are no characteristics that differentiate the basalt found 

in the study area to make it more desirable than other basalt 

in the region.

Sand and gravel are abundant in the study area, but 

other sources are closer to existing markets. The sand and 

gravel in the study area have no characteristics that would 

make them preferable to that from other known sources in 

the region.

REFERENCES CITED

Ashton, L.W., and Riese, W.C., 1989, Seasonal variation of gold 

and arsenic in biogeochemical samples from a disseminated 

gold deposit in the Northern Cordillera: Journal of Geochemical Exploration, v. 31, no. 2, p. 171-184.

Bacon, C.R., 1983, Eruptive history of Mount Mazama and Crater 

Lake caldera, Cascade Range, U.S.A.: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v. 18, p. 57-115.

Beikman, H.M., Hinkle, M.E., Frieders, Twila, Marcus, S.M., and 

Edward, J.R., 1983, Mineral surveys by the Geological Survey and the Bureau of Mines of Bureau of Land Management 

Wilderness Study Areas: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 

901,28 p.

Bendix Field Engineering Corp., 1983, Index of Open-File Reports from the Department of Energy, Grand Junction Area 

Office: U.S. Department of Energy Preliminary Map PM35.

Brown, D.E., Black, G.L., and McLean, G.D., 1980, Preliminary 

geology and geothermal resources of the Powell Buttes area, 

Oregon: Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries Open-File Report 0-80-8,117 p., map scale 1:62,500.

Connard, G., Couch, R.W., and Gemperle, N., 1983, Analysis of 

aeromagnetic measurements from the Cascade Range in central Oregon: Geophysics, v. 48, no. 3, p. 376-390.

Couch, R.W., Gemperle, N., and Connard, G., 1978, Total field 

aeromagnetic anomaly map, Cascade Mountain Range, central Oregon: Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral 

Industries Geological Map Series, GMS-9, scale 1:125,000.

Crock, J.G., Griggs, P.H., Jackson, L.L., and Lichte, F.E., 1987, 

Analytical methods for the analysis of stream sediments and 

rocks from wilderness study areas: U.S. Geological Survey 

Open-File Report 87-84,35 p.

Deacon, R.J., and Benson, G.T., 1971, Oil and gas potential of 

eastern Oregon and Washington and Snake River basin of 

Western Idaho, in Cram, I.H., ed., Future Petroleum Provinces of the United States Their Geology and Potential: 

American Association of Petroleum Geologists Memoir 15, 

v. 1, p. 355-359.

Erdman, J.A., Cookro, T.M., O'Leary, R.M., and Harms, T.F^, 

1988, Gold and other metals in big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt) as an exploration tool, Gold Run district, Humboldt County, Nevada: Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 

v. 30, no. 3, p. 287-308.

Evans, S.H., and Brown, F.H., 1981, Summary of potassium/argon dating 1981: Department of Energy Division of Geothermal Energy ID-12079-45,29 p.

Ferns, M.L., and Huber, D.F., 1984, Mineral resources map of 

Oregon: Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries Geological Map Series GMS-36, scale 1:500,000.

Fiebelkorn, R.B., Walker, G.W., MacLeod, N.S., McKee, E.H., 

and Smith, J.G., 1983, Index to K-Ar age determinations for 

the state of Oregon: Isochron/West, no. 37, p. 3-60.

Fouch, T.D., 1983, Petroleum potential of wilderness lands in 

Oregon, in Petroleum potential of wilderness lands in the 

western United States: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 902- 

J.p.Jl-JS.

Goudarzi, G.H., 1984, Guide to preparation of mineral survey 

reports on public lands: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File 

Report 84-787, 51 p.

Gough, L.P., and Erdman, J.A., 1983, Baseline elemental concentrations for big sagebrush from western U.S.A.: Journal of 

Range Management, v. 36, no. 6, p. 718-722.

Greeley, Ronald, 1971, Geology of selected lava tubes in the Bend 

area, Oregon: Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral 

Industries Bulletin 71,47 p.

Grimes, D.J., and Marranzino, A.P., 1968, Direct-current arc and 

alternating-current spark emission spectrographic field methods for the semiquantitative analysis of geologic materials: 

U.S. Geological Survey Circular 591, 6 p.

Hawkins, F.F., LaForge, R.C., and Gilbert, J.D., 1989, 

Seismotectonic study for Wickiup and Crane Prairie dams, 

Deschutes Project, Oregon: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, 

Denver, Seismotectonic Report 89-2,38 p.

Lawrence, R.D., 1976, Strike-slip faulting terminates the Basin 

and Range province in Oregon: Geological Society of 

America Bulletin, v. 87, p. 846-850.

Lichte, F.E., Golightly, D.W., and Lamothe, P.J., 1987, Inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry, in 

Baedecker, P.A., ed., Methods for geochemical analysis: U.S. 

Geological Survey Bulletin 1770, p. B1-B10.

Lowry, W.D., 1940, The geology of the Bear Creek area, Crook 

and Deschutes Counties, Oregon: Oregon State College, 

Corvallis, Masters Thesis, 78 p.

MacLeod, N.S., and Sherrod, D.R., in press, Reconnaissance geologic map of the west half of the Crescent 1° x 2° sheet, 

Deschutes, Klamath, Lake, and Lane Counties, Oregon: U.S. 

Geological Survey Miscellaneous Geologic Investigations 

Series Map 1-2215, scale 1: 250,000.

MacLeod, N.S., Sherrod, D.R., and Chitwood, L.A., 1982, Geologic map of Newberry volcano, Deschutes, Klamath, and 

Lake Counties, Oregon: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File 

Report 82-847, scale 1:62,500.

Motooka, J.M., 1988, An exploration geochemical technique for 

the determination of preconcentrated organometallic halides 

by ICP-AES: Applied Spectroscopy, v. 42, no. 7, p. 1293- 

1296.

Muffler, L.J.P., ed., 1979, Assessment of geothermal resources of 

the United States 1978: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 

790,163 p.

O'Leary, R.M., and Meier, A.L., 1986, Analytical methods used 

in geochemical exploration, 1984: U.S. Geological Survey 

Circular 948,48 p.

Olson, J.E., 1987, Mineral resources of the Badlands Study Area,

Mineral Resources of the Badlands Wilderness Study Area and the Badlands Wilderness Study Area Additions, Oregon B9
Deschutes and Crook Counties, Oregon: U.S. Bureau of Mines 

Mineral Land Assessment Open File Report MLA 36-87, 

6 p.

Olson, I.E., 1989, Mineral resources of the Badlands Study Area 

Additions, Crook and Deschutes Counties, Oregon: U.S. 

Bureau of Mines Mineral Land Assessment Open File Report 

MLA 8-89,10 p.

Peterson, N.V., Groh, E.A., Taylor, E.M., and Stensland, D.E., 

1976, Geology and mineral resources of Deschutes County, 

Oregon: Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries Bulletin 89,66 p., map scale 1:192,308.

Riccio, J.F., 1978, Preliminary geothermal resource map of Oregon: Oregon State Department of Geology and Mineral 

Resources, Geological Map Series map, GMS-11, scale 

1:500,000.

Riddihough, Robin, Finn, Carol, and Couch, Richard, 1986, Klamath-Blue Mountain lineament, Oregon: Geology, v. 14, 

no. 6, p. 528-531.

Rytuba, J.J., 1989, Volcanism, extensional tectonics, and epithermal mineralization in the northern Basin and Range province, 

California, Nevada, Oregon, and Idaho, in Schindler, K.S., ed., 

USGS research on mineral resources program and abstracts Fifth Annual V.E. McKelvey Forum on Mineral and 

Energy Resources: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1035, 

p. 59-61.

Swanson, D.A., 1969, Reconnaissance geologic map of the east 

half of the Bend Quadrangle, Crook, Wheeler, Jefferson, 

Wasco, and Deschutes Counties, Oregon: U. S. Geological

Survey Miscellaneous Geologic Investigations Map 1-568, 

scale 1:250:000.

U.S. Bureau of Land Management, 1983, Badlands GEM Resource 

Area (OR-5-21), Deschutes and Crook Counties, Oregon: 

U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Oregon State Office, 

unpub. report, lip. [available from U.S. Bureau of Land 

Management, Oregon State Office, 825 NE Multnomah, 

Portland, OR 97208]

U.S. Bureau of Land Management, 1985, Badlands Wilderness 

Study Area (OR-5-21), in Draft Oregon Wilderness Environmental Impact Statement: U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Oregon State Office, v. 2, p. 247-264. [available from 

U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Oregon State Office, 825 

NE Multnomah, Portland, OR 97208]

U.S. Bureau of Mines and U.S. Geological Survey, 1980, Principles of a resource/reserve classification for minerals: U.S. 

Geological Survey Circular 831, 5 p.

Walker, G.W., Peterson, N.V., and Greene, R.C., 1967, Reconnaissance geologic map of the east half of the Crescent quadrangle, 

Lake, Deschutes, and Crook Counties, Oregon: U.S. Geological 

Survey Miscellaneous Geologic Investigations Map 1-493, 

scale 1:250,000.

Williams, Howel,1957, A geologic map of the Bend (30-minute) 

quadrangle, Oregon, and a reconnaissance geologic map of 

the central portion of the high Cascade Mountains: Oregon 

Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, scales 

1:125,000, and 1:250,000.

BIO Mineral Resources of Wilderness Study Areas: Central and Far Western Oregon
APPENDIXES
DEFINITION OF LEVELS OF MINERAL RESOURCE POTENTIAL 

AND CERTAINTY OF ASSESSMENT

LEVELS OF RESOURCE POTENTIAL

H HIGH mineral resource potential is assigned to areas where geologic, geochemical, and geophysical characteristics indicate a geologic environment favorable for resource occurrence, where interpretations of data 

indicate a high degree of likelihood for resource accumulation, where data support mineral-deposit models 

indicating presence of resources, and where evidence indicates that mineral concentration has taken place. 

Assignment of high resource potential to an area requires some positive knowledge that mineral-forming processer 

have been active in at least part of the area.

M MODERATE mineral resource potential is assigned to areas where geologic, geochemical, and geophysical 

characteristics indicate a geologic environment favorable for resource occurrence, where interpretations of datr 

indicate reasonable likelihood for resource accumulation, and (or) where an application of mineral-deposit models 

indicates favorable ground for the specified type(s) of deposits.

L LOW mineral resource potential is assigned to areas where geologic, geochemical, and geophysical characteristicdefine a geologic environment in which the existence of resources is permissive. This broad category embrace: 

areas with dispersed but insignificantly mineralized rock, as well as areas with little or no indication of having 

been mineralized.

N NO mineral resource potential is a category reserved for a specific type of resource in a well-defined area.

U UNKNOWN mineral resource potential is assigned to areas where information is inadequate to assign a low, 

moderate, or high level of resource potential.

LEVELS OF CERTAINTY

A Available information is not adequate for determination of the level of mineral resource potential.

B Available information only suggests the level of mineral resource potential.

C Available information gives a good indication of the level of mineral resource potential.

D Available information clearly defines the level of mineral resource potential.

hLLJ

5QL

oto

uu

o

_J 

uu

A

U/A

UNKNOWN POTENTIAL

B

H/B

HIGH POTENTIAL

M/B

MODERATE POTENTIAL

L/B

LOW POTENTIAL

C

H/C

HIGH POTENTIAL

M/C

MODERATE POTENTIAL

iyc

LOW POTENTIAL

D

H/D

HIGH POTENTIAL

M/D

MODERATE POTENTIAL

L/D

LOW POTENTIAL

N/D

NO POTENTIAL

LEVEL OF CERTAINTY

Abstracted with minor modifications from:

Taylor, R.B., and Steven, T.A., 1983, Definition of mineral resource potential: Economic Geology, v. 78, no. 6, p. 1268-1270.

Taylor, R.B., Stoneman, R.J., and Marsh, S.P., 1984, An assessment of the mineral resource potential of the San Isabel National Forest, south-central Colorado: U.S.

Geological Survey Bulletin 1638, p. 40-42. 

Goudarzi, G.H., compiler, 1984, Guide to preparation of mineral survey reports on public lands: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 84-0787, p. 7, 8.

B12 Mineral Resources of Wilderness Study Areas: Central and Far Western Oregon
RESOURCE/RESERVE CLASSIFICATION

ECONOMIC

MARGINALLY 

ECONOMIC

SUBECONOMIC

IDENTIFIED RESOURCES

Demonstrated

Measured Indicated

i 

Reserves

1

I 

Marginal 

Reserves

Demonstrated 

Subeconomic

Resources

i

Inferred

Inferred 

Reserves

Inferred 

Marginal 

Reserves

Inferred 

Subeconomic 

Resources

UNDISCOVERED RESOURCES

Probabili

Hypothetical

ty Range

Speculative

i 

i

Major elements of mineral resource classification, excluding reserve base and inferred reserve base. Modified from McKelvey, V.E., 1972, Mineral 

resource estimates and public policy: American Scientist, v. 60, p. 32-40; and U.S. Bureau of Mines and U.S. Geological Survey, 1980, Principles 

of a resource/reserve classification for minerals: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 831, p. 5.

Mineral Resources of the Badlands Wilderness Study Area and the Badlands Wilderness Study Area Additions, Oregon 613
GEOLOGIC TIME CHART

Terms and boundary ages used by the U.S. Geological Survey in this report

EON

Phanerozoic

Proterozoic

Archean

ERA

Cenozoic

Mesozoic

Paleozoic

Late Proterozoic

Middle Proterozoic

Early Proterozoic

Late Archean

Middle Archean

Early Archean

PERIOD

Quaternary

Neogene 

Subperiod

Tertiary 

Paleogene

Subperiod

Cretaceous

Jurassic

Triassic

Permian

Pennsylvania!! 

Carboniferous

Periods

Mississippian

Devonian

Silurian

Ordovician

Cambrian

It ar\nt\

EPOCH

Holocene

Pleistocene

Pliocene

Miocene

Oligocene

Eocene

Paleocene

Late 

Early

Late 

Middle 

Early

Late 

Middle 

Early

Late 

Early

Late 

Middle 

Early

Late 

Early

Late 

Middle 

Early

Late 

Middle 

Early

Late 

Middle 

Early

Late 

Middle 

Early

pre-Archean2

AGE ESTIMATES OF 

BOUNDARIES IN 

MILLION YEARS (Ma)

 0.010

 1.7

 5

o o

 55

 66

96

 205

M JA(\

290

~TTfl

 410

"T J J

J\J\J

***J/U

JW

 1600

 2500

 3000

JTv/v/

'Rocks older than 570 Ma also called Precambrian, a time term without specific rank. 

'Informal time term without specific rank.

B14 Mineral Resources of Wilderness Study Areas: Central and Far Western Oregon
SELECTED SERIES OF U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PUBLICATIONS

Periodicals

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Professional Papers are mainly comprehensive scientific reports of 

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