Mineral Surveys by the Geological 

and the Bureau of Mines of 

Bureau of Land Management 

Wilderness Study Areas

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 901
COVER PHOTOGRAPH: ARAVAIPA CANYON PRIMITIVE AREA, PINAL AND GRAHAM COUNTIES, ARIZONA.
MINERAL SURVEYS BY THE

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY AND THE BUREAU OF MINES 

OF BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT WILDERNESS STUDY AREAS
'*.*'/ ' ''** i£'-'-5w.'. *&V3<3

Aravaipa Canyon Primitive Area, Pinal and Graham Counties, Arizona. It was the first BLM-managed area, an Instant Study 

Area, to be recommended to Congress by the President for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System. The 

area comprises a sequence of Precambrian rocks containing no known mineral deposits overlain by Tertiary volcanic rocks 

(shown here) locally containing zeolites. (Photograph by Medora H. Krieger, U.S. Geological Survey.)
Mineral Surveys by the Geological Survey 

and the Bureau of Mines of 

Bureau of Land Management 

Wilderness Study Areas

By Helen M. Beikman, Margaret E. Hinkle, Twila Frieders, 

Susan M. Marcus and James R. Edward

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 901

1983
United States Department of the Interior

WILLIAM P. CLARK, Secretary

Geological Survey

Dallas L. Peck, Director

Library of Congress Catalog-card No. 83-600572

First printing 1983 

Second printing 1984

Free on application to Distribution Branch, Text Products Section, 

U. S. Geological Survey, 604 South Pickett Street, Alexandria, VA 22304
CONTENTS

Page

Introduction 1

National wilderness preservation system 1

Bureau of Land Management wilderness review 2

The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 2

Natural and primitive areas (Instant Study Areas) 2

California Desert Conservation Area 5

BLM wilderness inventory 6

Reporting phase 8

Mineral surveys 8

Geological Survey studies 10

Geologic studies 10

Geochemical studies 10

Geophysical studies 12

Bureau of Mines studies 12

Mineral resource potential report 13

Status of the Interior Department's wilderness program 17

Natural and primitive areas (Instant Study Areas) 17

California Desert Conservation Area 17

Othd* £UT6£LS __________________________________________________-___________ '___________ 17

Appendix A. Memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the U.S. Geological Survey, 

the Bureau of Mines, and the Bureau of Land Management for mineral surveys of 

wilderness study areas 20

Appendix B. Attachment to MOU 25

ILLUSTRATIONS

FRONTISPIECE. Aravaipa Canyon Primitive Area, Pinal and Graham Counties, Arizona

Page

FIGURE 1. Map showing natural and primitive areas (Instant Study Areas) and accompanying

table showing status of BLM wilderness review ------------------- 3

2. Map showing wilderness study areas in the California Desert Conservation Area 

and accompanying schedule for completion of mineral resource potential reports ------------------------------------------------- 4

3. Diagram showing inventory phases of BLM wilderness review ------------ 6

4. Diagram of BLM study phase and reporting phase -------------------- 7

5. Diagrammatic geologic, geochemical, geophysical, mines and prospects maps, and

mineral resource potential map ------------------------------- 9

6. Geologic map shown at different scales ---------------------------- n

7. Mineral resource potential map ---------------------------------- 14

8. Diagram showing steps involved and time required for joint mineral surveys - - 15

9. Diagram showing status of mineral surveys as of May 1983 -------------- 16

10. Map showing wilderness study areas outside the California Desert Conservation 

Area and accompanying schedule for completion of mineral resource potential 

reports ----------------------------------------------- 19
TABLE

Page

TABLE 1. Schedule for completion of mineral surveys of remaining acreage of BLM

wilderness study areas recommended as suitable 17
Mineral Surveys by the Geological Survey and the

Bureau of Mines of Bureau of Land Management

Wilderness Study Areas

By Helen M. Beikman1 , Margaret E. Hinkle1 , Twila Frieders2, 

Susan M. Marcus3, and James R. Edward3

ABSTRACT

The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 

instructed the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to review 

all public lands under its jurisdiction and to determine their 

suitability or nonsuitability for wilderness designation. As 

part of this process, the Geological Survey and the Bureau of 

Mines conduct mineral surveys of areas for which a preliminary 

determination of wilderness suitability has been made. The 

BLM has completed its wilderness inventory phase and has 

found that 23.2 million acres deserve further study for 

wilderness consideration. These 23.2 million acres of wilderness study areas include 1 million acres of natural and primitive areas (Instant Study Areas), 5.7 million acres in the 

California Desert Conservation Area, and 16.5 million acres 

in other wilderness study areas. Mineral surveys on all areas 

recommended for wilderness will be completed by 1990.

INTRODUCTION

This report describes the Interior Department's 

wilderness program, with particular emphasis on 

the joint mineral surveys conducted by the U.S. 

Geological Survey (USGS) and U.S. Bureau of 

Mines, of those public lands recommended by the 

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as suitable 

for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System.

Mineral surveys by the Geological Survey and 

the Bureau of Mines were originally mandated by 

the Wilderness Act of 1964 (Public Law 88-577), 

which, together with subsequent legislation, 

dealt with national forests managed by the U.S. 

Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture 

and with certain lands managed by the Department of Interior including wildlife refuges. The 

Federal Land Policy and Management Act of

'U.S. Geological Survey.

"U.S. Bureau of Mines.

"U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

1976 (Public Law 94-579), informally referred to 

as FLPMA, in turn instructed the Bureau of Land 

Management to review all public lands under its 

jurisdiction and determine their suitability or 

nonsuitability for wilderness designation. Areas 

recommended as suitable for wilderness designation by the BLM are also required to have mineral 

surveys conducted by the Geological Survey and 

the Bureau of Mines.

Although the program is not yet completed, the 

Geological Survey and the Bureau of Mines have 

conducted mineral surveys of 44 million acres of 

national forest and other lands in the 19 years 

since passage of the Wilderness Act. Individual 

mineral resource potential reports on hundreds of 

areas already have been published. In addition, a 

summary volume containing about 330 brief 

reports on the mineral resource potential of the 

areas studied as part of the Forest Service wilderness program will be published in 1984.

Mineral surveys of BLM wilderness study areas 

are not undertaken until the final stages of the 

BLM wilderness review. Consequently, this program is just barely underway, and thus far mineral assessments have been completed for about 

2 million acres. About 6.5 million acres remain to 

be surveyed.

NATIONAL WILDERNESS PRESERVATION SYSTEM

The Wilderness Act of 1964 established a "National Wilderness Preservation System for the 

permanent good of the whole people, and for other 

purposes." The Wilderness System consists of 

federally owned lands preserved and protected in 

their natural condition so that present and future 

generations can have the benefits of an enduring
resource of wilderness. Only Congress can designate Federal lands as part of the Wilderness 

System.

Section 2(c) of the 1964 Wilderness Act defines 

wilderness as follows:

"A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and 

his own works dominate the landscape, is hereby recognized 

as an area where the earth and its community of life are 

untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does 

not remain. An area of wilderness is further defined to mean 

in this Act an area of undeveloped Federal land retaining its 

primeval character and influence, without permanent improvements or human habitation, which is protected and managed 

so as to preserve its natural conditions and which (1) generally 

appears to have been affected primarily by the forces of nature, 

with the imprint of man's work substantially unnoticeable; 

(2) has outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive 

and unconfined type of recreation; (3) has at least five thousand 

acres of land o*1 is of sufficient size as to make practicable its 

preservation and use in an unimpaired condition; and (4) may 

also contain ecological, geological or other features of scientific, 

educational, scenic, or historical value."

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT 

WILDERNESS REVIEW

THE FEDERAL LAND POLICY AND 

MANAGEMENT ACT OF 1976

The Federal Land Policy and Management Act 

instructs the Bureau of Land Management on 

how it is to manage the 470 million acres of land 

under its jurisdiction and sets forth provisions for 

wilderness review in section 603. In summary, 

section 603 directs the Secretary of the Interior 

and the BLM (1) to review all roadless public land 

areas of 5,000 acres or more and roadless islands 

having wilderness characteristics as defined by 

section 2(c) of the 1964 Wilderness Act; (2) to determine their suitability or nonsuitability for wilderness designation; (3) to have the Geological Survey 

and Bureau of Mines conduct mineral surveys of 

areas preliminarily recommended as suitable for 

inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation 

System to determine mineral values that may be 

present; and (4) to report wilderness recommendations to the President no later than October 21, 

1991. The President must report his final recommendations to Congress no later than 2 years 

after the 1991 deadline, and Congress will decide 

if an area is to become wilderness. The BLM is 

presently studying 23.1 million acres for wilderness under section 603 of FLPMA and 0.1 million 

acres under section 202 as described below.

Section 603(a) of FLPMA, which describes mineral surveys, is as follows:

"Sec. 603.(a) Within fifteen years after the date of approval of 

this Act, the Secretary shall review those roadless areas of five 

thousand acres or more and roadless islands of the public 

lands, identified during the inventory required by section 201(a) 

of this Act as having wilderness characteristics described in 

the Wilderness Act of September 3, 1964 (78 Stat. 890; 16 

U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) and shall from time to time report to the 

President his recommendation as to the suitability or nonsuitability of each such area or island for preservation as wilderness: Provided, That prior to any recommendations for the designation of an area as wilderness the Secretary shall cause 

mineral surveys to be conducted by the Geological Survey and 

the Bureau of Mines to determine the mineral values, if any, 

that may be present in such areas: Provided further, That the 

Secretary shall report to the President by July 1,1980, his recommendations on those areas which the Secretary has prior to 

November 1, 1975, formally identified as natural or primitive 

areas. The review required by this subsection shall be conducted in accordance with the procedure specified in section 

3(d) of the Wilderness Act."

In addition to the 23.1 million acres being studied for wilderness under Section 603 of FLPMA, 

the BLM is also considering another approximately 

150,000 acres (0.1 million) under Section 202 of 

FLPMA the BLM's general planning authority. 

Most of these study areas are smaller than 5,000 

acres and are contiguous to existing or proposed 

wilderness areas. Mineral surveys will also be 

conducted for those Section 202 wilderness study 

areas which are preliminarily recommended as 

suitable for wilderness designation.

NATURAL OR PRIMITIVE AREAS 

(INSTANT STUDY AREAS)

Natural or primitive areas have been specifically 

designated as such by the BLM and are protected 

under special management regulations. As described in Section 603(a) of FLPMA, wilderness 

recommendations on the 55 existing natural and 

primitive areas were to be made to the President 

by July 1, 1980. These natural and primitive 

areas were called Instant Study Areas (ISA's). 

Their study and evaluation became one of BLM's 

highest priorities, and it was necessary to start 

mineral surveys of certain ISA's soon after passage of the 1976 Act. At BLM's request, the Geological Survey and the Bureau of Mines began 

studies in 1978 on 23 ISA's, 10 of which were subsequently recommended for wilderness (fig. 1). 

Another 10 are deferred-study ISA's whose suitability/nonsuitability recommendations will be
Status of BLM wilderness review of natural and primitive 

areas continued

FIGURE 1. Locations of natural and primitive areas (ISA's) 

(above) and status of BLM wilderness review (below).

Status of BLM wilderness review of natural and primitive areas

-,, , Geological Survey/ Ti/r Thousands _ ° .,,. J Map . , Bureau of Mines XT Area of . . JNo. mineral resource

acres

report No.

Recommended as suitable. 

Map symbol is: 

1

2

3

4

5

7

8

9

10

Aravaipa Canyon,

Arizona 

Paiute, Arizona 

Paria, Arizona/Utah 

Vermilion Cliffs,

Arizona 

Powderhorn, Colorado 

Great Rift, Idaho

Bear Trap Canyon,

Montana 

Humbug Spires,

Montana 

El Malpais,

Scab Creek,

Wyoming 

a n o. / 

35.0

18.9

50.5

50.1

OCC H ODD./

4.0

11.3

Qft vO.^4

7 G. I .O

7Q 9Q1 a

1 V £t9i.

MF 1160-D6

MF 1475-D6

MF 1475-D6

MF 14836

MF 1462-B6

80-835°

80-836°

Q1 KCTfl ol OD/

80 1058°

Map 

No. Area

Thousands 

of

Geological Survey/

Bureau of Mines

mineral resource

report No.

Study deferred, to be completed with a multiple-use plan. 

Map symbol is: +

11 Big Sage, Arizona 0.2 MF 1214-B6

12 Baker Cypress/Lava

Rock, California 1.1 MF 1196-C6

13 Chemise Mountain,

California 3.9

14 Paiute Cypress,

California 3.6

15 Centennial Mountain,

Montana 21.8 MF 1342-B6

16 Goshute Canyon,

Nevada 7.7

17 Lahontan-Cutthroat

Trout, Nevada 12.3

18 Pine Creek (Red Rocks

Escarpment), Nevada .2 80-1055°

19 Guadalupe Canyon,

New Mexico 4.1

20 Lost Forest, Oregon 9.0

21 Dark Canyon, Utah 49.9 81-734°

22 Grand Gulch, Utah 34.9 81-748°

23 Escalante Canyon,

Utah 1.6 81-559°

24 North Escalante

Canyons, Utah 5.8 81-559°

25 The Gulch, Utah 113.4 81-559°

26 Phipps Death Hollow,

Utah 42.7 81-558°

Recommended as unsuitable. 

Map symbol is: A

27 Turbinella-Gambel

Oak, Arizona 0.2 MF 1146-B6

28 Virgin Mountains,

Nevada 6.6 MF 1204-B6

29 Square Butte, Montana 1.9 MLA-45-82c

°U.S. Geological Survey open-file report. 

Geological Survey miscellaneous field investigations map. 

Bureau of Mines open-file report.

made as part of the multiple-use plan process. 

Three of the ISA's on which mineral surveys were 

done subsequently were recommended as unsuitable. As of May 1983, the only BLM-managed 

area to be recommended to Congress by the President for inclusion in the National Wilderness 

Preservation System is the Aravaipa Canyon 

Primitive Area in Arizona (frontispiece).
EXPLANATION

Publication Schedule

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

FIGURE 2. Locations of wilderness study areas in the California Desert Conservation Area (above) and 

schedule for completion of mineral resource potential reports (right).
California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Schedule for completion of Geological Survey/Bureau of Mines mineral resource

potential reports 

[Reports to be published by September 30 of year shown on map, facing page]

Map No. a Wilderness study area

1982

91 ft A AWiitt»water

305 Sheephole/Cadiz

1983 

310 Chemehuevi Mountains 

328 Coxcomb Mountains

1984 

117 Saline Valley

119 Little Sand Spring

142 Slate Range

250 Kelso Dunes

262 South Providence

Mountains

360 North Algodones Dunes

Report/study 

areafc in 

thousands RePort No" 

of acres

22.4 MF1493-AC 

11.5 MF1478 Ac

9OO O O'FftQ QP*7^

85.1 OF82-956d

86.5 

57.0

407 4

9 S.

40 fi

9O ^

Q4- ^

14.4

44 Q

1 OQ Q

^9 4

oc 7

CC Q

41.2

fi9 S.

23.0 

Total CDCA Acreage Under

Map No. a Wilderness study area

1985

145 Resting Spring Range

157 Little Lake Canyon

158 Owens Peak

170 Golden Valley 

307 Turtle Mountains

QOfi Palan/lWWrkw

1986

239 Cinder Cones

Qfifi Paotlii Paalrc

267 Fort Piute

343 Mecca Hills

372 Fish Creek Mountains

StiirJv 9 ^Q4 ^

Report/study 

area& in 

thousands RePort Noof acres

CO A

77 ft

Q7 9

<3(\ C

OC 1

1 £ n

29.9 

1 9^1 fi

Q1 -I

7ft 4.

r\f\ Ci

c 7

94. ft

cc c\

9ft O

OQ Q

QH 7

44.3 

45.1

CQ Q

4.c n

o/j er

8.7 

9ft 4

1C Q

"Corresponds to the wilderness study area No., "CDCA-000."

This represents the total acreage under study or reported on by the Geological Survey and the Bureau of Mines for each wilderness study area in the CDCA. It includes not 

only the 2.2 million acres administered by the BLM and preliminarily recommended as suitable for wilderness, but any additional private or State lands included within the 

area under study.

CU.S. Geological Survey miscellaneous field investigations map. 

U.S. Geological Survey open-file report.

CALIFORNIA DESERT CONSERVATION AREA

A special priority for study was also given in 

FLPMA to the California Desert Conservation 

Area (CDCA), which is covered separately by section 601. Because of their unique character and 

fragile environment, the desert lands required 

immediate planning and management attention. 

Of the 25 million acres in the desert region, the 

BLM manages half. The comprehensive, longrange management plan called for in section 601 

was completed and submitted to Congress on September 30, 1980. As part of the comprehensive 

desert plan, BLM identified 5.7 million acres in 

138 areas that met its criteria for wilderness. Of 

these, 2.2 million acres in 47 areas were foundthrough a multiple-use planning process to be 

suitable for wilderness and thus to require mineral 

surveys by the Geological Survey and the Bureau 

of Mines (fig. 2). In 1983, BLM is amending its 

original comprehensive plan for the California 

Desert; in the amended plan some suitable areas 

may be dropped from wilderness consideration 

and others added.
INITIAL INVENTORY

470 million acres

A

r >

296 million acres lack wilderness characteristics 174 million acres remain under review

INTENSIVE INVENTORY 

174 million acres

___________A___________

151 million acres lack 

wilderness characteristics

-

.--23.2 million acres of 

wilderness study areas

FIGURE 3. Results of inventory phase of BLM wilderness review.

BLM WILDERNESS INVENTORY

The BLM published a "Wilderness Inventory 

Handbook" in September 1978 in which it outlined 

policy, direction, and procedures for its wilderness 

inventory. The wilderness review consists of three 

phases: an inventory phase, a study phase, and a 

reporting phase.

INVENTORY PHASE

The inventory phase was divided into an initial 

inventory, which used existing data to identify 

land that lacked wilderness characteristics, and 

an intensive inventory, which focused on lands 

for which field work was needed in order to conclude whether they had wilderness characteristics. 

The initial inventory covered the entire 470 million acres administered by the BLM; 296 million 

acres clearly lacked wilderness characteristics 

and were dropped from further consideration 

(fig. 3).

The intensive inventory of the remaining 174 

million acres was completed in November 1980. As 

a result, another 150 million acres were dropped 

from wilderness consideration, and 23.2 million 

acres consisting of 928 areas possessing wilderness 

characteristics as defined by section 2(c) of the 

Wilderness Act were identified and considered as 

wilderness study areas.

STUDY PHASE

The BLM recognizes wilderness as a resource 

deserving consideration with other resources in 

land use planning, and it recognizes wilderness 

useage as use to be considered in the framework 

of multiple-use of public lands. The BLM will recommend for wilderness designation those wilderness study areas for which they determine through 

their planning process (into which public opinion 

is incorporated) that wilderness is the most appropriate use of the land and the resources associated 

with land.

Federal land management agencies have been 

and are being required to consider huge acreages 

for wilderness. This requirement has necessitated 

the development of a data-gathering process that 

includes minerals data so that all potential uses 

of the many tracts under consideration may be 

evaluated. The Roadless Area Review and Evaluation (RARE II) process met this need for the Forest 

Service, and the BLM has developed the Geology, 

Energy, and Minerals (GEM) process to collect 

minerals data. Such data are part of the information on which suitability/nonsuitability recommendations are based (fig. 4).

BLM's wilderness review guidelines assure that 

any recommendations related to an area's suitability for wilderness will reflect thorough consideration of any identified resources as well as mineral resource potential. The GEM process, which 

includes a literature search and collection of available information to develop a data base for each 

wilderness study area, and an analysis of known 

mineral resources of the area based on this data, 

was initiated in 1981 and implemented in 1982. 

The GEM studies may include limited field verification, but they are not field-oriented. They are 

designed primarily to use existing data adequate 

for assessment of resource potential, in contrast 

to the joint mineral surveys on the suitable wilderness study areas by the Geological Survey and 

Bureau of Mines required by section 603 of 

FLPMA. The results of the Geological Survey/ 

Bureau of Mines mineral surveys are considered 

by the Secretary of the Interior prior to making 

his final wilderness recommendations to the President. The information contained in the mineral 

potential reports may change an area previously 

recommended as suitable to a nonsuitable recommendation.
CO

GEM PROCESS 

BLM collects existing minerals 

data for suitability/ 

nonsuitability wilderness 

recommendation

Area Manager makes 

planning decision

a.

CO

Geological Survey/Bureau of Mines 

mineral survey

BLM Director considers mineral 

resource potential report and 

makes appropriate changes in 

wilderness recommendation

Secretary of Interior

President forwards 

recommendation 

to Congress

Congress makes decision 

on wilderness

CO

a.

cc 

O 

a.

01

cc

FIGURE 4. Diagram showing the BLM study phase for wilderness review, which includes their GEM process, and the reporting 

phase, which includes joint Geological Survey/Bureau of Mines mineral resource potential reports.
REPORTING PHASE

In the reporting phase of the wilderness review, 

suitability recommendations, together with environmental statements, Geological Survey/Bureau 

of Mines mineral resource potential reports, and 

other data, are sent to the President who submits 

them to Congress. The reporting process for "suitable" recommendations the only areas required 

by law to have mineral surveys is shown in 

figure 4.

MINERAL SURVEYS

Because virtually all the obvious mineral deposits have been identified, the search for new resources requires current technology combined 

with a highly sophisticated and thorough knowledge of geologic science. Mineral discoveries such 

as the gold at Sutler's Mill and the oil of Spindletop occurred at a time when our mineral wealth 

was much easier to find.

Mineral deposits form by numerous geologic 

processes and in almost any geologic environment, 

but unique factors are required to concentrate 

minerals sufficiently to form a mineral deposit. 

These deposits are distributed unevenly in the 

crust of the Earth. Mineral exploration and also 

mineral resource appraisals may involve many 

considerations, some of which are listed below:

 The existence of most economic mineral deposits depends upon a complex sequence of 

geologic conditions and processes. For example, a producible oil deposit results from sedimentary rocks rich in organic matter; high 

enough heat to convert the organic matter to 

oil; a geologic structure or formation that 

enables the oil to migrate from the source 

rock to a porous reservoir rock; and a rock 

that seals the reservoir and holds the oil in 

place so that it accumulates in quantity.

 Extractable mineral deposits of both fuel and 

nonfuel minerals occur in localized areas 

within broad mineralized regions such as the 

Colorado Mineral Belt, the Viburnum Trend 

in Missouri, the Coeur d'Alene District in 

Idaho, or the San Juan Basin.

 As new technologies and new geologic concepts are developed on how mineral deposits 

form, areas previously poorly explored or 

unexplored must be reevaluated. For example,

the deeper parts of the Rocky Mountain Overthrust Belt had largely been forgotten until 

1975 when discovery of the Pineview Field 

touched off a drilling boom and led to the 

discovery of billions of barrels of oil and 

trillions of cubic feet of natural gas. 

 New technologies can make previously unimportant minerals highly valuable; examples 

include uranium, natural gas, tantalum, and 

lithium.

Wilderness legislation requires mineral surveys in order to provide a basis for making balanced judgments regarding mineral resources 

and wilderness resources. The Geological Survey 

and the Bureau of Mines were given the responsibility of conducting wilderness mineral surveys 

for the following reasons: (1) all facets of mineral 

resources work are within the joint responsibility 

of these two agencies; (2) their thoroughness and 

objectivity has been established and is accepted 

by those involved in the wilderness recommendation process; and (3) both agencies already possess 

the extensive technical expertise required to conduct such surveys.

The level of data collected in the course of these 

mineral surveys is a compromise between cost 

and time and the amount of detail. This compromise is acceptable to many individuals and organizations interested in the wilderness recommendation process, although the minerals industry 

would like more detailed surveys. More detailed 

studies would require costly physical exploration 

normally undertaken by the private sector, and 

less detailed studies would not be thorough enough 

to provide the level of detail needed by BLM and 

other agencies in determining whether an area 

should or should not be recommended for wilderness.

The distinction between work done by the Geological Survey and that done by the Bureau of 

Mines as part of the joint mineral surveys is that 

the studies of the Geological Survey cover the 

entire area and are designed to provide a reasonable scientific basis for estimating the possibilities 

of future mineral discoveries, whereas those of 

the Bureau of Mines are more site specific and are 

primarily concerned with the evaluation of individual mines and known mineralized areas. The 

Geological Survey studies are oriented toward 

determining geologic units and structures, possible environments of mineral deposition, and presence of geochemical and geophysical anomalies.
uses uses uses

USBM USGS/USBM

X X

D E

FIGURE 5. Diagrammatic geologic (A), geochemical sample (B), geophysical (C), mines and prospects (D), and mineral resource 

potential (E) maps. Maps A through D are compiled from various data sources or through field surveys. Map E is an 

interpretive product.

The Bureau of Mines collects data on current and 

past mining activities and makes field examinations of mines, prospects, and mineralized areas. 

In summary, the Geological Survey has primary 

responsibility for gathering and interpreting data 

in order to predict the potential for undiscovered 

resources, and the Bureau of Mines responsibility 

is to make clear the significance of reserves. Together, the studies of the Geological Survey and 

the Bureau of Mines attempt to find characteristics present in those wilderness study areas considered as suitable that match characteristics of 

areas with known mineral deposits. This matching 

of characteristics is the basis for the evaluation of 

mineral resource potential. Much of the data from

these studies is presented in map form (see fig. 

5A-5.D). The mineral resource potential map 

(fig. 5E) is an interpretive product derived from 

these data.

Although the near-term goal of the Geological 

Survey and the Bureau of Mines in conducting 

these mineral surveys is to provide data for land 

use decisions, their long-term goals are to provide 

data for strategic planning for our domestic mineral resource base and to add to scientific knowledge and improve the understanding of geologic 

environments favorable for resource occurrence. 

Mineral surveys of all wilderness study areas, 

including those that are evaluated as having 

little or no potential, have intrinsic value because
they contribute information on geology that will 

be useful as resource needs of the United States 

change. As technology presents new demands and 

new opportunities, resource appraisals of some 

areas will need to be updated and conclusions 

reevaluated.

QEOLOQICAL SURVEY STUDIES

The Geological Survey uses studies in three separate earth science disciplines geology, geochemistry, and geophysics to evaluate the mineral 

potential of wilderness study areas. The amount 

of involvement of each of these disciplines is designed to fit the specific needs for data in each wilderness study area or group of closely spaced areas.

The Geological Survey for many years has been 

conducting mineral resource appraisals for different purposes and at different scales, and its methods are constantly evolving. A workshop, organized 

for the purpose of improving mineral resource 

appraisal techniques, was held in Denver, Colorado, in December 1979. Daniel R. Shawe compiled 

the results in Geological Survey Circular 845, 

"U.S. Geological Survey Workshop on Nonfuel 

Mineral Resource Appraisal of Wilderness and 

CUSMAP1 Areas," published in 1981; the conclusions reached in the workshop are summarized on 

page 13 of that report:

"... mineral-resource appraisals of CUSMAP quadrangles 

and wilderness areas should be undertaken in the following 

steps: (1) compile available data; (2) model possible ore-deposit 

types; (3) prepare a first-stage analysis of the available data; 

(4) gather additional needed data through field studies; (5) prepare a final-stage analysis; and (6) present the data in the form 

of two products, the first an executive summary that is a simple 

and succinct statement of the results of the mineral-resource 

appraisal for the use of nongeologists in other government 

agencies, in the U.S. Congress, and in organizations outside 

the government who have need of such information, and the 

second a technical product consisting of data maps and interpretive maps supported by appropriate texts and tables."

In Circular 845, Shawe also includes a comprehensive description of the methodology used by 

the Geological Survey in mineral resource appraisals, including specific application of each of the 

three disciplines, which are only briefly described 

here. The results of these studies are integrated 

and used to understand past and present geologic

'CUSMAP is an acronym for Conterminous United States Mineral Assessment 

Program.

environments, surface and subsurface geology, 

processes acting in the area that might produce 

resources, and to find mineralized systems.

QEOLOQIC STUDIES

Geologic maps, which show the distribution, 

age, and relationships of rock units as they crop 

out at the surface, provide the foundation required 

for interpretation of all other data collected for 

mineral assessment (fig. 5). Regional geologic 

maps produced in other programs portray regional 

features, including the presence of rocks that may 

provide an environment for mineral deposits, 

major structures, and trends associated with mineral deposits. They show the location of structures, 

including folds, faults, and fractures, that may be 

factors in localizing processes of mineralization. 

Examination of the terrane for direct evidence of 

mineralization, such as presence of ore minerals 

and altered rock, is an integral part of geologic 

mapping. Geologic maps enable us to trace geologic evolution in time and space and to define a 

sequence of geologic environments. They provide 

a basis for the interpretation of geochemical and 

geophysical data and enable prediction of mineral 

resource potential.

A map scale of 1:62,500 (1 inch=l mile), 1:24,000 

(1 inch=2,000 feet), or a scale intermediate between these two depending on the geologic complexity of the individual area, is used in order to 

show adequate detail (fig. 6).

Greatly improved means of data collection and 

improved laboratory techniques for analyzing 

field data, such as isotopic age determinations to 

provide time frames for volcanic and plutonic 

rocks and mineralized systems, have enhanced 

the application of geologic mapping in mineral 

resource evaluation. Geologic maps display data 

in an organized fashion. The kinds of features 

that are now known to be related to mineralization and that we can discern from geologic maps 

have increased dramatically. Included among 

these features are ophiolites, calderas and ring 

fracture zones, and hot spring systems with disseminated gold and silver.

GEOCHEMICAL STUDIES

Exploration geochemistry is the systematic collection of samples and the measurement of their 

elemental composition to identify clues to geologic

10
1:24,000 

1" = 2000'

1:48,000 

1" = 4000'

1:62,500 1:250,000

1"= 1 mile 1" = 4 miles

(approximate) (approximate)

FIGURE 6. A geologic map at different scales.

environments that may be favorable for the occurrence of mineral deposits. Analytical geochemical 

techniques directly measure abundance of elements which, if found in anomalous concentrations 

(greater than normal throughout the region), may 

indicate the proximity of a mineral deposit or ore 

buried at depth. Geochemical studies, combined 

with geologic mapping and geophysical surveys 

as an integrated program, have become increasingly important in mineral resource appraisals 

since the late 1940's.

Virtually all exposed ore deposits were discovered long ago by prospectors; any remaining exposed and most near-surface ore deposits have 

been discovered more recently by geologists using 

geologic mapping techniques and drilling. Consequently, emphasis had to shift from the search for 

exposed mineral deposits to the search for evidence, such as geochemical anomalies, that indicates the possible presence of environments favorable for mineral deposits. With this change in 

emphasis, geochemistry has become increasingly 

important. Current resource appraisal must also 

be directed to studying the potential for mineral 

commodities not considered in earlier days, such 

as barite, lithium, and rare-earth elements, and 

geochemistry is an invaluable aid in detecting 

these elements.

The geochemical techniques used by the Geological Survey have evolved over more than 30 years. 

Because of the increased effectiveness of geochemistry in mineral appraisal in recent years, 

its usefulness in the BLM wilderness program, 

which is just getting underway, is greater than it 

was in the first decade of the Forest Service program. The costs that result from extensive use of 

geochemistry are warranted because of its effectiveness in ferreting out favorable environments 

for ore deposits that might otherwise be overlooked.

In a reconnaissance geochemical study, one 

stream sediment sample site per square mile is 

visited. Two samples are collected at each stream 

site one for analysis of the sediment and one for 

panning to concentrate the heavy minerals. Rock 

samples are also collected to determine the normal background concentrations of elements in the 

local bedrock and to serve as examples of atypical 

material related to mineralization. Water 

samples are collected from any springs or seeps 

present in the map area because they may carry 

elements dissolved from concealed mineralized 

rocks. Other sample media used in geochemical 

studies include soils, oxide-coatings, vegetation, 

and soil gases. A variety of sample media are used 

to find signs of mineralization that might be

11
missed if only one medium were used. An area 

found to have anomalously high concentrations of 

elements will be revisited and sampled in greater 

detail.

Strict quality control is maintained by the Geological Survey in sample preparation and analysis of geochemical samples. All stream sediments, 

heavy-mineral concentrates, and rock samples 

are analyzed for 31 elements by the six-step semiquantitative emission-spectrographic technique, 

and any other more sophisticated unique analysis 

that is required. Mobile laboratories are taken to 

some field locations to enable prompt detailed 

follow-up work in areas showing anomalous concentrations of elements.

The first step in interpretation is preparation of 

the geochemical anomaly maps, element by element, and the second step is determining whether 

or not a pattern of anomalous elements is related 

to mineralization. In order to determine if geochemical anomalies are significant with respect 

to concealed deposits, several factors must be 

evaluated including the geology of the area, trace 

element abundances in the normal rock types of 

the area, elemental associations in the various 

types of mineral deposits, climatic conditions, 

character of weathering, mobility of the elements 

in the surface and near-surface environments, 

characteristics of the sample media used, sampling methods, and analytical methods used to 

obtain the data. The geologic setting of the area, 

including the rock types, weathering, and structural geology is especially important in evaluating geochemical anomalies as signs of mineralization. Significant geochemical anomalies are 

related to accumulations of minerals, which may 

constitute either economic or subeconomic 

deposits at present. Nonsignificant anomalies 

may be related to industrial contamination such 

as old mine tailings or to high-background source 

rocks.

GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS

Airborne geophysical techniques such as 

magnetic surveys and remote-sensing are extremely useful in mineral resource appraisals 

because they can be used to detect differences or 

contrasts in the Earth's crust that are not detectable by direct observation of the Earth's surface. 

Geophysical methods also allow geologists to ascertain the shape of rock bodies beneath the

Earth's surface. Geophysical surveys can help 

pinpoint certain areas with abnormal properties 

that may be related to mineral deposits.

Because in mineral surveys of BLM wilderness 

areas the areas to be studies are defined, geophysics is used selectively the technique judged 

to provide the most useful data is applied. The 

most commonly used geophysical method is an 

aeromagnetic survey. Aeromagnetic data provide 

information about buried intrusive rocks and 

altered zones that may be associated with 

mineralization. Aeromagnetic surveys can be 

done rapidly and at a relatively low cost. As in 

geochemical studies, anomalous areas, in this 

case areas with abnormal magnetic properties, 

may be followed with a detailed ground survey.

A second geophysical reconnaissance technique, 

one that is most useful in semiarid and arid terranes, is a remote-sensing technique using Landsat data to detect and map limonite (iron oxides). 

The limonite maps are field checked to determine 

whether or not the limonite results from weathering of hydrothermally altered rocks. The resulting hydrothermal alteration maps, combined 

with geochemical data, help locate buried 

mineralization. This remote-sensing approach 

has been used effectively in the mineral surveys 

of the California Desert Conservation Area.

Other geophysical methods include gravity 

surveys (density of rocks) and electrical profiling 

(electrical properties of rocks), including magnetotellurics and DC electrical resistivity. Reconnaissance methods provide maps of different 

physical properties that augment geological surface mapping; such maps are most useful when 

they include data on several different physical 

properties.

Site-specific geophysical methods include gravity and magnetics as well as induced polarization 

(IP), electromagnetic, radiometric, and selfpotential methods. The electrical and radiometric 

methods are used in some cases as direct indicators of mineralization. These methods are used 

very selectively in mineral surveys of wilderness 

study areas because they are expensive.

BUREAU OF MINES STUDIES

Bureau of Mines studies of wilderness study areas 

involve collection of data on current and past mining activities and field examination of mines and

12
prospects. The Bureau's work is accomplished in 

three investigative phases. During the first, or 

"pre-field" phase, all existing information on the 

area is located and researched. Data relating to 

current and past mining activities within and 

near the study areas are obtained from a variety 

of sources. BLM mining claims records are consulted in order to locate patented and unpatented 

claims, and BLM's mineral lease records are 

searched for evidence of any past activity in the 

area. County courthouse records are used to 

establish the ownership of patented claims, the 

identity of claimants of unpatented claims, and 

locations of all claims.

Past production figures are obtained from 

Bureau of Mines records, from Bureau of Land 

Management lease records, and from State or 

other agencies that might have production 

records. Aerial photographs are obtained and 

studied to identify areas of interest around known 

mines or mineral occurrences for future on-theground examination. Mine operators, claimants, 

and local property holders are then contacted for 

any additional information they might have, and 

written permission to examine their properties 

and publish the results is obtained.

The second, or "field" phase, consists of one or 

more visits to the study area. During field examinations, all abandoned mine workings and 

dumps, prospects, and known mineral occurrences 

are examined to assess the mineral supply potential of recognized productive or geologically favorable sites. During the investigation, claims 

within or near the study area, all State and Federal mineral leases, and any exposed coal, 

metallic, or nonmetallic deposits are visited and 

sampled. Accessible mine workings are surveyed 

and systematically chip sampled. Inaccessible 

workings are sampled at the surface and dump 

material is sampled, analyzed, and evaluated. 

Pan samples are collected at selected sites, particularly downstream from zones of alteration, 

and placers are sampled from bankcuts wherever 

possible. If the area is near enough to markets so 

that materials of low bulk value could be economic, potential sand and gravel deposits are 

visited and evaluated.

Samples of mineralized rock are analyzed to 

determine metal values. Samples are fire assayed 

for gold and silver and spectrographically analyzed 

for other elements. Special analyses are completed when spectrographic results indicate a

need for additional data. In some instances, 

anomalous results may require additional sampling or a reinvestigation of an area. The analytical 

determinations are done either in Bureau of 

Mines laboratories or through contracts with industrial laboratories.

The final phase of the investigation involves the 

interpretation of the data collected and the 

preparation of a report. To expedite release to the 

public, the Bureau of Mines compiles the results 

of its work into a Mineral Land Assessment 

(MLA) open-file report for immediate release. 

Reports typically include information on mining 

claims, past and present mining activity, past and 

present production, and reserve estimates where 

obtainable.

MINERAL RESOURCE POTENTIAL REPORT

Mineral resource potential reports, a major element of which are maps (fig. 7), are created to 

show variations in potential within individual 

areas. The production of such reports requires 

knowledge of mineral occurrence and mineral occurrence models as well as the ability to make 

subjective evaluations of mineral resource potential. The Geological Survey and the Bureau of 

Mines collectively possess the technical expertise 

and the experience necessary in solving the particular earth-science problems related to mineral 

assessment of public lands.

The mineral resource potential of an area can 

be arrived at only by integrating many diverse 

factors, some of which can be measured and some 

of which are subjective and depend in part on the 

specific experience and the knowledge of the individual making the assessment. The single most 

important factor in all mineral appraisals is the 

judgment of the scientists who integrate a wide 

range of geologic elements. Lacking direct evidence from drilling, favorable ground is defined 

largely by comparing available data with models 

of known ore deposits. In evaluating geologic environments favorable for ore deposits, many factors must be considered including host rock type, 

structures present, evidence of mineralization, 

geochemical anomalies, and geophysical anomalies.

A method of mineral exploration commonly 

used by the mining industry consists of developing a conceptual mineral deposit occurrence

13
EXPLANATION

Cu 

Pb 

Mo 

Ag 

Zn

Geologic terrane with high 

mineral-resource potential

Geologic terrane with 

moderate mineral-resource 

potential

Copper

Lead

Molybdenum

Silver

Zinc

Ti

TV

Ts

TKs

Intrusive rocks, Tertiary 

Volcanic rocks. Tertiary 

Sedimentary rocks, Tertiary

Sedimentary rocks. Tertiary 

and Cretaceous

Contact

Fault Bar and ball on

downthrown side 

Anticline

Syncline

FIGURE 7. Mineral resource potential map.

14
Bureau of Mines studies (3 years)

1st year 2nd year

___________A___________ __________A

3rd year

Planning and pre-field research

Field effort

Report preparation

Geological Survey studies (4 years)

1st year 2nd year 3rd year

A

4th year

A

Planning and 

pre-field research

Field effort

Report preparation and publication

FIGURE 8. Steps involved in and time required for mineral surveys by the Geological Survey and the Bureau of Mines.

model a set of characteristics that describe the 

environment of a particular type of deposit and 

then using the model to select areas to be explored. This approach is still in the development 

stage, and its use is limited by the fact that 

models for many types of mineral deposits are as 

yet only partially defined, especially in regard to 

their geochemical and geophysical characteristics. 

In mineral surveys on BLM wilderness study 

areas, however, the steps outlined above are 

reversed: the target area (wilderness study area) 

has already been defined by the BLM and now 

must be studied to see if it contains geologic, 

geochemical, and geophysical characteristics that 

might suggest mineral occurrences or reflect 

known mineral deposit types. Even though the effective use of models in this context is also 

limited, the search, through multidisciplinary 

studies, for characteristics that may indicate the 

presence of mineral deposits is the best approach

available and is the one used by the Geological 

Survey and Bureau of Mines in assessing mineral 

resource potential.

To arrive at a mineral resource potential assessment of a BLM wilderness study area, the data 

gathered by the Geological Survey as a result of 

geologic, geochemical, and geophysical studies 

are integrated and then combined with information on mines, prospects, and mineralized areas 

gathered by the Bureau of Mines. These newly acquired data, when added to the historical information already in the literature and interpreted 

relative to modern ore deposit models, result in 

an authoritative mineral resource potential 

assessment. The Geological Survey study requires an average of 4 years to complete and the 

Bureau of Mines requires an average of 3 years 

(fig. 8). The resulting mineral potential report is 

published jointly by the two agencies.

15
Categories of BLM wilderness study areas 

23.2 million acres

f ^

5.7 

CDCA

16.5 

Other areas

1.0 

SA's

Instant Study Areas 

(Status of mineral surveys shown in figure 1)

1.0 million acres

California Desert Conservation Area 

(Status of mineral surveys shown in figure 2)

5.7 million acres

Other areas 

16.5 million acres

A

Suitable

Wilderness recommendation status

Unsuitable \/(///\ Recommendation not yet made

FIGURE 9. Status of mineral surveys of Instant Study Areas, the California Desert Conservation Area, and other areas in

the BLM wilderness program as of May 1983.

16
STATUS OF THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT'S 

WILDERNESS PROGRAM

Of the 23.2 million acres of BLM wilderness 

study areas, 1.0 million acres are Instant Study 

Areas, 5.7 million acres are in the CDCA, and 

16.5 million acres are other areas. The status of 

mineral surveys of these different categories of 

wilderness study areas is shown in figure 9.

NATURAL AND PRIMITIVE AREAS 

(INSTANT STUDY AREAS)

Mineral surveys have been completed on all 

suitable ISA's. No changes were necessary in the 

suitability recommendations as a result of the 

mineral surveys because the areas were not found 

to have significant mineral potential. Mineral 

surveys have also been completed in 10 of the 

deferred-study ISA's. Less than 0.4 million acres 

of ISA's remain under consideration for wilderness (fig. 1).

CALIFORNIA DESERT CONSERVATION AREA

Of the 5.7 million acres of wilderness study 

areas in the CDCA, 2.2 million acres were recommended for wilderness as part of the 1980 comprehensive desert plan (fig. 2). As of May 1983, 

mineral resource potential reports have been published on about half a million acres, mineral surveys are in progress on about 1.5 million acres, 

and surveys will be started on the remaining half 

a million acres in fiscal year 1984. The schedule 

for completion of mineral survey reports in the 

CDCA is shown in figure 2.

OTHER AREAS

Wilderness study areas other than ISA's and 

the CDCA total 16.5 million acres. Of this total, 

mineral surveys are currently completed or

underway on 1.1 million acres (fig. 10). BLM tentatively recommended 2.0 million areas as suitable at the end of fiscal year 1982.'The Geological 

Survey and Bureau of Mines will begin mineral 

surveys of these areas in fiscal year 1984.

About 9.9 million acres remains under review 

by BLM. In January 1983, the Directors of the 

Geological Survey, the Bureau of Mines, and the 

Bureau of Land Management signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) concerning the 

mineral surveys of wilderness study areas. The 

MOU, shown in Appendix A, covers policy and 

operational procedures and also includes the 

schedule by which BLM will complete review of 

the remaining 9.9 million acres.

On the basis of past experience, it has been 

assumed for budget and workload purposes that 

not more than 65 percent of these remaining 9.9 

million acres, or about 6.5 million acres, will be 

recommended as suitable. If this is the case, 

mineral surveys of the remainder of the program 

can be completed according to the schedule shown 

in table 1 and can meet the mandated 1991 completion date for the program. In accordance with 

the Memorandum of Understanding (see appendix A), the Bureau of Land Management has, as of 

May 1983, provided the Geological Survey and 

Bureau of Mines with the total number of acres 

(2.3 million) for which mineral surveys are to be 

started in fiscal year 1985 for use in the budget 

process.

TABLE I. Schedule for completion of remaining acreage of

BLM wilderness study areas recommended as suitable1

[Figures per year are thousand acres]

1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990

1st year field effort 

2nd year field effort - 

Report published 

 2,300 2,000 2,000 200 

 2,500 2,300 2,000 2,000 200 

 2,500 2,300 2,000 2,000 200

'Assumes that 65 percent of areas under wilderness review (9.9 million acres) will 

be recommended as suitable.

17
Wilderness study areas (WSA's) outside the California Desert Conservation Area and currently under study or completed

[Reports to be published in year shown on map, facing page]

Map No.

1980 

1

1981 

2

1982 

3

4 

5

1983 

6

7

8

9 

10

11

1984 

12

13 

14

WSA Number Wilderness Study Area

NV-050-0414 Pine Creek 

CA-050-112 King Range 

AZ-010-006A Ferry Swale

AZ 010 006B Judd Hollow

AZ-010-006C Paria Rim 

AZ-010-006D Cedar Mountain

AZ-010-008A/19 Paria Plateau

AZ-010-008B Overlook 

AZ-040-022/023/024A Gila Box

AZ-040-023/024B Turtle Mountain

NV-050-0229 Muddy Mountains 

AZ-010-009 Emmett Wash

AZ 010 105B Snap Point

AZ 010 109 Pigeon Canyon 

AZ-010-128 Sand Cove 

AZ 010 134 Lime Hills

AZ 010 135 Narrows

AZ 050 007B Crossman Peak

NM-010-004 De-na-zin

NM 010 009 Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah

NM 010-057 Bisti

CA-030-402 Tunnel Ridge

ID-46 14 Jerry Peak 

ID-46- 14 A Jerry Peak West 

MT 075 102 Blind Horse Creek

MT-075-105 Chute Mountain

MT 075 106 Deep Creek/Battle Creek 

MT-075-107 North Fork Sun River

MT-075-110 Beaver Meadows

UT-050-236A Dirty Devil 

UT 050 237 Horseshoe Canyon

UT 050 238 Blue Hills/ Mount Ellen

UT 050 241 Fiddler Butte

UT-050-247 Little Rockies 

Total 

Report/study area1 in 

thousands of acres

30.9 

54.4

7.4 

.5 

.1 

.1 

252.2 

7.3 

17.8

28.4 

107.0

12.9 

19.5 

9.5 

33.3 

40.1 

12.9 

7.7 

90.0 

19.9 

6.6 

4.0 

4.6

46.2 

13.5 

4.9 

3.2 

3.1 

.2 

.6 

61.0 

38.8 

54.5 

27.0 

38.7 

1,058.8

Geological Survey/Bureau of Mines 

report No.

Red Rocks Escarpment 

(OF 80-1055)2

Chemise Mountain & King 

Range (MF-1196C)3

Paria Plateau (MF-1475D)3 

Do.3 

Do. 3 

Do.3 

Do. 3 

Do.3 

Gila-San Francisco 

(MF-1315-B)3 

Do. 3 

Muddy Mountains 

(MF-1458C)3

Emmett Wash (OF 82-927)"

 

 

 

 

'Mineral surveys were started on 1.4 million acres, 300,000 of which have been dropped from wilderness consideration and mineral surveys discontinued. The 1.1 million 

 cres remaining and shown here may include additional acreage that will be later recommended as unsuitable. 

'U.S. Geological Survey open-file report. 

'U.S. Geological Survey miscellaneous field investigations map.

18
FIGURE 10. Locations of wilderness study areas outside the 

California Desert Conservation Area currently under 

study or completed (above), and schedule for completion of 

mineral resource potential reports (left).

19
APPENDIX A.

Memorandum of Understanding

between

the United States Geological Survey, the Bureau of Mines, 

and the Bureau of Land Management

for 

Mineral Surveys of Wilderness Study Areas

I. Policy. It is the policy of the Directors of the U.S. Geological 

Survey (GS), Bureau of Mines (BM), and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 

to effect the letter and spirit of section 603(a) of the Federal Land 

Policy and Management Act which requires "that prior to any recommendation 

for the designation of an area as wilderness the Secretary shall cause 

mineral surveys to be conducted by the Geological Survey and the Bureau 

of Mines to determine the mineral values, if any, that may be present in 

such areas."

Further, it is the policy of the Director, BLM that minerals data for 

wilderness suitability/nonsuitability recommendations will be provided 

through BLM's GEM assessments. Consultation with GS or BM relating to 

these assessments, if necessary, will be done through the Task Force at 

the request of BLM representatives.

II. Purpose. This memorandum of understanding establishes a Mineral 

Survey Task Force to coordinate, implement, and monitor the GS/BM 

Section 603 mineral survey program of those areas preliminarily 

recommended by BLM State Directors as suitable, as reviewed by the 

appropriate BLM Assistant Directors, for inclusion in the National 

Wilderness Preservation System.

III. Budget. GS and BM will justify direct appropriations starting in 

FY 1984. For budget justification purposes, by March 15 of 

each year, BLM will provide GS and BM with the total acreage of 

areas for which mineral surveys are to be started two years later. 

For example on March 15, 1983, BLM will provide the total acreage 

for which the mineral surveys will be started by GS and BM in FY 

1985. For FY 1984 starts, the BLM will identify approximately 

two million acres in areas outside the California Desert.

20
IV. Operations. The GS, BM, and BLM will follow the guidelines and 

procedures listed below: 

A. The Mineral Survey Task Force will consist of:

GS Deputy for BLM Wilderness, Office of Mineral Resources

BM Program Manager for BLM Wilderness

BLM Chief, Division of Geology and Minerals Assessment

BLM Chief, Branch of Wilderness

B. The contact at BLM will be the Chief, Division of Geology and 

Minerals Assessment.

C. The GS will provide the appropriate State Director of BLM with 

25 copies of the GS/BM mineral survey report for each of the areas 

surveyed as soon it is printed and will notify the Task Force 

members of its transmittal. Additionally, the GS will provide 10 

copies to the BLM Director (340), and one copy each to the Task 

Force members,

D. The following program actions will be implemented: 

1. Scheduling

a. The schedule for mineral surveys, by year, is shown in 

the attached Appendix.

b. The Mineral Survey Task Force will meet by March 15 of

each year to develop the final 603 mineral survey schedule 

for the following fiscal years work. At this meeting, 

in addition to the information to be provided by BLM as 

indicated in section III, the BLM will also provide GS 

and BM with the following:

21
(1) A list with the name, number, acreage, and BLM area 

office contact for each of the WSAs for which the GS 

and BM will start a mineral survey.

(2) The BLM Task Force members will provide one set

of maps, showing boundaries of WSAs, to the GS and 

one set to the BM, at a scale of 1:62,500; if available, or otherwise at the most useful scale, at the 

March 15 meeting or no later than 30 days following 

the meeting.

(3) Subsequent to the March 15 meeting, any boundary 

change will be made by the BLM Task Force members 

in writing to the BM and GS Task Force members. 

The written notification will include the name and 

number of the WSA and revised acreage figure and 

a new map on the same scale as previously supplied 

outlining the new WSA boundary.

c. Within four weeks of the March 15 meeting, a BLM Task 

Force representative, will send a memorandum to each 

appropriate Resource Area Manager, through the State 

Director, bringing to their attention the impending GS 

and BM work within their area, and the need to involve 

their staff with the GS and BM during their field work, 

d. The GS and BM will provide a list of project leaders 

with their office address and phone numbers, for each 

WSA, to the BLM office administering that WSA and to the

22
BLM Task Force members by no later than September 15 of 

each year. The estimated start-up and completion dates of 

field work will be made a part of this list for each WSA. 

2. Program Review and Program Reports

a. At the March 15 meeting and at three other meetings to 

be held no later than June 15, September 15, December 15, 

the Task Force will compare individual status reports. 

The Task Force will also prepare an annual joint status 

report concerning BLM's wilderness program and the 

required GS/BM section 603 mineral surveys. The annual 

report will be transmitted to the directors of BLM, GS 

and BM, following the December 15 Task Force meeting.

b. The joint report will track such items as:

- Exchange of lists of project leaders responsible for 

individual WSAs;

- Progress of mineral surveys; and

- Progress of GEM assessments. 

E. After the March 15 annual meeting and prior to starting field

work, GS and BM field representatives will contact the respective 

BLM Resource Area Manager to arrange details concerning logistics, 

radio communications, exchange of data, reports of wildlife 

sighted, and other matters of mutual concern. The GS and BM will 

specifically ensure the BLM Area Manager that field operations 

will not violate the Interim Management Policy dated December 12, 

1979, as amended.

23
Project Chief of GS field operations will provide the BLM Area 

Manager with a press release describing the section 603 Mineral 

Surveys that are to be conducted by GS and BM. The Area Manager 

can then notify local residents of their purpose by notices in 

local newspapers and posting on bulletin boards.

GS and BM are responsible for obtaining necessary access across 

private or State lands; however, BLM Area Managers will provide 

reasonable assistance in any aspect of the field operations. 

V. Effective Date. This agreement supersedes the MOU of August 31, 

1981, and will become effective on the date of the last signature, and 

will remain in force unless and until terminated by the Director, GS; or 

the Director, BM; or the Director, BLM; upon 60 days written notice to all 

parties. Amendments may be proposed by any party at any time, and will 

become effective upon joint approval.

Director, Bureau of Land Management Date

rector, Bureau of Mines Date

Director, U.S. GeologicalvSurvey Date

24
APPENDIX B. ATTACHMENT TO MOU

(Based on BLH plan completion dates as of the Federal Register dated July 8, 1982)

The Appendix contains a schedule of GS/Btl mineral survey starting dates based 

on the BLM's scheduled plan/ElS completion dates. The acreage figures in the 

Appendix represent the total BLM WSA acreage being studied in each planning 

effort. It is important to point out that these acreage figures do not represent 

the actual acreage for which mineral surveys will be conducted. Because mineral 

surveys will be undertaken only for BLM WSA's preliminarily recommended suitable 

for wilderness designation, the mineral survey acreage will generally be less 

than the BLM study acreage presented in the Appendix. Annual total acreage will 

remain essentially the same; however, individual areas are subject to change.

FY 1984 Starts

BLH plan completion by Sept. 30, 1982 (FY 1982)

GS/BM start Section 603 mineral surveys of recommended WSA's on Oct. 1, 1983

Plan Name

CDCA (All remaining acreage)

Clear Lake, CA

E. San Diego County, CA

Taylor-Hilgard, MT (USFS)

Central California, CA

Western Counties, CA

American Flats, CO

Cannibal Plateau, CO (USFS)

West Needles, CO (USFS)

Owyhee, ED

North Idaho, ID

Missouri Breaks, MT

Dillon, MT

Deerlodge, MT (USFS)

Tonopah, NV

Acreage a

500,000 (Approx.)

40,765

54,022

1,469

89,522

30,954

78, 135

3,480

5,780

93,610

38,468

170, 150

94,409

860

483,800

(40,086)

(14,430)

(22,375)

(41,550)

(79,770)

(26,201)

(234,080)

Total CDCA Acreage 500,000 

Total Acreage Outside CDCA 1,185,424

Acreages in parentheses I added) are those for which preliminary recommendations of suitable for wilderness have been 

made by BLM and for which Geological Survey/Bureau of Mines mineral surveys start in fiscal year 1984. Total is 

approximately 2.0 million acres.

25
FY 1985 Starts

BLM plan completion by Sept. 30, 1983 (FY 1983)

GS/BM start Section 603 mineral surveys of recommended WSA's by Oct. 1, 1984

Plan Name

Upper Sonoran, AZ 

Safford, AZ 

Coronado, AZ 

Apache-Sitgreaves, AZ 

Los Padres, CA 

Sequoia, CA 

Inyo, CA 

Toiyabe, CA 

Tahoe, CA 

Stanislaus, CA 

Alturas, CA 

Lassen, CA 

Plumas, CA

Benton-Owens Valley/Bodie 

White River, CO 

Kremmling, CO 

Cross Mountain, CO 

Canyon City, CO 

Sangre de Cristo, CO 

Glenwood Springs, CO 

Big Lost/MacKay, ID 

Eastern Idaho, ID 

Shoshone/Sun Valley, ID 

Billings, MT 

Wells, NV 

Winnemucca, NV 

Schell, NV 

Shoshone/Eureka, NV 

Overland/Divide, WY 

Rock Springs, WY 

Buffalo, WY

Acreage

(USFS) 

(USFS) 

(USFS) 

(USFS) 

(USFS) 

(USFS) 

(USFS) 

(USFS)

(USFS) 

(USFS) 

Coleville, CA

(USFS)

643,092

97,290

11,608

3,723

7,198

46,293

26,468

960

50

3,005

32,855

200

68

311,530

78,831

8,250

14,081

82,868

4,910

30,630

66,190

134,148

86,603

32,347

175,625

1,116,361

374,693

152,160

106,205

218,181

28 , 93 1

(250,470)

(34,873)

(5,400)

(39,405)

(24,314)

(66,200)

(19,350)

(161,226)

(147,200)

(189,969)

(102,400)

(20,495)

(57,900)

Total Acreage 3,895,354

"Acreages in parentheses (added) are those for which preliminary recommendations of suitable for wilderness have been 

made by BLM and for which Geological Survey/Bureau of Mines mineral surveys start in fiscal year 1984. Total is 

approximately 2.0 million acres.

26
FY 1986 Starts

BLM plan completion by Sept. 30, 1984 (FY 1984)

GS/BM start Section 603 mineral surveys of recommended WSA's by Oct. 1, 1985

Plan Name/Resource Area

Cerbat Black, AZ 266,571

Phoenix, AZ 34,992

Lower Gila South, AZ 637,346

Havasu, AZ 278,740

Redding, CA 29,778

Mendocino, CA (USFS) 33,397

Eagle Lake/Surprise, CA 486,605

King Range/North Coast, CA 38,515

San Juan, CO 90,135

Owyhee Canyonlands, ID 226,523

Jack's Creek, ID 175,637

Powder River, MT 15,574

Valley, MT 59,112

Egan, NV 305,825

Caliente, NV 605,991

Clark, NV 437,935 (212,175)

Rio Puerco, NM 81,280

Taos, NM 30,560

San Augustine, NM 60,166

Jornado, NM 273,095

Las Cruces/Lordsburg, NM 354,504

White Sands/Jornado, NM 39,537

Roswell, NM 25,885

Carlsbad, Nil (USFS) 2,963

Carlsbad, NM 2,941

High Desert, OR 197,720

Warner Lakes, OR 139,840

Riley, OR 5,560

Warner Lakes/Riley/Andrews, OR 667,935

Andrews/Southern Malheur, OR 6 1,176,260 (248,900)

John Day, OR 10,503

Northern Malheur, OR 256,100

Central Oregon, OR 38,974

Deschutes/Ochoco, OR (USFS) 3,114

Deschutes/Central Oregon, OR 119,835

Baker, OR 16,580

Grande Ronde, OR 2,935

Klamath, OR 5,960

Myrtlewood, OR 8

Pony Express/House Range, UT 133,483

Dixie, UT 99,222

Kanab/Escalante, UT 492,119

Beaver River, UT 7,033

Warm Springs/Beaver River, UT 217,588

House Range, UT 111,150

San Rafael/Henry Mtns., UT 222,905

Acreages in parentheses (added) are those for which preliminary recommendations of suitable for wilderness have been 

made by BLM and for which Geological Survey/Bureau of Mines mineral surveys start in fiscal year 1984. Total is 

approximately 2.0 million acres.

BLM has reviewed only 371,650 acres and made preliminary suitability recommendations on 248,900 acres.

27
FY 1986 Starts Continued

Price River/San Rafael/Grand, UT 352,305

Grand, UT 194,090

San Juan, UT 239,160

Diamond Mtn., UT 7,230

Book Cliffs, UT 2,995

Total Acreage 9,314,211 

FY 1987 Starts

BLM plan completion by Sept. 30, 1985 (FY 1985)

GS/BM start Section 603 mineral surveys of recommended WSA's by Oct. 1, 1986

Plan Name

Yuma, AZ

Little Snake, CO

Jarbidge, ID

Medicine Lodge, ID

Lemhi, ID

Monument , ID

Garnet, MT

Lander, WY

Acreage

83,940

68,472

216,708

22,220

24,922

154,015

27,737

53,496

Total Acreage 651,510 

FY 1988 Starts

BLM plan completion by Sept. 30, 1986 (FY 1986)

GS/BM start Section 603 mineral surveys of recommended WSA's by Oct. 1, 1987

Plan Name Acreage

Uncompahgre, CO 48,970

Grand Junction, CO 241,005

Elko, NV 96,471

Lahontan, NV 424,345

Walker, NV 88,835

Esmeralda, NV 191,875

Grass Creek, WY 52,460

Washakie, WY 71,040

Cody, WY 25,210

Medicine Bow, WY 16,191

Pinedale, WY 1,415

Big Sandy, WY 1,300

Total Acreage 1,259,117 

(Grand total acreage outside CDCA 16, 305,616)

28