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G. L. Raines, T. W. Offield, and E. S. Santos
Remote-sensing and subsurface definition of facies and structure related to uranium deposits, Powder River basin, Wyoming (in Uranium geology in resource evaluation and exploration, Nash,)
Economic Geology and the Bulletin of the Society of Economic Geologists (December 1978), 73(8):1706-1723

Abstract:
Computer-enhanced Landsat images of the southern Powder River Basin have been used to define facies and linear structural features within the Wasatch Formation. The facies distribution is detectable primarily because of a relation of vegetation density and type to the local substrate. The surface indications of facies are confirmed by sandstone/mudstone ratios determined from logs of abundant exploration drill holes. These newly defined geologic features are spatially related to known uranium mineral occurrences and are believed to be related to mineralization in the following ways. (1) Major uranium occurrences are virtually restricted to an intermediate grain-size facies of the Wasatch, probably marking the axial zone of the depositional basin. (2) The axial zone is also marked by a change from one structural lineament domain to another, and the structures may have influenced details of fluvial-system patterns and sedimentation and (subsequently) the flow of uranium-bearing ground water. (3) A recently active linear structure may mark the current basin axis; it appears to have some relationship both to ground-water chemistry and the distribution of uranium occurrences, suggesting structural influence on relatively modern ground-water transport and uranium deposition.

Index Terms/Descriptors:
Campbell County Wyoming; Cenozoic; color imagery; Converse County Wyoming; data processing; economic geology; exploration; geophysical surveys; imagery; Landsat; lineaments; lithofacies; metal ores; mineral exploration; ore deposits; Paleogene; Powder River basin; remote sensing; resources; satellite methods; sedimentary rocks; structure; surveys; Tertiary; United States; uranium ores; vegetation; Wasatch Formation; Wyoming

Latitude & Longitude:
N42°45'00" - N44°00'00" and W106°00'00" - W105°00'00" (Search for maps and images at Alexandria Digital Library)

GeoRef, Copyright 2006, American Geological Institute. Abstract, Copyright, Society of Economic Geologists


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