Geology topics
Carl Houston Roach
Publications and source records attributed to Carl Houston Roach.
Simplotite, a new quadrivalent vanadium mineral from the Colorado Plateau
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Sherwoodite, a mixed vanadium (IV)-vanadium (V) mineral from the Colorado Plateau
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Duttonite, a new quadrivalent vanadium oxide from the Peanut mine, Montrose County, Colorado
Duttonite, a new quadrivalent vanadium oxide from the Peanut mine, Montrose County, Colo., has the formula VO(OH) 2 . The mineral occurs as crusts and coatings of pale-brown transparent platy crystals, as one of the first oxidation products of montroseite ore. It is associated with melanovanadite and abundant crystals of hexagonal native selenium. Duttonite is biaxial positive, 2V is about 60°, dispersion is r < v , moderate; X = a , pale pinkish brown; Y = c , pale yellow-brown; Z = b , pale brown; α = 1.810 ± 0.003, β = 1.900 ± 0.003, γ > 2.01. The hardness is about 2.5; the calculated specific gravity is 3.24. The chemical analysis shows, in percent: V 2 o 3 2.6, V 2 O 4 75.3, FeO 0.4, H 2 O 18.1, insoluble 4.2, total 100.6. Duttonite is monoclinic, a o = 8.80 ± 0.02A, b o - 3.95 ± 0.01A, c o - 5.96 ± 0.02A, β = 90°40 1 ± 5 1 . The space group is I 2/ c , ( C 6 2 h ); the cell contents are 4[VO(OH) 2 ]. The crystals are strongly pseudo-orthorhombic, and the structure departs only slightly from the space group Imcm . Duttonite is named for Captain Clarence Edward Dutton (1841-1912). A detailed study of the geology, geochemistry, and mineralogy of the vanadium-uranium ore at the Peanut mine, Montrose County, Colo., was begun early in 1954 by Carl H. Roach of the U. S. Geological Survey. A number of rare and new minerals were found in the ore and the study of these samples was undertaken by Mary E. Thompson. Duttonite is the first new vanadium mineral to be described from the Peanut mine. It is named for Captain Clarence Edward Dutton (1841-1912), who was one of the first geologists to work in the Colorado Plateau region and who was a member of the U. s. Geological Survey from 1879-91. We are indebted to the following members of the Geological Surbey: K. E. Valentine for spectrographic analyses of duttonite, and M. E. Mrose and H. T. Evans, Jr., for measurement of the unit cell constants. This work is part of a program being conducted by the U. S. Geological Survey on behalf of the Division of Raw Materials of the U. S. Atomic Energy Commission.
Exploration for uranium deposits in the Spring Creek Mesa area, Montrose County, Colorado
The U.S. Geological Survey explored the Spring Creek Mesa area from July 11, 1951, to August 14, 1953. During that period, 280 diamond-drill holes were completed for a total of 180,287 feet. Sedimentary rocks of Mesozoic age are exposed in and adjacent to the Spring Creek Mesa area. These rocks consist of, from oldest to youngest: the Upper Jurassic Morrison formation, the Lower Cretaceous Burro Canyon formation, and the Upper Cretaceous Dakota formation. The Morrison formation consists of two members in the Spring Creek Mesa area: the lower is the Salt Wash member and the upper is the Brusby Basin member. All of the large uranium-bearing deposits discovered by the Geological Survey drilling in the Spring Creek Mesa area are in a series of coalescing sandstone lenses in the uppermost part of the Salt Wash member of the Morrison formation. Most of the ore deposits are believed to be irregular tabular or lens-shaped masses and probably lie parallel to the bedding, although in detail, they may crosscut the bedding. Also, ore deposits that take the form of narrow elongate concretionary-like structures, locally called “rolls”, may be present in the Spring Creek Mesa area. The mineralized material consists mostly of sandstone which has been selectively impregnated and in part replaced by uranium and vanadium minerals. Also, rich concentrations of uranium and vanadium are commonly associated with thin mudstone seams, beds of mudstone pebbles, and carbonaceous material of various types. Two suites of ore minerals are present in the ore deposits - - an oxidized suite of secondary uranium and vanadium minerals and a relatively unoxidized suite of “primary” uranium and vanadium minerals. The following geologic criteria are useful as guides to ore in the Spring Creek Mesa area: 1. Large ore deposits generally occur where the “ore-bearing sandstone” is more than 40 feet thick. 2. The color of the mudstone associated with the “ore-bearing sandstone” in the vicinity of large ore deposits is commonly gray instead of the usual red. 3. The “ore-bearing sandstone” is normally a light red, but in the vicinity of oxidized ore deposits it is light brown and in the vicinity of relatively unoxidized ore deposits it is gray. 4. The “ore-bearing sandstone” in the vicinity of relatively unoxidized ore deposits commonly contains sparse to abundant disseminated pyrite. In the vicinity of oxidized deposits it commonly contains abundant limonite spots and widespread limonite staining.