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Geology topics

James A. Pitkin

Publications and source records attributed to James A. Pitkin.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Mineral resource potential and geology of the Routt National Forest and the Middle Park Ranger District of the Arapaho National Forest, Colorado, with a section on salable minerals

The assessment of the mineral resource potential of the Routt National Forest and the Middle Park Ranger District of the Arapaho National Forest, Colorado, was conducted so that the mineral resources of the forest can be considered along with other resources in land use planning. This report discusses the potential for as yet undiscovered mineral and energy resources within the forest. Mineral resource information is given in terms of mineral deposit types and their geologic settings, and mineral deposit types are defined by geologic characteristics of known deposits that may occur within or near the forest. All available information regarding mineral deposits or occurrences and energy resources, as of June 1994, was assembled to assess the mineral and energy potential. Geologic maps were compiled and mineral and energy potential maps were also created for deposit types within the forest.

Colorado

Potential mineral resources, Payette National Forest, Idaho: Description and probabilistic estimation

The Payette National Forest (PNF), in west-central Idaho, is geologically diverse and contains a wide variety of mineral resources. Mineral deposit types are grouped into locatable, leasable, and salable categories. The PNF has substantial past production and identified resources of locatable commodities, including gold, silver, copper, zinc, tungsten, antimony, mercury, and opal. Minor lignitic coal is the only leasable mineral resource known to be present in the PNF. Resources of salable commodities in the PNF include sand-and-gravel, basalt for crushed-rock aggregate, and minor gypsum. Locatable mineral resources are geographically divided between eastern and western parts of the PNF. The western PNF lies west of the Riggins-to-Cascade highway (US 95 - Idaho 55), and the eastern PNF is east of that highway. The western and eastern parts of the PNF are geologically distinctive and have different types of locatable mineral deposits, so their locatable mineral resources are described separately. Within the western and eastern parts of the PNF, locatable deposit types generally are described in order of decreasing geologic age. An expert panel delineated tracts considered geologically permissive and (or) favorable for the occurrence of undiscovered mineral deposits of types that are known to be present within or near the PNF. The panel also estimated probabilities for undiscovered deposits, and used numerical simulation, based on tonnage-grade distribution models, to derive estimates of in-situ metals contained. These estimates are summarized in terms of mean and median measures of central tendency. Most grade and tonnage distributions appear to be log-normal, with the median lower than the mean. Inasmuch as the mean is influenced by the largest deposits in the model tonnage-grade distribution, the median provides a lower measure of central tendency and a more conservative estimation of undiscovered resources.

Idaho

Interpretation of an aerial radiometric survey of the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area and vicinity, San Bernardino County, California

The aerial radiometric data for the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area show slight correlation with mapped geology and contain no information of economic significance. Precambrian and modified Precambrian crystalline rocks have more eTh compared to Mesozoic plutonic rocks and one rock unit mapped as a pluton has slightly more K. These rocks have essentially uniform ratios of eU/eTh and eU/K despite their different origins. The ratios and also show that part of the granodiorite of Manzanita Springs could be somewhat deficient in eTh and K. It is concluded that the mapped radioelement distributions are within reasonable limits for the rock types involved, and there is no immediate evidence on any anomalous concentrations of radioactive minerals within the Wilderness Area.

California

Aerial radiometric and magnetic surveys, Snowy Range Wilderness Study Area and contiguous area, southeastern Wyoming

The Wilderness Act (Public Law 88-577, Sept. 3, 1964) and related acts require the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Bureau of Mines to survey certain areas on Federal lands to determine their mineral resource potential. Results must be made available to the public and be submitted to the Administration and the Congress. This report presents the results of a geophysical survey of the Snowy Range Wilderness Study Area and Contiguous Area, Wyoming.

Wyoming

Interpretation of an aerial radiometric and magnetic survey of the Salmo-Priest study area (RARE E6-981 A1-981), Pend Oreille County, Washington and Boundary County, Idaho

An aerial radiometric and magnetic survey of the Salmo-Priest study area (RARE E6-981) (index map) was made by the U.S. Geological Survey during October, 1978. Geophysical data from the survey will be used in the assessment of the mineral-resource potential of the study area. The Salmo-Priest area is located in northeastern Washington and northern Idaho and the north edge is the United States-Canadian boundary. This report presents the data obtained by the survey and an interpretation of the data.

Idaho, Washington

Calibration constants for the Geodata International, Inc., and Texas Instruments, Inc.: High sensitivity systems used for the ERDA aerial gamma-ray surveys

The radiometric data from the ERDA aerial gamma-ray surveys have been presented in the form of count rates proportional to the apparent, average surface concentrations of potassium (K), equivalent uranium (eU), and equivalent thorium (eTh). Data from a U.S. Geological Survey calibrated, truck-mounted gamma-ray spectrometer have been used to estimate calibration constants that can be used to convert the count rate data to absolute concentration units--percent K, parts per million (ppm) eU, and ppm eTh. Calibration constants for the gamma-ray systems of Geodata International, Inc. and of Texas Instruments, Inc. as they were configured prior to September 1976 are presented.

Open-File Report