Geology topics

Max G. White

Publications and source records attributed to Max G. White.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS1958

Reconnaissance for uranium in the coal of Sao Paulo, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Uranium-bearing coal and carbonaceous shale of the Rio Bonito formation of Pennsylvanian age have been found in the States of Sao Paulo, Santa Catarlna and Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The uranium oxide content of the samples collected in the State of Sao Paulo ranges from 0.001 percent to 0.082 percent. The samples collected in Santa Catarina averaged about 0.002 percent uranium oxide; those collected in Rio Grande do Sul, about 0.003 percent uranium oxide. Since the field and laboratory investigations are still in their initial stages, only raw data on the radioactivity and uranium content of Brazilian coals are given in this report.

Trace Elements Memorandum↗

USGS1956

Radiometric traverse along the Yukon River from Fort Yukon to Ruby, Alaska, 1949

In 1949, a radiometric traverse was made of rocks exposed along the banks of and near the Yukon River about Fort Yukon to Ruby, Alaska. Granitic rocks of Tertiary age and of Devonian or Carboniferous age and sandstone beds of Cretaceous age gave the highest readings obtained in the field. Other rock types examined were greenstone of Devonian or Carboniferous age and metamorphic rocks of Devonian and pre-Devonian age, sedimentary rocks, and liginite of Tertiary age, and alluvial deposits of Quaternary age. The most radioactive sample, from Melozitna River canyon, contained only 0.017 percent equivalent uranium.

Alaska↗

USGS1953

Reconnaissance for radioactive deposits in the Nixon Fork mining district, Medfra Quadrangle, central Alaska, 1949

Reconnaissance for radioactive deposits in the Nixon Fork mining district, Medfra quadrangle, central Alaska, in 1949 disclosed the occurrence of allanite in sampled containing as much as 0.05 percent equivalent uranium from the dump of the Whalen mine; the presence of radioactive parisite (a rare-earth fluocarbonate) in a highly altered limestone containing about 0.025 percent equivalent uranium near the Whalen shaft; and radioactive idocrase in samples of altered garnet rock with about 0.025 percent equivalent uranium, form the Crystal shaft of the Nixon Fork mine. This radioactivity is due mostly to thorium rather than uranium. Placer concentrates from Ruby and Eagle Creeks contain 0.078 and 0.26 percent equivalent uranium respectively, in which the radioactivity is due chiefly to uraniferous thorianite. The bedrock source of the uraniferous thorianite was not located primarily because much of the area is overlain by a relatively thick mantle of vegetation (mostly moss) which limited the effectiveness of radiometric surveying. The uraniferous thorianite is believed to occur in a restricted zone or zones at or near the contact of limestone with monzonite similar to the gold-copper ores of the district and the deposits of radioactive parisite and garnet rock at the Whelan and Crystal shafts respectively.

Alaska↗

USGS1947

Flysch and molasse

By definition European geologists consider a sequence of limestones, sandstones, and shales, the beds of which are thin, regular, and alternating, and which are deposited in a geosyncline or foredeep shortly before a major orogeny, as the flysch . The waste products that accumulate as a deposit flanking mountains and built in part of the deformed flysch make up the molasse . In field practice the groups of sediments called flysch and molasse, or facies of them, are formations in the American sense. However, the Europeans would not recognize all groups of beds deposited in a geosyncline just before an orogeny as flysch; the beds must possess the proper lithologic and bedding characteristics. Europeans have tacitly tied the variable of lithology and stratification to the variable of orogeny, with attendant difficulties. Originally only the first was denoted, but later the second was emphasized in definition if not in field use. Americans have considered the terms chiefly in their orogenic sense and thereby have called certain sequences flysch that do not fully meet the requirements of European usage. The writers are of the opinion that little is gained by the use of the words; by their application no new fact is told or discovery made. They simply elaborate a conclusion by way of analogy. On the other hand, a possibility of confusion is introduced by the use of the terms, and in America it is best to avoid them.

GSA Bulletin↗