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Reconnaissance for radioactivity in the Gold Hill mining area, Boulder county, Colorado

Trace Elements Memorandum 563
This report concerns work done on behalf of the Division of Raw Materials of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
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https://doi.org/10.3133/tem563

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Abstract

Several radioactive deposits were found as a result of reconnaissance in the Gold Hill mining area, Boulder County, Colo. The ore deposits of the area have been worked chiefly for gold. All ore shipped has come from fissure veins, mist of which are gold telluride veins. There are, however, some important sulfide veins which show a vague zonal distribution of pyritic gold ores and silver-lead ores. The results of this reconnaissance suggest a possible relationship of the radioactive deposits to this indistinct sulfide zoning; however, the zoning is so obscure that its practical application to prospecting for uranium is of doubtful value at the present time. Pitchblende, tobernite, metatrobernite, and schroeckingerite have been identified in specimens from the area; however, no uranium minerals have yet been identified from most of the radioactive deposits, and the uraniferous material present is probably in disseminated small particles. Although selected sampled from several localities assay 0.10 percent uranium or more, the known deposits are small and probably are not of immediate economic importance.

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Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Reconnaissance for radioactivity in the Gold Hill mining area, Boulder county, Colorado
Series title Trace Elements Memorandum
Series number 563
DOI 10.3133/tem563
Year Published 1955
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Description Report: 28 p.; 1 Plate: 29.73 x 24.49 inches
Country United States
State Colorado
County Boulder County
Other Geospatial Gold Hill Mining Area
Additional Online Files (Y/N) Y
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