Areas surveyed by U. S. Atomic Energy Commission Airborne Section

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UNITED STATES ATOMIC ENERGY COHMISSION GRAND JUNCTION OPERATIONS OFFICE

EXPLORATION DIVISION AIRBORNE SECTION

AREAS SURVEYED BY

U. S. ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION AIRBORNE SECTION

by

Thomas L. Boy I e

RME-178

Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed in this report, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference therein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof.

July, 1957

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CONTENTS

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION

EQUIPMENT AND PERSONNEL OFFICE PROCEDURES

AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE PRACTICES FLIGHT TECHNIQUES

AREAS FLOWN:

-State Of: Arizona Arkansas COSTS CONCLUSIONS APPEND I X -Ca 1 i forn i a Colorado Dakota - North Dakota - South Michigan Montana Nevada New Mexico Oklahoma Oregon Texas Utah Wyoming

State maps showing the areas flown

ILLUSTRATION 3 4 4 4 5 5 6 26 26 28

Figure 1 Diagrams showing flying techniques- - - -Appended

-2-(

ABSTRACT

The first airborne radiometric survey conducted under the direction of the Atomic Energy Commission covered the Long Park and Club Mesa areas in Colorado and districts in the vicinity of Blanding and Marysvale of Utah. This work was contracted out in July 1950 to the Texas Company of Houston whose equipment consisted of a helicopter in which were mounted six 3x30

inch Geiger tubes. During the year 1951 further contracts were let by the Commission to survey areas between Grants and Gallup, New Mexico and the Carrizo Mountains in Arizona using a Piper PA-18 aircraft carrying initially a Halross Model 939, scintillometer. In July 1953 the Airborne Section was established as a part of the Exploration Division of the Grand Junction Operations Office. Attached to this section were ten aircraft, all Piper PA-18's, equipped with Mark VI scintillometers and manned by pilots and geologi·st. These airborne crews, prior to the abandonment of the section

in September 1956, conducted aerial radiometric surveys in the following states: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Dakotas (North), Dakotas (South), Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Wyoming. This report, designed to be used as a reference, should a continuation of this work be carried out sometime in the future, covers

in some detail all the areas explored from the air by Commission personnel and equipment.

-3-(

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INTRODUCTION

All airborne surveys performed by the Airborne Section followed requests submitted in memo form by any one of the three Branch offices, Grand Junction, Salt Lake and Denver. These flight requests consisted of a detailed description of the area to be flown, outlining the geology, known uranium occurrences, specific formations to be covered from the

air, and the intensity of coverage to be followed during the initial stages of the work. Accompanying this written flight request was attached a

blueprint, outlining the boundaries of the area receiving flight coverage. l.n theappend'ix'is a typical example of a "flight request" submitted by a branch office.

These surveys were located in the majority of the states west of the Mississippi River, Field crews moved with the seasons, north of latitude 38 degrees in the summer, and surveyed areas south of that latitude in the winter as the snow increased in depth in northern areas.

EQUIPMENT AND PERSONNEL

Three aircrafts were assigned to each Branch office covering assignments designated by those offices. The pilot, airborne geologist (party chief)

and aircraft were under jurisdiction of the Grand Junction Exploration Division. The pilot was solely responsible for all maintenance on the aircraft, on the choice of operational bases and for the most favorable periods in which to conduct flight surveys. The geologist observer, as chief of party, was responsible for the general planning of the operation, the writing of a project weekly and monthly report, and in collaboration with Branch office personnel, the project final report. All the work involved in the ground investigating of anomalous areas, the cutting of samples, advising the tax-payers and final report writing was the responsibility of Branch personnel assigned to the project as ground-geologists.

During the initial stages of the aerial exploration program the Com-mission utilized, under contract, a two place Bell Helicopter powered by a 165 h.p. Franklin engine. This was replaced by a Cessna L-19, powered by a 217 h.p. Continental engine loaned to the Commission by the U.S. Army

Air Force. In 1953 all aircraft in use were standardized in type, the choice falling to the Piper Super Cub PA-18 powered by a 135 h.p. Lycoming engine.

In the baggage compartment of each of these aircrafts was permanently mounted a Mark VI scintillometer manufactured by Nuclear Enterprises Limited of Winnepeg, Canada.

Ground equipment consisted of the usual camping gear, jeeps, panel or pick-up trucks. Radiation detection instruments consisted of "Detection" and "Professional" Geiger counters and Halross Model 11B and Mt. Sopris hand sclntillometers.

OFFICE PROCEDURES

Administrative details of all work relating to the Airborne Section were controlled by a Section Chief and Assistant Chief. Attached to the

Section was an aircraft of the same type and class utilized by field personnel.

-4-This equipment was retained as a spare unit to replace any major engine break-down or crash losses of field aircraft, thereby, reducing to a minimum any delay in the progress of the work. This aircraft was also used by

office personnel for transportation in visiting the various crews dispersed throughout the western states. It was utilized to a large extent also in flight testing and evaluating new scintillation equipment designed and con-structed by embryo manufacturers entering the electronics field during the height of the uranium exploration boom.

AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE PROGRAM

The pilots as previously stated were responsible for the maintenance and modifications of the airplane assigned to them. The Piper aircraft and Lycoming engine factories were instructed to mail to the Section all Servi.ce Bulletins describing modifications required for economical and safe operation of both aircraft and engine. Copies of these bulletins were mailed to all pilots with instructions to comply promptly with the design changes outlined therein. Their diligence in this respect was evidenced in the complete lack of any major break-down of their flight equipment.

In order to minimize the possibl ity of engine failure while conducting these hazardous low-level surveys the practice was set up where engine oil changes were made every twenty flying hours, and in accordance with usual Civil Aeronautics policies 100 hours and annual inspections were rigidly maintained. In addition, new engines were installed in all aircrafts when the accummulated flying hours on the engines totaled the time recommended for a major overhaul (approximately 800 hours) by the Lycoming factory. If, prior to this time, oil consumption and cylinder compression were abnormal then a new engine was immediately substituted.

Maintenance of ground equipment i.e. vehicles, followed established

practices set up by the Service Contractor under contract with the Commission. Hand counters when inoperative were shipped into the Exploration Division laboratory for repair.

FLYING TECHNIQUES

Flight techniques followed in surveying the projects outlined in this report were:

1. Rim Flying

At air speeds of 80 to 90 miles per hour the aircraft was flown at approximately 50 - 100 feet from the formation under examination. Formations outcropping from canyon walls or high mesas were frequently of such thickness as to require from one to six flight passes at approximately 100 foot

differences in elevation. See figure No. 1. 2. Grid Flying

The technique of "grid flying" as followed in the majority of these projects did not utilize a grid system in the true sense of the expression. To fly strictly such a pat-tern in undeveloped areas, would have required a ground control

system by which the pilot could maintain pre-established flight I ines. In remote, rugged territory such a land

survey would have been impractical and its cost prohibitive. This technique, therefore, implies flying at elevations of 100 to 200 feet (giving 200 feet and 400 feet swaths re-spectively) rock formations outcropping in relatively uniformly rolling terrain with flight lines roughly paral-lel to, and governed by the strike of these outcrops. See figure No. 1.

The projects surveyed in the Denver Basin and Southern Oklahoma where flight lines superimposed full, half and quarter section lines were classified specifically as grid type airborne surveys. Well-tab strip recorders with paper drive speed of 3" per minute, were part of the equipment carried in the aircraft when conducting this type of survey. The recorded data obtained from such equipment was used in the compi lati'on of isorad charts of the

specific area being surveyed. The airborne geologist under those circum-stances kept relatively busy maintaining his orientation by marking known ground points on the moving chart, making running notes of the geology being covered, and notes of terrain features at points of radioactive highs re-corded on the chart. A section of the Denver Basin surveyed in this manner

is shown attached as an example.

AREAS FLOWN

This section 1 ists by states, the individual projects flown by Airborne Section personnel during the period 1951 - 1956. If any further details are required concerning this work, reference should be made to the final and interim reports on file in the various Branch office libraries. Full scale planimetric charts, duplicates of those attached to this report, on which, are shown the surveyed areas are on file in the GJOO Drafting Office should further detailed references be required.

-6-Proj. Survey An om- X- Cont. Date Date

No. Area Name Party For Formations Flown al ies Started Complete Re ort Recommendations

S T A T E 0 F A R I Z 0 N A

1. Red Mesa, Utah, & Siapno GJOO Salt Wash: Recapture:Westwater 1 158:00 86:00 72:00 7/2/53 8/28/53 RME-49 No further work

war-Arizona Nash Canyon mbrs. of Morrison fm. ranted.

2. WillahC}, Coconino Ne i 1 son SLAO Shinarump conglom.:Moencopi 0 200:00 100:00 100:00 6/10/53 7/10/53 RME- 31 Surface investigation

Counties, Arizona Jack sandstone shows no future

po-tential of area. lncomp.

3. Black Mesa, Klosterman GJOO Lower sandstone of Mesaverde 17 206:25 60:05 146:20 2/25/54 6/7/54 RME-91 Private prospecting

Navajo & Apache, Wonders sufficiently

stimu-Counties lated no further

flying warranted. 4. Ridenour Mine Lovejoy SLAO Supai:Coconino & Redwall fms. 35:00 15:00 20:00 12/22/53 7/11/54 RME-2014 Recommended detailed

Jack flown @ 50% coverage examination of all

altered zones.

Conglomerate between the Redwa 11 & Supai fms. should be ex-amined on north side of river.

5. Dripping Spring Magleby SLAO Sierra Ancha Mts:Cherry to 20 252:20 131 :20 121 : 00 3/5/54 6/29/54 RME-2023 Outcrops of favorable

Quartzite, Mes- Kocher Canyon Creeks:Salt River beds of Dripping

cal Mts. Canyon:Mescal Mts. Spring quartzite near

slightly discordant diabase should be explored.

6. Black Mesa Blair GJOO Upper Cretaceous Mesaverde & 8 80:40 14:05 66:35 1/27/55 3/4/55 RME-91 Recommend further

Shaner Upper Jurassic Morrison fms. detailed flying of

Toreva fm. N.W. of Salahkai Mesa

-7-Proj. Survey Anom- X-Cont. Date Date

No. Area Name Part For Formations Flown a 1 i es Started Com Jete Report Recommendations

7. Hopi Buttes Stehle GJOO Bidahochi formation, Pliocene 22 47:35 17:30 30:05 2/7/55 3/3/55 TM-265 No further airborne

Diatremes, Navajo Wonders work recommended.

County

8. Dripping Spring Magleby SLAO Dripping Spring Qtz. 100%: 7 342:55 144:05 198:50 11/8/54 6/3/55 RME-208)' Recommend further

Quartzite, Arizona Kocher Scanlan Conglom. 50%:Pioneer flying in Verde River

Shales:Barnes Conglom.:Cambrian Valley, San Pedro

Mesca 1 Lms: and Troy Sandstone River Valley,

Mazatzal Mts. north of Four Peaks. 9. Mogollan Plateau, Mag 1 eby SLAO Carboniferous Supai 100%:Permian 0 292:30 87:50 204:40 11/28/55 6/5/56 TM-295 Recommend continued

Mazatza 1 Wilder- Kocher Coconino s.s.:Kaibab Lms:Redwall flying in this

gen-ness Lms. a 11 10% ·See report for de- eral area.

ta i 1 s.

10. Arizona Strip Lovejoy SLAO Permian Coconino & Supai 5 465:55 164: 10 301:45 11/6/53 3/28/54 RME-2017 Future airborne work

Jack 5. 5. & Kaibab Lms:Triassic 2042 should be confined

to the Hurricane Fau 1 t, with attention given to the

Moencopi Ka i bab conuact.

11. Eastern Coconino Barrett SLAO Shinarump conglomerate: 43 400:00 No breakdown 12/15/52 3/2/53 RME-4002 Due to company

activ-County Petrified Forest Mbr. of given in rpt. it i es in area, only

Chinle fm. ground reconnaissance

124 2,481:20 is recommended.

-8-Proj. No. 1. Area Name Hot Springs County, Arkansas

1. Lone Pine, I nyo Co. 2.

3.

4.

5.

S E Ca 1 i fo rn i a & SW Arizona

Kern River & Taft-McKittrick

Fi llmore-Oja i, Santa Paula

Joshua Tree Nat. Monument Party Nash Fickel Survey For DAO Malloxy SLAO Shaner Peterson SLAO Jack Mallory SLAO Schmidt Mallory SLAO Shaner Lovejoy SLAO Jack Formatlons Flown Anom-alies Total Flying (Hours)

Rim & X-Cont. Grid Recon. (Hours) (Hours) S T A T E 0 F A R K A N S A S

Igneous rocks between Magnet

Cove and Little Rock, Arkansas 5 5

47:50 47:50

26:oo 2l.:~so·;

S T A T E 0 F C A L I F 0 R N I A Cambrian to Triassic marine

seds. & Mesozoic granitoid masses. All structures & alteration zones.

Precambrlan gneiss & schist volcanics & sediments, Ceno-zoic rhyolites 0 24 73:05 16:05 57:00 326:15 142:20 183:55 Date Started 5/54 4/10/56 11/8/55 Pre-Cretaceous metasediments, igneous-Jurassic acid intru-sives, Tertiary shales, sands and conglomerates

6 81 :00 53:25 27:35 1/29/55

Oak Ridge & San Cayento & Santa Ynez faults. Eocene Coldwater ss. & Oligocene Sespe red shale fm.

0 61 :05

Precambrian metasediments to ___ 5_ 186:00 recent alluvium. All

basaltic intrusives and Jurassic quartz monzonite-10% to 50%. 35 727:25 24:10 36:55 12/12/55 57:20 128:40 3/21/55 Date Complete 5/54 Final Report Recommendations

RME-1052 Zone of weakness between Hot Springs & Little Rock should be flown. The

intrusive sedimentary contacts and dike pene-trating sediments should also be examined.

6/30/56 TM-267 Recommended completion of flight survey in this

area. 5/7!56 SLAO-TM-2 4/30/55 SLAO-TM-4 4/8/56 TM-268

No further airborne work recommended.

Survey incomplete war-rants further investiga-tion.

Continuous bad weather precluded low level surveying, Sept. & Oct. are possibly better months.

6/10/55 RME-2042 No further exploration recommended.

Proj.

No. Area Name Party

Survey For 1. 2. 3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

I '

Marshall Pass & Tomichi Dome

Denver Basin

Uravan Mineral Belt Plateau

San Juan Basin N.M. & Colorado Dakota hogbacks, Front Range Meeker-Glenwood .Distric.t Smith Fickel Stehle Bethel Betts Hague DAO DAO GJOO Stehle GJOO Wonders Smith Fickel Siapno Betts DAO GJOO

Las Animas Arch Easton Canyon City Embay. Briney

DAO

Gunnison, Colo. Free 1 and DAO Fickel

South Park, Colo. Easton 1 DAO

Bet he 1 Formations Flown An om-a 1 ies X-Cont. Date Started Date Complete S T A T E 0 F C 0 L 0 R A D 0 Dakota ss. in Tomichi Dome area 3

10-50% on Marshall Pass all rocks from Tertiary to Precambrian

Dawson arkose and Castle Rock conglomerate

Grid the Precambrlan:Navajo: Kayenta:Salt Wash

2

3

San Jose ss. 10%:0jo Alamo ss. 46 See details in report GJOO files.

Cretaceous, Pierre: Niobrara; Benton, Dakota. Jurassic, Morri-son. See report for further details.

Mesaverde and Morrison 100%: Entrada:Shinarump & Dakota

55. 50%

Dakota Morrison Niobrara etc. See interim report for further details.

Dakota ss. Morrison fm. Pre-cambrian granites & schists all 100% coverage.

Cambrian granites & Tertiary trachytes Paleozoic, Mesozoic & Tertiary sediments.

-10-0 0 8 0 12 64:35 33:25 31:10 7/9/56 7/31/56 56:15 21:45 34:30 10/20/55 11/30/55 25:00 5:50 19:10 5/14/56 5/18/56 341:40 171:45 169:55 1/20/55 7/1/55 83:55 37:45 46:10 9/6/55 11/4/55 276:30 165:55 110:35 7/29/54 1/14/55 108:00 54:00 54:00 7/20/54 9/7/54 35:35 17:00 18:35 11/2/54 11/12/54 41 :30 24:15 17:15 6/7/54 7/19/54 Re art DA0-3-TM-46 DEB-3-TM-30 Tt1-301 TM-114 Recommendations

Further flying recom-mended in conjunction with ground

investiga-tion

Completion of project recommended.

No further surveying recommended.

Recommend flying the San Jose fm. in the

Cuba a rea.

RME-1079 No further airborne work recommended.

RME-181 Recommend further work in vicinity of McCoy.

RME-1050 Area unfavorable for a 1059 continuation of survey

work.

TM-289 No further surveying recommended.

RME-1058 No further surveying recommended.

Proj. No. 10. 11. 12 0 13 0 14. 15 0 16 0 17 0

Area Name Part

Middle Park, CO Mallory Be the 1

North Park, CO Mallory Be the 1 Jefferson Co. & adjacent areas Book Cliffs Southeastern & south-centra 1 Colorado Skein Mesa, Lisbon Va 11 ey, Inter-River Canon City Em-bayment area Elk Mountains Mallory Bethel S i apno Betts Easton Briney Nash Fickel Nash Fickel Betts Boyer Survey For DAO DAO DAO GJOO DAO GJOO DAO GJOO An om-a 1 i es

X-Cont. Date Date Com Jete

Final Formations Flown

Dakota & Morrison sediments on flanks of basin, & Tertiary sediments within basin

Morrison & Dakota sediments & Coalmont & Precambrian outcrops.

Dawson arkose; Morrison & Dakota ss.

Mesaverde ss. and Mancos shale and Wasatch ss.

Dakota ss:Morrison fm:Benton

Triassic Mossback:Salt Wash & the Cutler formations

Morrison:Dawson arkose & Dakota ss. 0 0 0 6 22 3

Fault zones; intrusive contacts: 21 alteration zones:metal mining

districts 71:00 40:00 31:00 12:00 5:00 7:00 3:55 1 :50 2:05 10:00 4:00 6:00 108:00 54:00 54:00 237:35 105:00 132:35 111 : 00 51:00 60:00 150:00 50:00 100:00 127 1,736:30 Started 5/3/54 8/31/53 11/1/53 6/4/54 9/11/53 12/1/53 Report Recommendations

RME-1064 No further flying re-commended of the Troublesome fm. In-vestigate further the regolith zone between Pierre sh. & Precam-brian complex of the Beaver Creek area. RME-1008 Further work dependent

upon the progress on the Sheep Mt. & Pedad prospects.

RME-1041 Further airborne work is recommended in this area.

Due to inclement weather, the project was postponed

7/20/54

11/24/52

11/1/53

5/56

9/7/54 RME-1059 No additional work re-commended.

6/12/53 RME-4054 No additional work re-commended.

12/5/53 RME-1050 Additional work re-commended in the Da-kota fm. and the Dawson arkose on the south side of Canon City.

6!56 RME-179 No additional work

Proj. Survey No. Area Name Party For

1. Upper Michigan Smith DAO

& parts of Fickel

W i scans in

Format ions Flown

Quartz-granite & the Cambrian SW Wisconsin -12-I I S T A T E contacts 90-100% Franconia ss. in An om-al ies 0 F M 0 0

Total X-Cont. Date Date Final

Fly in Started Com Jete Re ort Recommendations (Hours

I C H I G A N

84':00 13:40 70:20 8/8/56 10/20/56 TM-138 Further work recom-mended especially in the Franconia ss. 84:00

Proj. No. 1. 2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9. Area Name

E. flank Big Horn Mts. Clancy, Boulder Batholith Sweetgrass Hills Central Montana Southern Montana

Castle & Little Belt Mts., Cent. Montana Saltese, Montana Ruby Mts. & Sweetwater Basin Little Rocky Mts. Montana Party Survey

For Foramtions Flown

Anom-alies

Total Flying

Rim & X-Cont. Date Grid Recon. Started (Hours) (Hours) Date Complete Final Report Recommendations S T A T E 0 F M 0 N T A N A Jones Jack Lovejoy Jack Lovejoy Jack Lovejoy Jack

DAO Fort Union:Cloverly:Morrison: 2 Sundance:and Newcastle fms.: Precambrian granites

SLAO Quartz monzonite:Apl ite & Alaskite rhyolites & andesites

SLAO Eagle ss. & Virgelle ss.90%: All intrusives 5%

SLAO Portions of north & south Moccasin, Judith & Big Snowy Mts. Emphasis on Eagle ss. & Virgelle fms. See RME-2034 for detai Is.

0

0

6

Lovejoy SLAO Livingstone 10%:Eagle100%: 14 Jack See report for further de~

tails. Lovejoy Jack Nash Wonders Magleby Kocher Lovejoy Jack SLAO Ellis:Sundance:Morrison: 0 Kootenai & Eagle sediments, all 50-100%

SLAO Revett-Burke:St. Regis & 0 Wallace quartzites:Argill ites & phy l i tes

SLAO Precambrian granites, gneisses 0 and schists. Limonite stained areas and faults also flown. SLAO Ell is group:Morrison:Kootenai: 0

Eagle:&Judith River fms. All 100%

85:00 45:00 40:00 6/23/52 8/27/52 RM0-944 No further work war-ranted.

18:00 12:00 6:00 10/12/53 10/20/53 RME-2034 Further flying war-ranted. 35:00 20:00 15:00 150:30 85:00 65:30 60:00 No breakdown in report 129:00 63:50 65:10 10:05 6:55 3: 10 218:25 122:30 95:55 7/25/53 8/6/53 7/53 10/9/53

Summer & fall of 1954

6/28/54 8/14/54

9/20/54 10/1/54

6/6/55 10/14/55

93:50 55:00 38:50 6/7/54 7/27/54

RME-2034 Recommend surveying to the west of this area for potential primary view deposition.

RME-2034 It is recommended some subsurface investiga-tion of the Eagle and Flathead ss. be made.

See report for recom-mendations.

RME-2025 Further airborne work

TM-292

is recommended for this area.

Schedule future air-borne work in summer months.

RME-2053 No further work recom-mended.

RME-2021 No further work recom-mended.

Proj. Survey An om- Total Rim & X-Cont. Date Date Final

No. Area Name Part For Formations Flown a 1 ies Flying Grid Started Complete Report Recommendations (Hours) (Hours

10. Southwest Montana Magleby SLAO Sediments in southern E1~k. _{0 84:50 29:10 55:40 6/18/56 8!7 !56} SLAO- No further work

war-Kocher Horn Mts. See report for TM-5 ranted.

details.

22 884:40

''Report could not be located in December 1981.

-14-I

Proj. No. ]. 2.

3-4.

5.

6.

7.

8. Survey

Area Name Party For Formations Flown

An om-ali es

X-Cont. Date Started

S T A T E 0 F N E V A D A Northwestern Nev. Lovejoy SLAO

Jack

Northwestern Nev. Peterson SLAO Jack Tonopah, Nev. Nye, Lander Cnts. Austin-Belmont, Nevada a rea Mallory SLAO Schmidt Mallory SLAO Schmidt

Northwestern Nev. Horner Jack

SLAO

Elko Cty. Nev.

Kern Co., Calif. Nye Co., Nevada

Valley of Fire, Nevada Peterson SLAO Jack Magleby SLAO Kocher Mallory SLAO Schmidt

Jurassic intrusives; Mesozoic & Paleozoic metamorphics.

Tuff & basalt flows:Jurassic intrusives, 30-50%.

Jurassic intrusives and their contacts. Quarternary alluvium 10%.

4

0

6

All volcanics, folded & faulted 0 sediments stocks, plugs & dikes.

No specific formations reported. 0

Tertiary sediments and Jurassic & Cretaceous intrusives, their contacts, faults.

Permian to Quaternary sediments & volcanics. Most of Cenozoic sediments.

4

6

All horizons Cambrian to Miocene 11 given 25% coverage. 219:50 104:55 114:55 6/13/55 180:20 66:00 114:20 9/3/55 238: 10 113:15 124:55 5/1/55 40:00 No breakdown of 3/53 flying given in rpt. 311:50 124:45 187:05 5/10/56 174:00 102:00 72:00 12/7/54 71 :20 49:00 22:20 10/15/54 Date Com lete 9/2/55 11/7/>55 11/1/55 5/53 Final Re ort Recommendations

RME-2041 Further work warranted in

areas 11

C11

, 11011, 11E11, & 11_F11

• See report.

High Sierras should be flown in greater detail. RME-2055 Foot prospecting is re~

commended and trenching where background doubles. RME-2055 This was an extension of

the Tonopah project. Prospect contact zones of major intrusives near Austin. Tertiary Lake sediments at flanks of mountains.

RME-70 This survey was a pre-liminary reconnaissance. 9/21/56

SLAO-TM-7

Further surveying recom-mended in Mountain City area. Also E. of contact between rhyolite &

Humboldt beds, & the rhyolite flows SE of Cobre.

2/26/55 RME-2015 No further flying recom-mended.

12/26/54 RME-2040 No further flying in immediate area warranted

-survey, however, was

Proj. Survey Anom- Rim & X-Cont. Date Date

No. Area Name Party For Format iono Flown a 1 ies Grid Recon. Started Complete Re ort Recommendations

s

T A T E 0 F N E V A D A

9. Hawthorne, Nevada Mallory SLAO A 11 intrusives, volcanics and 2 38:20 24:55 13:25 7/16/56 9/1/56 TM-297 No further work

recom-Schmidt sediments were flown on Naval mended.

Reservation and adjacent areas.

33 1,273:50

-16- _I

Proj. No. 1. 2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Area Name Party

Survey For

Jicarilla Apache Chenoweth GJOO Indian Reservation Shaner

Southwest Zuni Mts. Ruzycki GJOO

Socorro

Chama Basin

East Side San Juan Basin

Grant and Hidalgo Counties Nacimiento Mts. Lindstrum Smith Fickel Steh 1 e Wonders Siapno Betts Ove Be the 1 Easton Briney DAO GJOO GJOO GJOO GJOO Formations Flown An om-a 1 i es X-Cont. S T A T E 0 F N E W M E X C 0 Fruitland fm: Picture Cliffs

s.s.: Lewis shale: Mancos sh: Dakota s.s.:Morrison fm.

Mesaverde 100%: Mancos 100% Dakota 100%:Morrison 100%: See report.

Lama Pelada Faults, Outcrops of Andesites -See report for details.

Dakota s.s.:Morrison: Todilto:Chinle- See report for details.

Mesaverde:Dakota:Morrison: basal Chinle: See report for details.

Mancos shale: Dakota s.s.: Morrison:Todilto:

Entrada:Chinle & Cutler.

Mancos shale:Dakota s.s.: Morrison:Todilto:Entrada: Chinle & Cutler.

-17-3 5 0 3 25 21 65:35 18:20 47:15 242: 10 125:00 117:00 35:40 20:35 15:05 85:55 36:45 49:10 229:20 9 3: 40 1 35: 40 182: 15 86:45 95:30 250:00 115: 00 1 35:00 Date Started Date F ina 1

Com Jete Report Recommendations

11/8/55 12/16/55 RME-97 Anomalous areas due to presence of titanium. They, therefore,

war-rant further investi-gation.

4/29/55 8/22/55 TM-120 No further flying war-ranted.

4/14/55 4/27/55 RME-1073 No further ~irborne

work warranted.

7/11/55 8/12/55 TM-264

1/19/55 6/10/55 TM-285

Further ground work recommended. Ore is out of equilibrium in

this area, occur-, rences may have been missed.

Work should be con-tinued to finish project.

12/29/54 4/29/55 RME-1081 Surveying should con-tinue in the White Signal - Burro Mt. area or Big & Little Burro Mts.

9/8/54 1/31/55 TM-291 No further flying recommended.

Proj. Survey An om- Total Rim & X-Cont. Date Date Final

No. Area Name Party For Formations Flown a 1 i es Flying Grid Recon. Started Complete Report Recommendations (Hours) (Hours) (Hours)

8. Chama Basin Easton GJOO Dakota s.s. :Morrison:Todi lto: 5 145:00 74:00 71:00 12/19/54 3/19/55 TM-297 Anomalous areas should

Briney Chinle & Cutler. be flown in more

de-ta i 1.

9. Socorro Mallory DAO Abo:Dokum group:Datil group. 5 81:00 75:00 6:00 12/1/53 2/4/54 RME-1054 Further surveying is

Bethel recommended in this

area.

10. Espanola, Santa Freeland DAO S i 1 tstones, arkosic s.s., con- 15 28:35 22:00 6:35 11/15/54 11/24/54 RME-1075 Further detailed

Fe County Fickel glomerates & white tuffs. flying is recommended

11. Tuoumca r i FreelaQd DAO Dakota:Purgatoire:Morrison: 7 292:50 157:25 135:25 11/28/54 4/12/55 TM-208 No further flying

Fickel Wingate:Chinle & Santa Rosa. warranted.

12. Grants Cummings DAO Chinle:Wingate:Entrada: 0 21:00 12:00 9:00 4/2/51 4/12/51 RME-632 Morrison fm. in the

Todilto:Bluff & Morrison. Zuni Mts. in-com;c

pletely surveyed.

13.

Santa Fe Mallory DAO Magdalena group:Abo fm: ₃ 100:00 70:00 30:00 2/6/54 5/1/54 RME':l057 No further flying

Bethel Chinle: Entrada,- See report warranted.

for details.

14. Sangre de Cristo Mallory DAO Dockum:Magdalena group: _{...!.}_} 11 0:00 12/8/52 3/24/53 RME-36 No further surveying

Mts., Las Vegas Bethel Precambrian granites. recommended.

106 1869:20

S T A T E 0 F N 0 R T H D A K 0 T A

1,· _{Dickinson area Stehle DAO}

Terrace gravels:White River fm.: 2 145:05 78:15 66:50 7/10/56 9/26/56 TM-269 No further isorad-Bethel _{Golden Valley: See deta i 1 s in}

ing recommended. report.

2 145:05

Proj. Survey Anom- Tot a 1 X-Cont. Date Date Final

No. Area Name Party For Formations Flown a 1 i es Fly in Started Complete Report Recommendations

(Hours)

s

T A T E 0 F 0 K L A H 0 M A

1. Red River, Blair DAO Clear Fork fm.: Wichita 2 23:20 4:50 18:30 5/6/55 5/18/55 TM-190 Further airborne work

Texas & Shaner fm. Hennessey shale & is warranted using

Oklahoma terrace deposits. closer grid fl i gh t

1 ines.

2. Permian beds Stehle DAO Wichita fm. (Lower Permian) _3_ 186:20 82:30 103:50 12/15/55 5/29/56 TM-190 Areas of high radiation

Texas & Oklahoma Bethel should be reflown in a

5 209:40 close grid pattern.

S T A T E 0 F 0 R E G 0 N

1. Centra 1 Oregon Magleby SLAO Clarno fm. (volcanics), 0 75:55 27:55 48:00 8/16/56 9/20/56 SLAO- No further work is

war-Kocher a 11 intrusives & faults, TM-8 ranted in this area.

0 75:55

S T A T E 0 F

s

0

u

T H D A K 0 T A

1. Black Hills Nash DAO Fa 11 River, Fuson sh. 9 180:30 115:30 65:00 7/29/53 10/31/53 RME- Further extensive

Fickel and Lakota of lnyan Kara 1061 ground work should be

group, carried out.

2. Slim Buttes Nash DAO Chadron (Tertiary) and 10 9:20 6:45 2:35 7/26/54 7/30/54 TM-266 Further airborne work

Free 1 and Ludlow (Tertiary). is recommended.

3. Black Hills Freeland DAO Fa 11 River ss., Fuson sh.

_...1

274:35 180:00 94:35 7/26/54 10/31/54 TM-283 No further work

war-Uplift Fickel Hinnewaste 1 ms., Lakota ranted.

ss. (I nya Ka ra group). 22 464: 15

-19-Proj.

No. Area Name Party

1. 2. 3.

4.

5. 6.

7.

Big Bend Texas Nash Fickel

Llano Area Texas Nash Fickel

Beev i 11 e Texas Blair Shaner Texas Gulf Coast Smith

Fickel Gulf Coastal Plain Amarillo Texas Blair l<ocher Ove Fickel

Preside and Blair Brewster Count [·es Kocher

Survey For DAO DAO DAO DAO DAO DAO DAO Formations Flown An om-a 1 ies

X-Cont. Date Date

Started Complete Re ort Recommendations

S T A T E 0 F T E X A S Aquja s.s.: Devils River Lms:

Buda Lms. See report for de-ta i 1 s.

Cambrian s.s.: Canyon & Shaw s.s. See report for details.

Fayette s.s.: Catahoula & Yegua fms.

Tertiary sediments. See rpt. for details.

Jackson: Oakville sandstone: Frio clays: Goliad sandstone

Sediments of Triassic formations

Cretaceous and Tertiary vol-canic and sedimentary

rocks. -20-2 0 24 32 0 8 42 261 :50 80:50 63:30 44:45 80:40 28:45 210:00 39:55 103:55 31 :05

181:00 12/6/53 3/31/54 RME-1053 No further surveying warranted.

18:45

51 :55

4/5/54 4/30/54 RME-1051 Hickory Sandstone warrants future in-vestigation.

3/11/55 5/2/55 RME-1068 Further work war-ranted.

170:05 11/21/55 4/30/56 RME-174 Further flying recom-mended, particularly the contact of the Catahoula tuff & Fayette s.s.

72:50 1/4/57 3/29/57 TM-298 Fleming & Citronelle groups in Jim Hogg, Duval, Live Oak and Bee Counties

80:00 No breakdown in filial report

2/1/55 2/25/55 TM-208 Additional airborne work south to Lubbock, east to Amarillo, and west to New Mexico 277:54 100:54 177:00 12/8/55

border.

4/30/56 RME-177 Further work war-ranted.

Proj. Survey A nom- Total Rim & X-Cont. Date Date

No. Area Name Party For Formations Flown a l i es Flying Grid Recon. Started Complete Report Recommendations (Hours) (Hours) (Hours)

S T A T E 0 F U T A H

1. Navajo Indian Cummings GJOO Shinarump cong l . & Morrison ₃₉ 370:00 No breakdown 6/22/51 12/8/51 RM0-808 No recommendation

Reservation formation _{in report} given in report.

2. West Central Utah Mallory SLAO Precambrfan, _{Paleozoic, and 0 125:54 93:06 32:48 7/1/54}

10/15/54 RME-2027 No further flying

(Provo) Bethel Tertiary rocks

recommended

3. Ouray Area Siapno SJOO Tertiary Uinta fm.:Duchesne 0 81:35 47:05 34:30 9/29/53 11/4/53 TM-90 No further flying

(Vernal, Utah) Milyard River:Green River s.s. & shales recommended.

4. Kaiparowits Klosterman GJOO Morrison formation 0 118:50 65:50 53:00 12/5/53 12/13/53 RME-73 No further flying

Plateau Wonders recommended.

5. Blanding, Utah Siapno GJOO Morrison formation 0 64:35 37:35 27:00 8/31/53 11/29/53 RME-52 No further flying

Wonders recommended.

6. Dark Canyon S i apno GJOO Cutler formation 0 152:50 75:20 77:30 11/9/53 4/8/54 TM-88 No further flying

Utah Milyard recommended.

7. Noka i Dome, R i neon, Stehle GJOO Shinarump cong l • & Chinle fm., 0 87:55 32: 15 55:40 12/23/54 4/4/55 TM-290 No further flying

Comb Ridge Wonders below the 3900' contour recommended.

8. Circle Cliffs Klosterman GJOO Shinarump conglomerate 10 128:45 54:40 76:05 12/14/53 4/23/54 RME-72 No further flying

Proj. Survey An om- Total Rim & X-Cont. Date Date Final

No. Area Name Party For Formations Flown a 1 i es Fly ins Grid Recon. Started Complete Reeort Recommendations (Hours) (Hours) (Hours)

S T A T E 0 F U T A H

9. Circle C 1 i ffs Stehle GJOO Chinle formation 5 119:00 59:00 60:00 10/6/54 12/17/54 No further flying

Upwarp Wonders recommended.

10. Capitol Reef Shaner GJOO Shinarump:Chinle:Navajo: 0 57:10 8:50 48:20 7/5/55 9/9/55 Little potential for

Torrey, Utah Grundy Ca rme 1 of Thousand Lake commercial ore

de-fau 1 t posits in this area.

11. Roan and Book Shaner GJOO Tuscher: North Horn and 0 45:00 27:00 18:00 9/20/55 11/10/55 TM-83 Co 1 ton fm. appears

Cliffs Chenoweth Colton as a potential

pro-ducer. Commercial deposit found only where carbon trash associated with con-glomeratic s.s. filling scours. 12. Inter-River, Utah S i apno GJOO Chinle and Morrison formations 17 238:25 133:05 105:20 4/9/54 6/15/54 TM-89 No further scheduled

Mi lyard flying although area

has potential. 13. SW Utah Lovejoy SLAO Dakota:Carmel :Navajo: Chinle:

Jack Supai :Callville 4 172:12 80:22 91 :50 11/1/54 1/15/55 TM-299 Further flying recom-mended in St George Basin and in Copper

Mt. area.

14. G 1 en Canyon Dah 1 GJOO Tropic sh. :Dakota:Morrison _3_ 10: 15 4:45 5:30 4/4/56 4/7/56 TM-302 No

recommenda-Betts _{tions made}

78 1 '772: 26

Proj. Survey An om- Total Rim & X-Cont. Date Date Fina 1

No. Area Name Party For Formations Flown al ies Flying

(Hours)

Grid Recon. Started (Hours) (Hours)

Complete Report Recommendations

S T A T E 0 F W Y 0 M I N G

1. Pumpkin Buttes, Mallory DAO Fort Union, Wasatch & White 100 207:50 100:00 107:50 9/1/52 7/7/53 RME-45 The project was car7

Converse Co. Bethel River fm. ried out in two

dif-ferent stages; no further airborne work warranted.

2. East flank Big Magleby DAO Sundance, Newcastle, Fort 2 125:00 80:00 45:00 6/23/52 8/27/52 RM0-944 Doubtful potential for

Horn Mts. (Jones) Union, Cloverly, & Pine Ridge future ore production

Bethel Sands in this a rea.

3. Big Horn Basin, Brooks SLAO Amsden fm. to Wasatch fm. See 6 114:30 76:30 38:00 9/15/52 11/17/52 RME-11 No further flying is

Wyom. Jack RME -11 for details. warranted.

4. Mi 11 er Hi 11 Mallory DAO Browns Park 54 86:30 46:30 40:00 10/9/53 1/11/54 RME-1055 Further detailed

sub-Bethel surface investigation

should be carried out. 5. Lus k, Wyom. Mallory DAO Hartville upl ift:Old Woman ₃ 52:00 45:00 7:00 7/7/53 8/25/53 RME-46 No further work

war-Be the 1 Anticline, Lance Creek anti- ranted.

cline

6. Wind River Basin Pruss DAO Precambrian to Quaternary,empha- 203 358:35 153:35 205:00 6/27/54 12/23/54 RME-1072 Further airborne work

(Riverton) Shaner sis on Wind River fm. is recommended in the

Basin area.

7. Washakie Basin Ove DAO Browns Park; Green River; Wa- . 131 299:00 184:55 114:05 7/9/54 12/17/54 TM-D- Continue work in N.

Bethel satch; Mesaverde; Cody; 1-24 part of Great Divide

Frontier Basin; fly Twn. 25, 26

27, 28, 29, N. & Rs. 97, 98, 99, 100, 10 lW. 8. Green River Basin Mag 1 eby SLAO Browns Park:Wasatch:Green River: 3 260:55 168:00 92:55 7/6/54 10/25/54 RM0-2024 No further work

war-Kocher Bridger formations ranted.

-23-Proj. No. 9. Area Name :Sweetwater & Carbon Counties 10. North central Crook County 11. Lance Creek District

12. Wind River area

13. Shirley Basin

14. Aladdin Area Wyo •.. - S.D. 15. Albany & Carbon

Counties 16. Rocks Springs Uplift Party Stehle Be the 1 Smith F i eke 1 Survey For DAO DAO S i apno DAO Betts Ruzycki DAO Lindstrum Stehle Bethel DAO Horner DAO Jack Ruzycki DAO Lindstrum Ruzycki DAO Li nds t rum Formations Flown

Browns Park:Green River:Wasatch Mesaverde:Dakota & Morrison

I nyan Kara Group-100% coverage

A nom-a 1 i es

17

8

Fort Union & Miocene contact be- 4 tween Douglas & Lance

See rpt. for details of fm. 25 flown.

Wind River fm: Cretaceous & Jurassic beds

lnyan Kara group

Mississippian to Eocene in Seminoe & Shirley Mts. Freeze-out Hills, Laramie & Hanna Basins

Ericson and Almond Mbrs. Mesa-verde fm:Wasatch:Bishop cgl. -24-9 16 5 10 Total flyi.ng Rim & Grid X-Cont. Date Recon. Started Date Complete Final Report Recommendations (Hours) (Hours) (Hours)

218:25 90:10 128:15 172:35 54:05 118:30 113:40 63:10 50:30 163:00 69:00 94:00 30: 15 7:15 23:00 150:00 No breakdown given 282:40 116:00 166:40 6/13/55 10/18/55 TM-Dc 1-19 Fly Morrison in W. Shirley Mts. near Elk Mt. also Cre-taceous ss. on E. flank of Rock Springs uplift.

7/27/55 8/29/55 TM-286 No further work war-ranted. 6/16/55 9/2/55 8/23/55 11/25/55 5/31/56 6/30/56 9/1/52 12/30/52 7/16/56 9/28/56 TM-D-1 -13 RME-181 TM-272

Fly faulted area 4 miles W. & 20 miles NE of Shawnee. Fly Paleozoic seds. The Conant Creek anti-cline & E. flank of Wind River Mts.

TM-295 Continue project using 10% coverage for re-mainder of Basin in the Cloverly and Mor-rison fms.

TM-255

TM-1-D-15

No further flying war-ranted.

Good potential in Cloverly fm. & Ten-sleep ss. in Shirley and Freezeout Hills. More airborne recom-mended.

92:42 39:24 54:18 6/1/56 7/13/56 TM-1- No further flying war-ranted.

D-20

I

P roj. Survey An om- X-Cont. Date Date Final

No. Area. Name Party for formation• flown a 1 ie• Recon. Started Camp 1 ete Report Recommendation• (Hour•)

17. Lance Creek Blair DAO Fox Hill•:Lance:Fort 3 17; 15 1 ; 20 15:55 12/27/54 1/18/55 TM-270 Cant i nue flying near

Shaner Union:White River Lance Creek

18. Black Hill• Yater DAO lnyan Kara group _]}_ 438:25 No breakdown 3/5/52 12/1/52 RME-21 Further flying of

Fickel given in rpt. RME-24 lnyan Kara group

TM-254 recommended. 632 3,183:17

SUMMARY OF AEC AERIAL RADIOMETRIC SURVEYS

Total Flying Time

STATE NUMBER OF ANOMALIES (Hrs) (Min)

Arizona 124 2,481 20

Arkansas 5 47 50

Ca 1 i forn i a 35 727 25

Colorado 127 _{1 '736} 30

Michigan at W is cons i'n 0 84 00

Montana 22 884 40 Nevada 33 1 '273 50 New Mexico 106 1 '869 20 North Dakota 2 145 05 Oklahoma 5 209 40 Oregon 0 75 55 South Dakota 22 464 15 Texas 108 1 ,077 49 Utah 78 1 '772 26 Wyoming 632 3' 183 17 TOTALS 1299 16,033 22 -

25q-COSTS

Since the inception of the airborne program in 1952 the total equipment and operational cost outlay was approximately $560,000.00. This figure

represents the cost of surveying the 124 separate projects 1 isted above, in which 1299 anomalies were detected during 7100 hours of rim and grid flying

time.

A breakdown of approximate operational costs for one airborne crew per month was as follows:

Salary, Pilot G.S.- 11 Salary, Geologist G.S. - 9

Per diem (Aver. $280.00 per month) Aircraft running costs, fuel, main-tenance, parts etc. $7.00 per hr. Flying 60 hours per month.

Vehicle running costs

Initial Equipment Costs Aircraft, Piper, PA-18 Mt. Sopris Scintillometer We 11 tab Recorder TOTAL CONCLUSIONS $ 600.00 500.00 560.00 420.00 200.00 $2,280.00 $6,000.00 4,000.00 600.00 $10,600.00

Although it is virtually impossible to estimate the actual percentage of anomalous discoveries made by this agency which have resulted in commercial uranium deposits, the value of this method of preliminary exploration is

indisputable.

Proven attributes of these techniques using airborne equipment are as follows;

1. Low cost per mile of prospecting.

2. Unequalled as a tool of geological reconnaissance.

3. Rapid method for prospecting extensive and rugged areas remotely situated.

4. Of inestimable value for aerial photographic reconnaissance of unsurveyed areas.

During the latter stages of the work performed by the Airborne Section, strip recorders (Welltab) were installed in a number of the aircraft and were utilized only in areas where section 1 ines and their fractions were clearly visible, thus facilitating orientation of survey flight 1 ines. Currently it is proposed to conduct experimental aerial surveys using synchronized equipment consisting of scintillometer, magnetometer, camera, recorder and radio-altimeter as part of the work outlined for geophysical research and development. The investigation of new techniques in flying and the application of instrumentation in the study of uranium mineralization associated with rock structure will play an important part in the Research Branch's proposed program.

-APPENDIX

State maps showing areas flown.

Information on airborne radiometric surveying.

A bdef evaluation of the practical use of an airplane and pl'lot in geologi'c reconnaissance.

Typical fli~ht request.

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U. S. Department of Energy

D~vision of Uranium Resources

and Enrichment

Washington, D. C. 20545

December 19 77

INFORMATION ON AIRBORNE RADIOACTIVITY SURVEYING

In conjunction with its uranium exploration program the U. S. Atomic Energy Commission conducted aerial radiometric surveys of selected areas in the United States during the period from March 1952 through·

June 1956. Informatiun on the location of areas of high radioactivity

found during such reconnaissance was subsequently released to the

public as aerial radioactivity anomaly maps. The AEC recorded on

these maps all radioactivity anomalies found on public lands except

for national parks, national monuments and wildlife preserves. The

data are restricted almost exclusively to the western U. S. The

anomalies reported do not necessarily indicate the presence of

sig-nificant anounts of uranium or thorium.

The influx of private companies into the field of aerial

reconnais-sance for uranium enabled the Commission to terminate its aerial

surveying program in 1956. All published anomaly maps are on file at

the Library of Congress and the Grand Junction Office of the Department

of Energy (DJE). Reproduced copies of individual maps may be bought

from the Map Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D. C. 20540, or through the Grand Junction Office, U. S. Department of Energy, P. 0. Box 2567, Grand Junction, Colorado 81501.

Because of renewed interest in uranium exploration in recent years, these aerial radioactivity anomaly maps were reissued in three reports

which may be examined at DOE depository libraries or those of the U. S.

Government Printing Office. These reports are listed below:

RME-147 . . . "USAEC airborne radiometric reconnaissance in

Arizona, California, Nevada and New Mexico, 1953 to 1956" (also available for $2.10 from the Superin-tendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C. 20402).

RME-148 . . . 11_{USAEC airborne radiometric reconnaissance in}

Arkansas, Colorado, Montana, Texas and Utah, 1952 to 1955."

RME-149 . . . "USAEC airborne radiometric reconnaissance in South Dakota and Wyoming, 1952 to 1955."

-45"-In addition, aeroradioactivity maps based on environmental radiation studies in the United States by the U. S. Geological Survey and other organizations on behalf of another division of AEC-ERDA-DOE have been

issued in the CEX and other series of reports. These reports may be

examined at DOE depository libraries and also may be purchased from the National Technical Information Service, U. S. Department of Com-merce, Springfield, Virginia 22161.

The U. S. Geological Survey has also issued aeroradioactivity maps which are listed under Maps and Charts, Geophysical Investigations,

in the catalog of ''Publications of the Geological Survey, 1879-1961~

and its supplements. These publications may be obtained from the

Branch of Distribution, U. S. Geological Survey, 1200 South Eads

Street, Arlington, Virginia 22202. Orders for maps of areas east of

the Mississippi River (including Minnesota, Puerto Rico and the-Virgin Islands) should be addressed to the Survey's Arlington office. Maps of areas west of the Mississippi River (including Alaska, Hawaii and Louisiana) should be sent to the Branch of Distribution, U. S. Geo-logical Survey, Federal Center, P. 0. Box 25286, Denver, Colorado 80225.

Unpublished aeroradioactivity maps prepared by the USGS are open filed at Federal Government offices listed in Survey Bulletin 1107-A, "Bib-liography of U. S. Geological Survey reports on uranium and thorium,

1942 through.May 1958." The principal open-file depositories are:

U. S. Geological Survey Library National Center

Reston, Virginia 22092

U. S. Geological Survey Public Inquiries Office 555 Battery Street

San Francisco, California 94111 (areas west of the Mississippi R.)

U. S. Department of Energy Grand Junction Office

Grand Junction, Colorado 81501 U. S. Geological Survey

Public Inquiries Office 1961 Stout Street

Denver, Colorado 80202

In 1974 the AEC began its National Uranium Resource Evaluation (NORE)

program, one element of which is aerial radiometric reconnaissance of

the entire country on wide-spaced flight lines. The NURE program has

been continued by AEC's successors, the Energy Research and Development

Administration and the U. S. Department of Energy. NURE projects in

the most favorable regions of the U. S. will be completed by 1981, with

the remainder of the country surveyed by 1983. The NURE aerial surveys

are designed to provide geophysical and geochemical data to identify and evaluate broad, low-level radioactive areas favorable for explora-tion, and they result in voluminous data which probably would be ot"

little value to the average prospector. The surveys do not indicate

point source anomalies that might correlate with specific uranium

deposits. Data from aerial surveys and other NURE programs are open

filed at the DOE's Grand Junction Office and numerous regional

deposi-tories.

OFFICE MEMO~DUM UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO FROM SUBJECT SYMBOL Files

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E. A. Noble, Area Geologist ~_(}-·

Geologic Branch, ED, GJ

DATE: July 13, 19.56

: TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM #93 - A BRIEF EVALUATION OF THE PRACTICAL USE OF AN AIRPLANE AND PILOT IN GEOLffiiC RECONNAISSANCE

ED:EAN

This brief evaluation of the practical use of an airplane in geologic recolL~aiss&~ce is presented on the basis of experience ob-, tained in the sUIIllller of 1955 in the Uinta Basin and adjacent areas ! of northeastern Uta.h and nprthwestern Colorado.

A rough f&~iarization with the general stratigraphy, struc-ture, topography, and roads in the area was acquired before the airplane arrived. This coverage was not uniform because a large part of the area of 15,000 square miles is inaccessible to a motor vehicle; and the strong relief in much of the area made it imprac-tical to recon_~oiter large areas on foot.

The airpla.~e used was a Commission-owned Piper "Supercub",

a two-passenger, single-wing airplane powered by a 135-hoursepower, air-cooled engine. The airplane was equipped with a Mark VI

scintillomete.r to be operated by the observer, who sat immediately behind the pilot.

In the Uinta Basin study, the plane was available to the proj-ec.t' for appro:ximately six weeks during August and September,

throughout which the weather was favorable for small-plane flight. all but. three or four days. Rim flying could be done effectively and safely in the stable air of the early daylight hours on most days. Several days unsafe for rim flying were used for general reconnaissance f.lying at heights of ,about 500 feet; reconnaissance flying was alBO done following rim flying, after the air had lost its early-morning stability. A total of 240 linear miles of rim was flown, and a.~ area of appro:ximately 5,000 square miles was

ob-served by reconnaissance flying. Flying of rim at elevations of 10,000 - 12,000 feet could only be done safely under the best weather conditions, because of low air density. In order to

in-crease the margin of safety when rim flying at such high altitudes, the 150-hoursepower Super Cub ahould be used, and an o:xygen supply k:i.t should be av-ailable for use by both occupants of the aircraft.

Observation from a slow-flying airplane is unexcelled for noting gross features in areal reconnaissance; the flight altitude

can be adapted to show best the detail desired. Features which may

not be readily noted in surface reconnaissance, such as bleaching

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or alteration, £mbtle differences in color, and facies changes are considerably more obvlous when vlewed from the aho The wide field

of vision fr~ ar, airpl~~e may also present the clearest possible

picture of the distribution of Tertiary and Quaternary basin deposits

a~d their relations to older adjacent rockso This panoramic view

is advantageous in stuc:l;y1.ng deformed or faulted areas, and problems of structure and st.ratigraphy may be resolved much more quickly than by ground observationo Aerial observation is also helpful in

re-latL'lg and c:orr~1latin.g erosion surfaces and in observing other

geomorphic featureso

An airplane can complement, expedite, or ev<>.n eliminate the

need for e~<rtensive gro=d recon..~aissa.n.ceo Many geologic

observa-tions can be quickly and adequa·tely made in areas inaccessible to motor vehicles or so located ·!:;hat they would require hours of driving

over primitive roadso Spotting present or recent private mineral explora'cion and development can be greatly facilitated, particularly

in an area. of several thousand square mileso Time may also be saved

by making sketch m"l.ps of primitive roads in Ullli!apped areas, to be used later i.n surface trmrel,

Base lll8,ps at; a scale useful in flying cannot always be obtainedo Maps with a scale as large as tw·o :in.ches to the mile, such as Soil Conser1ration Service planimetric maps, are excellent for exact plot-ting, bu:l:; it is difficult to handle the many maps necessa:r-<J for

coverage of the large areas quic!c_]y traversed by airpla11.eo A scale

of 1:125,000, or appro:Yd.mately two miles to the inch, i.s satis-factory a!ld practical for most flying purpos<>so

The most effec-tive plan. for the use of an airplane and pilot would l;le to have them avallable at axzy- time during a recom!aissaJJ.ce,

or at t.he .least, once early in the recon..'laissance and again tow·ard the end of 'Ghe proj set o The more l:L'llit ed the time the air,plan.e is

available, th~ more carefv.lly and thoroughly the plans for its use

must be mad<3o Flight i:&inera,ries should be planned roughly in ad-·

vance, wit.h allowance made for alteration necessi:!;ated by weather

or by changes in plan or emphasis o

Use of a mot.ion-sickness preventative is recollll!lended to in-crease the efficiency of a geologist-observer if he is subject to

airsicko.!'lSSo This precaution lll8Y be necessary ohJ.y if the air is

=stable or if the topograpl:.y necessitates that rim flyL"lg be done in shor'c "pa.eees." Thera are several such drugs obtainable both

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July

1956

in pills, and in liquid form. Dramamine, for example, is much cheaper that Bonamine and does not need a doctor1:s,prescr:ppuoo. J'Et mtkes some people drowsy, but others are not affected.

CC: E. R.

Gordon

(2)

G. J, Library (2)

Geologic Branch Files

(1)