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Depositional Systems
Of Uranium in South Texas
William A. Ambrose
October 23, 2007
Bureau of Economic GeologyJohn A. and Katherine G. Jackson
School of Geosciences
Energy Minerals DivisionAmerican Association of
Petroleum Geologists
Acknowledgments
John Ames
Publication was authorized by the Director, Bureau of Economic Geology,The University of Texas at Austin
Jana Robinson
Joel Lardon
Lana Dieterich
Outline
Recent Uranium Production Trends
Play Elements-Source-Migration-Mineralization-Seal
Catahoula Formation
Oakville Sandstone
Summary
Bil
lio
n b
arr
els
oil
eq
uiv
ale
nt
yr-
1
Estimates of 21st centuryWorld energy suppliesBillion barrels oil equivalent
1900 2000 2100
Nuclear
U. S. Uranium Deposits
U3O8 reserves*, $85.00/lb.
Wyoming: 301New Mexico: 289AZ, CO, UT: 128Texas: 17
*million poundsSource: EIA (2006)
Spot Price, Sept. 24, 2007: $85.00/lb.(Ux Consulting Company, LLC)
Source: Uranium Industry Annual 2002
Yellowcake
www.stockinterview.com
BureauofEconomic
Geology QAd6136
U. S. Uranium Production
EIA (2007)
South Texas Uranium Trends
40 mi
GOM Tertiary Uranium-Bearing Units
Outline
Recent Uranium Production Trends
Play Elements-Source-Migration-Mineralization-Seal
Catahoula Formation
Oakville Sandstone
Summary
Modified fromGalloway (2007)
Oligocene Volcanic Source
Migration
OakvilleTransmissivity
Galloway, et al(1982)
QAd6142
Mineralization: Roll Front Genesis
Modified from Hobday and Galloway (1999)
BA
HematiticCore
U Mineralization
Power Resources, Inc. (2002)
Roll Front Outcrop
Seals and Semi-Confined Aquifers
Serve to concentrategroundwater flow intransmissive intervals
Promote effectiverecharge and dischargeof meteoric water
Modified from Henry et al. (1982)
Leaky seals along faultpromote upwardmigration of reducingfluids
Floodplain shalesand flooding surfaces
Simulated Fault
Outline
Recent Uranium Production Trends
Play Elements-Source-Migration-Mineralization-Seal
Catahoula Formation
Oakville Sandstone
Summary
CatahoulaPaleogeography
Modified from Galloway (1977)McGowen and Garner(1970)
Catahoula Net SandstoneSouth Texas
Modified from Galloway (1977)
BruniHoliday-El Mesquite
Detailed Map Area
Catahoula Sandstone GeometryNortheastern Duval County
Bruni and Holiday-El Mesquite
600,000 lb. resources0.070% grade (EIA, 2002)
B
B’
Modified from Galloway and Kaiser (1980)
5 mi
Bruni
Holiday-El Mesquite
Contours: Weight-percent Iron Sulfide
Limonite Dom. Marcasite Dom. Pyrite
B B’
Northwest Southeast
Bruni Roll Front
Modified from Goldhaber and Reynolds (1977)
Outline
Recent Uranium Production Trends
Play Elements-Source-Migration-Mineralization-Seal
Catahoula Formation
Oakville Sandstone
Summary
Oakville Fluvial DepocentersSouth Texas
VasquezRosita
Ray Point
George West
Modified from Galloway et al. (1982)
George West Uranium Mineralization
Modified fromGalloway et al. (1982)
Summary: Uranium Play Elementsin South Texas
Adequacy and ControlsPlay Element
SourceFelsic volcanic source adequatefor all Tertiary plays
MigrationPrimarily controlled bytransmissive depositional axes
MineralizationGeochemical gradients related toorganic facies changes, faults
SealImpacts zones of hydraulicconnectivity, transmissive zones