The geology of the uranium-vanadium deposit of the Diamond No. 2 mine, near Gallup, New Mexico

Author

Raymundo J. Chico

Abstract

"This thesis deals with the geology of the Diamond No. 2 Mine east of Gallup, New Mexico. The sedimentary rocks ranging from Triassic to Cretaceous are described in relation to the local stratigraphic setting.

The Dakota formation is the host rock of the ore deposit, and was therefore studied in detail with regard to its petrographic nature and the sedimentary structures such as slumping. Special emphasis is placed on the study of the relationships between the uranium and vanadium deposit and the host rock. Geometrical and geochemical criteria are offered in order to explain the local genesis of the ore deposit at the Diamond No. 2 Mine. The geometric (textural, structural) evidence such as the lack of crosscutting relationships on one hand, and the abundance of congruent features readily explained as depositional sedimentary structures on the other hand, suggest to an originally syngenetic origin. The presence of tuffaceous matter lends probability to a volcanic and thus hypogene source of the uranium and vanadium minerals. Geo chemically there is no objection for a syngenetic explanation since the only alteration ("silicification") occurring adjacent to the ore bodies may be diagenetic and thus also syngenetic.

Later epigenetic supergene processes redistributed some of the uranium in form of camotite (camotitization) and caused later alterations such as limonitization, jarositization, etc. The field observations are presented on 33 figures and 12 plates (mostly maps and cross sections)* A special, probably partly- new mapping method was used successfully for the mapping of 60,000 square feet of mine walls at the scale of 1" to 20V"--Introduction, page 9.

Advisor(s)

Amstutz, G. C. (Gerhardt Christian), 1922-

Committee Member(s)

Christiansen, Carl R., 1921-1997
Proctor, Paul Dean, 1918-1999
Spreng, Alfred C., 1923-2012

Department(s)

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering

Degree Name

M.S. in Geology

Comments

Plate #3 is missing.

Publisher

Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy

Publication Date

1959

Pagination

125 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 119-124).

Geographic Coverage

Gallup, New Mexico

Rights

© 1959 Raymundo J. Chico, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Subject Headings

Geology -- New Mexico Uranium ores -- New Mexico Vanadium ores -- New MexicoUranium mines and mining -- New Mexico

Thesis Number

T 1198

Print OCLC #

5924547

Electronic OCLC #

954001258

Recommended Citation

Chico, Raymundo J., "The geology of the uranium-vanadium deposit of the Diamond No. 2 mine, near Gallup, New Mexico" (1959). Masters Theses. 5535.
https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/masters_theses/5535