Uranium favorability of the Cook Inlet Basin, Alaska

The intent of the study is to review available literature, and in so doing, evaluate the uranium favorability of Tertiary and Mesozoic strata of the Cook Inlet Basin, Alaska. Nonmarine sedimentary rocks are emphasized, but crystalline rocks are included in the evaluation in the sense that they are t...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Croff, C., Lessman, J., Bigelow, C., Ruzicka, J.
Language:unknown
Published: 2021
Subjects:
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
ALASKA
URANIUM DEPOSITS
PROSPECTING
EVALUATION
GEOLOGY
GULF OF ALASKA
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
STRATIGRAPHY
TECTONICS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
NORTH AMERICA
PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION
PACIFIC OCEAN
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
USA
Gulf of Alaska
Pacific
West Foreland
Beluga
Beluga*
Alaska
Online Access:http://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/6538411
https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6538411
https://doi.org/10.2172/6538411
Description
Summary:The intent of the study is to review available literature, and in so doing, evaluate the uranium favorability of Tertiary and Mesozoic strata of the Cook Inlet Basin, Alaska. Nonmarine sedimentary rocks are emphasized, but crystalline rocks are included in the evaluation in the sense that they are the sources of sediment. A sandstone-type uranium environment appears to be the most reasonable type to expect in the basin. Other sedimentary uranium deposits could occur, but no evidence was found in the literature to support such a hypothesis. The sedimentary section in the Cook Inlet Basin contains abundant sandstone units which have been evaluated for their favorability as hosts for uranium mineralization. Further investigations for uranium should be carried out using direct methods of exploration, such as airborne and ground radiometric surveys, geochemical surveys, and radon emanometry with particular attention to the Susitna Lowlands portion of the Cook Inlet Basin. The following formations are listed in order of decreasing uranium favorability: Tyonek Formation, Sterling Formation, Tsadaka Formation, Chickaloon Formation, Wishbone Formation, West Foreland Formation, Beluga Formation, Hemlock Formation, Arkose Ridge Formation, Matanuska Formation, Naknek Formation, Chinitna Formation, Tuxedni Group, and Talkeetna Formation. Work accomplished includes preparation, collection, and study of bibliographic material, well logs, Landsat imagery, and ground and surface water data. Overlays have been compiled for the eight quadrangles that cover the study area.

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