Uranium favorability of the Cook Inlet Basin, Alaska

• 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

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.