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Mineral resources of the Mohave Wash Wilderness Study Area, Mohave County, Arizona
| Content Provider | Semantic Scholar |
|---|---|
| Author | Evans, James G. Sherrod, David R. Hill, R. H. Jachens, Robert C. McDonnell, John R. |
| Copyright Year | 1990 |
| Abstract | At the request of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the Mohave Wash Wilderness Study Area was evaluated for mineral resources and mineral resource potential. A total of 115,453 acres was originally requested but the entire wilderness study area has since been preliminarily recommended nonsuitable for wilderness by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Throughout this report, "wilderness study area" and "study area" refer only to that area for which a mineral survey was requested. The U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Bureau of Mines conducted geological, geochemical, and geophysical surveys to assess the identified mineral resources (known) and mineral resource potential (undiscovered) of the study area. Fieldwork for this report was carried out in 1987. In 1988, the Bureau of Land Management changed the status of the study area to nonsuitable, but the investigation was completed to provide mineral information necessary for the Congressional wilderness process. Prospecting has occurred in and near the study area, but there was no mining activity at the time of this investigation. A subeconomic resource of gold totaling 1,550 short tons (st) was identified. One large area in the south-central part of the study area has moderate potential for gold and silver. Five small areas (four in the eastern part and one in the west-central part of the study area) have low potential for gold, and one area in the east-central part of the study area has low potential for silver. The entire study area has low potential for oil and gas. Sand and gravel are also present in the study area. The study area has no potential for geothermal resources. Manuscript approved for publication, December 28, 1990. Character and Setting The Mohave Wash Wilderness Study Area is located in west-central Arizona (Mohave County) and extends to within 10 mi of Lake Havasu City, Arizona (fig. 1). The study area has a total relief of 2,480 ft and includes a varied landscape of broad washes, narrow canyons, hills of low relief, and steep ridges. It is underlain by Proterozoic granitoids and gneiss that are partly covered by volcanic, volcaniclastic, and sedimentary rocks of Miocene and Pliocene(?) age and by Quaternary sand and gravel deposits (fig. 2) (see "Appendixes" for geologic time chart). Numerous faults cut the rocks of the study area. Identified Mineral Resources An inferred subeconomic gold resource of approximately 1,550 st was identified. Of this amount, 1,000 st average 0.06 troy ounces per short ton (oz/st), and 250 to 550 st average 0.15 oz/st. Sand and gravel suitable for road construction are present in the study area, but sufficient sand and gravel resources exist outside the study area to supply current and foreseeable needs. Mineral Resource Potential A large area in the south-central part of the Mohave Wash Wilderness Study Area has moderate mineral resource potential for gold and silver. Five small areas (four in the eastern part and one in the west-central part of the study area) have low mineral resource potential for gold. The gold occurs mostly in granite and gneiss containing Mineral Resources of the Mohave Wash Wilderness Study Area, Mohave County, Arizona A1 quartz veins and as placer deposits (low potential) in fanglomerate in one area. A small area in the east-central part of the study area underlain by partially silicified granite and gneiss has low mineral resource potential for silver. The entire study area has low potential for oil and gas and no potential for geothermal resources. Mineral resource potential is shown in figure 2. INTRODUCTION This mineral survey was requested by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and is the result of a cooperative effort by the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Bureau of Mines. An introduction to the wilderness review process, mineral survey methods, and agency responsibilities was |
| File Format | PDF HTM / HTML |
| DOI | 10.3133/b1704A |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | https://pubs.usgs.gov/bul/1704a/report.pdf |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | https://doi.org/10.3133/b1704A |
| Language | English |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
