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Open-file Report 232 - New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral ...

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Continental fluvial environments are indicated by vertebrate,<br />

mollusk, and plant fossils, thereby eliminating the Pictured<br />

Cliffs correlation. The absence <strong>of</strong> coal beds overlying the<br />

mineralized sandstone suggests correlation with lower Fruitland<br />

Formation; however, additional stratigraphic studies are<br />

required.<br />

The Boyd prospect is unique, as there are no other mljor<br />

uranium occurrences in middle Cretaceous rocks in the central San<br />

Juan Basin, excluding minor isolated occurrences in coal beds.<br />

The origin <strong>of</strong> mineralization is not known but may be related to<br />

faulting in the vicinity. The resource potential <strong>of</strong> the Boyd<br />

prospect is moderate (Fig. 27) but the potential for development<br />

is probably low judging from low-grade ore shipments and thin<br />

mineralized zones at the surface. Subsurface extent <strong>of</strong> this<br />

mineralized zone is unknown.<br />

Tocito ~ ome<br />

Uranium deposits are reported to occur in the Westwater<br />

Canyon Member on Tocito dome, northeast <strong>of</strong> Sanostee, by E:?xon<br />

<strong>Mineral</strong>s Co., USA (Nuclear Fuel, 3/1/81). Very little<br />

information, including the exact location, known is but drill<br />

hole records indicate drilling in sec. 3 and 4, T. 26 N., R. 18<br />

W. Depth to the Westwater averages about 1,560 ft. Pres-unably<br />

these deposits are similar to deposits in the Grants uranium<br />

district.<br />

Beach-placer sandstone deposits<br />

Beach-placer sandstone deposits are concentrations <strong>of</strong> heavy<br />

minerals that form on beaches or in long-shore bars a in<br />

132

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