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GEOLOGICAL AND SURVEY REPORT OF INVESTIGATION

NO. 200

MINERAL OCCURRENCES IN THE EMERGENCY WITHDRAWAL AREA AND ADJACENT LANDS IN THE

by J. Wallace Gwynn Keith Clem Mike Shubat Bryce Tripp Paul Sturm September 1985 I. Introduction - This mineral report was prepared to fulfill the requirements of PL 94-579 Sec. 204 (c)(2) for the emergency withdrawal of a portion of the Great Salt Lake Desert. This report covers the actual proposed withdrawal area and the surrounding region (fig. 1 and 2) from township 2S to BN and from range 8W to IBW. A legal description of the actual area subject to inundation is contained in a seperate land report. Geologic data was compiled from published and unpublished Utah Geological and Mineral Survey material and other outside sources. Hellmut H. Doelling's 1980 publication, " and mineral resources of Box Elder County, Utah" and Lehi Hintze's 1973 book "Geologic history of Utah" are probably the best general references for this area. No field work was deemed necessary in light of the availability of adequate geological information.

II. General Geology

Mountain ranges adjacent to areas affected by the West Desert pumping project are dominantly comprised of Paleozoic to lower Mesozoic carbonate rocks (Fig. 3). Rocks of Cambrian through Devonian age represent shallow marine miogeoclinal deposits and are composed of and dolomite with minor sandstone and shale. The thickness of the miogeoclinal rocks ranges from 15,000 to 16,000 feet (Hintze, 1973).

Mississippian to lowermost Mesozoic rocks were largely deposited in the Oquirrh Basin and are comprised of interbedded limestone, sandstone, and shale. Thickness of these rocks ranges from 0 to 26,000 feet due to , nondeposition, and faulting (Hintze, 1973). Establishment of the Oquirrh Study Area Fig. I West Desert Pumping Project Emergency Withdrawal Cub Island Gunnison J Island 1 N,

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Proposed Dikes

Approximate Area Enclosed by 4218' Contour (area inundated)

Figure 2- Proposed Dikes and Area of Inundation Great

S a I t 7N Lake

6N

N

~ 4N N

3N

17W 16W 15W

(geol og y mod i fied f rom Hintze 1 L.F., 1980)

Quaternary mud and salt flots a 5 IOmi I I I I ..1.-'.. I (scale: I: 500, 000) Quaternary alluvium, colluvium, and marsh sediments

Quaternary Lake Bonneville sediments

T-ertiary basalt

Tertiary Solt Lake Group r-----. ~~J Jurassic intrusive rocks

Paleozoic and Mesozoic (sparse) rocks • Fig. 3 - Generalized Geo log'Y Basin and disruption of miogeoclinal conditions is related to the onset of orogenic activity in the Cordillera.

From late Triassic to late cretaceous time, the area of concern experienced deformation and uplift of the Sevier orogeny. Folding, uplift, and thrust faulting of Paleozoic rocks during this event resulted in crustal shortening of 40 to 60. miles across the Sevier Belt (Hintze, 1973). Thrust faults·of this episode are such that all pre-Cenozoic'rocks in western Utah are considered to be allochthonous. Several Jurassic-aged quartz monzonite stocks were intruded during the Sevier orogeny. One is located in the northern and the rest in the Crater Island Mountains (Doel1ing, 1980).

From Miocene time to present, during which time the Basin and Range province was established, the area underwent extensional tectonics, broad uplift, and local volcanism. Tertiary ash-flow tuff volcanism was conspicuously absent from the area. Basin and Range block faulting produced the typically north-trending ranges separated by broad alluvium-filled valleys. The extensive mud flats occurring in the West Desert are presumably underlain by up to 15,000 feet of alluvium.

Quaternary deposits include the extensive Lake Bonneville Group. Shoreline deposits of Lake Bonneville the mantle mountain ranges in the study area. Lacustrine deposits consist of silt, , and and comprise the present mud flats. Interstitial brines are present in the subsurface. III. Known Mineral Deposits

A. Subsurface Brines - The Great Salt Lake Desert contains vast quantities of subsurface brines within the three principal aquifers These are referred to by Stephens (1974) as the shallow brine aquifer, the alluvial-fan aquifer, and the valley-fill aquifer. Within the northern Great Salt Lake Desert, the shallow brine aquifer covers some 1650 square miles, and occupies the upper 20 to 25 feet of lakebed clays and silts. Brine movement through this upper portion of t~e sediments is believed by Turk (1969) to occur through a network of open jOints. The alluvial-fan aquifer, which contains brackish water, is described by Stephens (1974) as follows: "an 'apron' of unconsolidated alluvium borders much of the floor of the northern Great Salt Lake Desert •••• These surficial alluvial deposits, together with underlying unconsolidated to well-cemented older alluvium ••• that was also deposited as fans or aprons along the mountain flanks, comprise an aquifer referred to herein as the 'alluvial fan' aquifer." Stephens (1974) describes the valley-fill, brine-bearing aquifer as follows: "The largest ground-water reservoir in the northern Great Salt Lake Desert is in unconsolidated to partly consolidated valley-fill •••• The total thickness of valley-fill ranges from zero where older Paleozoic crops out .•• to 1,385 feet at Lemay ••• and at least 1,644 feet in the Bonneville Salt Flats area •••• " "Volcanic rocks underlying the unconsolidated sediment (Heylmun, 1965, p.28-29) may also constitute a part of the major ground-water reservoir •••• If those rocks are included, the total thickness of the reservoir rocks may be more than 5000 feet throughout much of the area ... " Near Wendover, 16 to 20 miles west of the West Desert impoundment area (or that area north of the Bonneville Dike)(fig. 4), Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation produces potash (KCl) from the subsurface brines. The majority of Kaiser's feed brines are collected from the shallow aquifer through a network of open ditches, with a minor amount being pumped from the deep valley-fill aquifer. Through solar evaporation of these low-sulfate desert brines, sylvinite, a mixture of halite and sylvite is produced. Bingham (1980) indicates that the processing of the sylvinite are produces some 85,000 short tons of potash products per year. A chloride bittern brine is also produced. No commercial use or development of the subsurface brines has ever occurred within the West Desert Impoundment area.

B. Metallic - Nearly all of the impacts on metallic mineral deposits from the West Desert Pumping project have been mitigated by providing for access to the Newfoundland Mountains. No metallic resources are known below the 4218-foot elevation that delineates the area inundated but two areas would have their access affected: the Newfoundland Mountains and a small knoll in T. 6 N., R. 12 W. (Black Magic Claims). Access problems with the Newfoundlands were resolved by providing for a bridge across a canal. No plan is known of for mitigating impact on the Black Magic Claims.

The four districts occurring in the vicinity of the west Desert Pumping project are the Newfoundland, Crater Island, Island, and Lakeside districts (fig. 5) (Doelling and Tooker, 1983). Commodities present within the four districts include , silver, , , , , Cub Island

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Proposed Dikes Brine Chemical composition of brines on a dry weight percent basis Area K Na Mg C1 504 . JPS_ Jw_t~/9J)_

A 2.31 35.13 1.30 59.58 1.64 12.89/ 8 1.82 33.68 2.68 57.72 4.06 .17.08/ C 1.19 32.09 4.13 51.41 11.14 4.17/ 0 0.86 34.82 2.28 55.88 6.11 8.66/ E 1.95 33.81 0.76 61.59 1.87 /227.95 F 1.18 35.28 1.17 59.21 2.51 /162.15 G 2.47 31.65 3.30 55.35 7.04 /180-34C

Figure 4 - Map of West Desert Containment Area showing shallow aquifer, 4218 foot contour, and sample areas keyed to average brine analyses. , barite, clay, and . Past production from all districts has been minor. All districts lie well north of the Oquirrh-Uinta mineral belt.

Mineral deposits in the Newfoundland Mountains and surrounding areas will be briefly discussed.

-1. Newfoundland Mountains- Three subdivisions of the Newfoundland district have been identified (Doelling, 1980) and are shown on figure 5. Additional prospects occur throughout the Newfoundland Mountains but are of small extent. Commodities present in the district include copper, gold, silver, lead, tungsten, and molybdenum. Most deposits are directly or indirectly associated with the Newfoundland stock and occur along the periphery of the intrusion. Mining activity in the district has' be'en intermittent.

Mineralization in the Copper Flat area (northernmost end of the range, figure 5) is restricted to a fault zone, from 6 inches to 7 feet wide, striking N 60 Wand dipping 15 to 40 NE. Copper and molybdenum mineralization is reported. Copper minerals include , azurite, chrysocolla, chalcanthite, chalcopyrite, and bornite. Thin, altered, igneous dikes are present and the hosting quartzite is locally silicified. Mineralization in the stone House area (southernmost location in the Newfoundland district shown on figure 5) consists of copper and possible lead and silver. Malachite and chrysocolla are present in fracture zones cutting carbonate host rocks with sparse igneous dikes. Mineralization at the Pack Rat prospect (central location , figure 5) consists of tungsten- and copper-bearing skarn located along the Newfoundland stock-limestone contact.

2. Crater Island District- Commodities present in the Crater Island district include copper and tungsten with minor gold, silver, lead, and molybdenum. Several quartz monzonitic stocks intrude highly fractured limestone. Mineralization consists of two varieties, skarn zones along quartz monzonite-limestone contacts and calcite-quartz veins. Mineralization appears to be intimately associated with intrusive bodies. A total of nine mines and prospects occur in the district. Tungsten mineralization was discovered as recently as 1974.

3. Silver Island District- Two types of deposits occur in the Silver Island district. Barite and clays occur as deposits hosted by brecciated, stained, lower Paleozoic limestone. Barite veins lie in the northeasternmost part of the district. Highly oxidized copper-, silver-, and lead-bearing quartz veins comprise the remainder of the district. Trace amounts of gold have been reported. minerals consist of malachite, azurite, copper and silver pitch, and . These veins are also hosted by highly fractured, lower Paleozoic limestone. At least 23 mines or prospects occur in the Silver Island district. Cub Island Ciynnison J 7 Isl... nd 1 N ~

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<::::> Outline of mining district Proposed Dikes eu ..... Mineral deposit or cluster of deposits showing commodities present

Figure 5 - Summary of known mineral deposits in the West Desert pumping proj ect area. 4. Lakeside District- Prospects in the Lakeside district can be divided into two groups, a north half and south half (figure 4). In the north half, commodities present include lead, zinc, silver, copper, gold, barite, and iron. Mineralization occurs in fault zones as veins and minor replacement bodies. Ore minerals consist of cerussite, hemimorphite, smithsonite, galena, , and barite. Oxidation is nearly complete. Most host rocks are lower Paleozoic carbonate units. Mineralized fault zones are generally north trending. One mine and several prospects occur in the north half. In the south half, mineralization mostly consists of iron prospects located in shear zones and hosted by limestone. One oxidized lead-silver-zinc vein deposit occurs in the southern half.

C. Nonmetallic/nonfuel and associated commodities- The study area has a large variety of nonmetallic/non fuel and associated commodities. Barite, clays, (with associated fluorine, uranium, and vanadium), and collectible materials, gypsum, limestone and dolomite, silica, guano, sand and gravel, and diatomaceous earth all occur in varying amounts in this area.

1. Barite - Thin barite veins have been prospected at two localities on the north end of the Silver Island Range (fig. 1): the Cool Day Claims (Edwards kaolin deposit), CT. 1 N., R. 17 W., sec. 02) and the Bryan Group (T. 3 N., R. 17 W., sec. 35)(UGMS,1980). Additional small replacement and vein deposits of barite are found in the Devonian Guilmette Fm. (Doelling, 1980, p. 217). No production has been reported from these deposits. Cub Illand GUnniSO» J 7 Island I 1 8 N ~

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10 0 10 20 30 40 Mill' EE33=~F33C~F3=t~E3:=~F33C~======~:::::::::::::::E======~:::::::::::::::J IOEHCEHCEHCEHCESCOEI =====~lt~=====2:E?~===~33:p====:4:iP§::===3~P Kilometers Proposed Dikes I. Edwards kaolin prospect cloy, barite significant workings or deposi ts 2. Cedar Mtns. occurrence phos., u , v , f • 3. Aragonite aragonite gypsum dune s 4. Knolls dunes gypsum 5. Lakeside quarries limestone silica 50 n d dune 5 6. Utah Marblehead dolomite 7. Newfoundland dunes silica quartzite (Comb. Eureka and Ord. B. Gunnison Island quarry guano 5 won Pea k Uno.) 9. Lakeside occurrence diatomite Perm. Park City Fm. (phosphotic)

Figure 6 : Non - metallic and Associoted Commodities 2. Clays - Clay occurs in hydrothermally altered Pennsylvanian/Permian carbonates at the north end of the Silver Island Range (fig. 6) and possibly in altered tuffaceous beds in the Tertiary Salt Lake Group at the north end of the Silver Island Range.

The Pennsylvanian/Permian occurrence is the Edwards kaolin deposit (T. 02 N., R. 17 W., sec. 02), a low-iron, high-alumina (37.8%), hydrothermal clay probably suitable for refractory use (Van Sant, 1964, p. 16-17). No reserve or production figures are available.

3. Phosphate, fluorine, uranium, vanadium - Phosphatic shales containing fluorine, uranium, and vanadium occur in the Permian Meade Peak Phosphatic Shale Mbr. of the Phosphoria Fm. The Meade Peak is present as a tongue within the Park City Formation. This formation is present in the study area at the Cedar Mountains, (fig. 6) and just north of the study area on the west side of the Terrace Mountains. The material from the Terrace Mountains was found to be very low grade; sampling in 1972 revealed a maximum grade of IS percent P20S (Doelling, 1980, p. 222, 225). Fluorine, vanadium, and uranium content in the Terrace Mountains is unknown but typical assays of vanadium and fluorine in phosphate produced in the western phosphate field is as follows:

V205 - 0.2 to 0.3%, fluorine -2 to 3% (Doelling, 1980).

4. Gemstones and Collectible Materials - Selenite crystals and various fossils occur in the study area. Large, euhedral selenite crystals occur in the saline muds of the Great Salt Lake Desert and around the Great Salt Lake. Some of these crystals have been sold as specimens. A variety of fossils including Cambrian trilobites, Mississippian horn coral from the Great Blue Limestone, and Pennsylvanian and Permian brachiopods, fusulinids, bryozoans, and crinoids are found in the study area (Doelling, 1980, 228, 229).

5. Gypsum - Gypsum occurs in the study area in sizeable dunes of impure gypsum . The deposit at Knolls (fig. 5) is by far the largest. Another deposit on the west side of the Newfoundland Mountains consists of five dunes, "each of which averages 15 feet in height, 50 feet in width and with a north-south length of about a mile. The reserves should be at least 1,000,000 tons. The composition of the sand consists of 60 percent gypsum, 35 percent calcareous materials and the remainder quartz and other impurities. There has been some development of the Newfoundland gypsum (gypsite) dunes", (Doelling, 1980, p. 226). Other small deposits undoubtedly occur in the study area. Due to the impurities this material is only suitable for agricultural use.

6. Limestone and dolomite - There are numerous sources of carbonates that have economic potential. The Mississippian Great Blue Limestone is currently quarried at Lakeside CT. 6 N., R. 9 W., sec. 21) by the Southern Pacific R.R. for use as crushed stone in the railroad causeway. Some small production for lime, rock dust, and agricultural use has also occurred here. Marbleized Upper Cambrian and dolomites have been quarrried at two quarries in the Newfoundlands (T. 6 N., R. 13 W., sec. 33), to produce landscaping and roofing granules and sculpting slabs. The Silurian Laketown Dolomite is quarried by Utah Marblehead Lime Company (T. 1 N., R. 9 W., sec. 2) to produce deadburned dolomite, a magnesian refractory. Aragonite veins in the Pennsylvanian Oquirrh Fm. are mined by Utah Calcium Company in the Cedar Mountains (T. 1 S., R. 10 W., sec. 23) for poultry grit, landscaping stone, and building &tone. Recent lake-generated oolite dunes are present along the Great Salt Lake shoreline in the study area. Doelling (1980, p. 230) mentions one specific deposit near Lakeside. These oolites are classed as high-calcium limestones. They were briefly tried (from a source outside the study area) by Kennecott as a flux and apparently were used by National Lead and may have been mined, by them, in the study area. Most of the Paleozoic carbonates in the study area have some economic potential.

7. Silica - In the study area, high purity silica is present in Paleozoic quartzite and Recent siliceous dune sands. The Ordovician Eureka Quartzite and Swan Peak Fm. contain high purity silica (fig. 6) in the study area (Doe11ing, 1980, p. 230, 231). Sand dunes, predominantly composed of silica, are widespread throughout the study area. One large occurrence is at the south end of the Newfoundland Mountains (fig. 6).

8. Guano - The only significant occurrence of guano in the study area is on Gunnison Island, the site of small production in the early 1900's. Cub Island Gunnison J 7 Island 1 N,

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Proposed Dikes dry, plugged, and abandoned

Figure 7 - Oil and Gas Wells 9. Sand and Gravel - Good quality sand and gravel occurs in the study area predominantly as Pleistocene Lake Bonneville shoreline deposits and as alluvial fans.

10. Diatomaceous Earth - At least one diatomaceous earth deposit, associated with protected embayments in Lake Bonneville, occurs in the study area on the west side of the Lakeside Mountains (T. 3 N., R. 10 W.) (fig ..1). These Lake Bonneville

deposits are generally thin and quite calcareous (10-40% CaC03) (Doelling, 1980, p. 217, 218).

D. Oil and Gas- A preliminary study concerning petroleum of the subject land indicated a low potential. There have been eight wells drilled for petroleum in the subject lands (fig. 7 and app. B); all were abandoned and none had shows of oil.

All of the wells were drilled relatively shallow, with the deepest well reaching 4,260 feet. Two of the wells were drilled into "consolidated" strata, with one reaching Precambrian rock at 2,570 feet and another reaching volcanics at 1,690 feet and Paleozoic rock at 2,108 feet.

Primary target of most of the wells appear to be potential in the Tertiary and Quaternary age strata. This target is analogous to the Farmington Field (T. 3 N., R. 1 W., S.L.8.M.) No evidence from the presently drilled wells supports a potential presence of such an accumulation. A secondary target could be the deeper Paleozoic strata, which is productive in the Overthrust Belt along the Utah-Wyoming border. No evidence is present which indicates a potential in the study area of this type of occurrence.

IV. Mining Claims - A search was made for unpatented mining claims within the West Desert Pumping Project area. Figure 8 shows the area investigated and generalized locations of unpatented claims. Sections with at least one claim are colored black in figure 8. Bureau of Land Management microfiche records of unpatented mining claims, dated July 17, 1984, were used to obtain this information. Two claim blocks, A and B, lie within the area enclosed by the'4218-foot contour line (fig. 8). Claim block A, the Black Magic Claims, lies in sections 33and 34 of T. 6 N., R. 12 W. Six unpatented claims (lead file number 265158) have been located by Lorenzo C. DeMars (233 S. 300 E., Logan, Utah). The claims lie on a small knoll which straddles the northern boundary of the base. Exposed on the knoll are Pennsylvanian and Permian rocks of the Oquirrh Group which host copper- and silver-bearing veins. Veins are reported to lie in a fault intersection area with strong alteration and staining. Extensive geochemical sampling has been done on the claims and further exploration is planned. Claim block B lies along the margin of the area affected by west Desert pumping (fig. 8). This claim block consists of 128 placer claims, the White Dome claims (lead file number 141108) and are owned by Ralph C. Memmott (P.O. ~ Box 603, Fillmore, Utah). Mr. Memmott could not be contacted. Microfiche records indicate that several claims lie in T. 3 N., R. 16 W.; however, the claim owner (Mark Chektts) was contacted and evidently an error was made in the claim records. Mr. Chektts' claims actually lie near the town of Yost, Utah, well north of the study area. C\a b III end!

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A- Black Magic Claims(#1-6) Proposed Dikes

B- White Dome Claims(128 claims, placer) II Sections containing unpatented mining claims

~~ Outline of area investigated

Figure 8- Cnpatented mining claims in the West Desert Pumping Project area V. Mineral Leases - A majority of the area subject to inundation by the west Desert Pumping Project contains Federal leases (fig. 9). The 88 oil and gas leases present in the area were judged "prospectively valuable" by a BlM surface interference report (Appendix C). Non-competitive oil and gas leases cover a total of roughly 38,192 acres; 3,680 acres in the Bonneville Flats alternative area and 34,512 acres in the West Desert Impoundment area. Simultaneous oil and gas leases cover approximately 207,936 acres; 28,480 acres in the Bonneville Flats area and 179,456 acres in the west Desert

Impoundment a~ea. Potash leases occur only in the Bonneville Flats area and occupy some 9,632 acres.

VI. Evaluation of Future Mineral Potential

A. Brine Resources - Subsurface brines exist within the shallow aquifer throughout all of the West Desert Impoundment area, as shown on figure 4. The depth to the brine ranges from a few inches to more than ten feet. The chemical composition of the brine varies throughout the area, as shown in the table at the bottom of figure 4. In terms of their sulfate content, the brines from the Bonneville Dike area (A) .are similar to those which are used by Kaiser Chemical to produce sylvinite. Brines further to the northeast become more like the Great Salt Lake brines and may not be suitable for the production of sylvite. They may be more adapted to producing the salt mineral suites typical of the Great Salt Lake brine system. Stephens (1974) estimates that some 9.6 million acre feet of brine is in storage in the shallow brine aquifer, and that if the average specific yield of the shallow brine aquifer is 6.3 percent, about 1.3 million acre feet of ~ 01 '0 I=-.. OS ~ ..~ :E '0 u:

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o 4 Bl'ttilas , I I brine could be recovered by pumping from wells or by gravity drainage into collecting ditches penetrating the full saturated thickness of the aquifer. Since the area of the West Desert Impoundment is only about 50 percent of the total northern Great Salt Lake Desert shallow aquifer, it is estimated that some 0.65 million acre feet of brine could be recovered. Additional brine would be produced as surficial recharge waters percolate downward. Inundation of the West Desert Impoundment area with either fresh or concentrated high sulfate Great Salt Lake brines could have a detrimental effect on the production of sylvite (Kel) from the low sulfate brines now occupying the shallow aquifer.

B. Metallic Minerals - Numerous types of are deposits occur in the West Desert study area. Three types are most prominent; skarn-type CU-W (Au, Me), oxidized Pb-Zn-Ag (Cu, Au) veins, and oxidized Pb-Zn-Ag (Cu-Au) replacement deposits.

Advances in the knowledge of sediment-hosted, disseminated, precious metals deposits indicate that northwest Utah has potential for the discovery of this type of ore deposit. In .fact, one such mineralized body (the Tecoma deposit) has been discovered since 1980 and exploration throughout the West Desert area is active.

Potential for the four types of ore deposits mentioned above will be considered separately.

1. Skarn-type CU-W (Au, Mo) - This type of deposit occurs within contact metasomatic tactite zones along limestone-igneous intrusive contacts. Ore bodies are generally small, usually less than 1 million tons, and contain high-grade pockets of copper and gold and more evenly distributed tungsten values. Given current economic conditions, these types of ore bodies would not be exploitable for their copper content for many years. Tungsten content, however, may make these deposits economic • Gold and molybdenum values for these deposits generally are not high enough to sustain mining operations.

Districts with favorable potential for discovery of skarn-type ore bodies include the Crater Island and Newfoundland districts. A small tungsten skarn deposit was discovered as recently as 1974 in the Crater Island district.

2. Oxidized Pb-Zn-Ag (Cu, Au) vein deposits -- Typically these deposits consist of limonitic fracture fillings, hosted by limestone, and

lying along well defined, linear fault or fracture zones. Cerussite, malachite, and smithsonite and rare galena and spalerite may be present. These deposits are generally quite small and require underground mining methods. For these reasons, and considering the depressed metals market, such vein deposits are unattractive exploration targets under present conditions. Historically, these types of deposits were throughly prospected by early in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

All districts in the study area have potential for discovery of oxidized vein deposits. 3. Oxidized Pb-Zn-Ag (Cu, Au) replacement deposits -- Replacement deposits- of lead, zinc, and silver ore typically occur adjacent to Pb-Zn-Ag vein deposits. Selective replacement of certain limestone beds by galena, sphalerite, tetrahedrite, and other sulfides followed by recent oxidation to limonite, cerussite, and smithsonite give rise to these deposits. One problem in exploration for this type of deposit is the lack of surface or distal indications, producing "blind" ore bodies. For the same economic reasons given above, this type of deposit is an unattractive exploration target at the present time although future conditions could alter this consideration.

All districts in the study area have some potential for this type of are. Minor replacement-type mineralization was reported in the Lakeside district.

4. Sediment-hosted, disseminated deposits -- Although no sediment-hosted gold-silver deposits are known within the study area, much exploration has been done in recent years. Amount the districts of concern, the Silver Island and Crater Island districts seem to have the greatest potential and the Newfoundland and Lakeside districts lesser potential.

C. Non-metal and Associated Commodities -- Industrial commodities, in the study area, have differing economic potentials due to demand, location, deposit size, purity, environmental concerns, etc. Barite, phosphate (fluorine, uranium, vanadium), guano, diatomaceous earth, and Salt Lake Group clays have a low potential for production from this area in the immediate future. Barite occurs in thin veins in remote locations and has to compete with the substantial Nevada deposits in a period of currently depressed oil and gas drilling (a main market). The phosphate deposit in the Cedar Mountains is low-grade and the contained fluorine, uranium, and vanadium would only be produced if the phosphate were mined. Guano use has been decreased by synthetic fertilizers; additionally, the deposit on Gunnison Island is small and inaccessible. Diatomaceous earth in this area is generally very calcareous whIch makes it less desirable than larger deposits in California and Nevada. Clays of the Salt Lake Group in the study area are limited in areal extent and remote from existing processing plants, but specialty clays are in great demand. Exploration in the study area has not indicated specialty clays to date. Clays, gemstones and collectible materials, and gypsum have a moderate potential for production. Hydrothermal clays from the Edwards kaolin deposit and other as-yet-to-be-found deposits are quite remote but would be of interest if they are good refractory clays, considering the sparsity of such clays in Utah. Gemstones and collectibles are remote from population centers and are of generally common types. Some moderate potential exists for production on a limited scale. Gypsum exists as an impure material only suitable for agriculture use. There is a moderate potential for hauling this material to an agricultural area of Utah. Limestone and dolomite and sand and gravel have a high potential for development in this area. Dolomite is already being produced in the area for dead-burned dolomite; limestone is also currently produced, primarily for crushed stone. Sand and gravel deposits in the area will become much more attractive as depletion and urbanization eliminate many of the Wasatch Front deposits. D. Oil and Gas -- A preliminary study concerning petroleum on the subject land indicates a low potential. All eight wells drilled are abandoned and none had shows of oil or gas. No evidence from these wells supports a potential presence of either Tertiary/Quaternary or Paleozoic hydrocarbons.

VII. Present and Potential Market Demand -- Brines, metals, non-metal, and oil and gas production are controlled by market demand which can be difficult to estimate. The cyclical nature of industry, discovery and development of new reserves, changing uses for commodities, health and environmental concerns, recovery of byproduct commodities, and other facts all influence demand. An attempt has been made to give an estimate of demand for the commodities found in the West Desert Study area. The demand estimates are listed below by commodity:

A. Saline Products-Market Demand -- Sylvite (KCl), arcanite

(K2S04), halite (NaCl) and magnesium chloride brine are potential products hat could be produced from the West Desert Impoundment area brines. At the present time, the demand for arcanite and sylvite exceed production. Halite, being a relatively low value commodity may not be economic to produce and market, unless production from both the Great Salt Lake and Kaiser's Wendover operation were unable to supply present markets. Magnesium chloride brine, is currently used as a dust control agent, as a drilling fluid, and in the production of magnesium metal at Amaz Magnesium's Rowley Plant. Magnesium chloride brine will likely persist as a saleable commodity. B. Metallics Market Demand

Copper -- no interest at present, abundant supply and subsidized foreign production have lowered the price of copper.

Silver --,of interest, current prices are low but the market is more volatile than base metals. Vein and replacement deposits are generally uneconomic because of small size. Disseminated, heap leachable deposits are the largest current producers.

Lead and zinc no interest, base metals prices are low. Vein type deposits are too small to compete with massive sulfide or Mississippi Valley-type deposits.

Tungsten -- of interest, domestic sources are generally derived from skarn deposits. The price may rise with steel prices.

Gold -- of interest, disseminated sediment-hosted deposits are very attractive. Gold in skarns is generally not of interest.

Molybdenum -- no interest, there is an abundant supply and a low price. Molybdenum in skarns is no competition for porphyry deposits.

C. Non-metallics

Barite -- no interest, a depressed drilling industry combined with abundant reserves in Nevada make development unlikely. Clays -- of interest, recent economic recovery stimulated demand for construction related clays for brick, tile, pipe, lightweight , etc.

Phosphate -- of interest, depletion of domestic reserves coupled with steadily increasing demand will eliminate the U.S. excess phosphate rock capacity by the year 2000 (Stowasser, 1983). Chevron is currently increasing the capacity of their Uintah County plant from 550,000 tons per year (tpy) of concentrates to 1,300,000 tpy in 1985.

Gypsum -- of little interest, demand for gypsum is expected to increase at a moderate pace but domestic reserves are almost unlimited and byproduct gypsum is becoming increasingly available.

Limestone and Dolomite -- of interest, demand for construction related limestone and dolomite for cement, lime, crushed stone, roofing granules, etc. should increase as the local market continues its above average growth rate.

Silica -- of little interest, demand or high-quality silica for special applications is good but the material in the study area is of lesser quality.

Guano -- of little interest, synethic fertilizers have decreased the use of commodity; known deposits are small and inaccesible. Sand and Gravel - of interest, demand for good quality concrete and bituminous aggregate will increase cyclically with the local construction industry. Urbanization of local deposits will encourage development of more distant ones.

Diatomaceous earth - of interest, increasing demand and dwindling reserves should encourage development of new deposits. Existing domestic reserves are estimated to be sufficient to last past the year 2000 (Kadey, 1975).

D. Oil and Gas -of interest, while there is currently a world surplus of oil and gas, declining new reserves will ultimately balance with the slowly increasing demand and cause an increase in prices and exploration. Selected References

Bingham, C.P.,1980, Solar production of potash from the brines of the Bonneville Salt Flats in Gwynn, J.W., 1980, Great Salt Lake, a scientific, historical and economic overview: Utah Geological and Mineral Survey Bulletin 116, p. 227-242.

Dames amd Moore, 1985, Appendix a, field investigations: Unpublished Report.

Doelling, H.H., 1980, Geology and mineral resources of Box Elder County, Utah: UGMS Bull. 115, 251 p.

Doelling, H.H., and Tooker, E.W., 1983, Utah mineral district areas and principal metal occurrences: UGMS Map 70.

Heylmun, E.B., Jr., 1965, Reconnaissance of the Tertiary sedimentary rocks in Western Utah: Utah Geological and Mineral Survey Bulletin 75, 38p.

Hintze, L.F., 1973, Geologic history of Utah: Brigham Young University Geology Studies, vol. 20, pt. 3, 181p.

Kadey, F.L.,Jr., 1975, Diatomite in Lefond, S.J., Industrial rocks and minerals: American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers, Inc (AIME), Fourth Ed., p.605-635. Kaliser, B.N., 1969, Bonneville Salt Flats hydrological study necessitated by recreational and industrial interests: , v. 21, no. 8, p.44.

McMillan, D.T., 1974, Bonneville Salt Flats, a comparison of salt thickness in July, 1960 and October, 1974: Utah Geological and Mineral Survey Report of Investigation 91, 6p.

Nolan, T.B., 1927, Potash brines in the Great Salt Lake Desert, Utah: USGS Bull. No. 795, p. 25-44.

Stephens, J.C.,1974, Hydrologic reconnaissance of the northern Great Salt Lake Desert and summary hydrologic reconnaissance of northwestern Utah: State of utah, Department of Natural Resources Technical Publication No.42, SSp.

Stowasser, W.F., 1983, Phosphate rock: USBM Mineral Commodity Profiles 18p.

Turk, L.J., 1969, Hydrogeology of the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah: PhD. Thesis Stanford University.

Turk, L.J., 1973, Hydrogeology of the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah: Utah Geological and Mineral Survey water Resources Bulletin 19, 81p. UGMS, 1980, Unpublished files.

Van Sant, J.N., 1964, Refractory-clay deposits of Utah: USBM IC-8213, 176p. W"JO (P-'?l)

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Subject I Interfer4!lC8 with Pctent.iel Putun Potatda Peeogery as It Relates t'l th& Heat tt&aert Plsping Project

1\ -1~rlrIN81 awlic4tl~ i. propond fot ~ et.! rlght-cl-way _ shc:Ml Of' 1"~3p Mo. 1 of. t1w att.ached seoplft9 report:. It appear. that MMntt'l11y the ..,t:i~ proplSt'd withdrawl .IfJilllcation aru tapruapectlvely valuable for pota8h.

'rhe FOtnh valuM are eonta~ In tM !:%lMS that wr~ entrspped in thP !TU" !l;ata f$"Mininqfroc t.hf! ~111. Lek.. bottOll ~ tM ~r""t hi9!') w:!t~r cycle8 ot the Great Sel t take that have flooiJetJ tbfI 'West Denrt- area 1n pre­ historic tiMes 3G lat. as 1700 ~.D.

There ~a~ net ...... n sufficient intentJt in ~.... land- for ~try to ~st fer tra".tssivltv at the 8Utfaee aJda to 1et~~!M wMothftr bei,," eoul-1 be- cel­ If"CtM in ~fffeiMt. Q\lantlty tontablish a J:0tash operfttlon. Ar"'t~r lar~ portiM of this area hMt bien withdrawn by thfJ wdlltary, ~ it SP1:*lfS "'h~t ~w.n thouqh, t'l~la vttMrSWt .... wore avallabl. tor l.uinq t."at no 91p!hl~ ~ r~tlM coul:1 t .. eetahli.ahef!. !hf. ltt'elt does not i"C'lude a hM1!'t thet W':)Ul1" allow t~e "Mtural ~lleetfM .~ ~r8t.!~ at the brines at! 12 "1~t in the SAlt: Fl~t ar.,e and the ~ln ee!lt of. the .

?nh18tor:lc evl~ 1w.!lctte8 that this N'ea has ~ 8Ubt1elqedby hlqh waters freP CrMt salt [.ake in tiae put. Olnsequmtly, suhwf91Nj the Arm. shown on !'f;An No. 1 WOt.!ld t'l'et-,ahly precl ud., any ~tort to prOO\.t(!tl ~ah has ~ee l~8 t'urtnq th~ time of au!.WlJll!£9f!flOt. Roweftr,....tMm the water ~ the pota9l"! "ftlu.o of thta .rea .,uld ...,t be meterially chanr.)ed.

If the dtk. that: is pror.osed to e. built fromP1OGtirw;: Island to tn. hiohway nMr ~~3rro 1s not braaehed dar1n9 the :.e ttMtt t.'le ~ Is floor!.e, t'1porp. ShOlU{.! be no ~etr~l ~ffee~ on the ~ai,"r potash leaHa.

8asE"d on th.q ~, 'We om eonclud~ t.:h~t the pro~ vlt.hdrawal ~llc~tiM'\of t!'u~ art? 1e:.;19n..tft~" on !~ !,!o. 1 vi th t.ne ctmt~lated fl~inq of the "t"P,s with tr lr.tMl fr~ t?tft,!t S·~lt take lIfOuld not cam:e any tJnJ"!ll8P

Shculif tbe Bal'ro dike not te ean.tnIeted and the lake ttat.rll b! allcwd to extend wstwaM to WtH~r ... indicated on Map No.2, aubltantial interfer­ .nee 1IIOUlt1 oceur to Itaiser's present ~ine collection cperatioms. P«feral potash 1.... would teflaoc1ed sid placed-in a parmenent nonprcduclble 8tatus. 'rhe pond!,., of the tat. l"c'ine north of the h19hway and Il1jacent to Kaiser '. eurrent q,erat.iontl talld chege the potential tor recoftr')'.of potuh-r'tch trine from the apwationa ~ of the highway.

It 1tI wry likely that the pa~ late ht"inn witll a dttf~t cl't4lmlcal eontant and with • b1gber bydrol09ic head, wouli! JRiqrat. througb tbt! sediftnts ~r the dike and the b1ghvay to "'tantt.al1y dilute tM f.Otalth oontent of the brines ncN belncJ recovered. Any dl1uticn of t.heee brines would ;cot'Ably ~ake reiser's ~aticns ~te.

Orto. Sod: J. W. Moffitt

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Box Elder County

T. 3 N., R. 9 W., I-NENE, Cities Service, 1 Lakeside A, completed 1981, total depth 2655, formation tops - Tertiary 1155, Precambriam 2570.

T. 5 N., R. 9 W., 20, Lakeshore Oil Co., No.1, completed 1926, total depth 1200, formation encountered - Lake beds.

T. 6 N., R. 10 W., 14, Southern Pacific R.R. Co., Strong knob well, completed 1902, total depth 781 (?), formation encountered - Lake beds.

T. 6 N., R. 16 W., 14-NWNW, Gulf Oil, 1 Williams-fed., completed 1954, total depth 2894, no tops reported.

T. 7 N., R. 14 W., 29, Southern Pacific R.R. Co., 1 Lemey, completed 1904 (?), total depth 2502, formation tops - Salt Lake Group surface, Oligocene Volcanics 1690, Paleozoic 2108.

T. 7 N., R. 14 W., 36, Southern Pacific R.R. Co., Newfoundland well, completed 1902, total depth 293, formation encountered - Bonneville Fm.

T. 7 N., R. 15 W., 16(?), unknown operator and well name, completed 1904, total depth 2480, formation encountered - Lake beds. Tooele County

T. 1 S., R. 17 W., 36-NENW, Alpha Minerals, 1 Alpha-Govt., completed 1976, total depth 4260, no tops reported. ~l??c N D\~ c:. UNITED STATES GOVEINMENT DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Memorandum BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT IN REPLY REFER TO: 3071 (U-922)

To salt Lake City, District Manager Date: May 14, 1985

FROM Acting Chief, Branch of Fluid Minerals (U-922)

SUBJECT: Proposed west Desert Pumping Alternative Surface Interference Report

'Ihe subject affected land by the pumping al ternative never had hydrocarbon production. Rowever, there are at the present 88 oil and gas valid leases issued by the Department of the Interior to various lessors within or near the project area.

The entire area is prospectively valuable for oil and gas, therefore, the right of ingress and egress should be kept for new lands Wlder leasing. 'lhese lands, if flooded will still be reachable for oil and production as it is the case in the bayous of Louisiana. However, the cost for prospecting and producing will increase. If the water level continually changes, it may be that no oil and gas operations are possible.