Introduction
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Introduction By Andrea E. Alpine and Kristin M. Brown Introduction to Hydrological, Geological, and Biological Site Characterization of Breccia Pipe Uranium Deposits in Northern Arizona Edited by Andrea E. Alpine Scientific Investigations Report 2010–5025 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Contents Background.....................................................................................................................................................5 Description of the Study Area .....................................................................................................................5 Climate ....................................................................................................................................................5 Geologic and Hydrologic Setting .......................................................................................................8 Recharge Estimates..............................................................................................................................9 Biologic Setting .....................................................................................................................................9 Breccia Pipes and Uranium .......................................................................................................................10 Breccia Pipes ......................................................................................................................................10 Orebodies .............................................................................................................................................13 Uranium Mining ...................................................................................................................................13 Overview of This Report..............................................................................................................................13 Acknowledgments .......................................................................................................................................14 References Cited..........................................................................................................................................14 Appendix 1. Scientific Names of Plant and Animal Species Included in the Text.........................17 Plate [In pocket] 1. Map Showing Geologic Structure, Cultural and Geographic Features, and Geologic Cross Sections of Northwestern Arizona Figures 1. Map showing study area, segregation areas, and land ownership .....................................6 2. Map showing mean annual average precipitation and evaporation for northern Arizona ...........................................................................................................................7 3. Stratigraphic column of a breccia pipe ..................................................................................11 4. Photo showing an exposed breccia pipe column in the Grand Canyon area ..................12 5. Photo showing the surface expression of a collapse structure .........................................12 Conversion Factors Inch/Pound to SI Multiply By To obtain Length inch (in.) 2.54 centimeter (cm) inch (in.) 25.4 millimeter (mm) foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m) Area acre 4,047 square meter (m2) Flow rate mile per hour (mi/h) 1.609 kilometer per hour (km/h) Mass pound, avoirdupois (lb) 0.4536 kilogram (kg) ton, short (2,000 lb) 0.9072 megagram (Mg) Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) may be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) as follows: °F=(1.8×°C)+32 Temperature in degrees Fahrenheit (°F) may be converted to degrees Celsius (°C) as follows: °C=(°F-32)/1.8 Introduction By Andrea E. Alpine and Kristin M. Brown Background to develop additional information about the possible effects of uranium mining on the natural resources of the region. These studies include: In the late 1940s and early 1950s, uranium was discovered in association with many of the old copper mines in the Grand 1. Estimation of the amount of uranium resources within the Canyon region, hosted by geologic features called breccia pipes. proposed with drawal areas and previously withdrawn areas, Discovery of high-grade uranium ore in the Orphan Lode (breccia 2. Investigation of the effects of the 1980s uranium mine pipe) deposit led to uranium mining on patented claims within the development and extraction operations to determine if Grand Canyon National Park from 1956 to 1969 (plate 1). In the mining operations affected local environments, 1970s, breccia pipes became the subject of intense exploration in the Grand Canyon region, sought for their uranium ore potential; 3. Examination of whether these previous operations were several were found exposed in the plateaus and the walls of the detrimental to the water quality of surface water and groundwater and estimation of the potential effect of Grand Canyon and its tributaries. In the 1980s and early 1990s, future mining operations, uranium was mined from seven breccia pipes in the northern Grand Canyon region. Today, some of the highest grade uranium 4. Compilation of the available toxicological information on ore in this country is believed to be located in the many mineral- exposure pathways and biological effects of uranium and ized breccia pipes scattered across the Grand Canyon region. associated decay products relevant to species occurring in On July 21, 2009, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar the region, and proposed a two-year withdrawal of about 1 million acres of 5. Completion of a geologic map of the House Rock Valley Federal land near the Grand Canyon from future mineral entry. area (East Segregation Area), Coconino County, Ariz., pro- These lands are contained in three parcels: two parcels on viding detailed strata and structural information (published Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land to the north of the separately as SIM 3108 [Billingsley and Priest, 2010]). Grand Canyon (North and East Segregation Areas) and one on the Kaibab National Forest south of the Grand Canyon (South Segregation Area) (fig. 1). The purpose of the two-year with- drawal is to examine the potential effects of restricting these areas Description of the Study Area from new mine development for the next 20 years, “to protect the Grand Canyon watershed from adverse effects of locatable min- The study area is larger than the proposed withdrawal eral exploration and mining, except for those effects stemming areas and is bounded on the north by the Arizona-Utah border, from valid existing rights” (U.S. Bureau of Land Management, on the south by Valle, Ariz., on the east by Lees Ferry, and 2009, p. 43152). Dissolved uranium and other major, minor, and on the west by Iceberg Canyon at Lake Mead (fig. 1). The trace elements occur naturally in groundwater as the result of pre- Secretary of Interior’s proposed withdrawal area includes three cipitation infiltrating from the surface to water-bearing zones and, segregation areas north, east, and south of the Colorado River presumably, to underlying regional aquifers. Discharges from and encompasses about 1 million acres of BLM, National these aquifers occur as seeps and springs throughout the region Forest, State, and private lands; all are contained within the study area (fig. 1). and provide valuable habitat and water sources for plants and animals. Uranium mining within the watershed may increase the amount of radioactive materials and heavy metals in the surface Climate water and groundwater flowing into Grand Canyon National Park and the Colorado River, and deep mining activities may increase The climate of northern Arizona is semiarid to arid with mobilization of uranium through the rock strata into the aquifers. spatial and temporal extremes of temperature and precipita- In addition, waste rock and ore from mined areas may be trans- tion. The broad range of climate is strongly correlated with ported away from the mines by wind and runoff. altitude resulting in moderate summers and severe winters at This proposed withdrawal initiated a period of study higher altitudes and intense summer heat and mild winters at during which the effects of the withdrawal must be evalu- lower altitudes (fig. 2). Microclimates are common to north- ated. At the direction of the Secretary, the U.S. Geological ern Arizona, especially along the Colorado River and at high Survey (USGS) began a series of short-term studies designed elevation uplands, as the slope and exposure of mountains and 6 Site Characterization of Breccia Pipe Uranium Deposits in Northern Arizona 114°00' 113°30' 113°00' 112°30' 112°00' 111°30' Washington St. George Big Water UTAH Kanab 37°00' Colorado City KAIBAB - Virgin River ARIZONA Fredonia PAIUTE Lees RESERVATION Ferry Littlefield VERMILLION CLIFFS PIPE SPRING NATIONAL NATIONAL MONUMENT MONUMENT Marble Canyon NORTH Jacob Kanab Creek Lake SEGREGATION EAST AREA SEGREGATION KAIBAB NATIONAL FOREST AREA 36°30' NAVAJO GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK RESERVATION GRAND CANYON - PARASHANT NATIONAL MONUMENT Havasu Creek LAKE Colorado River MEAD LAKE North Rim NRA MEAD Supai Village NRA HAVASUPAI L Creek i RESERVATION Bright Angel t tl e C o l o r 36°00' a Tusayan do R HUALAPAI iver SOUTH RESERVATION r SEGREGATION e v i R AREA o C d olo ra Cataract Creek Valle Peach Springs 35°30' Data provided by U.S. Geological Survey and 0 25 50 MILES Bureau of Land Management. Map created on 11/10/09 by K.M. Brown Map revised on 5/24/10 by T. Arundel 0 25 50 KILOMETERS SEGREGATION