Mineral Resource Potenti al and Reasonably Foreseeable Development for Planning Units 1-5 FINAL REPORT Prepared For: U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Rio Puerco Field Offi ce New Mexico Prepared by: 6000 Uptown Boulevard, NE Suite 100 January 11, 2010 Albuquerque, New Mexico 87110 BLM Rio Puerco Field Office, New Mexico TABLE OF CONTENTS SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ........................................................................................... x 1.0 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................. 2 1.1 Purpose of the Report ....................................................................................................... 2 1.2 Lands Involved and Data Sources ................................................................................... 2 1.2.1 Lands Involved ................................................................................................... 2 1.2.2 Data Sources ....................................................................................................... 3 1.2.2.1 Sources for Leasable Mineral Data ..................................................... 4 1.2.2.2 Sources for Locatable and Salable Mineral Data ................................. 4 1.3 Organization of this Report .............................................................................................. 5 1.4 Definitions of Leasable, Locatable, and Salable Minerals............................................... 6 1.4.1 Leasable Minerals ............................................................................................... 6 1.4.2 Locatable Minerals ............................................................................................. 7 1.4.3 Salable Minerals ................................................................................................. 7 2.0 GEOLOGY OF THE FIVE PLANNING UNITS .......................................................... 9 2.1 Physiographic Provinces .................................................................................................. 9 2.2 Rock Units ....................................................................................................................... 10 2.2.1 Surface Geology ............................................................................................... 10 2.2.2 Stratigraphic Sections ....................................................................................... 11 2.3 Historical Geology ........................................................................................................... 13 2.4 Tectonic Features within the Planning Units ............................................................... 14 3.0 MINERAL RESOURCES .............................................................................................. 20 3.1 Leasable Minerals ........................................................................................................... 23 3.1.1 Oil and Natural Gas .......................................................................................... 23 3.1.1.1 Geologic Setting ............................................................................... 23 3.1.1.2 Exploration, Development, and Production History ........................ 25 3.1.1.3 Resource and Development Potential .............................................. 30 3.1.2 Coal................................................................................................................... 31 3.1.2.1 Geologic Setting ............................................................................... 32 3.1.2.2 Exploration, Development, and Production History ........................ 35 3.1.2.3 Resource and Development Potential .............................................. 43 3.1.3 Geothermal Resources and Hot Springs ........................................................... 46 3.1.3.1 Geologic Setting ............................................................................... 46 3.1.3.2 Exploration, Development, and Production History ........................ 47 3.1.3.3 Resource and Development Potential .............................................. 50 3.1.4 Sodium and Halite ............................................................................................ 51 3.1.4.1 Geologic Setting ............................................................................... 51 3.1.4.2 Exploration, Development, and Production History ........................ 51 3.1.4.3 Resource and Development Potential .............................................. 51 3.1.5 Sulfur ................................................................................................................ 51 3.1.5.1 Geologic Setting ............................................................................... 52 3.1.5.2 Exploration, Development, and Production History ........................ 52 3.1.5.3 Resource and Development Potential .............................................. 52 3.1.6 Helium .............................................................................................................. 52 Mineral Resources Potential and Reasonably Foreseeable Development, BLM Universal Planning Units 1-5 i January 11, 2010 BLM Rio Puerco Field Office, New Mexico TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED) 3.1.6.1 Geologic Setting ............................................................................... 52 3.1.6.2 Exploration, Development, and Production History ........................ 53 3.1.6.3 Resource and Development Potential .............................................. 53 3.1.7 Carbon Dioxide ................................................................................................ 53 3.1.7.1 Geologic Setting ............................................................................... 53 3.1.7.2 Exploration, Development, and Production History ........................ 53 3.1.7.3 Resource and Development Potential .............................................. 54 3.2 Locatable Minerals ......................................................................................................... 55 3.2.1 Gold and Silver ................................................................................................. 55 3.2.1.1 Geologic Setting ............................................................................... 55 3.2.1.2 Exploration, Development, and Production History ........................ 57 3.2.1.3 Resource and Development Potential .............................................. 57 3.2.2 Base Metals and Fluorspar ............................................................................... 58 3.2.2.1 Geologic Setting ............................................................................... 58 3.2.2.2 Exploration, Development, and Production History ........................ 59 3.2.2.3 Resource and Development Potential .............................................. 59 3.2.3 Gypsum ............................................................................................................. 60 3.2.3.1 Geologic Setting ............................................................................... 60 3.2.3.2 Exploration, Development, and Production History ........................ 61 3.2.3.3 Resource and Development Potential .............................................. 62 3.2.4 Limestone ......................................................................................................... 62 3.2.4.1 Geologic Setting ............................................................................... 62 3.2.4.2 Exploration, Development, and Production History ........................ 62 3.2.4.3 Resource and Development Potential .............................................. 63 3.2.5 Pumice .............................................................................................................. 63 3.2.5.1 Geologic Setting ............................................................................... 64 3.2.5.2 Exploration, Development, and Production History ........................ 65 3.2.5.3 Resource and Development Potential .............................................. 66 3.2.6 Perlite ................................................................................................................ 66 3.2.6.1 Geologic Setting ............................................................................... 66 3.2.6.2 Exploration, Development, and Production History ........................ 67 3.2.6.3 Resource and Development Potential .............................................. 67 3.2.7 Rare Earth Elements ......................................................................................... 67 3.2.7.1 Geologic Setting ............................................................................... 68 3.2.7.2 Exploration, Development, and Production History ........................ 69 3.2.7.3 Resource and Development Potential .............................................. 69 3.2.8 Uranium ............................................................................................................ 69 3.2.8.1 Geologic Setting ............................................................................... 70 3.2.8.2 Exploration, Development, and Production History ........................ 73 3.2.8.3 Resource and Development Potential .............................................. 76 3.2.9 Semiprecious Stones and Miscellaneous Minerals ........................................... 76 3.2.9.1 Geologic Setting ..............................................................................