Geology and uranium deposits of the Laguna district, New Mexico

Abstract

l'he J..~aguna district, about 50 miles west of Albuquerque, N. M:ex., forms the southeast end of the Southern San Juan Busln mineral IJelt, a west-to northwest-trending zone of mnnium deposits associated mainly with stratigraphic and tectonic structural features of Jurassic age. The belt roughly conforms with the north margin of the Jurassic Mogollon Highland. Within the district are the Jacl{pile uranium deposit, containing many million tons of ore, and several other large uranium deposits; all the deposits a.re in the Jackpile sandstone, the uppermost unit i.n the Morrison Formation of Jurassic nge. Several small deposits are in sandstone strata of the lower part of the Morrison ]!"'ormation, in the limestone of the Todilto l!"'ormntion, or in the Entrada Sandstone, also of Jurassic nge. Only the Jackpile mine, however, produced significant nmounts of uranium ore prior to 1962. Between about 1956 nnd 1960 it wns the largest single producer of uranium in the UnLted States, nnd possibly in the world.