Soil-gas helium concentrations in the vicinity of a uranium deposit, Red Desert, Wyoming

G.M. Reimer; C.G. Bowles

doi:10.3133/ofr79975

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Soil-gas helium concentrations in the vicinity of a uranium deposit, Red Desert, Wyoming

G.M. Reimer·C.G. Bowles

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Abstract

A survey of the helium concentration in soil-gas was conducted in the Red Desert Area, Sweetwater County, Wyoming. The area studied is directly over a low-grade uranium deposit that may be suitable for recovery by in-situ leaching techniques. The area was sampled twice, once in December, 1977, and again in July, 1978. Wind was a significant factor affecting the helium concentrations. Wind gusts exceeded 110 km/hr (70 mph) during the December, 1977, sampling; wind gusts did not exceed 30 km/hr (20 mph) during the July, 1978, sampling. The average helium concentration for all the July, 1978, soil-gas samples was about twice the average of the December, 1977, samples. In addition, a contour plot of the July, 1978, soil-gas samples showed an area of higher helium values that corresponds to the location of anomalies detected by other exploration techniques, and may be associated with the uranium deposit.

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Source-reported bounding extent: 41.566141964768384° to 41.70367796221136° latitude; -108.38287353515625° to -107.92144775390625° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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G.M. Reimer, C.G. Bowles. 1979. Soil-gas helium concentrations in the vicinity of a uranium deposit, Red Desert, Wyoming. https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr79975

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