Mineral Resources of the Mohave Wash Wilderness Study Area, Mohave County, Arizona (Chapter A)

摘要

The U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Bureau of Mines conducted geological, geochemical, and geophysical surveys to assess the identified mineral resources (known) and mineral resource potential (undiscovered) of the study area. Fieldwork for the report was carried out in 1987. In 1988, the Bureau of Land Management changed the status of the study area to nonsuitable, but the investigation was completed to provide mineral information necessary for the Congressional wilderness process. Prospecting has occurred in and near the study area, but there was no mining activity at the time of the investigation. A subeconomic resource of gold totaling 1,550 short tons (st) was identified. One large area in the south-central part of the study area has moderate potential for gold and silver. Five small areas (four in the eastern part and one in the west-central part of the study area) have low potential for gold, and one area in the east-central part of the study area has low potential for silver. The entire study area has low potential for oil and gas. Sand and gravel are also present in the study area. The study area has no potential for geothermal resources.