Western Uinta Range Group

Prospect in Duchesne county in Utah, United States with commodities Phosphorus-Phosphates, Uranium
Sections on this page
  1. Identification information
  2. Geographic coordinates
  3. Site location context
  4. Geographic areas
  5. Public Land Survey System information
  6. Commodities
  7. Materials information
  8. Mineral occurrence model information
  9. Nearby scientific data
  10. Ore body information
  11. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  12. Mining district
  13. Mineral rights holdings
  14. Land status
  15. Ownership information
  16. Reserves and resources
  17. Workings at the site
  18. Links to other databases
  19. Bibliographic references
  20. General comments
  21. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10130114
MAS/MILS ID 0490130008
Record type Deposit
Current site name Western Uinta Range Group
Alternate or previous names Western Uinta Range, Mackentire Draw, Rock Creek Valley, Dry Canyon, Wolf Creek, Franson Canyon

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Ore Body
Geographic coordinates: -111.10077, 40.51665 (WGS84)
Elevation 3000
Location accuracy 10000(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Wasatch(county)

Utah(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Soapstone Basin(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

Salt Lake City(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Salt Lake City(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Provo(hydrologic unit)

Jordan(hydrologic accounting unit)

Great Salt Lake(hydrologic subregion)

Great Basin(hydrologic region)

Federal lands

Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest(National Forest)

National Forest FS(Type of land area)

FS(Federal land areas administered by FS)

Geographic areas

Country State County
United States Utah Duchesne

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
Salt Lake 003 S 007 E 34 Utah

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Phosphorus-Phosphates Primary
Uranium Tertiary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Apatite Unknown
Calcite Unknown
Dolomite Unknown
Feldspar Unknown
Fluorite Unknown
Gypsum Unknown
Illite Unknown
Kaolinite Unknown
Limonite Unknown
Montmorillonite Unknown
Pyrite Unknown
Quartz Unknown
Sphene Unknown
Tourmaline Unknown
Zircon Unknown

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 243
USGS model code 34c
Deposit model name Phosphate, upwelling type

Nearby scientific data

Ore Body (1) Weber Sandstone

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Thickness 60M
    Length 50000M
    Width 50M
    Depth to top 50M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 SEDIMENTARY
    Shape of Orebody #1 TABULAR
    Primary mode of Origin SEDIMENTATION
    Secondary mode of Origin RESIDUAL CONCENT
    Primary Ore Control LITHOLOGY
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. NONE
    Minimum Depth to Top 0
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 5
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Date of Last Modification 801106
  • Thickness 60M
    Length 50000M
    Width 50M
    Depth to top 50M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 2
    Type of Orebody #1 SEDIMENTARY
    Shape of Orebody #1 TABULAR
    Primary mode of Origin SEDIMENTATION
    Secondary mode of Origin RESIDUAL CONCENT
    Primary Ore Control LITHOLOGY
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. NONE
    Minimum Depth to Top 0
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 5
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Date of Last Modification 801106
  • Area 2000HA
    Field Value
    Total Surface Area (HA) 2000
    Date of Last Modification 910418

Comments on the geologic information

  • THE PHOSPHORIA FORMATION IS SUBDIVIDED INTO FIVE MEMBERS BY MCKELVEY (BIBLIOGRAPHY REF. L010), TWO OF WHICH (THE MEADE PEAK AND RETORT MEMBERS) CONTAIN SIGNIFICANT PHOSPHATE DEPOSITS. IN UTAH AND SOUTHWESTERN WYOMING, THE MEADE PEAK MEMBER, AND IN CENTRAL AND NORTHWESTERN WYOMING, THE RETORT MEMBER CONTAIN THE DEPOSITS OF POTENTIAL INTEREST. THE PARK CITY FORMATION OF UTAH AND CENTRAL WYOMING AND THE SHEDHORN SANDSTONE OF NORTHWESTERN WYOMING ARE STRATIGRAPHIC EQUIVALENTS OF AND INTERTONGUE WITH THE PHOSPHORIA FORMATION. THE PHOSPHORIA FORMATION AND EQUIVALENT FORMATIONS ARE UNDERLAIN BY EITHER THE TENSLEEP SANDSTONE, WEBER QUARTZITE, WELLS FORMATION, OR DIAMOND CREEK SANDSTONE AND ARE OVERLAIN BY EITHER THE WOODSIDE OR DINWOODY FORMATIONS.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Surface
Development status Prospect
Commodity type Both
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1914
Mining method Open Pit
Milling method Washing

Mining district

District name Western Phosphate

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Other

Land status

Ownership category Mixed

Ownership information

  • Type Owner
    Owner U.S. Government
    Home office Dist Of Columbia
    Year 1979

Comments on the ownership information

  • PHOSPHATE MINERAL RIGHTS FOR AT LEAST 75 PERCENT OF THE OUTCROP AREA APPEAR TO BE HELD BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND MINERAL RIGHTS FOR ABOUT 5 PERCENT OF THE OUTCROP AREA ARE HELD BY THE UINTAH AND OURAY INDIANS. MINERAL RIGHTS FOR THE REMAINING LAND ARE NOT KNOWN, BUT ARE PROBABLY HELD BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. THERE ARE NO ACTIVE FEDERAL OR STATE PHOSPHATE LEASES OR PROSPECTING PERMITS IN THE AREA, AND NO RESTRICTIONS FOR FEDERAL LEASING ARE KNOWN ON FEDERAL LANDS.

Comments on the production information

  • PRODUCTS A, B, C, D, AND E, WHERE PROPOSED IN THIS EVALUATION, ARE ACID GRADE PRODUCTS, AND PRODUCTS F, G, H, I, AND J, ARE FURNACE GRADE PRODUCTS. NOT ALL OF THESE PRODUCTS ARE USED IN THIS EVALUATION.

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1967
    Total resources 276700000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Phosphorus-Phosphates P2O5 11 wt-pct Phosphorus Major 1967
    Water, Free H2o 0 wt-pct Water, Free Trace 1967
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1967
    Total resources 179600000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Phosphorus-Phosphates P2O5 18 wt-pct Phosphorus Major 1967
    Water, Free H2o 0 wt-pct Water, Free Trace 1967

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • RESERVE RECORD 1 CONSISTS OF RESOURCES OVER THE NORTH FLANK OF THE UINTA MOUNTAINS. RESERVE RECORD 2 CONSISTS OF RESOURCES OVER THE SOUTH FLANK OF THE UINTA MOUNTAINS. ONLY INFERRED RESOURCES, SO WAS NOT INCLUDED IN EVALUATION.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 300HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method OPEN PIT
    Swell Factor .67
    Percent Waste Rock 82
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 5
    Primary Material Cover SAND, GRAVEL
    Percentage 100
    Hardness of Ore M-HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 10
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 45
    Capacity 4000
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Unit Production Cost 5.72
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 250
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 300HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 2
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method OPEN PIT
    Swell Factor .67
    Percent Waste Rock 95.9
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 5
    Primary Material Cover SAND, GRAVEL
    Percentage 100
    Hardness of Ore M-HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 10
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 45
    Capacity 4000
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Unit Production Cost 14.69
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 250
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 300HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 2
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method OPEN PIT
    Swell Factor .67
    Percent Waste Rock 82
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 5
    Primary Material Cover SAND, GRAVEL
    Percentage 100
    Hardness of Ore M-HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 10
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 45
    Capacity 4000
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Unit Production Cost 8.92
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 250
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 300HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 2
    Mining Record # 2
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method OPEN PIT
    Swell Factor .67
    Percent Waste Rock 95.9
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 5
    Primary Material Cover SAND, GRAVEL
    Percentage 100
    Hardness of Ore M-HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 10
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 45
    Capacity 4000
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Unit Production Cost 20.41
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 250
    Operating Shifts per Day 3

Comments on the workings information

  • ABBREVIATION FOR MINING DISTRICT: WEST. PHOSPHATE = WESTERN PHOSPHATE FIELD.

Comments on other economic factors

  • Mining and beneficiation costs for each proposed operation were obtained by applying one of 34 basic mine models and 5 basic mill models developed for evaluating Utah and Wyoming phosphate deposits. Site-specific cost adjustments were made for land acquisition, infrastructure, unusual haulage distance to mill, the presence of multiple beds requiring mining of waste, and mill feed grade and recovery. All costs are in January 1980 dollars. The schedule of costs is based on the assumption that each proposed operation will be independently developed as soon as technically possible after the official January 1979 base date for the current phosphate study. Thus, land acquisition, exploration, and infrastructure capital costs are assumed to begin in 1979. Mine and mill capital costs include a contingency allowance of 15 percent of all other capital costs except working capital. Mine and mill working capital is estimated at 60 days of operating cost. A Bureau costing manual (bibliography data set ref. I030) was used to estimate surface and underground mine exploration, development, reclamation, plant, and equipment capital costs; underground mine operating costs; capital and operating costs for the calcining-hydration mill (if used) and for the flotation sections of other mills; costs of transporting products from proposed mills to existing final processing plants; and access road construction cost. Surface mine operating costs are size-scaled, using scaling factors from Bennett (bibliography data set ref. I001), and others (U.S. office of audit and investigation) for Idaho phosphate mines in 1976 and 1977. Infrastructure capital costs assigned to each proposed mine consist of only those railroad, transmission line, and access road costs which are needed for development of each mine. Railroad cost is estimated by the Richardson rapid construction cost estimating system (bibliography data set ref. I020). Transmission line cost is estimated from typical industry costs (A.W. Watts, 1980, Water and Power Resources Services, personal communication). Access road costs are estimated by using the capital and operating cost estimating handbook (bibliography data set ref. I030). Land acquisition costs are based on typical competitive bids for leases in southeastern Idaho, adjusted for specific deposit grade and thickness. Lease rentals and royalties are based on current rates for federal leases in the western phosphate field. Capital and operating costs for all mills, excepting the calcination-hydration mill (if used) and flotation sections of other mills, are size-scaled, using scaling factors from Bennett (bibliography data set ref. I001), from costs given for a sizing and calcining mill described by de Voto, et al. (bibliography data set ref. R030), vol. 2, appendix d. Site-specific cost adjustments for mill feed grade and recovery are made, using relative cost factors calculated from average cost and recovery curves for altered and unaltered ores (bibliography data set ref. I010).

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Reference

    HARRIS, R. A., DAVIDSON, D. F., AND ARNOLD, B. P., 1954,

  • Reference

    BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THE GEOLOGY OF THE WESTERN PHOSPHATE

  • Reference

    FIELD: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULL. 1018, 89 P.

  • Geology

    CHENEY, T. M., 1957, PHOSPHATE IN UTAH: UTAH GEOL. AND

  • Geology

    MINERALOG. SURVEY BULL. 59, 54 P., 3 PLATES.

  • Geology

    CHENEY, T. M., AND SHELDON, R. P., 1959, PERMIAN STRATI-

  • Geology

    GRAPHY AND OIL POTENTIAL - WYOMING AND UTAH, IN INTER-

  • Geology

    MOUNTAIN ASSOC. OF PETROLEUM GEOL. 10TH ANN. FIELD

  • Geology

    CONF., P. 90-100.

  • Geology

    CHENEY, T. M., SMART, R. A., WARING, R. G., AND WARNER,

  • Geology

    M. A., 1953,, STRATIGRAPHIC SECTIONS OF THE PHOSPHORIA

  • Geology

    FORMATION IN UTAH, 1949-51: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRC.

  • Geology

    306, 40 P.

  • Geology

    HUDDLE, J. W., AND MCCANN, F. T., 1947, GEOLOGIC MAP OF

  • Geology

    DUCHESNE RIVER AREA, WASATCH AND DUCHESNE COUNTIES,

  • Geology

    UTAH: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OIL AND GAS INV. PRELIM. MAP

  • Geology

    PM-75.

  • Geology

    HUDDLE, J. W., MAPEL, W. J., AND MCCANN, F. T., 1951, GEO-

  • Geology

    LOGY OF THE MOON LAKE AREA, DUCHESNE COUNTY, UTAH:

  • Geology

    U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OIL AND GAS INV. MAP OM-115.

  • Geology

    SCHULTZ, A. R., 1919, A GEOLOGIC RECONNAISSANCE OF THE UINTA

  • Geology

    MOUNTAINS, NORTHERN UTAH, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO

  • Geology

    PHOSPHATE, IN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, 1918,

  • Geology

    PART I: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULL. 690, P. 31-94, PLATE.

  • Geology

    SMITH, L. E., HOSFORD, E. G., SEARS, R. S., SPROUSE, D. P.,

  • Geology

    AND STEWART, M. D., 1952, STRATIGRAPHIC SECTIONS OF THE

  • Geology

    PHOSPHORIA FORMATION IN UTAH, 1947-48: U.S. GEOL.

  • Geology

    SURVEY CIRC. 211, 48 P.

  • Geology

    WILLIAMS, J. S., 1942, PHOSPHATE IN UTAH: UTAH AGR. EXPT.

  • Geology

    STA. BULL. 290, 44 P.

  • Geology

    WILLIAMS, J. S., 1969, THE PERMIAN SYSTEM IN THE UINTA

  • Geology

    1-DEGREE BY 2-DEGREE TOPOGRAPHIC MAP: U.S. GEOL. SUR-

  • Geology

    VEY 1:250,000-SCALE MAP, 1 SHEET.

  • Production

    DUNCAN, W. E., AND FISK, H. G., 1957, CENTRAL WYOMING

  • Production

    PHOSPHATE ROCK - CHARACTER, PROCESSING, AND ECONOMICS:

  • Production

    UNIV. OF WYO. NAT. RES. RESEARCH INST. BULL. 6, 60 P.

  • Production

    EBERL, E., 1970, BENEFICIATION OF CALCIUM PHOSPHATE BY

  • Production

    CALCINATION, THE MATERIAL BALANCE: RUDARSKO -

  • Production

    METALURSKI ZBORNIK, NO. 2-3, 1970, P. 275-283.

  • Production

    GOKHALE, K. V. G. K., RAO, T. C., AND BISWAS, A. K., 1975,

  • Production

    BENEFICIATION STUDIES ON A HIMALAYAN LEAN PHOSPHATE

  • Production

    DEPOSIT WITH CALCAREOUS GANGUE, IN SEMINAR ON BENE-

  • Production

    FICIATION OF LEAN PHOSPHATE WITH CARBONATE GANGUE, 11TH

  • Production

    INTERNAT. MINERALS PROCESSING CONGRESS, KAGLIARI,

  • Production

    ITALY, APRIL 23-24, 1975, P. 53-54.

  • Production

    GOOD, P. C., 1976, BENEFICIATION OF UNWEATHERED INDIAN

  • Production

    CALCAREOUS PHOSPHATE ROCK BY CALCINATION AND HYDRATION:

  • Production

    U.S. BUREAU OF MINES REPT. INV. 8154, 17 P.

  • Production

    NEUBERGER, R., 1968, PHOSPHATE ROCK CALCINATION IN ISRAEL:

  • Production

    PHOSPHORUS AND POTASSIUM, NO. 35, MAY/JUNE

  • Production

    1968, P. 11-21.

  • Production

    RULE, A. R., DAHLIN, D. C., AND FERGUS, A. J., 1978,

  • Production

    FLOTATION OF CARBONATE AND SILICATE MINERALS FROM

  • Production

    PARTIALLY ALTERED PHOSPHATE ROCK OF THE PHOSPHORIA

  • Production

    FORMATION, PAPER PRESENTED AT ISMA TECHNICAL/ECON.

  • Production

    CONF.; ORLANDO, FLA., OCT. 23-27, 1979, 11 P.

  • Production

    RULE, A. R., KIRBY, D. E., AND DAHLIN, D. C., 1977, RECENT

  • Production

    ADVANCES IN BENEFICIATION OF WESTERN PHOSPHATES, PAPER

  • Production

    PRESENTED AT S.M.E. FALL MEETING AND EXHIBIT, ST. LOUIS

  • Production

    MO., OCT. 19-21, 1977, 17 P.

  • Production

    RULE, A. R., KIRBY, D. E., AND DAHLIN, D. C., 1978, RECENT

  • Production

    ADVANCES IN BENEFICIATION OF WESTERN PHOSPHATES: MIN.

  • Production

    ENG., JAN. 1978, P. 37-40.

  • Geology

    MCKELVEY, V. E., 1959, THE PHOSPHORIA, PARK CITY, AND

  • Geology

    SHEDHORN FORMATIONS IN THE WESTERN PHOSPHATE FIELD:

  • Geology

    U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROF. PAPER 313-A, P. 1-47,

  • Geology

    3 PLATES.

  • Geology

    GULBRANDSEN, R. A., 1967, SOME COMPOSITIONAL FEATURES OF

  • Geology

    PHOSPHORITES OF THE PHOSPHORIA FORMATION, IN INTERMOUN-

  • Geology

    TAIN ASSOC. OF GEOL. 15TH ANN. FIELD CONF., P. 99-102.

  • Ownership

    SCHUMACHER, O. L., PENSE, R. A., AND DAVIS, R. B., 1979,

  • Ownership

    FEDERAL LAND STATUS IN THE OVERTHRUST BELT OF IDAHO,

  • Ownership

    MONTANA, UTAH, AND WYOMING, 1979: U.S. BUREAU OF MINES

  • Ownership

    SPECIAL REPT. (IN PRESS), TEXT WITH MAPS AND

  • Ownership

    OVERLAYS.

  • Ownership

    U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, 1973, STATE OF UTAH LAND

  • Ownership

    OWNERSHIP AND PUBLIC MANAGEMENT, WASATCH - F: U.S.

  • Ownership

    BUR. LAND MANAGEMENT MAP, 1:250,000-SCALE, 1 SHEET.

  • Ownership

    U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, 1978, STATE OF WYOMING LAND

  • Ownership

    STATUS: U.S. BUR. OF LAND MANAGEMENT MAP, 1:500,000

  • Ownership

    SCALE, 1 SHEET.

  • Reserve-Resource

    COFFMAN, J. S., AND SERVICE, A. L., 1967, AN EVALUATION OF

  • Reserve-Resource

    THE WESTERN PHOSPHATE INDUSTRY AND ITS RESOURCES -

  • Reserve-Resource

    PART 4, WYOMING AND UTAH: U.S. BUREAU OF MINES

  • Reserve-Resource

    REPT. INV. 6934, 158 P.

  • Reserve-Resource

    DE VOTO, R. H., AND STEVENS, D. N., ED., 1979, URANIFEROUS

  • Reserve-Resource

    PHOSPHATE RESOURCES AND TECHNOLOGY AND ECONOMICS OF

  • Reserve-Resource

    URANIUM RECOVERY FROM PHOSPHATE RESOURCES, UNITED

  • Reserve-Resource

    STATES AND FREE WORLD: SUBCONTRACT 78-177-S TO DEPT.

  • Reserve-Resource

    OF ENERGY CONTRACT 50-54-5903 (BENDIX FIELD ENG.

  • Reserve-Resource

    CORP.) BY EARTH SCIENCES INC., 1396 P. PLUS PLATES.

  • Reserve-Resource

    GERE, W. C., 1964, PHOSPHATE, IN MINERAL AND WATER RESOURCES

  • Reserve-Resource

    OF UTAH: UTAH GEOL. AND MINERALOG. SURVEY BULL. 73,

  • Reserve-Resource

    P. 195-205.

  • Deposit

    CLABAUGH, P. S., 1946, PERMIAN PHOSPHATE DEPOSITS OF

  • Deposit

    MONTANA, IDAHO, WYOMING, AND UTAH: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

  • Deposit

    STRATEGIC MINER. INV. PRELIM. MAP 3-198, 1 SHEET.

  • Deposit

    GARRAND CORPORATION, 1975 (?), PHOSPHATE RESERVES OF SOUTH-

  • Deposit

    EASTERN IDAHO: U.S. DEPT. OF AGR. CONTRACT

  • Deposit

    NO. 50-820, 1102 P.

  • Deposit

    HALE, L. A., ED., 1967, ANATOMY OF THE WESTERN PHOSPHATE

  • Deposit

    FIELD: INTERMOUNTAIN ASSOC. OF GEOL. 15TH ANN. FIELD

  • Deposit

    CONF., 287 P., 3 PLATES.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit THIS MINERALS AVAILABILITY SYSTEM EVALUATION WAS DONE AS PART OF A 1980 STUDY OF UTAH AND WYOMING PHOSPHATE DEPOSITS BY THE INTERMOUNTAIN FIELD OPERATIONS CENTER, DENVER, COLORADO. THE WESTERN PORTION OF THE DEPOSIT EXTENDS INTO WASATCH AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. DOMAIN - CLASSIFICATION IS AS FOLLOWS WITH APPROXIMATE PERCENTAGES OF TOTAL OUTCROP AREA IN EACH CATEGORY SHOWN IN PARENTHESES: NATIONAL FOREST LAND (35), POTENTIALLY UNAVAILABLE ROADLESS AREA REVIEW AND EVALUATIION (RARE II) LAND (30), PRIVATE LAND (30), AND UINTAH AND OURAY INDIAN RESERVATION LAND (5).

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 07-MAR-95 Buckingham, David A. U.S. Bureau of Mines
Updater 15-DEC-10 Causey, J. Douglas U.S. Geological Survey Added Model

Beyond USGS

Supplemental information added by qvyshift.com. Not part of the original USGS MRDS record.