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Van Gosen, Bradley S., Hall, Susan M., Johnson, Craig A., Benzel, William M. (2025) Solution-collapse breccia pipe uranium deposits of the southern Colorado Plateau, northwestern Arizona, USA. Ore Geology Reviews, 181. 106590 doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2025.106590

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Reference TypeJournal (article/letter/editorial)
TitleSolution-collapse breccia pipe uranium deposits of the southern Colorado Plateau, northwestern Arizona, USA
JournalOre Geology Reviews
AuthorsVan Gosen, Bradley S.Author
Hall, Susan M.Author
Johnson, Craig A.Author
Benzel, William M.Author
Year2025Volume<   181   >
Page(s)106590
URL
DOIdoi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oregeorev.2025.106590Search in ResearchGate
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Mindat Ref. ID18292327Long-form Identifiermindat:1:5:18292327:6
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Full ReferenceVan Gosen, Bradley S., Hall, Susan M., Johnson, Craig A., Benzel, William M. (2025) Solution-collapse breccia pipe uranium deposits of the southern Colorado Plateau, northwestern Arizona, USA. Ore Geology Reviews, 181. 106590 doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2025.106590
Plain TextVan Gosen, Bradley S., Hall, Susan M., Johnson, Craig A., Benzel, William M. (2025) Solution-collapse breccia pipe uranium deposits of the southern Colorado Plateau, northwestern Arizona, USA. Ore Geology Reviews, 181. 106590 doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2025.106590
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Abstract/NotesSome of the highest-grade uranium deposits in the United States occur in breccia pipes that formed by solution and collapse of sedimentary strata, which occur in the southern portion of the Colorado Plateau in northwestern Arizona. The host breccia pipes are up to 1200 m in vertical extent, average about 90 m in diameter, and can cross-cut strata from their base in the Mississippian Redwall Limestone to as stratigraphically high on some plateaus as the Triassic Chinle Formation. These uranium-base metal deposits are up to 600 m thick and formed within the breccia pipes where they transect the Permian Coconino Sandstone, Hermit Formation, and the Esplanade Sandstone. Of the hundreds of breccia pipes identified across this region, only a small percentage are known to contain mineralization. The main uranium ore mineral is uraninite that is intergrown with at least 20 base-metal sulfide minerals, which contribute Fe, Cu, Co, As, Pb, Zn, Ni, and Ag to the deposits. This study considered regional stratigraphy, sulfur isotope systematics, mineralogy, in situ dating, and compilation and analysis of previous work on the deposits. A comprehensive deposit model has not been published for these deposits. This analysis identified new additions to update the deposit model for these unusual, possibly unique deposits. Proposed modifications to the model include: (1) the source, mechanisms, timing of the base-metal sulfide mineral assemblages, and (2) the source, mechanism, and timing of the uranium mineralization. Sulfide and uranium deposition are shown to be separate mineralization events. The study proposes the possible role of gypsum as a source of sulfur for the sulfide minerals in the deposits. Groundwaters carrying uranium encountered the preexisting sulfides in breccia pipes, reducing the uranyl ions, and precipitating U oxide (as uraninite). Analysis of the regional stratigraphy recognized that numerous beds of gypsum are in the strata that lie only tens of meters above the breccia pipe deposits. In the breccia pipe region, if these stratigraphic units (Toroweap and Kaibab Formations) do not contain gypsum layers then the underlying pipes are not mineralized; where these Permian gypsum layers do occur, breccia pipes can host mineralization. This new understanding should be useful in identifying the prospective region for mineralized pipes.

Map of Localities

Locality Pages

LocalityCitation Details
Pinyon Plain Mine, Tusayan, Francis Mining District, Coconino County, Arizona, USA
Wate deposit, Coconino County, Arizona, USA
EZ-1 deposit, EZ breccia pipes, Mohave County, Arizona, USA
EZ-2 deposit, EZ breccia pipes, Mohave County, Arizona, USA
Pipe No. 3, Hack Canyon Mine, Hack Canyon, Hack Canyon Mining District, Mohave County, Arizona, USA

Mineral Occurrences

LocalityMineral(s)
Pinyon Plain Mine, Tusayan, Francis Mining District, Coconino County, Arizona, USAβ“˜ Baryte, β“˜ Bornite, β“˜ Bravoite, β“˜ Breccia, β“˜ Chalcocite, β“˜ Chalcopyrite, β“˜ Cobaltite, β“˜ Digenite, β“˜ Enargite, β“˜ Galena, β“˜ Gersdorffite, β“˜ Limestone, β“˜ Marcasite, β“˜ Millerite, β“˜ Mudstone, β“˜ Pyrite, β“˜ Sandstone, β“˜ Siegenite, β“˜ Siltstone, β“˜ Sphalerite, β“˜ Tennantite Subgroup, β“˜ Uraninite
Mohawk Canyon, Coconino County, Arizona, USAβ“˜ Arsenopyrite, β“˜ Bravoite, β“˜ Galena, β“˜ Pyrite, β“˜ Sphalerite, β“˜ Uraninite
Orphan Mine (Orphan lode), Grand Canyon Village, Orphan Mining District, Coconino County, Arizona, USAβ“˜ Azurite, β“˜ Bornite, β“˜ Bravoite, β“˜ Brochantite, β“˜ Chalcocite, β“˜ Chalcopyrite, β“˜ Covellite, β“˜ Digenite, β“˜ Galena, β“˜ Goethite, β“˜ Hematite, β“˜ Malachite, β“˜ Marcasite, β“˜ Nickeline, β“˜ Pyrite, β“˜ Rammelsbergite, β“˜ Sphalerite, β“˜ Tennantite Subgroup, β“˜ Uraninite
Ridenour Mine, Prospect Canyon Mining District, Coconino County, Arizona, USAβ“˜ Acanthite, β“˜ Azurite, β“˜ Brochantite, β“˜ Chalcocite, β“˜ Covellite, β“˜ Digenite, β“˜ Galena, β“˜ Goethite, β“˜ Hematite, β“˜ Malachite, β“˜ Marcasite, β“˜ Metatyuyamunite, β“˜ Naumannite, β“˜ Pyrite, β“˜ Roscoelite, β“˜ Tangeite, β“˜ Tyuyamunite, β“˜ Uraninite, β“˜ Volborthite
Hack's No. 2 claim, Hack Canyon Mine, Hack Canyon, Hack Canyon Mining District, Mohave County, Arizona, USAβ“˜ Acanthite, β“˜ Arsenopyrite, β“˜ Baryte, β“˜ Bornite, β“˜ Breccia, β“˜ Chalcocite, β“˜ Chalcopyrite, β“˜ Enargite, β“˜ Galena, β“˜ Gypsum, β“˜ Johannite, β“˜ Pyrite, β“˜ Sphalerite, β“˜ Uraninite
Sage Mine, Mohave County, Arizona, USAβ“˜ Bornite, β“˜ Chalcocite, β“˜ Chalcopyrite, β“˜ Covellite, β“˜ Digenite, β“˜ Galena, β“˜ Pyrite, β“˜ Sphalerite, β“˜ Tennantite Subgroup, β“˜ Uraninite

See Also

These are possibly similar items as determined by title/reference text matching only.

Van Gosen, Bradley S.; Hall, Susan M.; Johnson, Craig A.; Benzel, William M. (2025) Solution-collapse breccia pipe uranium deposits of the southern Colorado Plateau, northwestern Arizona, USA. Ore Geology Reviews, 181. doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2025.106590
Hall, S.M.; Van Gosen, B.S.; Zielinski, R.A. (2023) Sandstone-hosted uranium deposits of the Colorado Plateau, USA. Ore Geology Reviews, 155. doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2023.105353
Hall, S.M.; Van Gosen, B.S.; Paces, J.B.; Zielinski, R.A.; Breit, G.N. (2019) Calcrete uranium deposits in the Southern High Plains, USA. Ore Geology Reviews, 109. doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2019.03.036
Hou, Baohong; Keeling, John; Van Gosen, Bradley S. (2017) Geological and Exploration Models of Beach Placer Deposits, Integrated from Case-Studies of Southern Australia. Ore Geology Reviews, 80. doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2016.07.016
Hall, Susan M.; Mihalasky, Mark J.; Tureck, Kathleen R.; Hammarstrom, Jane M.; Hannon, Mark T. (2017) Genetic and grade and tonnage models for sandstone-hosted roll-type uranium deposits, Texas Coastal Plain, USA. Ore Geology Reviews, 80. doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2016.06.013
Hall, Susan M.; Mihalasky, Mark J.; Tureck, Kathleen R.; Hammarstrom, Jane M.; Hannon, Mark T. (2018) Corrigendum to β€œGenetic and grade and tonnage models for sandstone-hosted roll-type uranium deposits, Texas Coastal Plain, USA” [Ore Geol. Rev. 80 (2017) 716–753]. Ore Geology Reviews, 95. doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2017.07.022
Brown, Neal A, Mead, Richard H, McMurray, Jay M (1992) Relationship between collapse history and ore distribution in the Sage Breccia Pipe, northwestern Arizona. US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR USGS CIRC, 54
Pownceby, M.I.; Johnson, C. (2014) Geometallurgy of Australian uranium deposits. Ore Geology Reviews, 56. doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2013.07.001
Van Gosen, Bradley S., Wenrich, Karen J. (1991) Geochemistry of Soil Samples from 50 Solution-Collapse Features on the Coconino Plateau, Northern Arizona. Open-File Report Vol. 1991 (91-594) US Geological Survey doi:10.3133/ofr91594ad
Van Gosen, Bradley S., Wenrich, Karen J. (1991) Part A: Geochemistry of Soil Samples from 50 Solution-Collapse Features on the Coconino Plateau, Northern Arizona. Open-File Report Vol. 1991 (91-594) US Geological Survey doi:10.3133/ofr91594a
Van Gosen, Bradley S., Wenrich, Karen J. (1991) Part B: Geochemistry of Soil Samples from 50 Solution-Collapse Features on the Coconino Plateau, Northern Arizona. Open-File Report Vol. 1991 (91-594) US Geological Survey doi:10.3133/ofr91594b
 
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