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UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
TEI-67
RECONNAISSANCE OF RADIOACTIVE ROCKSJDF VERMONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE, CONN&TICUT, RHODE ISLAND AND SOUTHEASTERN NEW YORK
ByFrank A, McKeown
This preliminary report is released without editorial and technical review for conformity with official standards and nomenclature, to make the information available to interested organizations and to stimulate the search for uranium deposits.
June 1951
20844Prepared by the Geological Survey for tho UNITED STATES ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION Technical Information Service, Oak Ridge, Tennessee
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CONTENTS
Abstract .................................................... 5
Introduction ................................................ 5
Prospecting methods ......................................... 7
Distribution of radioactivity ................"............... 10
The Hudson and Housatonie radioactive province. .,*.,......... 11
Geology 0 ..,, 0 .........................o................... 11Badioactivity ............................................» 12Hudson Highlands, southeastern New York ................... 13
Bear Mountain area ...................................... 1JLocality A............................................. 13Locality B ............................................ 20Locality C and D ...................................... 21Conclusions............................................ 21
Traverse north of Bear Mountain.......................... 22
Housatonic Highlands of western Connecticut................ 22
The central New England radioactive province ................ 2-3
Conclusions ............................................... 2ty
Badioactive area near Milton, Vermont........................ 2f>
Geology ................................................... 25Hadioactivity.............................................. 28Description of Localities.................................. 30Locality A............................................... 30Locality B............................................... 30Locality C and D«........................................ 31Locality S«.............................................. Jl
Conclusions................................................ 32
Conclusions ................................................. 32
ILLUSTRATIONS
Figure 1. Badioactive rocks of Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Ehode Island, and southeastern New York ..................................... (in p
2. Badioactive rocks of the Bear Mountain area..... (in p
3. Relation "between radioactivity and uranium content of samples from the Bear Mountain area, New York.................................... 15
4. Ehorium-*uranium ratios in samples from theBear Mountain area, New York...................... l6
5. Gamma radioactivity profiles at Locality A,Bear Mountain, New York........................... 17
6. Sketch of outcrop at Locality A, Bear Mountain,New York.......................................... 19
7. Badioactive localities near Milton, Vermont......... 26
TABLES
Table 1. Badioactive localities north and northeast of the Bear Mountain area in the Hudson and Housatonic Highlands................
2. Badioactive localities in the central New England province ...............
3. Results of radiometric and chemicalanalyses of samples listed by states
EEC )miSSA?!CB OV RADIOACTIVE E' >JK6 OF VERMONT, NBT- HAMPSHIRE, , R- )r£ ISLAND, AT-'U SOUTHEASTERN NEW YORK
by
Frank A« McKeown
ABSTRACT
In 1948, 79662 miles of roadside rocks and soils in Vermont 2
Hew Hampshire, Connecticut, Bhode Island, and southeastern New Tork
were traversed with a car-aounted Geiger-Mieller counter The ob
served distribution of the abnormally radioactive rocks and soils
is limited to certain areas, fcereia called Mr*4ioaQtire provinces/1/
tfett ar« separatwl ftro» e cte »th«r br «r«^« of esstritiAliy nonradio-
active rock. fhea« £rcwi£ce3 , &n«l th«ir mxiauffi percent equivalent
«ramiiuft are: (l) %« Ibdson and HotttJitoaic Jiij*hlafid* of aouthe&ftterft
i«v Tork and wt«t^m Cowuecttci "-t, 0 0 240 equivalent uranium; (2)
Saairal Hew Bi^rland, Oo006 equivalent uranium; and (3) the Milton
area &£• northirtst*y!i tarmont, O.029 equivalent uranium . The
distribution, grade, form, a.id \iranium~thorium ratio of the radio
active deposits differ in each o| the three provinces, Most of the
radioactivity outside of 1^e ill ton area is caused V thoriumc
Soring the late smaner and fa 11. of 1948 3 the 8eo logical Survey
a reconnaissance ia Vermcnt, lew Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode
Island, *ad part of southeastern N«f York, to gain a general knowledf*
of the d" «• ribution of radioactive raterials in the New England states.
The objectives of this reconnaissance were twofold: (l) To define areas
in which more detailed prospecting for uranium deposits is warranted,
through the correlation of abnormal radioactivity with other geologic
evidence; and (2) to test and evaluate the car-traverse method of
radiometric measurement and prospecting.
The radioactivity of the roadside rocks and soils was measured
with car-mounted Geiger-Mueller counters. A total of 7,662 miles of
roads was traversed. Ihe mileage was distributed as follows:
States Miles
Vermont and New Hampshire 4,,732 Connecticut and Rhode Island 1*458 Pennsylvania and New York (enroute to
and from New England) 1,4.72
Jbtal ' 7,662
Traverses in Vermont and New Hampshire were planned to cross
all the major geologic formations on as many roads as possible. All
numbered and a few unnumbered highways were traversed. It was
necessary to curtail traverses in Connecticut and Rhode Island be
cause of approaching winter weather and, therefore, as many geologic
formations as possible were traversed on a limited number of high
ways. However, all of the formations that appear on the geologic
maps of Connecticut and Rhode Island _/ were crossed several times
on different roads.
__/ rh'ce^ W* N O and Gregory, H, E., Ifenual of the Geology of Connecticut? Connecticut Geol, Survey Bull. 6, 1906»
Emerson, B» K., Geology of Massachusetts and Rhode Island: U. S* Geolo Survey Bull. 597,~map, 1917.
John Mo Nelson established most of the field procedures used
and aided in much of the interpretation of the data that were
collected* Harold Arndt assisted in the field work. Perry F.4 ;• • /•/*"; ._ "
Narten aided in the preparation of the report* All sample
analyses and mineralogic studies were made by the Geological
Survey laboratory*
EHQSflBCTING ME2HOUS
The car-traverse equipment and its performance characteristics
have been described in a report by Nelson __/. The equipment consists
_/ Nelson, J, M0 , Prospecting for uranium with car-mounted equipment: U. S. Geolo Survey Trace Elements Investigations Rept. 65, July 1949*
of a counting-rate meter, an alarm circuit, and 2 Geiger-Mueller
tubes, each tube having a response of 1,500 pulses per minute in
areas of normal radioactivity* Ihe alarm circuit can be adjusted
so that a bell will ring at any predetermined reading of the
counting-rate meter* IMs serves to give an aural signal to the
operator when passing roadside rocks and soils of abnormal activity
and allows him to give his attention to other tasks.
Changes of 0«001 percent equivalent uranium in the roadside rocks
and soils can be detected at a traverse speed of 30 miles per hour.
This degree of sensitivity requires a radioactively homogeneous band
of soil or rock having an equivalent uranium content between 0.000
and 0.005 percent, and a width of about 150 feet parallel to the
traverse. Higher-grade deposits less than 150 feet wide usually will
show a car-measured radioactivity less than the actual activity. 3his
deviation of measured from actual radioactivity is a function of
several independent variables such as the geometrical relationship of
the Geiger-Mueller tube to the outcrop and the physical and chemical
characteristics of the rocks* The possible variations in relationships
aifce infinite in number and cannot be rigorously evaluated.
Radioactive rocks and soils discovered with the car-traverse
equipment were further investigated on foot with a portable 42 by
2-inch gamma tube and a counting-rate meter* Small veins, joints, or
areas of rocks were checked for abnormal radioactivity with a beta-
gamma tube and a counting-rate meter.
Correlation of counting-rate meter readings obtained when the
gamma tube is placed on the outcrop, with measurements of radio
activity of samples taken from the outerops^ made it possible to
estimate the equivalent uranium content of many outcrops without
sampling. Most rocks that were thought to contain 0*005 percent or
more equivalent uranium were sampled ana asoayed for uranium*
The approximate percentage of thorium can be calculated if the radio-
activity of a cample is expressed in percent equivalent uranium and the
percentage of uranium in a sample is known, assuming that the uranium
is in equilibrium w> tl ii,s disint >-j &tion products, Thus, if a
sample contains 0 &020 [Descent equivalent uranium and CL008 percent
uranium, by subtraction 0.012 percent equivalent uranium may be
attributed to potassium and thorium^ The potassium activity in
rocks containing 3 to 5 percent K20 is assumed to be about 0,001
percent equivalent uranium, leaving 0.01-. percent equivalent uranium
due to thorium activity. As tfre beta activity of thorium is about
one-quarter that of uranium, this figure ic» ,'iultiplied by the factor
fouv and the calculated content is 0,044 percent thorium. Most
analyses for thor'.um in the New England samples show an observed
factor that ranges from three to fire.
Although probably only a small part of the total number of
radioactivity anomalies in the New England states has be-n found, it
is believed that the method of prospecting used was successful in
partly defining the areas of concentrated radioactive anomalies, and
indicating the areas favorable for detailed investigation. General
knowledge of the location and extent of the abnormally radioactive
area has been gained* In addition, on the basis of Nelson's data
and conclusions _/, obtained fiom relati/ely small low-grade deposits,
it is very probable that few, if any, deposits containing tens of tons
of radioactive material of a graae above 0.1 percent uranium were
missed if they crop out within 25 feet of a traversed road.
_/ Nelson, J. H., op. cit«, f.ip. 2, pp. 6-7,
10
DISTRIBUTION OF RADIOACTIVITY
Most of New Hampshire, Vermont, southeastern New York, Connecticut.,
and Rhode Island are underlain by pre-Cambrian and Paleozoic igneous,
sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks* Mesozoic sedimentary and intrusive
rocks are limited largely to the Connecticut Valley, Locally^ the
rocks are blanketed by glacial material but it is believed that the
network of roads traversed is sufficiently close-spaced so that all
of the major rock units were adequately scanned with the car-mounted
instruments* Abnormally radioactive glacial material in places was
found south of its radioactive bedrock source for distances up to
10 miles.
The distribution of the abnormally radioactive rocks and glacial
materials is such that three areas are roughly delimited on the basis
of radioactivity! (l) The Hudson and Housatonic Highlands of south
eastern New York and western Connecticut! (2) a belt extending from
central and eastern Connecticut and western Rhode Island northward
to the Canadian border, herein called ^Central New England$? (3) an
area near Milton, Vt« These areas are designated as "radioactive
provinces, 11 in a usage similar to "metallogenic provinces. 11 The
deposits within each province are characterized by similar maximum
equivalent-uranium content, by similar ratios of thorium to uranium,
and in part by the rock types in which the deposits occur. The first
two areas are large and are surrounded by essentially nonradioactive
rocks. 2he third nrea, although isolated with respect to other
radioactive rocks described in this report, may constitute a border
phase of another province, as yet undefined.,
11
HE HUDSON ^iJD HOUSATOiilC RADIOACTIVE PROVINCE
She Hudson and Housatonic Highlands of southeastern New York
and western Connecticut form a radioactive province that is
characterized by a highly variable equivalent uranium content and
a highly variable thorium-uranium ratio (table 3, figs* 3 and 4).
Radioactive anomalies of various intensities were found from the
vicinity of Peekski.ll, U. I., to Cornwall Bridge, Conn. (fig* l)*
Geology
The geology of the crystalline Highlands consists _/ of a
_J lowe, K. E., Storci Kinp Granite at Bear fountain, New Yorks Geol, Soc* America Bull., vol« 61., pp. L42-143, 14-8, 1950.
sequence of intercalated qtiartzitic, micaceous^ and calcareous rocks
that were severely metamorphosed during several periods of regional
deformation and granitic intrusion* Most investigators _/ in the
—/ Berkey, C* P0 and Rice 5 Marion, Geology of the West Point quadrangle: New York State Mas. Bull., Nos. 225-226 5 pp* 49-51, 1919
Lowe, K. E., ope cit., p* 150.
Highland have concluded that the metamorphic rocks were of sedimentary
origin and assign them to the Grenville series of pre-Oambrian age» The
The present major northeastward structural trend of, the Orenville series
ia thought to oe the result of an early pre-Cambrian orogeny- The struc
tures thus formed have controlled, to a large extent, all the successive
igneous intrusions. J
12
Berkey, Co P., and Rice, Liar ion, op. cit., p. 81.
Lowe, K* E 9 , op* cit., p* 16-4 •
The grani'oe intrusions have so altered the country rocks that in
much of the area it is difficult to determine whether these rocks
originally were of sedimentary or igneous origin.
Radioactivity
3he pre-Cambrian rocks of the Hudson and Housatonic Highlands
have an estimated average radioactivity between 0*002 and 0*003
percent equivalent- uranium and an observed range of 0*001 to 0.24,0
percent equivalent uranium. In the samples taken the maximum content
of uranium is 0.095 percent and the maximum content of thorium is
1»04. percent. Hie thorium-uranium ratio in the samples ranges from
111 to 40£l« Most of the highly radioactive deposits are in pegmati
tes, but a pegmatized gneiss contains as much as 0.064 percent
equivalent uranium. The maximum observed radioactivity in gneiss
and schist is 0.013 percent equivalent uranium, in granite about
0.006 percent equivalent uranium. The more radioactive deposits are
in a belt trending northeast from the vicinity of .Bear Mountain
Bridge, N. Y., to the village of Cornwall Bridge, Conn. (fig. 1).
Southeastern few Torkf Hadson Highlands
Bsar ibuntain area
Bear «otmtai*f tt>'lp , (figo 2 V qttarts^feldspar~biotite'v '
gneisses , in places carrying garnet as a major constituted, are
interlayered irita several varieties of schist and resemble bedded
sedimentso Qoarta»feldspar«biotite pegmatites 9 15 feet in greatest
observed dimensions* are parallel to the achistosity and layering
of the gneisso irregular discordant masses of pegmatite also are
present* Gr»Bitio rocks ̂ usually gnelssio^ occur thrmighout thd
areao At five r0«4filde Iftoalitijw in a 3- ^ 4- mile area pegmatitea
and! gneiss con«aio«9 liili Oo<K>5 ^t Oo2QO percent 6quivdle«t *rafiia«c
Hirta of the frartitic ffalca tvoteliy contain an average of 0*005•«*
* • -
percent ©quiirmlent «r«fl&iai^ bot m tdgiay radioactive granite or
pegnatitaa withi* garaaite, ware fotmdo
Ac **~ ifoet of the rotk *t locality A (figs* 2, $* and 6}
ia composed of qaert^^»ld«par*biotite gneiss and achieto tie
strikes about N0 20° to and dips 30° - 40° 3E0 Concordant stubby
lenticular-sheped bodies of quart^feldapftr-biotite pegttatite occur
in the gneiss and sohisto the iwudaua observed size of the pegmatites
ia approximately 3 feet in thlcfcness ty 15 foot in lengtho
Ihe radioactive ainerals ia .the pegmatites have not been identifiedp
Mineral analysis of quart** feldspar pegaatitio gneiss by tto E, Ihowpaon
of the Geological Survey ehowa abundant 2ircori,9 a lesser amount of
opa^txe minerals 3 and an unidentified mineral or aggregate of minerals
contajftiag some uranium and thoriuao the uranium-bearing mineral or
aggregate of minerals is a dull yellowish crust : that coats various
grains of the pegmatite, The zircon also is radioactive. Chemical
analyses (table 3, TV (A) -15, - 16, - 19, -20) show that thorium
also is present and that the ratio between thorium and uranium in
the samples is not constant. Ihe variation diagrams (figs. 3 and 4)
show this variable ratio* Ihe difference that is shown in figure 3
between percent equivalent uranium and precent uranium is attributed
to thorium, for the effects of potassium are essentially negligible.
Ihe diagrams, when compared to sample descriptions (see table 3) 9
also indicate that the thorium-uranium ratio is not a direct function
of lithology.
Ihe distribution and relative gamma radioactivity of the material
at locality A and the location of traverses across the radioactive
area are shown on figure 5« The radioactivity of the rocks along the
traverse lines was estimated by noting the instrument readings over
a distance of little or no change in activity and recording the
average activity. 3his method seems to be inherently more accurate
than arbitrary grid-control methods for determining the relative size
and shape of a radioactive deposit, because many control points are
obtained where the change in radioactivity is greatest and few where
the change is least. Chemical analyses of samples from this locality
show that the uranium content ranges from 0.001 to 0.065 percent and
the thorium content from 0.030 to 0«lW30 percent (see table 3).
90 70
&
50 40 30
£ 20
I 5 10
10
20
30
40
50
60
70so
90
lo
o no
12
0 13
0L
ocal
ity
A10
,—
——
,——
—,—
——
,——
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10
150
160
ID
20
30
40
50
60
Locality B
10
20
30
40
Loca
lity
C
180
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20
30
40
50
60
Locality D
Beta radioactivity in thousandths
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per
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FIGU
RE 3.
RELATION B
ETWEEN R
ADIO
ACTI
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AND U
RANI
UM CON
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OF SA
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BEA
R MOUNTAIN AREA, NE
W YORK
\J\
Thorium in thousandths of a percent
ITUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY TRACE ELEMENTS INVESTIGATIONS REPORT NO. 67
Stfli • an 4 dip »f bantling
f. MCREOVN, H. AMNQT
Ino geelogia aecttoa {ft** 6) ahowa tho lithology aad location of •
aaaplaa at locality A. *» hydrothomal aoao at tha eaator of tha
aootioa haa baan thoroughly waatfearad and ita composition w*s not
datoniaad aaeopt tor a ft* raaiatant maX^:^«^t*»~b*ajring qpiarta **iaa«
Cb tha batio of axtewMly fmr data tho dopo«it at locality A ia
attiaatod to contain 5,600 tona of rook por Ibot of depth averaging
0.045 parcoat thoriu* and 0*006 poroant ttsanitta* i* noot of the urmnUm
and thorim ia oonoontratad ia ptgaatito and adjaoant gnoiaa 9 «*l*cUvi
•iniag of tho rook might roault ia raiaing tho g**do of on to 0.160
poroaat thoriaa and 0«090 percent uraaiuao
Iho eoaiMtationa for thoao tonnago and gx^da oaleulatiooa are ahown
ba!0Vo It ia aaanaad that tha uraniiuHthoxltUi **Uo ia oonjtant through
out tho aoaoo Baaio iaotruaont raaponao (iaatnawnt roapoaao oror a
aomadioaotivt iMdbr of nator) ia only a avail fraction of ana ratoa*tav
wit on tho aoalo «uMd in tho dotondnationa* It oaa bo oidttod ia tea
ftlloviag eoiptttaUonet
io Omdoa
(a) Avaragt gawa aotiTitgr of all tmraraoa in tha outliaodi dopoatt (flg« 5) ia 7*7 fttawrtar
(b) Avoiago ganna activity of trafayaa nmbar 1 ia 13 rateaotor «aita« ftr oaloulation, tho aTorage aotiti^r of tho dopoait ia.7»7A3 tiaoa that of ttttvarao moabor lo
(o) Awtgo ohoaioal wranlaft oontant of ohasmal aaiploa woo KMbor 1 io 0»OH poroonto $r oaleolaUon^tho ohMioal uraniwa ooatoat of tho dopoait ia 7-7/13
O.On or 0^006$ poroant uraniiau
oontant aToragoa about 7 tteoa tha turaaliui ooataato fly cAicui»Uon tho arorago thorivA ia 7 tiMa Oo0065 or Oo045 poroant*
UN
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67
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FIG
. 6
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20
2, Tonnage :
a of 72,850 square feet at 13 cubic feet per ton = 5,600 tons per foot of aepth.
Locality B. — At locality B (fig. 2) dark-gray quart z-feldspar-
biotite gneiss is interbanded with a lesser amount of pinkish quartz-
feldspar-biotite gneiss. Quartz- feldspar-biotite pegmatite masses and
lenses are distributed at irregular intervals. Some of these crosscut
and others are concordant to well developed sheeting and banding in the
gneiss. Ohe gneissic banding strikes about N. 20° E. and dips 30° - 50°
SB.
Pegmatites contain the greatest concentration of radioactive material.
Samples from this locality range from 0.002 to O e 05'? percent equivalent
uranium and from 0.001 to 0.005 percent uranium. Barts of the gneiss
probably are radioactive, but the presence of nearby highly radioactive
pegmatite prohibits detection of the lower radioactivity of the gneiss,
In an area approximately 50 by 350 feet, it is estimated that the combined
radioactivity of the gneiss and pegmatite is indicative or rock containing
0.005 to 0*020 percent equivalent uranium.
A possible radioactive area is located half a mile to the north of
locality B, in a residential section of Highland Falls. No attempt was
made to explore the locality or to take samples because it is in the
front yard of a city residence. Measurements made with car traverse
instruments indicate that the rock contains in excess of 0.010 percent
equivalent uranium.
localities C and D. — localities C. and D, although 2 miles
apart (fig. 2), are similar in litiology and radioactivity and'are
discussed together,, Ihe rocks are massive fine-grained quartz-feldspar-
biotite gneisses, the banding of which strikes No 35° E. and dips 25°-35°SI
Both localities are probably in the Storm King granite _J. The abnormal
_J Lowe, K. E*s op. cit., pi. 1, 5- . > > •
radioactivity is• limited to a few massive layers, 3 to 15 feet thick, and
was traced along the strike of these layers 200-300 feet. Because of this
apparent stratigraphic continuity, the radioactive elements are believed
to be syngenetic with the enclosing metasedimentary rocks. Samples from
the radioactive layers range from 0.006 to 0.013 percent equivalent
uranium and from 0.003 to 0.005 percent uranium.
Conclusionsi — Ihe deposits at Localities A and B are in pegmatite
and greiss, and are of igneous or hydrothermal origin* At localities
C and D the deposits appear to be in certain stratigraphic horizons in
the gneiss, and may be of sedimentary origin. Other deposits in the
Hudson Highlands area probably are similar in origin and occurrence
arid grade. 'Die sample analyses show that most of the radioactivity is
due to thorium-bearing minerals. Pitchblende, however, has been
reported _J near Locality D.
22
_/ Zodzc, Peter, Pitchblende near Peekskill, N. Y. i Rocks and Minerals, vol. 14, pp. 350-351, 1939-
Traverse north of Bear Mountain
In addition to the Bear Mountain area the Hudson Highlands were
examined along a traverse to the north and northeast (fig.l). The
results of this traverse are shown in Table 1. According to Berkey
and Rice _/ complexes of the Grenville gneiss and the Canada Hill and/
J Berkey, C. P. and Rice, Iferion, op. cit., p. 28, map.
Reservoir granites are exposed along the traverse route.
Housatonic Highlands of western Connecticut
®ro abnormally radioactive localities (fig. 1 and table 1) weref f*.
found in the Housatonic Highlands of western Connecticut. Both locali
ties are on approximate strike with each other in an area mapped ^J as
_/ Rice, W. N., and Gregory, H. F., The Geology of Connecticut: Connecticut Geol. and Nat. History Survey, Bull. 6, map, 1906. *
the pre-Cambrian Becket gneiss which may be a possible correlative of
the gneisses at Bear Mountain.
THE CENTRAL NEW ENGLAND RADIOACTIVE PROVINCE
Ihe Central New Ting-land radioactive province extends from western
Ehode Island and central and eastern Connecticut northward through
central Massachusetts _J into eastern Vermont and western and northern
_y Johnson, D» H. 9 Radioactive rocks of Massachusetts, U. S* Geol. Survey Trace Elements Investigations Rept« 69, map in preparation.
New Hampshire. It is characterized by a relatively low and constant
content of equivalent uranium and uranium, Ihe belt appears to follow
the general regional structure but cuts across several lithologic types.
This province is most radioactive in the area of greatest relief and
rock exposure, the White Mountains of northern New Hampshire, where
most of the rocks are estimated to contain from 0»003 to 0.006 percent
equivalent uranium. Samples of radioactive rocks from the White
Mountains have a maximum uranium content of 0.001 percent. Elsewhere
in central New England the rocks contain more widely scattered deposits
of similar equivalent uranium and uranium content. In Massachusetts __/
_/ Johnson, D, H., op. cit,, map.
a much denser road coverage more clearly defines the northward trend
of the radioactive area, The most radioactive sample collected in
Massachusetts contained 0.011 percent equivalent uranium, 0.001 percent
uranium, arid 0*032 percent thorium*,
21*
The radioactivity of the rocks of the Central New Bngland province
is considered to be due mainly to thorium, as uranium analyses to date
have not shown more than 0.001 percent uranium.
The Central New England province Is separated from the Hudson and
Housatonic Highlands, the Milton area, and the radioactive rocks of
northeastern New York by a wide north-trending belt of rocks containing
0*003 percent equivalent uranium or less. Abnormally radioactive
localities within the Central New England province are shown in figure 1
and briefly described in table 2*
!Bie investigation of pegmatites previously reported to contain small
amounts of radioactive minerals was not a part of the work done for this
report. The pegmatites traversed in this belt, with one exception,
showed about the same average radioactivity as the other rocks*
Conclusions
The rocks of the Central New England radioactive province are
low in uranium and the province is believed to be unfavorable for
the occurrence of commercial uranium deposits.
As calculated frcm the difference between the precent equivalent
uranium and percent uranium there are billions of tons of rocks in
the province that probably contain between 0.010 and 0.016 percent
thorium. The only sample assayed for thoria (No. 511, table 3) 9
however, contained a maximum of only 0.006 percent. As the calculated
value for this sample would be 0.016 percent thorium,the sample
presumably is out of equilibrium.
RADIOACTIVE AREA WEAR MILTON, VERMONT
Bie Milton dolomite in northwestern Vermont was found to be ab
normally radioactive (up to 0.029 percent equivalent uranium along
U. S. Highway 7, about 2t miles north of the junction with U. S. High
way 2 and about 3% miles southwest of Milton, Vt. All roads within
5 miles of this point were traversed by car and much of the interroad
area was prospected on footo ftie local geology _y 'and distribution of
* ' .'. " ! '•' ....
J Jacobs, B. C,, The geology of the Green Mountains of northern Vermont i Vermont State Geologist 21st Bept. p.S, pi 2, 1938.
radioactive rocks are shown on figure J«
Geology
The Milton dolomite is within a structural division of the rocks
of northwestern Vermont known as the Central Sequence —/. The Central
_J Keith, Arthur, Cambrian succession of northwestern Vermont: Am. Jour,, Sci., 5th ser», vol. 5, no. 26, pp. 106-126, 1923.
____.____, Stratigraphy and structure of northwestern Vermont: Washington AcadrSeio Jour., vol. 22, pp. 369-379, 1932.
Schuchert, Charles, Cambrian and Ordovician of northwestern Vermont: Geol. Soc. America Bull., vol. 4.8, no. 7, pp. 1001-1057, 1937-
Sequence is a narrow belt of formations extending from Snake Mountain,
5 miles west of Middlebury, Vt., north to the Canadian border. Ihese
26
J MILES
FIG. 7 RADIOACTIVE ROCKS NEAR MILTON, VERMONT
formations strike northward between the Ghamplain thrust fault and the
Border Mountain fault. The strata are Cambrian and Ordovician dolomites
and slates that have overridden one another because of the eastward
movement of the Green Mountain massif <>
Ihe abnormally radioactive localities are in the Milton dolomite
between Gheckerberry Village and a point half a mile south-southwest
of Cobble Hill (fig. 7). Keith J describes the Milton dolomite of
J Keith, Arthur, op. cit., pp. 113-114, 1923.
this area as follows? "The formation consists almost entirely of
massive dolomite both fine— and coarse-grained. M-st of the beds
are thick (from 1 to 5 feet), especially in the lower part of the
formation "nd as a rule the bedding is difficult to determine... A
pecularity of the Milton is its considerable content of black chert.
Bais forms small, irregular patches and pockets much broken during
rock movements, and is very seldom found in layers. Ihis chert
weathers ott in black spots which readily catch the eye... Another
pecularity of this dolomite is its large content of dolomitic
conglomerate. 11 TUB thickness of the Milton dolomite in this area
has been given by Keith as 700 feet5 Schuchert _/, however, thinks
that it may be much less.
J Schuchert, Charles, op. cit., p e 1046, 1937.
Radioactivity
'Ihe abnormal radioactivity is directly associated with some black
chert-like inclusions in intraformational breccias in sandy dolomite.
Sample analyses show a maximum uranium content of 0,018 percent* Iwo
types of inclusions have been recognized, one of which is radioactive./
The radioactive inclusions are black calcareous clay galls and fragments
that are syngenetic. Ihey protrude from the weathered surface of the
dolomite and have the appearance of chert. Upon treatment with hydro
chloric acid, 4, parts water to 1 part acid, these fragments crumble to
a black spongy mass, and a thin film of oil is formed* The nonradio-
active inclusions that were tested are actual fragments of black chert.
Upon treatment with hydrochloric acid, the chert fragments become porous
but remain hard, and no oil film is formed. Much of the rock &t locality
E (fig. 7) is covered with a phosphate bloom, which seems to be more
profuse where the radioactivity is greatest* Phosphate bloom was not
noticed at the other localities, but the samples from locality A
(fig» 7) contain as much as 7.19 percent PoOe,™" J
Although soil cover masks much of the radioactive zone, the radio
active chert-like clay galls in the intraformational breccia apparently
are confined to a distinct stratum or to strata of similar age. Ihe
thickness of such a stratum, or strata, was not apparent except in
the stream bed at locality B (fig* 7) where the radioactive breccia had a
stratigraphic thickness of about 3 feet. Elsewhere, abnormally radio
active outcrops and soil are present as patches, 10 to 50 feet across,
that may be isolated from one another by distances of several hundred
29
yards. Other such patches ma/ occur within 25 to 50 feet of each other
and form a belt of distinct linearity. On® such belt, at locality S, is
about 1,000 feet long and 50 feet wide, The longer dimension is parallel
to the general strike of the Milton dolomite. The wideness of this belt
at this locality presumably is the result of the low angle of dip of the
dolomite rather than its thickness.
The manner in which the radioactive elements are combined with other
elements in the rock is not known. Alpha radiographs of thin sections of
the most, radioactive samples made by the Geological Surrey Laboratory show
that there are no apparent centers of radioactive concentrations and
that the amount of radioactivity is variable throughout the radioactive
rocko The fact that the radioactive material apparently has a wide areal
and narrow stratigraphic distribution and is disseminated in its immediate
host rock suggests that the radioactivity is a feature of the original
sediments. This association of abnormal radioactivity with black
chert-like petroliferous calcareous clay galls and phosphate in intra-
formations! breccia suggests that the radioactive material may have been
concentrated there along with the phosphate, sand grains, and dolomite
fragments as a residue during erosion of the underlying sandy dolomites.
If this is true, then other intraformational breccias and disconfentities
which are characteristic of the Central Sequence also should be examined for
abnormal radioactivity.
Chemical analyses of the more radioactive samples (table 3, Vermont
samples) indicate that uranium accounts for about two-thirds of the
radioactivity* The remainder of the activity is, by inference,
attributable to thorium and potassium.
30
Description of localities
Locality A
An abnormally radioactive zone of soil and float extends for about
20 feet along U» S. Highway 7, near the center of a patch of woodland
on the east side of the road at locality A (fig. 7). This zone is
2.2 miles north of the junction of U. S. Highways 2 and 17. Badio-
active soils and rocks also are distributed irregularly throughout the
woodland. Samples of dolomite with black chert-like fragments from this
locality contained from 0.002 to 0,020 percent equivalent uranium (table
3 8 samples 506-509), The most ! radioactive sample contains 0*018 percent
uranium* Phosphate analyses made oh these samples indicate that there
may be direct relationship between the uranium and phosphate contents.
locality B
The roadside soil is abnormally radioative at locality B t about
0.3 mile northeast of locality A8 along a lane that extends east from
U. S. Highway 7 (fig. 7), The outcrops in the bed of an intermittent
stream are radioactive for a distance of approximately 300 feet south
of this point« Several places on the hilltop east of the stream also
are abnormally radioactive. A few scattered crystals of purple
fluorite were noted. Samples of black chert-like material, dolomite
with intraformational black chert-like breccia, and do&4toifai«it2E'
>3ia»ck ic&frfc-l^keub'tfeccia ,aad inclusions of fiuoritei > estate rifiroffl
0,001 to 0«020 percent equivalent uranium and from 0.000 to 0.018
percent uranium (table 3, samples 5l6Sli«
i 31
Localities C and D
-•Locality C (fig. 7) is defined by an abnormally radioactive
soil zone approximately 0.4 miles south-southeast of locality B
near a clump of small trees 200 yards south of a barn, A small out
crop 300 feet farther south also is radioactive. Locality D consists
of three areas of abnormally radioactive soils at 150, 300 8 and 600
feet north of the lane at locality B. No samples were taken at
localities C and D and the estimated radioactivity is of the same
magnitude as at the other localities.
Locality S
Badioactive rocks crop out about half a mile S. 75° W. of the
top of Gobble Hill. The geology at this locality has been described
by Schuchert J* Much of the bedrock is coated by a phosphate bloom.
J Schuchert, Charles, op. cit., pp. 1057-1058.
Grab samples of dolomite with black chert-like intraformational
breccia from this locality contain as much as 0.015 percent equivalent
uranium and 0.009 percent uranium (table 3, samples 513 c 514, 519,
and 520).
32Conclusions
Black petroliferous phosphatic calcarous clay galls in an intra-
formational breccia in the Milton dolomite southwest of Milton, Vt.
contain up to 0.018 percent uranium. The manner of occurrence and
the areal distribution of the uranium in the breccia is indicative
of syngenetic deposition. The deposits, as they are now known, are
too small and spotty to be of economic importance,
CONCLUSIONS
The radioactive rocks of the New England States investigated
occur in three distinct radioactive areas. These have been desig
nated as the Hudson and Housatonic Highlands province (southeastern
New York and western Connecticut), the Central New England province
(parts of Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and
Rhode Island), and an area near Milton, Vt. Within these provinces
many types of rocks are abnormally radioactive; in adjacent areas,
similar rocks are essentially nonradioactive.
The radioactive provinces are characterized by the following
relations?
1. The dominant radioactive element varies from province to
province. In the Hudson and Housatonic Highlands, the
radioactivity is caused by both thorium and uranium; the
ratio of thorium to uranium is highly variable, but in
general thorium is predominant. In the Central New Eng
land province, the radioactivity probably is caused largely
by thorium; at the Milton, Vt., area, uranium is the domi
nant radioactive element.
33
2» The range in intensity of radioactivity differs between
provinces. In the Hudson, and Housatonic Highland^ the
range of radioactivity is- from 0.001 to 0.24-0 percent
equivalent uranium* In the Central New England province^
the range is from 0.003 to 0,006 percent equivalent uran
ium,,
3« The concentration of the radioactive materials differs be
tween provinces. In the Hudson and Housatonic Highlands^
most of th- rocks contain about 0.002 percent equivalent
uranium, and only a fraction of one percent of the rocks
contains high radioactivity. In the Central New England
province^ the radioactivity of most of the rocks ranges ,from
0.003 to 0.006 percent equivalent uranium.
4« The type of rock that is most radioactive in one .province
is different from the type that is the most radioactive in
another. In the Hudson and Housatonic Highlands^ pegmatites
tend to be highly radioactive., ..In the Central New England
province^ the pegmatites tend to have about the same amount
of radioactivity as the surrounding rocks.
Table
1..
-Rad
ioac
tive
localities
north
and no
rthe
ast
of the-Bear Mo
unta
in a
rea
in t
he H
udson
and Housa&o&ie Hig
hlan
ds-
Bad
ioac
tiv
ity
(«
U J
} est
i-
&& o
at—
Loca
lity
Mate
rial
Bo ad
traverse o
n Hi
gh-
GneiiSic r
ock
ways
301
and
52
(per
cen
t)
0.0
0?
Sam
ple
anal
yse
s {per
cent)
Car
mel
j a
100-f
oot
road
cut
on H
ighw
ay
301,
^|
mil
es e
ast
of
Hig
hway
9
50
-foot
outc
rop
ab
out
3^ m
iles
wes
t o
f C
ar-
mel
al
ong
Hig
hway
301
Gne
iss
and
quar
tz v
ein
s
Quar
tz,
schis
tose
gnei
ss,
and
quar
tz
sulf
ide ro
ck
.006
eU.095
Quar
tz-f
elds
par pe
gma
ti
te in g
arne
tife
rous
qu
artz
ite
and horne-
blen
de-m
agne
tite
gne
iss.
Biotite
segr
egat
ions
in
the pe
gmat
ite
.QGL
Remarks
Average
radioactivity
c, ou
tcro
ps
and glacial
debr
is.
Nine ou
tcro
ps of g
neissic
rock
Highest
radioactivity
of r
ock
in place
Majo
r constituents a
re quartz
and pigeonite; minor
amounts
of
pyrite,
chlorite,
talc
, and very
radioactive
mona
zite
; an
d tr
ace
amounts
of g
raphite
and
gyp
,um»
Sample i
s fr
om r
oad
shoulder and
may be
from material cove?ed by
road bed
,
Average
radioactivity
of pegma
tite.
Biot
ite
segr
egat
ions
re
pres
ent
abou
t 1 percent
of the pegma
tite a
nd have
a maximum
length
of 1
in
ch.
Tabl
e 1.—(Continued)
Stat
e Lo
cali
ty
Conn
ec
ti
cut
Cor
nwal
l B
ridg
e,
nea
r C
ornw
all
Bri
dge
on
Hig
hway
4 a
fcou
t l.
S
mil
es w
est
of t
he
jun
ctio
n w
ith
U.
8.
Hig
hway
J near K
ent
on
High
way
3*H, ab
out
500
feet
wes
t of t
he
Hous
aton
ic R
iver
.
Mate
rial
Samples
from t
he nor
th
side
of r
oad wh
ere
ra
dioa
ctiv
e zo
ne d
isap
pear
s under
soil
Quar
tzit
e
Qua
rt z
-b io
tite
- fe
ldsp
ar g
nei
ss
Sou
th
side
of r
oad
Ij-f
oot
zone
of
peg
nat
ite
"bod
y in
quar
tz-f
eldsp
ar-
"bio
tite
gnei
ss
Impu
re
qu
art z
ite
Bad
i©ac
tivit
y
(eTJ
J) est
i
mat
ed a
t o
ut-
crop
(p
erce
nt)
0*00
5
Samp
le
anal
yses
(percent)
O.OOS
eU
oOOl
U
.02
.013
et
J .0
01 U
.01*
6 Th02
.018 eU
.003
u.0
52
.002
U Th02
Eadioactive
zone is
k
feet
wide
an
d parallel t
o Redding.
Amount of
rad
ioac
tivi
ty varies
irregularly wi
thin
the
gne
iss
and
quar
tzit
e layers,
and
in
some
of
the "biotite-rich
laye
rs.
\Jl
Prom
top to bottom
the
sect
ion
exposes
quar
tzit
e, muscovite/
schi
st,
and
gnei
ss.
Stringers
and
irre
gula
r ma
sses
of pe
gma
tite a
ccompany t
he g
neiss.
Two-
inch
lenses
of pegmatite
also o
ccur
alo
ng t
he c
onta
ct
between
the
quar
tzit
e an
d sc
hist
o Th
e ra
dioa
ctiv
ity
ii
conf
ined
to
small
zones
in t
he
quartzite
and
gnei
ss l
ayers.
(elf
) s Equivalent ura
nium
Table 2,
—Rad
ioac
tive
localities
in the
Central New England pro
vinc
e
Obse
rved
Mapp
ed roc
k type
Esti
mate
d perc
ent
equi
vale
nt u
ranium Lo
cati
onRe
marks
tfedi
um~
Bran
ford
gra
- 0.
004 -
0.006
grai
ned bio- nit
e gneiss
!ite g
rani
te (pee-Cambrlan)
egm
atit
ign
iss
(C
..rb
on
ifer
ou
sX?)
I/
chis
ts a
nd Scotland mus-
rani
tic
covi
te schist,
"cka
Eastford g
ranite
gnei
ss (Late or
post-Carbonifer
ous) ,!/
.005
.003—
arid Sterling g
rani
te
,003
egma
titi
c gneiss 2/
chis
t
erm
onjj
hy
llit
e
Do.
.003
mati
on (
Middle
Ordovician)
jj
Vicinity of Br
anfo
rd on
U» S
« Tw
o phases a
re p
resent *.
£/ Ih
e "L
ight
-Hi
gjhw
ay 1 a
nd Highways 142
and.
ho
use
granite" p
hase is
the
more
radi
o-14
3*
An a
rea
of ab
ottf
c '
. ac
tive
. The
"Bra
nfor
d granite" p
hase
12 s
quar
e mi
les
vas
sampled
(see
table 3
)
fcear North
CHiilford al
ong High- Pe
gmat
ite
is 1
00 f
eet
long
way
80
Abou
t 3 miles
alon
g Highv/ay 6
we
st o
f Clark
!s Co
rner
Alon
g Highway
165>
2 miles
nort
hwes
t of
Arc
adia
.
About
3 mi
les
along Hi
ghwa
s
14 and
102 in the vicinity
of Cla
yvil
le
About
5 and 8 miles
north
of
Brattleboro
on U
0 S. Hi
ghwa
y 5 near the
Connecticut River
Incl
udes
1 mil
e of S
chist
and
2 miles
of g
neiss J/
o\
The Sc
hist
ose
Bellingham c
onglomerate
is
intruded by
the St
erli
ng g
ranite i
n this
area
I/
Two
outcrops
fab
le 2
.—(C
onti
nued
)
-ose
rved
ro
ck t
ype
Map
ped
rook
ty
pe
ine-
gra
ined
Bak
er P
ond
Tay
gnei
ss
gn
eiss
, O
li-
ver
ian
um
gaiA
•e
ries
(U
pper
D
evon
ian)
jjf
/
-ight-
gra
y
Gra
nit
e (S
ilur-
di
um-
ian
-Car
bo
nif
er-
rain
ed b
io-
ous)
{&
/ u
ite
gra
- JL
te
Esti
mate
d percent
equivalent ura
nium
00003
,003-
.005
r< acia
l ?e
po
sit
Schist a
nd
phyl
lite
4,003-' -
005
Tew
Ham
pshi
re'lacia
l S
chis
t an
d"e
po
sits
phyll
ite £
/
r* caceous
late
Metamorphosed
early Paleo
zoic
se
dime
nts
.003-
.005
.003
Loca
tion
Abo
ut 6
mil
es
sout
h of
Bra
d
ford
on
U.
S0
Hig
hway
5»
Near
Lak
e, a 4 mile zo
ne
alon
g Highway
114 begin
ning 5
ml1
es so
uth
of t
he
Canadian b
order*,
Abou
t 18 mil
es b
etween I
sland
Pond
and Bloomf i
eld on Highway
105
o
Alon
g Co
nnec
ticu
t River fr
om
near Col
umbi
a so
uthw
ard ab
out
28 miles o
n U.
S«
Highway 3
to
Lan
cast
er.
Thro
ugh Dixville N
otch
for
about
one mi
le a
long High
way
26 0
Remarks
Exposed in 320
foo
t cl
iff
No r
ock
exposures*
Foot
tr
aver
ses
show
the abnormal r
adio
acti
vity
to
be s
potty*
Glacial material i
s probably derived i
n pa
rt from
the
radi
oact
ive
granite
to
the
No ro
ck e
xpos
ures
Acro
ss t
he s
trike
chis
tDo.
.003
Abou
t 5 miles
sout
hwes
t of
Pitt
sbur
gh o
n U
a S.
Hig
hway
3
ou
tcro
p
Obse
rved
rock t
ype
Mapp
ed r
ock
type
fable 2.— (Continued)
Esti
mate
d percent
' eq
uiva
lent
ura
nium
Lo
cati
on
Hew Hampshire
Crys
talline
and
metamor-
phi c rocks
Q-ra
niti
c rocks
and
schi
sts
Schist an
dgl
acia
lma
terial
Part
ridg
e gn
eiss
i Li
ttle
ton
schi
st|
OliT
eria
n monzon-
ites;
and Bi
ck-
ford,
Chatham,
and
Conw
ay g
ran
ites
Conw
ay g
rani
te,
Kins
man
quartz
monzonite, and
Littleton
schi
st§/.
a/Littleton
schist 2
/
Fine
-gra
ined C
onwa
y granite
ligh
t-bu
ff
of pos
t-Lo
wer
granit
e De
voni
an a
geKj
/
Gran
ite
Schist
0.00
3-0.
005
A radioactive
area
ext
endi
ng
southward
from West
Mila
n on
Hi
ghwa
y 110
to Berlin an
d on
Hi
ghwa
y 19
to W
est
Ossi
ppee
* This a
rea
extends
eastward t
o the Ma
ine border a
nd wes
twar
d to J
efferson o
n U.
S.
Hig
hway
2
and Pa
byan
Hou
se o
n U.
S,
Hi
ghwa
y 302.
.003
- ,005
Prom
Plymouth
*K) mi
les
north
ward
on
U. S.
Highway
3 to a
po
int
12 mil
es n
orth
of No
rth
<.QO
u stock.
,003-
*005
Prom
Ply
mout
h south
for
11
mile
s along Highway
25.
Do.
ll/
Hubbardston
gran
it
e with Brimfield
schi
st j
j/ or G
OB-
cord gra
nite
and
Li
ttle
ton
schi
st
12/
Remark
s
Intr
usiv
e rocks
are
of t
he O
live
rian
, Ne
w Ha
mpsh
ire,
an
d Wh
ite Mountain
magm
a series;
samples
were trv<-*n at
the
Conw
ay g
ranite*
(Sets
»-«* "le
J»
New Hampshire.)
The
level
*< ra
dio
ac
tivi
ty i
s essentially
the
same
fo
r nearly a
ll r
ock
types
trav
erse
d.
The
road e
ssentially f
ollo
vs the
stri
ke o
f th
e Littleton
&a.
if •_
, fo
r 22 mil
es.
The
remaining mi
le
age
is a
b'ot
ct'd
ivid
ed between t
he
granite
and monzonite.
\»
Pew
outcrops;
most
of r
adioa"-h
!"ity
is i
n gl
acia
l ma
teri
al.
,003-
000^
Abou
t 6 mi
les
along
an unn
um
bered
road bet
ween
South Wol-
feboro and Fa
rmin
g ton
.
,003~
«°°5
Betw
een
West Acton a
nd G
uil-
ford for 3
mil
es a
long
High
way
11A, be
ginn
ing
3 mi
les
west
of t
he j
unction wi
th H
ighw
ay 1
1.
.003
Berth of G
reenville
for
about
2 mi
les
alon
g Hi
ghwa
y 31
.Granit
e ou
tcro
ps w
hich
bor
der
the
schist
co
ntai
n ab
out
0.00
2 pe
rcen
t eq
uiva
lent
uranium.
(Map
ped
refer
ence
is
infe
rred
fro
m adjacent
area
s.)
Obs
erve
d ro
ck t
ype
Map
ped
rock
ty
pe
Hew
Ham
pshi
reed
itim
~gr
ain-
Hub
b ard
sto
n
ed y
ello
w
gra
nit
e J/
gra
nit
e
Coar
se-g
rain
- G
ranodio
rite
ed
whi
te
of O
liver
ian
gra
nit
e in
m
agm
a se
ries
egm
atit
e *k
es in
ra
nit
e "n
eiss
Tab
le 2
0—(C
onti
nued
)
Est
imat
ed p
erce
nt
equiv
alen
t ur
aniu
m
Loc
atio
n
Pre
-Cam
bria
n o
r ea
rly P
aleo
zo
ic s
chis
ts 6
/
.005 01
5
Abou
t 5 miles
east of Peter
borough
on Highway 1
01«
On Highway 1
0 ab
out
1 mile
Nort
h of
Kee
ne.
On Highway 1
03,
3 mi
les
nort
h of
Bra
dfor
d.
Remarks
250-
foot
ou
tcro
p,
Granite present
in peg
mati
te
and
graphic phases.
Radioactive
area i
s ab
out
200 by
75
feeto
Sample de
scri
bed
in t
able
3.
Outcrop
is 1
00 f
eet
along
road.
Pegmatite
dikes
are
several
inch
es to
about
2 fe
et in
thic
knes
s.
VD
I/
Bic
e,
We
H. ,
an
d G
rego
ry,
H0
E* ,
The
geo
logy
of
Con
nect
icut
* C
onne
ctic
ut G
eol.
and
Hat
o H
isto
ry
Sur
vey
Bul
lo
6,
pp»
Il^ll
l5f
map
s 19
060
g/
tfar
d»?o
, L
ight
hous
e gra
nit
e n
ear
New
Hav
en,
Con
nect
icut
; Am
. Jo
ur*
Sei
e ,
4th
ser
* ,
TO!O
28
, no
. pp
. 13
1-13
2,
2/
Imer
son,
B
0 K
e,
Geo
logy
of
Mas
sach
uset
ts
and
Bho
de Is
lands
U,
S*
Geo
lc
Sor
vey
Bu
lle
597,
po
22
9, pi.
10
J4/
Moo
re,
Go
S.t
Jro,
Str
uct
ure
and
met
amor
phis
m o
f th
e It
een
e-B
ratt
leb
oro
ar
ea3
New
Ham
pshi
re-?
enn
onts
So
cc
Am
eric
a B
ullo
, T
O!.
60
, no
. 10
t p«
l6
209
pi.
1
,
2/
Had
JLey
, J«
B0,
an
d C
hapm
an,
C.
A.,
The
geol
ogy
of t
he
Ht»
C
ube
and
Mas
com
a qu
adra
ngle
s^
Hew
Ham
pshi
re
Pla
n,
and
Bev
el,
Com
m. ,
28
pp
.,
Con
cord
, H
. H
. ,
1939
o
6/
Sto
se,
G.
W, ,
an
d oth
ers,
G
eolo
gic
map
of
th@
Uni
ted
Sta
tes?
U
0 S0
G
eol.
Sur
vey,
;.m
apg
112,
500,
000,
J/
Bil
lings,
M
. P
.,
Mec
hani
cs o
f ig
neou
s in
trusi
on f
or
Hew
Ham
pshi
re!
Am
. Jo
urc
S
ci.
, D
aly
vol«
2^
3-A
, p
fable 2.—(Continued)
$J Bi
llin
gs,
M, P.
, an
d Williams,
C. R. ,
Geology
of t
he Ira
ncon
ia q
uadr
angl
e,
ST.
H. s
Hew Hampshire
Plan*
and Bevel* Comm.
, 35
pp.,
Conc
ord,
N, Ho,
1935
.
2/
Moke
t C0
B.
, Geology
of t
he Plymouth
quad
rang
le,
ft.
H. 8
Hew Ha
mpsh
ire
Plan*
and Devel. Gomm,
21 p
p. ,
Concord, N. H.
,
10/
Q^tinn,
Alonz;o
s and
Stew
-rt,
Q-.
W.
, Igneous
rock
s of
the Herrymeeting Lake
area
of Hew Ha
mpsh
ire?
Am.
Mineralogist,
vol.,
26,
n:). 11
, pp.
633-6U5, 19 >H
.
ll/
Modell,
Davi
d, Ki
ng- l
ike
complex
of t
he Belknap M
ount
ains
, ft
. H.s
Q-eol» So
c» Am
eric
a Bu
ll.
, vol.
**?,
po
1908,
12/
Bill
ings
, K.
F. ,
Geol
ogy
of the
Mt.
Mona
dnoc
k quadrangle,
ft.
H. J
New
Hamp
shir
e Plan,
and
Deve
l. Co
mm.
, ma
p, Co
ncor
d,
ft.
H. ,
191*
9*
Table 3.—He sui
ts o
f ra
diom
etri
c an
d chemical a
nalyses
of s
ampl
es l
iste
d by
sta
tes
number
Loca
lity
555
§82
583
58*1
585
505
510
Along
TJ.
S. Hi
ghwa
y 1,
12
.8
mile
s we
st of j
unction
of Hig
h
way 1
and
State Highway
79
near
Bra
nf or
d
Along Hi
ghwa
y k,
1.8 mi
les
west
of j
unct
ion wi
th Hig
hway
7 ne
ar C
ornwall Br
idge
Same
locality
as 5
81
On Hig
hway
3*H,
500
ft.
west
of Housatonic
Hire
r ne
ar Ken
t
Same
loc
alit
y as 5
83
Same
loc
alit
y as
583
Hew Hampshire
2 mi
les
east
of Kearsarge
Post O
ffice, al
ong un
num
be
red
road t
o Kimbal Pon
d
Along Hi
ghwa
y 10,
1.2 mi
les
nort
h of
junction of
.High
ways 9
and
10
in Kee
ne
Gran
ite
quarry 1 mil
e no
rth
ea
st of B
edst
one
Des
crip
tion
____
Bra
nf o
rd g
ran
ite
gn
eiss
0.
005
(fri
artz
-bio
tite
-fel
dsp
ar g
neis
s .0
13
Quar
tzit
e
Quar
tzit
e w
ith
mus
covi
te
Qua
rt a
-fel
dsp
ar-b
ioti
te p
egm
atit
e
(fca
rtz-
feld
spar
-bio
tite
peg
mat
ite
Conw
ay b
ioti
te g
ran
ite
.005
Ter
y co
arse
-gra
ined
qua
rtz-
.0
05
feld
apaj
jMnu
scov
ite
gra
nit
e
Conw
ay b
ioti
te g
ranit
e .0
06
ell I/
U
rani
um
(per
cen
t)
(per
cent
Oxi
de
(per
cent)
an
d re
mar
ks
0.00
1.0
03
.001
.001
<.0
01
.001
.008
.008
.018
.001
.002
.003
.003
.020 £
h02
.02*1
lEhO
g .022 Th0
2
.052
Ih02
.036
Sh0
2
.002
•00
.0
Table 3,— (Co
ntin
ued)
Samp
le
eTJ I/
Uraniiaw
Oxid
e (p*
number
Loca
lity
Description
(per
cent
) (percent)
and
rema
rks
s*v
21$
BM
(A)-
1
BM
(A)-
2
BM
(A)-
3
BM
(A)-
i*
BM
(A)-
5
BM
(A)-
6
BM
(A)-
7
BM
(A)~
g
BM
(A)-
9
BM
(A)~
10
BM
(A)-
11
BM
(A)-
12
BM
(A)-
13
Kew
Tor
teA
long
Hi^
iway
301
* ^»
5 m
iles
ea
st
of t
he
jian
ctio
n of
Hig
h-
9 an
d 1
(Car
mel
locali
ty)
Bea
.r M
ount
ain
locali
ty A
Do.
Do,
Do.
Do.
Do.
DOo
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do,
Do.
Do.
Qua
rt z
-sulf
ide
rock
Bio
tite
gnei
ss
and
quar
t zit
e
vei
ns
Peg
mat
ite
Bio
tite
gnei
ss
Bio
tite
-ric
h p
egm
atit
e
Bio
tite
gnei
ss
and
hydr
othe
rmal
m
ater
ial
Peg
mat
ite,
ri
ch i
n q
tiar
tzit
e
do.
Bio
tite
gnei
ss
Wea
ther
ed m
ater
ial
rich
in
bio
tite
Mol
ybde
nite
-bea
ring
quar
tz
Wea
ther
ed m
ater
ial
rich
in
bio
tite
Bio
tite
gnei
ss
Peg
mat
ite
5 ri
ch i
n f
eldsp
ar
o.sij
o
.002
.01
?
.00
^
.01*
9
.06^
.056
.056
.00
^
.003
.003
.00^
.005
.008
0.0
95
lo
O^
Th0
2
.002
.007
.00
2
.03
^
• 037
.03
2
.021
0.1
2 T
h02
.ooa
.001
.00
2
.003
o002
«002
Tab
le 3
.—(C
onti
nued
)
Samp
le
number
BM(A
)-.!^
BM(A)-15
BM(A)_l6
BM(A)«17
BM(A
)-1S
BM(A
)-19
BM(A
)-20
BM(A
)-21
BM(A
)-22
BM(B
)-1
BM(B
)-2
BM(B
)-3
BM(B
)-4
BH(0
)-1
BM(C
)-2
Locality
Hew Yo
rkBear Mountain lo
cali
ty A
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Bear Mountain lo
cali
ty B
Do.
Do.
Do.
Bear Mou
ntai
n locality 0
Do.
Description
Biotite
gneiss
do.
Pegm
atit
e
Mixture
of biotite g
neis
s and
pegmatite
do..
Pegm
atit
e
do.
do.
do.
Biotite
gneiss
Pegm
atit
e
Mixture
of biotite g
neiss
and
pegm
atit
e
Biot
ite
gnei
ss
do.
do.
eU I
/ (percent )
0.004
.018
.184
.037
.0^49
.028
.047
.036
.062
.010
.009
.057
.013
.002
.009
.013
Uranium
(Per
cent
)
0.001
.004
.065
.014
.022
.009
.014
.007
.0
19
.002
.001
.005
.001
.001
.003
.004
Oxide
(percent)
and remarks
0.03
Th0
2
.i|8 Th
02
.08 Th02
.13
xute
2 sa
mple
s fr
om
this bed
0.20 T
h02
.005 T
h02
.024
Th0
2
Tab
le 3
.—(C
onti
nued
)
Sam
ple
som
ber
Loca
lity
ITew
To r
k B
M(D
)-1
Bea
r M
ount
ain
locali
ty D
BM
(D)-
2 D
o.
Hhode
Island
557
" Along Highway
165, 7-7 ^
east of t
he J
unction
of
High
ways
165 an
d 95
Vermont
506
Milt
on l
ocal
ity A
507
Do,
508
Do.
509
Do.
513
Mil
ton
locali
ty B
51^
Do.
515
Sum
mit
of
Cob
ble
Hil
l,
mil
es
sout
h of
Mil
ton
516S
1 M
ilto
n lo
cali
ty B
eU I
/ D
e scr
ipt i
on
(per
cen
t)
Bio
tite
gn
eiss
0.
006
do.
Ste
rlin
g g
ran
ite
gnei
ss
Dol
omit
e w
ith
chert
-lik
e b
recc
ia
do.
Dol
omit
e w
ith c
hert
-lik
e b
recc
ia,
light
gray
Dar
ker
gray
par
t of
sam
ple
50S
Dol
omit
e w
ith
bla
ck c
her
t-li
ke
bre
ccia
and
pho
spha
te b
loom
do.
Dol
omit
e w
ith
bla
ck b
recc
ia
.007
.003
.022
.009
.002
.005
.010
.015
.003
Ura
nium
O
xide
(p
erce
nt)
(p
erce
nt)
an
d re
mar
ks
0.00
5
.001
.019
0.
003
3&02
.0
3 7
205
7.0
Pj
gO^
.00*
* 0.
002
Th02
.0
06
.01
V20
p.3.
3^
P20q
.003
0.0
1
V2O
K 2.3
^
P20
c
.010
0.0
1
V2O
K7.
19
P2o5
.002
0.1
1
P20
c .0
3
V20
c
Dol
omit
e w
ith
bla
ck ch
art-
li
ke b
recc
ia.010
,00^
Chip sample f
rom
3 in
. layer
Tabl
e 3.—(Continued)
Samp
lenu
mber
Lo
cali
tyDescription
eU I
/ Uranium
Oxide
(per
cent
) (p
erce
nt)
(per
cent
) an
d remarks
5168
2
51683
5168
*
51685
51686
5US2
5178
3
5178
*
51785
51786
51787*
5178
P
Vermont
Milt n
locality B
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Dolo
mite
with bl
ack
cher
t-
like
"breccia do*
Dolo
mite
with
bla-
ek c
hert-like
breccia an
d inclusions of
fl*orlte
Dolo
mite
wi h
inclusions o
f bl
ack
cher
t-li
ke f
ragm
ents
and fluorite
Dolo
mite
with
inclusions of
black
cher
t-li
ke f
ragm
ents
Blac
k chert-like f
ragments
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
0.01
6
.00*
.012
.00*
.003
.001
.001
.001
.001
.oos
.012
.015
0.00
7
.002
,00*
.003
.002
.000
.000
.OCX)
.000
.003
.007
.008
Chip
sa
mple
fro
m *
in.
lr$rer u
nder
51631
Chip
sample f
rom
* in
. layer under
5168
2
Chip
sample f
rom
12 i
n. layer under
516S3
Chip sample f
rom
6 in
. layer
unde
r 51
68*
<§£
Chip
sample f
rom
* in» layer under
516S
5
Prom ova
l-sh
aped
st
ruct
ure
Do.
Do.
Do.
Eaadomly distrf
•
Do.
Do.
Tabl
e 3.—(Continued)
Sam
ple
num
ber
517S
70
517S
3W
5173
8
517S
9
5173
10
517S
11
W312
5173
13
51SA
-
51SB
51SO
51SD
51SE
519
520
521
Loca
lity
Ver
mon
tM
ilto
n lo
cali
ty B
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
*
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Mil
ton
locali
ty 1
Do.
Do.
Des
crip
tion
Bla
ck ch
ert-
lik
e fr
agae
nts
do.
da.
do.,
do.
.. ,d
p, »
<t *»*
d£v
Sand
y do
lom
ite
Dol
omit
e w
j|fe>
in e
lusi
ons
of
bla
ck
cher
t-li
^e
frag
men
ts
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
Dol
omit
e an
d bla
ck ch
ert-
like
incl
usi
on
s w
ith
phos
phat
e bl
oom
eU I
/ (p
erce
nt)
0.01
7
.010
.001
•009
.001
.OO
i
.01$
,. .
.00
1'
.001
.029
.00
1
.019
.001
-. -
-
0.01
5-
«. -
Ura
nium
(p
erce
nt)
0.01
*1
.005
.002
.005
.000
,000
.010
.00
0
.000
.01
8
.000
.01*
f
.000
.009
.007
.006
Oxi
de
(per
cen
t)
and
rem
arks
Ran
dom
ly d
istr
ibute
d
Do.
Do.
Do.
Ran
dom
ly d
istr
ibute
d
Do.
4
0.0
^ V
2°<5
s.o6
PaO
^
0.00
1 2?
h02
.01
V2O
K
1 /
Equivalent uranium (e
U)