Discussing occurrences of uranium in the Lewistown Quadrangle

Appendices containing data on uranium availability in the Billings Quadrangle to accompany a report on U.S. uranium resources in Montana.

The Texas Constitution of 1876 set aside three million acres of Texas public land in exchange for construction of the monumental red granite Capitol that continues to house Texas state government today. The Capitol project and the land went to an Illinois syndicate led by men influential in business and politics. Austin's statehouse is a recognizable symbol of Texas around the world. So too, the massive Panhandle tract given in exchange -- what became the "fabulous" XIT Ranch -- has come to, for many, symbolize Texas and its role in the nineteenth century cattle boom. After finding sales prospects for the land, known as the Capitol Reservation, weak at the time, backed by British capital, the Illinois group, often called the Capitol Syndicate, turned their efforts to cattle ranching to satisfy investors until demand for the land increased. The operation included a satellite ranch in Montana to which two-year-old steers from Texas were sent for fattening, often "over the trail" on a route increasingly blocked by people and settlement. Rather than a study focused on ranching operations on the ground -- the roundups, the cattle drives, the cowboys -- this instead uncovers the business and political side of the Syndicate's …

"This bulletin deals with soil and water conservation problems which relate to agriculture of the northern Great Plains [of the United States]." -- p. i. "The major portion of this bulletin, beginning on page 18, is devoted to a discussion of the controls and cures for land misuse. These suggested practices, in the main, represent the methods of control that are now being used in the several demonstration areas of the Soil Conservation Service. The use of these practices in a few specific demonstration areas is included in the section beginning on page 47. The last section (p. 76) points out a democratic procedure whereby landowners and operators may effect a more appropriate use of the land through soil conservation districts." -- p. 2

From Introduction: "Although the purpose of this paper is to describe gold dredging in Montana, a brief mention of some early appliances used in New Zealand, Australia, and California may serve as a world-connecting link in our consideration of the development of gold dredging."

The following report discusses thorium and rare earth resources in the Lemhi Pass thorium area where over 200 samples were collected.

From abstract: The objective of the work was to define areas showing surface indications of a generally higher uranium content where detailed exploration for uranium would most likely be successful.

On the night of June 8, 1917, the flame of a carbide lamp accident set fire to the uncovered and frayed insulation of an armored power cable near the 2,400-foot level of the North Butte Mining Co.'s Granite Mountain shaft. How this insulation accidentally became exposed is explained on page 15. The following pages present an attempt to draw some practical conclusions and suggestions from this disaster."

This report discusses steps that can be taken by residents of the northwestern United States to attract birds to their homes and farms. Needs for protections from natural enemies, breeding places, and food and water are each discussed

The present study sought to falsify three distinct hypotheses about how the interactions of freshet clay turbidity with Flathead Lake may be affecting its trophic state: 1) that freshet-derived turbidity causes precipitation of organic detritus from the water column by flocculation and/or coagulation of dissolved and colloidal organic carbon and seston; 2) that flocculated clay-organic detritus complexes become increasingly infested with microbial biomass as they sink through the water column; and 3) that primary productivity is reduced and subsequently maintained at low levels throughout the summer and fall because of the phosphorus stripping action of sedimenting clay particles. In addition, this study attempted to firmly document mass balances for some ecologically important elements, nutrient loading rates, steady state nutrient concentrations and annual lake primary productivity. It was also necessary to assess the trophic status of the lake in light of any new findings from this research, especially related to the ecological role of freshet turbidity.

From abstract: This report describes Cambrian through Mississippian rocks in the Powder River Basin representing five depositional sequences that reflect both the biological evolution and the tectonic development of western North America.

From purpose and scope: The purpose of this report is to describe the existing hydrologic and water-quality conditions of the shallow ground-water system above the Bearpaw Shale and to describe the surface-water resources in the Fort Union coal region of east-central Montana. The objective of this study was to provide premining data that would be useful for water-resources planning.

From Introduction: "This report covers the essential features of the asbestos industry, including occurrence, production, mining, milling, utilization, international trade, and marketing."

Quarterly publication containing articles related to the preservation of historic artifacts and sites in Texas. Feature articles discuss various aspects of Texas history and heritage, often highlighting museums and collections within the state. Also included are book reviews, current preservation news, and a listing of historical museums in Texas.

Report issued by the Bureau of Mines over western lignite. The economic use of these lignite deposits is discussed. This report includes tables, illustrations, and photographs.

A report about gold mineralization at the Golden Sunlight breccia pipe, southwestern Montana, is related to emplacement of Late Cretaceous alkali-calcic rhyolite and subsequent collapse of the Belt Supergroup wallrock and rhyolite in the pipe.

"The information given in this bulletin should enable farmers in the Great Plains and Western States to select from the more common species of grasses some one or more suited to their needs [for soil and water conservation]. Common harvesting equipment and farm machinery can be adapted to the proper handling of native grasses. This brings the cost of such work within the means of most farmers." -- p. i. Among the grasses discussed are wheatgrass, buffalo grass, bluestem, grama, Bermuda grass, wild rye, hilaria, Sudan grass, bluegrass, panic grasses, dropseed, and needlegrass.

Report issued by the U.S. Bureau of Mines discussing the Flathead Tunnel in Montana. As stated in the introduction, "this information circular is a Bureau of Mines review of tunneling practices typical of the late 1960's. The report provides reference to all pertinent data related to the geology, mining operations, and ground support practices for the Flathead Tunnel" (p. 2). This report includes maps, tables, illustrations, and photographs.

From introduction: The St. Regis-Superior area was studied during the summers of 1953 and 1954 as a part of geologic investigations by the U.S. Geologic Survey in and near the Coeur d'Alene district. The object of the present work was primarily threefold: to ascertain the main structural features in the area, with particular attention to the Osburn fault zone; to investigate the mineral deposits; and to determine the stratigraphic relations of the rocks.

"Advice about tree planting to provide a windbreak and a supply of firewood, fence posts, and wood for repairs should be especially valuable to the settler in the Plains region. This bulletin gives advice that will enable him to select the species of trees that will bring the most profitable returns without overburdening him with care. Following the description of each species of tree adapted to the region, the points to be avoided in connection with its planting are summarized in a few concise 'dont's.' Information and advice also are given regarding time for planting, methods of cultivation, pruning, etc." -- p. 2

Appendices containing supplementary analytical data of various stream, sediment, and rock samples, in addition to uranium occurrence reports and elemental concentration data to accompany a report on U.S. uranium resources in the Dubois Quadrangle, Idaho and Montana.

From Purpose and Scope: "The Dubois Quadrangle, Idaho and Montana (Fig. 1), was studied to identify geologic environments and delineate areas favorable for uranium deposits. These reports summarized field observations and contained preliminary evaluations of geologic environments for uranium deposition. The identification of environments favorable for uranium deposition involved collection and interpretation of radiometric, geochemical, and geologic data."

From abstract: A mineral resource survey was conducted in 1987 by the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Bureau of Mines to evaluate mineral resources (known) and mineral resource potential (undiscovered) of the Sleeping Giant Wilderness Study Area (MT-075-111) in Lewis and Clark County, Montana. The only economic resource in the study area is an inferred 1.35-million-ton reserve of decorative stone (slate); a small gold placer resource is subeconomic. A high resource potential for decorative slate exists directly adjacent to the area of identified slate resource and in the northeastern part of the study area. The rest of the study area has a low potential for decorative slate. The westernmost part of the study area has a moderate resource potential for copper and associated silver in strata-bound deposits in green beds and limestone; potential is low in the rest of the study area.

Appendices containing uranium occurrence data for the Kalispell Quadrangle in addition to chemical analyses data to accompany a report on U.S. uranium resources in Montana.