From abstract: A mineral resource survey of the Ruby Mountains Wilderness Study Area (MT-076-001) was made in 1984- 85. Thirty-two million tons of subeconomic mineral resources that average 21 percent iron occur in the Kelly iron deposit and constitute an identified resource adjacent to the southeasternmost edge of the study area. Moderate and high mineral resource potential for talc deposits occur within a large body of Archean (see geologic time chart in appendix) marble in the central part of the study area (fig. 1). The study area has a low mineral resource potential for uranium and for oil and gas sources. No phosphate deposits exist in the study area.