USGS on Uranium in Texas - 1970

Uranium (Nuclear Minerals) / Exploration, Mining, Marketing, & Acquisitions

Eargle, of the USGS, reported in 1970 that producers of fossil fuels in the United States have been charged with the responsibility of providing the Nation with energy materials, the demand for which is constantly increasing and the sources for which are nonrenewable. Lately, however, the development of nuclear reactors that use fissionable uranium for the generation of electric power has made uranium competitive in several respects with fossil fuels.

                                                                           Map showing the Karnes and Live Oak uranium districts

Consequently, petroleum and uranium-mining companies have in some instances joined forces in exploration for uranium and in the development and mining of uranium deposits. In other instances they are competing. A familiar pattern has been the organization of branches for exploration for uranium or other minerals within the structure of the petroleum company. Today, therefore, some companies are in both the mining and the petroleum business and are meeting with varied success.

Texas, at first considered a petroleum State almost exclusively, came into the uranium picture rather late, but now ranks high among other States in the Nation in its uranium potential. In spite of the great activity carried on in the Coastal Plain in recent years in land acquisition and in exploration, much of the State remains relatively poorly explored, and the State's potential for uranium production only can be guessed.

Let us look at the five geographic areas of Texas where at least some uranium has been found (Butler, Finch, and Twenhofel, 1962), summarize the nature of the uranium mineralization in the areas, and consider briefly their potential for uranium production:

1.The Trans-Pecos
2.The Panhandle
3.The Red River region
4.The Llano uplift
5.The South Texas Coastal Plain

Also, see references for follow-up.