| Basis for focus area |
Precambrian mafic/ultramafic metasedimentary and metavolcanic belts, associated dike, sill, vein, and pegmatite complexes, and derived placers – all with similar depositional and metamorphic histories not included within other focus areas are included here; This area deposit type includes metasedimentary/metavolcanic units and associated intrusives in the southern Laramie Range and South Pass. With the exception of the somewhat better-understood South Pass greenstone belt, these metasedimentary and metavolcanic rocks have generally poorly constrained mineral potential. |
| Identified resources |
Historical production of gold and silver. |
| Production |
Unknown. |
| Status |
Past mining. |
| Estimated resources |
None. |
| Geologic maps |
Horton and others (2017), scale 1:500,000; Harris and others (1985), scale 1:500,000; Love and Christiansen (1985), scale 1:500,000; Some specific maps include: Wind Rivers/South Pass: Hausel (1991), scale 1:48,000; Scott and Sutherland (2009), scale 1:100,000; Sutherland and Hausel (2006), scale 1:100,000); Southern Laramie Range: Darton and others (1910), scale 1:125,000; Houston and Marlatt (1997), scale 1:24,000. |
| Geophysical data |
Inadequate aeromagnetic and aeroradiometric coverage. |
| Favorable rocks and structures |
Felsic intrusions, metasedimentary and metavolcanic units and associated vein/pegmatite systems. |
| Deposits |
Manganese: occurrence from St Louis mine (MRDS dep_id: 10090679); Titanium: Silver Crown district (MRDS dep_id: 60000972); Tungsten: three occurrences (MRDS dep_ids: 10090608, 10090606, 10157553) and one prospect (MRDS dep_id: 10254351) at Deer Creek district, four occurrences (MRDS dep_ids: 10303403, 10090610, 10279294, 10090609), two past producers (MRDS dep_ids: 10008890, 10230223), and three prospects (MRDS dep_ids: 10181609, 10133230, 10133422) at South Pass, and one producer from Silver Crown district (MRDS dep_id: 60000972); Zinc: one producer from Silver Crown district (MRDS dep_id: 60000972). |
| Evidence from mineral occurrences |
MRDS. |
| Geochemical evidence |
Erythrite (cobalt bloom) was discovered in the vicinity of Middle Crow Creek of the Silver Crown district. Analyses of some ore in the district also showed traces of linnaeite (CO3S4)...; From Hausel (1989): "Spectrographic analyses [of Silver Crown district's Copper King (Arizona) mine ore body] also showed traces of Pb, Zn, W, and 0.5 to 3.0% Ti (Soule, 1955)." From Sutherland and others (2018): elevated Sb concentrations (at least 5 times crustal abundance) in veins and metagraywackes at South Pass and in Black Hills Mineral Hill district. |
| Geophysical evidence |
No data. |
| Evidence from other sources |
No data. |
| Cover thickness and description |
Variable, mix of good exposure to thick surficial cover and heavily forested areas. |
| Authors |
Rachel N. Toner, Patricia M. Webber, Benjamin J. Drenth. |
| New data needs |
New Rank 1 geophysics-supported and modern geochronology-supported mapping; reconnaissance geochemistry. |
| Geologic mapping and modeling needs |
Variable, but new, modern 1:24,000 scale mapping generally needed, supported by Rank 1 geophysics and modern geochronology. |
| Geophysical survey and modeling needs |
Rank 1 aeromagnetics and aeroradiometrics. |
| Digital elevation data needs |
Lidar complete in Wyoming. |
