| Basis for focus area |
Focus area based on Tertiary conglomerate and clastic rocks from the Nevada state geologic map (Stewart and Carlson, 1978). |
| Identified resources |
Historical production of borax. |
| Production |
Colemanite (a hydrated calcium borate) was discovered in White Basin in 1920 and mined until 1924. |
| Status |
Past mining for borax (colemanite); current exploration for lithium. |
| Estimated resources |
Unknown. |
| Geologic maps |
Bohannon (1977), scale 1:25,000; Anderson (2003), scale 1:24,000; Duebendorfer (2003), scale 1:24.000. |
| Geophysical data |
Inadequate Rank 4 aeromagnetic coverage. |
| Favorable rocks and structures |
Oligocene-Miocene Horse Springs Formation, a widespread nonmarine sedimentary unit in southern Nevada and northwestern Arizona. |
| Deposits |
White Basin (MRDS dep_id: 10046984). |
| Evidence from mineral occurrences |
MRDS. |
| Geochemical evidence |
Up to 3,762 ppm lithium in calcareous playa lake samples. |
| Geophysical evidence |
Unknown. |
| Evidence from other sources |
Active exploration by Alix Resources. |
| Comments |
Colemanite occurs in bunchy layers interbedded with whitish shale or thin-bedded limestone of the Horse Spring Formation. Some parts of the formation also contain deposits of gypsum and magnesite. Colemanite forms bands or zones that are locally called "veins," although these so-called veins are actually beds because they are parallel with the enclosing strata and exhibit bedded structure (Noble, 1922). |
| Cover thickness and description |
Exposed at the surface. |
| Authors |
Jane M. Hammarstrom. |
| New data needs |
Updated geologic mapping, lidar, geochemistry, aeromagnetic and aeroradiometric surveys. |
| Geologic mapping and modeling needs |
Updated geologic mapping. |
| Geophysical survey and modeling needs |
High-resolution, Rank 1 aeromagnetic and aeroradiometric surveys. |
| Digital elevation data needs |
Lidar inadequate. |
