Highland Uranium Operation

The Highland Uranium Operation is a uranium mine located in Converse county, Wyoming at an elevation of 5,400 feet.

About the MRDS Data:

All mine locations were obtained from the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. The locations and other information in this database have not been verified for accuracy. It should be assumed that all mines are on private property.

Mine Info

Satelite View

MRDS mine locations are often very general, and in some cases are incorrect. Some mine remains have been covered or removed by modern industrial activity or by development of things like housing. The satellite view offers a quick glimpse as to whether the MRDS location corresponds to visible mine remains.

Site Name

Primary: Highland Uranium Operation
Secondary: Highland Open Pit Mine

Commodity

Primary: Uranium

Location

State: Wyoming
County: Converse
District: Highland Flats - Box Creek District

Land Status

Land ownership: Private
Note: the land ownership field only identifies whether the area the mine is in is generally on public lands like Forest Service or BLM land, or if it is in an area that is generally private property. It does not definitively identify property status, nor does it indicate claim status or whether an area is open to prospecting. Always respect private property.

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Not available

Ownership

Owner Name: CAMECO Corp.
Info Year: 2011

Owner Name: Exxon Minerals Co.
Home Office: P.O. Box 3020, Casper, Wy. 82602
Info Year: 1976

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Surface
Discovery Year: 1968
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: Y
Deposit Size: L

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Interior Plains
Physiographic Province: Great Plains Province
Physiographic Section: Missouri Plateau, Unglaciated
Physiographic Detail: Powder River Basin - Highland Flats

Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Sandstone U

Orebody

Form: TONGUE-SHAPED IN PLAN VIEW

Form: TONGUE-SHAPED IN PLAN VIEW

Structure

Type: R
Description: Asymmetrical Syncline

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Name: Sandstone
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Paleocene

Name: Sandstone
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Paleocene

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Coffinite
Ore: Uraninite
Gangue: Calcite
Gangue: Pyrite

Comments

Comment (Commodity): IN THE HIGHLAND AREA ARE SEVERAL DEPOSITS OF ABOUT 9 MILLION TONNES OF ORE GRADING 1 - 3 KG U3O8 PER TONNE.

Comment (Ownership): According to www.wise-uranium.org, this property is part of Smith Ranch-Highland property. Converse County Mining Venture, WY DEQ Permit No. 603. (formerly NRC license No. SUA-1511 and NRC Docket No. 40-8857). Facility is licensed as a staellite to the Smith Ranch Facility. Property is 100% CAMECO Corp. (74.25% through PRI, 25.75% through Geomex Minerals).

Comment (Workings): OPEN PIT AND IN SITU MINE. EXXON HAS TWO MINES AND A MILL AT HIGHLAND. MILL HAS A NOMINAL CAPACITY OF 2,700 TONS OF ORE / DAY. USES ACID LEACH AND SOLVENT EXTRACTION PROCESS. 1977-1979 EXXON LOST MONEY ON URANIUM PRODUCTION DUE TO HIGH MILLING COSTS.

Comment (Deposit): THREE SEPARATE SANDSTONES GENERALLY SEPARATED BY 3-7 METERS OF SILTSTONE AND CLAYSTONE. MINERALIZATION EXTENDS FOR SEVERAL KILOMETERS; THICKNES OF MINABLE HIGHEST GRADE ORE IS FROM 20 - 200 METERS. DEPOSITS ARE ESSENTIALLY IN RADIOACTIVE EQUILIBRIUM.

Comment (Location): IN THE NW QUARTER OF THE TOWNSHIP. Mostly in sec. 28, but EXTENDS INTO SECTIONS 20 & 29 OF T36N, R72W.

Comment (General): STATICS OFFICE USBM WASH D.C. REV BY MILS 9-79 (copied from deleted record 0560090104 = 10254587).

References

Reference (Deposit): MINOBRAS, 1976, Uranium Guidebook for Wyoming.
Pages: p. 8-12.

Reference (Deposit): www.wise-uranium.org/uousawy.html
Pages: p. 5 of 14.

Reference (Production): ANNUAL REPORT OF THE STATE INSPECTOR OF MINES FOR THE YEAR ENDING 12/31/80.

Reference (Deposit): GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF WYOMING, MINES AND MINERALS MAP, 1979.

Reference (Deposit): WYOMING GEOL. ASSOC. 1976 GUIDEBOOK, PP. 243 - 252.

Reference (Deposit): ANNUAL REPORT OF THE STATE INSPECTOR OF MINES FOR THE YEAR ENDING 12/31/80.

Reference (Deposit): ANNUAL REPORT OF THE STATE INSPECTOR OF MINES OF WYO. 1978. (copied from deleted record 10254587)

Reference (Deposit): MINOBRAS, 1976, Uranium Guidebook for Wyoming, 63 p. and appendix.
Pages: p. 8-12.

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