Mineral resources of the Gold Creek and Sperry Creek Wilderness Areas, Malheur County, Oregon

Abstract

At the request of the U.S.Bureau of Land Management, the Gold Creek (OR-003-033) and Sperry Creek (OR-003035) Wilderness Study Areas, comprising approximately 15,780 and 5,600 acres, respectively, were evaluated for mineral resources and mineral resource potential. Throughout this report, "wilderness study area" and "study area" refer to the combined 21,380 acres for which mineral surveys were requested. The US. Geological Survey and the U.S. Bureau of Mines conducted geologic, geochemical, and geophysical surveys to assess the identified mineral resources (known) and mineral resource potential (unknown) of the study area. Field work for this report was carried out in 1987, 1988, and 1989. The study area contains more than 100,000 short tons (st) of diatomite, 80,000 st of building and decorative stone, and large amounts of basalt suitable for crushed aggregate or the production of basalt fiber. The study area also contains 865,000 yd) of sand and gravel resources. In addition, fanglomerate, possibly suited for sand and gravel, covers 3,100 acres. Gold, optical calcite, zeolite, and perlite have been found locally in small uneconomic amounts. A geothermal energy occurrence is present.

Mineral summaries for Oregon; U.S. Bureau of Land Management wilderness study areas

“…Evans, J.G., Frisken, J.G., Griscom, Andrew, Sawatzky, D.L., and Miller, M.S., 1990 There has been no known mineral production in or near the wilderness study area, nor are there any mining claims in or near it (July 1990).…”