Mineral resources of the Spring Basin Wilderness Study Area, Wheeler County, Oregon

Abstract

At the request of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, approximately 5,982 acres of the Spring Basin (OR-005-009) Wilderness Study Area in north-central Oregon were evaluated for mineral resources (known) and mineral resource potential (undiscovered). In this report, "wilderness study area" and "study area" refer to the 5,982 acres for which mineral surveys were requested. Fieldwork for this report was carried out in 1987. No identified mineral resources are known to exist within the study area. No mines or mining districts are located inside the study area; however, a part of the area is under lease for oil and gas exploration.An area in the easternmost part of the study area has low mineral resource potential for silver, gold, and mercury. A small area in the central part of the study area has low mineral resource potential for mercury. The study area has a low resource potential for oil and gas and no resource potential for uranium or for geothermal energy.