Arizona uranium exploration - more targets, shift to state lands

The rising price of uranium in response to growing global, especially Chinese, demand is drawing more attention to Arizona resources.

We've been hearing anecdotal reports that new geophysical techniques in northern Arizona are identifying hundreds and possibly thousands of potential breccia pipes. An announcement this week from Energy Fuels and Royal Resources Ltd reports on some of the drilling results into a couple of these anomalies. They used a helicopter-borne Time Domain Electromagnetic Geophysical Survey with a VTEM-M system along with 3-D seismic data. While they did not hit uranium mineralization they did confirm the discovery of breccia pipes using these technologies. [right, USGS SIR 5025 Plate 1, showing breccia pipes and related features in northern Arizona]

In another interesting development, I see that VANE Minerals is focusing their exploration efforts on state lands rather than federal. This seems pretty clearly the result of the withdrawal of nearly a million acres of federal land to mineral exploration last year and fears among companies that investments on any federal lands will be at risk.

VANE's CEO Steve Van Nort is quoted saying, "'Since moving our emphasis to the 'state lands', operations are running more smoothly and the state has proven to be supportive of exploration."

Four Corners power plant deal looking good

The proposal by Arizona Public Service to buy out and shut down the higher polluting units 1, 2, and 3 of the Four Corners coal-fired power plant and upgrade units 4 and 5 is getting good reviews from New Mexico regulators and support from environmentalists, even the latter say they still want to shut down all coal-fired electric generation.

Kartchner Caverns "Cave Fest 2010" this weekend

The Kartchner Caverns "Cave Fest 2010" is this weekend with a couple dozen talks on talks ranging from geohydrology of the cave to white-nosed sydrome and bat conservation and fungi in cave ecosystems.

All events are free to the public with payment of the standard $6 per car park entry fee or with a tour reservation. There hasn't been enough public word about this event, so spread the word to your friends and family.

Cave Fest is part of the park’s and agency’s mission for continuing scientific exploration and discovery, science-informed management of park operations and resources, cave conservation and promotion of public education and scientific literacy.

Talks are offered at half hour intervals beginning at 9:00 am and wrapping up at 4 pm Saturday, resuming at 8:45 AM Sunday and ending at 4:40 PM.

Record price for copper

Financial Times report that copper hit a record high today of $8966 per tonne on the London Metal Exchange, driven by renewed buying by China and a strike at the worlds largest copper mine. The price is up almost 50% since June and the Financial Times says it could rise another 25% next year. They report that China, which uses 40% of world output, is on a stable growth curve that will require more of the metal. [photo credit, Jonathan Zander]

The Wall Street Journal attributes part of the price rise to a strike at the Chilean copper mine Dona Ines de Collahuasi, which produces 35% of the worlds copper.

In New York, the December contract for copper closed at $4.0835 per pound.

[Thanks to Barb Murphy for alerting me to today's news]

China nuclear plans pushing uranium prices

"China has increased its target for nuclear power for 2020 to 112 GW (from 70 GW), well above our previous estimate of 86 GW," according to a report on Mineweb.com, and that is changing the global market for uranium. The spot price for U3O8 hit $58.50 this week, the highest in over 2 years. Forecasts through 2018 are for prices in the $75-80 range.

Arizona has some of the richest uranium deposits in the world, concentrated in breccia pipes in the Arizona Strip and adjacent areas in the northern part of the state. About 1 million acres of federal lands are currently closed to exploration and development pending the outcome of an environmental impact statement that is in preparation.

Exploration companies report finding hundreds of new geophysical anomalies in the region that could be previously unknown breccia pipes, although it's undetermined how many of them could be mineralized with uranium.

First U.S. water census since 1978 will be Colorado River basin

With the Colorado River basin the focus of attention due to drought, overallocation, and impacts of climate change, it makes sense that the first water census in the U.S. since 1978 will be here. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced the project at a meeting in Phoenix of water managers from the seven Colorado River states. The press release said "The study is part of the WaterSMART Water Availability and Use Assessment for the Colorado River Basin. It is planned as a three-year, $1.5 million effort that will provide an inventory of water supply and demand, including water needed to support ecosystems, and report on significant competition over water resources and the factors causing that competition. (The “SMART” in WaterSMART stands for “Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow.”)"


The Secretary also used the occasion to announce that the Department of the Interior chose the University of Arizona as home base for a regional Climate Science Center.

“The consortium headed by the University of Arizona brings a wide range of scientific and impact assessment capabilities to the Southwest Climate Center because it includes institutions located in and familiar with the incredible diversity of ecosystems and human settlements and activities that characterize the U.S. Southwest,” the Secretary noted. The consortium is well versed in issues such as coastal management, drought and its impacts on people and the environment, water management in the Colorado and other Southwest rivers, and the impacts of exploding populations of bark beetles on western forests.

Recent developments on Rosemont Copper mine

The Marana Town Council recently dropped its opposition to the Rosemont Copper mine south of Tucson, saying it had acted in haste without enough information previously. Mayor Ed Honea said the council might decide to formally endorse the project in the future. [right, view of Santa Rita towards proposed mine site. Credit, Rosemont Copper]

Meanwhile, given that the Democrats loss of the U.S. House probably means that Rep. Raul Grijalva's proposed legislation to ban mining (and inexplicably geothermal energy as well) on federal lands in Pima and Santa Cruz counties is not going anywhere when Congress reconvenes. Both Mr. Grijalva and Rep. Gabby Giffords, opponents of the Rosemont mine, were re-elected, defeating opponents who favored it.

Rosemont released a poll last month that showed strong public support for the mine among residents of Pima, Santa Cruz, and Cochise counties, that increased when the economic benefits of the mine were presented.

Help us identify these features in the Navajo Sandstone

Readers, we need your help. Some time ago, we received these photos of unusual features in what appears to be the Betatakin section of the Navajo Sandstone, asking if we could identify their origin.

The features are not on bedding planes. One suggestion is that they could be skolithus-like burrows that created bioturbation. Another proposal is that they are the result of some early but undefined diagenesis of the rocks.

Does anyone have an explanation for these features?

World copper demand pushes Freeport cash flow to $6B

Copper dropped back below $4 a pound this week on currency concerns, but overall the trend seems to be up for the global commodity. Phoenix-based Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold stock hit its highest price in over two years based on copper prices and the company's forecast of
free cash flow this year of over $6 billion, ahead of analysts predictions of $5B+.

The world demand for copper is reaching across Arizona with mines starting up again (e.g., Miama) and the addition of new workers at the Morenci mine.

Arizona mining in the new Congress

There's an interesting political analysis in the Arizona Republic about the changes in Congress and the resulting impacts on mining in Arizona.

Rep. Jeff Flake says that Rep. Raul Grijalva losing his chairmanship of the House Public Lands Subcommittee with the switch in party control, will result in him not being able to continue to hold up the land exchange needed for the Resolution Copper mine near Superior to go forward. [right, Apache Leap area, which is part of the land exchange legislation in Congress. Credit, Resolution Copper]. Interestingly, the land exchange was introduced in the House last session by Democrat Anne Kirkpatrick who represents the Superior area and who was defeated last week in her bid for re-election.

Wayne Ranney's "Sedona Through Time" honored

Congrats to Flagstaff geologist and author Wayne Ranney for receiving the "Outstanding Publication" award from the Association of Earth Science Editors for his book "Sedona Through Time."

It's a great book and nice to see Wayne get the well-deserved recognition.

Four Corners deal would keep power plant open, cut emissions

Arizona Public Service announced a deal today for them to buy out the SoCal Edison share of the Four Corners coal-fired power plant near Farmington, shut down the older, less efficient units 1, 2, and 3, add more emissions control to remaining 4 & 5 units, and redirect the power from new units 4 and 5 to meet local needs instead of going to California according to news reports.

The deal needs Az Corporation Commission approval but on the surface it seems like something that appeals to everyone. The plant continues to meet the regions energy needs, hundreds of jobs and significant revenue continue for the Navajo Nation, emissions are drastically reduced.

The big question may be whether critics will accept continued operation of units 4 & 5 rather than shutting down the entire plant as some have called for. [photo credit, SRP]

Lake Mead's lowest level; more drought forecast

Lake Mead hit its all time lowest water level since the dam was built, generating a lot of angst and prophesizing.

Scientific American posted a follow on story about long term drought forecasts in the Southwest U.S. and other areas. They argue that "a new analysis using a standard drought index augurs that by the end of the century devastating drought conditions will take hold over much of the populated areas of the world."

Whether this is from anthropogenic climate change or natural variabilities is still under study. [right, Lake Mead. Credit, National Park Service]

The authors of the study posit that human influence on the climate is still small relative to the natural changes over the past 50 years, although they note that human induced changes are expected to become much more significant.

M3.1 quake this afternoon west of Fredonia

A magnitude 3.1 earthquake occurred at 1:39 pm local time today about 20 miles west of Fredonia, Arizona and just east of Colorado City.

The area has a history of small quakes in this part of the Intermountain Seismic Belt.

And last week's episode of the CBS tv show Medium has the psychic star foreseeing an earthquake hitting Arizona at 9:18 am. Must be another quake.

Base flow in the San Pedro River

A new report from the USGS finds that regional groundwater contributes about 3/4 of the base flow of the San Pedro River near Tombstone, with 1/4 coming from "summer storm runoff stored as alluvial groundwater for the 2000 to 2009 period."

The authors conclude that "Continued regional groundwater pumping will, however, eventually lead to a decline in the contribution of regional groundwater to base flow."

Ref: Kennedy, J.R., and Gungle, Bruce, 2010, Quantity and sources of base flow in the San Pedro River near Tombstone, Arizona: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2010-5200, 43 p.

Holocene maps released of Verde River tributaries

The Arizona Dept. of Water Resources has released detailed geologic maps of Holocene units along tributaries of the Verde River drainage that were done by AZGS. The maps are located at http://www.azwater.gov/AzDWR/SurfaceWater/Adjudications/

They are situated at the bottom of the page and referred to as Phase II Summary Report.

The mapping was led by AZGS geologist Joe Cook under contract to ADWR for anticipated use in groundwater - surface water adjudication hearings. The geologic maps along the main Verde River were previously released by ADWR and AZGS.

ASU's Earth & Space Exploration Day underway

Working my way through hundreds of emails that piled up while I was traveling the past two weeks, I see it's a bit late to share the news that ASU's School of Earth & Space Exploration is holding an open house "Earth & Space Exploration Day" in the Bateman Physical Sciences Bldg on the Tempe campus. It runs until 3pm, so there's time to head over and see the exhibits and let the kids join in the special events for them.

Look for:
Dr. Rock (Bring a rock from home and have it analyzed)
Search for Near Earth Objects
Under Arizona KAET TV Program
Meteorite display and activities
GeoWall
Earthquake activities
Dr. Water
Make Salt-and-Pepper Rock
Examine rocks through microscopes
High Pressure Water actvity
Dyanmic Earth display
Storm Chasers
Volcano activity
Pan for Gold
Ecology Explorers
Mud Wrestling
Meet Lucy
Underwater Robotics
Balloon Aerial Photography system
'A Mountain' Fieldtrip

NGDS as the "killer app"

The National Geothermal Data System was described as the "killer app" (i.e., application) for the concept of distributed Web services and the Geoscience Information Network (GIN). Matt Harris with the British Geological Survey, offered that interpretation to the participants at the OneGeology-Europe final review in Paris last week, and it was one of those eureka moments. Those of us working to implement GIN as the data integration framework for NGDS are so buried in the project that we may have missed the obvious.

GIN is a 3-year old collaboration between the State Geologists (via AASG) and the USGS to build a national distributed geoscience data network. It was adopted by the U.S. Dept. of Energy Geothermal Technologies Program last year for the NGDS with AZGS as the prime contractor to deploy the network nationwide among state surveys and populate it with vast amounts of digital data relevant to geothermal energy exploration and development.

The OneGeology-Europe project paid my way to Paris to present an external view in the wrap-up of their two-year project to build a continent-wide data network among 20 nations. In my formal remarks, I applauded the OneGeology project as the continents flagship effort that proved the technology and architectural approach that we are now emulating in the U.S. They have 40 Web services working in 17 languages and are harmonizing geological maps across the borders of Europe. AZGS has been working closely with OneGeology through our geoinformatics chief, Steve Richard, to develop joint vocabularies and specifications so the two continent-wide data systems will be compatible and integrated.

From Paris, it was off to Denver for the annual Geological Society of America meeting and an open forum on the emerging National Geoinformatics Community. Dr. Richard Hughes, Director of Information and Knowledge Exchange of the BGS, who was also with us in Paris, reaffirmed the 'killer app' title and declared that the GIN-NGDS project was the most significant project in North America.

A busy GSA meeting

It's been a busy week for AZGS at the Geological Society of America annual meeting in Denver that wrapped up today. We just finished packing up our new multi-screen digital display at the State Geologists exhibit booth for shipment home.

We were running live demos, bringing in maps and data via web services from distributed data providers all over the country as part of our DOE-funded Geothermal Data project in the National Geothermal Data System.

We appear to be pushing the commercial software to its limits but are working with company technical staff.

AZGS scientist honored at GSA

Erica Bigio, part-time scientist at AZGS who is also working on her graduate degree at the University of Arizona, received two awards at the Geological Society of America annual meeting in Denver tonight. The Quaternary Geology & Geomorphology Division gave her the Robert K. Fahnestock Memorial Award as well as the Marie Morisawa Research Award Honorable Mention.

The Robert K. Fahnestock Memorial Award is made annually to the applicant for graduate student research grants with the best application in the field of sediment transport or related aspects of fluvial geomorphology.

The Marie Morisawa Award for $1000 was established in 2006 to honor Dr. Marie Morisawa, one of the first women to maintain a high profile in Quaternary geology and geomorphology throughout her career. The purpose of the award is to support promising female M.S. and Ph.D. graduate students pursuing a career in geomorphology.