Mineral resources of the Honeycombs Wilderness Study Area, Malheur County, Oregon

Abstract

The Honeycombs Wilderness Study Area (OR003-77A) encompasses approximately 39,000 acres adjacent to Owyhee Reservoir in eastern Oregon. Field work was conducted by U.S. Geological Survey during 1983 and 1984, and by U.S. Bureau of Mines during 1984, to evaluate mineral resources and mineral resource potential of study At request of Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Bureau of Mines conducted field studies of 36,284 acres, of 39,000 acre Honeycombs Wilderness Study Area. No mineral resources were identified in study However, study indicates moderate potential for uranium, thorium, and lithium resources in sedimentary and volcanic rocks, moderate potential for arsenic, lead, mercury, molybdenum, and zinc resources in caldera moat-fill sedimentary rocks and quartz veins, and moderate potential for arsenic and mercury resources in hydrothermal vein systems. The study area has moderate potential for zeolite resources in air-fall tuff beds and tuffaceous sedimentary rocks, moderate potential for geothermal resources, and low potential for zinc resources in volcanic rocks. The study area has low potential for fluorite resources in lacustrine deposits, low potential for tin and copper resources in hydrothermal vein systems, and low potential for petroleum and natural gas resources in sedimentary rocks. The eastern part of study area has identified resources of picture jasper. In this report, area studied is referred to as wilderness study area, or simply the study area. Character and Setting The study area is located in northern Basin and Range physiographic province approximately 50 mi west of Boise, Idaho, and 40 mi north of Jordan Valley, Oregon (fig. 1). Topography and drainage are dominated by north-trending ridges and valleys, deeply eroded east-trending canyons, and north-trending Owyhee River canyon (Owyhee Reservoir). These features generally reflect local fault patterns. The northern topographic margin of Mahogany Mountain caldera extends east-west across southern third of study area (fig. 2). The caldera