Interriver Mining District, San Juan County, Utah, USAi

Regional Level Types
Interriver Mining District	Mining District
San Juan County	County
Utah	State
USA	Country

The Inter-River district is a part of the Green River U mining area located about 10 mi west of Moab just above the confluence of, and between the Green and Colorado Rivers on the Grand and San Juan County line. The Inter-River area is quite rugged with difficult access and the district has been a small U producer, with no large mines. Total district metal production at modern metal prices is estimated at $397,000.
The Inter-River district is situated in the Paradox Basin section of the Colorado Plateau. Nearly all mineralization is in flat- lying, stratabound deposits hosted in the lower Moss Back Member of the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation (USGS Model 30c). Mineralization occurs in conglomeratic sandstone channels cut into the underlying Moenkopi Formation. Bleaching of both the Moss Back and Moenkopi occur near ore. Some of the Inter-River ore is associated with carbonaceous trash in the sandstone. Primary ore/sulfide minerals include uraninite, chalcopyrite, bornite, chalcocite, covellite, pyrite, galena, sphalerite, and barite. The lack of a V by-product and the deleterious metallurgy resulting from the high Cu content were both detrimental to the Inter-River district’s production. Ilsemannite and erythrite have both been reported locally, suggesting at least geochemically anomalous Mo and Co associated with the ore. Ore grades are approximately 0.2% U3O8 and 0.02% V2O5 (Doelling, 1969, 1974).
The area of the Inter-River district includes portions of Dead Horse Point State Park and Canyonlands National Park.