Phase I: Geology, Energy, and Mineral (GEM) Resource Evaluation of Twin Buttes GRA, Idaho Including the Shale Butte, Sand Butte, Raven's Eye, Little Dear, and Bear Den Butte, Wilderness Study Areas
Fredericksen RS and Fernette G. 1983. Phase I: Geology, Energy, and Mineral (GEM) Resource Evaluation of Twin Buttes GRA, Idaho Including the Shale Butte, Sand Butte, Raven's Eye, Little Dear, and Bear Den Butte, Wilderness Study Areas. contract no YA-553-CT2-1039. Bureau of Land Management
Describes the geology, energy and mineral resource potentials of the areas listed in the title. Geographic location: Wilderness study areas on Bureau of Land Management land adjacent, west, and S. of CRMO (Craters of the Moon National Monument). The Twin Buttes Geology, Energy, and Mineral Resource Area (GRA) is situated on the Snake River Plain in south-central Idaho north of Twin Falls and southwest of Craters of the Moon National Monument. Bedrock in the Twin Buttes GRA consists of Pliestocene to Holocene basalt flows and vent sites. The five Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs) in the GRA cover areas underlain by the youngest basalts. The source area for many of the Holocene basalt flows is the Great Rift within the Craters of the Moon National Monument. A very modest amount of geologic data is available for the area. There is no geochemical data available and little information on energy resources. The overall geologic setting is not very favorable for accumulation of metallic or non-metallic minerals. Hydrocarbon and low/intermediate geothermal favorability is rated as low. More potential may exist for high temperature geothermal resources, but the data base on which to base an evaluation is inadequate. The resource with the greatest favorability consists of cinders and decorative lava rock. The classification of potential resources in the Twin Buttes GRA is shown in the accompanying table.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Fredericksen, R; Fernette, G
- Date of Issue
- 1983-07
- Publisher
- Bureau of Land Management
- Units
- CRMO
- Keywords
- Energy Resources, Gem Resources, Minerals, Physical Sciences