Wyoming to begin mapping program

The Wyoming State Geological Society (WSGS) will begin mapping the geology of the Granite Mountains, where a large-tonnage, low-grade gold deposit was discovered in 1982.

The 3-year project, which will also evaluate the region’s mineral resources, is the result of a grant from the United States Geological Survey, and is part of a nationwide mapping program. In addition to gold, the Granite Mountains region, in central Wyoming, is known to contain jade, sapphires and uranium. According to the WSGS, the mountains are also prospective for kimberlite and diamonds, because they lie in a craton said to be similar to those found in the diamond producing regions of South Africa.