Summary
The U.S. Department of the Interior has proposed to withdraw approximately 10 million acres of Federal lands from mineral entry (subject to valid existing rights) from 12 million acres of lands defined as Sagebrush Focal Areas (SFAs) in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming (for further discussion on the lands involved see Scientific Investigations Report 2016–5089–A). The purpose of the proposed action is to protect the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) and its habitat from potential adverse effects of locatable mineral exploration and mining. The U.S. Geological Survey Sagebrush Mineral-Resource Assessment (SaMiRA) project was initiated in November 2015 and supported by the Bureau of Land Management to (1) assess locatable mineral-resource potential and (2) to describe leasable and salable mineral resources for the seven SFAs and Nevada additions.
This chapter summarizes the current status of locatable, leasable, and salable mineral commodities and assesses the potential of locatable minerals in the North-Central Montana SFA. The proposed withdrawal area that is evaluated in this report is located in north-central Montana, and includes parts of Fergus, Petroleum, Phillips, and Valley Counties.
Citation Information
| Publication Year | 2016 |
|---|---|
| Title | Geology and mineral resources of the North-Central Montana Sagebrush Focal Area: Chapter D in Mineral resources of the Sagebrush Focal Areas of Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming |
| DOI | 10.3133/sir20165089D |
| Authors | Jeffrey L. Mauk, Michael L. Zientek, B. Carter Hearn, Heather L. Parks, M. Christopher Jenkins, Eric D. Anderson, Mary Ellen Benson, Donald I. Bleiwas, Jacob DeAngelo, Paul Denning, Connie L. Dicken, Ronald M. Drake, Gregory L. Fernette, Helen W. Folger, Stuart A. Giles, Jonathan M. G. Glen, Matthew Granitto, Jon E. Haacke, John D. Horton, Karen D. Kelley, Joyce A. Ober, Barnaby W. Rockwell, Carma A. San Juan, Elizabeth S. Sangine, Peter N. Schweitzer, Brian N. Shaffer, Steven M. Smith, Colin F. Williams, Douglas B. Yager |
| Publication Type | Report |
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Series Title | Scientific Investigations Report |
| Series Number | 2016-5089 |
| Index ID | sir20165089D |
| Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
| USGS Organization | Eastern Mineral and Environmental Resources Science Center; Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center |
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Jeffrey L Mauk
Research Geologist
Michael L. Zientek, Ph.D
Research Geologist
Heather L. Parks
Eric D. Anderson, Ph.D.
Supervisory Research Geophysicist
Mary Ellen Benson
Scientist Emeritus
Matthew Granitto
Physical Scientist
John D Horton
Physical Scientist
Carma A San Juan
Physical Scientist
Brian N Shaffer, PG
Project Chief/Geologist Supervisor
Steven M Smith
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Jeffrey L Mauk
Research GeologistEmailPhoneMichael L. Zientek, Ph.D
Research GeologistEmailPhoneHeather L. Parks
EmailPhoneEric D. Anderson, Ph.D.
Supervisory Research GeophysicistEmailPhoneMary Ellen Benson
Scientist EmeritusEmailPhoneMatthew Granitto
Physical ScientistEmailPhoneJohn D Horton
Physical ScientistEmailPhoneCarma A San Juan
Physical ScientistEmailPhoneBrian N Shaffer, PG
Project Chief/Geologist SupervisorEmailPhoneSteven M Smith
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