WEST ELK WILDERNESS, COLORADO.

Mineral surveys of the West Elk Wilderness and adjacent areas were conducted and included geologic mapping, geochemical sampling, geophysical studies, and an investigation of mines and prospects. Areas with substantiated mineral-resource potential for bituminous coal with 75 million tons of demonstrated reserves and areas with probable mineral-resource potential for base and precious metals associated with igneous intrusions of Tertiary age were identified in this study. There is little promise for the discovery of oil and gas resources in the area.