Marysvale Project

Uranium was first discovered in the Marysvale area in 1949. From 1949 through 1966 the district recorded 1.4 million lbs. of U3O8 production, nearly all of which is from an area termed the Central Mining Area, situated within one mile west of the Marysvale Uranium Property. The average grade of the uranium ore was 0.22% U3O8 (4.4 lbs/ton).

In the early 1950’s three claims were staked by a prospector immediately east of the mines in an area which is currently part of Trigon’s property. Several adits were driven on near-surface uranium mineralization on these claims in the 1950’s and early 1960’s, but production records are unavailable. There are also remnants of a number of other pits, trenches and shallow shafts on the property from which production of reportedly high-grade pockets of surface secondary ore was obtained. The property was first drilled in 1977 by Minerals Exploration Company (“Minex”), a subsidiary of Union Oil Company. At least 24 holes were drilled some being core holes. Phillips Uranium Company acquired the property from Minex later in 1977.

From 1978 through 1981, Phillips drilled 169 holes totaling 114,983 feet. Most of the Phillips holes were vertical rotary or hammer drilled holes, with 5,141 feet of core included in the total footage. Gamma logs from the drilling were prepared by Century Geophysical and Trigon has gained access to the logs for 161 of the 169 holes. Nearly all of these drill holes intersected uranium mineralization.

Marysvale Property
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Phillips terminated their drilling program in April 1981 and abandoned the project in 1982 due to the severe decline in uranium prices. Overall, Phillips spent approximately $1.5 million on the Marysvale project.

A report by Paul Dean Proctor, PhD., a professor of geology at Brigham Young University, in Provo, Utah, and an independent consultant, was prepared based on the Phillips and Minex drilling.

In his report Proctor states, “Blanket type supergene uranium ore reserves totaling at least 1.8 million lbs. U3O8 (.75 million tons of .075% U3O8 and 3.0 million tons of .03% U3O8) occur at the Marysvale project within 300-500 feet of the surface. Additional potential U3O8 ore exists on the Marysvale property which could double or triple the reserves of the district.”

Proctor characterizes the uranium mineralization as being derived from remobilization of primary deposits that formed where hydrothermal fluids rose along near-vertical faults. Recommendations were made for follow up drilling, but were never carried out.

In 2005, activity in the district resumed with the resurgence of uranium prices. Garfield Resources I LLC staked 100 mining claims in the area over the 3 historic prospector claims in March 2006 and acquired a mining lease on Utah State Section 2, T27S R3W. The Trigon property now consists of these claims plus an additional 113 claims staked by Trigon, effectively consolidating the eastern part of the district.

Gamma log for Phillips drill hole 26-3-30-4, showing several uranium intersections.
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