URANIUM-VANADIUM DEPOSITS OF THE SLICK ROCK DISTRICT, COLORADO

By Daniel R. Shawe

2011

Professional Paper 576-F

ABSTRACT

The area of the Slick Rock district saw the first production of uranium on the Colorado Plateau.
Four periods of mining followed, initially for uranium from about 1900 to 1910, then for radium
to about 1923.  Following a decade of inactivity, mining resumed, this time for recovery of
vanadium, in the early 1930s until 1944.  Mining began again in 1949 for major production of
uranium, with vanadium as a byproduct.  This period lasted until 1983, ending when the price
of uranium went into serious decline.  Presently (2008) renewed interest in demand for uranium
is pointing toward additional mining in the district.

Recent (2006–2008) revival of interest in uranium resources in the United States, spurred by a 
national effort to increase the use of nuclear power for the generation of electrical energy, 
has been the impetus for completion of this report on the uranium-vanadium deposits of the 
Slick Rock district.  A large body of observations and data has led to several critical concepts
that provide a rational interpretation of origin and formation (genesis) of the deposits.  
The report presents these observations, data, concepts, and interpretation.

This report on uranium-vanadium ore deposits is the sixth and final in a series describing geologic
 investigations during 1953–58 in the Slick Rock mining district in southwestern Colorado.  
The first five reports dealt with stratigraphy of the district and vicinity, petrography of the 
sedimentary rocks, structure, sedimentary rock alteration, and geologic history.  Other published 
reports growing out of these studies described the geologic setting as well as some details of the 
uranium-vanadium ores.  More recent studies have clarified aspects of origin and formation of the deposits.

The report consists of a summary of the principal elements of the geology of the district and surrounding 
areas, as presented in the early reports just referred to, which constitutes the framework for interpretation 
of the processes of origin and formation of the uranium-vanadium deposits.  The data in these reports are 
extensively supplemented here with details of the forms, textures, and compositions of the ore deposits.  
Much of that data was obtained during the original project studies, but it is supplemented with more 
recent unpublished data from other studies.  

DISCLAIMERS

Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the U.S. Geological Survey, 
no warranty, expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data on any other system, 
or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute such warranty.  
The U.S.Geological Survey shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described 
and/or contained herein.

Any use of trade, product or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by 
the U.S. Geological Survey.

Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also contains copyrighted 
material as noted in the text.  Permission to reproduce copyrighted items for other than personal use must 
be secured from the copyright owner.

CONTENTS

00Readme.txt
P576_F_Pamphlet.pdf
Plate_01.pdf
Plate_02.pdf
Plate_03.pdf
Plate_04.pdf
Plate_05.pdf
Plate_06.pdf
Plate_07.pdf
Plate_08.pdf
Plate_09.pdf
Plate_10.pdf
Plate_11.pdf
Plate_12.pdf
Plate_13.pdf
Plate_14.pdf
Plate_15.pdf
Plate_16.pdf
Plate_17.pdf
Plate_18.pdf
Plate_19.pdf
Plate_20.pdf