The uranium-vanadium deposits of the Uravan Mineral Belt and adjacent areas, Colorado and Utah
— William L. Chenoweth

The Salt Wash Member of the Morrison Formation of Jurassic age contains economic deposits of uranium and vanadium minerals in western Colorado, southeastern Utah, northeastern Arizona, and northwestern New Mexico. These deposits have accounted for nearly 13 percent of the United States' uranium production. The most productive deposits are in a relatively small area in south- western Colorado that is referred to as the Uravan mineral belt. Included with the Uravan mineral belt in this overview are the following adjacent areas: Thompson, Moab, La Sal, and Dry Valley (fig. 1).

 

This paper is intended to present a brief overview of the geologic setting of the deposits, to review the geologic investigations, and to summarize the development of the mining industry in the area.