URANIUM-VANADIUM DEPOSITS OF THE COTTONWOOD WASH MINING AREA, SAN JUAN COUNTY, UTAH

摘要

The Cottonwood Wash mining area was formerly one of the larger producers of uranium-vanadium ores from the Salt Wash member of the Morrison formation of Jurassic age in southeastern Utah. Exposed rocks range in age from the Carmel formation of Jurassic age to the Dakota group of Cretaceous age. The strata are nearly flat-lying on the east but are warped up steeply on the west in Comb Ridge monocline.nThe uranium-vanadium deposits are grouped in an area one mile square near the junction of Brushy Basin Wash with Cottonwood Wash. They range in size from a few tons to several thousand tons. The ratio of vanadium to uranium is about 10 to 1. Both oxidized and unoxidized minerals are present, the unoxidized ores being mostly below the water table.