Although uranium gas first discovered in the Carrizo Mountains area in 1918, the ores were not developed until 1942. They have, however, been mined continuously since that time. Formations in the area range from the Pernian Cutler through the Cretaceous Mancos shale, and all are intruded by a dioritic laccolith and its related dikes. The older structures, which include the Defiance Uplift, the San Juan Basin, and the Four Corners Platform are somewhat disrupted by the effects of the intrusion. A number of mines are described and mineralogical and geochemical studies made are outlined. The primary uranium mineral is unknown, but the chief uranium ore-mineral is the secondary mineral, tyuyamunite. It is concluded that there is at least minor structural control of the ore bodies along sedimentary trends and joints, and that all ore bodies of 500 tons or more are on the Defiance monocline or its extensions. The uranium may have been syngenetic in the sediments, and redistributed by solutions or, more likely, that it rose vertically in hydrothermal solutions from the local intrusive bodies.

From Purpose, Scope, and Methods: The objective of this study was an evaluation of resources of the Carrizo Mountains area. Four factors: distribution of ore bodies, relation of uranium to the host rock, relation of ore to structure, and circumstances that might precipitate uranium were studied in search of data bearing on manner of distribution of ore, the time and causes of deposition, and the probable source of the uranium-bearing solutions.

Photograph used for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. Caption: "A key item in the Shiprock uranium processing plant is this huge rod mill which crushes the raw ore into a fine grey powder for treatment with acid."

Photograph used for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. Caption: "This is what the Shiprock mill does: It takes ore equivalent to that in this pile to produce one 250-pound drum of uranium oxide such as Ed Ritchey displays. The ore pile would weigh out about 50 tons."

Photograph used for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. Caption: "After the acid treatment, sand is cleared from the uranium salts solution in a series of spiral classifiers."

Photograph used for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. Caption: "One of the few pieces of mechanized mine equipment, a compressed air loader, is used by a Navajo to load the precious uranium ore into an ore car."

Caption: "Kerr- McGee Oil Industries Concentrator Mill, Shiprock, N.M."

Caption: "Kerr- McGee Oil Industries Concentrator Mill, Shiprock, N.M."

Photograph used for a newspaper owned by the Oklahoma Publishing Company. Caption: "Kerr-McGee Oil Industries Concentrator Mill, Shiprock, N.M."

Photograph used for a newspaper owned by the Oklahoma Publishing Company. Caption: "Kerr-McGee Oil Industries Concentrator Mill, Shiprock, N.M."

Photograph used for a newspaper owned by the Oklahoma Publishing Company. Caption: "Kerr-McGee Oil Industries Concentrator Mill, Shiprock, N.M."

Photograph used for a newspaper owned by the Oklahoma Publishing Company. Caption: "Kerr-McGee Oil Industries Concentrator Mill, Shiprock, N.M."

Photograph used for a newspaper owned by the Oklahoma Publishing Company. Caption: "Kerr-McGee Oil Industries Concentrator Mill, Shiprock, N.M."

Caption: "This conveyor system moves uranium-bearing ore from a sampling plant to the main mill at the Shiprock, New Mexico, concentrator mill of Kerr-McGee Oil Industries, Inc."

Caption: "Uranium producer in the Four Corners area bring their ore this sampling plant located adjacent to the Shiprock concentrator mill of Kerr-McGee Oil Industries, Inc."

Photograph used for a newspaper owned by the Oklahoma Publishing Company. Caption: "Thickener tanks, where uranium-bearing ore in acid solution is clarified, are in the foreground of this picture taken at Shiprock, New Mexico, uranium concentrator mill of Kerr-McGee Oil Industries, Inc."

Photograph used for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. Caption: "The inside of the Shiprock plant is a maze of conveyor belts and machinery designed to squeeze the precious uranium oxide out the ore as it comes from the mines."

Photograph used for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. Caption: "Gen Woodward, plant metallurgist, and Tom Seale, Kermac vice-president, take a look at the tanks where the last solids are removed from the solution."

Photograph used for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. Caption: "Here Specialist Third Class Howard Leonard, a Navajo Indian from Shiprock N. M. sees that Charlie is securely fastened to his place of honor stop the company guidon."

From introduction: A rapid appraisal of the carnotite resources of the Salt Wash sandstone member of the Morrison formation in the Carrizo Mountains area was undertaken by the U. S. Geological Survey late in 1951 in connection with its current project of geologic mapping of the area. Though brief and preliminary, this report provides a summary of production trends and estimated reserves in the area and indicates as far as possible the total potential of the area as a source of uranium. This information may be helpful in planning new milling facilities or other measures to encourage a higher rate of production.

Discussing a uranium reconnaissance program undertaken to evaluate formations that were producing uranium and vanadium ore in the Sanastee area.

Report documenting work to map in detail the Roy Mesa and Enos Johnson claim areas so that ore guides could be determined and the areas could be evaluated for drilling and to complete a general reconnasaince of the favorable Mesozoic.