Carnotite

specimen number:
2262093

location:
San Juan Co., Utah, USA

description:
Rich yellow carnotite covering most all sides of this matrix. A good example for the species.

The San Juan County uranium-vanadium district, situated within the Paradox Basin of southeastern Utah, represents a significant concentration of Colorado Plateau-type sedimentary deposits. Geologically, carnotite mineralization is primarily hosted in the Jurassic-aged Morrison Formation, particularly the Salt Wash Member, where ancient fluvial channels containing fossilized plant matter acted as traps for uranium-rich groundwater. Carnotite, a potassium uranium vanadate, occurs as distinctive bright canary-yellow powdery coatings, impregnations, or massive aggregates within sandstone lenses. Historically, mining and quarrying in the region began on a small scale in the late 1800s for radium and vanadium, but the district saw an immense industrial boom starting in the late 1940s during the Cold War uranium rush. Operations at famous sites like the Mi Vida Mine and various workings in the Lisbon Valley peaked between 1952 and the mid-1960s, providing critical materials for the United States nuclear energy and weapons programs. Although large-scale production slowed significantly by the 1980s due to falling market prices, the district remains a focal point for geological research into roll-front and tabular ore bodies through 2026. The area continues to be recognized for its role in shaping the economic and political landscape of the American West during the atomic age.

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