Montezuma Canyon Mining District, San Juan County, Utah, USAi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Montezuma Canyon Mining District | Mining District |
| San Juan County | County |
| Utah | State |
| USA | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude:
37° North , 109° West (est.)
Estimate based on other nearby localities or region boundaries.
Margin of Error:
~159km
Type:
Mindat Locality ID:
38593
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:38593:1
GUID (UUID V4):
06868e1f-0880-4034-96c3-a981a4c33a71
Montezuma Canyon is a deeply incised drainage system south of Monticello.
The Montezuma Canyon mining district is a part of the Monticello U mining area in east-central San Juan County. Mineralization was initially discovered in the district during the radium prospecting period of 1910 to 1924 and the vanadium exploration phase from 1935 to 1944. Montezuma Canyon has been a modest U-V producing district. Total district metal production at modern metal prices is estimated at $7.3 million. The most productive area is the Middle Montezuma Canyon group, including the Cottonwood, Lucky Boy, Strawberry, and Verdure underground mines.
The Montezuma Canyon district occurs in the Paradox Basin on the Colorado Plateau. Montezuma Canyon is deeply dissected into flat-lying Jurassic- to Cretaceous-age strata. The U-V ores are hosted in the Upper Jurassic Salt Wash Member of the Morrison Formation. The Salt Wash Member is a light-colored, massive, cross-bedded sandstone with siltstone and mudstone lenses. The Salt Wash thickens to the north and pinches out toward the south end of the district. The best U-V deposits (USGS Model 30c) are in the central part of the district in the thickest sandstone lenses with the most abundant carbonaceous trash.
Huff and Lesure (1962) describe the orebodies as zoned lenses: “The concentric zones consist of a brown nonmineralized core, an olive-gray mineralized shell, and a gray nonmineralized outer zone. The brown core is an Fe-stained, porous sandstone commonly containing abundant carbonaceous material. The curved mineralized layer completely encloses the brown core and is composed of oxidized U-V minerals that impregnate the host sandstone. The outer gray zone is light-gray sandstone tightly cemented with calcite and commonly freckled with limonitic specks.”
The U-V ore deposits probably resulted from diffusion of metals in slowly circulating connate water around a brown reduced core formed by abundant organic material. The surrounding olive-gray ore zone is the boundary between the reducing core and the surrounding oxidizing fluid with U and V in solution. The ore zone averages about 0.19% U3O8 and 3.46% V2O5 and samples show a geochemical association with Fe, Ti, Ag, Co, Mo, Ni, Zr, and Y (Huff and Lesure, 1965).
The Montezuma Canyon district occurs in the Paradox Basin on the Colorado Plateau. Montezuma Canyon is deeply dissected into flat-lying Jurassic- to Cretaceous-age strata. The U-V ores are hosted in the Upper Jurassic Salt Wash Member of the Morrison Formation. The Salt Wash Member is a light-colored, massive, cross-bedded sandstone with siltstone and mudstone lenses. The Salt Wash thickens to the north and pinches out toward the south end of the district. The best U-V deposits (USGS Model 30c) are in the central part of the district in the thickest sandstone lenses with the most abundant carbonaceous trash.
Huff and Lesure (1962) describe the orebodies as zoned lenses: “The concentric zones consist of a brown nonmineralized core, an olive-gray mineralized shell, and a gray nonmineralized outer zone. The brown core is an Fe-stained, porous sandstone commonly containing abundant carbonaceous material. The curved mineralized layer completely encloses the brown core and is composed of oxidized U-V minerals that impregnate the host sandstone. The outer gray zone is light-gray sandstone tightly cemented with calcite and commonly freckled with limonitic specks.”
The U-V ore deposits probably resulted from diffusion of metals in slowly circulating connate water around a brown reduced core formed by abundant organic material. The surrounding olive-gray ore zone is the boundary between the reducing core and the surrounding oxidizing fluid with U and V in solution. The ore zone averages about 0.19% U3O8 and 3.46% V2O5 and samples show a geochemical association with Fe, Ti, Ag, Co, Mo, Ni, Zr, and Y (Huff and Lesure, 1965).
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsCommodity List
This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded from this region.Mineral List
Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities25 valid minerals. 2 (TL) - type locality of valid minerals.
Rock Types Recorded
Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!
Rock list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities
Select Rock List Type
Alphabetical List Tree DiagramDetailed Mineral List:
| ⓘ Andersonite Formula: Na2Ca(UO2)(CO3)3 · 6H2O |
| ⓘ Baryte Formula: BaSO4 |
| ⓘ Boltwoodite Formula: (K,Na)(UO2)(SiO3OH) · 1.5H2O Localities: |
| ⓘ Calcite Formula: CaCO3 Localities: References: |
| ⓘ Carnotite Formula: K2(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2O Localities: Reported from at least 68 localities in this region. |
| ⓘ 'Chlorite Group' |
| ⓘ Coffinite Formula: U(SiO4) · nH2O |
| ⓘ Ferroselite Formula: FeSe2 |
| ⓘ Goethite Formula: α-Fe3+O(OH) |
| ⓘ Gypsum Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| ⓘ Haynesite (TL) Formula: (UO2)3(OH)2(SeO3)2 · 5H2O Type Locality: |
| ⓘ Larisaite (TL) Formula: Na(H3O)(UO2)3(SeO3)O2 · 4H2O Type Locality: |
| ⓘ 'Limonite' |
| ⓘ Marcasite Formula: FeS2 |
| ⓘ Metarossite Formula: Ca(V2O6) · 2H2O |
| ⓘ Metatyuyamunite Formula: Ca(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2O |
| ⓘ Montmorillonite Formula: (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| ⓘ Montroseite Formula: (V3+,Fe3+)O(OH) |
| ⓘ Pascoite Formula: Ca2Ca(V10O28) · 17H2O |
| ⓘ Pyrite Formula: FeS2 |
| ⓘ Quartz Formula: SiO2 |
| ⓘ Roscoelite Formula: K(V3+,Al)2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 Localities: Reported from at least 49 localities in this region. |
| ⓘ Selenium Formula: Se |
| ⓘ Simplotite Formula: CaV4+4O9 · 5H2O |
| ⓘ Uraninite Formula: UO2 Localities: References: |
| ⓘ Uranophane Formula: Ca(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 5H2O |
| ⓘ Wölsendorfite Formula: Pb7(UO2)14O19(OH)4 · 12H2O |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 1 - Elements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Selenium | 1.CC.10 | Se |
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
| ⓘ | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
| ⓘ | Ferroselite | 2.EB.10a | FeSe2 |
| ⓘ | Marcasite | 2.EB.10a | FeS2 |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Goethite | 4.00. | α-Fe3+O(OH) |
| ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| ⓘ | Uraninite | 4.DL.05 | UO2 |
| ⓘ | Montroseite | 4.FD.10 | (V3+,Fe3+)O(OH) |
| ⓘ | Wölsendorfite | 4.GB.30 | Pb7(UO2)14O19(OH)4 · 12H2O |
| ⓘ | Carnotite | 4.HB.05 | K2(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2O |
| ⓘ | Metatyuyamunite | 4.HB.25 | Ca(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2O |
| ⓘ | Pascoite | 4.HC.05 | Ca2Ca(V10O28) · 17H2O |
| ⓘ | Metarossite | 4.HD.10 | Ca(V2O6) · 2H2O |
| ⓘ | Simplotite | 4.HG.20 | CaV4+4O9 · 5H2O |
| ⓘ | Larisaite (TL) | 4.JH.25 | Na(H3O)(UO2)3(SeO3)O2 · 4H2O |
| ⓘ | Haynesite (TL) | 4.JJ.25 | (UO2)3(OH)2(SeO3)2 · 5H2O |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| ⓘ | Calcite | 5.AB.05 | CaCO3 |
| ⓘ | Andersonite | 5.ED.30 | Na2Ca(UO2)(CO3)3 · 6H2O |
| Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
| ⓘ | Baryte | 7.AD.35 | BaSO4 |
| ⓘ | Gypsum | 7.CD.40 | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| ⓘ | Coffinite | 9.AD.30 | U(SiO4) · nH2O |
| ⓘ | Uranophane | 9.AK.15 | Ca(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 5H2O |
| ⓘ | Boltwoodite | 9.AK.15 | (K,Na)(UO2)(SiO3OH) · 1.5H2O |
| ⓘ | Roscoelite | 9.EC.15 | K(V3+,Al)2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Montmorillonite | 9.EC.40 | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Limonite' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Chlorite Group' | - | |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Andersonite | Na2Ca(UO2)(CO3)3 · 6H2O |
| H | ⓘ Boltwoodite | (K,Na)(UO2)(SiO3OH) · 1.5H2O |
| H | ⓘ Carnotite | K2(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2O |
| H | ⓘ Coffinite | U(SiO4) · nH2O |
| H | ⓘ Goethite | α-Fe3+O(OH) |
| H | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| H | ⓘ Haynesite | (UO2)3(OH)2(SeO3)2 · 5H2O |
| H | ⓘ Metarossite | Ca(V2O6) · 2H2O |
| H | ⓘ Metatyuyamunite | Ca(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2O |
| H | ⓘ Montroseite | (V3+,Fe3+)O(OH) |
| H | ⓘ Montmorillonite | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| H | ⓘ Pascoite | Ca2Ca(V10O28) · 17H2O |
| H | ⓘ Roscoelite | K(V3+,Al)2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Simplotite | CaV44+O9 · 5H2O |
| H | ⓘ Uranophane | Ca(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 5H2O |
| H | ⓘ Wölsendorfite | Pb7(UO2)14O19(OH)4 · 12H2O |
| H | ⓘ Larisaite | Na(H3O)(UO2)3(SeO3)O2 · 4H2O |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | ⓘ Andersonite | Na2Ca(UO2)(CO3)3 · 6H2O |
| C | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Andersonite | Na2Ca(UO2)(CO3)3 · 6H2O |
| O | ⓘ Baryte | BaSO4 |
| O | ⓘ Boltwoodite | (K,Na)(UO2)(SiO3OH) · 1.5H2O |
| O | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Carnotite | K2(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2O |
| O | ⓘ Coffinite | U(SiO4) · nH2O |
| O | ⓘ Goethite | α-Fe3+O(OH) |
| O | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| O | ⓘ Haynesite | (UO2)3(OH)2(SeO3)2 · 5H2O |
| O | ⓘ Metarossite | Ca(V2O6) · 2H2O |
| O | ⓘ Metatyuyamunite | Ca(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2O |
| O | ⓘ Montroseite | (V3+,Fe3+)O(OH) |
| O | ⓘ Montmorillonite | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| O | ⓘ Pascoite | Ca2Ca(V10O28) · 17H2O |
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Roscoelite | K(V3+,Al)2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Simplotite | CaV44+O9 · 5H2O |
| O | ⓘ Uraninite | UO2 |
| O | ⓘ Uranophane | Ca(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 5H2O |
| O | ⓘ Wölsendorfite | Pb7(UO2)14O19(OH)4 · 12H2O |
| O | ⓘ Larisaite | Na(H3O)(UO2)3(SeO3)O2 · 4H2O |
| Na | Sodium | |
| Na | ⓘ Andersonite | Na2Ca(UO2)(CO3)3 · 6H2O |
| Na | ⓘ Boltwoodite | (K,Na)(UO2)(SiO3OH) · 1.5H2O |
| Na | ⓘ Montmorillonite | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| Na | ⓘ Larisaite | Na(H3O)(UO2)3(SeO3)O2 · 4H2O |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | ⓘ Montmorillonite | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | ⓘ Montmorillonite | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| Al | ⓘ Roscoelite | K(V3+,Al)2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Boltwoodite | (K,Na)(UO2)(SiO3OH) · 1.5H2O |
| Si | ⓘ Coffinite | U(SiO4) · nH2O |
| Si | ⓘ Montmorillonite | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | ⓘ Roscoelite | K(V3+,Al)2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Uranophane | Ca(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 5H2O |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Baryte | BaSO4 |
| S | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| S | ⓘ Marcasite | FeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| K | Potassium | |
| K | ⓘ Boltwoodite | (K,Na)(UO2)(SiO3OH) · 1.5H2O |
| K | ⓘ Carnotite | K2(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2O |
| K | ⓘ Roscoelite | K(V3+,Al)2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Andersonite | Na2Ca(UO2)(CO3)3 · 6H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| Ca | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Metarossite | Ca(V2O6) · 2H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Metatyuyamunite | Ca(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Montmorillonite | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Pascoite | Ca2Ca(V10O28) · 17H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Simplotite | CaV44+O9 · 5H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Uranophane | Ca(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 5H2O |
| V | Vanadium | |
| V | ⓘ Carnotite | K2(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2O |
| V | ⓘ Metarossite | Ca(V2O6) · 2H2O |
| V | ⓘ Metatyuyamunite | Ca(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2O |
| V | ⓘ Montroseite | (V3+,Fe3+)O(OH) |
| V | ⓘ Pascoite | Ca2Ca(V10O28) · 17H2O |
| V | ⓘ Roscoelite | K(V3+,Al)2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| V | ⓘ Simplotite | CaV44+O9 · 5H2O |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Ferroselite | FeSe2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Goethite | α-Fe3+O(OH) |
| Fe | ⓘ Marcasite | FeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Montroseite | (V3+,Fe3+)O(OH) |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Se | Selenium | |
| Se | ⓘ Ferroselite | FeSe2 |
| Se | ⓘ Haynesite | (UO2)3(OH)2(SeO3)2 · 5H2O |
| Se | ⓘ Selenium | Se |
| Se | ⓘ Larisaite | Na(H3O)(UO2)3(SeO3)O2 · 4H2O |
| Ba | Barium | |
| Ba | ⓘ Baryte | BaSO4 |
| Pb | Lead | |
| Pb | ⓘ Wölsendorfite | Pb7(UO2)14O19(OH)4 · 12H2O |
| U | Uranium | |
| U | ⓘ Andersonite | Na2Ca(UO2)(CO3)3 · 6H2O |
| U | ⓘ Boltwoodite | (K,Na)(UO2)(SiO3OH) · 1.5H2O |
| U | ⓘ Carnotite | K2(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2O |
| U | ⓘ Coffinite | U(SiO4) · nH2O |
| U | ⓘ Haynesite | (UO2)3(OH)2(SeO3)2 · 5H2O |
| U | ⓘ Metatyuyamunite | Ca(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2O |
| U | ⓘ Uraninite | UO2 |
| U | ⓘ Uranophane | Ca(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 5H2O |
| U | ⓘ Wölsendorfite | Pb7(UO2)14O19(OH)4 · 12H2O |
| U | ⓘ Larisaite | Na(H3O)(UO2)3(SeO3)O2 · 4H2O |
Localities in this Region
- Utah
- San Juan County
- Montezuma Canyon Mining District
- Best Occurrence (Lookover; Best Looker)
- Big Bluff (Pickett)
- Black Diamond (Buster)
- Black Hawk No. 2 Occurrence
- Blue Eagle-Verdure Occurrence
- Blue Eagle No. 1 (Rim Rock)
- Blue Eagle No. 6 (Wildcat)
- Blue Jay-Margaret Occurrence
- Blue Jay 3
- Blue Jay No. 2
- Bojo
- Bradford Canyon-Joker-Leo J Occurrence
- Bradford Canyon Group
- Bradford No. 7 (Look Out-Margaret; Dixie Number One)
- Bradford Number Eight
- Bradford Number Nine
- Bright Star
- Buckhorn
- Cabalco No. 2 (Hoot Owl)
- Calley (Mokey)
- Canary-Long Shot Occurrence
- Canary No. 1
- Cliff House
- Cloudy Day
- Coal Bed Canyon Group
- Coal Bed Canyon Unknown Occurrence
- Cottonwood No. 1
- Coyote No. 1
- Delaware Chief
- Devil Canyon Group
- Dixie No. 2
- Dixie No. 3
- Dollar No. 1 and 2 (Notah)
- Dolly Dee Occurrence
- Dusty No. 4 and 9
- East Cliffhouse No. 5 (Stone Age; Sage; Hope; Sad Sak)
- Elmer No. 7 and Red Cone
- Falls (Big 3)
- Fiddle No. 2 (Slum)
- Hangover Mtzcn (Silver Dollar; Picket Pen No. 1)
- Horsehead Canyon Group
- Lee 1 & 5
- Leo J (Lucky Strike)
- Lifter Occurrence
- Little Dick No. 1 Occurrence
- Lone Wolf Occurrence
- Long Canyon Group
- Lookout
- Lost Indian (Tease No. 1; Lost Indian No. 1)
- Lucky Boy Mine
- Lucky Day
- Lucky Load
- Lucky Strike
- Lucky Strike 1 & 2
- Middle Montezuma Canyon Group
- Montezuma Canyon Mining District
- San Juan County
- Utah
- San Juan County
- Montezuma Canyon Mining District
- Middle Montezuma Canyon Group
- Mill Occurrence
- Montezuma No. 1
- Monument 2 Prospect
- Monument 2a
- Monument 3
- Monument 4 Prospect
- Monument Canyon Area Occurrence
- Monument Canyon Group
- Morning Star (Moonlight; November)
- Muleshoe Group
- Payday
- Perkins Prospect
- Pete 6 & 7 (Lee Group)
- Pickett No. 3 Occurrence (Rusty Can No. 4)
- Point
- R and Double H
- Rainbow
- Rainbow Canyon Mine SW
- Rainboy
- Red Bird
- Red Hot
- Redbird Prospect
- Repete Mine
- Ritz
- Rusty Can (Triple S; Blue Jay No. 1)
- Rusty Can No. 2
- Sally No. 1 (Bradford Number Four)
- ⭔School Section 16
- ⭔School Section 32
- Silver Bell Prospect
- Splendid - 16 Occurrence
- Sunshine Occurrence
- Unknown Uranium - Vanadium (MRDS - 10078631)
- Unknown Uranium - Vanadium Occurrence (MRDS - 10089485)
- Unknown Uranium (MRDS - 10130535)
- Unknown Uranium (MRDS - 10203335)
- Unknown Uranium (MRDS - 10300581)
- Unknown Uranium Occurrence (MRDS - 10096503)
- Unknown Vanadium - Uranium (MRDS - 10078624)
- Unknown Vanadium - Uranium (MRDS - 10078625)
- Unknown Vanadium - Uranium (MRDS - 10078627)
- Unknown Vanadium - Uranium (MRDS - 10078628)
- Unknown Vanadium - Uranium (MRDS - 10078793)
- Unknown Vanadium - Uranium (MRDS - 10078801)
- Unknown Vanadium - Uranium (MRDS - 10078803)
- Unknown Vanadium - Uranium (MRDS - 10089493)
- Unknown Vanadium - Uranium (MRDS - 10106021)
- Unknown Vanadium - Uranium (MRDS - 10179189)
- Unknown Vanadium - Uranium Occurrence (MRDS - 10078800)
- Unknown Vanadium - Uranium Occurrence (MRDS - 10089486)
- Upper Montezuma Canyon Group
- Wheeler (Finnis)
- White Horse
- Windmill 1
- Yellow Pail
- Yellowbird No. 2 (White Horse 1 & 2; Chance; Whitehorse)
- Yellowcake (Rags To Riches II; Minerva)
- Montezuma Canyon Mining District
- San Juan County
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
North America PlateTectonic Plate
- Great Plains DomainDomain
- Paradox BasinBasin
USA
- Colorado PlateauPlateau
- Manti-La Sal National ForestNational Forest
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References
Black Diamond, Montezuma Canyon Mining District, San Juan County, Utah, USA