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<br />The annual value of uranium output in 18
<br />Colorado counties is slowly rising, now averag-
<br />ing over $23 million. Even so, much of the
<br />uranium processed in Colorado comes from the
<br />Four Corners area and is mined in Utah, Ari-
<br />zona, and New Mexico.
<br />Ores that once were mined for vanadium are
<br />now being mined for their uranium content.
<br />But the vanadium also is recovered as a by-
<br />product. Colorado, therefore, continues to
<br />supply the great, bulk of the world's vanadium,
<br />and production of this metal rises each year as
<br />more and more uranium ore is processed for
<br />atomic-energy uses. Vanadium 1S important
<br />for its use in making steel alloys.
<br />The only active molybdenum mine 1il the
<br />United States and the world's largest known
<br />deposit of molybdenum ore are near the town of
<br />Climax, Lake County, not far from Leadville.
<br />All other molybdenum now produced in the
<br />United States and most of the relatively small
<br />Free World production outside this country
<br />is obtained as a byproduct in mining and process-
<br />ing other metals. The mine at Climax achieved
<br />a record output of 11.6 million tons of ore in
<br />1960 and continued to work at capacity through
<br />1961. (Total value of the molybdenum metal
<br />and other products fell, however, as the ore was
<br />of lower grade.) Molybdenum has promise for
<br />use as a high-temperature metal. It is employed
<br />in making high-speed steels and other alloys.
<br />The famed' , lodes" of Colorado's high Rockies
<br />still are yielding substantial quantities of gold,
<br />silver, copper, lead, and zinc, more than a cen-
<br />tury after their discovery. In 1960 there were
<br />about 70 "lode" mines operating in 22 counties.
<br />Total value of their output was over $18 million,
<br />of which $8 million was for zinc. San Miguel
<br />and Eagle Counties share the bulk of this pro-
<br />duction, while. Mineral and Teller Counties
<br />produce over a million dollars worth in an
<br />average year.
<br />Beryllium minerals, with potential for use in
<br />rockets, missiles, jet aircraft, and nuclear energy,
<br />are mined and shipped as concentrate from eight
<br />counties. Cadmium, indium, and thallium are
<br />recovered from flue dust and other byproduct
<br />materials processed 1il a smelter at Denver.
<br />Tungsten is mined and milled in Boulder County
<br />and both tungsten and tin are obtained as by-
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<br />products of molybdenum mining and processing.
<br />Production of brown iron ore, or limonite,
<br />remains small but is increasing rapidly.
<br />
<br />Non-Metallies
<br />
<br />Fireclays and miscellaneous clays worth more
<br />than a million dollars annually are mined in 10
<br />Colorado counties. Cement is made at plants
<br />in Fremont and Larimer Counties from local
<br />materials. Shale is processed to make a light-
<br />weight aggregate for concrete at Rocky Flats,
<br />south of Boulder. Fluorspar is produced in
<br />Boulder County and feldspar in Chaffee County.
<br />Other nonmetal products of Colorado include
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<br />gem stones, gypsum, lime, mica, perlite, pumice,
<br />pyrites, and salt.
<br />The basic construction materials, stone, sand
<br />and gravel, are found in most parts of the State.
<br />Stone quarries in 32 counties have an annud
<br />production valued at between $4 and $5 million.
<br />Limestone, used in manufacturing cement and
<br />also for steelmaking, is the most valuable, fol-
<br />lowed by granite, sandstone, marble, and basak
<br />Enough sand and gravel to supply local needs
<br />is produced in every county except Denver,
<br />Costilla, and Hindsdale. Output has varied
<br />recently between 19 and 21 million tons.
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