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<br />The geo I og I c processes wh I ch created Co I orado endowed It with
<br />mineral riches which have been a dominant factor in the
<br />state's heritage, its growth and its cultural and economic
<br />vitality.
<br />
<br />In 1979 the extraction and processing of Colorado minerals is
<br />a growth--If not booming--industry. ,Production of the
<br />metallic and energy fuels resources from the prairies,
<br />plateaus, and mounta ins 15 expected to exceed $1.5 b I I I ion
<br />this year as some 64,000 men and women earn their I Ivel Ihood
<br />from mineral related activities.
<br />
<br />The accompanying table shows Colorado mineral production In
<br />1977. In the same year the minerai Industries paid nearly $50
<br />ml II Ion In state and local taxes. An additional $22.4
<br />mill ion In royalties, bonuses and lease revenues from
<br />minerals extracted from federal lands In Colorado was
<br />depos I ted in the state treasury. A II ke amount ($22.4
<br />mi II ion) went to the U.S. Treasury Department.
<br />
<br />Colorado has dozens of mineral resources includIng the energy
<br />fuels of oi I, gas, uranium, coal, and 011 shale. Among the
<br />economically significant non-energy minerals are molybdenum,
<br />copper, clay, tin, lead, zinc, sand, and gravel. Also there
<br />are deposits of feldspar, marble, pumice, perlite, mica,
<br />lime, turquoise, bentonite, salt, gypsum, diatomaceous earth,
<br />and ,others.
<br />
<br />No list would be complete without gold and silver, the two
<br />metals which spurred Colorado settlement beginning in 1859.
<br />The two metals seem to have cast a special aura of the Old
<br />West over the mining Industry. The legends of lucky strikes,
<br />awesome feats of thread i ng narrow gauge ra i I roads through and
<br />around the Colorado Rockies, fortunes gained and lost and
<br />regained, and booms and busts tend to obscure the dynamic
<br />reality of a much different Industry today.
<br />
<br />This great history seems to have left such a strong
<br />impression with many people that It constitutes the image of
<br />mining In 1979 as well. Instead, sophisticated technology,
<br />environmental protection, safety measures and, above all, new
<br />
<br />s::>
<br />
<br />Mineral
<br />
<br />Resources
<br />
<br />attitudes about social and economic Impacts and long term
<br />land use, today are integral aspects of underground and
<br />surface mining and minerai processing.
<br />
<br />Mineral operations planned today are a far cry from -,the
<br />frontier days when the consequences of mining to air, land,
<br />water, and people were Ignored in the rush for riches.
<br />Treatment and ho I ding of water to protect qua II ty and
<br />quantity, air pollution control devices, sequential use of
<br />reclaimed mined lands, provisions for schools, homes,
<br />recreation, and other community facilities, and the
<br />protection of wlld1 Ife and scenery have truly revolutionized
<br />the minerals extraction and processing Industries. Mining
<br />does create major changes, such as the f 1 I II n9 of va I I eys
<br />with mine and mi Illng wastes. The disposal, however, Is
<br />planned so the tal lings piles can be used later and in the
<br />meantime they are often screened from public view and
<br />stab I I i zed to protect of f -s i te property and lives. Today a
<br />mining company operates on an enormous scale where, a century
<br />ago a score of separate, small mines would have been In
<br />operation.
<br />
<br />The Ilolden days"
<br />fundamentals about
<br />the basic precepts
<br />
<br />also tend to obscure some of
<br />minerai deposits and extraction.
<br />are:
<br />
<br />the
<br />Among
<br />
<br />1. Mines and oil/gas wells have to
<br />be where the economic concentra-
<br />tions of the minerals are. Unlike
<br />a factory, there's little choice
<br />as to where a minerai operation can
<br />be located.
<br />
<br />2. Economically recoverable
<br />minerals are Increasingly more
<br />difficult to find and extract. The
<br />"easy'l to get higher grade ores, for
<br />the most part, have been developed.
<br />
<br />3. The 011, gas, and minerals that
<br />remain are generally deeper In the
<br />earth and are in lower concentra-
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