November 22, 2005

Two new Utah maps showing (1) high-calcium limestone resources and (2) uranium and vanadium mines, districts, and occurrences are now available at the Utah Geological Survey (UGS). Each map is at a scale of 1:750,000.

Limestone, mined for industrial uses, is very important to the economies of Utah and the U.S. Each year U.S. companies mine limestone to produce more than a billion tons of lime, crushed rock, and cement worth almost $15 billion so it is important to know where the best limestone resources are located. Utah’s most important limestone deposits are in Cambrian, Devonian, and Mississippian-age shallow-marine rocks, primarily in the western half of the state.

The UGS has mapped these resources and has recently published a preliminary study and map titled, High-Calcium Limestone Resources of Utah (UGS Special Studies 116) available for $15.95. The publication contains text, data, a map, and a CD. Information includes limestone uses and specifications, limestone pits and prospects, and other limestone publications.

Uranium, an energy resource, has historically been mined in Utah: during the late 1940s for the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission and in the early 1970s with the development of the nuclear power industry. By 1990, all of Utah’s uranium production had ceased and within a few years there were no longer any underground uranium mines operating in the U.S.

Just recently, however, there has been an increase in uranium exploration due to the price increase of the mineral. In the last five years the price of uranium has more than tripled from less than $10/pound to over $30/pound today. Since the beginning of 2005, over 6,000 mining claims have been staked in southeastern Utah. Most of these claims cover either known uranium resources or potential exploration plays.

The vast majority of production has come from small, low to moderate grade sandstone hosted uranium deposits of the Colorado Plateau in southeastern Utah. The Uranium and Vanadium in Utah map (Map 215DM) shows the location of Utah’s uranium vanadium mines, prospects, mining districts, mills, and the generalized areas of the region’s most productive host strata. The CD (which includes GIS data) cost is $24.95. A plot-on-demand map is available for $14.95.

These publications are available at the Natural Resources Map & Bookstore, 1594 West North Temple, Salt Lake City (801-537-3320 or 1-888-UTAHMAP; (mapstore.utah.gov).

For additional information about limestone resources, contact Bryce Tripp at (801) 537-3317, brycetripp@utah.gov.

For additional information about uranium/vanadium resources, contact Ken Krahulec at (801) 537-3308, kenkrahulec@utah.gov.