Mesa County COGenWeb
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Mining History in Mesa County
Agriculture was the original economic backbone in Grand Junction but the discovery of mineral resources in the area would quickly make an impact. Deposits of coal, copper, radium, vanadium, and uranium were discovered and mined for decades in the region. In 1888 commercial coal mining began and numerous coal mines were in operation in the Book Cliffs. One of the most notable coal mining groups was in Cameo.
In 1914 radium mining began in the Gateway area and continued for about a decade. The radium mining industry evolved into vanadium and uranium mining over time. Hundreds of uranium mines operated throughout the southwestern part of Mesa County. Some of the most famous uranium mines were located just outside of the Uncompahgre National Forest on Blue Mesa, Outlaw Mesa, and Calamity Mesa.
Uranium mining experienced a few slowdowns in the 1940's but that changed dramatically by 1950. The Atomic Energy Commission had initiated a domestic uranium production program that triggered a Uranium Boom in western Colorado. Government programs guaranteed uranium prospectors and mining companies large profits. Minimum prices for buying high grade uranium led to a mining frenzy as trucks carried ore nonstop from remote locations mining locations to several mills in the region.
In 1957 the Atomic Energy Commission incentives to mine uranium ended. This contributed to a major downturn in the local industry. Uranium mining did continue through the 60's and later 70's but it was a shell of its former self.
(source: https://mesacountylibraries.org/2016/05/mining-history-in-mesa-county/)
Mesa County, Colorado Mines
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Compiled and contributed by Betty Baker. October 2006
| Name | Local Area |
|---|---|
| Abbot Pit | Grand Junction |
| Ajax One Mine | Dolores Point North |
| Allen Pit | Fruita |
| Amax Uranium Mine | Grand Junction |
| Amethyst Mine | Snyder Flats |
| Anchor Mine | Ruby Lee Reservoir |
| Anchor Number One Mine | Ruby Lee Reservoir |
| Arrowhead Mine | Calamity Mesa |
| Arrowhead Mines | Calamity Mesa |
| Austin Mine | Dolores Point North |
| Big Indian Lease Mine | Juanita Arch |
| Black Diamond Mine | Round Mountain |
| Black Mama Number 3 Mine | Gateway |
| Blackbird Mine | Palisade |
| Blue Creek Mines | Calamity Mesa |
| Blue Flame Mine | Cameo |
| Bonanza Mine | Dolores Point North |
| Book Cliff Mine | Round Mountain |
| Boyer Mine | Round Mountain |
| Boyer Peacock Mine | Round Mountain |
| Burk Pit | Grand Junction |
| C-G-26 Mine | Grand Junction |
| Calamity Mine | Calamity Mesa |
| Calamity Mines | Calamity Mesa |
| Cameo Number One Mine | Cameo |
| Campbell Number Two Mine | Corcoran Peak |
| Captain Jinks Mine | Dolores Point North |
| Cliffdweller Mines | Calamity Mesa |
| Coal Gulch Coal Mine | Ruby Lee Reservoir |
| Cole Pit | Ruby Canyon |
| Colorado Copper Properties Mine | Grand Junction |
| Copper Rivet Mine | Juanita Arch |
| Corcoran Mine | Corcoran Point |
| Deep Creek Mine | Porter Mountain |
| Depression Mine | Juanita Arch |
| Depression Mines | Juanita Arch |
| Egger Pit 501 | Grand Junction |
| Elizabeth Mines | Calamity Mesa |
| Farmer Coal Mine | Ruby Lee Reservoir |
| Farmer Mutual Mine | Circle Dot Gulch |
| Farmers Mine | Ruby Lee Reservoir |
| Farmers Mine | Palisade |
| Farmers Number Two Mine | Corcoran Point |
| Fireside Enterprises Quarry | Grand Junction |
| Fruita Mine | Ruby Lee Reservoir |
| Fruita Number Two Mine | Fruita |
| Fruita Ready Mix Pit | Fruita |
| G-2 Shaft | Calamity Mesa |
| Garfield Mine | Round Mountain |
| Garvey Mine | Ruby Lee Reservoir |
| Gearhart Mine | Round Mountain |
| Gearhart Pit | Clifton |
| George Cocharan Mine | Corcoran Point |
| Gilmore Lode | Dolores Point North |
| Go Boy Mine | Cameo |
| Golden Pit | Clifton |
| Grassie and Cozzette Mine | Corcoran Point |
| Grasso Mine | Corcoran Point |
| Herron and Strong Pit | Grand Junction |
| Hi-Grade Mine | Corcoran Peak |
| Hicks Mine | Ruby Lee Reservoir |
| Hidden Treasure Mine | Calamity Mesa |
| Hidden Treasure Mine | Corcoran Peak |
| Himes Drilling Mine | Grand Junction |
| Holland Mine | Corcoran Point |
| Homestead Mine | Dolores Point South |
| Hubbard Mine | Dolores Point North |
| Huffer Pit | Colorado National Monument |
| Hunter Mine | Corcoran Peak |
| Hy Grade Mine | Corcoran Peak |
| Jarvis Coal Mine | Corcoran Point |
| John Brown Mine | Dolores Point North |
| Johnnie Mae Mine | Dolores Point North |
| Kanarado Mine | Juanita Arch |
| Kannah Creek Mine | Palisade |
| Kelehen Mine | Ruby Lee Reservoir |
| La Sal Group Mine | Dolores Point North |
| La Salle Group Mine | Dolores Point North |
| Lane Mine | Ruby Lee Reservoir |
| Liberty Bell Number 2 Mine | Gateway |
| Little Maverick Mines | Juanita Arch |
| Locust Mine | Juanita Arch |
| Lost Dutchman Mine | Dolores Point North |
| Lost Indian Mine | Dolores Point North |
| Lucky Day Mine | Dolores Point South |
| Lumsden Mine | Dolores Point North |
| Mammoth Mine | Gateway |
| Mark Mine | Dolores Point North |
| Maverick Mine | Pine Mountain |
| Maverick Mines | Juanita Arch |
| McGinley Mine | Corcoran Peak |
| McGinley Mine | Corcoran Peak |
| Mesa Mine | Snyder Flats |
| Mica View Mine | Jacks Canyon |
| Midway Farmer Number Three Mine | Corcoran Point |
| Midwest Mine | Palisade |
| Midwest Red Arrow Mine | Palisade |
| Molina Deposit Mine | Molina |
| Monarch Mine | Round Mountain |
| Mother Dee Mine | Juanita Arch |
| Mount Lincoln Mine | Palisade |
| Nearing Mine | Ruby Lee Reservoir |
| New Verde Mines | Calamity Mesa |
| Nichols Pit | De Beque |
| Nielson Mine | Juanita Arch |
| North Beaver Mesa Mine | Dolores Point North |
| Old Black Diamond Mine | Round Mountain |
| Outlaw Mines | Calamity Mesa |
| Outlaw Twenty-three Mine | Calamity Mesa |
| Pack Rat Mine | Dolores Point North |
| Packrat Group Mine | Dolores Point South |
| Palisade Mines | Palisade |
| Peach Mines | Calamity Mesa |
| Peacock Mine | Round Mountain |
| Powder Horn Incline Mine | Calamity Mesa |
| Protector Mine | Gateway |
| Rae Marie Mine | Dolores Point North |
| Rajah Group Mines | Gateway |
| Raven Mine | Calamity Mesa |
| Rena Mine | Gateway |
| Riverside Sand and Gravel Pit | Ruby Canyon |
| Roadside Mine | Cameo |
| Ronnie Mine | Calamity Mesa |
| Salute Mine | Calamity Mesa |
| Scott Mine | Calamity Mesa |
| Shakin Quakie Mine | Dolores Point North |
| Shelby Dean Two Mine | Gateway |
| Small Spot Mine | Calamity Mesa |
| Smith Aggregate Pit | Ruby Canyon |
| Smith Mine | Dolores Point North |
| Snowshoe Mine | Calamity Mesa |
| Spring Mine | Calamity Mesa |
| Stormy Treasure Mine | Calamity Mesa |
| Sunspot Mine | Dolores Point North |
| Sunspot Mine | Dolores Point North |
| Supply Eleven Mine | Calamity Mesa |
| Teepee Pole Mine | Calamity Mesa |
| Tenderfoot Group Mine | Gateway |
| The Duke Mine | Dolores Point South |
| Thomas Allen Lease Mine | Palisade |
| Thomas Mine | Corcoran Point |
| Trojan Mine | Calamity Mesa |
| Truck Stop Placer | Uncompahgre Butte |
| United Sand and Gravel Pit | Grand Junction |
| Upper John Brown Mine | Dolores Point North |
| Vanadium King Mine | Gateway |
| Vanaking Number 1 Mine | Gateway |
| Wasp Mine | Juanita Arch |
| William Mine | Round Mountain |
| Winfield-McCormick Mine | Dolores Point North |
| Winger Mine | Cameo |
| Yellow Cat Mine | Dolores Point North |
| Yellow Jacket Mine | Pine Mountain |
| Yellow Jacket Mine | Snyder Flats |
| Yellowbird Mines | Calamity Mesa |