A REPORT BY JOHN B. Colorado Mining

History in short. Gold found by Cherokees in the South Platte, 1850’s Gold rush began in  largest gold rush in history  Denver area initial source. Produced very little gold.  Major discoveries in Clear Creek and Cripple Creek.

History cont. Silver boom in Boom ended in Gold production peaked in Unevenly declined. Gold spiked in Ended in Carnotite boom in 1950’s. Molybdenum fist mined in 1918.

Mineral Deposits. Mineral belt contains most of mineral deposits in the state. Most uranium deposits in the Uravan mineral belt. The green river formation which includes the Pinceance basin holds over 60% of all the world’s oil shale reserves, and the only known source of natural sodium bicarbonate.

Molybdenum facts. Molybdenum is an element used in stainless steel and high temperature applications.( light bulbs nuclear reactors ect.) Molybdenum is the most important mineral mined in Colorado today. The Climax mine recently reopened.

Colorado coal mining. Coal has been mined since the first settlers arrived. Colorado is 7 th in coal production in the U.S (6 th according to the CGS.) Coal from western states is cleaner than that of the east.

Coal Issues Coal produces CO2 which is a greenhouse gas. (No real scientific proof behind man made global warming.) Produces pollutants such as carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide. Non renewable.

Oil Shale Energy. Oil shale is accentually oil that never matured. It holds kerogen.  Oil shale is technically organic marlstone. Originally referred to as rubber rock, this rock will actually burn. (some found this out the hard way) There is an estimated 1.5 trillion bbl. under the western states.

Problems With Oil Shale. Oil shale has an energy density comparable to that of baked potatoes. Traditional refining methods for oil shale requires a lot of energy. In collecting significant shale to refine and produce oil the land would be full of 2,000 ft holes in the ground.

Colorado Natural Gas issues. Rigs scar the landscape. Rigs produce noise and threaten to put some animals such as the greater sage grouse on the endangered species list. A process called hydraulic fracturing pumps water sand and many non disclosed chemicals into the ground and has been blamed for contaminated wells.

N.G. issues cont. Trucks that transport these chemicals may leak or spill. Waste water is stored in open pits which may leak chemicals. N.G also reduces other industries such as tourism. Waterfall comprised of spilled drilling fluids.