URANINITE   
Allen #2 Mine, Red Canyon, White Canyon District, San Juan County, Utah

These historical specimens were collected circa the late 1950’s to early 1960’s.  It is only by luck and/or good fortune that any specimens still survive in collections from the “Uranium rush” era of the 1950’s to early 1960’s.  During that period, the United States government encouraged prospecting and mining for Uranium in the Colorado Plateau area, generally including Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico, as well as parts of Wyoming.  Everything radioactive was processed in the name of the “arms race”, i.e., at the time of the cold war with Russia.  Unfortunately, the Russians were doing the same at Jachymov, Czechoslovakia and other Central European localities, to get ready for a possible war with the USA.  The U.S. government was, at the same time, purchasing quantities of radioactive minerals (mostly Uraninite) from the famous mine at Shinkolobwe and other mining districts in Zaire.  Untold numbers of fine examples of Uraninite and other uranium-bearing ore minerals were undoubtedly destroyed in the course of processing the ores from these uranium-rich deposits for defense purposes.  The specimens described below are from the Eugene B. Gross collection, and are historical specimens from this mining era.  Dr. Gross worked for the Atomic Energy Commission during the late 1950’s to early 1960’s and was personally responsible for collecting these historically important specimens, and preserving them in his private collection. 

 The radioactive ore from this famous locality consisted mainly of Uraninite, occasionally associated with very minor amounts of Chalcopyrite and / or Pyrite.  Many of the Uraninite specimens from this locality have a structure reminiscent of fossilized wood.  Many “Colorado Plateau” area deposits consisted wholly of fossilized wood replaced by massive black Uraninite.  Uraninite was also deposited as rich masses surrounding microscopic granules of Quartz sand.  All specimens have been potted with Epoxy, which was done by AEC researchers during that time period as part of the process of analyzing the ore.  Samples from various mines were analyzed to calculate the richness of the Uraninite ore, and to identify the associated minerals.  Epoxy was applied to one or more of the natural surfaces.  The Epoxy provided a seal coat over the Uraninite for both safe handling of the specimens, and as part of the stabilization process which was done to prepare the specimens for sawing with a diamond saw blade, polishing, and analysis.  The flat surfaces of all three specimens have been polished, while the backs and edges of the specimens are coated with Epoxy.
 

THORIANITE 
Andranodambo, North of Fort Dauphin, Madagascar

Thorianite is Th0₂.  Four lots of Thorianite specimens are available.  Each group consists of individual black masses of pure Thorianite without matrix or associated mineralization.  These are alluvial specimens, so the normal cubic faces are rounded and sometimes slightly rough or pitted. 

MI-1364

MI-1366
MI1367
MI-1368

SAMARSKITE-(Y)
Black Cloud Pegmatite, South Platte District, Teller County, Colorado
The Black Cloud Pegmatite is located in the NE¼, NE¼ sec. 9, T.13S., R.70W in central Colorado.  This pegmatite is considered to be part of the South Platte District because of similar structures and mineral occurrences.  Mineralization is a zoned pegmatite body in granite, with the primary minerals being Quartz, Feldspar, and Fluorite.  Workings include a large open cut with 2 benches.  The accompanying photograph of the locality was taken in the summer of 2008, courtesy of Rudy Bolona, a Colorado mineral collector.  Samarskite-(Y) is an uncommon radioactive, uranium and rare earth element bearing mineral with the composition (Y,Fe,U)(Nb,Ta)0₄.  Specimens consist of vitreous luster, brown-black massive Samarskite-(Y), accompanied by small amounts of a light colored matrix, probably massive Feldspar.

MI1479	MI1480	MI1481	MI1482
MI1483	MI1484

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