1960 Map of Uravan

About this map

The Uravan company town and its extensive uranium mining infrastructure dominate this 1960 revision, where the San Miguel River cuts through the high desert of Montrose County. The landscape is a map of Cold War industrial activity, specifically centered on the extraction and processing of carnotite ores. Massive Tailings Ponds and piles sit adjacent to the settlement, while the surrounding mesas are perforated by numerous operations such as the Rock Raven Mine, Black Dinah Mine, and Club Mines. Transportation follows the canyon floors and the rim via the Long Park Road and various truck trails. To the south, the terrain descends into the distinctive geomorphology of Paradox Valley and East Paradox Creek, illustrating the complex geological transition from the Spring Creek mesa lands to the deep incisions of Hieroglyphic Canyon.