COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES URANIUM MINING AND PROSPECTING 56844

COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES URANIUM MINING AND PROSPECTING 56844

CBS created The Search, an educational series produced by the Public Affairs Department, in the 1950s to share scientific research with viewers in an easy-to-understand manner. The 26-episode series aired over 1954 and 1955. This episode, “Colorado School of Mines: Uranium Prospecting and Mining, Golden Colorado,” is hosted by Charles Romine and shows all the phases of the uranium rush happening on the Colorado Plateau. The film begins with footage of atomic bombs detonating (00:50; 01:08) as Romine narrates the incredible power of atomic energy that can be used for destruction or for helping human life. The key to atomic power is uranium, and Romine (01:47) takes viewers on a tour of mining uranium on the Colorado Plateau. Romine visits with Professor Paul Keating, a pioneer in uranium fields, who explains the geology of uranium and some of its early uses by the Ute and Navajo Indians. Next, Romine meets with prospectors to learn about the early stages of mining. He speaks with a prospector who owns a mine on Davis Mesa (04:28); the prospector explains how to stake a claim (05:19). Romine then goes to the Montrose County courthouse (05:48) where he learns how to file a claim for mining. Afterward, Romine visits with a successful miner in Grand Junction (07:49) and learns how to start a mine, including financing one. One way to finance is through selling stock; the film shows the Salt Lake Stock Exchange (11:26) where people are speculating on stocks. Romine travels to the Colorado School of Mines (12:19) to learn about the university’s Prospector Service, observing the samples sent in to the lab (12:46). The lab identifies what the minerals or metals are in the samples, but also allays the samples, determining the amount of mineral or metal, using instruments such as the Geiger counter (13:33). A lab technician explains how a Geiger counter works (14:54). Next, Romine observes an exploration operation, watching mining equipment in action (16:48) and going on an aerial survey (18:44) to locate likely uranium deposits. Once a site is located, the operation builds roads (19:42) into the sides of the mesas and create a functional camp on top (20:06) with their own testing laboratory (20:32). Once the exploration operation determines that the mine has commercial-grade uranium, large-scale mining operations commence, such as the U.S. Uranium Corporation in Paradox Valley (21:10). The episode concludes with Romine and Keating discussing mining uranium and the future of uranium.

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20 Comments

  1. PF company on May 14, 2023 at 10:42 am

    Uranium fever!

  2. Malcolm Marzo on May 14, 2023 at 10:44 am

    We smile at 1950s propaganda. Yet the last two years have shown that most of the current generation is willing to follow the most absurd propaganda. So we are superior to our forbearers ?

  3. Lewie McNeely on May 14, 2023 at 10:46 am

    Blasted teleprompter was sticking.

  4. Jack King on May 14, 2023 at 10:47 am

    Wooden acting at its best!

    Hate to be a miner down there – a nasty place to work if ever I saw one.

  5. ryanfrogz on May 14, 2023 at 10:48 am

    URAAAAAAAANIUM FEVER HAS GONE AND GOT ME DOWN

  6. Placeb0 on May 14, 2023 at 10:48 am

    It always amazes me about stuff like this. Kind of like how asbestos was a wonder building material for a while.

  7. Radio Rob on May 14, 2023 at 10:50 am

    Being inside the Uranium mine healed that guy’s eye.

  8. EAT 💩 COMMIES! on May 14, 2023 at 10:58 am

    Great Film! Bedrock CO is one of my favorite areas to explore old mines on my adv motorcycle 👍

  9. Yanik Kunitsin on May 14, 2023 at 11:00 am

    18:51 – at the beginning he had both eyes

  10. AD Electronic Teardowns on May 14, 2023 at 11:08 am

    The pay in mining was good although the miner turnover rate was high.

  11. Dan Green on May 14, 2023 at 11:10 am

    I know folk who died from radiation made before thY were born

  12. ThinkingBetter on May 14, 2023 at 11:13 am

    Let’s touch some uranium samples and go eat some lunch afterwards…

  13. superactiongeneral on May 14, 2023 at 11:16 am

    Uranium fever

  14. Bee Wee on May 14, 2023 at 11:16 am

    I love the giant chunk of uranium oxide sitting on the end table. Wonder if he had any negative effects

  15. SueBobChicVid on May 14, 2023 at 11:17 am

    Hunk of uranium ore in the eye: Nothing to worry about. Love it.

  16. Dragon90815 on May 14, 2023 at 11:20 am

    Got some uranium in his eye?

  17. AMERICANREBEL ! on May 14, 2023 at 11:21 am

    Great video.

  18. Hkk Hgffh on May 14, 2023 at 11:25 am

    Guys wear respirators when mining radioactive stuff!

  19. Vanessa Henseli on May 14, 2023 at 11:25 am

    😄

  20. MikesAvenger on May 14, 2023 at 11:40 am

    Uranium minerals are some of the most beautiful to collect; especially from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Australia still has untapped Uranium resources.

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