Carnotite, Colorado deposits

Originally, radium was obtained from the rich pitchblende ore found in Joachimsthal, Bohemia. The carnotite sands of Colorado furnish some radium, but richer ores are found in the Republic of Zaire and the Great Lake region of Canada. Radium is present in all uranium minerals, and could be extracted, if desired, from the extensive wastes of uranium processing. Large uranium deposits are located in Ontario, New Mexico, Utah, Australia, and elsewhere. 

V. In sedimentary rocks. These minerals also contain oxidised vanadium, and consist of vanadates of iron, aluminium, lead, copper, etc. The carnotite deposits of Colorado are of this type. 

A secondary source of supply lies in the carnotite deposits of Colorado and Utah. The vanadium content in these is very low, being only about 1 per cent, or even less, and the ore is really worked for its radium and uranium content, the vanadium forming a by-product. The deposits of carnotite are considerable. 

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