122 Hillebrand and Ransome — Carnotite and Associated 



copper deposits of La Sal Creek, Paradox and Sinbad Valleys, 

 and the vicinity, which had been responsible for some mining 

 excitement a few months previously. A memorandum from 

 Dr. W. F. Hillebrand, received just before starting, indi- 

 cated that it would be well also to examine certain prospects 

 on which some preliminary work had been done, looking 

 toward the extraction of ores of uranium and vanadium. It 

 is to the latter that these present notes are confined. 



,"">'"'■ 



■* 



The most convenient way of reaching Paradox Valley was 

 found to be the stage road, which, starting from Placerville, a 

 settlement and station on the Hio Grande Southern R.R., runs 

 by way of Norwood, Shenandoah and Naturita to Paradox, a 

 distance of 60 or 70 miles, 



The region can also be reached from the west by way of 

 Moab, in Utah. The Placerville route and the general geo- 

 graphical relations are roughly indicated in the accompanying 

 sketch map, fig. 1. 



The topography of the region west of Placerville is that 

 characteristic of the " mesa country " of western Colorado and 

 southeastern Utah. Broad stretches of plateau are intersected 

 by steep-walled cafions and cliff-encircled valleys. The under- 

 lying rocks comprise the " red beds " of the Dolores forma- 



