New Minerals (Shumwayite and Greenlizardite) Discovered in San Juan County

By Janet Wilcox

The discovery and naming of two new minerals found in San Juan County, has recently created great scientific interest. In April 2024, Dan Shumway a local miner, artist and writer was contacted by “Rocks and Minerals” magazine editor Mark Jacobson with the news about the discoveries. (The publication comes out in Nov/Dec 2024.) New minerals have to go through an extensive scientific process before they are named and must relate to specific areas or people. For this documentation, the editor interviewed Dan about his background and role in the discovery. For several years Dan guided various scientists to remote mineral sites in the county. “If something catches their eye, they will collect samples,” Shumway explained. “The specimens and sites are numbered and recorded. Next the material is taken to a lab for closer examination using modern equipment and technology. I’ve enjoyed my association with these renown and competent professions.” Occasionally they camped somewhere in the outback and often shared experiences around the campfire. Dan’s guiding skills, knowledge and familiarity of San Juan’s remote areas and mineral sites were of great value, as were their experiences in foreign countries. Dan began mining the summer of 1963 and later he teamed up with Jack Tate in 1966 when they mined in Utah, Colorado and Arizona. Tate along with Reed Hurst hauled ore for him. Since retiring he has used his creative talent landscaping their home, painting and writing poems. This one illustrates the uranium boom years in San Juan:

Shumwayite by Dan Shumway My grandfathers were both mine operators As were myself and my dad. We mined in the years before regulators Finally got too bad. All told we worked more than 200 mines Acquiring knowledge of that domain. As a 3rd generation miner in my family line, Hand-on mine lore is in my brain. Today, details of mines on the Colorado Plateau Are being lost to “reclamation” So scholars seek me out for what I know, Including unrecorded history and location. Upon guiding them to one lost site They discovered a mineral “new” A uranium element they named Shumwayite And told me “Dan, we named it for you.” Now that’s high pay and an honor rare To have a mineral name for me. On hearing this I asked the scholars there “Could it also honor others in my family?” I explained, “Shumways were noted participators In building the uranium industry years ago. So let it honor successful Shumway mine operators. And prominent prospectors of the plateau?” Now fleeting are trophies, awards, Hollywood fame Even an academic degree Compared to a mineral with the Shumway name That will be recognized into eternity? In September, 2014, Dan led Joe Marty to a seldom seen mineral location north of Red Canyon in SJC. (Marty is a renowned mineral micromounter Hall of Fame Awardee, for whom the mineral martyite was named.) “It was a difficult hike in broken terrain, but soon after we arrived Marty’s keen experienced eyes detected what he suspected might be a new mineral,” Shumway explained. He helped Joe collect samples and later lab tests confirmed that indeed it was a new, never before recognized uranium mineral. Shortly afterwards Dan was surprised and greatly honored when Marty told him, “We have found a new mineral and it will be named for you!”

Dan is part of a long and wide lineage of Shumway uranium prospectors and mine operators. His grandfather A.E. Shumway, his father DeVar, and many other uncles and Shumway cousins were deserving of this honor. He told Marty that “Shumwayite” would also honor all those who helped establish the uranium industry on the Colorado Plateau including both San Juan and Grand counties which boomed because of the wealth from uranium production Other formerly unknown minerals were also discovered by the Green Lizard mine in the White Canyon district. The Green Lizard is now closed with a bat accessible grate. It is one of hundreds of mines scattered throughout San Juan County which produced uranium, radium and vanadium and brought new wealth and businesses into the SE Utah. San Juan County has long been a destination of explorers and adventure seekers. In 1898 John Wetherill (one of the discoverers of the Mesa Verde ruins) led an archeological expedition into Red Canyon. During a lunch stop, he noted yellow, blue, black, and green mineral stains surrounding two different petrified trees. A century later local miners began mining uranium as well as other metallic elements but low prices, and high costs of transporting ore made it unsuccessful. Finally in 1926 vanadium ore began to be mined in White Canyon. By 1939 scientists discovered that uranium could be used to generate nuclear fission which could run turbines and generate electricity. And the uranium boom began!

The Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) was founded in 1946 after WWII. Their focus was to find ways to utilize uranium to run turbines and generate electricity in less expensive ways. (In 1955, Arco, Idaho became the first city in the US to provide electrical power in this way.) This efficient use quickly expanded uranium demand and set off a prospecting and mining boom in southern Utah. White Canyon production doubled in 1955 with the startup of additional mines. Nine companies operated 15 different mines at that time and more opened later. The Blue Lizard accounted for 85% of the total production in White Canyon. (It was located south of the Green Lizard site). After 1970 all uranium ore was used by commercial nuclear power plants for generating electricity. Peak ore production was reached in 1978. Mining engineer, Leonard Howe, forecasts that soon small generators the size of a refrigerator will be available for households and with the click of a switch they will be used for either heating or cooling a home! Dan is a 3rd generation mine owner/operator: “Mining is in my DNA and in my heart” he explained. Many treasured uranium memories occurred in the 1950’s as he spent the summer months at this father’s remote mining camps. In that by-gone era he was free to roam the rims and canyons for miles. As an 11-year-old he started selling mineral specimens and rocks he found. He enjoyed exploring alone and often experienced the “thrill of discovery” when he found a particularly nice, unusual or rare mineral treasure. He started working underground in the mines in 1963. Since then, he was mostly self-employed and either operated or worked in over 30 mines during the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s. The last mining he did was in 2008-2009 and his partners then were Vern and Chance Shumway. For many years Dan was away, out in the hills mining while he wife Betty was home in Blanding raising their four daughters. In 1976 they built a home north of Blanding. Like the pre-historic pueblo people, Dan gathered lots of rocks to build the house and it became a monument to his travels and was great place to raise kids. After their daughters left home Dan and Betty started going to sunny Arizona for the winter. For 10 years they sold rocks and minerals to Snowbirds and tourists. After 60 years of marriage, they now have 7 grandchildren and 5 great grands. They raise three separate gardens each summer, saw firewood, and continue to landscape their yard with rocks and minerals from every corner of San Juan. Dan has also written hundreds of poems and stories in rhyme and when grandkids come, he loves telling them about the elves and leprechauns that used to hide in his mines. He especially enjoys visits from his friend, Joe Mary and they often drive out to where the BLM coved up the mineral sites and where Joe discovered the new minerals: Shumwayite and Greenlizardite.

Shumwayite by Dan Shumway My grandfathers were both mine operators As were myself and my dad. We mined in the years before regulators Finally got too bad. All told we worked more than 200 mines Acquiring knowledge of that domain. As a 3rd generation miner in my family line, Hand-on mine lore is in my brain. Today, details of mines on the Colorado Plateau Are being lost to “reclamation” So scholars seek me out for what I know, Including unrecorded history and location. Upon guiding them to one lost site They discovered a mineral “new” A uranium element they named Shumwayite And told me “Dan, we named it for you.” Now that’s high pay and an honor rare To have a mineral name for me. On hearing this I asked the scholars there “Could it also honor others in my family?” I explained, “Shumways were noted participators In building the uranium industry years ago. So let it honor successful Shumway mine operators. And prominent prospectors of the plateau?” Now fleeting are trophies, awards, Hollywood fame Even an academic degree Compared to a mineral with the Shumway name That will be recognized into eternity? All told we worked more than 200 mines Acquiring knowledge of that domain. As a 3rd generation miner in my family line, Hand-on mine lore is in my brain. Today, details of mines on the Colorado Plateau Are being lost to “reclamation” So scholars seek me out for what I know, Including unrecorded history and location. Upon guiding them to one lost site They discovered a mineral “new” A uranium element they named Shumwayite And told me “Dan, we named it for you.” Now that’s high pay and an honor rare To have a mineral name for me. On hearing this I asked the scholars there “Could it also honor others in my family?” I explained, “Shumways were noted participators In building the uranium industry years ago. So let it honor successful Shumway mine operators. And prominent prospectors of the plateau?” Now fleeting are trophies, awards, Hollywood fame Even an academic degree Compared to a mineral with the Shumway name That will be recognized into eternity?

Shumwayite by Dan Shumway My grandfathers were both mine operators As were myself and my dad. We mined in the years before regulators Finally got too bad. All told we worked more than 200 mines Acquiring knowledge of that domain. As a 3rd generation miner in my family line, Hand-on mine lore is in my brain. Today, details of mines on the Colorado Plateau Are being lost to “reclamation” So scholars seek me out for what I know, Including unrecorded history and location. Upon guiding them to one lost site They discovered a mineral “new” A uranium element they named Shumwayite And told me “Dan, we named it for you.” Now that’s high pay and an honor rare To have a mineral name for me. On hearing this I asked the scholars there “Could it also honor others in my family?” I explained, “Shumways were noted participators In building the uranium industry years ago. So let it honor successful Shumway mine operators. And prominent prospectors of the plateau?” Now fleeting are trophies, awards, Hollywood fame Even an academic degree Compared to a mineral with the Shumway name That will be recognized into eternity?

For many years Dan was away, out in the hills mining while his wife Betty was home in Blanding raising their four daughters. In 1980 they built a home north of Blanding. Like the pre-historic pueblo people, Dan gathered lots of rocks to build the house and it became a monument to his travels and great place to raise kids. After their daughters left home Dan and Betty started going to sunny Arizona for the winter. For 10 years they sold rocks and minerals to Snowbirds and tourists. After 60 years of marriage, they now have 7 grandchildren and 5 great grands. They raise three separate gardens each summer, saw firewood, and continue to landscape their yard with rocks and minerals from every corner of San Juan. Dan has also written hundreds of poems and stories in rhyme and when grandkids come, he loves telling them about the elves and leprechauns that used to hide in his mines. He especially enjoys visits from his friend, Joe Mary and they often drive out to where the BLM coved up the mineral sites and where Joe discovered the new minerals: Shumwayite and Greenlizardite.