Show Mi Vida Mine Mini Closes Ending Chapter In History of Southeastern Utah The final chapter of the historic uranium boom In ln Moab was written this week with the closing of the MI Ml Vida mine located in 1 1952 52 by Charles A Steen former resi resi- resident dent of Moab whose fame as th the rags to riches rimes geologist spread all allover over the world following following following fol fol- fol- fol lowing his spectacular uranium uranium uran uran- ium find near Moab 1 Marking the formal closing closing clos clos- ing of the mfr mine was an award award award aw aw- aw- aw ard dinner at the Towne and Country Club hosted by Mr and Mrs Steen now rest rest- d dents of Reno Nevada Guests at the event were mine employees and their wives most whom had been with Mr Steen sin since e early days of Ml Mi Vida operations Safety awards were presented present present- ed cd to the lie ten remaining employees em em- who assisted In mining mining ruining min ruin ing an estimated 13 million tons of uranium ore from the mine without a fatal accident marking It as the only major mine in the district with such an outstanding record Since July 1952 man shifts were worked at st Mi Ml Vida with only 41 lost lost- time accidents and no fatalIties fatalities fatal tatal- occurring Mr Steen thanked his em em- for their outstanding efforts and extended each an invitation to join his staff at Pioche Nev where he is ls presently presently pre pre- Involved In lead zinc and silver mining oP operations rations He reviewed the now well well- known history Of bf Ml Vida and the resulting Impact on Moab following lt Its discovery ery comparing the mining boom to to the California gold gol rush The resulting multimillion multi mil lion dollar Industry in In Grand county r changed the tho quiet farming fanning community of Moab into a n thriving city complete with new housing developments schools churches churches churches chur chur- ches shopping centers civic improvements a pains he s said sald MI roIi Vida which already is 19 isa isa a favorite legend Was discovered discovered dis dis- dis covered In uranium being baffling ore In the basil members of the ChInle formation In a location lo- lo lo location cation many oper operating ting mining ruining min ruin ing companies had studied and rejected I. I The Initial discovery discovery dis dis- dis covery by Mr Steen opened the area to toa a surge of claim locating resulting in one of the largest uranium producing producing producing ing districts in the world Mr Steen told his guests a 3 half halt a million pounds of uranium concentrate still re reo re- re main In the ore body at Ml Ml I Vida perhaps to be mined at ata ata a n later late date the if need arises Recipients of safety awards awards aw aWe aw- aw ards at the dinner were mine superintendent Virgil Bilyeu foreman Rel ReI Looney Dunne Duane O Cowley Gene Cowley Jim Fullmer Barney Stalcup Nel Nel- don dim Lemon Gene Gordon Robert and Francis Powell Other guests Included ed Angus Beeson Jimmie Peck Kenneth Blume William Wil ham liam Stocks and their wives Mrs Margie Shafer member of the administration staff since its origin and former for mer president William McCormick and Mrs mick |