Uranium was first discovered in Wyoming in 1949, but the most famous discovery occurred in 1953 when Neil McNeice located the radioactive mineral in the Gas Hills of central Wyoming. Production during the 1950s centered around the Gas Hills and the nearby Shirley Basin.

Production declined in the mid-1960s, but then picked up again in the late '60s and '70s with the discovery of major uranium deposits in the Powder River Basin, including: Christensen Ranch, Smith Ranch, Morton Ranch and Exxon's Highland Mine.

Conventional mine production peaked in 1980, then decreased in the early '80s through the early '90s when many in situ mines (solution injection and recovery) were developed.

At its zenith, Wyoming uranium industry employment hit a record 5,300, and total production peaked at 12 million pounds. The spot market price ranged between $38 and $40 a pound. The price hit a low of $7.50 a pound in 1991, but rebounded to $12 a pound in 1995.

Since the first production, Wyoming mines have produced 193 million pounds of U3O8 The energy contained in one pound of uranium is equivalent to 31 barrels of fuel oil or 10 tons of coal; so the total energy produced from Wyoming uranium is equivalent to 5.9 billion barrels of fuel oil or 1.9 billion tons of Wyoming coal. Indeed, Wyoming leads the nation in uranium and coal production (present uranium production is totally from in situ facilities in the Powder River Basin.)

Production from conventional mine/mill operations in Wyoming ceased in 1992. Where there were nine operating recovery mills in operation in 1980, there is now only one still standing, and it is on standby status.

The mines that supported the mills have been proceeding to final reclamation over the years, and that work is nearing completion. It is projected that by the end of this year, all remediation (the responsibility of the operators) will be completed.

Today's slowly-strengthening uranium market is allowing Wyoming operations to continuously expand production capacity, providing jobs and a safe environment for the future of the state and the uranium industry.