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Mining
Mining describes the process used to extract raw materials from the earth, by digging.
What is mined?
Uranium, a naturally radioactive ore, is the fissile element used to produce most of the world’s nuclear fuel. It is naturally occurring (on average, about 2.8ppm of the Earth’s crust!) but in its oxide form as uranium ore (a mix of uranium dioxide, UO2, and uranium trioxide, U03).
During the first stage of the nuclear fuel cycle this uranium ore is extracted – a process called uranium mining.
What happens in the UK?
What happens in the UK?
Mining does not occur in the UK.
Did you know?
Uranium is about 500 times more abundant than gold!
Types of Mining
There are three main ways of mining uranium ore.
Open Cast Mining
Open Cast Mining
A large pit is dug by removing the surface rock above the uranium ore. This is only used when the ore lies close to the surface.
Underground Mining
Underground Mining
Access shafts and tunnels are used to reach and extract the uranium ore from beneath the ground. This is used when the ore lies further below the surface.
In-Situ Leaching
In-Situ Leaching
If the uranium ore lies in porous, unconsolidated rock – it can be extracted by dissolving the uranium ore in acid or alkali and pumping out liquid containing the dissolved uranium ore.
Each different method for mining uranium ore has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Open Cast Mining
- Low Conventional Risk
- Low Cost
- Low Dose
- Easy Access to Surface Deposits
- High Productivity
- Environmental Impact
- Visual Impact
Underground Mining
- Constant Climate
- Larger Ore Bodies at Depth
- Low Environmental Impact
- Less Waste Rock Removed
- Conventional Risk (Collapse)
- High Cost
- High Dose (Radon-222)
- Limited Extraction Volumes
In-Situ Leaching
- Access to Lower Grade Ore
- Low Cost
- Low Dose
- No Requirement for Some Milling
- Safer for Workers
- Geology Dependent
- Low Recovery Rate (~ 50%)
- Potential Contamination of Water
- Bad Reputation of Fracking
Adam Piatt
