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Extraction of Uranium & the environmental impacts

92. Extraction of Uranium & the environmental impacts. 238.03. How?. Uranium resources can be extracted from the ground in three ways: Open pit Underground I n-situ leaching (ISL). Open Pit. For shallow ore bodies Involves removal of overburden A lot of waste rock removed

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Extraction of Uranium & the environmental impacts

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  1. 92 Extraction of Uranium& the environmental impacts 238.03

  2. How? Uranium resources can be extracted from the ground in three ways: • Open pit • Underground • In-situ leaching (ISL)

  3. Open Pit For shallow ore bodies Involves removal of overburden A lot of waste rock removed Greatest environmental impacts (<400ft)

  4. Case Study • Jackpile Mine on Laguna Pueblowas once the largest! • ≈ 7,868 acres • ≈ 25 million tons extracted

  5. Underground • For deeper ore bodies • Involves access shafts and tunnels • Less waste rock removed • Less environmental impacts

  6. Grade control • How is it achieved? • Measure radioactivity using a radiometric device • Device detects decay products of uranium

  7. In-situ Leaching • For ore bodies which lie in groundwater • Groundwater circulated through underground aquifer containing uranium • Leaching solution dissolves uranium • Dissolved uranium pumped out and recovered as a precipitate • Least environmental impacts

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