![]() | This article needs to be updated.(August 2020) |
Uranium production is carried out in about 13 countries around the world, in 2017 producing a cumulative total of 59,462 tonnes of uranium (tU). The international producers were Kazakhstan (39%), Canada (22%), Australia (10%), Namibia (7.1%), Niger (5.8%), Russian Federation (4.9%), Uzbekistan (4.0%), China (3.2%), United States (1.6%), Ukraine (0.9%), India (0.7%), South Africa (0.5%) and Pakistan (0.1%). Since 2009 the in-situ leach (ISL) operations of Kazakhstan have been producing the largest share of world uranium. [1]
The largest conventional uranium mines are Cigar Lake and McArthur River (Canada); Ranger and Olympic Dam (Australia); Krasnokamensk (Russia) and Rossing (Namibia). The largest uranium producers are Cameco, Rio Tinto, Areva, KazAtomProm and ARMZ-TVEL.
The production methods employed are conventional underground and open cast (50%) and in-situ leaching (50%). About 50 uranium production centers are operational. [1]
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Year commenced | Grade %U [2] | Annual production (tOre) [3] | Annual production (tU) [4] | Type of mine [5] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Don Otto | Salta | Globe Uranium | 1958 | 0.15 [6] | Presently shut down | |||
Cachocira (Cactite) | 1999 | 0.3 | 340 | OC | ||||
Engenlio (Cactite) | 2006 | OC | ||||||
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Year commenced | Grade %U | Annual production (tOre) | Annual production (tU) | Type of mine |
Four Mile | South Australia | General Atomics | 2005 | 2014 | 0.37 | 2,064 [8] (2019) | ISL | |
Olympic Dam | South Australia | BHP | 1975 | 1988 | 0.05 | 9,100,000 | 4,356 | UG |
Ranger | Northern Territory | ERA | 1969 | 1980 | 0.2 | 2,000,000 | 5,544 | OC, mining ceased, processing stockpiled ore [9] |
Beverley | South Australia, in the northern Flinders Ranges | Heathgate Resources | 1969 | 1999 | 0.18 | N.A. [10] | 1064 | ISL, production suspended in 2013 |
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Year commenced | Grade %U | Annual production (tOre) | Annual production (tU) | Type of mine |
Caetité | Lagoa Real province, Bahia State | Indústrias Nucleares do Brasil | 1977 [11] | 1999 [11] | 0.25 | 400 | OC | |
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Year commenced | Grade %U | Annual production (tOre) | Annual production (tU) | Type of mine |
Cigar Lake | Saskatchewan | Cameco | 1981 | 2005 | 15.41 | 52,424 (2016) [12] | 8,650 | UG |
McArthur River/Key Lake | Saskatchewan | Cameco | 1988 | 1999 | 6.58 | 93,750 (2016) [13] | 9,000 | UG |
McClean Lake | Saskatchewan | AREVA Resources Canada | 1979 | 1999 | 2.4 | 2490 | OC | |
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Year commenced | Grade %U | Annual production (tOre) | Annual production (tU) | Type of mine |
750 (est) | ||||||||
Chenxian | Hunan Province | China National Nuclear Corporation | ||||||
712 Uranium Mine | Hunan Province | |||||||
Fuzhou Hangjian | Fujian Province | |||||||
Tengchong | Yunnan Province | ISL | ||||||
Yining | Xinjiang Autonomous Region | ISL | ||||||
Chongyi | Shaanxi Province | |||||||
Lantian | Shaanxi Province | |||||||
Quinglong field | Liaoning Province | |||||||
Benxi | Liaoning Province | 0.34 | ||||||
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Year commenced | Grade %U | Annual production (tOre) | Annual production (tU) | Type of mine |
Dolní Rožínka | Diamo | 408 | UG | |||||
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Year commenced | Grade %U | Annual production (tOre) | Annual production (tU) | Type of mine |
2 (2015) | byproduct of rare earth element production | |||||||
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Year commenced | Grade %U | Annual production (tOre) | Annual production (tU) | Type of mine |
Königstein | Königstein, Saxony | Wismut | 1963 | 1967 | 77 | closed, production from mine water treatment | ||
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Year commenced | Grade %U | Annual production (tOre) | Annual production (tU) | Type of mine |
Jaduguda | Jharkhand | UCIL | 1967 | 2300+ (est) | UG | |||
Bhatin | Jharkhand | UCIL | 1967 | 1230 | UG | |||
Narwapahar | Jharkhand | UCIL | 1995 | 1050 | UG | |||
Turamdih | Jharkhand | UCIL | 2002 | 1730 | UG | |||
Tummalapalle | Andhra Pradesh | UCIL | 1989 (?) | 0.05 | UG | |||
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Year commenced | Grade %U | Annual production (tOre) | Annual production (tU) | Type of mine |
Akashat | ||||||||
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Year commenced | Grade %U | Annual production (tOre) | Annual production (tU) | Type of mine |
Tortkuduk | Kazatomprom-Areva | 2600 | ISL | |||||
Stepnoye | Kazatomprom | 1570 | ISL | |||||
Tsentralnoye | Kazatomprom | 1000 | ISL | |||||
Western group | Kazatomprom | 900 | ISL | |||||
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Year commenced | Grade %U | Annual production (tOre) | Annual production (tU) | Type of mine |
Kayelekera | near Karonga | Lotus Resources | 2009 | 0.08 | 1400 | OC, Production Suspended 2014 | ||
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Year commenced | Grade %U | Annual production (tOre) | Annual production (tU) | Type of mine |
Rössing | Namib Desert | Rio Tinto | 1928 | 1976 | 0.03–0.05 | 12,030,000 | 1,569 | OC |
Langer Heinrich | Namib Desert | Paladin Energy | 1973 | 2007 | 0.06–0.07 | 1,903.5 | OC | |
Husab | Namib Desert | China General Nuclear Power Group and China-Africa Development Fund | 2008 | 2015 | 0.039 | OC | ||
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Year commenced | Grade %U | Annual production (tOre) | Annual production (tU) | Type of mine |
Akouta. [14] | Areva/Onarem | 1967 | 1974 | 0.46 | 1778 | UG | ||
Arlit(Arlette) [14] | Areva/Onarem | 1965 | 1971 | 0.3 | 1315 | OC | ||
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Year commenced | Grade %U | Annual production (tOre) | Annual production (tU) | Type of mine |
Dera Ghazi Khan | PAEC | +2200(est) | ||||||
Issa Khel / Kubul Kel | Miniawali District | |||||||
Tumman Leghari | South Punjab | |||||||
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Year commenced | Grade %U | Annual production (tOre) | Annual production (tU) | Type of mine |
Carpaţii Orientali (zona de nord) | Compania Naţională a Uraniului | 70(est) | ||||||
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Year commenced | Grade %U | Annual production (tOre) | Annual production (tU) | Type of mine |
Krasnokamensk | Krasnokamensk, Zabaykalsky Krai | ARMZ | 1963 | 1968 | 0.38 | 3431(est) | UG | |
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Year commenced | Grade %U | Annual production (tOre) | Annual production (tU) | Type of mine |
Vaal River gold operations | AngloGold Ashanti | 0.033 | 600 (2012) | UG, byproduct of gold production | ||||
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Year commenced | Grade %U | Annual production (tOre) | Annual production (tU) | Type of mine |
Vatutininski and Ingulskyi | VostGOK | 800(est) | UG | |||||
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Year commenced | Grade %U | Annual production (tOre) | Annual production (tU) | Type of mine |
Crow Butte | Nebraska | Cameco | 1980 | 1991 | _ | 363 | ISL | |
Daneros | near Fry Canyon, Utah | Energy Fuels | 1975 | 2009 | 0.26 | 37,900 | 97.4 (2012) | UG, on standby 2012 |
Smith Ranch-Highland | near Douglas, Wyoming | Cameco | 1972/1988* *ISL operations | _ | 590 | ISL | ||
Vasquez | South Texas | Westwater Resources | 2004 | _ | 360 | ISL | ||
Alta Mesa | Texas, Brooks County | Mesteña Uranium | 385* *annual capacity | ISL | ||||
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Year commenced | Grade %U | Annual production (tOre) | Annual production (tU) | Type of mine |
Uchkuduk | Navoi GMK | 1952 | 1961 | 2700 (2012) | ISL |
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Scheduled Commencement | Grade %U | Planned Annual production (tOre) | Planned Annual production (tU) | Type of mine |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sierra Pintada | CNEA | UG | ||||||
Cerro Solo | 0.3 | |||||||
Hataia | 0.08 | 680 | Co-product with phosphoric acid | |||||
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Scheduled Commencement | Grade (%U) | Planned Annual production (tOre) | Planned Annual production (tU) | Type of mine |
Jabiluka | Northern Territory | ERA | 1971 | 0.43 | 2290 | UG | ||
Honeymoon | 75 km NW of Broken Hill, New South Wales | Boss Resources | 1972 [15] | unknown | 0.07 | ISR | 1500 | ISL, production suspended in 2013 |
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Scheduled Commencement | Grade %U | Planned Annual production (tOre) | Planned Annual production (tU) | Type of mine |
Midwest Uranium Mine | Saskatchewan | Areva Resources Canada Inc. | 1978 | 4.4 | OC | |||
Kiggavik Uranium Project | Nunavut | Areva Resources Canada Inc. | 0.41 | UG | ||||
Millennium Uranium Deposit | Saskatchewan | Cameco | 3.9 | |||||
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Scheduled Commencement | Grade %U | Planned Annual production (tOre) | Planned Annual production (tU) | Type of mine |
Mohuldih | Jharkhand | UCIL | UG | |||||
Baghjata | UG | |||||||
Bandugurang | UG | |||||||
Lambapur-Peddagattu | UG | |||||||
Kylleng-Pyndemsohiong-Mawthabah (formerly Domiasiat) | Meghalaya | OC | ||||||
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Scheduled Commencement | Grade %U | Planned Annual production (tOre) | Planned Annual production (tU) | Type of mine |
Saghand 1 & 2 | Yazd province | |||||||
Bandar Abbas | 0.2 | |||||||
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Scheduled Commencement | Grade %U | Planned Annual production (tOre) | Planned Annual production (tU) | Type of mine |
Southern mining group | Kazatomprom | ISL | ||||||
North Stepnoye group | Kazatomprom | ISL | ||||||
Central Mynkuduk and South Inkai | Kazatomprom | ISL | ||||||
Budenovskoye | Kazatomprom | ISL | ||||||
West Mynkuduk | Kazatomprom | ISL | ||||||
East Mynkuduk | Kazatomprom | ISL | ||||||
Akdal | Chu-Sarysu district | Kazatomprom | 0.06 | ISL | ||||
Inkai Uranium Project | Chu-Sarysu district | Cameco | 0.06 | ISL | ||||
South Inkai Project | Chu-Sarysu district | Uranium One | 0.04 | ISL | ||||
Budenovskoye | Chu-Sarysu district | Kazatomprom | ISL | |||||
Munkuduk (Mynkuduk) | Chu-Sarysu district | Kazatomprom | 0.04 | ISL | ||||
West Mynkuduk | Chu-Sarysu district | Kazatomprom | ISL | |||||
Zarechnoye | Syr-Darya district | Kazatomprom | 0.11 | |||||
Korsan | Kyzyl-Orda district | Kazatomprom | ISL | |||||
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Scheduled Commencement | Grade %U | Planned Annual production (tOre) | Planned Annual production (tU) | Type of mine |
Khiagda | Buryatia | TVEL | UG | |||||
Priargun | Chita region | TVEL | UG | |||||
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Scheduled Commencement | Grade %U | Planned Annual production (tOre) | Planned Annual production (tU) | Type of mine |
Sweetwater | Wyoming | SXR Uranium One | ISL |
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Probable commencement | Grade %U | Probable annual production (tOre) | Probable annual production (tU) | Probable type of mine |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Timgaouine | ||||||||
Abankor | ||||||||
El-Bema | ||||||||
Ait-Oklan | ||||||||
Tahaggart | Southern Tassili | |||||||
Asseo | ||||||||
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Probable commencement | Grade %U | Probable annual production (tOre) | Probable annual production (tU) | Probable type of mine |
Los Berthos | 1954 | |||||||
Los Adobes | Patagonia | |||||||
Dr Baulier | 1968 | |||||||
Cerro Condor | ||||||||
Laguna Colorado | ||||||||
Las Termas | ||||||||
Figueira | ||||||||
Amorinopolis | ||||||||
Alcantil | ||||||||
Serrotes Baixos | ||||||||
Lago Real | ||||||||
Espinharas | ||||||||
Camus Belos | ||||||||
Quadrilalero Ferrifero | ||||||||
Gandarela | ||||||||
Serra des Gaivotas | ||||||||
Pitinga | Amazonas | |||||||
Santa Quiteria | ||||||||
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Probable commencement | Grade %U | Probable annual production (tOre) | Probable annual production (tU) | Probable type of mine |
Koongarra | Alligator Rivers of the Northern Territory, 30 km south of Ranger and 3 km east of Nourlangie Rock | Areva | 1970 | 0.8 | ||||
Browns | Rum Jungle, near Batchelor, Northern Territory | Compass Resources NL | 1965 | 0.05 | ||||
Angela | 25 km south of Alice Springs | Cameco (operator) | 1973 | 0.13 | ||||
Bigrlyi | Northern edge of the Ngalia Basin in NT | Energy Metals Ltd | 1982 | 0.14 | ||||
Mount Gee | North Flinders Ranges | Marathon Resources | 0.05 | |||||
Curnamona | North of Honeymoon Uranium Mine–East Kalkaroo | Curnamona Energy | ||||||
Crocker Well and Mt Victoria | In the Olary area of SA (Curnamona province) | PepinNini Minerals Ltd | 1951 | 0.05–0.48 | ||||
Prominent Hill | 130 km SE of Coober Pedy, South Australia | OZ Minerals | 2001 | 103 ppm | ||||
Kintyre | Rudall region of Western Australia | Cameco | 1985 | |||||
Yeelirrie | Between Wiluna and Leinster, WA, about 500 km north of Kalgoorlie | Cameco | 1972 | 0.15 | ||||
Mulga Rock | 250 km north east of Kalgoorlie | Vimy Resources | 1979 | 0.13 | ||||
Manyingee | In the northern part of the Carnarvon Basin, 85 km south of Onslow in Western Australia | Paladin Energy | 1974 | 0.12 | ||||
Oobagooma | 75 km northeast of Derby in Western Australia | Paladin Energy | 0.15 | |||||
Lake Way and Centipede | Close to Wiluna, 750 km north east of Perth | Nova Energy | 1972 | 0.1 | ||||
Lake Maitland | At Lake Maitland, 100 km SE of Wiluna | Mega Uranium | 0.03 | |||||
Valhalla | 40 km north of Mount Isa | Paladin | 1954 | 0.14 | ||||
Westmoreland uranium mine | About 400 km north of Mount Isa, | Laramide Resources | 1956 | 0.04 – 0.2 | ||||
Ben Lomond | 50 km west of Townsville | Mega Uranium | 1975 | 0.25 | ||||
Maureen | Near Georgetown in north Queensland | Mega Uranium | 0.12 | |||||
East Kalkaroo | ||||||||
Goulds Dam | ||||||||
Brooks Dam | ||||||||
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Probable commencement | Grade %U | Probable annual production (tOre) | Probable annual production (tU) | Probable type of mine |
Mons Basin Phosphates | 0.01 | |||||||
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Probable commencement | Grade %tU | Probable annual production (tOre) | Probable annual production (tU) | Probable type of mine |
Itataia project (Ceará) | Santa Quitena, CEARA | Indústrias Nucleares do Brasil | 0.085 | 67,246 tonnes U in phosphate | ||||
N.N. (Pará) | ||||||||
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Probable commencement | Grade %tU | Probable annual production (tOre) | Probable annual production (tU) | Probable type of mine |
Andrew Lake | Northwest Territories | AREVA NC | ||||||
Baker Lake / Kiggavik | Northwest Territories | AREVA Resources Canada Inc. | 0.2 | |||||
Sissons Schultz | Northwest Territories | AREVA Resources Canada Inc. | 0.25 | |||||
Mountain Lake | Northwest Territories | Triex Minerals | 0.2 | |||||
Mazenod Lake | Northwest Territories | Moss Resources | ||||||
Boomerang Lake | Northwest Territories | Cameco | ||||||
PEC Uranium Deposit | Northwest Territories | |||||||
Boulder Train Property | Northwest Territories | |||||||
Coppermine River | Northwest Territories | Unor Inc | ||||||
Asiak River Property | Northwest Territories | Unor Inc | ||||||
Blizzard deposit | British Columbia | Santoy Resources Ltd. | 0.21 | |||||
Foghorn deposit | British Columbia | International Ranger Corp. | 0.08 | |||||
Ballistic claims | British Columbia | International Montoro Resources Inc | 0.04 | |||||
RAE Property | Alberta | Red Dragon Resources Corp | ||||||
Shea Creek Property | AREVA Resources Canada Inc. | |||||||
Douglas, Erica, Alexandra, Laurie, Mirror River, Nikita and Uchrich Properties | COGEMA | |||||||
Riou Lake Property | Rio Grande Mines Corp | |||||||
Riou Lake Property/2 | UEX Corp. | |||||||
Black Lake Property | JNR Resources | |||||||
Black Lake Property/2 | UEX Corp. | |||||||
Serendipity Lakes Property | UEX Corp. | |||||||
Hidden Bay Property | UEX Corp. | 1.17 | ||||||
Cyprian Lake Property | JNR Resources | |||||||
Perch River - Newnham Lake Property | JNR Resources | |||||||
Kernaghan Lake Property | Cameco | |||||||
Virgin River Property | UEM Inc. | |||||||
Compass Lake Property | Coronation Mines Ltd. | |||||||
Hocking Lake Property | Uranium Holdings Corporation | |||||||
Henday Lake Property | Uranium Holdings Corporation | |||||||
Hump Lake Property | ||||||||
Crawford, Perpete, Brown, Jasper, Morin Lake, Marean Properties | CanWest Petroleum Corp | |||||||
Crawford Lake property | ||||||||
Yalowega Lake | 2.5 | |||||||
Russell Lake property | ||||||||
Moore Lake property | International Uranium Corp. | |||||||
Lazy Edward Bay Property | International Uranium Corp | |||||||
Maurice Bay | Cameco | 0.51 | ||||||
Duddridge Lake Property | Strathmore Minerals Corp. | 0.09 | ||||||
Dieter Lake | Quebec | Strathmore Resources | ||||||
Mont Laurier property | Nova Uranium Corp | |||||||
Otish Mountain Property | Xemplar Energy Corp | 0.6 | ||||||
Rocky Brook Property | Newfoundland | |||||||
Michelin Deposit | Labrador | Aurora Energy Resources Inc | ||||||
Jacques Lake Deposit | Labrador | Aurora Energy Resources Inc | ||||||
Post Hill Deposit | Labrador | Aurora Energy Resources Inc. | ||||||
Roughrider Deposit | Saskatchewan | Rio Tinto | 2008 | UG | ||||
Fission Mine | Ontario | 1922 | UG | |||||
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Probable commencement | Grade %U3O8 | Probable annual production (tOre) | Probable annual production (tU) | Probable type of mine |
Yili | Xinjiang Autonomous Region | |||||||
Shihongtan | Xinjiang Autonomous Region | |||||||
Zaohuohao | Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region | |||||||
Chanziping | Guangxi Autonomous Region | |||||||
Xiangshan field | Jiangxi Province | |||||||
Xiazhuang field | Guangdong Province | |||||||
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Probable commencement | Grade %U | Probable annual production (tOre) | Probable annual production (tU) | Probable type of mine |
Irkol project | Syr-Darya district | |||||||
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Probable commencement | Grade %U | Probable annual production (tOre) | Probable annual production (tU) | Probable type of mine |
Shanawah | Karak, NWFP | PAEC | 0.04 | |||||
Wahi Pandi | Sehwan | |||||||
Karunuk | Sehwan | |||||||
Rehman Dhora (Aamri) | Kirthar Range, Sindh | |||||||
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Year commenced | Grade %U | Total production (tU) | Year closed | Type of mine |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sierra Pintada/San Rafael mine | Mendoza province | Complejo Minero Fabril San Rafael | 0.19 | 1995 | 2440 t U resources | |||
Huemul | Mendoza province | Energía Mineral S.A | ||||||
Schlagintweit | Los Giagantes | |||||||
La Estela | ||||||||
Los Colorados | La Rioja Province | 1993 | 1995 | |||||
San Rafael | ||||||||
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Year commenced | Grade %U | Total production (tU) | Year closed | Type of mine |
El Sherana | Northern Territory | 1954 | 1954 | |||||
Rum Jungle | 65 km south of Darwin on the East Finniss River | AAEC/Rio Tinto | 1949 | 1971 | UG | |||
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Year commenced | Grade %U | Total production (tU) | Year closed | Type of mine |
Patterson Lake South | Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan | Fission Uranium Corp. | 2013 | .2-.25 | OC | |||
Key Lake, Gaertner and Deilmann pits | 570 km north of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan | Cameco | OC | |||||
Cluff Lake | 700 km from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan | COGEMA | 9979 | 2002 | UG, OC | |||
Rayrock Mine | Northwest Territories | Rayrock Mines Limited | 1948 | 1955 | 1959 | UG | ||
Eldorado Mine | Port Radium, Northwest Territories | 2005 | ||||||
Beaverlodge | Saskatchewan | Cameco | ||||||
Gunnar | ||||||||
Lorado | ||||||||
Nisto | ||||||||
Pronto Mine | Spragge, Ontario | Rio Algom (BHP) | 2.3 million | UG | ||||
Quirke Mine | Elliot Lake, Ontario | Rio Algom (BHP) | 44 million | UG | ||||
Denison Mine | Elliot Lake, Ontario | Denison Mines | 69 million | UG | ||||
Panel Mine | Elliot Lake, Ontario | Rio Algom (BHP) | 15 million | UG | ||||
Can-Met Mine | Elliot Lake, Ontario | Denison Mines | 2.6 million | |||||
Stanrock Mine | Elliot Lake, Ontario | Denison Mines | 6.4 million | UG | ||||
Stanleigh Mine | Elliot Lake, Ontario | Rio Algom (BHP) | 14 million | |||||
Buckles Mine | Elliot Lake, Ontario | Rio Algom (BHP) | UG | |||||
Spanish American Mine | Elliot Lake, Ontario | Rio Algom (BHP) | UG | |||||
Milliken Mine | Elliot Lake, Ontario | Rio Algom (BHP) | 6.3 million | UG | ||||
Lacnor Mine | Elliot Lake, Ontario | Rio Algom (BHP) | 3.4 million | UG | ||||
Nordic Mine | Elliot Lake, Ontario | Rio Algom (BHP) | 13 million | UG | ||||
Agnew Lake | Agnew Lake, Ontario | ALM-Kerr Addison | 1977 | 1983 | UG | |||
Madawaska mine (Previously: Faraday Mine) | Faraday, Ontario | Ovintiv [16] | Phase 1: 1954 Phase 2: 1975 [17] | 0.1074% [17] | 4,082 tonnes [18] | Phase 1: 1964 Phase 2: 1982 [17] | UG | |
Dyno Mine | Cardiff Ontario | Ovintiv [16] | 1953 [19] | 1958 [19] | 363,758 kg [19] | 1960 [19] | UG [19] | |
Greyhawk Mine | Faraday, Ontario [20] | Ovintiv [16] | 1954 [21] | 1958 | 0.069% [21] | 80,247 tonnes [21] | 1960 | UG |
Bicroft Mine | Cardiff Ontario [22] | Barrick Gold [23] | 1957 | 2,470,000 tonnes | 1963 | UG | ||
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Year commenced | Grade %U | Total production (tU) | Year closed | Type of mine |
Jáchymov | North-west Bohemia in Karlovy Vary Region, in the eponymous St. Joachim's valley in the Ore Mountains on the Weseritz | Czech Government, 1949-1961 Complex of prison camps | 1512-Silver, 18th century-Uranium Oxide, 1898-Radium | ~10,000 | 1964 | UG | ||
Příbram | Central Bohemia, 60 km SW Prague | Czech Government, 1949-1991 | 1311-Silver, later Lead, Zinc; 1949 Uranium | 1949 | 1950-1991: Uranium 41746, Lead 6196, Zinc 2417, Silver 11 | 1991 | UG | |
Zálesí (Javorník) | Rychlebské Hory in the Olomouc Region | 1957 | 1959 | 405 | 1968 | UG | ||
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Year commenced | Grade %U | Total production (tU) | Year closed | Type of mine |
Shinkolobwe | In the Katanga province, located near Likasi | Union Minière du Haut Katanga (UMHK) | 1911 | 1922 | 65.00 [24] | >50,000 [25] | Sealed - 1960, Official Announcement - 2004 | OC/UG |
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Year commenced | Grade %U | Total production (tU) | Year closed | Type of mine |
Mounana [26] | Near the town of Franceville, in the Haut-Ogooué province | COGEMA | 1956 | 1960 | 0.37 [27] | 28000 [28] [29] | 1999 | OC/UG |
Oklo Mine [26] [30] [31] | Near the town of Franceville, in the Haut-Ogooué province | COGEMA | 1968 | 1956 | 0.37 [27] | 14000 [28] | 1985 | OC/UG |
Boyindzi [26] | Near the town of Franceville, in the Haut-Ogooué province | COGEMA | 1980 | 0.37 [27] | 1991 | UG | ||
Mikouloungou [26] | Near the town of Franceville, in the Haut-Ogooué province (60 km away from Mounana) | COGEMA | 1997 | 0.37 [27] | 1999 | OC | ||
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Mining Company | Year commenced | Grade %U | Total production (tU) [32] | Year closed | Type of mine |
Johanngeorgenstadt | western Erzgebirge Mts | SAG / SDAG Wismut | Objekt 01 | 1946 | 3585 | 1958 | UG | |
Oberschlema | western Erzgebirge Mts | SAG / SDAG Wismut | Objekt 02 | 1946 | 7,098.9 | 1958 | UG | |
Schneeberg | western Erzgebirge Mts | SAG / SDAG Wismut | Objekt 03 | 1947 | 209.7 | 1956 | UG | |
Annaberg | central Erzgebirge Mts | SAG / SDAG Wismut | Objekt 04 | 1947 | 450 | 1958 | UG | |
Marienberg | central Erzgebirge Mts | SAG / SDAG Wismut | Objekt 05 | 1947 | 121 | 1955 | UG | |
Gottesberg | Vogtland Mts | SAG / SDAG Wismut | Objekt 06 | 1948 | 56,4 | 1955 | UG | |
Schneckenstein | Vogtland Mts | SAG / SDAG Wismut | Objekt 06 | 1948 | 959,2 | 1960 | UG | |
Zobes | Vogtland Mts | SAG / SDAG Wismut | Objekt 06 | 1949 | 4673,3 | 1964 | UG | |
Bergen | Vogtland Mts | SAG / SDAG Wismut | Objekt 06 | 1949 | 162,2 | 1957 | UG | |
Bärenhecke | eastern Erzgebirge Mts | SAG Wismut | Objekt 06 | 1948 | 1 | 1954 | UG | |
Niederpöbel | eastern Erzgebirge Mts | SAG Wismut | Objekt 06 | 1948 | 30,3 | 1954 | UG | |
Niederschlag | central Erzgebirge Mts | SAG Wismut | Objekt 07 | 1947 | 222 | 1954 | UG | |
Weißer Hirsch - Antonsthal | western Erzgebirge Mts | SAG / SDAG Wismut | Objekt 08 / Schachtkombinat 235 | 1949 | 747,4 | 1959 | UG | |
Tannenbaum - Antonsthal | western Erzgebirge Mts | SAG Wismut | Objekt 08 | 1948 | 90 | 1954 | UG | |
Mai - Antonsthal | western Erzgebirge Mts | SAG / SDAG Wismut | Objekt 08 / Schachtkombinat 235 | 1949 | 50 | 1959 | UG | |
Seifenbach | western Erzgebirge Mts | SAG / SDAG Wismut | Objekt 08 | 1947 | 230 | 1955 | UG | |
Neu-Oberhaus | western Erzgebirge Mts | SAG / SDAG Wismut | Objekt 08 | 1948 | 62 | 1955 | UG | |
Valerian - Rabenberg | western Erzgebirge Mts | SAG / SDAG Wismut | Objekt 08 | 1949 | 32 | 1955 | UG | |
Unruhe - Halbmeile | western Erzgebirge Mts | SAG / SDAG Wismut | Objekt 08 | 1950 | 47 | 1955 | UG | |
Tellerhäuser-Kaffenberg | western Erzgebirge Mts | SAG / SDAG Wismut | Objekt 08 | 1951 | 42 | 1955 | UG | |
Grünstädtel | western Erzgebirge Mts | SAG / SDAG Wismut | Objekt 08 | 1949 | 12,3 | 1954 | UG | |
Erla | western Erzgebirge Mts | SAG Wismut | Objekt 08 | 1949 | 22 | 1955 | UG | |
Segen Gottes - Rittersgrün | western Erzgebirge Mts | SAG Wismut | Objekt 08 | 1949 | 20.4 | 1954 | UG | |
Margarethe - Breitenbrunn | western Erzgebirge Mts | SAG Wismut | Objekt 08 | 1948 | 7 | 1951 | UG | |
Niederschlema-Alberoda | western Erzgebirge Mts | SAG / SDAG Wismut | Objekt 09 | 1947 | 73,105.0 | 1991 | UG | |
Pöhla | western Erzgebirge Mts | SDAG Wismut | Objekt 09 | 1957 | 1216.4 | 1991 | UG | |
"Willi Agatz" Freital (hard coal mine) | Dresden | SAG Wismut / VVB Steinkohle / SDAG Wismut | Steinkohlenwerk Freital / Bergbaubetrieb "W.A." | 1947 (with interruptions) | 3691 | 1989 | UG | |
Königstein | Elbsandsteingebirge Mts | SDAG Wismut | Bergbaubetrieb Königstein | 1967 | 17810 | 1991 | UG/ISL | |
Dittrichshütte | southern Thuringia | SAG / SDAG Wismut | Objekt 30 / Objekt 90 | 1950 | 0.032 | 112.62 | 1954 | UG |
Schleusingen | southern Thuringia | SAG / SDAG Wismut | Objekt 30 | 1950 | 0.01 | 14 | 1954 | UG |
Steinach | southern Thuringia | SAG / SDAG Wismut | Objekt 41 / Objekt 90 | 1951 | 0.094 | 43.55 | 1954 | OC/UG |
Sorge-Settendorf | East Thuringia | SAG / SDAG Wismut | Objekt 30 / Objekt 90 | 1950 | 2,292.4* | 1957 | OC | |
Gauern | East Thuringia | SAG / SDAG Wismut | Objekt 90 | 1953 | 427.7* | 1957 | OC | |
Culmitzsch | East Thuringia | SDAG Wismut | Objekt 90 | 1955 | 9216.6* | 1967 | OC | |
Wolfersdorf - Gera-Süd (exploration) | East Thuringia | SDAG Wismut | Objekt 90 | 1963 | 19.4* | 1969 | UG | |
Ronneburg | East Thuringia | SAG / SDAG Wismut | Objekt 90 | 1952 | 4.66* | 1956 | OC | |
Stolzenberg | East Thuringia near Ronneburg | SDAG Wismut | Objekt 90 | 1956 | 92* | 1960 | OC | |
Lichtenberg | East Thuringia near Ronneburg | SDAG Wismut | Objekt 90 / Bergbaubetrieb Lichtenberg | 1958 | 13,837.64* | 1977 | OC | |
Reust-Lichtenberg | East Thuringia near Ronneburg | SAG / SDAG Wismut | Objekt 90 / Bergbaubetrieb Reust | 1951 | 20,495.16* (up to 1987) | 1991 (from 1987 to 1991 Schmirchau-Mine) | UG/ISL/heap leaching | |
Schmirchau | East Thuringia near Ronneburg | SAG / SDAG Wismut | Objekt 90 / Bergbaubetrieb Schmirchau | 1951 | 0.101 | 44,769.74* | 1991 | UG/ISL/heap leaching |
Paitzdorf | East Thuringia near Ronneburg | SDAG Wismut | Objekt 90 / Bergbaubetrieb Paitzdorf | 1961 | 0.097 | 22,562.5* | 1991 | UG |
Beerwalde | East Thuringia near Ronneburg | SDAG Wismut | Bergbaubetrieb Beerwalde | 1974 | 0.110 | 7,141.1* | 1991 | UG |
Drosen | East Thuringia near Ronneburg | SDAG Wismut | Bergbaubetrieb Drosen | 1982 | 0.095 | 2,941.1 | 1991 | UG |
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Year commenced | Grade %U | Total production (tU) | Year closed | Type of mine |
Ellweiler | Near Ellweiler, Rhineland-Palatinate | UG | ||||||
Menzenschwand | Near St. Blasien, Black Forest | Gewerkschaft Brunhilde | 1961 | 580 | 1991 | UG | ||
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Year commenced | Grade %U | Total production (tU) | Year closed | Type of mine [33] |
Kowary [33] [34] | 1000 [35] [36] | |||||||
Radoniów | ||||||||
Kopaniec | ||||||||
Kletno | ||||||||
Rudki | ||||||||
Radomice | ||||||||
Szklarska Poreba | ||||||||
Wojcieszyce | ||||||||
Okrzeszyn | ||||||||
Mniszków | ||||||||
Miedzianka | ||||||||
Radzimowice | ||||||||
Rochowice | ||||||||
Grzmiaca | ||||||||
Redziny | ||||||||
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Year commenced | Grade %U | Total production (tU) | Year closed | Type of mine |
Butugichag [37] | Kolyma, Magadan Oblast, near town of Ust-Omchug (~50 km, or 30 mi) | State-owned, Dalstroy | 1940s | 1945 | ? | 1955 | OC | |
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Year commenced | Grade %U | Total production (tU) | Year closed | Type of mine |
Žirovski Vrh | Slovenia, Upper Carniola | N.E.K. | 1960 | 1984 | 0.07 | 452 tU | 1994 | |
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Mine | Location | Main owner | Year discovered | Year commenced | Grade %U | Total production (tU) | Year closed | Type of mine |
Ranstadverket | South of Billingen, between Skövde and Falköping | 1965 | 120 t U | 1969 | OC |
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)Uranium mining is the process of extraction of uranium ore from the ground. Over 50 thousand tons of uranium were produced in 2019. Kazakhstan, Canada, and Australia were the top three uranium producers, respectively, and together account for 68% of world production. Other countries producing more than 1,000 tons per year included Namibia, Niger, Russia, Uzbekistan, the United States, and China. Nearly all of the world's mined uranium is used to power nuclear power plants. Historically uranium was also used in applications such as uranium glass or ferrouranium but those applications have declined due to the radioactivity of uranium and are nowadays mostly supplied with a plentiful cheap supply of depleted uranium which is also used in uranium ammunition. In addition to being cheaper, depleted uranium is also less radioactive due to a lower content of short-lived 234
U and 235
U than natural uranium.
The McArthur River Uranium Mine, in northern Saskatchewan, Canada, is the world's largest high-grade uranium deposit.
Uranium mining in the United States produced 173,875 pounds (78.9 tonnes) of U3O8 in 2019, 88% lower than the 2018 production of 1,447,945 pounds (656.8 tonnes) of U3O8 and the lowest US annual production since 1948. The 2019 production represents 0.3% of the anticipated uranium fuel requirements of the US's nuclear power reactors for the year.
Uranium mining in Wyoming was formerly a much larger industry than it is today. Wyoming once had many operating uranium mines, and still has the largest known uranium ore reserves of any state in the U.S. At the end of 2008, the state had estimated reserves dependent on price: 539 million pounds of uranium oxide at $50 per pound, and 1,227 million pounds at $100 per pound.
In-situ leaching (ISL), also called in-situ recovery (ISR) or solution mining, is a mining process used to recover minerals such as copper and uranium through boreholes drilled into a deposit, in situ. In situ leach works by artificially dissolving minerals occurring naturally in a solid state. For recovery of material occurring naturally in solution, see: Brine mining.
Madawaska Mine (previously known as Faraday Mine) is a decommissioned underground uranium mine in Faraday, near the town of Bancroft, Ontario, which produced 9 million pounds (4,082 tonnes) of U3O8 concentrate, at an average ore grade of 0.1074%, during its two periods of production.
Faraday is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario, located within Hastings County adjacent to the town of Bancroft.
The Cigar Lake Mine is a large high-grade underground uranium mine, located in the uranium-rich Athabasca Basin of northern Saskatchewan, Canada, at the south-west corner of Waterbury Lake. The deposit, discovered in 1981, is second in size of high-grade deposits only to the nearby McArthur River mine. Other deposits, such as Olympic Dam in Australia, contain more uranium but at lower grades.
Crow Butte is a uranium mining operation located four miles (6 km) southeast of the city of Crawford in Dawes County, Nebraska, United States. Cameco Corporation owns and operates Crow Butte through its wholly owned subsidiary, Crow Butte Resources, Inc.
Uranium production is an important part of the African economy, with Niger, Namibia and South Africa creating up to 18% of the world's annual production. Many African countries produce uranium or have untapped uranium ore deposits.
Canada is the world's second-largest producer of uranium, behind Kazakhstan. In 2009, 20% of the world's primary uranium production came from mines in Canada. 14.5% of the world production came from one mine, McArthur River. Currently, the only producing area in Canada is northern Saskatchewan, although other areas have had active mines in the past.
The Yeelirrie uranium project is a uranium deposit located approximately 70 km southwest of Wiluna, in the Mid West region of Western Australia. The name Yeelirrie is taken from the local sheep station.
The world's largest producer of uranium is Kazakhstan, which in 2019 produced 43% of the world's mining output. Canada was the next largest producer with a 13% share, followed by Australia with 12%. Uranium has been mined in every continent except Antarctica.
SOMAIR is a national mining company of Niger in the mining area of its northern zone. Established in 1968, it started uranium mining at the Arlit deposit in 1971, mining 0.30 - 0.35% ore down to depth of 60 metres (200 ft) depth. By 1981, the company was producing 2100 tU/yr and by 2006 it was producing 1565 tU at the Tamou deposit. The production peaked to 3065 tU in 2012. The resources, according to the Red Book, are assessed at 23,170 tU, as of 2010, at 42,200 tU of 0.25%U grade recoverable conventionally, and 5500 tU of 0.07%U grade from heap leaching. SOMAIR is one of two national mining companies in Niger, the other being COMINAK in the nearby Akokan.
The Imouraren mine is a large mine located in the northern part of Niger in Agadez Region, about 80 km (50 mi) south of Arlit. Imouraren represents one of the largest uranium reserves in Niger having estimated reserves of 109.1 million tonnes of ore grading 0.06% uranium. It is the site of a uranium mining project involving French company Areva and SOPaMin. The U3O8 ore grade at nearby SOMAIR is 14,000 tons at 0.3%, COMINAK is 29,000 t at 0.4% and Imouraren 120,000t at 0.15%.
The successor of multiple historical Canadian mining and energy companies, EWL Management Limited was an Alberta based corporation that owned five decommissioned mines in Ontario, including three former uranium mines.
Bicroft Mine is a decommissioned underground uranium mine, located in Cardiff, near Bancroft, Ontario, Canada.
Dyno Mine is a decommissioned underground uranium mine located at Cardiff, near Farrel Lake, approximately 30km southwest of Bancroft, Ontario. It operated from 1958 to 1960.
Greyhawk Mine is a decommissioned underground uranium mine located in Faraday Township near Bancroft, Ontario. It operated from 1954 to 1959 and from 1976 to 1982. The mine produced 80,247 tons of uranium ore, of which 0.069% was U3O8 worth $834,899.
Uranium mining around Bancroft, Ontario, was conducted at four sites, beginning in the early 1950s and concluding by 1982. Bancroft was one of two major uranium-producing areas in Ontario, and one of seven in Canada, all located along the edge of the Canadian Shield. In the context of mining, the "Bancroft area" includes Haliburton, Hastings, and Renfrew counties, and all areas between Minden and Lake Clear. Activity in the mid-1950s was described by engineer A. S. Bayne in a 1977 report as the "greatest uranium prospecting rush in the world".