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Uranium Ore
Uranium ore is every natural concentration of mineral or minerals in which
uranium occurs in such proportions and conditions that its economic exploration is
viable - Mining and Processing.
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Uranium - the chemical element - is a white-nickel metal, a bit less hard than steel
and can be found, in a natural state, in the rocks of the earth crust. Its main commercial
application is the generation of electric energy, in the form of fuel for nuclear power
reactors. It is also used in the production of radioactive material to be used in medicine
and agriculture. The prospecting and research of uranium minerals aim basically at locating,
assessing and measuring the uranium reserves. Such works begin with the selection of
promising areas, indicated by aerial photographic exams, radar and satellite images.
Next, a field survey is carried out aiming at identifying the favorable structures
or geological conditions to such occurrence and, if the results are positive,
prospecting and research works are implemented.
Uranium Ore Concentrate - U3O8
In the processing unit the uranium is extracted from the
ore, purified and concentrated under the form of a yellow colored salt, known as
"yellowcake". The uranium ore is removed from the mine and after the extraction
it is shipped to the plant for processing and to obtain the uranium concentrate,
whose chemical composition is the ammonium diuranate, known as the yellowcake or
U3O8 concentrate.
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