Uranium mining in russia. Minerals: Uranium ores

Uranium ore is a natural mineral formation that contains uranium in such an amount, concentration and combination that its extraction becomes economically profitable and expedient. There is a lot of uranium in the bowels of the earth. For example in nature:

uranium is 1000 times more than gold;
50 times more than silver;
uranium reserves are almost equal to those of zinc and lead.

Particles of uranium are found in soil, rocks, sea water. A very small part of it is concentrated in the deposits. Known, explored uranium deposits are estimated at 5.4 million tons.

Characteristics and types

The main types of uranium-containing ores: oxides (uranites, uranium resins, uranium black), silicates (coffinites), titanates (brannerites), uranyl silicates (uranophanes, betauranotiles), uranyl vanadates (carnotites), tyuyamunites, uranyl phosphates (uranyl phosphates) Zr, TR, Th, Ti, P minerals (fluorapatites, monazites, zircons, orthites ...) often also include uranium. Sorbed uranium is also found in carbonaceous rock.

Field and production

The three leading countries in terms of uranium ore reserves are represented by Australia, Kazakhstan, and Russia. Almost 10% of the world's uranium reserves are concentrated in Russia, and in our country two-thirds of the reserves are localized in Yakutia (Republic of Sakha). The largest Russian uranium deposits are in such deposits: Streltsovsky, Oktyabrsky, Anteysky, Malo-Tulukuevsky, Argunsky, Dalmatovsky, Khiagdinsky ... There are still a great number of smaller deposits and deposits.

Application of uranium ores

The most important application is nuclear fuel. The most commonly used isotope U235, which can be the basis for a self-sustaining chain nuclear reaction... It is used in nuclear reactors, weapons. The isotope U238 by fission increases the power of thermonuclear weapons. U233 is the most promising fuel for a gas-phase nuclear rocket engine.

Uranium is able to actively generate heat. Its heat-generating capacity is a thousand times more powerful than oil or natural gas.
Uranium is used by geologists to determine the age of rocks and minerals. There is even such a science - geochronology.
It is sometimes used in the construction of aircraft, photography, painting (it has a beautiful yellow-green tint).
Iron + U238 = magnetostrictive material.
Depleted uranium is used for the production of radiation protection equipment.
There are many more functions that uranium performs.

Nuclear energy is currently being used on a fairly large scale. If in the last century radioactive materials were used mainly for the production of nuclear weapons, which have the greatest destructive power, then in our time the situation has changed. Nuclear energy at nuclear power plants is converted into electrical energy and is used for completely peaceful purposes. Atomic engines are also being created, which are used, for example, in submarines.

The main radioactive material used for the production of nuclear energy is Uranus... This chemical element belongs to the actinide family. Uranium was discovered in 1789 by the German chemist Martin Heinrich Klaproth while studying pitchblende, which is now also called "uranium tar". New chemical element named after recently discovered planet solar system... The radioactive properties of uranium were discovered only at the end of the 19th century.

Uranium is contained in the sedimentary shell and in the granite layer. It is a rather rare chemical element: its content in the earth's crust is 0.002%. In addition, insignificant amounts of uranium are contained in seawater (10-9 g / l). Due to its chemical activity, uranium is contained only in compounds and does not occur in free form on Earth.

Uranium ores are called natural mineral formations containing uranium or its compounds in quantities at which it is possible and economically feasible to use it. Uranium ores also serve as raw materials for the production of other radioactive elements, such as radium and polonium.

Nowadays, about 100 different uranium minerals are known, 12 of which are actively used in industry to obtain radioactive materials. The most important minerals are uranium oxides (uranite and its varieties - pitchblende and uranium black), its silicates (coffinite), titanites (davidite and brannerite), as well as hydrous phosphates and uranium micas.

Uranium ores are classified according to various criteria. In particular, they are distinguished according to the conditions of education. One of the types is the so-called endogenous ores, which were deposited under the influence of high temperatures and from pegmatite melts and aqueous solutions... Endogenous ores are characteristic of folded areas and activated platforms. Exogenous ores are formed in close surface conditions and even on the surface of the Earth in the process of accumulation (syngenetic ores) or as a result (epigenetic ores). They appear mainly on the surface of young platforms. Metamorphogenic ores arising from the redistribution of initially dispersed uranium in the process of metamorphism of sedimentary strata. Metamorphogenic ores are characteristic of ancient platforms.

In addition, uranium ores are subdivided into natural types and technological grades. By the nature of uranium mineralization, they are distinguished: primary uranium ores - (U 4 + content is not less than 75% of the total amount), oxidized uranium ores (mainly contain U 6 +) and mixed uranium ores, in which U 4 + and U 6 + are in approximately equal proportions. The technology of their processing depends on the oxidation state of uranium. According to the degree of unevenness of the U content in the lumpy fraction of the mountain ("contrast"), highly contrasting, contrasting, weakly contrasting and non-contrasting uranium ores are distinguished. This parameter determines the possibility and feasibility of uranium ore enrichment.

According to the size of aggregates and grains of uranium minerals, the following are distinguished: coarse-grained (over 25 mm in diameter), medium-grained (3–25 mm), fine-grained (0.1–3 mm), fine-grained (0.015–0.1 mm) and dispersed (less than 0.015 mm) uranium ores. The grain size of uranium minerals also determines the possibility of ore beneficiation. According to the content of useful impurities, uranium ores are: uranium, uranium-molybdenum, uranium-vanadium, uranium-cobalt-bismuth-silver and others.

According to the chemical composition of impurities, uranium ores are divided into: silicate (mainly composed of silicate minerals), carbonate (more than 10-15% of carbonate minerals), iron oxide (iron-uranium ores), sulfide (more than 8-10% of sulfide minerals) and caustobiolite composed mainly of organic matter.

The chemical composition of ores often determines how they are processed. From silicate ores, uranium is released by acids, from carbonate ores - by soda solutions. Iron oxide ores are blast-furnace smelted. Caustobiolite uranium ores are sometimes beneficiated by combustion.

As mentioned above, the uranium content in the earth's crust is quite low. There are several uranium ore deposits in Russia:

Zherlovoe and Argunskoe deposits. Located in the Krasnokamensk district of the Chita region. The reserves of the Zherlovoy deposit are 4137 thousand tons of ore, which contain only 3485 tons of uranium (average grade 0.082%), as well as 4137 tons of molybdenum (grade 0.227%). The C1 reserves of uranium at the Argunskoye deposit are 13025 thousand tons of ore, 27957 tons of uranium (average grade 0.215%) and 3598 tons of molybdenum (with an average grade of 0.048%). Reserves in category C2 are: 7990 thousand tons of ore, 9481 tons of uranium (with an average content of 0.12%) and 3191 tons of molybdenum (average content of 0.0489%). About 93% of all Russian uranium is mined here.

5 uranium deposits ( Istochnoye, Kolichkanskoe, Dybrynskoe, Namarusskoe, Koretkondinskoe) are located on the territory of the Republic of Buryatia. The total explored reserves of the deposits amount to 17.7 thousand tons of uranium, the inferred resources are estimated at another 12.2 thousand tons.

Khiagda uranium deposit. Production is carried out by in-situ leaching. The explored reserves of this field in the C1 + C2 category are estimated at 11.3 thousand tons. The deposit is located on the territory of the Republic of Buryatia.

Radioactive materials are used not only for the creation of nuclear weapons and fuel. For example, small amounts of uranium are added to glass to give it color. Uranium is a part of various metal alloys and is used in photography and other fields.

In the last few years, the topic is gaining more and more relevance nuclear power... For the production of atomic energy, it is customary to use a material such as uranium. It is a chemical element belonging to the actinide family.

The chemical activity of this element determines the fact that it is not contained in free form. For its production, mineral formations called uranium ores are used. Such an amount of fuel is concentrated in them, which makes it possible to consider the extraction of this chemical element as economically rational and profitable. On this moment in the bowels of our planet, the content of this metal exceeds the reserves of gold in 1000 times(cm. ). In general, the deposits of this chemical element in the soil, aquatic environment and rock are estimated at more than 5 million tons.

In a free state, uranium is a gray-white metal, which is characterized by 3 allotropic modifications: rhombic crystal, tetragonal and body-centered cubic lattices... The boiling point of this chemical element is 4200 ° C.

Uranium is a chemically active material. In air, this element slowly oxidizes, easily dissolves in acids, reacts with water, but does not interact with alkalis.

Uranium ores in Russia are usually classified according to various criteria. Most often they differ in terms of education. So, there are endogenous, exogenous and metamorphogenic ores... In the first case, they are mineral formations formed under the influence of high temperatures, humidity and pegmatite melts. Exogenous uranium mineral formations arise in surface conditions. They can form directly on the surface of the earth. This is due to circulation groundwater and accumulation of precipitation. Metamorphogenic mineral formations appear as a result of redistribution of initially spread uranium.

In accordance with the level of uranium content, these natural formations can be:

super rich (over 0.3%);
rich (from 0.1 to 0.3%);
privates (from 0.05 to 0.1%);
poor (from 0.03 to 0.05%);
off-balance sheet (from 0.01 to 0.03%).

Modern Uranium Applications

Today, uranium is most commonly used as fuel for rocket engines and nuclear reactors. Given the properties of this material, it is also designed to enhance the power of a nuclear weapon. This chemical element has also found its use in painting. It is actively used as yellow, green, brown and black pigments. Uranium is also used to make cores for armor-piercing projectiles.

Uranium ore mining in Russia: what is needed for this?

The extraction of radioactive ores is carried out by three main technologies. If ore deposits are concentrated as close as possible to the surface of the earth, then for their extraction it is customary to use open technology... It involves the use of bulldozers and excavators that dig holes big size and load the obtained minerals into dump trucks. Then she goes to the processing complex.

With a deep occurrence of this mineral formation, it is customary to use underground technology production, providing for the creation of a mine with a depth of up to 2 kilometers. The third technology is significantly different from the previous ones. Underground leaching for the development of uranium deposits involves the drilling of wells through which sulfuric acid is injected into the deposit. Next, another well is drilled, which is necessary to pump the resulting solution to the surface of the earth. Then it goes through a sorption process, which allows it to collect the salts of this metal on a special resin. The last stage of the SPV technology is the cyclic treatment of the resin with sulfuric acid. Thanks to this technology, the concentration of this metal becomes maximum.

Uranium ore deposits in Russia

Russia is considered one of the world leaders in the extraction of uranium ores. Over the past several decades, Russia has been consistently among the top 7 leading countries in this indicator.

The largest deposits of these natural mineral formations are:

The largest uranium deposits in the world - leading countries

Australia is considered the world leader in uranium mining. More than 30% of all world reserves are concentrated in this state. The largest Australian deposits are Olympic Dam, Beaverley, Ranger and Honemun.

The main competitor of Australia is Kazakhstan, which contains almost 12% of the world's fuel reserves. Canada and South Africa each have 11% of the world's uranium reserves, Namibia - 8%, Brazil - 7%. Russia closes the top seven with 5%. The list of leaders also includes countries such as Namibia, Ukraine and China.

The world's largest uranium deposits are:

Field	Country	Start of processing
Olympic Dam	Australia	1988
Rossing	Namibia	1976
MacArthur River	Canada	1999
Inkai	Kazakhstan	2007
Dominion	South Africa	2007
Ranger	Australia	1980
Kharasan	Kazakhstan	2008

Uranium ore reserves and production volumes in Russia

The explored reserves of uranium in our country are estimated at more than 400 thousand tons. At the same time, the indicator of projected resources is more than 830 thousand tons. As of 2017, there are 16 uranium deposits in operation in Russia. Moreover, 15 of them are concentrated in Transbaikalia. The main deposit of uranium ore is the Streltsovskoe ore field. In the majority of domestic deposits, mining is carried out by the mine method.

Uranus was discovered back in the 18th century. In 1789, the German scientist Martin Klaproth was able to produce metal-like uranium from ore. Interestingly, this scientist is also the discoverer of titanium and zirconium.
Uranium compounds are actively used in the field of photography. This element is used to color positives and enhance negatives.
The main difference between uranium and other chemical elements is natural radioactivity. Uranium atoms tend to change independently over time. At the same time, they emit rays invisible to the human eye. These rays are divided into 3 types - gamma, beta alpha radiation (see).

Uranium, as a chemical element, was discovered in 1789, and its radioactive properties were revealed at the end of the 19th century. In the past century, uranium has only been used to make nuclear weapons. And nowadays it is widely used in many industries, for example, it is added in small quantities to glass for coloring. But to a greater extent it is used to create electrical energy.

The worst on the planet

Characteristics of uranium ores

Natural formations containing metal in significant concentrations are called uranium ores. Often, together with uranium, other radioactive elements such as polonium and radium are found in the ore.

coarse-grained - over 25 mm in diameter;
medium-grained - from 3 to 25 mm;
fine-grained - from 0.1 to 3 mm;
fine-grained - from 0.015 to 0.1 mm;
dispersed - less than 0.015 mm.

The size of the grains depends on how the enrichment will be carried out.

Uranium ore is classified by impurity content;

uranium-molybdenum;
uranium-cobalt-nickel-bismuth;
uranium-vanadium;
monoruda.

Ore is distinguished by chemical composition:

silicate;
carbonate;
sulfide;
iron oxide;
caustobiol.

The chemical composition determines in what way the rock will be processed. For example:

uranium is separated from carbonate ores with soda solution;
from silicate - with acid;
from iron oxide - by blast-furnace smelting.

The ore is classified by uranium content:

very rich - contains over 1% metal;
rich - from 1 to 0.5%;
medium - from 0.5 to 0.25%;
ordinary - from 0.25 to 0.1%;
poor - less than 0.1%.

The metal is extracted from the rock, which contains uranium in the range of 0.01 - 0.015%, as a by-product.

Uranium deposits in Russia

Zherlovoe - located in the Chita region, reserves are estimated at 4137 thousand tons. In terms of metal content - molybdenum - 0.082% uranium and 0.227% molybdenum. Pure uranium is only 3485 tons;
Argunskoe - located in the Chita region. Ore reserves of category C1 - 13025 thousand tons, of which uranium - 27957 tons, category C2 - 7990 thousand, of which 9481 tons of pure uranium. This is the largest deposit. It gives 93% of the total Russian production volume;
Istochnoye, Dybrynskoye, Kolichkanovskoye, Koretkondinskoye - deposits located in the Republic of Buryatia. In this area, the explored reserves are about 17.7 thousand tons, and the forecast resources are 12.2 thousand tons;
Khiagdinskoye - located in Buryatia. Uranium ore reserves - 11.3 thousand tons.

According to experts, the most promising fields in Russia are currently at the development stage:

Elkonskoye - located in Yakutia, according to forecasts there are 346 thousand tons of ore;
Malinovskoe - in Western Siberia;
Vitimskoe and Aldanskoe - in Eastern Siberia;
Far East - located on the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk;
In Karelia near the Onega and Ladoga lakes.

The total uranium reserves in Russia are estimated at 800 thousand tons.

How uranium ore is mined

Uranium deposits in Russia are developed in two ways:

open;
underground.

Open pit mining of uranium is carried out when layers of useful rock lie shallow underground.

For the extraction of ores, machine technology is used:

bulldozers - for rock opening;
bucket loaders;
dump trucks for transportation.

A prerequisite for open pit development in Russia is its subsequent closure. It is carried out by covering layers, and reclamation is carried out on the restored surface.

The open method is safer and cheaper. It is believed that the radiation level with such a development is much lower. But the quality of the ore is also low.

Uranium ore mining equipment Higher grade ore is mined underground. It consists in equipping mines or adits. Today technical capabilities do not limit production in depth, but exceeding two kilometers makes production unprofitable.

The main problem with underground mining is the release of radon, a radioactive gas. It can spread rapidly and create high concentrations in the mine atmosphere. One radon atom lives for 5 days. The main challenge in mine design is to provide an efficient ventilation system. So that the gas atoms do not accumulate, but rise to the surface. Often ventilation systems and pipes are used not to supply oxygen to the mine, but to remove radon. At the same time, air is supplied artificially... The mine of the PIMCU enterprise in Russia consumes 1410 m 3 of air per minute. The ventilation units operate continuously, even when the mine is not in operation.

The underground leaching method is a modern progressive technology. Its use causes the least damage to the ecology of the region. The essence of the method is as follows:

a well is being drilled;
an alkaline composition is pumped into it;
after interaction with uranium rock, metal leaching occurs;
uranium-laden chemical composition pumped out to the surface.

Despite the significant advantages, this method can only be used in sandstone and below the groundwater level.

Situation in the world

Today, uranium is mined only in 28 countries around the world. At the same time, 90% of the deposits are located in 10 countries, which are leaders in terms of production volumes.

# 1 Australia

Main factors:

proven reserves - 661,000 tons (31.18% of global reserves);
deposits - 19 large. The most famous:
- Olympic Dam - 3,000 tons per year are mined;
- Beaverley - one thousand tons per year;
- Honemun - 900 t.
production cost - $ 40 per kilogram;
largest mining companies:
- Paladin Energy;
- Rio Tinto;
- BHP Billiton.

The second place in terms of production from Kazakhstan

Basic data:

proven reserves - 629,000 tons (11.81% of global reserves);
deposits - 16 large. The most famous:
- Korsan;
- Irkol;
- Budenovskoe;
- Western Mynkuduk;
- South Inkai;
production cost - $ 40 per kg;
production volume - 22,574 tons per year;
production company - Kazatomprom (produces 15.77% of the global volume).

Third place in Russia

Indicators:

Fourth place - Canada

Indicators:

proven reserves - 468,000 tons (8.80% of global reserves);

deposits - 18 large. The most famous:
1. MacArthur River;
2. Waterbury;
production cost - $ 34 per kilogram;
production volume - 9332 tons per year;
mining company - Cameco (produces 9144 tons of uranium per year).

Fifth place - Niger

proven reserves - 421,000 tons (7.9% of global reserves);
Place of Birth:
- Imuraren;
- Arlit;
- Madahuela;
- Azelite;
production cost - $ 35 per kilogram;
production volume - 4528 tons per year.

The second five countries in terms of uranium reserves are as follows:

South Africa - 297,000 tons;
Brazil - 276,000 tons;
Namibia - 261,000 tons;
USA - 207,000 tons;
China - 166,000 tons

According to experts' forecasts, the number of nuclear power plants in the world will increase by 2025. This growth will provoke a greater demand for uranium - an increase of 44% (80-100 thousand tons). Therefore, all over the world there is a tendency to use secondary sources of uranium:

gold;
phosphates;
copper;
lignite-bearing rocks.

Video: How uranium is mined

Uranium ore symbol on the physical map

In this article we will get acquainted with the image (picture) "Symbol of uranium ore on the physical map."

Uranium ore symbol on the physical map. Uranium ore is the main nuclear fuel for nuclear power plants.

This mineral is indicated on the physical map (contour map) by the following symbol.

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Uranium ore and uranium (image for classes and lessons).

Uranium ore is a natural mineral formation in which uranium contains such an amount that it is economically profitable to extract it.

By the amount of uranium, mineral ores are:

super rich.
Such ores contain 0.3% U, and the ore itself in such deposits is over 50 thousand tons.
rich, containing from 0.1 to 0.3%.
privates, include 0.05-0.10%
poor.
Uranium mining

Such ores contain 0.03-0.05% uranium
off-balance sheet, in which there is only 0.01-0.03%.

Most uranium is present in acidic rocks, which contain a lot of silicon.

The most important uranium ores are uranium tar (uraninite) and carnotite.

Table 1. List of uranium minerals

Uranium mining

Uranium is mined in three ways:

the open method is suitable in cases where the ore is deposited in close proximity to the surface of the earth.
For mining, it is necessary to dig a deep and wide hole with the help of bulldozers, and then load the mined ore with excavators into dump trucks that will deliver the rock to the processing complex
underground mining is used if the ore occurs at a considerable depth.
This method is significantly more expensive than the previous one. It is used only in cases where a high concentration of uranium in the rock has been proven. To implement this method, it is necessary to drill a vertical shaft, from which horizontal workings should be diverted. Uranium mines can be located at a depth of two kilometers. Miners extract ore, use freight elevators to deliver it upstairs, after which it is sent for processing
borehole in situ leaching (SPV).
For production by this method, it is necessary to drill 6 wells at the corners of the hexagon. Sulfuric acid is pumped into uranium deposits through these wells. In the center of the entire structure, another well is drilled through which a solution saturated with uranium salts is pumped out.

Uranium mines

According to the latest data, there are 440 commercial reactors on our planet, which need 67 thousand tons of uranium annually.
Uranium mining in the world is concentrated in the three states of Australia, Kazakhstan and Russia. In Australia, 31% of the world's uranium is located, in Kazakhstan - 12%, in Russia and Canada - 9% each.

Uranium mining in Russia is carried out mainly on the territory of the Sakha Republic in Yakutia. Total in Russian Federation there are 550 thousand tons of uranium deposits. In addition to Yakutia, there are uranium deposits in Transbaikalia and Buryatia.
It is interesting that the world's reserves are located in states that have nothing to do with nuclear energy. For example, uranium in Niger is mined by French companies for their own needs.

But in the USA, China, India, France, Japan, South Korea there is an acute shortage of uranium. Therefore, today there are military actions between countries for control over uranium ore deposits. The toughest situation is in Africa. There because of uranium are kindled civil wars and many people die.

uranium ore, uranium mines, uranium, uranium mines

Uranium ores (a.uranium ores; n.

How uranium is mined (13 photos)

Uranerze; f. minerais uraniferes, minerais d'uranium; and. minerales de urania, minerales uraniсos) - natural mineral formations containing uranium in such concentrations, quantities and compounds at which it industrial mining economically feasible.

Main ore minerals: oxides - uraninite, uranium tar, uranium black; silicates - coffinite; titanates - brannerite; uranyl silicates - uranophane, betauranotil; uranil-vanadaty - carnotite, tyuyamunite; uranyl phosphates - othenite, torbernite.

In addition, uranium in ores is often included in minerals containing P, Zr, Ti, Th, and TR (fluorapatite, leucoxene, monazite, zircon, orthite, thorianite, davidite, etc.), or is in a sorbed state in a carbonaceous substance.

Usually uranium ores are distinguished: super-rich (more than 0.3% U), rich (0.1-0.3%), ordinary (0.05-0.10%), poor (0.03-0.05%) and off-balance sheet (0.01-0.03%). Uranium deposits with reserves (thousand tons) of more than 50 are very large, large - from 10 to 50, medium - from 1 to 10, small - 0.2-1.0 and very small - less than 0.2 ...

Uranium ores are diverse in terms of formation conditions, nature of occurrence, mineral composition, the presence of associated components, development methods.

Sedimentary uranium ores (exogenous syngenetic) include stratal Paleogene deposits of organogenic-phosphate type in the CCCP (deposits of fish bone detritus enriched in U and TR) and Early Proterozoic quartz-pebble uranium-bearing conglomerates of the Elliot Lake areas in Canada (with Th, Zr, Ti) , Witwatersrand in South Africa(with Au) and Jacobin in Brazil (with Au).

Ores, as a rule, are ordinary and poor. Among the infiltration deposits (exogenous epigenetic), there are soil, stratal and fracture infiltration. The leading among them are coffinite-cherniyevye deposits of the bed-infiltration type, where uranium ores occur in permeable rocks of artesian basins and are controlled by the boundaries of the formation oxidation zones. Ore deposits are in the form of rolls (elongated sickle-shaped bodies) or lenses. The ores are predominantly run-of-mine and poor, sometimes complex with Se, Re, Mo, V, Sc (deposits of arid regions of the CCCP, Wyoming in the USA, Niger).

Among soil-infiltration deposits, industrial interest is mainly represented by uranium-coal deposits, where uranium and accompanying mineralization are localized in the top of seam brown coal, at the contact with oxidized sands, as well as near-surface deposits of carnotite ores in "calcret" and "hypcret" (carbonate and gypsum formations river paleovalleys) in Australia (Yilirri field) and Namibia.

This group is adjoined by stratiform uranium-bitumen deposits in terrigenous and carbonate rocks, where the ore matter is represented by pitchblende-containing kerites and anthraxolites (deposits of the Grate belt in the USA, Banata in Romania). These ore objects, together with the infiltration ones, are sometimes combined into deposits of the "sandstone" type (ordinary and poor ores).

Their possible metamorphosed analogues are the deposits of the Fransville ore region in Gabon, among them the unique Oklo deposit. Hydrothermal deposits (endogenous epigenetic medium-low-temperature) are mainly vein and vein-stockwork, less often bed-like. They are subdivided into proper uranium (including uranium carbonate veins), molybdenum-uranium (often with Pb, As, Zn, and other chalcophiles), titanium-uranium, phosphorus-uranium (with Zr, Th). The main ore minerals are pitchblende, coffinite, brannerite (in uranium-thorium ores), uranium-containing fluorapatite (in phosphorus-uranium ores).

Secondary uranyl silicates, uranyl phosphates, and uranyl arsenates are developed in the oxidation zones. The ores are ordinary and rich. This group includes deposits in volcano-tectonic structures and basement rocks of a number of regions of the CCCP, the Ore Mountains, the Central French Massif, the Beaverlodge and Great Bear Lake regions in Canada, the USA (Marysvale), Australia (the Mount Isa and Westmoreland regions).

The same group is adjoined by metasomatic deposits of the "unconformity" type found in Canada (ore regions of Rabbit Lake, Key Lake, etc.) and Northern Australia (Alligator River region). They are characterized by the control of mineralization by surfaces of stratigraphic unconformity, bed-like or bed-like-vein morphology, unusually high uranium contents in ores (0, n - n%).

The main ore minerals are pitchblende, uraninite, coffinite, and brannerite. In Australia, a unique stratiform deposit of complex ores Olimpik-Dam (the Roxby Downs ore region) has been identified, the total reserves of which are estimated at 1200 thousand tons of U, 32 million tons of Cu and 1200 tons of Au. Magmatogenic and postmagmatic uranium ores (endogenous high-temperature) include deposits associated with pegmatoid granites or alaskites (intra-intrusive "porphyry" deposits of the Rossing region in Namibia), alkaline metasomatites (deposits of Itataia, Lagoa-Realm, alkaline rocks in Brazil) Ilimaussak in Greenland), skarns (Mary-Kathleen deposit in Australia), carbonatites.

The ores are mostly ordinary and poor, often off-balance (for uranium), complex with uranium-containing minerals Ti, Th, Zr, Nb, Ta, TR.

For the extraction and enrichment of uranium ores, see Art. Uranium industry.

In the 80s. uranium ores with a production cost of less than $ 80 / kg of uranium were profitable for mining.

The total reserves and resources of uranium, including potential ones, in the industrially developed capitalist and developing countries are estimated at 14 million tons (excluding associated uranium). The main reserves of uranium ores (thousand tons) in these countries are concentrated in Australia (465), Canada (180), South Africa, Niger, Brazil, USA (133) and Namibia.

Approximately 31% of the total reserves are accounted for by the "unconformity" type deposits, 25% - by the "sandstone" type, 16% - by the uranium-bearing conglomerates, 14% - by the "porphyry" type, etc.

The world annual production of uranium concentrates in these countries in 1988 amounted to 37.4 thousand tons of uranium at average cost$ 30 per kg (early 1989).

Irradiation during uranium mining

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It is known that uranium ore is mined in underground and opencast mines.

In the latter case, the working conditions are much better, since the dust content in the air is less, and therefore the dose loads are lower.

The radiation effect on the personnel of uranium mines is mainly due to the internal irradiation of radioactive gas with radon and its daughter products of its decay. Concentration in air radioactive aerosols is under constant, systematic control during the development of relatively rich deposits with an average uranium content in the ore of more than 0.2%.

In ore, uranium and its decay products are in radioactive equilibrium.

The total activity is approximately 4 mCi (1.5 x 108 Bq) per kg of U3O8. To reduce the concentration of radioactive aerosols in the air, efficient ventilation of mines is used: fresh air not less than 6 m3 / min.

Uranium ore

The radiation dose to the lungs of underground workers usually does not exceed 1 - 2 cSv per year. In open pit mines, the internal exposure of workers is about 3 times less than underground.

In addition to radon and its daughter decay products, uranium mine personnel are exposed to external gamma and beta radiation.

When mining rich ores, personnel are protected from external radiation by limiting the duration of work, by periodically moving miners from rich to poor areas, and by other organizational measures. On average, the dose due to external irradiation is 1 cSv per year underground and about 0.5 cSv per year at the surface.

Thus, the radiation technological principles of ore mining, ventilation of mine workings and technical means dust suppression provide quite satisfactory working conditions for miners.

The main source of radioactive contamination the environment at uranium mines - waste generated during ore processing and accumulated in tailings. When the uranium content in the ore is 0.2%, for every 200 tons of uranium mined (approximately the annual demand of a nuclear power plant with a thermal neutron reactor with an electrical capacity of 1 GW) 105 tons of waste.

The impact of the mine on environment depends on its capacity, the content of uranium in the ore, the method of its extraction, the number of people living near the enterprise and other factors. However, in general, it can be noted that the individual annual radiation doses of the population living near uranium mines are extremely low and amount to hundredths of a microsievert.

The explored Russian reserves of uranium are estimated at 615 thousand tons, and the inferred resources - at 830 thousand tons (2005). Unfortunately, many of them are located in hard-to-reach regions. The largest among them is the Elkon deposit in the south of Yakutia, its reserves are estimated at 344 thousand tons. About 150 thousand tons are the reserves of another deposit, known as the Streltsovskoe ore field in the Chita region.

70 thousand tons
As of 1999, the state balance of uranium reserves of Russia took into account the reserves of 16 deposits, of which 15 are concentrated in one area - Streltsovsky in Transbaikalia (Chita region) and are suitable for mining.

The open (career) method is not currently used in Russia. The mining method is used in uranium deposits in the Chita region. The technology of underground leaching is more widely used.

The mined uranium-bearing ores and solutions are processed to obtain uranium concentrates on site. The resulting product is sent for further processing at the Chepetsk Mechanical Plant OJSC.

In 2007, uranium ore was mined in Russia by TVEL Corporation, which includes three subsidiaries: Priargunsky mining and chemical association in the city of Krasnokamensk, Chita region (3 thous.

t / y), JSC Dalur in the Kurgan region and JSC Khiagda in Buryatia (capacity of each 1 thousand tons of uranium per year).

Argunskoye, Zherlovoye and Berezovoye uranium deposits have been discovered in the Chita Region. Reserves: category С2 - 3.05 million tons of ore and 3481 tons of uranium with an average uranium content in the ore of 0.114%, the predicted uranium resources of the Gornoye deposit in category C1 are 394 thousand tons of ore and 1,087 tons of uranium, for С2 - 1.77 million tons of ore and 4226 tons of uranium. Inferred resources of the P1 category deposit amount to 4800 tons of uranium.

The B + C1 category reserves of the Olovskoye deposit amount to 14.61 million tonnes of ore and 11,898 tonnes of uranium.

Located in the Chita region (Transbaikalia), the Streltsovskoe ore field includes more than a dozen uranium (and molybdenum) deposits suitable for mining and quarrying. The largest of them - Streltsovskoe and Tulendevskoe - have reserves of 60 and 35 thous.

tons respectively. Currently, mining is carried out by the mine method at five deposits by two mines, which provides 93% of Russian uranium production (2005). So near the city of Krasnokamensk (460 km southeast of Chita), 93% of Russian uranium is mined. Extraction is carried out by the mine method (previously, the open-pit method was also used) by the Priargunsky Industrial Mining and Chemical Association (PIMCU).

The rest of the uranium in Russia is mined by the in situ leaching method of ZAO Dalur and OAO Khiagda, located in the Kurgan region and Buryatia, respectively.

The resulting uranium concentrate and uranium-containing ores are processed at the Chepetsk Mechanical Plant.

Trans-Urals is an area that includes 3 deposits: Dolmatovskoe, Dobrovolskoe and Khokhlovskoe with total reserves of about 17 thousand tons. The uranium content in the ore is 0.06%. All deposits are concentrated in paleovalleys, with a depth of 350-560 m and fairly average geotechnological indicators.

Production is carried out by ZAO Dalur (Kurgan region) with a capacity of 1000 t / y, the production method is in-situ leaching.

At the Khiagda uranium deposit in Buryatia, underground borehole leaching of uranium is used. Production is carried out by JSC Khiagda.

The production volume is 1.5 thousand tons of uranium concentrate per year. The probable reserves of the deposit are estimated at 100 thousand tons, the explored reserves - at 40 thousand tons (the estimated life of the mine is 50 years). The uranium content in 1 cubic meter of enriched ore reaches 100 mg.

Uranium by country

The cost price of 1 kg of beneficiated ore ranges from $ 20. This is 2 times lower than at the main uranium mine in Russia in Krasnokamensk, Chita Region.

The total reserves of uranium deposits in the Elkon region of Yakutia are 346 thousand tons, which makes them one of the largest in the world. Quantitatively, this surpasses all the balance reserves in the country, but due to the ordinary quality of ores, they can become profitable only if the price of uranium is high.

Since 2006, a project for the development of these deposits has been prepared. The expected productivity of the mine in 2020 is 15 thousand tons of uranium per year.

The largest known potential source of uranium raw materials, the Aldan deposit, is suitable for development only by mining. According to geologists, the development of the Vitim uranium ore region is more promising.

Vitimsky region (Siberia) with explored reserves of 60 thousand tons at a uranium concentration of 0.054% in ore with accompanying scandium, rare earth elements and lanthanides;). Vitimsky ore region - includes 5 deposits, the total reserves of which are estimated at 75 thous.

t. The largest are: Khiagdinskoe and Tetrakhskoe. Both objects are located in paleovalleys, suitable for underground leaching, their peculiarity is their location in the permafrost zone under a thick (100-150 m) cover of basalts.

Since in Russia this is the most difficult region for the development of deposits, production here is 100 t / y. The cost category of uranium from these objects is 34-52 dollars.

West Siberian region (Malinovskoye deposit with reserves of 200 thousand tons of uranium). West Siberian area - includes 8 small deposits suitable for the PV method, also localized in paleovalleys, with total reserves of about 10 thousand tons.

t. The most studied of them is the Malinovskoye field, where a 2-well test on UW of uranium is currently being carried out. The field area is somewhat easier to develop than Vitimsky, but by 2010 the real production will be 100-150 t / y. The cost category of uranium from these facilities is 13-20 dollars.

US per pound U3O8. The Far Eastern ore-bearing region, located in the coastal zone of the Sea of Okhotsk, has not yet been explored enough.

The promising regions include the Onega region (Karelia), where reserves of vanadium ore containing uranium, gold and platinum have been discovered.

"Nevskgeologia" conducted exploration of a uranium deposit (Middle Padma) in the area Lake Ladoga near the village of Salmi (Medvezhyegorsk district). Uranium ore reserves here may reach 40 thousand tons. The deposit is not being developed, mainly due to the lack of technology for processing this type of ore.

By 2005, the existing deficit of uranium in Russia for its own needs amounted to 5 thousand tons per year and is constantly growing. The situation worsened with the start of the atomic reform, when a decision was made to actively build new nuclear power plants in Russia in order to bring the share of nuclear energy in electricity production to 25-30%.

In 2004, it mined 32,000 tons of uranium with a requirement of 9,900 tons (the rest was provided by supplies from warehouses - depletion of military uranium).

Realizing the threat of a fuel crisis, in 2006 Rosatom established OJSC Uranium Mining Company, the UGRK, designed to provide the old Russian nuclear power plants with uranium raw materials for a long time (taking into account the fact that the duration of their operation has been extended to 60 years), Russian nuclear power plants under construction, and also nuclear power plants built and under construction by Russia abroad (in 2006 one sixth of nuclear power plants in the world operated on Russian fuel).

The new company was created by two structures controlled by Minatom: TVEL Corporation and JSC Techsnabexport. UGRK expects to increase the volume of uranium mining by 2020 to 28.63 thousand tons. At the same time, production in Russia itself will amount to 18 thousand tons: at the Priargunsk mining and chemical association 5 thousand tons, at JSC Khiagda - 2 thousand tons.

tons, JSC Dalur - 1 thousand tons, at the Elkonskoye field in Yakutia - 5 thousand tons, at a number of new fields in the Chita region and in Buryatia - 2 thousand tons. Another 3 thousand tons are planned to be mined at new enterprises, for which only the predicted uranium reserves are known so far. In addition, the company expects to extract about 5 thousand tons of uranium at two already established joint ventures in Kazakhstan by 2020. The possibility of creating a joint venture for uranium mining in Ukraine and Mongolia is also being discussed.

We are talking about the Ukrainian Novokonstantinovskoye field and the Mongolian Erdes field. The company also expects to create two more joint ventures for uranium mining in northern Kazakhstan - at the Semizbay and Kasachinnoye fields. The uranium mined by joint ventures abroad will be exported after enrichment at Russian separation plants, for example, at the established International Enrichment Center in Angarsk.