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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.
Mining in South Africa was once the main driving force behind the history and development of Africa's most advanced and richest economy. Large-scale and profitable mining started with the discovery of a diamond on the banks of the Orange River in 1867 by Erasmus Jacobs and the subsequent discovery of the Kimberley pipes a few years later. Gold rushes to Pilgrim's Rest and Barberton were precursors to the biggest discovery of all, the Main Reef/Main Reef Leader on Gerhardus Oosthuizen's farm Langlaagte, Portion C, in 1886, the Witwatersrand Gold Rush and the subsequent rapid development of the gold field there, the biggest of them all.
The mineral industry of Russia is one of the world's leading mineral industries and accounts for a large percentage of the Commonwealth of Independent States' production of a range of mineral products, including metals, industrial minerals, and mineral fuels. In 2005, Russia ranked among the leading world producers or was a significant producer of a vast range of mineral commodities, including aluminum, arsenic, cement, copper, magnesium compounds and metals, nitrogen, palladium, silicon, nickel and vanadium.
Namibia has one of the richest uranium mineral reserves in the world. There are currently two large operating mines in the Erongo Region and various exploration projects planned to advance to production in the next few years.
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.
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 Driefontein mine is a large mine located in the northern part of South Africa in Gauteng. Driefontein is an important gold producer and represents one of the largest uranium reserves in South Africa having estimated reserves of 238 million tonnes of ore grading 0.0053% uranium.
The Buffelsfontein mine is a large mine located in the northern part of South Africa in Gauteng. Buffelsfontein represents one of the largest uranium reserves in South Africa having estimated reserves of 59.3 million tonnes of ore grading 0.016% uranium.
The Hartebeestfontein Mine is a large mine located in the northern part of South Africa in Gauteng. Hartebeestfontein represents one of the largest uranium reserves in South Africa having estimated reserves of 641 million tonnes of ore grading 0.007% uranium.
The proposed Springbok Flats mine will be located near Settlers in southern Limpopo province, South Africa. The Springbok Flats resource represents one of the largest uranium reserves in South Africa having estimated reserves of 195 million tonnes of ore with a grading of 0.042% uranium.
The Kopanang mine is a large mine located in the northern part of South Africa in Gauteng. Kopanang represents one of the largest uranium reserves in South Africa having estimated reserves of 37.1 million tonnes of ore grading 0.065% uranium.
The Moab Khotsong mine is a large mine located in the northern part of South Africa in North West some 180 kilometers (110 mi) southwest of Johannesburg, South Africa. Moab Khotsong represents one of the largest uranium reserves in South Africa having estimated reserves of 57.2 million tonnes of ore grading 0.058% uranium.
The Vaal River mine is a large mine located in the northern part of South Africa in Gauteng. Vaal River represents one of the largest uranium reserves in South Africa having estimated reserves of 379.2 million tonnes of ore grading 0.0076% uranium.
The Dominion mine is a large mine located in the northern part of South Africa in Dominionville. Dominion represents one of the largest uranium reserves in South Africa having estimated reserves of 113.1 million tonnes of ore grading 0.037% uranium.
The Denny Dalton mine is a large mine located in the northern part of South Africa in Gauteng. Denny Dalton represents one of the largest uranium reserves in South Africa having estimated reserves of 31.2 million tons of ore grading 0.03% uranium.
The Blyvooruitzicht mine is a large mine located near the village of Blyvooruitzicht in the northern part of Gauteng, South Africa. Blyvooruitzicht represents one of the largest gold reserves in South Africa. It is part of the Witwatersrand Basin.
The Beisa North mine is a large mine located in the northern part of South Africa in Gauteng. Beisa North represents one of the largest uranium reserves in South Africa having estimated reserves of 27.9 million tonnes of ore grading 0.066% uranium.
The Husab Mine, operated under the Husab Uranium Project, is a uranium mine near the town of Swakopmund in the Erongo region of western-central Namibia. The mine is located approximately 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) south of the larger Rössing uranium mine and 45 kilometres (28 mi) from Walvis Bay. Swakop Uranium believes the Husab Mine has the potential to become the second largest uranium mine in the world after the McArthur River uranium mine in northern Saskatchewan, Canada and the largest open-pit mine on the African continent. Mine construction started in February 2013. The Husab Mine started production towards the end of 2016 after completion of the sulfuric acid leaching plant.
The Moiynkum Desert, is a desert in the Turkistan and Zhambyl regions of southern Kazakhstan.
References
- ↑ "Uranium in South Africa". wise-uranium.org. 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
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