The chemical element uranium is widespread in the nature of the Earth. It is known that it exists in sea water (3 μg / L), is present in the layer of the lithosphere (1.3 · 1014 t). Its main part is in sedimentary rocks, acidic soils rich in silicon. Impurities are found in rare-earth minerals, thorium rocks.
In Russia, the following are considered the “main” uranium rocks: naturstan (it is also often called uraninite or uranium tar), carnotite. They differ only in their origin. Volcanogenic naturstan is more common in rocks formed during the Paleozoic era and subsequent periods. Uraninite is most often found in rocks of the Precambrian period, uranium mobiles, where uranium is also mined, are very young: they originated in sedimentary soils of the Cenozoic or other, even younger, periods.
This chemical element is fairly evenly distributed throughout the Earth, so there are uranium mines in 25 countries. The main amount (almost 30%) of it is mined in Canada, Australia (22%), Africa (19%). According to statistics, uranium mines in Russia supply about 6% of this element mined around the world.
Each uranium deposit is evaluated according to specific criteria.
- Open stocks. These include identified resources lying in areas with proven uranium reserves and favorable conditions for its development.
- Uranium reserves in the bowels. This assessment is carried out in its pure form, without taking into account the losses that inevitably occur when uranium springs are developed.
- Recoverable reserves. They mean a specific amount of this element mined in mines, regardless of its reserves in the bowels.
- Initial proven reserves, which are the sum of uranium mined and explored.
It should be noted that the assessment of uranium reserves in Russia is carried out according to other principles. It takes into account not only the saturation of the ore with uranium, but also the costs that will have to be incurred during its extraction. Therefore, it is believed that uranium mines can relate to completely different predicted resources. Among them, C1, P3, B + C1, etc.
The uranium mines of the USSR were located in territories that today have become part of other states.
- In Ukraine it was mined (and mined today) in the Kirovograd and Pobuzh districts. Uranium mines operate in Vatutinsky, Michurinsky, Pervomaisky, Zheltorechensky and other areas. In total, 12 deposits are currently operating in Ukraine.
- Uranium mines in the USSR were located in Kazakhstan. Today it is mined there in the Chu-Sarysuisk uranium ore province, the Dzhambul region, and other areas.
- In Tajikistan, uranium mines are still operating in the Tashkent and Leninabad regions, but mining on them is unprofitable.
- The mines of Uzbekistan are located in Uchkuduk, Kendyktyub, Lisavkan and Tohumbet.
- In Russia, uranium was also mined in the Stavropol Territory (Lermontov), Lovozero tundra, Lake Onega, and the Kola Peninsula.
Today, only proven reserves of this chemical element in Russia amount to 615 thousand tons, and projected production is approaching 830 thousand tons. However, a significant part of the fields to be developed is located in remote areas.
15 out of 16 deposits known in Russia are located in Transbaikalia (Chita Oblast, Streltsovskoye, Berezovoye, Argunskoye and Zherlovoye deposits). Work here is possible only by the mining method.
A large field (Elkon) is located in Yakutia.
Explored uranium reserves in the West Siberian region, on Vitim, in the coastal zone of the Sea of Okhotsk and Lake Ladoga. These areas suggest promising production.
Uranium is used not only in the nuclear industry or military affairs. In geology, it determines the age of rocks. In glass production, they are added to glass to give it a yellow or green fluorescent color, and porcelain is painted with uranium compounds.
