Uranium Mining Techniques and Waste Management

Abstract

In this paper, mining techniques of uranium were investigated. Basically three type of mining techniques are applied. Basic mining techniques are underground mining, open pit or surface mining and in-situ leaching mining methods. Each of them has several advantages and disadvantages to the other. Specifications of each technique was evaluated in this study. Uranium mine wastes present the most significant waste management problem because of their large volume and their radioactivity. Most of the constituents in these radioactive wastes are found naturally in soils and bedrock. During the uranium mining and milling operations, natural radiform oactive material changes its chemical and physical so that their potential for mobility is increased. The mobility results leakage to the environment and the public.