Uranmalm

Uranmalm, or uranium ore, is rock that contains sufficient concentrations of uranium minerals to be mined economically. The ore is usually processed to extract uranium oxide, commonly expressed as U3O8. Ore grades vary widely; many deposits contain only tens to hundreds of parts per million uranium, while high-grade deposits can exceed a few tenths of a percent U3O8.

The primary uranium mineral is uraninite (pitchblende), a mainly UO2 mineral that often occurs with other oxides and silicates. Secondary or secondary-oxidation minerals such as carnotite, autunite, torbernite, and metaschoepite can form in weathered zones or as post-depositional assemblages. Uranium occurs in a variety of geological environments, and ore bodies may be concentrated in sandstone-hosted deposits, unconformity-related deposits, quartz-pebble conglomerates, or volcanic and intrusive settings.

Worldwide, uranium ore is mined for use in nuclear fuel and, less commonly, for research or medicine. Mined ore is processed in mills where it is crushed, leached (acid or alkaline), and subjected to solvent extraction and precipitation to produce yellowcake, primarily U3O8. The refining and conversion steps prepare the material for enrichment and fuel fabrication.

Major current producers include Kazakhstan, Canada, and Australia, with additional output from Namibia, Niger, Russia, and other countries. Extraction and processing raise environmental and safety concerns due to radioactivity and toxic tailings, requiring regulatory oversight, responsible waste management, and monitoring to limit radiation exposure and ecological impact.