Uranium for Nuclear Power: Resources, Mining and Transformation to Fuel

Uranium for Nuclear Power: Resources, Mining and Transformation to Fuel discusses the nuclear industry and its dependence on a steady supply of competitively priced uranium as a key factor in its long-term sustainability. A better understanding of uranium ore geology and advances in exploration and mining methods will facilitate the discovery and exploitation of new uranium deposits. The practice of efficient, safe, environmentally-benign exploration, mining and milling technologies, and effective site decommissioning and remediation are also fundamental to the public image of nuclear power. This book provides a comprehensive review of developments in these areas.

Provides researchers in academia and industry with an authoritative overview of the front end of the nuclear fuel cyclePresents a comprehensive and systematic coverage of geology, mining, and conversion to fuel, alternative fuel sources, and the environmental and social aspectsWritten by leading experts in the field of nuclear power, uranium mining, milling, and geological exploration who highlight the best practices needed to ensure environmental safety

Part 1 Geology, resources and markets: primary uranium

1. Uranium for nuclear power: an introduction

I. Hore-Lacy

2. Geology of uranium deposits

P. Bruneton and M. Cuney

3. Exploration for uranium

K. Kyser

4. Uranium resources

R. Vance

5. The uranium market, supply adjustments from secondary sources and enrichment underfeeding

S. Kidd

Part 2 Mining and alternative fuel sources

6. Uranium mining (open cut and underground) and milling

P. Woods

7. Introduction to uranium in situ recovery technology

M. Pelizza and C. Bartels

8. Nuclear fuel from secondary supplies of uranium and plutonium

J. Combs

9. Production of by-product uranium and uranium from unconventional resources

I. Hore-Lacy

10. Thorium as a nuclear fuel

B. van Gosen and H. Tulsidas

Part 3 Conversion, enrichment and fuel fabrication

11. Uranium conversion

A. Oliver and E. Ozberk

12. Uranium enrichment

P. Harding

13. Nuclear fuel fabrication

E. Supko

Part 4 Environmental and social issues

14. Management for health, safety, environment and community (HSEC) in uranium mining and processing

F. Harris

15. Safe and secure packaging and transport of uranium materials

D. Hem

16. Uranium mine and mill remediation and reclamation

D. Collier

17. Inter-regional technical cooperation for education and training in the uranium industry

P. Wieland