After mining, uranium must be separated from its host rock. The chemistry of that step, and of what happens to uranium in water and soil afterwards, explains most of the environmental questions around the industry.
This section covers mill tailings, their long-term management and the geochemistry of uranium in the environment.
Processing: all pages in this section
Processing
Uranium Mill Tailings: Characteristics and Management
What uranium mill tailings contain, why radium-226, thorium-230 and radon matter, and how covers, disposal cells and UMTRCA rules manage them long term.
Processing
Uranium Chemistry and Mobility in the Environment
Why uranium dissolves in oxygenated water as uranyl carbonate but precipitates when reduced: oxidation states, sorption, microbes and remediation.