Uranium ore is mined in several ways: by open pit, underground, in-situ leaching, and borehole mining (see uranium mining). Low-grade uranium ore mined typically contains 0.01 to 0.25% uranium oxides. Extensive measures must be employed to extract the metal from its ore. High-grade ores found in Athabasca Basin deposits in Saskatchewan, Canada can contain up to 23% uranium oxides on average. Uranium ore is crushed and rendered into a fine powder and then leached with either an acid or alkali. The leachate is subjected to one of several sequences of precipitation, solvent extraction, and ion exchange. The resulting mixture, called yellowcake, contains at least 75% uranium oxides U3O8. Yellowcake is then calcined to remove impurities from the milling process before refining and conversion. COUNT 5
QSN1 What percentage range of uranium oxide is usually contained in low-grade uranium ore? ANS1 0.01 to 0.25% QSN2 Along with underground, open pit and in-situ leaching, what sort of mining is used to mine uranium? ANS2 borehole QSN3 In what country are high-grade uranium ores notably found? ANS3 Canada QSN4 In what province of Canada is the Athabasca Basin? ANS4 Saskatchewan QSN5 What is the average percentage of uranium oxide contained in the ores mined in the Athabasca Basin? ANS5 23%