eng.monash.edu.au/enveng dr gavin m mudd environmental engineering uranium mining : is it...

eng.monash.edu.au/enveng

Dr Gavin M MuddDr Gavin M MuddEnvironmental EngineeringEnvironmental Engineering

UraniumUranium MiningMining : :

Is It Environmentally Is It Environmentally Sustainable ?Sustainable ?

18 October 200618 October 2006

IES/UNSW Public Forum on Nuclear Power : 18 Oct 2006 – Dr Gavin M. Mudd : Uranium Mining : Is It Environmentally Sustainable ? / 2

Hiroshima, Hiroshima, 66 Aug. 1945Aug. 1945 Bowker, 1948Bowker, 1948 Bowker, 1948Bowker, 1948

The Eternal Nuclear Debate …The Eternal Nuclear Debate …


Uranium Mining & Sustainability ?Uranium Mining & Sustainability ?

• Brief History of World Uranium MiningBrief History of World Uranium Mining

• Outline of Principal Hypotheses in Outline of Principal Hypotheses in Current DebateCurrent Debate

• Detailed Case Study of Australian Detailed Case Study of Australian Uranium Mining & ResourcesUranium Mining & Resources

• Global Trends in Production / ResourcesGlobal Trends in Production / Resources

• Sustainability Metrics ?Sustainability Metrics ?

• Summary and the Future ?Summary and the Future ?


Nuclear Science ‘101’ : Brief HistoryNuclear Science ‘101’ : Brief History

• 1500’s1500’s – Agricola notes ‘lung wasting disease’ in east German – Agricola notes ‘lung wasting disease’ in east German miners … miners … “killed by the pestilential air … lungs rot away”“killed by the pestilential air … lungs rot away”

• 17891789 – German chemist Klaproth discovers new kind of ‘half- – German chemist Klaproth discovers new kind of ‘half-metal’, naming it uranium (after the new planet)metal’, naming it uranium (after the new planet)

• 1800’s1800’s – uranium used in glazing, ceramics, glassware, etc. – uranium used in glazing, ceramics, glassware, etc.• 18961896 – French physicist Becquerel discovers the – French physicist Becquerel discovers the

phenomenon of ‘radioactivity’ in uraniumphenomenon of ‘radioactivity’ in uranium• 18981898 – Polish chemist Marie Curie isolates new elements – Polish chemist Marie Curie isolates new elements

radium and polonium as the main source of radioactivityradium and polonium as the main source of radioactivity• 1900’s1900’s (first decade) – idea of using radioactive radium for (first decade) – idea of using radioactive radium for

treating the growing ‘scourge of cancer’treating the growing ‘scourge of cancer’– global radium mining boom beginsglobal radium mining boom begins

• 1920’s1920’s – refined radium reaches – refined radium reaches ££10,000 10,000 per gramper gram


Nuclear Science ‘101’ : Brief History #2Nuclear Science ‘101’ : Brief History #2

• 19321932 – nuclear physics breakthroughs – neutrons and – nuclear physics breakthroughs – neutrons and deuterium were proven, new ‘accelerators’ split atomsdeuterium were proven, new ‘accelerators’ split atoms

• 19341934 – tritium (3H) discovered by Oliphant, first fission in – tritium (3H) discovered by Oliphant, first fission in uranium by Fermi (unknowingly at the time)uranium by Fermi (unknowingly at the time)

• 1938-391938-39 – fission in uranium established, chain reactions – fission in uranium established, chain reactions and concept of nuclear energy born – for energy & and concept of nuclear energy born – for energy & ‘bombs’‘bombs’

• 1939-451939-45 – global rush by the Allies to develop the bomb – global rush by the Allies to develop the bomb before Germany (and Japan) (the ‘Manhattan Project’)before Germany (and Japan) (the ‘Manhattan Project’)

• 19451945 – – August 6 & 9August 6 & 9 – atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima – atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japanand Nagasaki, Japan

• 1940’s1940’s (late) – global uranium mining boom begins for (late) – global uranium mining boom begins for weapons, dominated by Canada, USA, South Africa, …weapons, dominated by Canada, USA, South Africa, …

• 1960’s1960’s (late) – global uranium mining boom begins for (late) – global uranium mining boom begins for reactors, dominated by Canada, USA, Australia, …reactors, dominated by Canada, USA, Australia, …


Uranium Prod’n : Boom-Bust-BoomUranium Prod’n : Boom-Bust-Boom


Principal Points of Debate :Principal Points of Debate :

1.1. Uranium Resources are Uranium Resources are VastVast / / FiniteFinite

2.2. Exploration will find more Exploration will find more uraniumuranium

3.3. Environmental impacts are Environmental impacts are manageablemanageable / / significantsignificant– site specific / strategicsite specific / strategic


Australian Uranium Mining : 1Australian Uranium Mining : 1stst & 2 & 2ndnd

• First era saw uraniferous ores mined and First era saw uraniferous ores mined and processed for radium (minor U) 1910’s-20’sprocessed for radium (minor U) 1910’s-20’s

• Failed financially but provided fundamental Failed financially but provided fundamental basis for scientific expertise from 1940’sbasis for scientific expertise from 1940’s

• 1950’s saw vast exploration & prospecting, 1950’s saw vast exploration & prospecting, leading to new numerous mines & 5 millsleading to new numerous mines & 5 mills

• Majority of uranium supplied for weapons, Majority of uranium supplied for weapons, some for nuclear power programssome for nuclear power programs

• Left major environmental pollution legaciesLeft major environmental pollution legacies


• From late 1960’s following on from rapid From late 1960’s following on from rapid developments overseas, companies developments overseas, companies embarked on major U exploration : embarked on major U exploration : unparalelled success in finding Ranger, unparalelled success in finding Ranger, Jabiluka, Nabarlek, Yeelirrie, Roxby, etc …Jabiluka, Nabarlek, Yeelirrie, Roxby, etc …

• Coincided with major public concern and Coincided with major public concern and debate over nuclear power & weapons in debate over nuclear power & weapons in 1970’s : some mines eventually opened …1970’s : some mines eventually opened …

• 1980’s stagnant, while mid-1990s saw new 1980’s stagnant, while mid-1990s saw new interest, Beverley acid leach mine …interest, Beverley acid leach mine …

Australian Uranium Mining : 3Australian Uranium Mining : 3rdrd Era Era


Woolwich, Sydney, NSW, 1912Woolwich, Sydney, NSW, 1912

Radium Hill, ~1912Radium Hill, ~1912


The Rum Jungle Legacy …The Rum Jungle Legacy …19

70's

2000

's


Australian Uranium Mining Data :Australian Uranium Mining Data :

0.0

2.3

4.6

6.9

9.2

11.5

1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Ore

Mill

ed /

LG

O-W

R (

Mt)

/ P

rod

uct

ion

(kt

U3O

8)

0.00

0.64

1.28

1.92

2.56

3.20

Ore

Gra

de

(%U

3O

8)

/ Ura

niu

m R

eso

urc

es (

Mt

U3O

8)

Ore Milled (Mt)

Low Grade Ore & Waste Rock (Mt)

Uranium Production (kt U3O8)

Ore Grade (%U3O8)

Uranium Resources (Mt U3O8)

Radium mining phase


Oz Uranium Production by Mine :Oz Uranium Production by Mine :

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

1954 1957 1960 1963 1966 1969 1972 1975 1978 1981 1984 1987 1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005

An

nu

al P

rod

uct

ion

(k

t U

3O8)

Ranger Olympic Dam

Beverley Nabarlek

Mary Kathleen Rum Jungle

USAV-Moline USAV-Rockhole

Radium Hill-Port Pirie

RangerRanger

Olympic Dam

Beverley

Nabarlek

Mary Kathleen

Rum Jungle


By June 2006 :By June 2006 :


Ranger Uranium Project …Ranger Uranium Project …


Olympic Dam Cu-U-Au-Ag Olympic Dam Cu-U-Au-Ag (mega…)(mega…)

Proposed Proposed Open CutOpen Cut


Sustainability Metrics … ?Sustainability Metrics … ?

• Multiple aspects to understanding Multiple aspects to understanding sustainability of uranium miningsustainability of uranium mining– legacy of past sites : water, radiation, etc …legacy of past sites : water, radiation, etc …

– known uranium resourcesknown uranium resources

– environmental cost of extraction & processing :environmental cost of extraction & processing :> energy, water, emissions (COenergy, water, emissions (CO2 2 ), …), …

– understanding possible future trends …understanding possible future trends …


Global Trends in Uranium Ore GradeGlobal Trends in Uranium Ore Grade

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

1945 1955 1965 1975 1985 1995 2005

Ore

Gra

de

(%

U3

O8

)

Australia

Canada

Namibia

South Africa

United States of America


Global Trends in Uranium MillingGlobal Trends in Uranium Milling

0

20

40

60

80

100

1945 1955 1965 1975 1985 1995 2005

Ore

Mil

led

(M

t)

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

0.4

Ore

Gra

de

(%

U3

O8

)

Ore Milled Calculated Percentage Production Uranium Production (kt U3O8) Ore Grade / Yield (%U3O8)


0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Ura

niu

m R

es

ou

rce

s (M

t U

3O8)

Australian Economic Resources (Mt U3O8)

Global Economic Resources (Mt U3O8)

Global Trends in Uranium ResourcesGlobal Trends in Uranium Resources


Global Trends in U Resource GradeGlobal Trends in U Resource Grade

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

Co

un

try

Av

era

ge

Re

so

urc

e G

rad

e (

%U

3O

8)

Western World (Total)

Australia

Canada

South Africa

United States


Global Trends in U Milling : WaterGlobal Trends in U Milling : Water

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

9,000

10,000

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006

Wa

ter

Co

ns

um

pti

on

(k

L/t

U3O

8)

Ranger

Rossing

Beverley

Olympic Dam (100%)

Olympic Dam (20%)


Global Trends in U Milling : EnergyGlobal Trends in U Milling : Energy

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

1,800

2,000

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006

En

erg

y C

on

su

mp

tio

n (

GJ/

t U

3O8)

Ranger

Rossing

Beverley

Olympic Dam (100%)

Olympic Dam (20%)


Global Trends in U Milling : CO2Global Trends in U Milling : CO2

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006

Car

bo

n D

ioxi

de

Rel

ease

s (t

CO

2/t

U3O

8)

Ranger

Rossing

Olympic Dam (100%)

Olympic Dam (20%)


NabarlekNabarlek


Summary : U Mining v SustainabilitySummary : U Mining v Sustainability

• Relatively brief history globally & Oz in Relatively brief history globally & Oz in terms of mining (<60 years)terms of mining (<60 years)

• Major impacts from legacy sites in OzMajor impacts from legacy sites in Oz• Globally, ore grade is continuing to decline Globally, ore grade is continuing to decline

though recent Canadian mines delaying thisthough recent Canadian mines delaying this• Environmental “costs” are still not fully Environmental “costs” are still not fully

understood : long-term water quality understood : long-term water quality impacts, radiation changes, true energy & impacts, radiation changes, true energy & water costs, emissions, etc …water costs, emissions, etc …

• Resources are finite but ENV COSTResources are finite but ENV COST


AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

• Numerous colleagues around AustraliaNumerous colleagues around Australia• Peter Diehl (WISE Uranium Project)Peter Diehl (WISE Uranium Project)• Numerous LibrariansNumerous Librarians

Some ReferencesSome References• Mudd, 2005, Mudd, 2005, Historical Records of Australian Historical Records of Australian

ScienceScience, v16, pp169–198., v16, pp169–198.• Mudd, 2005, Mudd, 2005, Radiation Protection in AustralasiaRadiation Protection in Australasia, ,

v22, pp 99-119.v22, pp 99-119.• A few more are awaiting completion …A few more are awaiting completion …

eng.monash.edu.au/enveng dr gavin m mudd environmental engineering uranium mining : is it...

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