McArthur River Uranium Mine - Mining License 5516

Canada / Saskatchewan / La Ronge /
 uranium mine  Add category
MacArthur River is the world's largest, high-grade uranium mine with ore grades that are 100 times the world average. This mine produces more than 18 million pounds of uranium per year (over 10% of world production) by mining only 150 to 200 tonnes of ore per day. It is operated and 70% owned by the Cameco Corporation of Saskatoon, with the remaining 30% owned by COGEMA Resources.
www.cameco.com/operations/uranium/mcarthur_river

Mining at McArthur River calls for a number of innovative methods and techniques including ground freezing, because the sandstone that overlays the deposit and basement rocks are water=bearing, with large volumes of water under high pressure. Ground freezing forms an impermeable wall around the area being mined and prevents water from entering the mine.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McArthur_River_mine
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   57°45'55"N   105°2'13"W

Comments

  • 18 million pounds = 8 164,6 tons of uranium per year.
This article was last modified 10 years ago