Australian Minerals:
There are many natural resources found throughout Australia; although the main resources consist of:
- Uranium. - Nickel
- Iron ore. - Lead
- Zinc. - Gold
- Silver. - Copper
- Coal. - Tin
Uranium:
Uranium is a metallic white-silvery chemical with a symbol 'U' on the periodic table of elements. It is a very heavy metal which can be used as a source of energy. It occurs in most rocks in concentrations of 2-4 parts. It is also of high density and is the main source of heat inside the earth.
There are about 12 simple processed in which Uranium is produced but the most important in the process are: the Sedimentary Accumulation, Diagnosis, Magmatic Segregation and the Hydrothermal Circulation.
Sedimentation is where the rain off small sea life is formed on the bottom of the ocean (also includes river, lakes etc.) and salt is formed after the sea dries up as it is then covered by aeolian deposits.
Diagnosis is where chemical and physical change occurs after sediment. If oxygen is accessible, a component may combine with it to produce an oxide. This may replace another compound, or if oxygen is taken out, a sulfur atom could replace an oxygen atom. There could be ores produced by the freezing of materials by the differences in their temperatures. This means that the first formed uranium could either sink or float depending on its density.
Magmatic Segregation involves the production of a rich uranium rock. This could be brought by not waters or gases during its formation. In any case, the volcanic action and other natural processes may cause uranium at very high concentrations. As the tectonic plates move, the low concentrations rock may become eroded by weather. Water can carry off tiny pieces of rock, consisting of uranium.
The original volcanic rock, which consists of a low concentration of uranium, is now formed into a sedimentary rock consisting of higher concentrations of uranium. Natural processes compressed the sandstone rock further down, then bringing the rock up and folding it. The water in which circulates the rock helped the uranium father in richer pockets. These were compressed and again overlaid which produced the uranium ore body. This was then much better next to the original volcanic rock. It then contains enough uranium to allow an Oklo reactor to run through it.
In Hydrothermal Circulation, the flowing of hot water is possible to cause few chemical changes a cause separation of the materials to help to form the ore bodies. This is less likely to occur in the process of uranium than copper, gold and silver as the body is complete with a high concentration already, in the uranium process.
There are about 12 simple processed in which Uranium is produced but the most important in the process are: the Sedimentary Accumulation, Diagnosis, Magmatic Segregation and the Hydrothermal Circulation.
Sedimentation is where the rain off small sea life is formed on the bottom of the ocean (also includes river, lakes etc.) and salt is formed after the sea dries up as it is then covered by aeolian deposits.
Diagnosis is where chemical and physical change occurs after sediment. If oxygen is accessible, a component may combine with it to produce an oxide. This may replace another compound, or if oxygen is taken out, a sulfur atom could replace an oxygen atom. There could be ores produced by the freezing of materials by the differences in their temperatures. This means that the first formed uranium could either sink or float depending on its density.
Magmatic Segregation involves the production of a rich uranium rock. This could be brought by not waters or gases during its formation. In any case, the volcanic action and other natural processes may cause uranium at very high concentrations. As the tectonic plates move, the low concentrations rock may become eroded by weather. Water can carry off tiny pieces of rock, consisting of uranium.
The original volcanic rock, which consists of a low concentration of uranium, is now formed into a sedimentary rock consisting of higher concentrations of uranium. Natural processes compressed the sandstone rock further down, then bringing the rock up and folding it. The water in which circulates the rock helped the uranium father in richer pockets. These were compressed and again overlaid which produced the uranium ore body. This was then much better next to the original volcanic rock. It then contains enough uranium to allow an Oklo reactor to run through it.
In Hydrothermal Circulation, the flowing of hot water is possible to cause few chemical changes a cause separation of the materials to help to form the ore bodies. This is less likely to occur in the process of uranium than copper, gold and silver as the body is complete with a high concentration already, in the uranium process.
Operating Australian Mines:
The Ranger mine opened in 1981 with a production rate of about 3300 tones per year which has now jumped to 5500 tones being produced per year. It is situated about 230 kilometers east of Darwin, in the Northern Territory and is surrounded by the famous Kakadu National Park. The longitude and latitude of the Ranger mine is 12.6833°S, 132.9167°E.
The Olympic Dam is a huge mining centre located in South Australia, 560km north-west of Adelaide. There is not only uranium mines located in this area but also major oxide copper gold deposit producing copper, gold and silver, the site hosts an underground mine and an integrated metallurgical processing plant. This mine is deposited underground, around 350 meters below the surface and is the largest mine in which produces Uranium as well as gold and copper. The longitude and latitude of the Olympic Dam uranium mine is 30°27'S, 136°53'E.
The uranium mine, Beverly mine, is located 520 kilometers north of Adelaide in South on the plains of north west of Lake Frome.
The small Honeymoon ISL mine is located 75 kilometers north-west of Broken Hill in South Australia. It was developed in November 2001.
The Olympic Dam is a huge mining centre located in South Australia, 560km north-west of Adelaide. There is not only uranium mines located in this area but also major oxide copper gold deposit producing copper, gold and silver, the site hosts an underground mine and an integrated metallurgical processing plant. This mine is deposited underground, around 350 meters below the surface and is the largest mine in which produces Uranium as well as gold and copper. The longitude and latitude of the Olympic Dam uranium mine is 30°27'S, 136°53'E.
The uranium mine, Beverly mine, is located 520 kilometers north of Adelaide in South on the plains of north west of Lake Frome.
The small Honeymoon ISL mine is located 75 kilometers north-west of Broken Hill in South Australia. It was developed in November 2001.
What Uranium is used for:
Uranium is mostly used to produce nuclear energy. This energy can be produced as nuclear fuel for nuclear power reactors, explosive for nuclear weapons or materials for armors and projectiles. Nuclear Reactors are not only used in bombs and harmful weaponry but also things such as smoke detectors and submarines. Nuclear Reactors are used at nuclear power plants which generate electricioty or to generate the propulsion of ships. Some reactors are used to generate weapons or produce isotopes for medical intustrial use.
Uranium's economic value to Australia
Uranium in which is mined in Australia is most likely used to produce nuclear weapons. Countries in which use Nuclear Weapons, such as France, the USA, and the UK that buy uranium from Australia have signed agreements which state that the uranium which has been purchased from Australia will not be used in the process of producing Nuclear weaponry. All the uranium exported from Australia goes towards processing plants where it is mixed with the uranium from other countries. Separate places for weapons used uranium only in the later stages of producing them.
Both the Ranger uranium mine and the rehabilitated Nabarlek mines, which are now closed, are on aboriginal land in the region of Alligator Rivers in the Northern Territory. Aboriginal people are given a small amount of 4.25% on the sales of uranium from the Northern Territory mines. The total amount given simply from the Ranger mine is now over $207 million with $14 million coming from the Nabarlek.
In 2012 the production was expected to work out to be three times the average cost of the uranium production in Kazakhstan. But instead produced less. All up, around 1200 people are employed in the uranium mining industry, about 500 are employed in the exploration of the uranium and about 60 jobs are given out in regulation of the uranium mining. Every year Uranium mines produce around $21 million in royalties. Each year it adds up to over $42 million in corporate taxes.
Both the Ranger uranium mine and the rehabilitated Nabarlek mines, which are now closed, are on aboriginal land in the region of Alligator Rivers in the Northern Territory. Aboriginal people are given a small amount of 4.25% on the sales of uranium from the Northern Territory mines. The total amount given simply from the Ranger mine is now over $207 million with $14 million coming from the Nabarlek.
In 2012 the production was expected to work out to be three times the average cost of the uranium production in Kazakhstan. But instead produced less. All up, around 1200 people are employed in the uranium mining industry, about 500 are employed in the exploration of the uranium and about 60 jobs are given out in regulation of the uranium mining. Every year Uranium mines produce around $21 million in royalties. Each year it adds up to over $42 million in corporate taxes.
video of Uranium attached below:
uranium.pptx | |
File Size: | 2428 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
bibliography
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Written By Bri Rider
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Written By Bri Rider