Uranium milling

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-029274",
  "term": "Uranium milling",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. The process that removes uranium from the ore. The ore is crushed and ground up, treated with chemical solutions to dissolve the uranium, and separated from the solution. The final product is commonly called, \"yellowcake.\"\n\n2. After the uranium ore is extracted from an open pit or underground mine, it is refined into uranium concentrate at a uranium mill. The ore is crushed, pulverized, and ground into a fine powder. Chemicals are added to the fine powder, which causes a reaction that separates the uranium from the other minerals. Groundwater from solution mining operations is circulated through a resin bed to extract and concentrate the uranium. The concentrated uranium product is typically a bright yellow or orange powder called yellowcake (U3O8). The solid waste material from pit and underground mining operations is called mill tailings. The processed water from solution mining is returned to the groundwater reservoir where the mining process is repeated",
  "subject": "Air",
  "references": [
    "RadTown Glossary",
    "Adapted from Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration at https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.php?page=nuclear_fuel_cycle"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/uranium-milling/"
}