3. Uranium mining

Please refer to the article "Production of natural uranium concentrates".

Uranium mining is similar to the mining of metal ores, but with some special features:

• radioactivity of ores, which plays an important role in favor of mining; in fact, measuring radioactivity gives a good picture of the distribution of grades and helps guide mining at all stages;

• radioactivity of ore and dust and the presence of radon, particularly in the atmosphere of underground workings, exposing personnel to internal and external radiation requiring special detection and protection measures;

• monitoring of uranium and radium content in discharged mine water.