Ranger Uranium Mine

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The Ranger uranium mine is an existing since 1981 uranium mine in northern Australia in the Northern Territory. Companies will include the mine from the Energy Resources of Australia (ERA ) that the Rio Tinto Group.

History

Even the Aborigines held the area sacred. It was a burial site, which you could not enter. One of the first European who crossed this area in 1845, was the German explorer Ludwig Leichhardt. At that time, however, uranium was still insignificant. Later, however, began in the sacred area to search for uranium. The uranium deposit was discovered in 1969. However, the Aboriginal levied on the territorial claim and received it in 1976 with the " Aboriginal land Rights Act " back, which they were awarded a portion of the revenue of the mine. After the publication of two studies in October 1976 and in May 1977 the Ranger Uranium Environmental Inquiry, the mining areas were admitted. Construction of the mine began in 1979 and on August 13, 1981, the first uranium oxide could be produced. In the first area of ​​about 20 million tonnes of ore were mined from May 1980 until December 1994.

1991 Pancontinental sold the work to the ERA. In autumn 2006, ERA announced an extension of the term of Ranger in 2020.

Reduction

In 2005, the Ranger Uranium Mine 5910 promoted t Triuranoktoxid. The Ranger mine promotes in 2003 alone, 12 % of the world 's uranium needs. The mined ore has a concentration of 0.24% uranium. Uranium mining runs above ground, which greatly impact on the environment. Overburden with little uranium is stored on the surface and with a layer of soil that is kept moist, covered. Radioactively contaminated water is stored in large sludge tank to separate by means of evaporation of water and radioactive waste.

Environmental pollution and disasters

The mine is surrounded by Kakadu National Park. Because of the associated environmental regulations, the annual flood in the area can not be controlled and thus reached again radioactively contaminated water from the sludge tank to the environment. As a result, the rivers in the area and the surrounding areas are radioactively contaminated. The last great catastrophe there were in 1988, still under the leadership of Pancontinental. At that time, almost 450,000 tons of radioactive waste rock have been improperly stored, and over a period of 6 months got unintentionally radioactive material outwards.

More uranium mines

Just 20 kilometers away is the " Sister Mine" Jabiluka mine, but never went into operation. Other former uranium mines in the Northern Territory were the mines: Nabarlek, Rum Jungle and South Alligator Mine.

Apart from the Ranger Mine, there were in 2005 in Australia, two other active uranium mines: Olympic Dam and Beverley in South Australia.