Developments in Uranium in 1985

ABSTRACT Imported uranium continued to fill over 40% of the domestic requirements, and as a result, the Secretary of Energy declared the domestic industry to be nonviable. Uranium exploration in the United States declined for the seventh straight year. In 1985, an estimated $17 million was spent on uranium exploration, including 1.8 million ft of surface drilling. This drilling was done mainly in the producing areas and in areas of recent discoveries. Production of uranium concentrate declined in 1985, for the fifth straight year, when 11 million lb of uranium oxide (U3O8) was produced. Uranium produced as the result of solution mining and as the by-product of phosphoric acid production accounted for about 50% of the total production in the United States. At the end of 1985, only 4 uranium mills were operating in the United States. Canada continued to dominate the world market, followed by South Africa. The planned development of the huge Olympic Dam in Australia will increase that country’s production. Domestic uranium production is expected to show a small increase in 1986.