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Top Ten Uranium Mines, 1996
("Western world" only)
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|
Country |
Mine |
Owner |
Mine type |
production (metric tons) |
% of world production |
|
Canada |
Key Lake |
Cameco/Uranerz |
Open pit |
5,429 |
15.4 |
|
Canada |
Rabbit Lake |
Cameco/Uranerz |
Open pit/ underground |
3,972 |
11.3 |
|
Australia |
Ranger |
ERA |
Open pit |
3,508 |
10.0 |
|
Namibia |
Rössing |
RTZ |
Open pit |
2,452 |
7.0 |
|
|
Niger |
Akouta |
Cogema/Onarem |
underground |
2,120 |
6.0 |
|
|
Canada |
Cluff Lake |
Cogema |
Open pit/
underground |
1,963 |
5.6 |
|
|
Australia |
Olympic Dam |
WMC |
by-product (copper)
underground |
1,466 |
4.1 |
|
|
Niger |
Arlit |
Cogema/Onarem |
Open pit |
1,200 |
3.4 |
|
S. Africa |
Vaal Reefs |
Anglo-American |
By-product (gold)
underground |
914 |
2.6 |
|
Gabon |
Okelobondo |
Cogema/
Gabon State |
Underground |
565 |
1.6 |
|
TOTAL |
23,589 |
67.0 |
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Source: Uranium Institute [now the World Nuclear Association]
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Sites of Uranium Mining for Weapons Programs1
| KEY | |
 Uranium mined for US/UK weapons program
 Uranium mined for French weapons program
|
 Uranium mined for Soviet weapons program
 Uranium mined for country's own weapons program
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| NOTES
1. Thousands of uranium mines have operated around the world. This map shows the countries where mining occurred for weapons programs. When possible, we have marked the regions in larger countries where mining was concentrated. Mining for commercial purposes continues in some of those countries and in many additional locations.
2. The first uranium used in French and United States weapons programs came from the Shinkolobwe deposit in Belgian Congo. 80 percent of total uranium used in the Manhattan Project was mined there.
3.Argentina/Brazil note: Argentina and Brazil began nuclear programs in the 1950s, and are not signatories to the NPT. Uranium deposits in these countries are now exploited for commercial purposes.
4.Uranium for Soviet weapons was mined in East Germany, Czechoslavakia, Estonia, Ukraine, Kazakstan, Kirghiztan, Tadjikistan and Uzbekistan.
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Institute for Energy and Environmental Research