History

Uranium mining and nuclear energy has a long history, full of both extraordinary successes and sad tragedies. Yet, we have come a long, long way in the last century in our understanding of the risks of exposure to radiation and uranium mining and milling. We now know that there are risks, but they are highly manageable and easily mitigated. We also know how to protect the environment, public health and our workers. Comparing today’s understanding and control of radiation with the methods employed in uranium mining and milling decades ago is like comparing a modern high-performance automobile with a Model T Ford. The following paragraphs describe this history, focusing on how far we’ve really come.

Uranium is a weakly radioactive metallic element that was probably first used during Roman times to add yellow coloration to ceramic glazes. Later during the Middle Ages, pitchblende (a concentrated uranium ore) was extracted from silver mines in Europe and used as a coloring agent for glass. The discovery and identification of uranium is credited to the German chemist Martin Heinrich Klaproth, who isolated a yellow compound in 1789 that was likely sodium diuranate. However, the phenomenon of radioactivity was not discovered until the late 1800’s when Henri Becquerel placed a sample of uranium salt on top of an unexposed photographic plate. In 1903, Becquerel along with Pierre and Marie Curie received the Nobel Prize in Physics for their discovery and work with radioactivity.

Carnotite ore was mined in the Paradox Valley in the early 1900’s for the recovery of radium for medical uses. The first large-scale mining and milling of uranium in the southwest United States occurred as a result of World War II. The federal government encouraged the mining and milling of uranium to obtain uranium necessary for testing and eventual use of nuclear weaponry.

The Cold War further fueled uranium development as vast quantities of uranium were stockpiled by the United States government for use in nuclear weaponry. It was also at this time that the first nuclear reactors were built. This government driven demand forced the price of uranium to great heights and encouraged the development of uranium mines in Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona, including many in Paradox Valley. Once the Cold War ended, nuclear electrical generation fell out of favor and the price of uranium dropped significantly. As a result, most uranium mines and mills closed.

Unfortunately, during the early years of uranium development, little was known about public safety, effects of radiation, worker safety and environmental damage associated with unregulated uranium mining and milling. Since then the former uranium milling sites have been cleaned, residual radioactive material and tailings collected and placed in tailings cells. Those cells are lined to protect groundwater from contamination and covered to contain the radium and thorium in the tailings and collected materials. The covers reduce radon emissions to environmentally acceptable levels. Today, most former mill sites are contained and safe.

In addition, mine workers suffered many health issues resulting from the inhalation of high levels of uranium decay products. We also know that the problems were seriously exacerbated by smoking cigarettes while working in the mines and being exposed to high levels of radon. Nowadays, extensive ventilation is required in uranium mines and smoking is prohibited within the mines.

A new story is being written for uranium production today:

• Uranium miners no longer have to worry about the affects of radon and smoke on their lungs because of the extensive ventilation today in the mines.
• Engineering controls such as ventilation and shielding are used to protect mill workers from radiation.
• Mill workers are continually monitored to ensure that their radiation doses are “as low as reasonable achievable” under restrictions set by Federal and State regulators.
• Environmental releases are strictly controlled by Federal and State limits.