Where are the largest uranium mines in Canada?
northern Saskatchewan
Most of Canada’s reserves are located in the Athabasca Basin of northern Saskatchewan, which hosts the world’s largest high-grade deposits, with grades that are 10 to 100 times greater than the average grade of deposits mined elsewhere in the world.
Who owns the uranium mines in Canada?
Cameco
Cameco is the majority owner and operator of McArthur River mine (69.8%) as well as the Key Lake Mill (Orano is a 30.2% and 16.7% partner, respectively). Orano (then Areva Resources) earlier applied for a licence to process some McArthur river ore at McClean Lake.
What province has uranium?
Northern Saskatchewan
Uranium Mining and the Northern Saskatchewan Environmental Quality Committee. Northern Saskatchewan has the largest high-grade uranium deposits in the world. This region is the source of almost a quarter of the world’s uranium supply for electrical generation.
Where are uranium mines in Canada?
Operating uranium mines and mills
- Cigar Lake Mine (Saskatchewan)
- Key Lake Mill (Saskatchewan)
- McArthur River Mine (Saskatchewan)
- McClean Lake Mill (Saskatchewan)
- Rabbit Lake Mine and Mill (Saskatchewan)
Is there uranium in Alberta?
The Athabasca Basin is a region in the Canadian Shield of northern Saskatchewan and Alberta, Canada. It is best known as the world’s leading source of high-grade uranium and currently supplies about 20% of the world’s uranium.
When did Canada start mining uranium?
1930s
Canada’s first recorded discovery of uranium came in the 1930s 3 when prospector Gilbert LaBine discovered pitchblende, a major uranium bearing mineral, on the shores of the Great Bear Lake in the Northwest Territories.
Where are the richest deposits of uranium found?
McArthur River, Canada McArthur River is also considered to be the largest high-grade uranium deposit in the world. McArthur River uranium deposit was discovered in 1988 and mining began in 1999. It’s proven and probable reserves as of December 2012 were 1.05 million tonnes of ore grading 16.36% uranium.
Who discovered uranium in Canada?
Gilbert Labine
Uranium was first discovered in Canada in the mid-1800s on the north shore of Lake Superior. However, Canada’s first economic uranium discovery is attributed to Gilbert Labine, who in 1930 identified the Port Radium deposit at Great Bear Lake, NWT, exploited initially for its radium content.
When was uranium found in Canada?
Canada’s first recorded discovery of uranium came in the 1930s 3 when prospector Gilbert LaBine discovered pitchblende, a major uranium bearing mineral, on the shores of the Great Bear Lake in the Northwest Territories.
When did uranium mining start in Canada?
In Canada, uranium ores first came to public attention in the early 1930s when the Eldorado Gold Mining Company began operations at Port Radium, Northwest Territories, to recover radium. A refinery to produce radium was built the following year at Port Hope, Ontario, some 5000 km away.
Where is uranium found Alberta?
Athabasca Basin
Most uranium production comes from Saskatchewan in the uniquely rich deposits in the Proterozoic Athabasca Basin. Alberta has seen uranium exploration throughout the province in the past, and more recently, extensive staking is taking place in the Athabasca Basin and adjacent basement terrain in northeastern Alberta.