Uranium

Occurrence

Uranium is a naturally-occurring element found at low levels in virtually all rock, soil, and water. It is considered to be more plentiful than antimony, beryllium, cadmium, gold, mercury, silver, or tungsten and is about as abundant as arsenic or molybdenum. It is found in many minerals including uraninite (most common uranium ore), autunite, uranophane, torbernite, and coffinite. Significant concentrations of uranium occur in some substances such as phosphate rock deposits, and minerals such as lignite, and monazite sands in uranium-rich ores (it is recovered commercially from these sources).

Related Topics:
Antimony - Beryllium - Cadmium - Gold - Mercury - Silver - Tungsten - Arsenic - Molybdenum - Uraninite - Autunite - Uranophane - Torbernite - Coffinite - Phosphate - Lignite - Monazite - Ore

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The decay of uranium and its nuclear reactions with thorium in the Earth's core is thought to be the source for much of the heat http://www.newscientist.com/channel/earth/mg18725103.700 that keeps the outer core liquid, which in turn drives plate tectonics.

Related Topics:
Thorium - Plate tectonics

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Uranium ore is rock containing uranium mineralization in concentrations that can be mined economically, typically 1 to 4 pounds of uranium oxide per ton or 0.05 to 0.20 percent uranium oxide.

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