Last Updated: May 2023 (Atomic Minerals (UPSC Notes India))
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Atomic Minerals (UPSC Notes India)
This article deals with ‘Atomic Minerals (UPSC Notes India).’ This is part of our series on ‘Geography’, which is an important pillar of the GS-1 syllabus. For more articles, you can click here.
1. Uranium
Two main sources of Uranium are Pitchblende (containing 50-80% Uranium) & Uraninite (containing 65-80% Uranium).
Naturally occurring Uranium is composed of
| Isotope | Percentage | Nature of Radioactivity | |
| U238 | 99.3% | Fertile/Fissionable | It has to absorb a neutron to become fissile. Plutonium is formed in the process. |
| U235 | .7% | Fissile | – U235 can form a self-sustaining chain reaction. – But they need to be enriched to 3-4 % to sustain the chain reaction. |
Global Distribution
Significant uranium deposits are found in
- Kazakhstan
- Canada (Athabasca Basin)
- Australia
- Niger
- Namibia
Distribution in India
In India, Uranium is found in the following areas
| Jharkhand | – Jadughoda – Bhatin – Narwapahar – Turamdih |
| Meghalaya | Mahadek Basin |
| Andhra | Tumallapalle (largest mine in India) |
| Karnataka | Bhima Basin |
| Rajasthan | Aravallis |
India produces 2% of the total Uranium produced in the world.
Important Note
- Uranium Corporation of India Ltd. (UCIL) is responsible for mining uranium ore for commercial purposes.
- Uranium mined by the UCIL is used for both weapons and civil nuclear programs. The imported Uranium is used for civil nuclear energy purposes only.
Uranium Mining Issues
- Uranium contamination of groundwater due to Mining
- Uranium deposits in India are primarily of low grade (less than 0.15% Uranium).
- Problems with land acquisition
- Issues of rehabilitation and resettlement of affected persons
2. Thorium
- In nature, there is more Thorium than Uranium.
- Two primary sources of Thorium are Monazite sands & Allanite.
- As such, Thorium found in Monazite is fertile but can be converted to fissile material Uranium.
Global Distribution
Significant uranium deposits are found in
- Brazil
- Australia
- USA
- Egypt
Distribution in India
- India has the largest reserve of Thorium in the world.
- Main reserves include
- Monazite beach sand in Kerala
- Found in Andhra (largest producer), Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Kerala and West Bengal