Uranium 101 - A Guide to this Powerful Green Energy Fuel

As the world moves towards cleaner, greener energy sources, there's been a renewed interest in uranium as a viable alternative to fossil fuels. Uranium has been around for billions of years and has a fascinating history! Let's check it out! 

What is Uranium?

Uranium is a chemical element with the symbol U and atomic number 92, and is a silvery-grey metal that's naturally occurring in the Earth's crust. Uranium is a highly reactive element that's used as a fuel source in nuclear power plants. When uranium atoms are split, they release an enormous amount of energy, which is used to generate electricity. 

History of Uranium & Nuclear Energy

The first discovery of uranium dates back to 1789, when German chemist Martin Heinrich Klaproth identified a new element in a mineral called pitchblende. It was named after the planet Uranus, which had been discovered eight years earlier. However, it wasn't until the 1930s that scientists realized uranium had the potential to be used as a fuel source for nuclear power. In June 1954 the world's first nuclear powered electricity generator began operation at the FEI in Obninsk. 

Uranium as a Green Energy Fuel

Uranium is not a renewable resource, so why is it important as a green energy fuel source? There are several reasons to consider nuclear energy options, such as:

• • • Almost zero greenhouse gas emissions - the process of fission can generate electricity without the harmful byproducts emitted by fossil fuels
    • Small land use footprint - a general nuclear facility needs just a little more than 1 square mile to operate. In comparison, wind farms require 360 times more land area to produce the same amount of electricity! 
    • Energy Density - Nuclear fuel is extremely energy dense, and all of the nuclear fuel produced in the USA over the last 60 years could fit on a football field at a depth of less than 10 yards!
      

Uranium Mining

Where can we find this green energy fuel of the future? Prospector's extensive database is a great place to start! Watch the video below to learn about global uranium resources and reserves, location and grade information, and how to get free assets loaded into a Prospector account to save you time! 

Video Timeline:

• 0:00 - Introductions
• 2:20 - Why Should We Care About Uranium Mining & Investment?
• 4:00 - Discovering Global Uranium Mining Projects & Companies
• 11:20 - Uranium Project NPV Comparisons
• 22:00 - Q&A