How uranium is mined and processed

Uranium mining in Africa generally is done through open-pit mining. Usually, the ore is then crushed and leached in a uranium mill close to the mine. Through leaching uranium is separated from the ore. As the leaching agent not only extracts uranium from the ore, but also several other constituents like molybdenum, vanadium, selenium, iron, lead and arsenic, the uranium must be separated out of the leaching solution. The final product produced from the mill, commonly referred to as "yellow cake" (U3O8 with impurities), is packed and shipped in casks.

Waste
Since often less than 1 percent of the uranium ore consists of actual uranium, the mining and milling of uranium generates a lot of waste. Waste rock generated during mining is either dumped on a pile or used as gravel or for road and railway construction. Uranium mill tailings are normally dumped as a sludge in special ponds or piles.