Tom 24 2008 Zeszyt 4/2
VILIAM BAUER*
The risk evaluation in expected uranium mining at Slovakia
Introduction
Currently, there are peculiar discussions about a possible inclusion of nuclear energetics among renewable energetic resources held at the relevant level of the EU Commission. The reasons for these discussions are mainly the fact that geological resources diminish each year with uranium drilling, but also the fact, that so far we have not been able to find any other way to replace natural resources of this important energetic mineral resource as well the fact that so far there has been no other method to “cultivate” atomic fuel for nuclear reactors.
However, discussions of similar character are based mainly on the announcement made by the experts of the IAEA (the International Atomic Energy Agency), who said that the existence nuclear power stations will have the currently available uranium exhausted till 2070 (it is necessary to mention here, that there is presently 435 operating nuclear reactors, that use about 75,000 t of uranium each year) and that the threshold of the complete depletion of the uranium resources might substantially decrease after the constructions of the 222 planned and projected new atomic reactors mainly in Russia, India and China are finished.
This information gives clear evidence about the continually increasing energetic hunger of our planet – the hunger for atomic energy as well as the fuel itself and uranium especially.
There are few pure uranium deposits in Slovakia with occurrence of U-Mo mineralization or U mineralization, which concentrate mainly in the areas of Slovak Ore Mountains, The Low Tatras and mountain range of Povaský Inovec. That’s why, in economic conditions of Slovakia, the economic use of pure uranium deposits started to be considered as a supply for Slovak as well as global energetic development. Present demand for strategic uranium is apart from the mentioned factors supported also by the strong support of uranium business
* Institute: Technical University of Košice, Faculty BERG, Košice, Slovakia.
through increasing value of the commodity in the world metal stock market (spot prices of uranium oxide increased from 2000 till March 2007 twelve times to more then 90 dollars for a pound – 453 grams). This situation mobilizes foreign prospecting and investing companies and attracts them to Slovakia, where they re-evaluate the data of the recent geological survey under new economic conditions. That’s also why the economic value of uranium deposits (determined by uranium prices) in Slovakia constantly increases placing these deposits among globally unique and very perspective.
Based on the existing information about uranium deposits that is based mainly on the data from the past as well as on the new survey results, the technical-economic possibilities for drilling are currently examined at the very perspective deposits in Kurišková resorts near the town of Košice. Foreign mining companies re-evaluate former data about the deposits filling in the geo-information from their own surveys. Mainly the two Canadian companies, that are strong in capital – Tournigan Gold (to which three survey and one mining allotment areas were assigned by its subsidiaries Ludovika Holding and Kremnica Gold) and Ultra Ura- nium – do the survey following up the works of geological survey carried out by the
„Uranium Survey“ state enterprise in the past. The investment fund of Sprott Asset Mana- gement – the owner of the largest Canadian uranium mine – is the biggest shareholder of the Tournigan Gold Corporation. Other four survey companies, that own the survey areas, are involved in the uranium survey. The East Slovakia stands out as the most perspective locality, since there is the largest number of the nine potential areas for uranium drilling as well as the largest verified uranium deposits – according to the newest data, the Kurišková- -Jahodná deposit has up to 3,500 kt of the uranium ore with the average concentration of the uranium up to 0.5% U-Mo.
The question of Security of energy and raw material supply is very important. At present the EU needs to secure its energy and raw materials supply and needs to reduce its dependency on outside sources as far as possible. Develop new resources/extend existing ones and therefore the common policies need to ensure that energy can be supplied to its economies, and in particular industry at competitive prices. The EU needs also to recognise the different natural endowment of countries with natural resources in its different policies, in particular in its energy, climate and environmental policies. From this point of view the EU Member States with the support of the European Commission need to
— foster exploration for new resources,
— foster investment into new and the extension of viable mines,
— encourage exploitation of more resources,
— improve the legislative framework for the extractive industry,
— support the sectors RTD through national and EU programmes.
For above mentioned issues is need suitable legislative framework that must to be prepare for the each EU country. The EU needs to return to the well-established legislative practice of setting targets, but not prescribing the means or measures: both, the promotion of renewable energy resources and the carbon capture and storage concept could put certain countries that do not have these possibilities at a disadvantage and any targets can therefore only be
envisaged at total EU level. National supply policies need to be long-term and hence create better investment security. EIAs and public consultations need to be shorter, and permitting procedures need to be, more reliable and taking into account overriding public interest where justified. The industry is committed to continue its dialogue with all stakeholders.
1. Uranium Mining issues in general
Mining uranium deposits presents several technical challenges in terms of ground water, rock properties and radiation protection. Uranium producers overcome these challenges to mine very high-grade deposits by developing innovative ground freezing techniques and mechanized, “non-entry” underground-mining methods. For lower-grade deposits, more traditional open-pit and underground mining methods are used. Safety is complicated by the presence of radioactive radon gas. This potential hazard is minimized by using powerful ventilation systems in underground mines, as well as remote-controlled and specially shiel- ded equipment. At present the Uranium is the very important way towards secure energy supply what demonstrated the situation in the EU27 that is Expanding of Nuclear Future.
Nowadays 31 nations have nuclear power hereby some nations, representing ½billion people, incl. Indonesia, Thailand, Malaise, Bangladesh & Vietnam, are planning new nuclear build for the first time. US plans 50% growth of its nuclear fleet over next 20 years, Japan, Korea and Russia are committed to further nuclear power development China and India – sig- nificant nuclear construction over the coming years. Western Europe – environmental concerns and issues of security of supply started changing minds in favour of nuclear Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia and Ukraine – expanding commitment to nuclear. Basic challenges for Slovak power engineering is connected with former supplier because secure energy supply (90% primary energy sources comes from abroad, mostly from Russia). Presently the all of pointed uranium factors influence the increasing prices of primary energy commodities, climate changes and needs to reduce CO2, research and innovations. New industry structure after substantial privatization is needed and also the liberalization and implementation of EU rules. After closing of 2 VVER-440 units in Bohunice (before projected lifetime and without technical, economical or safety reasons), Slovakia changes from exporter to importer of electricity. Actual steps in Slovakia towards nuclear is characterized like a pro-nuclear country. Accepted EU political wishes to close 2 VVER-440 units (V-213) and „voluntarily“ promised to realise this in 2008. Work towards construction of new NPPs in an open and democratic way:
— Via New Slovak Strategy for Secure Energy Supply in two horizons 2013 and 2030 (finished in September 2007);
— Via New Slovak Strategy of Back-end of Nuclear Power Engineering up to 2100 (finished in October 2007). But form this point of view exist one limitation for the exploration for uranium minerals in Slovakia despite that uranium is a Significant Component of the World’s Electricity Generation.
1.1. U n d e r g r o u n d C o n v e n t i o n a l M i n i n g o f U r a n i u m o r e s
A major contentious issue with respect to nuclear power production is the mining processes necessary for fuel production. There exist a number of types of uranium mines appropriate in different geological conditions: – Open-cut, – Underground and In-situ Leaching. While these techniques differ considerably certain considerations are common to all. In particular, contentious issues due to environmental, health and social considerations of a mining process and mine site are often more related to the mined product and by-products than to the mine itself. Compared with the environmental impacts and contamination levels of wastes produced in the rest of the nuclear fuel cycle, the effects of wastes from uranium production are relatively small. Mining wastes and milling tailings have tended to be kept in uncontained piles or behind dams with solid covering. Although the environmental hazards of these wastes are relatively small, there has been an effort to minimize long-term conta- mination by increased use of enclosures. In 2006 production was as follows: underground 41%, open pit 24%, in situ leach (ISL) 26% and by-product 9%.
Underground uranium mining requires the same basic sequence of development steps as required for any other type of underground mining. The ore deposits must be accessed, the mineralized material must be “developed” by constructing workings to provide access to the ore, the ore must be extracted (usually through drilling small diameters holes and blasting the ore), the broken ore must be transported to the surface, and finally the ore must be sent to an ore processing mill to extract the contained metals. Aside from designing and developing a mining operation specifically suited to the physical properties of the ore, underground uranium mining is not unique within the industry [1].
Underground uranium mining has very stringent regulatory requirements for ven- tilation. The presence of radon gas in uranium mines, resulting from the natural radioactive decay of uranium, dictates that large volumes of air must be moved through mines to reduce the gas concentrations. The control of radon in mines is monitored closely to ensure that radon concentrations meet all Mine Safety and Health Administration (“MSHA”) re- quirements.
— All underground mines have extensive ventilation systems, incorporating multiple vertical shafts and fans, to supply fresh air into the mines.
— Mining operations are authorized under operating permits issued by state agencies.
— A modern mine permit requires that the mine operator provide financial surety to cover all costs required to decommission a mine site, fully reclaim such a site, and return it to its pre-mining beneficial use.
— Upon completion of mining operations, mine reclamation is generally straightforward for an underground operation.
Following removal of underground equipment and service facilities, all mine openings are permanently sealed (although there have been interesting developments in recent years where mine openings are barricaded, but left accessible to provide excellent “bat habitat” as requested by regulatory agencies). Surface facilities are removed, and the mine site and waste
rock dumps can be regarded and reclaimed, with the land surface being returned to its former productive use. Most uranium ore is mined in open pit or underground mines. The uranium content of the ore is often between only 0.1% and 0.2%. Therefore, large amounts of ore have to be mined to get at the uranium [5].
Waste rock is produced during open pit mining when overburden is removed, and during underground mining when driving tunnels through non-ore zones. Piles of so-called waste rock often contain elevated concentrations of radioisotopes compared to normal rock. Other waste piles consist of ore with too low a grade for processing. The transition between waste rock and ore depends on technical and economic feasibility.
Uranium Underground Mining is characterized by the follow:
— Underground mining, also known as closed cut mining, is used when the uranium ore is deep underground.
— The ore is accessed through tunnels and shafts.
— Less rock is removed then in open cut mining, which means that there is generally less waste and less environmental impact.
— Most of the world’s uranium comes from closed cut mines.
— The ore is accessed through tunnels and shafts.
— Once mined, the ore is crushed and the uranium dissolved out using sulfuric acid, which is then separated from the tailings.
— The tailings retain most of the radioactivity though the radioactivity is not at a high level.
— Around 85% of the radioactivity of the original ore is left over in the tailings.
— In particular the tailings contain radium, selenium, uranium and thorium.
— Radium, however, is the most dangerous as it decays into radon gas which is radioactive and can escape into the air. Precautions are taken against both the emission of gas, the level of radioactivity and to ensure that the tailings do not leak into the ground water.
— While a mining site is in use the tailings dam is covered with water and when a mine is no longer in use the tailings are generally returned underground or covered with two meters of clay and topsoil which means that the radioactivity is reduced to around the same level as before mining. The controlling factors for mining method selection are they following:
1. The high grade of the reserve.
2. The wide range of ground conditions present, which limit acceptable locations for mine development.
3. The presence of significant groundwater, mostly encountered within the sandstone and conglomerate geological units.
All mining methods requiring workers to enter the mining area should be immediately eliminated. Non-entry mining methods should to be required due to the radiation fields from the ore.
2. Uranium Mining World’s uranium mine production
Uranium Mining both Worldwide and in Europe is characterized by New Uranium Mining Projects e.g. in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greenland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Rusia, Slovakia, Spain, Sveden, Ukraine and so on. Presently the high Interest Issues there are in both countries Novokonstantinovsk (UA) and Karkhu (RU). At present exist also the controversial Uranium Exploration Projects mainly in folowing countries: Ireland Sweden Finland Czech Republic Slovakia Italy Portugal.
Some following tables show the Uranium Mining World’s uranium mine production.
TABLE 1 The largest-producing uranium mines in 2006 (Source: IAEA)|
TABELA 1 Najwiêksze kopalnie – producenci uranu w 2006 (ród³o: IAEA)
Mine Country Main owner Type Production (tU) % of world
McArthur River Canada Cameco Underground 7200 18.3
Ranger Australia ERA (Rio Tinto 68%) open pit 4026 10.2
Rossing Namibia Rio Tinto (69%) open pit 3067 7.8
Kraznokamensk Russia TVEL underground 2900 7.4
Olympic Dam Australia BHP Billiton by-product
/u’ground 2868 7.3
Rabbit Lake Canada Cameco underground 1972 5.0
Akouta Niger Areva/Onarem underground 1869 4.7
Arlit Niger Areva/Onarem open pit 1565 4.0
Akdala Kazakhstan Uranium One ISL 1000 2.5
Highland – Smith Ranch USA Cameco ISL 786 2.0
Beverley Australia Heathgate ISL 699 1.7
McClean Lake Canada Cogema open pit 690 1.7
top 12 total 28,642 72.6%
3. The uranium and deposits of utility minerals in general
From an objective point of view Deposits of Utility Minerals (DUM) including uranium deposits represent non-renewable natural resources that are irreplaceable in the economic development of a specific state. Natural and geological ratio of the deposits of utility minerals determines the technical and technological conditions of its rational use. Deposits of utility
minerals represent the indivisible part of nature and environment while functioning as a potential economic resource for supposed social development of society and state. The importance of mineral deposits’ protection and of their use for economic as well as social development is assessed by other criteria such as the monitored indicators of the en- vironmental units (EU) – quality of soil, water and air. An assessment of an impact of mineral deposits exploitation and other mining activities on environment (EIA Directive – Bulletin of Acts and Decrees 2006, No. 24), is usually one-sided and almost unobjective, mainly when talking about the assessment of the mining activities executed “on the nature”. The im- portance of the impact of mining and processing activities on the economic and social development in regions is not taken into account so much, including the quality of social life
TABLE 2 Uranium Mining World’s uranium countries production (Source: IAEA)
TABELA 2 Œwiatowe górnictwo uranu – produkcja w podziale na kraje (ród³o: IAEA)
Ccountry 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Canada 11 604 10 457 11 597 11 628 9 862
Australia 6 854 7 572 8 982 9 516 7 593
Kazakhstan 2 800 3 300 3 719 4 357 5 279
Niger 3 075 3 143 3 282 3 093 3 434
Russia (est) 2 900 3 150 3 200 3 431 3 262
Namibia 2 333 2 036 3 038 3 147 3 067
Uzbekistan 1 860 1 598 2 016 2 300 2 260
USA 919 779 878 1 039 1 672
Ukraine (est) 800 800 800 800 800
China (est) 730 750 750 750 750
South Africa 824 758 755 674 534
Czech Repub. 465 452 412 408 359
India (est) 230 230 230 230 177
Brazil 270 310 300 110 190
Romania (est) 90 90 90 90 90
Germany 212 150 150 77 50
Pakistan (est) 38 45 45 45 45
France 20 0 7 7 5
Total world 36 063 35 613 40 251 41 702 39 429
tonnes U3O8 42 529 41 998 47 468 49 179 46 499
of the residents who live in the regions of natural resources. This is very important mainly with respect to the survey activities at the Slovakian uranium deposits as well as for the sphere of professional discussions and argumentation of the preference and need for mineral exploitation including exploitation of the uranium deposits. Discussion equilibrium between mining companies and non-governmental ecological organisations should be based on the principles of economic, social and ecological impact of mining activities and should corre- spond to the strategy of the permanent sustainable development (PSD). The strict demands of the environmental organisations, that want the nature to stay untouched, with the strong pressure on the public opinion make the mining business with its exploitation of mineral deposits difficult. Despite the possibilities for open discussion, there are still stronger initiatives of the citizen-action public and non-governmental organisations against the activities of mining industry and its exploitation of deposits, mainly against the all the open-pit mining and the underground mining of utility minerals including uranium drilling.
The rigorously monitored sphere of mining industry is paradoxically driven out of public interest being labelled as the industry that is not the most important for the economic development of the state and an increase of the GDP. Unfortunately, the larger part of the public is only marginally informed about the fundamental importance of the utility minerals and raw materials for the national economics.
Geological survey has started at various uranium deposits in Slovakia that had never been exploited before (with an exception of the deposit area of Novoveska Huta, where the uranium was exploited during the survey mining). The survey identifies eminent accu- mulations of uranium mineralization and confirms the increased content of uranium (U). This
Fig. 1. Time between discovery of deposit and start of mining (Source: IAEA) Rys. 1. Czas pomiêdzy odkryciem z³o¿a a rozpoczêciem wydobycia (ród³o: IAEA)
kind of new geo-information about these uranium deposits sets the preconditions for future assessment of uranium drilling. As we know from the available data on uranium minera- lization in Slovakia, these are underground uranium deposits that do not reach the surface level. That means in essence that deposits might be exploited only in an underground way and with the help of progressive exploitation techniques such as surface. Combined ways of exploitation of deposits or geo-technical mining methods such as chemical leaching are impossible at these uranium deposits. Assessing the importance or economical potential of the uranium deposits we need to evaluate the set of criteria related to nature and deposits, mining methodology, technology, environment, economy and legislative that will help us create a systematized information base to make a spatial economic and environmental model for each of uranium deposits [1]. The need for such a model stems from the above mentioned criteria, utility minerals’ exploitation conditions and from the knowledge of possible risk factors that accompany the mining itself. That’s why we have to take following aspects into an account:
1) raw material and energetic politics of the state needs the utility minerals (as well as the strategic and important energetic uranium) to be exploited,
2) unique economic and strategic potential of uranium deposits utilizable in dynamically developing nuclear energetic,
3) safety risks and technological discipline (the exploitation of uranium ore is considered as very sophisticated technical-engineering system),
4) economic conditions for exploitation of deposits accompanied with U quality screening, 5) opening, preparation and exploitation project for the designated mineral (accomplish-
ment of all environmental protection standards), 6) plan for liquidation and security of a mining area,
7) efficient use of all operational resources connected to mining at an allotment, 8) minimisation of the impacts of mining on the nature and environment,
9) need for energetic raw materials’ exploitation meeting the required ecological limits.
Currently, there are ongoing professional discussions on the possibilities of uranium drilling at the flooded deposit of Novoveska Huta (NVH) related to technical, safety and ecological questions connected to the survey in and re-opening of previously closed mining allotments or preserved deposits [2]. At the same time it is important to be aware what flooding of the underground mines mean from technical point of view:
1) change of physical-mechanical characteristics of the related rocks (re-opening of such a deposit may be problematic),
2) change in re-formed and physical properties of the rocks by long-time influence of mine waters (this is always the omitted factor that influence the assessment of the stability of underground space and mines),
3) draining water from the whole deposit represents a big problem (with respect to the extent of the technical works, time and financial demands),
4) environmental impact of draining mine waters from the deposit. time demands for water draining as an obvious problem (water draining might be done in a horizon of few years).
This is influenced by an amount of the water, its chemism as well as treatment before it is drained into water streams, which has to correspond to the concentration limits. In case of re-opening of an already flooded deposit we need to consider the utility mineral resources as almost “forever lost” with small possibility for their economic and business use in future.
In case of flooded deposits that are planned for future re-opening (the flooding cannot be considered as genuine preservation of the deposit in principle), there still exist unanswered questions concerning the total time needed for their re-opening, possibilities for recruitment of labour force, as well as potential economic assets of future mining. In past, from the technical point of view, flooding of mines and liquidation of deposits were considered as irreversible processes without any possibilities for future reopening [2].
Since the uranium deposit exploitation in Slovakia is taken into account, we need to mention some of the possible reasons for rejection and dismissing of the uranium drilling concept:
Fig. 2. Plan showing Permian trend (Source: UranPress: Bartalský, Daniel) Rys. 2. Plan pokazuj¹cy trend (ród³o: Bartalský, Daniel)
1. The uranium drilling does not have long tradition in Slovakia.
2. Negative impacts of the past mineral exploitation on current environmental state have been proven.
3. The conditions for uranium drilling are often publicly associated with the era of political persecution.
4. Generally strict evaluation of uranium by public (health-related issues of radiation, unpredictable events and accidents, military industry and atomic weapons, oncological diseases, exploitation and enrichment of uranium etc.).
5. Rejection of any surface or underground exploitation of raw materials, including uranium drilling.
6. Fearless lobbyism of non-political and usually unprofessional interest groups (in relation to specific problems) that strictly rejects the mineral exploitation and influences the wide spectrum of public opinion.
To the most perspective uranium deposits in Slovakia that there are in state ownership belong the follow: Kurišková (Jahodná) Deposit – Size: 13,958 tonnes U (inferred) and ore grade: 0.27% U; Novoveská Huta Deposit – with 6527 tonnes, U (inferred) and 0.064% U;
Kozie Chrbty District, Švábovce deposit with 2396 tonnes U (indicated – inferred) and approximetly 0.19% U and also Spišský Štiavnik deposit with 433 tonnes U (indicated – inferred and 0.17% U. On above mentioned uranium deposits are at present foreign investors operating e.g. Tournigan Gold Corporation and Ultra Uranium Corp. is a mining exploration company [3, 4].
3.1. U n d e r g r o u n d M i n i n g M e t h o d s
1. Mining Methods have be out of the question if they not compatible with techniques for groundwater control.
2. Mining Methods selection and design have strict to be adherenced the principles:
– limiting time of exposure,
– maximising the distance between the workers and the ore, – placing shielding between the workers and the ore, – limit of workers gamma radiation exposures,
– excellent ventilation practices due radon gas released from the ore and groundwater, – the need to capture radon gas at its source.
— For underground uranium mining exist at present whole range and variety of potential mining methods.
— Final selection of acceptable mining methods that dependent upon ore grades and ground conditions.
— Conventional drill-and-blast tunnelling methods they are used to develop of openings mine.
— The preferred options for the mining they are progressive methods and advances techniques.
Toward modern the mining technology belongs at present the following:
— raise boring,
— box-hole boring,
— remote box-hole stoping,
— blast-hole stoping, including vertical crater retreat,
— remote raise-bore stoping,
— jet boring,
— remote box-hole stoping with raise mining.
For the initial mining method at deposit must be compared advantages and disavantages every considered mining methods.
Conclusion
Decision-making process concerning the chosen uranium deposits will be based on future development of energetic need of the state (they are included in the energetic politics of the Slovak Republic), but also on the possibilities of obtaining the electrical energy from different sources. In case of shortage of electric energy we might realistically consider economic assets of uranium deposits in Slovakia. At the same time it is shown that only the use of the progressive clear technologies of mineral exploitation and processing of raw materials is and will be acceptable with respect to the critical approach of the public. In the course of assessment of technical proposals, projects and plans for exploitation of specific deposits of utility minerals (including uranium deposits), the clear technologies might persuade the public about the possibility of professional, sensitive and civilized way of exploitation respecting the environment, undevastating nature, unpolluting natural waters and air, and unharmful to human health.
Fig. 3. Typical mining method in uranium mine Dolní Roínka (Source: Michálek) Rys. 3. Typowa metoda górnicza w kopalni uranu Dolní Roínka (ród³o: Michálek)
REFERENCES
[1] B a u e r V., 1996 – Technological Processes of Minerals Industry Extraction. Published by ES TU Košice.
[2] D a n i e l J., 2005 – Reserves Account of Deposit Spišská Nová Ves – Novoveská Huta, U-Mo ore to year 2005.
URANPRES, s.r.o., Spišská Nová Ves.
[3] B a u e r V., 2007 – Environmental Impacts of Extraction by Mining of II. Ore Zone U – Mo at the Deposit Novoveská huta. TU F – BERG, Košice.
[4] B a u e r V., 2007 – Uranium Deposit Košice I – „Jahodná“. Expertise Report, TU F – BERG, Košice.
[5] T a y l o r G., F a r r i n g t o n V., R i n g R., 2004 – Review of Environmental Impacts of the Acid In-situ Leach Uranium Mining Process. CSIRO Land and Water Client Report August 2004.
OCENA RYZYKA W GÓRNICTWIE URANU NA S£OWACJI
S ³ o w a k l u c z o w e Górnictwo podziemne, œrodowisko, uran, z³o¿a
S t r e s z c z e n i e
Artyku³ dotyczy mo¿liwoœci wykorzystania z³ó¿ uranu istniej¹cych na S³owacji. Opisany jest potencja³ gospodarczy istniej¹cych z³ó¿ uranu, które s¹ obecnie w fazie oczekiwanych dzia³añ. Równolegle z omawianymi tematami, analizowane s¹ jakoœciowe i iloœciowe charakterystyki ca³kowicie w sferze planów, wzglêdnie ist- niej¹ce w przesz³oœci przed wydobyciem z³ó¿ uranu, przede wszystkim z punktu widzenia racjonalnego i œro- dowiska naturalnego.
THE RISK EVALUATION IN EXPECTED URANIUM MINING AT SLOVAKIA
K e y w o r d s Uranium, underground mining, environment, deposits
A b s t r a c t
The paper deals with possibilities uranium deposits utilization occurring at the territory of the Slovak Republic. In a brief overview is mentioned the economic potential of existing of exlusive uranium deposits, that are at present time in prospection activities stage. Along with discussed issues there are reviewed qualitative and also quantitative characteristics some today completely prospected, respectively were already in the past before extracted uranium deposits, first of all from rationality and environmentaly underground mining with properly selected mining methods point of view. Expected mining activities on the selected underground uranium deposits there are estimated in term of economic because the uranium utilization is very perspective for energy industry and also by electric power production. On the present the energic uranium deposits utilization constitute very important intruduction in the very important field of worldwide contractors activities. The substantial part of contribution refers to both environmental and ethical issues of uranium mining in underground according to existing valid criterium and condition.
