Uranium 2007
Resources, Production and Demand
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Germany
Nuclear Energy Agency
Uranium exploration and mining was undertaken from 1946 to 1953 by the Soviet stock company, SAG Wismut. These activities were centred around old mining locations of silver, cobalt, nickel and other metals in the Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains) and in Vogtland, Saxony, where uranium had first been discovered in 1789. The mining of uranium first began at the cobalt and bismuth mines near Schneeberg and Oberschlema (a former famous radium spa). During this early period more than 100 000 people were engaged in exploration and mining activities. The rich uraninite and pitchblende ore from the vein deposits was hand-picked and shipped to the USSR for further processing. Lower grade ore was treated locally in small processing plants. In 1950, the central mill at Crossen near Zwickau, Saxony was brought into operation.
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