Prospect or suspect – uranium mining in AustraliA
Glossary
atom. The fundamental unit of all matter consisting of a nucleus of protons and neutrons surrounded by orbiting electrons (or in the case of hydrogen, just one electron). For more information see Back to Basics: Atoms and molecules (Australian Academy of Science).
E=mc2 . E stands for the energy released, m stands for the mass that is converted into energy, and c is the speed of light (300,000 kilometres per second).
ionising radiation. Any form of radiation that has sufficient energy to remove electrons from atoms, so producing charged particles called ions. It can consist of high energy particles (electrons, protons or alpha particles) or short wavelength electromagnetic radiation (ultraviolet, X-rays and gamma rays).
nuclear fission. Also referred to as atomic fission. The process by which large nuclei are split into two parts, by bombarding them with neutrons, in order to release large amounts of energy.
Reasonably Assured Resource (RAR). The amount of uranium contained within a deposit that can be efficiently extracted using current mining technologies and processes.
uranium. A radioactive heavy metal. The natural element is a mixture of different isotopes or atomic forms. The isotope uranium-235 is used in nuclear non-breeder reactors.
Posted February 1997.