The raiseboring machine is located on the 530 metre level. From there a pilot hole is drilled down through the orebody into the tunnel on the 640 metre level. A reaming head is then attached and rotated as it is pulled up through the hole. The ore falls to the lower level where it is transported to the underground processing circuit.
McArthur River's ore is milled at Key Lake - the largest capacity uranium mill in the world.
Mining
Three different mining methods will be used to mine the orebody
- raiseboring, boxhole boring and remote box hole stoping. All three
methods use remote-controlled equipment which allows the ore to
be mined while minimizing employee exposure to radiation. Raiseboring
is being used to mine the first part of the orebody.
After the ore is mined, it is crushed and processed underground.
The ore is pumped to the surface as a slurry or mud where it is
put in specially designed containers for transportation by truck.
Milling
Ore is trucked to the Key Lake operation for milling over an 80-kilometre
all-weather road.
Wastes from McArthur River ore, milled at Key Lake, are processed
and managed at the Key Lake site.
Mining,
underground processing and transportation of McArthur River ore
(4 minute animation )
Radiation technologist monitors air quality 530m underground at McArthur River.
Worker Safety
Radiation doses for all workers at McArthur River are well below allowable limits.
Work areas underground are monitored continuously for radiation. Workers wear radiation badges which record cumulative gamma doses. The results are reported to federal regulators and to Cameco employees.
The main source of radiation exposure during mining is from radon, which is found in the groundwater, and from handling the radioactive ore.
Radon exposure is minimized by the effective use of ventilation. Water inflows are collected and pumped to the surface for treatment. Exposure to radiation from the ore is minimized by mine design, remote operations and good handling techniques.
Long-term environmental management systems collect thousands of water, soil and air samples annually at McArthur River.
Monitoring
Environmental sampling is ongoing. Sampling results are compared to baseline information recorded as part of the environmental impact statement.
Decommissioning
Cameco is committed to environmentally safe operations and is continually monitoring and sampling to ensure the environment is effectively protected. Areas no longer in use are landscaped and revegetated to return them as much as possible to their predevelopment state.
The McArthur River site will be decommissioned when all the ore reserves are exhausted. All buildings, equipment and chemicals will be removed and the area contoured and revegetated. Salvageable material will be removed from the underground areas and all surface openings will be sealed off. A monitoring program will be conducted to ensure the site remains in a non-polluting, stable state.
Safety, Health, Environment and Quality Policy
Each of Cameco's northern operations has a nurse on site.
- Cameco is committed to increasing benefits to northern residents
from its mining operations. The company's hiring practices include
giving preference to residents of northern Saskatchewan.
- Cameco has a policy of purchasing goods and services in Saskatchewan,
and in particular from businesses with northern ownership, to the
greatest extent possible.
Employment
The McArthur and Key Lake operations together employ approximately 750 people
- more than half are residents of northern Saskatchewan.
Cameco Production
| |
Cameco's
|
Three Months Ended |
Six Months Ended |
|
| |
Share |
Jun 30/08 |
Jun 30/07 |
Jun 30/08 |
Jun 30/07 |
|
 |
| |
|
| Uranium production (in thousands lbs U3O8) |
|
| |
McArthur River |
69.8% |
3,240 |
3,899 |
6,383 |
6,591 |
|
| |
Rabbit Lake |
100.0% |
1,513 |
989 |
1,513 |
2,118 |
|
| |
Crow Butte |
100.0% |
131 |
192 |
287 |
381 |
|
| |
Smith Ranch Highland |
100.0% |
289 |
515 |
676 |
1,001 |
|
| |
|
| |
Total |
5,173 |
5,595 |
8,859 |
10,091 |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| Fuel services (tU) (ii) |
100.0% |
1,843 |
3,954 |
3,907 |
9,282 |
|
| |
|
| Gold (troy ounces) |
|
| |
Kumtor |
100.0% |
111,000 |
83,000 |
186,000 |
149,000 |
|
| |
Boroo |
100.0% |
47,000 |
70,000 |
93,000 |
137,000 |
|
| |
|
| |
Total |
158,000 |
153,000 |
279,000 |
286,000 |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| (ii) |
Includes toll conversion supplied by Springfields Fuels Ltd. |
|
|
| Uranium Operating Highlights |
| (100% basis except where noted otherwise) |
| |
McArthur River/Key Lake* |
Rabbit Lake |
| |
2007 |
2006 |
2005 |
2007 |
2006 |
2005 |
|
| Tonnes milled |
211,806 |
219,039 |
212,285 |
272,966 |
313,101 |
311,908 |
|
| Production (million lbs U3O8) |
18.7 |
18.7 |
18.7 |
4.0 |
5.1 |
6.0 |
|
| Cameco's share |
13.1 |
13.1 |
13.1 |
4.0 |
5.1 |
6.0 |
|
| Recovery (%) |
98.4 |
98.8 |
98.9 |
96.9 |
96.6 |
97.0 |
|
| Average mill head grade (% U3O8) |
4.07 |
3.91 |
4.00 |
0.69 |
0.78 |
0.88 |
|
| |
Smith Ranch/Highland |
Crow Butte |
|
| |
2007 |
2006 |
2005 |
2007 |
2006 |
2005 |
|
| Tonnes milled |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
|
| Production (million lbs U3O8) |
2.0 |
2.0 |
1.3 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.8 |
|
| Cameco's share |
2.0 |
2.0 |
1.3 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.8 |
|
| Recovery (%) |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
|
Average mill head grade
(% U3O8) |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
|
* McArthur River ore is milled at Key Lake. Due to licence conditions, stockpiled low-grade ore at Key Lake is used to dilute the grade of McArthur River ore. |
Cameco Web Site
August 29, 2008
Disclaimer
The information on this web site is provided solely for the reader's
general knowledge. The information is not intended to be a comprehensive
review of all matters and developments concerning Cameco Corporation
and Cameco assumes no responsibility as to its completeness or accuracy.
Furthermore, the information in no way should be construed or interpreted
as - or as part of - an offering or solicitation of securities.
No securities commission or other regulatory authority in Canada
or any other country or jurisdiction has in any way passed upon
this information and no representation or warranty is made by Cameco
to that effect.
We have taken some steps to prevent the unauthorized alteration
of the information contained on the web site. We take no responsibility
for information on this site that has been altered without our expressed
consent.
Statements contained in this web site which are not historical
facts are forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties
and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Such factors include among others: volatility and sensitivity to
market prices for uranium, electricity and gold, competition, the
impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, environmental
risks, political risk arising from operating in certain developing
countries, changes in government regulations and policies including
trade laws and policies, demand for nuclear power, replacement of
production, receipt of permits and approvals from government authorities
as well as other operating and development risks.
The links provided on this web site to other web sites are provided
solely for the convenience of the reader. Cameco assumes no responsibility
for the accuracy or completeness of information accessed through
these links.
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