yellowcake

thumb|Yellowcake Yellowcake (also called urania) is a type of powdered uranium concentrate obtained from leach solutions, representing an intermediate step in the processing of uranium ores. This material is produced after uranium mining but before either fuel fabrication or uranium enrichment. Yellowcake concentrates are created through various extraction and refining methods that vary depending on the ore types. The production involves milling and chemical processing of uranium ore, resulting in a coarse powder with a pungent odor that is insoluble in water. Yellowcake typically contains about 80% uranium oxide and melts at approximately 2880 °C.

==Production process== Traditional uranium mining involves extracting raw uranium ore through conventional methods, which remains common practice at many sites. The production process begins with crushing the ore to a fine powder using crushers and grinders to create "pulped" ore. This material then undergoes treatment with concentrated acid, alkaline, or peroxide solutions to leach out the uranium. In modern operations, approximately half of yellowcake production utilizes in situ leaching, where solutions are pumped directly through uranium deposits without physical excavation. The resulting solution is then dried and filtered to produce yellowcake. Despite its name, modern yellowcake is typically brown or black rather than yellow; the term originates from the color and texture of concentrates from early mining operations.