WELLOG URANIUM - U308
REVISED
© 2006-2007 WELLOG
All Rights Reserved
WHAT IS U308?
Uranium is a naturally occurring radioactive element. The concentration of uranium in uranium ore can be less than .1 percent. Uranium undergoes radioactive decay as part of the process of gamma ray emission. Uranium produces radioactive daughter products and can be detected by suitable instruments.
A common isotope of uranium is Uranium 234. The abbreviation for Uranium 234 is U234. or 234U.
Uranium and its daughter products produce gamma rays which are short lived photons of energy similar to x-rays. A common form of uranium is Uranium oxide which is also known as yellow cake. It has the chemical formula U3O8.
WHERE IS IT FOUND?
Uranium oxide is found in certain (usually sedimentary) formations
in the earth. Often times it has been concentrated thru natural processes. Most
uranium is produced in
WHAT IS IT USED FOR?
U308 is used in the production of electrical energy. It has applications in medicine and other industries.
WHAT IS IT WORTH?
U308 has in past decades been priced at
around $20.00 per pound. Recent market prices have exceeded $90.00 per pound.
Visit http://www.kitcometals.com
for uranium pricing and uranium industry news.
HOW IS URANIUM DETECTED?
Because uranium is radioactive and produces gamma rays, a gamma ray detector is used. Two types of gamma ray detectors are in common use. The older, less sensitive, less efficient detector uses a Geiger-Mueller detector tube. Modern detectors use a scintillation detector. Scintillation detectors are very sensitive and have an efficiency greater than 90 percent. Uranium exploration on the surface may be done with hand-held scintillation gamma detectors. Geophysical companies also use aircraft containing sensitive scintillation gamma detector systems to survey large areas. Specialized scintillation gamma detector probes are available for exploratory borehole logging. Spectral gamma radiation tools are also used to discriminate among the uranium daughter products, thorium and potassium.
BOREHOLE LOGGING METHODS:
Some 80 percent or more of the basis engineering and geological information used by the uranium mining industry to calculate ore reserves, predict extensions of deposits, and for mine planning is derived from logs of non-cored holes. A logging tool containing a sensitive scintillation gamma ray detector is used to log uranium ore bodies. Contemporary logging programs for uranium evaluation and exploration commonly include scintillation gamma ray, single point resistance and spontaneous potential (SP) measurements. Massive tools, large cables and powerful winches such as used in petroleum logging are not optimum for uranium logging requirements. WELLOG uses a Uranium Prospector logging truck for these operations.
Radioactive elements can be identified by their characteristic energy levels. A spectrum of energies can show relative quantities of each radioactive element in a given formation material. Spectral gamma instrumentation is used for this purpose.
HOW CAN WELLOG HELP?
WELLOG has the tools and experience required to perform all of the logging services described above. Logs are ran using a single tool string.
Contact WELLOG for answers to your questions or a quote for Uranium logging services at info@wellog.com.
