Drilling

U.S. uranium exploration drilling was 5,198 holes covering 2.5 million feet in 2008. Development drilling was 4,157 holes and 2.6 million feet. Combined, total uranium drilling was 9,355 holes covering 5.1 million feet. Expenditures for exploration activities were $50 million in 2008, and $82 million for drilling activities.

Mining

U.S. uranium mines produced 3.9 million pounds of uranium in 2008, 15 percent less than in 2007. Ten underground mines produced uranium during 2008, four more than during 2007. Six in-situ-leach mining operations produced uranium, one more than during 2007. Overall, there were 16 mines that operated during part or all of 2008.

Production and Shipments

Total production of U.S. uranium concentrate (yellowcake) in 2008 was 3.9 million pounds U₃O₈, 14 percent below the 2007 level, from one U.S. mill (White Mesa Mill) and six in-situ-leach plants (Alta Mesa Project, Crow Butte Operation, Kingsville Dome, Rosita, Smith Ranch-Highland Operation, and Vasquez). Shipments of uranium concentrate from this mill and these in-situ leach plants were 4.1 million pounds in 2008, 2 percent above the 2007 level.

Facilities

At the end of 2008, there were four uranium mills located in the United States (with a total capacity of 6,150 short tons of ore per day). Only one mill was operating, with a capacity of 2,000 short tons of ore per day. Also, there were nine uranium in-situ-leach plants (with a total capacity of 12 million pounds U₃O₈ per year). Four in-situ-leach plants were operating, with a combined capacity of 8.5 million pounds U₃O₈ per year.

Employment

Total employment in the U.S. uranium production industry was 1,563 person-years for 2008, an increase of 27 percent from the 2007 total. Mining employment increased the most (48 percent). Uranium exploration, milling and processing employment rose 22 percent, while reclamation employment had little change from 2007 to 2008. Eight States (Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming) accounted for 97 percent of total employment in the uranium production industry.

Expenditures

Total expenditures for land, exploration, drilling, production, and reclamation were $468 million in 2008, 39 percent more than in 2007. Expenditures on U.S. uranium production, including facility expenses, were the most at $221 million in 2008. Uranium production expenditures increased 145 percent from 2007 to 2008. Expenditures for land were $65 million, a 16 percent decrease compared with 2007.

Summary Production Statistics of the U.S. Uranium Industry, 1993-2008

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