LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Uranium: United States
built 263 days ago
In addition, First Uranium is in the development stage and is subject to the risks and challenges similar to other companies in a comparable stage of development. The risks include, but are not limited to, certain business, operational and market risks. For a discussion of the Corporation's risks please refer to the Corporation's MD&A in respect of its audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007, the 2007 Annual Information Form and other filings, which are available on the Corporation's website www.firsturanium.com and on www.sedar.com or upon request from the Corporation.
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Uranium is a naturally occurring element found in low levels within all rock, soil, and water. This is the highest-numbered element to be found naturally in significant quantities on earth. According to the United Nations the normal concentration of uranium in soil is 300 μg kg-1 to 11.7 mg kg-1.
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Uranium never occurs naturally in the free state but is found as an oxide or complex salt in minerals such as pitchblende and carnotite. It has an average concentration in the crust of the Earth of about 2 parts per 1 million, and, among the elements, ranks about 48th in natural abundance in crustal rocks. Pure uranium consists of more than 99 percent of the isotope uranium-238, less than 1 percent of the fissile isotope uranium-235, and a trace of uranium-234, formed by radioactive decay of uranium-238. Among the artificially produced isotopes of uranium are uranium-233, uranium-237, and uranium-239. Isotopes ranging from mass number 222 to 242 are known.
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![[logo] US EPA](http://retrieverimages.lycos.com/images/u/r/a/uranium/i/012.gif)
Uranium mining releases radon from the ground into the atmosphere. Open-pit and in-situ mining sites have been monitored by federal agencies and found to pose a low risk to the public. However, underground mines potentially pose a higher radon risk to both the public and workers. Mines and mining waste can release radionuclides, including radon, and other pollutants to streams, springs, and other bodies of water. Federal and state agencies have established pollutant discharge limits and drinking water standards, and continue to monitor these sites for public safety.
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