Location Athabasca Basin Products Uranium Province Saskatchewan | Country Canada Year of acquisition 1988 (Discovery) Opened 2000 | |
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Company Cameco(70%) and Areva Resources Canada(30%) Companies Cameco (70%), Areva Resources Canada (30%) | ||
The McArthur River Uranium Mine, in northern Saskatchewan, Canada, is the world's largest high-grade uranium deposit.
Contents
The McArthur River deposit was discovered in 1988. The property is located 620 air kilometres north of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and 80 kilometres northeast of the Key Lake mill in the uranium rich Athabasca Basin. Mine construction began in 1997, with production commencing in 1999. The mine achieved full commercial production in November 2000. Production is regulated at 18.7 million pounds of yellowcake a year with the ore being processed through the Key Lake mill.
Between 2000 and 2013, the McArthur River/Key Lake operation has produced 250.6 million pounds U3O8. Note that this production figure includes production from the former Key Lake mine as well as that derived from the McArthur River mine. The link also needs to be updated.
In 2012, McArthur River was the world's largest producing uranium mine, accounting for 13% of world mine production. (Canada, as a whole, produces 15% of the world's uranium production.)
Reserves
As of December 31, 2013, the mine has proven and probable reserves of 1,037,400 tonnes at an average grade of 15.76% U3O8. (360.5 Million pounds)
Awards
During the most hazardous mining operations, remote controlled underground mining systems in this mine are used to reduce personnel exposure to rock particulates, radon gas, and other hazards. A video detailing the operations at the mine is provided by CAMECO.
The McArthur River mine has been awarded the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum's John T. Ryan Trophy for the best safety record for metal mines several times. This award is given to the metal mine with the best safety record for the previous year.
National Trophy
Regional Trophy - Prairies and Northwest Territories
Ownership
The mine is owned by Cameco (70%) and Areva Resources Canada (30%), formerly COGEMA Resources Inc. Cameco is the mine operator.
Access
The mine is serviced by the McArthur River Airport to the northeast. It is also connected to the south by a restricted access haulage road. According to Google Maps, this road is Saskatchewan Highway 914, however the official 2011 highway map of Saskatchewan indicates that 914 terminates at a checkpoint at Key Lake mine, while the road that continues to McArthur is not a public highway (owned by Cameco) and does not appear on maps.