Uranium

It is generally found in rocks and waters in trace amounts. In the existing oxidation conditions above and below the groundwater table, secondary uranium minerals containing +6 uranium can easily dissolve (with increasing pH in the water) and are transported into the solution in the form of uranyl ions and transported over long distances with groundwater. When they meet the appropriate reduction (reduction) conditions during transportation, they are reduced to +4 uranium and deposited as Uraninite and Pitchblen (uranium oxide containing ore) and thus uranium deposits are formed. The main uranium minerals are uraninite, autinite, pitchblend, tobernit and co-nit. In the mining sector, during the evaluation of a uranium field; U₃O₈ grade, reserves, mineral processing and ore recovery technology of the ore are evaluated as a whole. For this reason, uranium ore deposits that have a reserve of 10,000 tons and a grade of more than 0.02% U₃O₈ are currently operable. Since the extracted uranium mines contain 0.1% -1% U₃O₈, the extracted mine is subjected to a pre-enrichment process. In addition to the use of uranium as a nuclear power plant fuel and in making nuclear explosives, uranyl acetate is also used in analytical applications, armor coating, shipbuilding and aircraft construction, to color the ceramics and to make plutonium hydrogen bomb.

By the end of 2024, there is 5.93 million tons of uranium resources in the world and 60,213 tons were produced worldwide. Around half of the world's uranium production is from Australia, Kazakhstan and Canada. More than 55% uranium is produced by in situ leaching. In 2024 Australia produced the largest share of uranium (28% of world supply), followed by Kazakhstan (14%) and Canada (10%).

With the recent discoveries of MTA, Türkiye’s uranium (U₃O₈) resource (with 0.017-0.24% grade) has reached to 54,978 tons. The provinces where the discoveries were made are Manisa, Uşak, Yozgat, Aydın, Nevşehir and Malatya. No study has been conducted on the economics and technological gains of MTA discoveries. In addition to these discoveries, 547.6 tons of 0.002-0.8% grade uranium reserves were identified in Aydın-Söke.

While uranium prices exhibited an upward trend from 2017 to 2024, it experienced a decline in 2025.

Date of Update: 18 May 2026