A+Block+-+Uranium

=__**Uranium **__=

Uranium Production and Use in New Mexico
> > Uranium mining in New Mexico > > > >   Map of nuclear power plants in United States 
 * New Mexico has large Uranium reserves and a history and legacy of Uranium mining and research, yet very little of the states total energy comes from nuclear plants (estimates range from 10%--20%.)
 * Although there are many uranium mining claims in New Mexico there is only one Uranium Energy Corp, Cebolleta.
 * In the United States there are 104 nuclear operating reactors in 31 states operated by 30 different companies
 * The U.S is the largest nuclear energy producer in the world, producing more than 30% of the world's nuclear electricity generation


 * Color || Energy Resource ||
 * Green || Biomass ||
 * Black || Coal ||
 * Blue || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Hydro ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Red || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Natural Gas ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Grey || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Oil ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Yellow || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Solar ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Purple || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Wind ||

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Uranium Information
> > > <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> > > <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> > Uranium ore
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Uranium was discovered in by Martin Heinrich Klaproth, a German chemist, in 1789.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Uranium's melting point is 2,070°F (1,132°C) and the boiling point is 7,468°F (4,131°C)
 * 92235U --> 90231Th + 24He
 * 92238U --> 90234Th + 24He
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Uranium is a heavy metal which can be used as an abundant source of concentrated energy. ====

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Benefits of Uranium

 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Uranium is a concentrated low volume fuel source that requires few incursions into the land for transport and extraction.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Uranium is an abundant fuel source with stable prices and isn't sensitive to fuel price increases.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">"One uranium fuel pellet-the size of the tip of your little finger-is the equivalent of 17,000 cubic feet of natural gas, 1,780 pounds of coal, or 149 gallons of oil.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Creates little or no greenhouse gasses
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">More efficient energy source (volume of fuel relative to energy output)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Less pollution

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Uranium mine

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Disadvantages of Uranium

 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Nuclear energy is neither a green nor a sustainable alternative to other fuel sources.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">According to estimates, Uranium supply would last 20--30 years depending on the demand for Uranium fuels.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Uranium is significantly rarer than fossil fuels (in terms of physical quantity)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Reactors have a very high price of construction
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Getting from the planning stage to the electricity production stage of a nuclear plant is a time consuming process.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Disposal and storage of spent fuels
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Another disadvantage is the risk of nuclear “accidents” which may result in a grievous loss of human life. Examples include the nuclear plant explosions in Fukushima, Japan (2011) and Chernobyl, Ukraine (1986)

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">For all of the advantages it may have, nuclear energy has just as many disadvantages which may prevent it from being a serious viability for sustained alternative energy. As a temporary resolution however, it may well be an excellent choice.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Works Cited

 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">An Energy Resource for the Community Science Action Guide. (n.d.). The Franklin Institute - Home - 215.448.1200 . Retrieved December 14, 2012, from http://www.fi.edu/guide/wester/benefits.html
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Disadvantages of Nuclear Power. (n.d.). Avoiding an Energy Crisis | howtopowertheworld.com. Retrieved December 14, 2012, from http://howtopowertheworld.com/disadvantages-of-nuclear-power.shtml
 * "What is the nuclear decay equation for uranium-235." //The Q&A wiki//. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2012. <http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_nuclear_decay_equation_for_uranium-235>.