In response to the large amount of uranium containing wastewater generated during the mining and processing of uranium resources, two types of edible mushroom processing waste, Velvet Antler Mushroom Feet (VAMS) and Red Bamboo Fungus Cap (BFP), were used as biological adsorbents to investigate their removal performance of U (VI) in aqueous solutions. The effects of acidity, adsorption time, initial uranium concentration, solid-liquid mass-volume ratio, coexisting ions and temperature on the U (VI) adsorption performance of edible fungus processing waste were systematically investigated by the static batch method. The results show that under the conditions of pH=5.0 and temperature of 25 ℃, the maximum adsorption capacities of VAMS and BFP for U (VI) are 24.34 mg/g and 23.88 mg/g, respectively, with removal rates reaching 97.7% and 91.8% accordingly. Moreover, Ca²⁺ has the strongest interference effect on the adsorption of U (VI).VAMS and BFP reach equilibrium at 2 hours and 4 hours, respectively, and conform to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Freundlich isotherm model. This indicates that the adsorption process is mainly dominated by multi-molecular layer chemical adsorption. The thermodynamic parameters (ΔG<0, ΔH>0) confirm that the adsorption is a spontaneous endothermic reaction. Combined with the characterizations of SEM-EDS, FT-IR and XPS, the adsorption of U (VI) by VAMS mainly relies on the coordination of hydroxyl groups on the material surface, while the adsorption of U (VI) by BFP mainly depends on the coordination of nitrogen-containing functional groups on the material surface. The research results not only indicate that edible mushroom processing waste has good adsorption performance for uranyl ions, but also realize the resource utilization of agricultural waste, providing a low-cost and environmentally friendly adsorption material for the treatment of uranium containing wastewater, which has important application value.

Continuous sampling and analysis of characteristic pollutant concentrations were conducted on the wastewater from a closed uranium mine discharge outlet and surrounding surface water from 2020 to 2024. The monitored characteristic pollutants included U, ²²⁶Ra, ²¹⁰Po, ²¹⁰Pb, Cd, Mn, As, and pH. Using the Mann-Kendall test to analyze the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of characteristic pollutants in wastewater, and using the Nemerow Index method to evaluate the ecological risk of surrounding surface water. The results show that during 2020—2024, the concentrations of characteristic pollutants in wastewater and surface water meet the limit requirements, and the concentrations of U, ²²⁶Ra, Mn, and As in surface water are generally higher than those in the control points. The Mann-Kendall test results indicate that from 2020 to 2024, the concentrations of U, As, and Cd in the wastewater discharged from uranium mines are effectively controlled and show a significant downward trend. The ecological risk analysis of monitoring data from six surface water sampling points using the Nemerow Index method shows that the pollution factors that have a significant impact on surface water are U natural, ²²⁶Ra, and Mn. In the process of long-term monitoring of the closed uranium mines, the focus is on the concentration changes of U, ²²⁶Ra, Mn, and As in wastewater, as well as U, ²²⁶Ra, and Mn pollution factors in downstream surface water.

This paper studied the investment and management strategies of major global uranium mining companies and summarizes the insights and recommendations for Chinese uranium mining enterprises in the uranium market. Selecting six major uranium companies, including Kazatomprom, Rosatom, BHP, Cameco, Paladin Energy and Orano, as research subjects, analyzed their strategic trends, exploration and development strategies, and uranium asset portfolios. The study found that during periods of low uranium prices, these companies improved profitability through technological innovation, cost reduction, production cuts, halting high-cost mines, and securing long-term contract prices. During the uranium price recovery cycle, these companies quickly adjusted their strategies, increased investment in risk exploration, and restarted suspended mines, leading to significant growth in revenue and net profit. Based on these experiences, this paper proposes the five recommendations. First, uranium mining enterprises should enhance their understanding of industry cyclicality and optimize their asset portfolios. Second, they should continue to increase investment in uranium-rich countries to enhance resource control. Third, they should flexibly adjust production strategies and produce on-demand to stabilize spot market prices. Fourth, they should pursue diversified development through comprehensive mining operations. Lastly, they should continuously increase exploration investment to prepare for future resources.

Associated radioactive solid waste is generated by associated mining enterprises during mining, beneficiation, and smelting processes. If not stored properly, it may pose potential radiation safety risks to the environment. To effectively assess the radiation impact on operators during the loading, unloading, and stacking of associated radioactive solid waste, this paper selects the waste storage process of an existing temporary storage facility for associated radioactive solid waste as an example. The radiation hazard factors evaluated mainly include γ rays generated by the decay of natural radionuclides in the associated solid waste and ²²²Rn generated by the decay of radionuclides. The evaluation results show that the γ radiation dose rate at external attention points of the waste temporary storage facility is less than 2.5 μGy/h, and the maximum annual radiation dose to operators does not exceed 4.1 mSv/a, which is in compliance with relevant regulations. The results indicate that after adopting certain shielding and ventilation measures in the associated solid waste temporary storage facility, the radiation dose to operators can be effectively controlled, reducing radiation safety risks.

In order to grasp the radioactive level and its changing trend around the ionic rare earth ore separation enterprise, and evaluate the potential impact of smelting separation process on the surrounding environment, this study takes a typical rare earth separation enterprise in Guangxi as an example. From 2017 to 2024, a systematic tracking and monitoring was carried out for 8 consecutive years, and the spatial and temporal distribution data of the radiation environment were obtained, and the dynamic characteristics and changing trends of the radiation environment around the enterprise were grasped. The maximum gamma dose rate around the enterprise is 104 nGy/h, and the maximum radon concentration is 69.0 Bq/m³. The specific activities of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, ²²⁶Ra, and ⁴⁰K in solid-state environmental samples are 36.8-88.9, 28.9-180, 27.7-107 Bq/kg, and 452-479 Bq/kg, respectively. The specific activities of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, ²²⁶Ra, and ⁴⁰K in gaseous environmental samples are <29.8, <6.95-27.6, <6.28-27.6, and <19.3-33.5 Bq/kg, respectively. The mass concentrations of uranium and thorium in liquid environmental samples are 0.057-3.7 and 0.019-0.948 μg/L, respectively. The activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, total alpha, and total beta are 2.01-21.9 mBq/L, 0.017-0.123 Bq/L, and 0.027-0.099 mBq/L, respectively. The total amount of U and Th in the liquid effluent sample is 0.241-168 μg/L, and the activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²¹⁰Po, and ²¹⁰Pb are 16.2-1 870, 1.35-89.1, 2.56-96.8 mBq/L. According to the analysis of monitoring results, from 2017 to 2024, the gamma radiation dose rate and radon concentration level in the surrounding environment of the ion type rare earth separation enterprise, as well as the radioactive indicators of surface water, groundwater, aerosols, soil, and sediment, basically meet the standard requirements. The overall radiation environment around the enterprise is stable, and the obvious fluctuations in some indicators are closely related to the adjustment of sewage treatment processes. The results provide a reliable reference for the radiation environment management of associated radioactive mining enterprises.

Due to their abundant sources and biodegradability, plant fibers have become one of the most economical materials for seawater uranium extraction. However, the main challenge in seawater uranium extraction is that marine microorganisms attach, grow, and reproduce on the surface of adsorbent materials, leading to blockage of pores on the material surface and reduction in the number of adsorption sites. To develop an adsorbent material with both good adsorption performance and antibacterial properties, this study extracts plant fibers from cycas leaves, performs amidoxime-based modification through a two-step method of cyanylation and oximation to obtain amidoxime-functionalized cycas leaves fibers (AO-CLF), and then prepares silver-loaded amidoxime-functionalized cycas leaves fibers (Ag@AO-CLF) by in-situ reduction. The antibacterial performance of Ag@AO-CLF against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was studied. The effects of factors such as pH, mass of the adsorbent, adsorption time, initial uranium concentration and interfering ions on its adsorption of U (VI) were investigated. The reaction kinetics and thermodynamic behavior of U (VI) adsorption were explored. Meanwhile, the reusability of the adsorbent was studied through adsorption-desorption cycle experiments, the adsorption effect of the adsorbent on U (VI) under complex interfering ions and simulated seawater conditions was evaluated, and its adsorption mechanism was studied by FT-IR, SEM-EDS, and XPS characterization methods. The results show that the adsorption capacity of 0.2 g/L Ag@AO-CLF in a solution with pH=5.0 and an initial uranium concentration of 5 mg/L is 24.6 mg/g for U (VI), and it still exhibits an adsorption efficiency of up to 98% for U (VI)in an environment containing multiple competing ions. In simulated seawater with pH=8.15 and a uranium concentration of 5 mg/L, the adsorption rate and adsorption capacity of this adsorbent are 98.4% and 23.67 mg/g, respectively. Meanwhile, its inhibition zone diameters against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus are (12.8±0.2) mm、(11.0±0.5) mm, respectively, indicating good antibacterial performance. After 5 adsorption-desorption cycles, the removal rate and desorption rate of Ag@AO-CLF for U (VI) both remain above 90%, demonstrating good regeneration performance and strong stability, making it suitable for long-term applications in seawater uranium extraction. XPS results show that the adsorption of U (VI) by Ag@AO-CLF is mainly attributed to the C═O and N—O bonds in the amidoxime groups.

The Guyuan-Hongshanzi area is a prominent uranium metallogenic belt in northern China, with the Hongshanzi pluton situated in its northern segment. In the eastern Shanghuofang area of the pluton, an integrated prospecting approach combining geological, geochemical, and geophysical methods was employed. By employing soil geochemistry and radon gas measurement techniques, geochemical anomalies were identified and the exploration area was effectively constrained. These anomalies were further analyzed in conj unction with induced polarization data, highlighting zones characterized by high resistivity and high chargeability, as well as the morphological features of high-precision ground magnetic anomalies. This integrated approach facilitated the interpretation of the structural framework in the Shanghuofang area. Induced polarization sounding provided insights into the spatial configuration of deep-seated anomalies, while controlled-source audio magnetotelluric (CSAMT) sounding delineated favorable zones for mineralization at greater depths, thereby enabling accurate spatial prediction of uranium-molybdenum ore bodies. Drilling validation confirmed the presence of multiple uranium-molybdenum ore bodies.The comprehensive geological, geochemical and geophysical prospecting process and prospecting model in Shanghuofang area were summarized and established, which provided the prospecting direction for uranium polymetallic ore exploration in this area.

In the numerical study of groundwater seep characteristics in rock mass under different rock dip angles, the influence of seep field on internal defects such as holes and joints, the influence of seep field on rock mass stability, and the instability mechanism of rock mass under the coupling of seep field and ground stress field were seldom considered. This study employed discrete element software (PFC) to define fluid domains, simulating fluid-solid coupling evolution and rock mass failure behavior under coupled geostress and seepage fields. Macroscopic and microscopic analyses were conducted to investigate instability mechanisms. The results indicate that the coupling of high-stress fields and low-seepage fields can induce crack propagation in weak zones, such as crack tips, leading to rock mass failure. Compared to stress fields alone, coupling effects exhibit distinct failure patterns. Additionally, under low water pressure, seepage pressure can suppress tensile crack propagation at crack tips, primarily resulting in compressive failure zones. This research provides theoretical insights for understanding seepage behavior and assessing rock mass stability in complex engineering conditions.

In response to the cumulative damage of rock mass during the two-step mining of coppergold ore body using the sub-level stoping with delayed backfill method in a mine, acoustic wave detection technology was used to collect acoustic wave data of the ore body before blasting and during the blasting and mining process, and the ore body integrity coefficient results were combined with FLAC3D software to conduct numerical simulation analysis of the mining process. The results show that the ore body integrity is at level III before blasting and mining. After 3 to 4 rounds of blasting and mining operations, the cumulative damage degree of the ore body within a range of 4 rows (8.8 m) from the blast source is relatively large, and the integrity changes from level III to level V. The stress safety factors of the front and rear areas of the stope are both greater than 1.5, indicating that the roof and the filling body are overall stable. After the mining of the rear area of the stope, the plastic deformation areas of the roof and floor of the voids, as well as the surrounding rock and side wall filling body, significantly expand. It is recommended to backfill as soon as possible after mining to reduce the risk of collapse of the surrounding rock and the filling body.

Calcite is an important carbonate mineral in sandstone-type uranium deposits, and its corrosion-precipitation behavior directly affects the permeability of the deposits. To gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms behind permeability decline during "CO₂+O₂" in-situ leaching of sandstone-type uranium deposits, the stirred leaching experiments using calcite in a high-pressure reactor under varying CO₂ partial pressures was conducted. The results indicate that higher CO₂ partial pressures lead to lower solution pH and higher concentrations, significantly enhancing calcite corrosion. However, the Ca²⁺released during corrosion can trigger secondary calcite precipitation. Differential corrosion was observed on the calcite surface, forming distinct corrosion pits. Additionally, the pore structure of calcite underwent notable changes, characterized by the disappearance of micropores, a reduction in pore volume, and an increase in average pore size. Based on the above findings, a dynamic control strategy of "high-pressure unclogging followed by low-pressure maintenance" was proposed for in-situ leaching operations, providing both theoretical foundation and engineering guidance for optimizing the "CO₂+O₂" in-situ uranium leaching process.