Open-Pit Uranium Mining
Open-pit uranium mining extracts ore via surface excavation in large pits. Used for shallow, high-grade deposits like those in Canada and Kazakhstan.
Trucks and shovels remove overburden; ore milled on-site for 90%+ recovery. Produces 20-30% of global U; McArthur River (Cameco) yields 7,000 tU/year at 20% U grade. Higher environmental footprint than ISR.
Why it matters now
Open-pit scales for surging demand from data center PPAs and SMRs in 2025-2026. Kazakhstan dominance risks supply chains, boosting North American projects.