The blue is caused by copper contamination, but there could also be other heavy metals present (came from the uranium mine, all metals were mined, this happen after a flood!)
Comment: Please read the two letters about uranium mining!
The case against uranium mining
14/10/2009 8:39:00 AM
A LONG term North West cattle station owner believes primary producers need to be consulted on how their land would be affected by uranium mining before any decision on the industry’s future was made.
Margaret Campbell owned the “Rosebud” cattle station, which bordered the former Mary Kathleen uranium mine near Cloncurry, while it was still in operation from the 1950s to the 80s.
She said she had seen firsthand how a uranium mine could be a health and economic problem for those living in such close proximity to the site.
She can remember a flock of ducks being killed instantly when they landed on a nearby creek that allegedly contained radioactive water.
“I can remember the pipes at the mine breaking and this horrible grey stuff running past my kitchen window,” she said.
“The message the mine sent back was it is only the tailings but don’t let your kids play in it.”
Mrs Campbell said creek overflows during the wet season would destroy surrounding vegetation.
“It can’t all be cleared away – it stays radioactive. Cattle producers wouldn’t be able to sell their cattle if they’re contaminated and it would be hard to know which cattle are contaminated. The government and the mining companies need to talk to producers before any decision was made,” she said.
“It is not really the kind of industry you want around.”
The case for uranium mining
14/10/2009 8:40:00 AM
IT WOULD take about three years for a uranium mining industry to be established in Mount Isa if the Queensland Government was to give the go-ahead for the industry to begin, a leading industry expert has said.
Alan J Eggers served as the managing director of Summit Resources when the company began developing uranium exploration in the Mount Isa region from 1990.
He is currently the executive chairman of Manhattan Corporation Limited, a public listed company with uranium interests in Western Australia.
As a long term uranium industry figurehead and among the first to explore sections of the North West for the controversial mineral, he has seen the debate for and against uranium mining rise and fall on the political agenda during the past two decades.
However, he believes it was “inevitable” Queensland would begin uranium mining.
He said advanced exploration had already been conducted throughout the North West and companies were simply waiting for the State Government to give the industry the thumbs up.
“We have everything in place to export uranium - including the skills, the knowledge and the ports – the only thing standing in the way is the political will,” he said.
“There are already uranium mines in Australia and several other mining leases in Western Australia being considered. So Queensland is simply losing out on royalties and revenue by not allowing uranium mining.”
In Australia, the industry produces uranium entirely for export.
Uranium is exported under a framework of anti- nuclear weapons proliferation safeguards and strict health, safety and environmental regulations.
Full year exploration statistics released last month by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show a 20 per cent decline in uranium exploration Australia-wide, compared with 2007-08 (from about $231 million to $185 million).
In Queensland, exploration spending during the year was weaker, although spending in the June quarter ($6.3 million) was up slightly on March.
http://www.northweststar.com.au/news/local/news/general/the-case-for-uranium-mining/1648705.aspx?src=rss
The case against uranium mining
14/10/2009 8:39:00 AM
A LONG term North West cattle station owner believes primary producers need to be consulted on how their land would be affected by uranium mining before any decision on the industry’s future was made.
Margaret Campbell owned the “Rosebud” cattle station, which bordered the former Mary Kathleen uranium mine near Cloncurry, while it was still in operation from the 1950s to the 80s.
She said she had seen firsthand how a uranium mine could be a health and economic problem for those living in such close proximity to the site.
She can remember a flock of ducks being killed instantly when they landed on a nearby creek that allegedly contained radioactive water.
“I can remember the pipes at the mine breaking and this horrible grey stuff running past my kitchen window,” she said.
“The message the mine sent back was it is only the tailings but don’t let your kids play in it.”
Mrs Campbell said creek overflows during the wet season would destroy surrounding vegetation.
“It can’t all be cleared away – it stays radioactive. Cattle producers wouldn’t be able to sell their cattle if they’re contaminated and it would be hard to know which cattle are contaminated. The government and the mining companies need to talk to producers before any decision was made,” she said.
“It is not really the kind of industry you want around.”
The case for uranium mining
14/10/2009 8:40:00 AM
IT WOULD take about three years for a uranium mining industry to be established in Mount Isa if the Queensland Government was to give the go-ahead for the industry to begin, a leading industry expert has said.
Alan J Eggers served as the managing director of Summit Resources when the company began developing uranium exploration in the Mount Isa region from 1990.
He is currently the executive chairman of Manhattan Corporation Limited, a public listed company with uranium interests in Western Australia.
As a long term uranium industry figurehead and among the first to explore sections of the North West for the controversial mineral, he has seen the debate for and against uranium mining rise and fall on the political agenda during the past two decades.
However, he believes it was “inevitable” Queensland would begin uranium mining.
He said advanced exploration had already been conducted throughout the North West and companies were simply waiting for the State Government to give the industry the thumbs up.
“We have everything in place to export uranium - including the skills, the knowledge and the ports – the only thing standing in the way is the political will,” he said.
“There are already uranium mines in Australia and several other mining leases in Western Australia being considered. So Queensland is simply losing out on royalties and revenue by not allowing uranium mining.”
In Australia, the industry produces uranium entirely for export.
Uranium is exported under a framework of anti- nuclear weapons proliferation safeguards and strict health, safety and environmental regulations.
Full year exploration statistics released last month by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show a 20 per cent decline in uranium exploration Australia-wide, compared with 2007-08 (from about $231 million to $185 million).
In Queensland, exploration spending during the year was weaker, although spending in the June quarter ($6.3 million) was up slightly on March.
http://www.northweststar.com.au/news/local/news/general/the-case-for-uranium-mining/1648705.aspx?src=rss
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