Reply #6: But unlike Fossil fuels, we do NOT have a rough idea where all the Uranium is

[happyslug]

In fact Iran is considered a hot property for possible Uranium extraction. Unlike fossil fuels, which exist in areas that at one time had been on the surface (often under water in the case of oil and natural gas) and then had other material deposited OVER them to preserve them for our later use, all of the Uranium on this planet have been on this planet since it was formed. Furthermore recent theory (and some experiments that supports the theory) states that the reason the earth has a volcanic core is that when the Earth was young the heaviest elements (Uranium) sank to the center of the earth and went super critical (i.e. the earth is one big Fission reactor). Now this uranium core provides the heat that melts the surrounding iron outer core and occasionally shoots Uranium to the surface. The Uranium this sent to the surface has varied since the formation of this planet but we can NOT exclude any area from having Uranium without actual testing AND that testing must include deep mines.

Today, Canada produces 25% of all uranium produced in the world, followed closely by Australia and then Kazakhstan (at 15% of world production). These three countries produce over 50% of all Uranium presently being mined. The primary reason for Australia production is that it has some of the oldest solid ground on the planet and as such has the easiest to access uranium. Younger pieces of ground tend to have less uranium (Do more to the uranium being buried by subsequent forms of earth then anything else).

As to Canada its uranium production is located in the Canadian West (as America's production is located in the American West) for these areas have seen deep parts of the planet being brought up to the surface by the movement of the tectonic plates as the plates come into contact and one plate over rides another (as is happening as the North American Plate goes up as it climbs over and forces down the pacific ocean plate). During this process materials from deep underground are pushed to the surface.

Iran is undergoing a similar process and as such has the potential to have Uranium. Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are the northern part of the same tectonic movement that is affecting Iran and that process has exposed large amount of Uranium.

Now, as of right now, Iran is officially Uranium poor, but there is strong evidence that will NOT always be the case (and may NOT be the case even today). Thus to call Iran Uranium poor may NOT be supported by the evidence. Just pointing out that the any statement that Iran is poor in Uranium may NOT be true given what we know of where Uranium tends to be located on this planet.

For more on Iran domestic Uranium production:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/iran/mines.htm
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=aMtzNb9WS83I&pos=13

Earth as a Nuclear reactor:
http://www.spacedaily.com/news/earth-03k.html
http://www.jstor.org/pss/3056672
http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080515/full/news.2008.822.html

1993 paper on the subject of the earth being a fission reactor:
http://www.nuclearplanet.com/Herndon%20JGG93.pdf