In situ uranium mining

In situ uranium mining is a method used to obtain underground uranium. For it to be practical, the ore is often fairly deep underground so it cannot be mined with open pits, and there may be beneficial factors which make it more practical than other underground mining. One reason for its use is that it leaves very little environmental disturbance at the surface. Dissolving solutions are pumped to the uranium underground which allows the uranium to flow through a system of wells to the ground above where it can be processed. The following video (from Cameco, a uranium mining company) shows how the in situ uranium mining process works.

See uranium mining for other methods of attaining uranium.