Uranium-Cradle to Grave (P.C. Burns and G.E. Sigmon)

Uranium—Cradle to Grave. P.C. Burns and G.E. Sigmon 2013. Mineralogical Society of Canada, Short Course Series, v. 43. 437 Pp. ISBN 978-0-921294-53-5. Price $60 US. Uranium—Cradle to Grave is a much needed comprehensive volume written by internationally recognized experts on one of the more important and controversial elements in modern society: uranium. This volume examines topics including the origin and distribution of uranium ore deposits, mineralogy, chemistry, and nuclear waste disposal. The first chapter is short but well written, and presents an excellent introduction to the volume. The chapter summarizes the historical perspective on uranium, from the discovery in 1789 to the growing pains of the use of uranium, first in nuclear weapons (1945), then in nuclear reactors (1950), and the need to provide electricity for 30 countries. The author ends with a cautionary note that although there are 435 nuclear power plants in operation (at the end of 2011), worldwide demand for nuclear power will determine the role uranium will have in the world. The second chapter continues with the theme of the volume by describing some of the early uses of uranium as a coloring agent in …