Thorium: Crustal abundance, joint production, and economic availability
Recently, interest in thorium's potential use in a nuclear fuel cycle has been renewed. Thorium is more abundant, at least on average, than uranium in the earth's crust and, therefore, could theoretically extend the use of nuclear energy technology beyond the economic limits of uranium resources. This paper provides an economic assessment of thorium availability by creating cumulative-availability and potential mining-industry cost curves, based on known thorium resources. These tools provide two perspectives on the economic availability of thorium. In the long term, physical quantities of thorium likely will not be a constraint on the development of a thorium fuel cycle. In the medium term, however, thorium supply may be limited by constraints associated with its production as a by-product of rare earth elements and heavy mineral sands. As a result, environmental concerns, social issues, regulation, and technology also present issues for the medium and long term supply of thorium.
- Research Organization:
- Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC07-05ID14517
- OSTI ID:
- 1248172
- Alternate ID(s):
- OSTI ID: 1249569
- Report Number(s):
- INL/JOU-14-33388; PII: S0301420715000185
- Journal Information:
- Resources Policy, Vol. 44, Issue C; ISSN 0301-4207
- Publisher:
- ElsevierCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Saussurea lappa root extract ameliorates the hazards effect of thorium induced oxidative stress and neuroendocrine alterations in adult male rats
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journal | February 2020 |
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