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The main uranium deposit in Brazil is located in the Itataia Mine, between the municipalities of Santa Quitéria and Itatira, State of Ceará, with estimated resources of around 142,000 tons.
Uranium in Itataia does not occur in isolation but is associated with phosphate. The project plans to separate the phosphate and uranium. Phosphate will be used for fertilizers and animal nutrition, while uranium will be used for nuclear fuel for power reactors installed in Brazil. When operational, it is expected to produce approximately 2,300 tons of uranium concentrate and more than 1 million tons of phosphate fertilizers annually.
The project faces resistance from local communities due to high water consumption in a semi-arid region and risks of radioactive contamination. Tests carried out in deep wells in the town of Trapiá, in Santa Quitéria, identified uranium concentrations seven times higher than the limit allowed for human consumption in Brazil (0.03 mg/L). The uranium concentrations in groundwater observed in the region are related to the local geology, which is rich in uranium and phosphates, and not to the operation of a mine, which has not yet begun operations.
About 40 groundwater samples were collected in the municipalities of Santa Quitéria and Itatira, from residences and public buildings. The uranium concentration ranged from <0.001 to 0.186 mg/L, with a median of 0.014 mg/L. The observed maximum value was consistent with previously reported data. Of the total samples collected, 24 were also analyzed for major cations and anions, as well as trace elements. The main issue found was the hardness, with 90% of the samples exceeding the limit established in Brazilian legislation of 300 mg/L.