Uranium from Phosphates - World Nuclear Association
Phosphate rock (phosphorite) is a marine sedimentary rock which contains 18-40% P 2 O 5, as well as some uranium and all its decay products, often 70 to 200 ppmU, and sometimes up to 800 ppm. The main mineral in the phosphate rock is apatite, and most commonly, fluorapatite - Ca 5 (PO 4) 3 F or Ca 10 (PO 4) 6 (F,OH) 2.