Chapter 28: Huge Uranium Mine

In the blink of an eye, two months had passed ...

On November 17 of the new human calendar, the first batch of virus vaccines were finally successfully developed, marking the complete victory of mankind over the Martian virus!

Scientists found that some inactivated viruses were specially treated to give a small amount of immunity. For humans with a defensive mind, a small amount of immunity is enough.

Biological scientists continue to be very interested in these Martian beings, and they believe that these Martian microbes are an organism between viruses and bacteria, refreshing people's view of life and bringing new scientific ideas. Their research continues.

Of course, others have not been idle during this time either. The New Humanity government has begun to develop various plans, and various teams of geological exploration are still going on.

Good news came one after another, people found not only mega uranium ore in the north pole of Mars, but also iron ore, aluminum ore, copper ore, titanium ore and other important resources, these are also open-air sources, mining is very convenient.

I have to say, Mars, really a bountiful planet ah, humans came to the right place!

"Do you know, the official report of the geological survey finally came out. That super large uranium mine, the reserves even reached 1.06 million tons! And the quality is extremely good, basically all are 0.5%-1% rich, the highest uranium content is even above 2%."

Several scientists were sitting together discussing, occasionally letting out a burst of excitement as they were impressed by the richness of Mars.

"This time, there's really something big going on! It's just short of a government-wide plan."

Many people's eyes revealed a frenzied excitement as their hearts began to stir.

It was an extreme yearning for powerful industry, and after several crises, everyone desperately wanted the entire civilization to be stronger and more prosperous.

"I heard that the new government is building large nuclear power units in bulk, and as soon as they are built, everything can be started."

"Yes, electrical energy is very crucial. This time, the nuclear power generation capacity is to be increased to 30 million kilowatts, which is three times as much as before!"

30 million kilowatts, such power consumption is already comparable to the entire city of Shanghai, knowing that it's a big city of ten million people!

The scientists could not help but feel some emotion and slight pride in the development of these big plans, in which they were also involved in part.

Such ambition is not only Oliver's, but also theirs, and even the entire new human civilization!

On the Noah, although there were only 50,000 people, the power consumption was enormous, due to the need to maintain the entire industrial system of the ship as well as the ecosystem.

When the moon base was first established, it was designed according to the standard of being able to be partially self-sufficient, and many things household items can be produced on their own.

For example, plastic and other things are synthesized with inorganic materials such as methane, like paper, face towels and so on, basically also made of special plastic, the feel and real paper similar.

These things can be sorted and recycled and reused when they are used up.

Industrial factories on the moon were basically moved to the Noah. These basic industries, plus the necessary variety of life-support systems on the Noah, the usual power is about 2-4 million kilowatts {not counting heavy industry}.

And the original power system, the maximum power in about 11 million kilowatts, nuclear power occupies 70-80%, can be said to be completely sufficient.

But put into the present, the new government wants to expand production, then such a power load is a bit embarrassed. Especially the smelting of various metals, the production of various mechanical equipment, need a lot of electricity. The original 11 million kilowatts of electricity load would not be enough, and it would be necessary to expand the nuclear power plant to ...

This point aside, because the emergence of the Mars virus and the discovery of mega uranium mines, large metal deposits, many plans need to be reformulated, the various elements in it is very complex ...

Noah, the captain's room.

At this moment, Oliver is looking at a report, is a detailed geological report within 100,000 square kilometers of the north pole of Mars, after two months, finally completed!

It says all kinds of mineral resources, this rich planet that has never been exploited, it's really very tempting ah.

"1.06 million tons of reserve uranium? Is there any mistake?" Seeing this number, Oliver's eyebrows jumped and he asked with some doubts.

According to the experience on Earth, several tens of thousands of tons of uranium ore was already considered good, and suddenly a 1.06 million tons was too amazing, right?

"Of course, Mr. Yu, we've been sure many times! In fact, we can't believe it either ... but in fact, this is still a conservative estimate, it will only be more not less!"

He was answered by a young geologist named Dimo, originally from India, now part of the new human race.

Dimo said in a frenzied tone: "This big uranium mine, we suspect that the unique geological movements of Mars caused ... on Earth's Australia, although there are also such rich reserves of uranium resources, but the abundance is far less than this big mine, so to speak, one mine is worth a country ah! "

"If all these uranium mines are mined, we can get 1.06 million tons of uranium! At a rate of 7.2 parts per thousand, we could get 7,600 tons of uranium-235!"

"7,600 tons, what a concept, Mr. Yu! Enough to last us for hundreds of years! Several hundred years!"

Dimo's eyes were red and he shouted frantically, he was so emotional, as if they would run away if he didn't go digging ...

A geologist actually wants to go digging, you dare to believe it?

Oliver laughed bitterly, these scientists are only concerned about their own field, once the madness up, they do not care about anything.

And this time, this mania has the tendency to spread more and more, even spread to the general public ...

"This should be a passion, it should be a good thing ..."

Oliver also did not hesitate, immediately picked up a pen to calculate, this high school level physics problems is not too difficult.

The element uranium, atomic number 92, element symbol u, is the main material for nuclear fission and can be used mainly to generate electricity, but also to make atomic bombs.

Uranium-238 is difficult for humans to use, its content is greater than 99.2%, and the really useful one is uranium-235, which is only 7.2 parts per thousand of the total.

When a uranium nucleus fissions, an average of 200 meV of nuclear energy is released. A nuclear power plant with a generating capacity of 30 million kw, assuming an electrical energy conversion rate of 40%, would ... only need 79.05 kg of uranium-235 per day for nuclear fuel.

Just 79.05 kg of nuclear fuel a day!

In other words, the Noah only needs about 29 tons of uranium-235 a year to meet the electricity demand.

7,600 tons of uranium-235, enough to last mankind 262 years!

Two hundred years, what a long time, Oliver could not help but feel the power of nuclear energy.

If mankind could develop more advanced "fast neutron value-added reactors," then the vast majority of the megatons of uranium-238 could be used, and mankind would not need to worry about energy for thousands or even tens of thousands of years.

When he reached this point, Oliver's heart began to burn, and he got up and said, "Don't worry, Mr. Dimmer! The development of uranium resources will definitely be put on the top priority!"

Oliver jumped up and down in excitement after he had easily sent Dimo away. How cool is this.

On Earth, people's main source of energy is still fossil energy, and other solar energy, nuclear energy, wind energy, water energy, and many other types, but to Mars, where to what oil and coal ah, the only reliance is nuclear energy. Solar energy only accounts for a small amount.

Although people from the moon also brought a lot of uranium ore, but the total amount is not large, even if frugal, it is enough to use a dozen years, if the nuclear power plant at full power, three or four years will be used up.

This sense of crisis has always been in people's minds. Just because in recent times, people are facing too many crises, this future energy crisis is not very urgent, but rather fade down.

But it still exists, if not dealt with, but will become more and more dangerous.

This is good, human beings directly get a share of energy for more than two hundred years, this feeling, like the summer is dying of heat suddenly obtained a popsicle ... no, is an ice bank of popsicles, all of a sudden cool!

Oliver finally understood why these people are so fanatical, in the face of this great gift, do not go to dig really a little can not help ah.