 Uranium sounds like the name of a far-off planet, but it is actually a material used to fuel nuclear power plants. Wyoming has the largest uranium ore reserves in the United States. Wyoming used to have a booming uranium mining business, but it was hard hit when the price dropped in the 1980s. Much of the uranium mining in Wyoming is now done in situ. This requires much less surface disturbance than conventional mining because the rocks are left in place. It is also lower cost, which allows the low-grade deposits in Wyoming to compete globally with higher-grade deposits like those found in Canada. For in situ uranium mining, water is fortified with baking soda and oxygen and injected into the ground. This solution, called lexiviant, is pulled through the ore zone, dissolving the uranium. It is then pumped from the ground by a production well and transferred to the processing plant. At the processing plant, the uranium is removed from solution by ion exchange. The water is re-fortified with baking soda and oxygen and used again. The uranium is dried and processed into yellow cake, which can be marketed. Uranium extracted from Wyoming will be very important in helping to power the nation for years to come. I'm standing here at the Lost Creek Project. From the University of Wyoming Extension, I'm Mae Smith, Exploring the Nature of Wyoming.