A new era in the production of energy has started since the Second World War when an atomic bomb was first dropped on Hiroshima in Japan in August 1945. Welfare or complete annihilation of mankind is the most crucial question of the day. Humanity now stands on the brink of total destruction as the important power blocs of the world have taken this marvel of human ingenuity as an weapon of total annihilation.
However atomic power may be used for driving locomotives, ships, submarines and even aeroplanes. It is high time that people all over the world, irrespective of political ideologies, should join the movement for exploitation of atomic power in the name of humanity.
A tremendous energy amount is obtained by disintegrating the atom. It has been estimated that a pound of uranium can produce 12 million kilowatt hours of electrical energy - the same as the energy derived from 6000 tons of coal. By the fission of uranium and thorium, the radioactive elements, atomic energy is obtained. The release of such huge energy fissionable materials may go a long way in the development and decentralization of industries.
Canada is fortunate in having large deposits of uranium-bearing minerals near the Great Bear Lake at Beaver Lodge and Port Radium.
In the U.S.A. uranium is raised in Colorado Plateau. Thorium, a constituent of monazite sand is found in the Warren Valley of Colombia basin.
The Czech Republic has uranium deposits in Joachinstat. Uranium is extensively found in Russia, at Tuya-Muyun, Majilsay and Torshavn in Central Asia, at Tarak in Siberia and in the lake Baikal regions. Katanga and Johannesburg of Africa have uranium deposits. Thorium is mined at Nama desert.
In Travancore in India Monazite sands contain thorium. The deposit of monazite in the Malabar coast of India has been estimated at 0.2 million tons.
Australia has uranium deposits in port Darwin areas. There are two types of uranium, U238 and U235 and they found are in the ratio of 104:1.
U235 produces atomic energy by fission, after being bombarded by neutron. By breaking up uranium atoms tremendous energy is released. Plutonium (PU239) may produce atomic energy. One ounce of uranium can produce greater power than hundred tons of coal.
In U.S.A. separate cities have been build (Clinton, Hanford, Lao-Alamos) to carry out research on atoms In U.K. atomic plants have been set up at Calderhal and Annan.
In India there are atomic energy plants at Trombay, Narora and Madras.
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