Description
Uranium mining occurred for decades in New Mexico, and the state still contains significant deposits. The uranium industry contributed to the war effort and provided jobs but had deleterious impacts on the environment and human health. We explore the characteristics of uranium, and how its unique properties were/are important to nuclear energy, as well as how some of those same properties have left a troubling legacy.
Paula Watt received her MS in geochemistry and mining geology from Cal State University, Los Angeles and PhD in geochemistry from UNM. She has taught geology courses for over 20 years at various universities, including UNM. Her fields of interest include geochronology, isotope geochemistry, radioactivity, radioisotopes, uranium chemistry, and environmental geology.