Yellowcake (also called
urania) is a type of
uranium concentrate
powder obtained from
leach solutions, in an intermediate step in the processing of
uranium ores. It is a step in the processing of uranium after it has been mined, before fuel fabrication or enrichment. Yellowcake concentrates are prepared by various extraction and refining methods, depending on the types of ores. Typically, yellowcakes are obtained through the milling and chemical processing of uranium
ore forming a coarse powder which has a pungent odor, is insoluble in water and contains about 80% uranium oxide, which melts at approximately 2880 °C.