Posted By John A Wright
To J Knight,

Thanks John, I appreciate your references to the words fossil and mineral, but sometimes we (H&S) must avoid too much pedantry in etymology when it might lead to ridicule. Going on TV with Mr Clarkson, for example, and referring to uranium as a fossil fuel would be laughable.

Modern parlance equates mineral with rock, and fossil with carbonised/hydrocarbon paleantological remains, and using that distinction is surely the safest?

Cheers,

John W

Posted By John A Wright
J Knight,

>>It depends on what you're trying to achieve

On this occasion we need to achieve clarity as we are talking on a public forum

>> uranium has much more in common with .... fossil fuels than it has differences

and I probably have more in common with my missus that I do with my brother

>>Clarity of thinking.... suggests to me that using the term is appropriate

Responses on this forum suggest otherwise :o)

John W

Posted By J Knight
JW, missus vs brother, well, you probably have more property in common with your missus, and much more DNA in common with your brother. Which matters more depends on what you're trying to prove.

If I use a technical (correct) definition of fossil fuel on a forum which often uses technical rather than common definitions, well, so be it. Fossil fuel = comes from rock, whatever wiki says.

Anyway, we evidently don't agree, and this thread isn't about etymology or definitions, so we will have to agree to differ or hijack completely,

John

Posted By John J
John,

I can understand your argument to a certain extent but our uranium supplies come from politically stable countries so you are achieving a security of supply not presently available with gas and oil.
Mined uranium is stable and most things are toxic in the right amount.
Yes uranium is a limited source but modern reactors use a fraction of that used on the old magnox stations and using mixed oxide fuel allows us to get even more use out of it.
As for the waste the highly active waste produced since the beginning of the industry takes up surprising little room.
We could always take up the offer of one very famous environmentalist and bury it under the rainforests. That will stop them being dug up,
John