Explain why the process of mining uranium involved in the use of nuclear energy has the greatest environmental impact of the entire process.

The process of mining uranium is no different than the process of mining coal, or other minerals. This process produces waste that can enter bodies of water, destroys habitats, and contributes to pollution. Other aspects of the process of using nuclear energy have potential environmental impacts, but none as great as the actual mining and processing of the uranium ore.

answer is: naturally occurring solid, inorganic compound or element is mineral.

minerals usually have crystalline form, that means than crystal constituents (atoms, molecules or ions) are arranged in a highly ordered microscopic structure, forming a crystal lattice that extends in all directions.

for example magnetite is a mineral of iron oxide (fe₂o₃).

calcite is a carbonate mineral and the most stable polymorph of calcium carbonate (caco₃).

dolomite is an   carbonate mineral composed of calcium magnesium carbonate (camg(co₃)₂).