Canada is the world's largest producer of uranium. Information on the state of uranium mining can be found at Australia's Uranium Information Centre (Australia is the second biggest producer of uranium). A good review of uranium mining is available at The World Nuclear Association. In summary, uranium is mined like any other ore, usually by surface open cut mining, but sometimes by boring down below the surface. Uranium itself is not dangerously radioactive, but it gives off radon gas which is. Over the years the mining industries have been regulated to protect miners from the dangers of radioactive materials.