Preparation Of Mining Plan Including Progressive Mine Closure Plan: Fill & Download for Free

Lets start with some videosHow Is Uranium Mining Conducted in the United States?How It's Made Uranium Part 1How It's Made Uranium Part 2Uranium — How Is It Mined?Uranium resources can be extracted from the ground in three ways: open pit, underground, and in-situ leach (ISL).Open Pit MiningOpen pit mining, also known as strip mining, is the removal of surficial soils and uneconomic rock to get at the ore below. Ore grades are normally less than 0.5%. This is type of mining is only possible if the uranium ore is near the surface (normally less than 400 ft).…Waste rock or overburden (the material removed over the ore body) usually is stored near the open pit. Once the ore horizon is exposed, a series of benches or steps are cut into it to make removal of the ore easier. Within the pit, depending on the size of the mine, there maybe one or more roads cut into the sides for the huge earth/ore haulers to navigate the area. Pumps maybe utilized to dewater the pit.Rabbit Lake Uranium Mine, CanadaSource: Saskatchewan SchoolsPositivesLess expensive than underground mining.Better ventilation (open-air).New mines must follow much stricter environmental, safety and health guidelines than were in place during the last uranium boom. For example a new open pit would require a mine and reclamation plan with phased mining, backfill, and then final reclamation to minimize the dimensions of the footprint on the landscape. Bonding is required on the front end to assure all of reclaimation and safety costs will be covered. Tailings piles have to be built to completely different standards than the past with lower subgrades, synthetic liners, leak detection wells, and 40 acres maximum size. Dust control is required on new operations, and radon will be subject to strict MSHA working level requirements.NegativesHUGE footprintWaste rock piles can be enormous.Waste rock may be uneconomic to effectively mine, but once exposed to the atmosphere, they become hazardous to the environmentRemediation is extremely costly and time consuming. Groundwater restoration can be extremely costly.Mine workers’ health can be compromised due to dust and radon exposure. Nearby communities can suffer negative health impacts due to the dust, noise and other issues (drainage ponds breaking).Underground MiningUnderground mining is used to get at higher concentrations of uranium that are too deep to get at from open-pit. The ore is drilled, then blasted to create debris which is then transported to the surface, then on to a mill.An example of a uranium mine schematic from McArthur River, CanadaSource: Cameco Corp.'s filing to US Securities & Exchange Commission, March, 2008PositivesHas a smaller surface footprint.Less waste rock.Advances in mining technology and safety monitoring makes many of the radiation/health issues associated with previous mining unlikely. These include better ventilation systems, possible robotic mining, and monitoring badges to make sure workers do not exceed the allowable radiation dosages.NegativesExpensive.Potential to seriously impact local aquifers and expensive to remediate.In old underground mines, dust, radon and diesel fumes were a serious threat to miners’ health because of poor ventilation.MillingFor both traditional underground and open pit mining, the rocks may have only a few percent (normally <0.3%) uranium in them. The uranium then has to be removed from the rock and concentrated. The milling process involves crushing and pulverizing the rock into very fine fragments and adding water to create a slurry. This slurry is then mixed with sulfuric acid or an alkaline solution to release the uranium from the host rock. Normally approximately 95 - 98% of the uranium can be recovered from the host rock. From this acid or alkaline solution, uranium oxide or yellowcake is precipitated. This is still not the purest form, and the uranium has to be sent to another plant to enrich it. The remaining rock slurry is pumped to a tailings dam. These tailings are exposed to the surface and heavy metals can be released into the environment.Uranium Mill ProcessSource: Energy Information Administration, Office of Coal, Nuclear, Electric and Alternate Fuels.PositivesOnly effective method to extract uranium from conventionally mined ores.Modern mills have more stringent laws governing their operation than old mills.NegativesTailings are exposed to the environment and any remaining uranium or heavy metals can be released.Very expensive to remediate.Formerly placed on porous units to help remove the water from the tailings slurry. Potential for severe impairment of local groundwaters.In-situ Recover (ISR) Mining (also known as In-situ Leach or ISL)While not all uranium ore deposits are amendable to ISR, it is the preferred method to extract uranium since it is far cheaper to get the ores out of the ground and it is considered more environmentally friendly than traditional underground or open pit mines.In the United States, ISR involves:pumping water from the formation and adding oxidant such as gaseous oxygen. For some units, a carbonate phase such as sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) is added to the solution to make ieasier for uranium to go into solution. Ideally, the pH of the solution is somewhere between 6.5 - 7.0 (close to neutral). This solution oxidizes the uranium in porous sandstones and make it easier to go into solution.the oxygen-rich solution is pumped down injection wells within a wellfield pattern,the solution moves through the rock dissolving the uranium in the ground,wells at prescribed distance from the injection wells pump uranium-enriched waters to the surface, These wells pump more fluid than is put down the hole to create a "cone of depression," This is to minimize the chance of off-site migration of these uranium- and mineral-enriched waters, There are monitoring wells surrounding these wells to check on break through of uranium- and mineral-enriched waters,these waters are treated and filtered to remove the uranium, andthe treated waters are refreshed with oxidant and cabonates (if needed) and sent back down hole to start the process again.after uranium has been depleted to its economic limits, regulations require ISR operations in the United States to be restored to prescribed standards to try to assure that potable sources of water are not impacted.An ISL OperationSource: http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf27.htmlElsewhere in the world, like Australia and Kazakhstan, sulfuric acid is used, and remediation has not been required. This is not an acceptable technology in the U.S., and U.S. reclamation requirements would make it technically and economically impossible to allow sulfuric acid (or ammonia bicarbonate) systems here.In the USA, alkaline solutions are the preferred, and sulfuric acid and peroxide solutions are used at ISL operations in Australia. The New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources has produced a article on the next uranium boom and ISL.The positives of ISR aresmall surface footprint,very little waste rock (created in drilling the wells),inexpensive startup,less expensive to remediate than traditional mining and milling operations,less radiation exposure for the workers, andsmaller, higher trained workforce.The negatives of ISR arepossible local contamination of aquifers (though in the US, solutions are usually near neutral),waters have to be pumped and monitored, even after active extraction has stopped, andwaste water disposal and the public fears.How is it Mined?Environmental Aspects of Uranium Mining(Updated April 2017)In most respects the environmental aspects of a uranium mine are the same as those of other metalliferous mining.Most uranium mines in Australia and Canada have ISO 14001 certification.Radioactivity associated with the uranium ore requires some special management in addition to the general environmental controls of any mine.The uranium itself has a very low level of radioactivity, comparable with granite. Virtually all the radioactive material from the associated minerals in the ore processed ends up in the tailings dam.In many respects uranium mining is much the same as any other mining. Projects must have environmental approvals prior to commencing, and must comply with all environmental, safety and occupational health conditions applicable. Increasingly, these are governed by international standards, with external audits.Once approved, open pits or shafts and drives are dug, waste rock and overburden is placed in engineered dumps. Tailings from the ore processing must be placed in engineered dams or underground. Finally the whole site must be rehabilitated at the end of the project. Meanwhile air and water pollution must be avoided.These processes are common to all metalliferous mining, and are well recognised and understood.…Environmental approvalsAt an early stage of the feasibility study, environmental studies of the site begin. These escalate in detail and progressively focus on issues of concern in relation to the proposal, in consultation with state authorities (who in Australia generally operate under an agreement with the Commonwealth to ensure that its concerns are addressed).Depending on the government jurisdiction, an environmental effects or impact statement is published and made available for public comment. After consideration of comments and in the light of judgements by a wide range of state authorities, approval may then be given by the state government for the project to proceed.International standards and certificationThe International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has published a guide for both technical and non-technical aspects of environmental matters in uranium mining (and other mining involving radioactive materials): Lessons Learned from Environmental Remediation Programmes, IAEA Nuclear Energy Series, 2014.The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), based in Geneva, has developed a number of world standards for quality management (9000 series) and for environmental management (14000 series). The latter relate to minimising harmful effects and achieving continual improvement through a formal environmental management system (EMS) which is subject to external audit.ISO 14001 is the world's most recognised EMS framework, enabling organisations to demonstrate sound environmental management. Many mining companies have been certified as conforming to its requirements. In Australia and Canada, major uranium mining companies either have or are close to having ISO 14001 certification. This is also the basis of other ISO certification, such as for audits, reporting and life cycle assessment.ERA's Ranger mine for instance is audited every six months by an accredited external body and undergoes full re-certification every three years.The basic EMS under ISO 14001 is under four linked headings: Plan-Do-Check-Act. It must take into account both routine hazards and abnormal situations.Wastes from mining & millingIn most respects, conventional mining of uranium is the same as mining any other metalliferous ore, and well-established environmental constraints apply in order to avoid any off-site pollution.From open cut mining, there are substantial volumes of barren rock and overburden waste. These are placed near the pit and either used in rehabilitation or shaped and revegetated where they are. At Ranger mine, the development of the first orebody involved a waste to ore ratio of slightly over 2:1.However, uranium minerals are always associated with more radioactive elements such as radium and radon in the ore which arise from the radioactive decay of uranium over hundreds of millions of years. Therefore, although uranium itself is not very radioactive, the ore which is mined, especially if it is very high-grade such as in some Canadian mines, is handled with some care, for occupational health and safety reasons.Mining methods, tailings and run-off management and land rehabilitation are subject to Government regulation and inspection. For instance in Australia the Code of Practice and Safety Guide: Radiation Protection and Radioactive Waste Management in Mining and Mineral Processing was published in 2005. It is simpler than its two predecessors (on health & wastes) and moves away from undue prescription to performance-based and audited regulatory approach.Mining operations are undertaken under relevant national health and radiation protection codes of practice. These set strict health standards for exposure to gamma radiation and radon gas. Standards apply to both workers and members of the public. See associated paper: Occupational Safety in Uranium Mining.Tailings & radonSolid waste products from the milling operation are tailings. They comprise most of the original ore and they contain most of the radioactivity in it. In particular they contain all the radium present in the original ore. At an underground mine they may be first cycloned to separate the coarse fraction which is used for underground fill. The balance is pumped as a slurry to a tailings dam, which may be a worked-out pit as at Ranger and McClean Lake.When radium undergoes natural radioactive decay one of the products is radon gas. Because radon and its decay products (daughters) are radioactive and because the tailings are now on the surface, measures are taken to minimise the emission of radon gas. During the operational life of a mine the material in the tailings dam is often kept covered by water to reduce surface radioactivity and radon emission (though with lower-grade ores neither pose a hazard at these levels).On completion of the mining operation, it is normal for the tailings dam to be covered with some two metres of clay and topsoil to reduce radiation levels to near those normally experienced in the region of the orebody, and for a vegetation cover to be established. At Ranger and Jabiluka in North Australia, tailings will be returned underground, as was done at the now-rehabilitated Nabarlek mine. In Canada, ore treatment is often remote from the mine that the new ore comes from, and tailings are emplaced in mined out pits wherever possible, and engineered dams otherwise.The radon gas emanates from the rock and tailings as the radium or thorium decays. It then decays itself to (solid) radon daughters, which are significantly alpha radioactive.*…Radon occurs in most rocks and traces of it are in the air we all breathe. However, at high concentrations it is a health hazard.A 1998 paper looks at the long-term population dose due to radon from uranium mining and shows that it is insignificant.WaterRun-off from the mine stockpiles and waste liquors from the milling operation are collected in secure retention ponds for isolation and recovery of any heavy metals or other contaminants. The liquid portion is disposed of either by natural evaporation or recirculation to the milling operation. Most Australian and many other mines adopt a "zero discharge" policy for any pollutants.Process water discharged from the mill contains traces of radium and some other metals which would be undesirable in biological systems downstream. This water is evaporated and the contained metals are retained in secure storage. During the operational phase, such water may be used to cover the tailings while they are accumulating.With in situ leach (ISL) operations, the orebody stays in the ground, in a contained aquifer, and uranium is recovered by circulating oxygenated and acidified groundwater through it, using injection and recovery wells. The saline quality of this groundwater in Australian ISL mines makes it far from potable in the first place, and after the uranium is recovered, oxygen input and circulation are discontinued, leaving the groundwater much as it was.The main environmental consideration with ISL is avoiding pollution of any groundwater away from the orebody, and leaving the immediate groundwater no less useful than it was initially.Descriptions of how environmental management is undertaken at Australia's three uranium mines, Ranger, Olympic Dam, and Beverley are under the Environmental Management headings of Australia's Uranium Mines, in the sections on the respective mines.In relation to Ranger, the Office of the Supervising Scientist was established by the Commonwealth Government in 1979 to oversee environmental protection at uranium mines in the Alligator Rivers region of the Northern Territory.RehabilitationApart from tailings, other solid wastes at a mine include equipment which is not able to be sold at the end of the operation. This is usually buried with the tailings.At the conclusion of mining, tailings are covered permanently with enough clay and soil to reduce both gamma radiation levels and radon emanation rates to levels near those naturally occurring in the region, and enough rock to resist erosion. A vegetation cover is then established.Mary Kathleen in Queensland was the site of Australia's first major rehabilitation project of a uranium mine. It involved the plant site, a 28 hectare tailings dam, and a 60 ha evaporation pond area. All this has now returned to being a cattle station, with unrestricted access. The rehabilitation project was completed at the end of 1985 at a cost of some $19 million, and won an award for engineering excellence.The Nabarlek uranium mine in the Northern Territory, c 270 km east of Darwin, was the first of the "new generation" of uranium mines to commence operations and the first to be rehabilitated. Environmental protection was stressed at Nabarlek since before mining commenced, and everything proceeded with eventual rehabilitation very much in mind. During the life of the operation the company worked together with government agencies, the Northern Land Council (NLC) and Aboriginal land owners to ensure a high standard of environmental management, culminating in its decommissioning and successful rehabilitation.At Ranger the planning of final restoration is well-established, and each year the company prepares a full-costed plan which assumes that mining could cease that year. All rehabilitation objectives must be achieved, including ecosystem viability, radiological safety, and landform stability (re erosion). This plan has been used as the basis for calculating the financial provision required for eventual closure at the end of mine life. In 2013 the net present value of the closure model for the Ranger project area and surrounds was estimated at A$640 million, fully provided for in the balance sheet. After substantial work had been commenced, at the end of 2016 the company had a rehabilitation provision of A$511 million plus provision for another A$100 million if required.A simpler model which can be applied is for the basic estimated cost of rehabilitation upon closure to be a bond held by the government, and such bonds are a routine requirement for any mines today. In the case of Ranger, ERA is obliged to secure funds for certain costs of rehabilitation in case of any need for premature closure. An annually amended plan is submitted to government outlining this provision, which is reviewed by an independent auditor. Money for this purpose is partly in a trust fund administered by the Commonwealth government and partly covered by bank guarantee.Apart from groundwater considerations discussed above, rehabilitation of ISL mines is very straightforward, making this a technique with remarkably low environmental impact. Upon decommissioning, wells are sealed or capped, pipes and process facilities removed, any evaporation pond revegetated, and the land can readily be returned to its previous uses.Experience at many mine sites is networked throughout the industry and available to present and future operators.Health of workersIn Australia all uranium mining and milling operations are undertaken under the Code of Practice and Safety Guide: Radiation Protection and Radioactive Waste Management in Mining and Mineral Processing, which sets strict health standards for radiation and radon gas exposure, for both workers and members of the public.In Canada the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission is responsible for regulating uranium mining as well as other aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle. In Saskatchewan, provincial regulations also apply concurrently, and set strict health standards for both miners and local people. Similar standards are set in other countries.While uranium itself is only slightly radioactive, radon, a radioactive inert gas, is released to the atmosphere in very small quantities when the ore is mined and crushed. Radon is one of the decay products of uranium and radium, and occurs naturally in most rocks – minute traces of it are present in the air which we all breathe.Australian uranium mines have mostly been open cut and therefore naturally well ventilated. The Olympic Dam and Canadian underground mines are ventilated with powerful fans. Radon levels are kept at a very low and certainly safe level in uranium mines. (Radon in non-uranium mines also may need control by ventilation.)Gamma radiation may also be a hazard to those working close to high-grade ores. It comes principally from radium in the ore, so exposure to this is regulated as required. In particular, dust is suppressed, since this represents the main potential exposure to alpha radiation as well as a gamma radiation hazard.At the concentrations associated with uranium (and some mineral sands) mining, radon is a potential health hazard (actually due to its short-lived decay products), as is dust. Precautions taken during the mining and milling of uranium ores to protect the health of the workers include:Good forced ventilation systems in underground mines to ensure that exposure to radon gas and its radioactive daughter products is as low as possible and does not exceed established safety levels.Efficient dust control, because the dust may contain radioactive constituents and emit radon gas.Limiting the radiation exposure of workers in mine, mill and tailings areas so that it is as low as possible, and in any event does not exceed the allowable dose limits set by the authorities. In Canada this means that mining in very high-grade ore is undertaken solely by remote control techniques and by fully containing the high-grade ore where practicable.The use of radiation detection equipment in all mines and plants.Imposition of strict personal hygiene standards for workers handling uranium oxide concentrate.At any mine, designated employees (those likely to be exposed to radiation or radioactive materials) are monitored for alpha radiation contamination and personal dosimeters are worn to measure exposure to gamma radiation. Routine monitoring of air, dust and surface contamination is undertaken.Canadian mine and mill facilities are designed to handle safely ore grades of up to 26% U.If uranium oxide is ingested it has a chemical toxicity similar to that of lead oxide. Similar hygiene precautions to those in a lead smelter are therefore taken when handling it in the drying and packing areas of the mill.The usual radiation safeguards are applied at an ISL mining operation, despite the fact that most of the orebody? radioactivity remains well underground and there is hence minimal increase in radon release and no ore dust.See also WNA information paper on Occupational Safety in Uranium Mining.Environmental Aspects of Uranium Mining

“Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.”― Theodore RooseveltUphold Your StandardsTo have space and time for self-reflection, I take quarterly solo backpacking trips in the wilderness.This allows me to evaluate my life and goals without being immersed in them. Because while inside the jar, I can’t read the label that’s on the outside.Holding a pen and notebook, I objectively scan the four pillars of my life - health, wealth, relationships, and personal growth.To assess my progress, I ask the following:“What’s working?”“What do I want to improve on?”“What do I desire more of?”“What do I wish to reduce?”Of the four facets, my relationships (romantic and platonic) require the most scrutiny. That’s because I meet many people on a regular basis and my social network is constantly changing.For example, I encounter numerous people from one of my favorite hobbies which is rock climbing. And for the selective few who I connect with through engaging conversations, I would make plans to climb with them.Taking my time and commitments seriously, I do my best to be on time and prepared to climb.This is one standard I hold for myself.Frequently, many people who I made plans to climb with are late, and worse yet don’t show up at all without any communication. By not being on time means my time isn’t valuable to them, a sign of disrespect.Punctuality is one of the metrics I use in my evaluation process to determine those whose values and standards match well with mine. Other criteria may include:ReliabilityIntegrityConsiderateCommitment LevelAccountabilityResponsibilityFor those incongruent relationships, I chose to let them go with liberation knowing that we are not a good fit. Regardless of the depth of our relationship, I’m grateful for the lessons I’ve acquired through those past experiences.I internalize this important distinction:I’m not compatible with everyone I meet and vice versa.For those connections that remain, I regularly invest time and effort in them, the same as I would for the other three areas.This is because relationships require consistent care and love to flourish.Invest in Reciprocal RelationshipsTo objectively evaluate your current relationships, ask yourself:“Are my connections mutual?”“Do they take the initiative to check in with me?”“Am I the one who always has to reach out to others to make plans?”To determine the strength of your relationships, simply take a break from them. Similar to fasting for the body to detox, you can create space for your connections.This allows two important occurrences:You can use this time to focus on yourself - purpose, desires, hobbies, and interests.This will reveal who truly cares about you.By investing in yourself, you improve and become more valuable in the world. As a byproduct, you will identify those who treasure you.Those who appreciate you will be proactive in reaching out to grow the connection. That’s because they know the importance of having a strong network by prioritizing the following:Responding to your forms of communication in a timely mannerShowing appreciation for your thoughtful gesturesChecking in with you on a regularly basisTaking the initiative to make plans with youAs for those who don’t show the same level of recognition, don’t take it personally as the reason is irrelevant.Understand this:It’s neither right or wrong.To give yourself peace and closure, you can simply let them go, and shift your focus on those who do acknowledge you.You can achieve this by reaching out to them frequently with personal messages to each individual. Perhaps you can include small details that you have learned about them from previous conversations.Knowing their love language will also help to make them feel loved. Here are some ideas:Sending hand-written cardsCreating personal videosMaking thoughtful giftsHelping them with an important taskForging memorable experiences togetherTo remind yourself, put this critical assignment on your calendar.Practice Consistency and PerseveranceAchieving and maintaining anything worthwhile requires dedication and commitment.Take your occupation or business for example.As a professional, you’re required to show up on time and perform on a weekly basis. In return, your employer will gladly pay for your service with monetary benefits. However, if you don’t do what is necessary, you will lose your job.Health is another instance.To lose weight, you must burn more calories than you consume over a sufficient amount of time. And once you reach your target, you must continue those habits of healthy-eating, exercise, and proper rest for maintenance.You can’t expect to have great fitness if you don’t consistently take care of your body.The same goes for your relationships.They require time and effort for preservation and growth. And the most vibrant and prosperous relationships are those which both parties deeply care about one another. This is done by continuous effort and effective communication.You can’t simply do it once and expect to have functional and flourishing relationships. They require frequent nurture to blossom into exceptional heights.Closing ThoughtsWe all have twenty four hours in a day, and most of it is consumed by our responsibilities, obligations, and necessities such as eating and sleeping.And equally important is in-person human interactions, which contributes to our mental wellbeing knowing that we are not alone.This links back to our tribal days living in communities to increase the probability of survival. Because if we were kicked out of the tribe, we would have to fend for ourselves and the chances of us living becomes extremely low.Now knowing the significance of having meaningful connections, make a dedicated effort to maintain and grow your relationships.With the availability of electronic mails, phone calls, and instant messages, you have the necessary tools to stay in touch with others no matter how physically far away they are from you.Take the initiative because communication works both ways.Have compassion in others trusting they’re doing their best to stay in your life. Continue to give without the expectation of anything in return.By doing so, you will inevitably receive in one way or another.I hope this helps.If you want more thought-provoking answers like these, check out my best Quora answers here.

“Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.”― Theodore RooseveltCommunication Works Both WaysWe all have twenty four hours in a day, and most of it is consumed by our responsibilities, obligations, and necessities such as eating and sleeping.And equally important is in-person human interactions, which contributes to our mental wellbeing knowing that we are not alone.This links back to our tribal days living in communities to increase the probability of survival. Because if we were kicked out of the tribe, we would have to fend for ourselves and the chances of us living becomes extremely low.Now knowing the significance of having meaningful connections, make a dedicated effort to maintain and grow your relationships.With the availability of electronic mails, phone calls, and instant messages, you have the necessary tools to stay in touch with others no matter how physically far away they are from you.Take the initiative because communication works both ways.Have compassion in others trusting they’re doing their best to stay in your life. Continue to give without the expectation of anything in return.By doing so, you will inevitably receive in one way or another.Evaluate Your RelationshipsTo have space and time for self-reflection, I take quarterly solo backpacking trips in the wilderness.This allows me to evaluate my life and goals without being immersed in them. Because while inside the jar, I can’t read the label that’s on the outside.Holding a pen and notebook, I objectively scan the four pillars of my life - health, wealth, relationships, and personal growth.To assess my progress, I ask the following:“What’s working?”“What do I want to improve on?”“What do I desire more of?”“What do I wish to reduce?”Of the four facets, my relationships (romantic and platonic) require the most scrutiny. That’s because I meet many people on a regular basis and my social network is constantly changing.For example, I encounter numerous people from one of my favorite hobbies which is rock climbing. And for the selective few who I connect with through engaging conversations, I would make plans to climb with them.Taking my time and commitments seriously, I do my best to be on time and prepared to climb.This is one standard I hold for myself.Frequently, many people who I made plans to climb with are late, and worse yet don’t show up at all without any communication. By not being on time means my time isn’t valuable to them, a sign of disrespect.Punctuality is one of the metrics I use in my evaluation process to determine those whose values and standards match well with mine. Other criteria may include:ReliabilityIntegrityConsiderateCommitment LevelAccountabilityResponsibilityFor those incongruent relationships, I chose to let them go with liberation knowing that we are not a good fit. Regardless of the depth of our relationship, I’m grateful for the lessons I’ve acquired through those past experiences.I internalize this important distinction:I’m not compatible with everyone I meet and vice versa.For those connections that remain, I regularly invest time and effort in them, the same as I would for the other three areas.This is because relationships require consistent care and love to flourish.Invest in Reciprocal RelationshipsTo objectively evaluate your current relationships, ask yourself:“Are my connections mutual?”“Do they take the initiative to check in with me?”“Am I the one who always has to reach out to others to make plans?”To determine the strength of your relationships, simply take a break from them. Similar to fasting for the body to detox, you can create space for your connections.This allows two important occurrences:You can use this time to focus on yourself - purpose, desires, hobbies, and interests.This will reveal who truly cares about you.By investing in yourself, you improve and become more valuable in the world. As a byproduct, you will identify those who treasure you.Those who appreciate you will be proactive in reaching out to grow the connection. That’s because they know the importance of having a strong network by prioritizing the following:Responding to your forms of communication in a timely mannerShowing appreciation for your thoughtful gesturesChecking in with you on a regularly basisTaking the initiative to make plans with youAs for those who don’t show the same level of recognition, don’t take it personally as the reason is irrelevant.Understand this:It’s neither right or wrong.To give yourself peace and closure, you can simply let them go, and shift your focus on those who do acknowledge you.You can achieve this by reaching out to them frequently with personal messages to each individual. Perhaps you can include small details that you have learned about them from previous conversations.Knowing their love language will also help to make them feel loved. Here are some ideas:Sending hand-written cardsCreating personal videosMaking thoughtful giftsHelping them with an important taskForging memorable experiences togetherTo remind yourself, put this critical assignment on your calendar.Practice Consistency and PerseveranceAchieving and maintaining anything worthwhile requires dedication and commitment.Take your occupation or business for example.As a professional, you’re required to show up on time and perform on a weekly basis. In return, your employer will gladly pay for your service with monetary benefits. However, if you don’t do what is necessary, you will lose your job.Health is another instance.To lose weight, you must burn more calories than you consume over a sufficient amount of time. And once you reach your target, you must continue those habits of healthy-eating, exercise, and proper rest for maintenance.You can’t expect to have great fitness if you don’t consistently take care of your body.The same goes for your relationships.They require time and effort for preservation and growth. And the most vibrant and prosperous relationships are those which both parties deeply care about one another. This is done by continuous effort and effective communication.You can’t simply do it once and expect to have functional and flourishing relationships. They require frequent nurture to blossom into exceptional heights.I hope this helps.For more thought-provoking answers like these, check out my best Quora answers here.