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U.S. Department of Energy
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In-situ leaching studies of uranium ores: Phases I through III

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5157071
In-situ leaching for the recovery of uranium offers the advantages of minimum disturbance of the environment, low capital and operating costs, and reduced mining development time. A technique for the laboratory simulation of in-situ leaching of uranium was developed and used to determine the effects of leaching variables on the permeability and uranium recovery, for representative ores from Texas and Wyoming. The 3 ton uranium ore samples, each from Texas and Wyoming were characterized for their mineralogical contents and the agitation leach behavior using sulfuric acid, ammonium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate as reagents with hydrogen peroxide and oxygen as oxidants. To understand in-situ leaching phenomena, investigators have generally resorted to experimentation at three levels: (a) batch agitation tests, (b) tests on short lengths of undisturbed core, and (c) field tests on a typical portion of the ore body.
Research Organization:
Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, Pa. (USA). Research and Development Center
OSTI ID:
5157071
Report Number(s):
PB-272717
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English