Ground-water elements of in situ leach mining of uranium. Final report
This report provides methods to collect data and evaluates impacts concerning ground-water elements of production-scale leach mining of uranium. Two overlapping networks of monitor wells are designed to collect premining hydrogeologic and baseline water-quality data and to detect excursions of leaching fluids. The pre-mining data collection network consists of 24 wells completed into the ore-zone aquifer and the water-bearing units above and below it. The excursion-monitor network utilizes two rings of wells encircling the ore body and other wells strategically placed into other water-bearing units. The lateral excursion detection system is keyed to changes in water levels whereas the vertical excursion detection system is keyed to changes in water quality. Several ground-water restoration methods are evaluated. Mechanical and chemical restoration methods can significantly remove most introduced and mobilized chemicals. Natural geochemical mechanisms should be capable of causing water-quality improvement. Several water-quality constituents, i.e., ammonia, chloride, sulfate, may not be greatly affected by restoration efforts. Most mining and restoration activities should not greatly affect the availability or usefulness of ground water unless uncontrolled withdrawals from many sources occur. Disposal of leach mining wastes may prove a greater threat to the environment than the mining. Natural conditions and/or current state and Federal regulations limit the types of disposal methods that may be used.
- Research Organization:
- Consultants Computation Bureau, Oakland, CA (USA); Earth Sciences, Inc., Golden, CO (USA); Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6569405
- Report Number(s):
- NUREG/CR-0311; TRN: 79-001792
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
GROUND WATER
HYDROLOGY
WATER QUALITY
URANIUM ORES
SOLUTION MINING
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MINING
ORES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
WATER
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