Field test of hydraulic borehole mining systems in shallow uranium sands. Final report Jun 77-Sep 78

This report presents the results of a program demonstrating the technical and economic feasibility of hydraulic borehole mining of uraniferous sandstone. A high-pressure cutting jet and a slurry jet pump make up the borehole mining tool, which is lowered down a borehole into the uranium-bearing sandstone. Water from the cutting jet cuts into the sandstone formation generating a water-sand slurry which is pumped to the surface, thereby forming a cavity in the formation. When the cavity size reaches a point beyond the effective radius of the cutting jet, the mining tool is moved to an adjacent borehole and the process is started again