Published April 2002 | Version v1
Report Open

Uranium production and environmental restoration at the Priargunsky Centre, Russian Federation

  • 1. All-Russian Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Moscow (Russian Federation)
  • 2. Priargunsky Mining-Chemical Production Association, Krasnokamensk (Russian Federation)

Description

State JSK 'Priargunsky Mining-Chemical Production Association' (PPGHO) has been the only active uranium production centre in Russia during the last decade. Mining has operated since 1968, and derives from resources in 19 volcanic-type deposits of Streltsovsk U-ore region, which covers an area of 150 km2. The average U grade is about 0.2%. Ten deposits have been brought into production: eight by underground mines and two by open pits. Milling and processing has been carried out since 1974 at the local hydrometallurgical plant by sulphuric acid leaching with subsequent recovery by a sorption-extraction ion exchange scheme. The high level of total production (over 100,000 mtU through 2000) marks it as one of the outstanding uranium production districts worldwide. Significant amounts of wastes have been accumulated. The main sources of the environmental contamination are: 30 piles of waste rocks and sub-grade ores, mine waters, milling and sulphuric acid plant tailings. The following activities are performed to decrease the negative impact on the environment: rehabilitation of waste rock dumps and open pits utilization of waste rock for industrial needs, heap and in situ leach mining of low-grade ores, construction of dams and intercepting wells below the tailings, hydrogeological monitoring and waste water treatment plant modernization. Environmental activities, including rehabilitation of the impacted territories and also waste utilization will be realized after final closure takes place. (author)

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Additional details

Publishing Information

Imprint Title
The uranium production cycle and the environment. Proceedings
Imprint Pagination
571 p.
Journal Issue
no. 10/P
Journal Series
C and S papers series
Journal Page Range
p. 199-204
ISSN
1011-4289
Report number
IAEA-CSP--10/P

Conference

Title
International symposium on the uranium production cycle and the environment
Dates
2-6 Oct 2000
Place
Vienna (Austria)

INIS

Country of Publication
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
33032914
Subject category
NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS; MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES, AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES;
Resource subtype / Literary indicator
Conference
Quality check status
Yes
Descriptors DEI
CONTAMINATION; ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS; FEED MATERIALS PLANTS; HYDROMETALLURGY; LEACHING; MILL TAILINGS; RUSSIAN FEDERATION; TAILINGS; URANIUM MINES; WASTE WATER;
Descriptors DEC
DISSOLUTION; EASTERN EUROPE; EUROPE; EXTRACTIVE METALLURGY; HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS; INDUSTRIAL PLANTS; LIQUID WASTES; METALLURGY; MINES; NUCLEAR FACILITIES; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; SEPARATION PROCESSES; SOLID WASTES; TAILINGS; UNDERGROUND FACILITIES; WASTES; WATER;

Optional Information

Lead record
5sx2a-ycb84
Notes
7 refs, 1 fig., 2 tabs
Secondary number(s)
IAEA-SM--362/21