Status of world uranium production by in-situ leaching mines

Due to the uncomparatively intrinsic advantages of low operating cost, short construction period and friendly environment, since 21^st century, the proportion of uranium produced by in-situ leaching mines increased year by year, 45% in 2011. At the present time, 50 uranium deposits were discovered in 6 provinces, the resources amenable to in-situ leaching occupies up 89% of the total world resources, total uranium production from 21 in-situ leaching mines gave 21317 t in Kazakhstan in 2012; total 2400 t uranium produced almost all from in-situ leaching mines in Uzbekistan in 2012; Beverly and Honeymoon, the two in-situ leaching uranium mine, are in operation in Australia; in US five in-situ leaching mines are in active with the capacity of 1596 t in 2012; two active in-situ leaching uranium mines in Pakistan as well as the capacity of uranium production by in-situ leaching in Russia and Ukraine surpass 1000 t/a. (authors)