Application of mineralogical-technological mapping for ores: Qualitative evaluation of endogenic uranium deposits of Streltsovsk and Kokchetavsk uranium ore regions

The Mineralogical-Technological Mapping Method (MTM) is used for determining mineral and technological types of ores and for studying the influence of ore composition on their technological qualities. The uranium deposits of Kokchetavsk region are found in various rocks. The Apatite-Coffinite and Coffinite ores occur itites and Pitchblende-Brannerite ores are mapped as deposits of the basement. They correspond to two technological types: the Uranium Carbonaceous and the Complex Rare-Earth-Phosphorus-Uranium Silicate type. The Pitchblende, Pitchblende-Brannerite and Molybdenite-Coffinite-Pitchblende ore types occur as deposits in depressions and close to the surfaces of unconformity. The first type corresponds to the Uranium Silicate technological type, the second and the third to the Uranium moderate Carbonaceous type. The uranium deposits of Streltsovsky region are situated in volcanic-sedimentary rocks and in granites of the basement with the xenoliths of limestones. The main reserves of the deposits are connected with the Silicate Uranium and Molybdenum-Uranium ores which are processed at the plant by sulphuric acid leaching. Considerable reserves of one of the biggest deposits in the limestones are classified as high carbonaceous. The principally new technology of pressure soda leaching is necessary for processing these ores. Some low carbonaceous ores are mapped among Silicate ores at many deposits. They are recommended for selective mining and for blending with the Silicate or high carbonaceous ores. MTM made it also possible to distinguish Pitchblende, Molybdenite-Pitchblende, Coffinite and Brannerite mineral types of ores, which differ in the leaching due to their different refractory properties. The obtained data make it possible to control and operate the quality of ores supplied to processing. (author). 9 refs, 4 figs, 3 tabs