Preconcentration of uranium ores by radio-metric sorting

The uranium ore chemical treatment plant at Bessines-sur-Gartempe is supplied entirely by the La Crouzille Mining Division of the French Atomic Energy Commission mainly from mining districts of Fanay, Margnac and Le BRUGEAUD in the Limousin province and also, for the remainder, by a certain amount of private production in the 'Massif Central'. The supply mixture, which is very heterogeneous, is enriched before being treated chemically. The pre-concentration operation is carried out in the divisions ore treatment work-shop. It consists in a stone removal operation using radiometric sorting along a continuous belt; this makes it possible to eliminate 50 pour cent of the only fraction which is thus treated - that from 50 to 120 mm; it represents 15 to 20 per cent of the total tonnage supplied to the plant. (authors)