Preflush-lixiviant process for solution mining of uranium ore beds

A process is claimed for the in-situ mining of subterranean uranium ore deposits comprising pretreating the deposits by the steps of injecting an aqueous inorganic chloride solution therein to substantially saturate the deposits and injecting an aqueous alkaline lixiviant solution therein to flush the chloride solution from the deposits. Thereafter, the pretreated deposits may be solution mined in conventional fashion such as by injecting an oxidant-containing aqueous alkaline lixiviant therein and recovering the uranium-containing lixiviant solution. The inorganic chloride solution is preferably potassium chloride and the preferred lixiviants are potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate and ammonium carbonate