Published 2010 | Version v1
Miscellaneous

Heap-leaching of low-grade uranium ore at SOMAIR: from laboratory tests to production of 700 tonnes U per year

  • 1. AREVA NC, Service d'Etudes de Procedes et d'Analyses (SEPA), Bessines sur Gartempe (France)

Description

In 2006, SOMAIR decided to increase the uranium production by 50% using heap leaching for the treatment of low grade ores. These ores, which come from different ores with various properties, have been studied in four steps: Lab tests: to compare the ores (characterization, acid consumptions, recovery); Column tests on an average sample: to define significant parameters for a feasibility study; Column tests on specific samples: to optimize recovery for each ore and identify problems of percolation due to the clays; and, Pilot tests in large boxes (stalls): to validate process parameters. Uranium production by heap leaching started commercially in July 2009. (author)

Part of:
Uranium 2010: The Future is U. Proceedings Volume 1 and 2

Additional details

Publishing Information

Publisher
The Canadian Inst. of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum
Imprint Place
Westmount, Quebec (Canada)
ISBN
1-894475-97-6
Imprint Title
Uranium 2010: The Future is U. Proceedings Volume 1 and 2
Imprint Pagination
2 v.
Journal Page Range
(v.1) p. 349-357

Conference

Title
3. International Conference on Uranium; 40. Annual Hydrometallurgy Meeting
Acronym
Uranium 2010 The Future is U
Dates
15-18 Aug 2010
Place
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (Canada)

INIS

Country of Publication
Canada
Country of Input or Organization
Canada
INIS RN
48061129
Subject category
S11: NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS;
Resource subtype / Literary indicator
Conference, Non-conventional Literature
Descriptors DEI
BENCH-SCALE EXPERIMENTS; DEMONSTRATION PLANTS; FEASIBILITY STUDIES; LEACHING; URANIUM; URANIUM MINES; URANIUM ORES
Descriptors DEC
ACTINIDES; DISSOLUTION; ELEMENTS; METALS; MINES; ORES; SEPARATION PROCESSES; UNDERGROUND FACILITIES

Optional Information

Notes
5 figs., 4 tabs.