Study on leaching of refractory uranium in clay

The leaching characteristcs of uranium-bearing clay of deposit A and other uranium deposits ar described. The causes of leaching refractoriness of the uranium in clay have been discussed. The research results show that the reason of leaching refractoriness of the uranium in clay is associated with recryctallization of clay minerals (including opel and goethite) during metamorphism of rocks. The probable course of forming refractory uranium in clay may be: adsorption of U+6 by clay minerals; reduction of U+6 to U+4; recrystalization of the clay mineral and U+4 exists at closed or semi-closed state in it. The results show that in order to leach the refractory uranium in clay, the uranium-bearing mineral should be made to produce new faultiness for reopening the passages into the mineral, thereby the uranium existing at closed or semi-closed state is exposed, and at the same time U+4 is oxidized to U+6. The middle-low temperature oxidation roasting, pressure alkaline leaching (160-180 deg C), and leaching with concentrated acid are efficient in treating the refractory type uranium ore