How can we increase residual uranium extraction from previously worked-out blocks without significant cost? What factors influence the choice of solutions?

One of the most important factors in the formation of residual uranium reserves in worked-out blocks is the presence of clay minerals in the ore horizon. In this regard, the authors of the article published in the journal "Mining Science and Technology" conducted a number of studies on the adverse and positive effects of clay minerals on ISL process. Water permeability and relatively good filtration (not less than 0.5–1 m/day) of ores and rocks of a productive horizon (aquifer) is the most important hydrogeological factors affecting the performance of uranium ISL. The second most important hydrogeological factor is the lack of fluid communication between the productive aquifer and nonproductive aquifers, i.e., the obligatory presence of aquicludes.

For more information, see the article:

📌 Petukhov O.F., Khalimov I.U., Istomin V.P., Karimov N.М. The effect of clay minerals on in-situ leaching of uranium. Mining Science and Technology (Russia). 2023;8(1):39-46. https://doi.org/10.17073/2500-0632-2022-10-20

Subscribe to the journal's Telegram channel:
👉t.iss.one/MinSciTech👈

#inenglish #MST #uranium #insituleaching #ISL #clay #clayminerals #filtration #diffusioncoefficient #permeability #waterpermeability #sorption #montmorillonite #kaolinite #aquiclude #nitrateions #cationexchangecapacity #CEC #bentonite #ore #horizon #orehorizon #uraniumreserves #residualuraniumreserves #hydrogeologicalfactors #sulfatesolutions #bicarbonatesolutions #staticuraniumexchangecapacity #colloidalspecies #filtrationcoefficient #aquiclude #protectiveaquiclude #uraniumsorption #clayswelling #permeability #sands #sandstone #sandstonetypedeposits #uraniumextraction #claycontent #uraniumlosses #clayaquicludeprotectiveaction #ore