ANALYSIS OF MINERALOGICAL COMPOSITION OF SEDIMENTS IN IN-SITU LEACH MINING OF URANIUM

The article gives details of the in-situ uranium leach technology used in Kazakhstan mines, factors reducing permeability of productive strata and the efficient method for recovery of initial porosity. The processes of in-situ uranium leaching with sulfuric acid as a dissolver, as well as causes and conditions of drop in well productivity during operation are discussed. The effect of reduction in permeability of enclosing rocks in difficult geological conditions on the processes of in-situ uranium recovery and its degradation is considered. Sediments sampled from three deposits located in the Syr-Darya uranium province are prepared and their mineralogical compositions are studied at lab scale. Found by the X-ray phase analysis, features and quantitative–qualitative parameters of sediments from each uranium deposit are discussed, and the causes of sedimentation during in-situ uranium leaching are determined. The modern efficient methods of well productivity recovery using chemical agents in case of prevailing chemical type of sediments, based on dissolution of analyzed samples are considered. The optimal chemical treatment of wells to improve permeability of productive strata is recommended.

For citation: Rakishev В. R., Mataev M. M., Kenzhetaev Z. S. Analysis of mineralogical composition of sediments in in-situ leach mining of uranium. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2019;(7):123-131. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236-1493-2019-07-0-123-131.

Keywords

In-situ uranium recovery, sedimentation, X-ray phase analysis, chemical treatment, repair-and-renewal operations.

Issue number: 7
Year: 2019
ISBN: 0236-1493
UDK: 669.227/228
DOI: 10.25018/0236-1493-2019-07-0-123-131
Authors: Rakishev В. R., Mataev M. M., Kenzhetaev Z. S.

About authors: B.R. Rakishev, Academician of National Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor, Head of Chair, e-mail: b.rakishev@mail.ru, M.M. Mataev, Dr. Sci. (Chem.), Professor, Senior Researcher, Z.S. Kenzhetaev, Doctoral Candidate, K.I. Satpayev Kazakh National Research Technical University, 050013, Almaty, Kazakhstan. Corresponding author: B.R. Rakishev, e-mail: b.rakishev@mail.ru.

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