Intensification of in situ uranium leaching from impermeable ore: A case-study of uranium deposits in Uzbekistan

The article describes the research into intensification of in-situ leaching of uranium in complicated geological conditions. The research was performed in the uranium fields of Navoi Mining and Metallurgy Combinat. Permeability of the productive stratum was stimulated using surface active agents. For the first time ever, in the capacity of a SAS aimed to enhance uranium extractability from impermeable ore in in-situ leaching, sulfanolum was used. Modern in-situ leaching equipment enables improvement of the technology and its efficiency subject to natural conditions of any unique deposit with its specific features. Within the current economic situation, efficient technologies are the key factor to govern the economic expedience of mining. This article describes the main activities during all-inclusive selection of a geotechnology and estimates the early economic effect of various mining technologies. The impermeable and poorly watered uranium ore bodies operated by Navoi MMC were listed as uneconomic reserves for a long time as the conventional sulfuric acid treatment failed to provide efficient uranium production because of high agent consumption and intense clogging of pores. For these reasons, the research addresses at first the geological and technological peculiarities of uranium leaching from impermeable and poorly watered ore.

Keywords: impermeable productive stratum, surface active agent, sulfanolum, hydrodynamic regime, in-situ leach intensification, poorly watered ore bed.
For citation:

Alikulov Sh. Sh., Khalimov I. U. Intensification of in situ uranium leaching from impermeable ore: A case-study of uranium deposits in Uzbekistan. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2021;(3):37-48. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236-1493-2021-3-0-37-48.

Acknowledgements:
Issue number: 3
Year: 2021
Page number: 37-48
ISBN: 0236-1493
UDK: 622.277
DOI: 10.25018/0236-1493-2021-3-0-37-48
Article receipt date: 24.04.2019
Date of review receipt: 16.10.2020
Date of the editorial board′s decision on the article′s publishing: 10.02.2021
About authors:

Sh.Sh. Alikulov1, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Assistant Professor, e-mail: sharofovich@mail.ru,
I.U. Khalimov1, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Assistant Professor, Head of Chair, e-mail: halimov_i@bk.ru,
1 Navoi State Mining Institute, 210100, Navoiy, Uzbekistan.

 

For contacts:

Sh.Sh. Alikulov, e-mail: sharofovich@mail.ru.

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