Weak acid leaching of uranium ore from a high carbonate uranium deposit

Abstract

Mineralogical study showed that the Yuejin uranium ore is from a low grade, high carbonate and high pyrite sandstone type uranium deposit. Uranium leaching rate, uranium speciation of leachate, leaching kinetics and precipitation analysis were investigated under the conditions of different acidity, liquid–solid ratio and H2O2 concentration. The test results showed that the weak acid leaching process can be used to develop high carbonate type uranium deposits, however, because of the high content of pyrite, other oxidants except high concentration H2O2 need to be considered.