Wyoming Mining Association White Paper re: Uranium In-Situ Recovery

Uranium (Nuclear Minerals) / Recovery, Remediation and other Mining-Related Technology

Date posted: 09/30/09

In situ mining is a process by which uranium is extracted from porous and permeable host sands via wells completed into those sands. Solutions (called lixiviants) are injected into some wells and recovered from others. During mining the lixiviants pass through the host sand from the injection well (point of entry) to the recovery well (point of removal/exit). It dissolves uranium out of the host sand via a chemical reaction involving oxidation. Modern uranium extraction by in situ recovery (ISR) is an environmentally benign process that involves minimal surface disturbance, minimal generation of solid wastes and two (2) simple chemicals, carbon dioxide and oxygen.