Hamza Ghaznav reports that Blue Sky Uranium reported the initial metallurgical results for carnotite-mineralized material from the Ivana target area have yielded recoveries of more than 95% for uranium using alkaline leach processing. “High metallurgical recovery is a key factor to support low cost uranium production from surficial deposits such as Amarillo Grande,” stated Nikolaos Cacos, Blue Sky President & CEO. “The use of a low-cost recovery process and the ability to recover vanadium also significantly enhances the potential of a project.”
Ongoing metallurgical test work includes physical beneficiation assessments, as previously carried out on samples from the Anit target area (see Blue Sky news release dated February 7th, 2011), and initial test work on coffinite (+ uraninite) mineralized material. The Anit preliminary beneficiation test work demonstrated that a very simple wet screening method could be utilized to reject coarse clastic material, producing a lower-mass concentrate containing a high percentage of the in situ uranium.
The metallurgical studies were completed on a single composite created from four samples with carnotite (a uranium-vanadium oxide) which is the most common style of mineralization found at Amarillo Grande. The composite was characterized as a fine to coarse poorly consolidated sandstone with average grade of 408 ppm U3O8 and 512 ppm V2O5. The alkaline leaching study was carried out using 492 g of sample in 1kg leaching solution with 50 g/L Na2CO3 (sodium carbonate) and 20 g/L NaHCO3 (sodium-bicarbonate) at 80 °C with constant agitation for 8 hours. Sampling was done every hour and the uranium and vanadium content related to the initial pregnant solution were estimated. The results indicate that 95% of the uranium is leached in 2 hours and 60% of the vanadium in 3 hours, with estimated consumption of 40 kg/t sodium carbonate and 8 kg/t of sodium bicarbonate.
The studies included an assessment of uranium and vanadium adsorption by kinetic ionic interchange using Purofine PFA 600/4740 resin over time until reaching equilibrium. The “mother” solution generated by the alkaline leaching study underwent magnetic agitation at room temperature, where the resin was activated with a 1M sodium- bicarbonate solution. The results indicate that vanadium is adsorbed faster than uranium, at 30 and 80 minutes respectively.
The study was completed by INVAP S.E. at their facilities following ISO 17025 standards, and the analytical methodologies used traceable certified standards and verified devices. INVAP S.E. is an Argentine company based in Rio Negro province, devoted to the design and construction of complex technological systems, with more than 30 years in the domestic market and more than twenty in the international scene. The company has a long track record of success for global clients in the nuclear sector.
This new uranium district was first identified, staked and underwent preliminary exploration by Blue Sky from 2007 to 2012 as part of the Grosso Group’s strategy of adding alternative energy focus to its successful portfolio of metals exploration companies. The proximity of several major targets suggests that if resources are delineated a central processing facility would be envisioned. The area is flat-lying, semi-arid and accessible year-round, with nearby rail, power and port access.
Mineralization identified to date at Amarillo Grande has characteristics of sandstone-type and surficial-type uranium-vanadium deposits. The sandstone-type deposit is related to a braided fluvial system comprising a potentially district-size “roll front” system. Uranium minerals are present in the porous of poorly-consolidated sandstones and conglomerates. In surficial-type uranium deposits, carnotite mineralization coats loosely consolidated pebbles of sandstone and conglomerates. Carnotite is amenable to leaching, and preliminary metallurgical work at the project indicates that the mineralized material can be upgraded using a very simple wet screening method. The near-surface mineralization, ability to locally upgrade, amenability to leaching and central processing possibility suggest a potentially low-cost development scenario for a future deposit.
Managed & Built by I2M Consulting, LLC | © 2010-
