Insitu leaching: The effect of temperature and pressure on the permeability of uranium bearing rock
Loading...
Authors
Sequeira, Everton Conrad
Issue Date
1979
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Leaching , Low Grade Uranium Deposits , Leach Mining Process , Leach Solution , Rock Permeability , Leachability , Navajo Sandstone , Lixiviant , Injection Pressures , Uranium , Mackay Theses and Dissertations Grant Collection
Alternative Title
Abstract
This thesis concerns the insitu leaching of low grade uranium deposits that would be infeasible to mine by conventional mining methods. Initially, the report deals with the actual leach mining process, from well construction, to the extraction of values from the leach solution. The main area of research, however, centers around the permeability characteristics of the rock. The effect of temperature and pressure on rock permeability epitomizes this study, and is determined by laboratory testing. The purpose of this study is to observe the effect of these parameters on rock permeability and hence its leachability. The experimentation is carried out using Navajo sandstone samples to simulate the uranium measure rock. These samples are subjected to different temperatures of lixiviant (in this case, air), and injection pressures, and the coefficient of permeability is calculated from Darcy's law. A mathematical model of the problem is presented in the literature review. This model incorporates the leaching process with the different variables associated with it including; oxidant concentration, velocities of flow of the lixiviant along the different streamlines, guard wells, dispersion of the lixiviant, and uranium concentration.
Description
Online access for this thesis was created in part with support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) administered by the Nevada State Library, Archives and Public Records through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). To obtain a high quality image or document please contact the DeLaMare Library at https://unr.libanswers.com/ or call: 775-784-6945.
Citation
Publisher
University of Nevada, Reno
License
In Copyright(All Rights Reserved)