The document summarizes a presentation on leaching Brannerite ores given at the 2010 International Uranium Conference. It discusses the challenges in leaching Brannerite based on past research, results from bottle roll and agitation leach tests on Brannerite samples, and conclusions. The tests showed that a temperature of 90°C was required to achieve significant uranium extraction. Higher free acid levels improved initial extraction rates but not overall recovery. Grind size had little impact on recovery, possibly because acid attacks gangue minerals. More research is needed to optimize temperature, acid level, and grind size.
A copy of the presentation I gave at the AusIMM 2009 International Uranium Conference. It outlines some testing I conducted on a Brannerite ore to beneficiate it.
A copy of the presentation I gave at the AusIMM 2009 International Uranium Conference. It outlines some testing I conducted on a Brannerite ore to beneficiate it.
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1. HOME
AusIMM International Uranium Conference
Leaching of Brannerite Ores
June 2010
Speaker: Chris Bucknell
A Member of the Bureau Veritas Minerals Group
2. Contents
1. Disclaimers
2 Background on leaching Brannerite
2.
3. Bottle Rolls – as a base line
4. Agitation L
4 A it ti Leaches
h
a) Effect of Temperature
b) Effect of Grind Size
c) Effect of Free Acid Level
5. What next?
AMDEL - BUREAU VERITAS PRESENTATION – 2010 chris.bucknell@amdel.com
3. Disclaimers
Everything I know about anything can be written on a postage stamp.
The full data lying behind these results is not detailed as part of this
presentation but is necessary to draw inferences from the results.
The information presented is based on lab scale not plant scale.
When I say Brannerite, I am actually talking about the Uranium
predominantly contained in the Brannerite present, but also the U in
trace intergrowths of Uraninite associated with the Brannerite as well
Brannerite,
as the U in the Thorite.
All free acid levels are in g/L at the conclusion of the leach unless
otherwise specified ie they are discharge values.
All ORP values are referenced against a Ag/AgCl electrode.
If the answer to your question is not in this presentation then maybe
you misunderstood your question.
AMDEL - BUREAU VERITAS PRESENTATION – 2010 chris.bucknell@amdel.com
4. History of Brannerite Leaching
AMDEL - BUREAU VERITAS PRESENTATION – 2010 chris.bucknell@amdel.com
5. History of Brannerite Leaching
“One of the most difficult uranium minerals to dissolve” Born et al 1975.
Rate of Brannerite dissolution is directly proportional to sulphuric acid concentration.
Born et al
al.
BUT there is an upper limit to sulphuric acid concentration at which point the dissolution
rate decreases ~200g/L. Born et al.
Four fold increase in extraction from 50 deg C to 70 deg C Born et al
C. al.
Leaching rate increases with increasing ORP until Eh of +575mV. Born et al.
Leaching on an impure concentrate from Climax, Colorado showed 13% extraction at
g p ,
room temperature using 10% sulphuric acid. D.R. George 1950 per Clegg et al 1958.
Radium Hill concentrate was processed at Port Pirie in 98% boiling sulphuric acid.
Fitzgerald, M.L. and Hartley, F.R. 1965.
Ores from the Blind River district, require leaching for 48 hours at 50 dec C with 50g/L
free acid. Clegg et al 1958.
Elliot Lake processed at 48 hours in “hot” sulphuric acid discharging at 40g/L free acid.
F.C L d
F C Lendrum per B Born et al.
t l
Leaching of Valhalla ore at 50 deg C for 30 hours at 25g/L achieved extraction of 83-
85%. Goldney et al 1972.
AMDEL - BUREAU VERITAS PRESENTATION – 2010 chris.bucknell@amdel.com
6. Bottle Rolls – as a baseline
Bottle Roll Parameters
Mullock ore grade sample - likely weathered –
head grade 750ppm.
Temperature ambient.
Duration 7 days.
Sample size 1kg.
1kg
Target free acid of 20g/L.
Sodium chlorate addition of 1kg/T.
S f /
ORP target >550mV.
Slurry density 40wt%.
Two particle sizes trialled. One at 100%
passing 38mm and the other at 100% passing
19mm.
AMDEL - BUREAU VERITAS PRESENTATION – 2010 chris.bucknell@amdel.com
7. Bottle Rolls - as a baseline
100 30
90
25
80
/T)
%)
xtraction (%
mption (kg/
70
20
60
Ac Consum
50 15
Uranium Ex
40
10
30
cid
U
20
5
10
0 0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Float concentrate 50wt% solids
Target free acid 20g/L Temp 90 deg C Time (days)
U Extraction BR1 @ 38mm Uranium Extraction BR2 @ 19mm Acid Consumption BR1 @38mm Acid Consumption BR2 @19mm
Observations
1. Overall extraction of U was 22%. Extraction, potentially not flattened out.
2. Acid consumption of 27kg/T.
3. Suggests some relatively easily, but small, amount of extractable uranium present.
AMDEL - BUREAU VERITAS PRESENTATION – 2010 chris.bucknell@amdel.com
8. Agitation Leaches – Effect of Temperature
Agitation Leach Parameters
Mullock ore grade sample - likely weathered
– head grade 750ppm.
Duration 24 hours.
Sample size 1kg.
Target free acid of 20g/L
20g/L.
Sodium chlorate addition of 1kg/T.
ORP target >550mV.
O
Slurry density 40wt%.
One particle size trialled @ 75 microns.
Range of temperatures 25, 50, 70, 90 deg C.
AMDEL - BUREAU VERITAS PRESENTATION – 2010 chris.bucknell@amdel.com
9. Agitation Leaches – Effect of Temperature
100
90
80
raction (%)
70
60
ranium Extr
50
40
30
Ur
20
10
0
0 5 10 15 20 25
Float concentrate
Grind size 40 microns
Time (hrs)
50wt% solids
Temp 90 deg C U Extraction - 25 deg C U Extraction - 50 deg C U Extraction - 70 deg C U Extraction - 90 deg C
Observations
1. Extraction effective only at 90 deg C.
2. Optimum extraction at 90 deg C of 93%.
3. Extraction potentially not flattened out.
AMDEL - BUREAU VERITAS PRESENTATION – 2010 chris.bucknell@amdel.com
10. Agitation Leaches – Acid Consumption
40
/T) 35
30
Acid Consumption (kg/
25
20
15
10
A
5
0
0 5 10 15 20 25
Float concentrate
Grind size 40 microns
Time (hrs)
50wt% solids
Temp 90 deg C Acid Consumption - 25 deg C Acid Consumption - 50 deg C Acid Consumption - 70 deg C Acid Consumption - 90 deg C
Observations
1. Reconfirms majority of acid is consumed by gangue.
2. Acid consumed at 90 deg C is double the level at ambient but extraction is 9 times better.
3. If you can keep the free acid low, you will waste less acid on the gangue.
AMDEL - BUREAU VERITAS PRESENTATION – 2010 chris.bucknell@amdel.com
11. Agitation Leaches – Effect of Grind Size
Agitation Leach Parameters
Concentrate sample – Head Grade 981ppm
981ppm.
Temperature 90 deg C.
Duration
D ti 24 hhours.
Sample size 1kg.
Target free acid of 30g/L.
Sodium chlorate addition of 1kg/T.
ORP target >550mV.
Slurry density 50wt%
50wt%.
Two particle sizes trialled. One at p80 75
microns and the other at p80 40 microns.
AMDEL - BUREAU VERITAS PRESENTATION – 2010 chris.bucknell@amdel.com
12. Agitation Leaches – Effect of Grind Size
100
90
80
70
U Extractio (%)
60
on
50
40
30
20
10
0
0 5 10 15 20 25
Float concentrate
Target free acid 30g/L
Time (hours)
50wt% solids
Temp 90 deg C 75 microns 40 microns
Observations
1. Overall extraction of U was the same irrespective of grind size.
2. Extraction at 40 microns initially quicker than 75 microns.
3. What if the gangue is so effectively attacked with the high acid levels that grinding could be minimised or eliminated?
AMDEL - BUREAU VERITAS PRESENTATION – 2010 chris.bucknell@amdel.com
13. Agitation Leaches – Effect of Free Acid
100
90
80
70
U Extractio (%)
60
on
50
40
30
20
10
0
0 5 10 15 20 25
Float concentrate
Grind size 40 microns
Time (hours)
50wt% solids
Temp 90 deg C 12g/L 30g/L 40g/L
Observations
1. Free acid levels of 12g/L not sufficient to achieve significant extraction.
2. Extraction accelerated in the initial stages by higher free acid levels.
3. Similar ultimate extraction achieved with target free acid of 30 and 40g/L.
AMDEL - BUREAU VERITAS PRESENTATION – 2010 chris.bucknell@amdel.com
14. Conclusions
A temperature of 90 deg C was required before any real extraction of
U was observed. Compare this to 70 deg C in Born et al.
No observed difference in extraction between 50 and 70 deg C where
Born et al found a 4 fold increase.
Maybe you don’t need to grind it as fine as you think, due to the
intense acid attack on the gangue.
The initial extraction rate can be improved by moving from 30g/L to
40g/L but with little effect on the overall extraction.
Keeping the free acid low but above some threshold value (~20-
low, ( 20
30g/L), may minimise the acid consumption.
There is a quite complex interaction between temperature, free acid
and grind size to optimise against before finalising your capital
decisions.
Just as all Coffinites are not the same in terms of their leach
behaviour, it unlikely that all Brannerites will be the same.
AMDEL - BUREAU VERITAS PRESENTATION – 2010 chris.bucknell@amdel.com
15. References
Born, C.A., Queneau, P.B., Ronzio, R.A. (Sept 1975). Processing of
Wolframite Cassiterite
Wolframite-Cassiterite Concentrate for Brannerite Removal. Transactions
of the Society of Mining Engineers, AIME, Col 258, pp218-221.
Clegg, J.W. and Foley, D.D. (Sept 1958). Uranium Ore Processing.
Addison Wesley Publishing Company, Maaaschusetts, USA.
Goldney, N., Canning, R.G. and Gooden, J.E.A. (July 1972). Extraction
Investigations with ome Australian Uranium Ores AMDEL presentation to
Ores.
AAEC Symposium on Uranium Processing.
Fitzgerald, M.L. and Hartley, F.R. (1965) Eighth Commonwealth Mining
and Metallurgical Congress Vol3. Chapter 9 – Uranium. AMDEL Ltd
Report CM 1122/77.
AMDEL - BUREAU VERITAS PRESENTATION – 2010 chris.bucknell@amdel.com
16. Next Year………
So what about next years conference?
Some real ore examples can be presented from three possible areas:
1. Ion Exchange of Uranium from Carbonate Extractions
2. Selective precipitation of V from Carnotite Extractions
p p
3. Solvent Extraction of Brannerite sourced PLS
AMDEL - BUREAU VERITAS PRESENTATION – 2010 chris.bucknell@amdel.com
17. Amdel – A Member of the Bureau Veritas Minerals Group
AMDEL - BUREAU VERITAS PRESENTATION – 2010 chris.bucknell@amdel.com