Abstract
The results of the first restoration effort for a pilot-scale acidic leaching of a uranium ore body in the United States are given. The project was performed under an agreement between the Bureau of Mines and a joint venture consisting of Rocky Mountain Energy, Mono Power Company, and Halliburton Company. The leaching phase is described only briefly; it was reported earlier by tweeton. Leaching was done with h2so4 (ph range of 1.6 to 3.9) and h202 (80 to 1,000 ppm) over an 11- month period. The restoration phase began in September 1978 and was completed in 11 months. Water samples were taken from observation wells located between injection and production wells while the leaching solution was decreased in strength. Ground water quality in the leaching ore zone was restored by diluting and neutralizing effects of injecting native groundwater and treated water produced from recovered solution. Recovered water was purified by a combination of chemical precipitation and reverse osmosis. In situ measurements of ph, eh, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, and temperature were made by a downhole probe in one of the wells. Water samples were taken and analyzed for u, V, na, k, ca, mg, so4, p, cl, f, fe, mn, si, zn, as, and se.
