Abstract
In situ leach (ISL) has become one of the standard uranium production methods. Hydrogeology is important for all mining below the water table, but it is doubly important in ISL mining for efficient production of uranium. Prevention of unwanted groundwater contamination must be considered and controlled, and the final status of the target aquifer is also of high importance. Hydrogeological testing has been undertaken at a number of Australian ISL sites, some of which proceeded to production. Here we consider the associated hydro-geological testing undertaken for some of these projects, with case studies and les-sons learned.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anonymous (2013) Fact Sheet Uranium One Honeymoon Mine. Australasian Mining and Metallurgical Operating Practices, (Australasian Inst. Min. Metall., Melbourne, Australia) 2: 1819-1822
Alliance Resources Limited (2014) Four Mile Project commissioning. ASX (Australian Stock Exchange) Announcement, 24 March 2014
Armstrong D, Jeuken B (2009) Management of in-situ recovery (ISR) mining fluids in a closed aquifer system. Abstracts of the International Mine Water Conference, 19-23 Oc-tober 2009, Pretoria, South Africa (International Mine Water Association): 703-712
Bautin F, Hallenstein C (1997) Plans for uranium mining by COGEMA, 1997. ANA 97 Conf. Nuclear Sci. & Engineering in Aust., 16-17 Oct. 1997, Sydney, Aust. Nuclear As-soc. Inc.: 20-24
Birch GR, Every CR, Märten HG, Marsland-Smith AB, Phillips R, Woods PH (2013) Beverley Uranium Mines, Heathgate Resources. Australasian Mining and Metallurgical Operating Practices, (Australasian Inst. Min. Metall., Melbourne, Australia) 2: 1799-1818
Curnamona Energy Limited (2012) Annual Report 2011, Curnamona Energy Limited, Adelaide, Australia
Dobrzinski I (1997) Beverley and Honeymoon uranium projects, MESA Journal, Mines and Energy Department of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia, April 1997, 5: 9-11
Graham JJ (2000) Lessons learned from the start-up and operation of the world’s newest and largest ISL uranium mine. Conf. Proc. Metallurgical Plant Design and Operating Strategies, 15-16 Apr. 2002, Sydney, Australia, Australasian Inst. Min. Metall., Melbourne, Australia: 8-20
Hall S (2012) Metallurgical development of the Samphire uranium project. Proc. uranium sessions at ALTA 2012, 31 May – 1 June 2012, Perth, Western Australia, 151-166
Heathgate (1998) Beverley Uranium Mine: Environmental Impact Statement – Main Report. Heathgate Resources, June 1998, Adelaide, Australia
Heathgate (2007) Mining proposal for proposed extension of Beverley mine. Prepared for Heathgate Resources Pty Ltd by URS Australia Pty Ltd
Heathgate (2010) Beverley North Project Mining Lease Proposal and Draft Public Environment Report. Prepared for Heathgate Resources Pty Ltd by URS Australia Pty Ltd
Heathgate (2013) Four Mile Uranium Mine program for environment protection and rehabilitation, and radioactive waste management plan. Heathgate Resources Pty Ltd, Adelaide, South Australia
Howles SR (2000). Beverley Uranium Project – groundwater resources, management and monitoring. MESA Journal, Mines and Energy Department of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia, April 2000, 17:4-6
IAEA (2001) Manual of acid in situ leach uranium mining technology. International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, IAEA-TECDOC-1239
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this paper
Cite this paper
Woods, P., Jeuken, B. (2015). Hydrogeological testing for ISL uranium mining: some Australian experience. In: Merkel, B., Arab, A. (eds) Uranium - Past and Future Challenges. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-11059-2_25
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-11059-2_25
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-11058-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-11059-2
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)