PROSPECTS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL-SCALE URANIUM ORE MINES WITH HIGH VALUE ORE BY USING HEAP LEACHING METHOD
Prospects of uranium ore mining on are currently limited by existing mineral resources, situation on international markets, stock resources and international programs of nuclear armaments reduction. Currently it is economically feasible to start production on the minefields with lowest mining costs, flexible operating costs and output volumes without negative consequences for infrastructure and environment. Small-scale ore mine exploitation with heap leaching of the uranium component can help reach the required results. The main issue is reaching highest possible extraction of commercial component by heap leaching high value uranium ore. This requires conducting industrial pilot tests.