The uranium can be recovered by pressure oxidation using a whole ore leach process in two hours utilizing an alkaline process (basic leaching media) at a grind size of P80 300 mesh and temperature of 200oC.
These recoveries were obtained on two separate composites with an average Bond work index of 13. The predominant uranium minerals are uraninite and coffinite. The uranium recoveries of up to 93% in this program are higher than those reported in the earlier NI 43-101 technical report. Additional test work is planned during the ongoing prefeasibility study to optimize other process parameters.
The test program was conducted on new composites from more deposit areas which included new drill core samples from the 2009-2010 drilling program. The work was performed at the Hazen Research (Hazen) laboratory facilities in Golden, Colorado.
Uranium will be recovered by conventional milling methods. The additional test work is being undertaken to optimize the process parameters (grind size, temperature, pressure oxidation time, carbonate concentration, etc) for recovery of uranium and molybdenum as part of the ongoing test program for a prefeasibility study.
Other aspects of the prefeasibility study continue to progress well. A 4,500mt drill program has just begun at Kuriskova, focusing on the high grade Zone 45 area.
