Uranium Heap Leaching
(last updated 23 Feb 2023)
Contents:
In some cases, uranium is extracted from low-grade ore by heap leaching. This may be done if the uranium contents is too low for the ore to be economically processed in a uranium mill. The crushed ore is placed on a leaching pad with a liner. The leaching agent (alkaline, or sulfuric acid) is introduced on the top of the pile and percolates down until it reaches the liner below the pile, where it is caught and pumped to a processing plant.
After completion of the leaching process (within months to years), the leached ore (spent ore, or "ripios") is either left in place, or removed to a disposal site, and new ore is placed on the leach pad (so-called on/off scheme, or dynamic heap leaching).
During leaching, the piles present a hazard because of release of dust, radon gas and leaching liquid.
Upon termination of the designated leaching period, the material initially still is saturated with leaching liquid, leading to continued leaching of uranium and other constituents (many of which are radioactive and/or toxic).
But, even if the residual leaching liquid is neutralized, a longterm problem may still result from naturally induced leaching, if the ore contains the mineral pyrite (FeS2), as with the uranium deposits in Thuringia, Germany, for example). Then, acces of water and air may cause continuous bacterially induced production of sulfuric acid inside the pile, which results in the leaching of uranium and other contaminants for centuries and possibly permanent contamination of ground water.
Application of sulfuric acid on top of uranium heap leaching pile in Pécs, Hungary (1990)
Deteriorated liner at foot of uranium heap leaching pile in Pécs, Hungary (1990)
Uranium heap leaching piles in Pécs, Hungary (1993)
Proposed uranium heap leaching operations 
- Buckton, Alberta, Canada
- Eco Ridge, Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada (surface and underground heap leaching)
- Anderson, Arizona, USA
- Apex-Lowboy, Nevada, USA
- Sentinel, North Dakota, USA
- Lower Gas Hills project (Strathmore), Wyoming, USA (alternatively)
- Sheep Mountain, Wyoming, USA
- Juniper Ridge, Wyoming, USA
- Grants Ridge (UEC), New Mexico, USA
- Colibri, Peru
- Terrafame Sotkamo, Finland
- Häggån, Sweden
- MMS Viken, Sweden
- Salamanca, Spain
- Novokonstantinovskoye, Ukraine
- Imouraren, Niger
- Mutanga, Zambia
- Letlhakane, Botswana
- Husab, Namibia (partly)
- Etango, Namibia
- Marenica, Namibia
- Omahola, Namibia
- Ongolo, Nambibia
- Zhonghe, Namibia
- Langer Heinrich, Namibia (expansion project)
- Rössing, Namibia (expansion project)
- Mooifontein, South Africa
- Saghand, Iran
- Gornoe, Russia
- Berezovoe, Russia
- Ranger, Northern Territory, Australia (for expansion project, meanwhile abandoned)
- Wiluna, West Australia
Heap leaching operations under development 
Current uranium heap leaching operations 
Former uranium heap leaching operations 
- Durita (Hecla Mining), Colorado, USA
- Maybell (Umetco), Colorado, USA
- Ambrosia Lake, New Mexico, USA (partly)
- Day Loma, Wyoming, USA
- East Gas Hills (Umetco), Wyoming, USA
- Don Otto, Salta, Argentina
- Los Gigantes, Córdoba, Argentina
- La Estela, San Luis, Argentina
- San Rafael, Mendoza, Argentina
- Los Adobes, Chubut, Argentina
- Los Colorados, La Rioja, Argentina
- Pécs, Hungary
- various mines in Bulgaria
- Ronneburg, Germany
- Königstein, Germany
- Mähring, Germany
- various mines in France
- Elefante (Saelices el Chico), Spain
- Quercus (Saelices el Chico), Spain
- La Haba (Badajoz), Spain
- Urgeiriça, Portugal
- Quinta do Bispo, Portugal
- Lermontovsky, Russia
- various mines in Uzbekistan
- Dornod, Mongolia
- various mines in Tajikistan