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In Situ Uranium Recovery
The methodology that we have identified for recovery of any commercial quantities of uranium that may be discovered on the leased properties is known as in situ leach recovery. Rather than the more widely known "hard rock" mining methods which involve disturbing the surface by digging mines and using equipment and workers to remove ore (either underground or by stripping away the surface), in situ uranium recovery involves injecting water solutions into an ore body through wells to leach the uranium out of the rock, then collecting the fluid through recovery wells and processing it to recover the uranium.
 Since the source rock is left in place under the ground while the uranium itself is removed using a water solution, there is minimal surface disturbance during in situ recovery, and no tailings or waste rock is generated by the recovery process. It is our desire to cause as little surface disruption as possible during the recovery process.
When uranium is found in this project, recovery of the minerals will be accomplished "in situ." That is, any uranium deposits that are discovered that lie from 500 feet to 1,500 feet below the surface would be recovered by recycling water through the deposit.
Image: State of South Dakota - Uranium Q&A
Surface wells would be solidly cemented through the locally important aquifer allowing the drilling of water injection wells into the deep deposits. The water would little by little dissolve the uranium mineral and then force it back up through surrounding production wells. The production wells are also solidly cemented up through the important aquifers. The water is then cleared for its uranium content through filters and recycled down again.
 The processed filter material yields a uranium-rich substance called "yellowcake." Yellowcake is shipped to Paducah, Kentucky, where it is given further refinement and conversion to fuel that is suitable to feed nuclear reactors for electrical power generation.
Image: Cogema, Inc.
The following independent material may be downloaded to obtain further details about this process:
Gustavson Uranium Systems is dedicated to preserving the natural beauty and quality of the environment by maintaining the strictest care and quality standards during exploration operations. These same high standards will be required during extraction and production of the minerals, should uranium be discovered in quantities that are economic for production.
Recent news about uranium economics:
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