ISR Mining
In Situ Recovery (ISR) mining is a process of mining uranium that reverses the natural process which originally deposited the uranium into an underground aquifer. ISR is a non invasive mining process that requires minimal surface disturbance. ISR mining is only possible with the right underground geological formations, and underground mapping techniques are used to identify the potential for an ISR mining operation.
The Benefits and Modern Methods of Mining Uranium
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The actual process involves the injection of ground water containing dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide into the underground system where the uranium is deposited. The injected solution oxidizes the uranium minerals, which allows the uranium to dissolve in the ground water. Production wells, located between the injection wells intercept the uranium loaded solution and pump it to the surface. Once at surface, the uranium is stripped from the solution and precipitated into yellowcake slurry, which is then dewatered and turned into yellowcake concentrate.
ISR mining is an environmentally friendly way of mining uranium. After the uranium is removed, the underground structure is restored to its pre-mining state by pumping fresh water through the aquifer. ISR mining has several advantages over conventional mining. As mentioned, the environmental impact is minimal, as the affected water is restored to its original levels after the close of the project. Also, ISR requires fewer workers and is a cheaper alternative to open pit mining. Perhaps most importantly, ISR mining has proven to be a safe method of mining uranium resulting in minimum employee exposure to health risks.
