The uranium mineralization is composed of amorphous uranium oxide, sooty pitchblende, and coffinite, and is deposited in void spaces between detrital sand grains and within minor authigenic clays. The host sandstone is composed of quartz, feldspar, accessory biotite and muscovite mica, and locally occurring carbon fragments. Grain size ranges from very fine- to very coarse sand but is medium-grained over all. The sandstones are weakly to moderately cemented and friable. Pyrite and calcite are associated with the sands in the reduced facies. Hematite or limonite stain from pyrite, are common oxidation products in the oxidized facies. Montmorillonite and kaolinite clays from oxidized feldspars are also present in the oxidized facies (Uranerz NRC Application, 2010).

The mineralized zones at the Nichols Ranch Unit, Jane Dough Unit and the Hank Unit will be divided into individual production areas where injection and recovery wells will be installed. As typical with the above mentioned commercial operations, the wells will be arranged in variations of 5-spot or 7-spot patterns. In some situations, a line-drive pattern or staggered line-drive pattern may be employed. Horizontal and vertical excursion monitor wells will be installed at each well field as dictated by geologic and hydro-geologic parameters, and as approved by the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality - Land Quality Division and the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The facilities will be constructed according to acceptable engineering practices.

The ion exchange system for the Nichols Ranch Unit is designed to accommodate flow rates up to 3,500 GPM. In order to contain the lixiviant within the designated wellfield recovery area, a small portion of the barren solution is withdrawn from the ion exchange circuit. The amount of bleed is estimated to be in the average range of 1% of the overall flow rate or equivalent to about 35 GPM.

As planned, the Hank Unit will be constructed and operated as an adjacent property to the Nichols Ranch Unit and will feed the processing facility directly through a pipeline network. However, as an option and licensed, the ion exchange system for the Hank Unit is designed for flow rates up to 2,500 GPM. The average bleed rate for Hank Unit is estimated to be 3% or equivalent to about 75 GPM.

The bleed solution is to be used to rinse and clean-up freshly eluted resin, make-up fresh eluant in the elution circuit, back wash sand filters, and wash yellowcake if necessary.