Overview
| Stage | Restarting |
| Mine Type | Open Pit |
| Commodities |
|
| Mining Method |
|
| Mine Life | 17 years (as of Jan 1, 2021) |
The mine was transitioned into care and maintenance in August 2018 due to the sustained low uranium price. The restart work technical programs are now complete and have reinforced Paladin’s confidence in Langer Heinrich Mine as a robust, competitive long-life operation ready to rapidly restart production in the right uranium price environment. |
Source:
p. 10,39
The tenements are 100% owned by Langer Heinrich Uranium (Pty) Ltd which, in turn, is 75% indirectly owned by Paladin Energy Ltd. The remaining 25% is owned by CNNC Overseas Uranium Holdings Ltd. (CNNC).
Contractors
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Summary:
Langer Heinrich is a calcrete-hosted secondary uranium deposit associated with valley-fill sediments in an extensive Tertiary palaeodrainage system. Uranium occurs as carnotite, an oxide mineral containing both uranium and vanadium, deposited as thin films lining cavities and fracture planes and as grain coatings and disseminations. The deposit extends over a 15 km length. Mineralisation is nearsurface, between one and thirty metres thick, and between 50 and 1,100 metres wide depending on the width of the palaeovalley. After calcrete development and mineralisation, parts of these sediments were eroded because of uplift that caused rejuvenated river flows - the largest being the Gawib River that in part follows the palaeovalley and has dissected and modified both the calcrete and associated mineralisation.
The current mineral resource is modelled to be approximately 16Km in strike, 0m to 100m in depth and varies in width from 300m to 900m depending on the position of the paleochannel walls.
Summary:
Mining method is conventional open pit mining as was used successfully at the operation until mining ceased.
No mining dilution or ore loss is applied to ROM stockpile recovery as dimensions are well known. The ROM stockpile floors are surveyed prior to build and no blasting is required.
Based on the back analysis of existing data and a factor of safety assessment, the pit slope design parameters are recommended:
Parameter Wall Height <60 m 60 m < Wall Height < 90 m
Batter face angle 62° 62°
Bench height 9 m 9 m
Berm width 5 m 5 m
Overall slope angle 45° 41°
Geotechnical berm width N/A 15 m
The H pits consist of five mining areas, totaling 17.6 Mt of Ore Reserves at 484 ppm U3O8 and an average strip ratio of 4.1:1.
The F pits consist of two mining areas, totaling 10.6 Mt of Ore Reserves at 540 ppm U3O8 with an average strip ratio of 1.4:1.
The G pits consist of four mining areas, totaling 9.3 Mt of Ore Reserves at 436 ppm U3O8 with an average strip ratio of 1.9:1.
The J pits consist of four mining areas, totaling 20.8 Mt of Ore Reserves at 478 ppm U3O8 with an average strip ratio of 1.8:1.
The study considered the infrastructure requirements associated with the conventional contr ........
Source:
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Flow Sheet:
Summary:
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Projected Production:
Production Target 6.0Mlb U308 pa during the Mining Phase (Years 2 – 9) of the Project.
| Commodity | Units | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | Avg. Annual | LOM |
|
Uranium
|
M lbs
| 2.7 | 4.2 | 4.8 | 5 | 5.6 | 6 | 77 |
All production numbers are expressed as U3O8.
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Operational Metrics:
| Metrics | | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|
Annual milling capacity
| ...... | | | |
|
Annual mining rate
| ...... | | | |
|
Tonnes milled
| ...... | 2.95 Mt | 3.52 Mt | 3.57 Mt |
|
Total tonnes mined
| ...... | | 7.6 Mt | 24.6 Mt |
* According to 2021 study.
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Reserves at November 4, 2021:
Mineral Resources reported at 200ppm U3O8 cut-off applied to in-situ mineral resources – 250ppm U3O8 cut-off applied to stockpiles.
Ore Reserves are reported at 250ppm U3O8 cut-off.
| Category | OreType | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained Metal |
|
Proven
|
Stockpiles
|
26.5 Mt
|
U3O8
|
369 ppm
|
21.6 M lbs
|
|
Proven
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
48.3 Mt
|
U3O8
|
488 ppm
|
52 M lbs
|
|
Probable
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
10 Mt
|
U3O8
|
464 ppm
|
10.2 M lbs
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
Total
|
84.8 Mt
|
U3O8
|
448 ppm
|
83.8 M lbs
|
|
Measured
|
Total
|
105.6 Mt
|
U3O8
|
430 ppm
|
100.2 M lbs
|
|
Measured
|
Total
|
105.6 Mt
|
V2O5
|
140 ppm
|
32.5 M lbs
|
|
Indicated
|
Total
|
23.5 Mt
|
U3O8
|
375 ppm
|
19.5 M lbs
|
|
Indicated
|
Total
|
23.5 Mt
|
V2O5
|
120 ppm
|
6.3 M lbs
|
|
Inferred
|
Total
|
11 Mt
|
U3O8
|
345 ppm
|
8.4 M lbs
|
|
Inferred
|
Total
|
11 Mt
|
V2O5
|
115 ppm
|
2.7 M lbs
|
|
Total Resource
|
Total
|
140.1 Mt
|
U3O8
|
415 ppm
|
128.1 M lbs
|
|
Total Resource
|
Total
|
140.1 Mt
|
V2O5
|
135 ppm
|
41.5 M lbs
|
Commodity Production Costs:
| | Commodity | Units | Average | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|
C1 cash costs
|
U3O8
|
USD
|
...... &nbs
|
26.2 / lb
|
18.9 / lb
|
25.9 / lb
|
* According to 2021 study / presentation.
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2021 Study Costs and Valuation Metrics :
| Metrics | Units | LOM Total |
|
Initial CapEx
|
$M USD
|
......
|
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