The major ore processing stages are described below:
• Uranium ore is crushed and ground, then the fine ore is then mixed with water to
produce a slurry.
• The ore slurry is pumped to leaching vessels where, over a period of 24 hours, more
than 90 percent of the uranium in the ore is dissolved using sulfuric acid and pyrulosite
(an oxidant).
• The uranium in solution is then separated from the depleted ore in a seven stage
washing circuit.
• After separation, the acidity of the depleted ore (tailings) is partially neutralised with
lime before being pumped to the tailings dam, while the leach solution is clarified and
filtered.
• The uranium is extracted from the leach solution and concentrated, then pumped to
precipitation tanks.
• A bright yellow uranium compound (ammonium diuranate), commonly referred to as
'yellowcake' is precipitated using ammonia.
• In the final stage of the process, the yellowcake is heate ........
