Extraction of uranium from low-grade ore from Red Desert, Wyoming. National Uranium Resource Evaluation

The US Bureau of Mines, under an Interagency Agreement with the Department of Energy, conducted characterization studies on the extraction of uranium from a Red Desert, Wyoming, carbonaceous silty mudstone. The characterization study included acid and carbonate leaching, roasting, autoclaving, pugging, and ferric salt leaching tests. The various leach processes tested produced 87% U/sub 3/O/sub 8/ extraction using the acid amenability process, 67% using the carbonate amenability leach process, and 83% using the roast and leach process. A cost study would be necessary to determine the economic feasibility of using this ore body for future uranium production. 11 tables.