二连盆地艾勒格庙铀矿区铀矿石工艺矿物学特征及地浸工艺的选择

PROCESS MINERALOGY CHARACTERISTICS OF URANIUM ORE AND SELECTION OF IN-SITU LEACHING PROCESS IN AILEGEMIAO URANIUM MINING AREA OF ERLIAN BASIN

可地浸砂岩型铀矿床铀赋存状态及铀矿物的工艺矿物学特征会直接影响地浸过程中浸出工艺的选择及铀浸出效率,而地浸工艺的合理选择对铀矿床开采效率和经济效益的提高具有重要意义。本研究采集了二连盆地艾勒格庙铀矿区矿石样品,通过扫描电镜及综合矿物分析仪(TIMA)等方法,分析铀的赋存状态以及铀矿物粒度、解离度、连生矿物等工艺矿物学参数。结果表明:(1)艾勒格庙铀矿区矿石中铀的存在形式主要为铀矿物、含铀矿物和吸附态铀。铀矿物主要为铀石及少量沥青铀矿。(2)铀石粒径最大可达350~400μm,沥青铀矿粒径最大为20~30μm;大多数铀石和全部的沥青铀矿的粒径都小于30μm(分别占总颗粒数量的48.42%和100%)。(3)铀矿物的解离度较低,解离度小于10%的铀石和沥青铀矿的占比分别达到了47.26%和97.08%。与铀矿物连生关系最密切的矿物为黄铁矿、正长石等。铀矿物类型主要为铀石,矿石中碳酸盐矿物含量较低且矿体埋深较浅等特征都表明艾勒格庙铀矿区适宜采用酸法浸出。实际地浸中可通过调控不同溶浸过程溶浸液硫酸浓度,降低非铀矿物对硫酸试剂的消耗。本研究有效查明了艾勒格庙铀矿区铀赋存状态,为制定适合该矿区的地浸工艺方式及正确评价该矿区的地浸开发前景提供了工艺矿物学依据,对推动艾勒格庙铀矿区以及二连盆地其他铀矿床地浸开采技术的发展具有重要的理论意义。

The occurrence state and the process mineralogy characteristics of uranium minerals play apivotal role in determining the selection of uranium leaching technology and efficiency in in-situ leaching processes.The judicious selection of leaching technology holds immense significance for enhancing mining efficiency and economic benefits in uranium deposits.This study focuses on ore samples from the Ailegemiao uranium mine in the Erlian Basin,analyzing the occurrence state of uranium and the process mineralogical parameters of uranium minerals,including particle size,dissociation degree,and associated minerals,using SEM and TIMA.The findings indicate that the Ailegemiao uranium deposit primarily comprises uranium minerals,uranium-bearing minerals,and adsorbed uranium.Coffinite and a small quantity of pitchblende constitute the main uranium minerals,with coffinite exhibiting a maximum particle size of 350 to 400μm and pitchblende ranging from 20to 30μm.Plenty of coffinite and all pitchblende possess a particle size of less than 30μm(48.42%and 100%count of the total particle size).The dissociation degree of uranium minerals is relatively low,with 47.26%and 97.08%of coffinite and pitchblende having a dissociation degree less than 10%,respectively.Pyrite and orthoclase are the closely associated minerals in the ore.Given the low content of carbonate minerals and the shallow burial depth of the ore body in the Ailegemiao uranium ore area,the acid leaching method is deemed suitable.In actual in-situ leaching,adjusting the concentration of sulfuric acid during different leaching processes can help reduce the consumption of sulfuric acid reagents by non-uranium minerals.This study effectively delineates the uranium occurrence state in the Ailegemiao uranium deposit area,providing aprocess mineralogy foundation for selecting an appropriate leaching process mode and accurately evaluating the exploitation prospects of the uranium deposit in the region.Thus,it holds significant theoretical importance for advancing the development of leaching technology for the Ailegemiao uranium deposit area and other uranium deposits in the Erlian Basin.