Beneficiation of low-grade Uranium ore from the Atomic Energy Commission

Abstract

This investigation is one in the series of investigations carried out in the Ore-Dressing division of the National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur, on the concentration of low-grade uranium ores. The sample weighing about 480 Lbs. was received from Mr. C.S. Raja Rao of the Atomic Energy Commission and was in lumps 6″ to 1″inch in size. The sample, as received, was crushed to about 1″inch size in jaw crusher and by coining and quartering one half of the sample was kept aside as reserve while the other half was stage-crushed to -10 mesh. According to Mr.G.M.Banerji of the Atomic Energy Commission, the sample is a chlorite-bottle schist with fine-grained quartz occurring in alternate layers with the micaceous minerals. Limonite is sometimes very frequent. The sample, which highly weathered, assays 0.039 percent U3O8 equivalent. No uraniferous mineral could be isolated for identification. The radioactivity of the various products obtained during the tests was measured under identical conditions by a scaler and reported as percentages U3O8 equivalent.