Peninsula Energy Ltd (ASX:PEN) has initiated field demonstration activities for low pH in-situ recovery (ISR) at its Lance Uranium Projects in Wyoming, US.
Peninsula's managing director and CEO Wayne Heili said: "The start of the field demonstration marks another important milestone in our planned transition to low pH operations at the Lance Projects.
"This significant effort by the company is intended to further demonstrate the positive impact that low pH in-situ recovery is expected to have on the Lance Projects."
The uranium price is finishing the year strongly with December contracts at around US$29 per pound, a high for the year.
Conventional mining involves removing mineralised rock (ore) from the ground, breaking it up and treating it to remove the minerals.
In-situ recovery (ISR) involves leaving the ore where it is in the ground, and recovering the minerals from it by dissolving them and pumping the pregnant solution to the surface where the minerals can be recovered.
Consequently, there is little surface disturbance and no tailings or waste rock generated.
The low pH ISR field demonstration has commenced in Mine Unit 1 of the Ross Permit Area.
The first 1 to 2 months of the demonstration will be dedicated to bringing the pH level within the pattern area down to 2.0 standard units.
This is the pH level proven in laboratory testing to deliver greatly enhanced uranium recoveries.
Following a period of low pH uranium recovery testing activities, the site operating team will then focus on transitioning to the groundwater restoration phase.