Boss Resources has announced that field leach trialling (FLT) at its Honeymoon project in the Callabonna sub-basin in South Australia has produced record high results.
At one wellfield (Wellfield E1), FLT role-reversal tests — involving an injection and pumping sequence of solute-laced groundwater used to determine maximum adsorption properties, or tenor — showed a peak rate of 377 milligrams of uranium per litre, before settling into a range of 200–250 milligrams per litre.
Prior stabilisation of leaching conditions had led to project averages in the 75–85 milligram per litre range. Around $170 million has been spent on the project’s infrastructure so far.
Duncan Craib, managing director of Boss Resources, called the result a historic record for the Honeymoon project that could lead to more efficient downstream processing:
“[It] is a fantastic outcome and clearly demonstrates Boss has optimised field operational knowhow and application of improved leaching chemistry and uranium recovery,” he said. “The information generated from this highly successful FLT will benefit future operations through improved design and potential cost savings.”
Boss Resources reopened the Honeymoon facility following a shutdown by previous owners in 2013; it is Australia’s fourth uranium mine. Craib stated last week that uranium prices could become stronger over the next year due to global supply restrictions.