Solution Mining - Its Promise And Its Problems

Solution Mining or In Situ Mining has received increasing attention in the past few years because the method offers many attractive possibilities in improving the environmental impact of mining as well as making feasible the extraction of deeper, low value mineral reserves. This paper will present a brief discussion of the state-of- the-art in total solution, slurry removal and leach mining. As a specific example of utilizing the method, the uranium deposits of South Texas are a type of deposit which have been considered as being amenable to in situ leach mining. The parameters required to ascertain the amenability of such a deposit for in situ leaching will be presented. The hydrological factors which influence the production of the soluble uranium solutions and their displacement will be discussed. Mathematical models for various well configurations have been made and graphic representation will be presented to illustrate various production methods and the resultant hydrological consequences.