Abstract
Uranium mining companies of Kazakhstan during 15 years increased production of uranium more than 15 times using in-situ recovery of uranium (ISR). At the same time a significant part of uranium deposits contains gold, silver, palladium and rare metals like rhenium, germanium, scandium and et`s. The task was set for the complex extraction of associated metals from technological solutions of a uranium mine. Work was carried out to select and study samples of productive solutions and leaching solutions at one of the uranium mines in Kazakhstan. At the second stage, an experimental unit was installed in a 40-foot container (Stand), consisting of six sorption columns and two flow channel extractors. The hydrodynamic resistance of channel extractors much less then in sorption columns. This is a fundamental technical advantage compared to sorption columns. The flow rate in the Channel extractors was more than 0.85 m/sec, which is much higher than the flow rate in the sorption columns (0.01 m/sec). Enlarged tests were carried out with various types of ion-exchange resins, activated carbon, and zeolite on the Stand. Channel extractors used CYANEX extractants and others. It was showed the potential for extracting associated valuable metals from technological solutions: gold, scandium, germanium and other metals. Integrated mining of associated metals at the explored uranium mine of Kazakhstan will provide an economic benefit of up to $350 million.