Identifying and Addressing the Challenges to In Situ Recovery

摘要

In situ recovery (ISR) technology has been proposed as an alternative to conventional underground and open pit mining for metal recovery, since it shows potential for a step-change in the costs associated with the extraction of value from deposits of declining grade, challenging mineralogy and often increasingly greater depths. Although ISR has been implemented for the extraction of uranium at a number of deposits, its uptake for other mineral systems has been restricted, often because of the perceived limited ability and availability of ISR tools and technologies. In particular, the limited ability to observe, measure and therefore evaluate subterranean process performances is a significant drawback. In the current economic climate, the further development of ISR to a more generically applicable technology, which eliminates mining and milling costs, may be vital to ensure future economic metal production from many orebodies.The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) has therefore focused efforts on understanding the outstanding challenges of ISR and identifying global capabilities that can contribute to developing the essential enabling technologies required to realise ISR. This presentation will cover our findings related to:- resource characterisation- drilling, blasting and rock fracturing ? ore porosity and permeability- reactive transport modelling- lixiviant systems development- monitoring and forecasting- social and environmental aspects- techno-economic modelling. Addressing these challenges is further complicated by the breadth and interdependency of these challenges. We will also propose a way forward that involves a collaborative multi-disciplinary approach to address the issues pertaining to ISR in general and specifically to broader uranium ISR, and requires a unique collaboration between researchers, technology suppliers and mining companies.