This feasibility study describes the proposed processing route for the Etango Uranium Project in Namibia, based on extensive metallurgical testwork and a defined process flowsheet for heap leach recovery of uranium.
Report context
The National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report for the Etango Uranium Project, Namibia, is dated 24 May 2012 with an effective date of 24 May 2012. The report was prepared as a feasibility study for Bannerman Resources Limited. The document includes sections on mineral processing and metallurgical testing, recovery methods, mineral resource estimates, mineral reserve estimates, and mining methods.
Processing route
Overview
The proposed recovery method for the Etango Uranium Project consists of a heap leach process followed by solvent extraction, precipitation, calcination, and product packaging. The processing route is designed to treat uranium ore through a series of crushing, agglomeration, heap leaching, and downstream recovery stages.
Crushing and agglomeration
The proposed comminution circuit comprises primary crushing, stockpile and secondary crushing and screening, and tertiary screening and crushing. The crushing stages include dust suppression and extraction systems. Following crushing, the ore is processed through agglomeration to prepare the material for heap leaching.
Heap leaching
The agglomerated ore is stacked and reclaimed onto heap leach pads. The heap leach solution system circulates leaching solutions through the stacked ore. After leaching is complete, the heap leach residue (ripios) is removed and stacked in designated storage areas.
Solvent extraction and product preparation
Following heap leaching, pregnant leach solution passes through solution clarification. The clarified solution then enters a solvent extraction circuit designed to recover uranium from the solution. The uranium is precipitated as ammonium diuranate, followed by product preparation and packaging.
Reagents and site services
The flowsheet includes reagent storage and distribution systems and site services to support the processing operations. A site layout was developed as part of the feasibility study.
Key reported parameters
| Parameter | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Primary crushing | Proposed | Design basis from feasibility study |
| Secondary crushing and screening | Proposed | Design basis from feasibility study |
| Tertiary screening and crushing | Proposed | Design basis from feasibility study |
| Agglomeration | Proposed | Design basis from feasibility study |
| Heap leaching | Proposed | Design basis from feasibility study |
| Solvent extraction | Proposed | Design basis from feasibility study |
| Ammonium diuranate precipitation | Proposed | Design basis from feasibility study |
| Calcination | Proposed | Design basis from feasibility study |
| Product packaging | Proposed | Design basis from feasibility study |
| Comminution testwork – preliminary characterisation | Completed | Testwork – GOADH00488 sample |
| Comminution variability testwork | Completed | Testwork |
| HPGR pilot testwork | Completed | Testwork |
| Heap leach – extended testwork program | Completed | Testwork |
| Heap leach – operational performance evaluation | Completed | Testwork |
| Heap leach – diagnostic column tests | Completed | Testwork |
| Solvent extraction testing | Completed | Testwork |
| Chloride analysis | Completed | Testwork – miscellaneous testing |
| Geotechnical considerations for heap leach | Investigated | Testwork |
Project website: https://bannermanenergy.com/etango-project/
Technical qualifications
The 2012 technical report is a feasibility study prepared under NI 43-101. The report identifies qualified persons in geology, metallurgy, mining engineering, and business economics. The processing sections include extensive metallurgical testwork results, but the report does not provide actual commercial operating data, as the project was at the feasibility stage. No historical processing performance data from an operating plant at Etango is presented. The heap leach testwork program included extended column tests, operational performance evaluation tests, and diagnostic column tests, but these are testwork results and not production data.
Source: National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report, Etango Uranium Project, Namibia, May 2012. Sections 13 (Mineral Processing and Metallurgical Testing), 17 (Recovery Methods).
