Glossary
e
Enriched Uranium
In-situ mining solution or lixiviant containing alkalies used to leach uranium from the ore zone.
Extraction Well
A screened water bore used for removing fluids from an aquifer.
Exploration Drilling
Drilling done in search of new mineral deposits, on extensions of known ore deposits, or at the location of a discovery up to the time when the company decides that sufficient ore reserves are present to justify commercial exploration. Assessment drilling is reported as exploration drilling.
I
Indicated Resources
Can reasonably assume geological and grade continuity to support mine planning.
Injection Well
A cased well used to deliver fluids (leaching solution, waste liquids or water) into underground strata.
Inferred Resources
Inferred mineral resources are estimated using limited geological evidence and sampling information. There is not enough confidence to evaluate their economic viability in a meaningful way. One should not assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will be upgraded to an indicated or measured mineral resource, but it is reasonably expected that the majority of inferred mineral resources could be upgraded to indicated mineral resources with continued exploration.
In-situ Recovery (ISR)
Environmentally-friendly extraction of uranium conducted by introducing lixiviant to subsurface aquifer containing uranium mineralization and subsequent recovery of uranium in a hydrometallurgical processing plant at the surface.
Ion Exchange
The transfer of uranium from uranium-bearing lixiviant to resin beads in an ion exchange column. The process is similar to that applied in domestic water softeners.
L
Lixiviant
Water, usually groundwater from the ore zone aquifer, to which chemicals, such as oxygen and sodium bicarbonate, have been added to dissolve and extract the uranium from the ground.
M
Measured Resources
Can confirm both geological and grade continuity to support detailed mine planning.
Mineral Reserves
A Mineral Reserve is the economically mineable part of a Measured Mineral Resource and/or Indicated Mineral Resource. Mineral Reserves are subdivided in order of increasing confidence into Probable Mineral Reserves or Proved Mineral Reserves.
Measured & Indicated Resources
Measured and indicated mineral resources can be estimated with sufficient confidence to allow the appropriate application of technical, economic, marketing, legal, environmental, social and governmental factors to support evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit.
Monitoring well
Monitoring well means a well that is used to measure or monitor the level, quality, quantity, or movement of subsurface water. Monitoring wells can either be specifically drilled for monitoring groundwater or may be preexisting domestic or public-supply wells that are also used for monitoring.
N
NI 43-101
National Instrument 43-101, or NI 43-101 is a national instrument for the Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects within Canada. The Instrument is a codified set of rules and guidelines for reporting and displaying information related to mineral properties owned by, or explored by, companies which report these results on stock exchanges within Canada. This includes foreign-owned mining entities who trade on stock exchanges overseen by the Canadian Securities Administrators, even if they only trade on Over The Counter (OTC) derivatives or other instrumented securities.
Nuclear Energy
An energy source that has zero emissions. Nuclear energy comes from splitting atoms in a reactor to heat water into steam, turn a turbine and generate electricity. Ninety-three nuclear reactors in 28 states in the U.S. generate nearly 20 percent of the nation’s electricity, all without carbon emissions because reactors use uranium, not fossil fuels. These plants are always on: well-operated to avoid interruptions and built to withstand extreme weather, supporting the grid 24/7.
Nuclear Fuel
Uranium that have been enriched to such a composition that, when placed in a nuclear reactor, will support a self-sustaining fission chain reaction, producing heat in a controlled manner for process use.
P
Proven & Probable Reserves
Mineral reserves are the economically mineable part of measured and/or indicated mineral resources demonstrated by at least a preliminary feasibility study. The reference point at which mineral reserves are defined is the point where the ore is delivered to the processing plant, except for ISR operations where the reference point is where the mineralization occurs under the existing or planned wellfield patterns. Mineral reserves fall into two categories:
Probable reserves: the economically mineable part of a measured and/or indicated resource for which at least a preliminary feasibility study demonstrates that, at the time of reporting, economic extraction could be reasonably justified with a degree of confidence lower than that applying to proven reserves.
Proven reserves: the economically mineable part of a measured resource for which at least a preliminary feasibility study demonstrates that, at the time of reporting, economic extraction could be reasonably justified with a high degree of confidence. A Proved Mineral Reserve represents the highest confidence category of Mineral Reserve estimate.
Permeability
The capacity of a porous rock for transmitting a fluid.
R
Reclamation
Process of restoring surface environment to acceptable pre-existing conditions. Includes surface contouring, equipment removal, well plugging, revegetation, etc.
S
Sandstone-hosted Uranium
Sandstone uranium deposits represent uranium concentrations formed by low-temperature hydrothermal processes, usually of diagenetic to epigenetic origin. The deposits are commonly hosted in arkosic sandstone and are therefore referred to as sandstone-hosted uranium.
Solvent Extraction
A separation process in which two water-based and organic-based solvents are brought into contact for the transfer or recovery of a component, in the present case uranium.
Small Modular Reactors
Small modular reactors (SMRs) are advanced nuclear reactors that have a power capacity of up to 300 MW(e) per unit, which is about one-third of the generating capacity of traditional nuclear power reactors.
U
Uranium
A heavy, naturally radioactive, metallic element (atomic number 92). Its two principally occurring isotopes are uranium-235 and uranium-238. Uranium-235 is indispensable to the nuclear industry because it is the only isotope existing in nature, to any appreciable extent, that is fissionable by thermal neutrons. Uranium-238 is also important because it absorbs neutrons to produce a radioactive isotope that subsequently decays to the isotope plutonium-239, which also is fissionable by thermal neutrons.
Uranium oxide
Uranium concentrate or yellowcake. Abbreviated as U3O8.
Y
Yellowcake
A heavy, naturally radioactive, metallic element (atomic number 92). Its two principally occurring isotopes are uranium-235 and uranium-238. Uranium-235 is indispensable to the nuclear industry because it is the only isotope existing in nature, to any appreciable extent, that is fissionable by thermal neutrons. Uranium-238 is also important because it absorbs neutrons to produce a radioactive isotope that subsequently decays to the isotope plutonium-239, which also is fissionable by thermal neutrons.
FAQ
Uranium is already in the underground aquifer, which is why the Environmental Protection Agency has deemed it contaminated and not suitable for drinking water for humans or animals. This groundwater flows through sediments mineralized with uranium. Uranium extraction will be removing much of this contaminate. Commercial scale In-Situ Recovery (ISR) uranium extraction has operated in the US for almost 50 years, replacing conventional mining when conditions are appropriate. In these 50 years, no groundwater that has been designated as drinking water quality has been left in a contaminated state after final closure of the uranium extraction operations. Historically, following completion of uranium recovery, these operations have restored the underground aquifer to the same Federal use category it had before extraction began.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reviews every new ISR operation and only authorizes ISR operations in a very specific portion of underground aquifers, which the EPA classifies as contaminated for drinking purposes. Absolutely no activities are allowed outside of this small, designated area. United States Nuclear Regulation Committee (NRC) and State regulations require the company to return the water quality within this area to the same water quality use standards for which it was previously designated. Unlike most water wells, ISR operation wells are cased in heavy duty PVC piping, and once mining operations are complete, are filled with cement, to prevent fluid from entering any other water source or ground interval. During mining operations, groundwater is monitored with electronic and staffed controls as required by regulatory agencies which review the data monthly or quarterly. Any exception must be reported by the operator to these agencies immediately and corrective action immediately implemented.
This is not the cold war era of the 1950s and 1960s when environmental cleanup and employee safety at conventional uranium mines were afterthoughts. Today, licensing of ISR projects requires firm plans for not only development and operations, but also for total reclamation and restoration of both the site and the affected groundwater. It is required to secure and post a total of approximately $15 million in bonds with the Environmental Protection Agency and Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to ensure sound reclamation. Only when the cleanup is approved, by both the State and the NRC, will the bonds be returned.
The Nuclear energy industry is the singularly most highly regulated industry in the United States which includes everything from uranium mining to the x-ray in the local hospital. There are no exceptions.
No, in the US, ISR usually does not use harsh chemicals in the uranium extraction process and we only extract uranium from the part of the aquifer designated by the Environmental Protection Agency as contaminated and that cannot be used for drinking water by humans or animals. We will use only gaseous oxygen and a bicarbonate. This is the equivalent of adding oxygen and baking soda to the contaminated underground aquifer, never touching drinking water. In the contaminated aquifer, the gaseous oxygen and bicarbonate within with water dissolves the uranium minerals which exist as coatings on sand grains. We recover this groundwater, along with the dissolved uranium minerals, to our water treatment plant (similar to a home water softener only much larger) where the uranium is removed. Once the uranium is removed, the remaining water is then recycled and returned to the aquifer. Unlike conventional uranium mills, we do not use any acid to dissolve the uranium as they do in foreign countries. The United States has very high environmental standards.
There are 24 reclaimed uranium ISR projects in the United States.
It is also important to understand that, typically, the reclamation of ISR projects is a continual yet finite process. As work is done to extract uranium, wellfields are built in specific patterns and then moves along the uranium resources over time as extraction proceeds. Then, exhausted wellfields are removed (from production) and reclaimed as the ongoing extraction process is completed, thereby moving from one area to the next.
The nuclear energy industry is extremely regulated with safety and health regulations in place (including worker safety, air quality, radiation, water quality, spill management and more) that apply not only to on-site facilities but also extend to the transportation of the natural uranium product (yellowcake). Yellowcake is a dry powder. It is sealed in steel containers for transport to a conversion facility where it is transformed into an energy source for domestic and commercial use in the electric grid. It is shipped by tractor-trailer and regulated by the US Department of Transportation with extremely stringent requirements. Yellowcake shipments require advance written notification to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) of the planned shipment including the content, quantity, and route to be followed. In addition, only a small number of trucking companies are certified to handle and transport yellowcake.
Activity from development, operations and reclamation will fuel our economy while creating jobs and strengthen local businesses. It is important that we provide opportunities for our youth to benefit from the extraction activities through jobs, education and training, thereby allowing our communities and families to grow and prosper.
Not true. During uranium extraction operations, water is extracted from the contaminated underground aquifer circulate through the aquifer to dissolve uranium in the water. The uranium is then recovered in a water treatment plant and the water is reinjected into the ground. Consumptive use of ground water is limited to approximately 1% of the circulated water which typically averages between 50 to 100 gallons per minute. Once extraction is complete, the recirculated water is cleaned, over 90% of the water eturned to the aquifer and again suitable for the same uses that it was prior to any involvement. ISR is the lowest consumptive use of groundwater compared to conventional mining. It is important to conserve and recycle water, and it is vital to the operations to maintain constant water levels for successful extraction of the uranium. It is imperative that we conduct ourselves as good corporate citizens and contribute in a positive way to the communities in which we work. We must leave a positive legacy which includes valuable infrastructure, water wells, power lines, clean drinking water and vibrant communities with high paying jobs and transferable skills for our youth.
In-situ recovery is not fracking. Fracking utilizes a totally different process than ISR. Fracking opens up preferential “fractures” in the subsurface using extreme pressure in order to provide conduits to extract hydrocarbons. Fracking is not a viable practice for ISR. ISR is designed specifically to avoid opening “cracks” and works by flowing water through existing sediments within an aquifer. Uranium minerals suitable for ISR extraction are deposited as coatings on sand grains and spread across both vertical and horizontal areas of the contaminated underground aquifer. ISR wells are designed to ensure that the water used in injection and extraction flows slowly and consistently through the aquifer in order to contact and dissolve the uranium minerals.
Prior to any extraction activity, it is required by law to install a series of water wells within the proposed extraction area – in the contaminated aquifer and within any adjacent aquifers. The water quality in each of these wells is tested by an independent 3rd party (a licensed laboratory) which establishes the baseline water quality and use category of these groundwaters prior to extraction. This establishes the use category that will be required meet in reclamation. Pre-extraction levels are established by independent experts, and in reclamation, these independent experts will also verify that pre-extraction levels are returned to the aquifer.