IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency The importance of hydrogeological testing in ISL – Australian experience Peter Woods 1 and Ben Jeuken 2 1 International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria 2 Groundwater Science, Adelaide, Australia IAEA Technical Meeting on Optimization of In Situ Leach (ISL) Uranium Mining Technology Vienna International Centre, Vienna, Austria, 15-18 April 2013
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IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency
The importance of hydrogeological testing in
ISL – Australian experience
Peter Woods1 and Ben Jeuken2
1International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria 2Groundwater Science, Adelaide, Australia
IAEA Technical Meeting on
Optimization of In Situ Leach (ISL) Uranium Mining Technology
Vienna International Centre, Vienna, Austria, 15-18 April 2013
IAEA
Does ISL mining need geology or hydrogeology?
• Both! Plus engineering, metallurgy, licensing and more
For ISL mining, groundwater studies and information are of vital importance
• Pumping of modified groundwater through the uranium-bearing aquifer is the mining method
• If the ore is there but hydrogeological conditions are not suitable, the uranium may not be economically or even physically extractable, and/or contamination of non-mining aquifers might occur
Woods & Jeuken 2013 ISL hydrogeological testing 2
IAEA
Some historic ISL hydrogeological investigations
in Australia
• Original Beverley (South Australia) studies (late 1990s)
• Regional and mining hydrogeology
• Pumping tests
• Field Leach Trial (central and northern orebodies)
• Honeymoon (South Australia)
• Small scale ‘push-pull’ test 1978
• Field Leach Trial facilities established early 1980s
• Larger FLT 1998-2000
• Multiple layers within main aquifer, surrounding aquifers described
• Additional drilling, data and computer modelling for final approval
documents 2008, updated 2010, leading to a Groundwater Management
Plan
Woods & Jeuken 2013 ISL hydrogeological testing 3
IAEA
Some historic ISL hydrogeological investigations
• Manyingee (Western Australia)
• Discovered 1970s-1980s
• 2 pumping tests
• Field Leach Trial 5 months in 1985 (alkaline leach), produced 470 kg
UOC; although ‘because of permeability heterogeneity at the test
location the results were disappointing’, better results considered
possible (Bautin & Hallenstien 1997)
• New owner Paladin is ‘Working towards an In-Situ Recovery Field Trial’
(2012)
• Oobagooma (Western Australia)
• Discovered 1978-1983
• 1 pumping tests but did not go further at that time (ibid.)
• New beneficial owner Paladin is investigating further
Woods & Jeuken 2013 ISL hydrogeological testing 4
IAEA
Case Study 1 – Beverley Mine Extension 2008
• Mine History
• 1969 deposit discovered
• 1982 first Environmental Impact Statement – project did not proceed
• 1998 New EIS and Supplement
• 1999 Environmental approvals
• 2000 First production
• 2006-08 Mine Lease Extension Application Approvals finalised November 2008
Woods & Jeuken 2013 ISL hydrogeological testing 5
IAEA
Beverley Location
Approx. 550 km north of
Adelaide, South Australia
By company plane:
~1 hr from Adelaide
~1/2 hr from Pt Augusta
Woods & Jeuken 2013 ISL hydrogeological testing 6
Graphic/Photo credits: Heathgate Resources
IAEA
Beverley Setting
Paralana
Hot Springs
Beverley
• Arid plain
adjacent to
the Flinders
Ranges
• Area used
for low
intensity
grazing of
cattle
WA
SA
NT
QLD
NSW
VIC
TAS
Woods & Jeuken 2013 ISL hydrogeological testing 7
Graphic credit: Heathgate Resources
IAEA
Aspects of Beverley
Woods & Jeuken 2013 ISL hydrogeological testing 8
Photo credits: Heathgate Resources/
Australian Geographic
IAEA
State of Hydrogeological Knowledge
• Prior to Operations • Nearly 1000 exploration holes for geological setting
• Numerous groundwater wells, both existing regionally and
specific to the project
• Several pumping tests
• At time of Lease Extension Application • Over 9,000 holes
• >100 monitor wells (plus several 100 production wells) with
>10,000 monitoring data
• 7 years experience with response of aquifer to operational