Aura Energy (ASX: AEE) has delivered better than expected bioleach testwork from the 291 million pound Häggån uranium deposit in central Sweden.
Chemical analysis demonstrated that the mineralisation is amenable to the generation of acid by bacteria, facilitating metal leaching - with small scale column leach tests indicating up to 75% uranium recovery.
Other significant extractions included nickel up to 65%, and zinc up to 60%.
More importantly - Aura said there is considerable scope for increasing recoveries such as using a finer crush, with further work planned on this potential low cost process route.
Bob Beeson, managing director, said that the results are a major breakthrough for the main project of the company.
“We knew that Häggån mineralisation had the potential to be amenable to bioleaching from research results reported in August last year, but these results are the first confirmation that bacterial heap leaching may be successful.
“To obtain 75% uranium extraction in the first column tests is well beyond our expectations."
Aura will now focus on improving extractions and determining the optimum conditions that can be used in a mining project.
Originally published at: http://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/18017/aura-energy-bioleach-breakthrough-for-uranium-recovery-at-hggn-in-sweden-18017.html
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