**Uranium in Poland: Resources and Recovery from Low-Grade Ores Uranium in Poland: Resources and Recovery from Low-Grade Ores**

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.72754

Katarzyna Kiegiel, Agnieszka Miskiewicz, Dorota Gajda, Sylwester Sommer, Stanislaw Wolkowicz and Grazyna Zakrzewska-Koltuniewicz Katarzyna Kiegiel, Agnieszka Miskiewicz, Dorota Gajda, Sylwester Sommer, Stanislaw Wolkowicz and Grazyna Zakrzewska-Koltuniewicz Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.72754

#### **Abstract**

[14] Hecht L, Cuney M. Hydrothermal alteration of monazite in the Precambrian crystalline basement of the Athabasca Basin (Saskatchewan, Canada): Implications for the formation of unconformity-related uranium deposits. Mineralium Deposita. 2000;35:791-795. DOI:

[15] Dolníček Z, René M, Hermannová S, Prochaska W. Origin of the Okrouhlá Radouň episyenite-hosted uranium deposit, Bohemian Massif, Czech Republic: Fluid inclusion and stable isotope constraints. Mineralium Deposita. 2014;49:409-425. DOI: 10.1007/s00126-013-

[16] Bau M. Controls on the fractionation of isovalent trace elements in magmatic and aqueous systems: Evidence from Y/Ho, Zr/Hf, and lanthanide tetrad effect. Contributions to

[17] Giére R. Transport and deposition of REE in H2S-rich fluids: Evidence from accessory mineral assemblages. Chemical Geology. 1993;110:251-268. DOI: 10.1016/0009-2541(93)90257-J [18] Rubin JN, Henry CD, Price JG. The mobility of zirconium and other "immobile" elements during hydrothermal alteration. Chemical Geology. 1993;110:29-47. DOI: 10.1016/0009-

[19] Hecht L, Thuro K, Plinninger R, Cuney M. Mineralogical and episyenitisation in the Königshain granites, northern Bohemian Massif, Germany. International Journal of Earth

[20] McLennan SM, Taylor SR. Rare earth element mobility associated with uranium

[21] Fayek M, Kyser TK. Characterization of multiple fluid-flow events and rare-earth-element mobility associated with formation of unconformity-type uranium deposits in the

[22] Mercadier J, Cuney M, Cathelineau M, Lacorde MU. Redox-fronts and kaolinisation in basement-related U-ores of the Athabasca Basin (Canada): Late U remobilisation by mete-

[23] Mercadier J, Cuney M, Lach P, Boiron MC, Bonhoure J, Richard A, Leisen M, Kister P. Origin of uranium deposits revealed by their rare earth element signature. Terra Nova.

[24] Frimmel HE, Schedel S, Brätz H. Uraninite chemistry as forensic tool for provenance analysis. Applied Geochemistry. 2014;48:104-121. DOI: 10.1016/j.apgeochem.2014.07.013

[25] Hansley PL, Fitzpatrick JJ. Compositional and crystallographic data on REE-bearing coffinite from the grants uranium region, northwestern New Mexico. American Mineral-

[26] Jensen KA, Ewing RC. The Okélobondo natural fission reactor, southeast Gabon: Geology, mineralogy and retardation of nuclear-reaction products. Geological Society of

America Bulletin. 2001;113:32-62. DOI: 10.1130/0016-7606(2001)113

oritic fluids. Mineralium Deposita. 2011;46:105-135. DOI: 10.1007/s0126-010-0314-7

Athabasca basin, Saskatchewan. The Canadian Mineralogist. 1997;35:627-658

Mineralogy and Petrology. 1996;123:323-333. DOI: 10.1007/s004100050159

Sciences. 1999;88:236-252. DOI: 10.1007/s005310050262

2011;23:264-269. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3121.2011.01008.x

mineralisation. Nature. 1979;282:247-249. DOI: 10.1038/282247a0

10.1007/s001260050280

64 Uranium - Safety, Resources, Separation and Thermodynamic Calculation

0500-5

2541(93)90246-F

ogist. 1989;74:263-270

The presented studies deal with an assessment of the possibility of uranium recovery from the low-grade uranium resources in Poland. Uranium was leached from the ground uranium ores with efficiencies in 81–100% range that depend on the type of ore and leaching solution used. In the next step, the post-leaching solution was treated by the solvent extraction or ion exchange chromatography to separate uranium from other metals present in the ore. The novel routes of leaching by using membrane methods were examined. The final product, "yellow cake," was obtained in precipitation step. The studies of precipitation of uranium as ammonium diuranate or uranium peroxide from diluted uranium solutions are presented in this chapter. The work was completed with tentative economic analysis and environmental impact assessment along with radiation protection issues connected to uranium production.

**Keywords:** uranium ores, leaching, extraction, ion exchange chromatography, precipitation
