Aurora Energy Metals Slashes Acid Use While Boosting Uranium Recovery
Aurora Energy Metals reports a breakthrough in uranium processing at its Oregon project, achieving high recoveries with significantly reduced acid consumption and simplified operations.
- Uranium recoveries consistently in the high 80% range
- Initial acid addition cut from over 600 kg/t to about 240–250 kg/t
- Leach duration halved to approximately 12 hours
- No need for separate processing of clay and middlings
- Elimination of ferric sulphate reagent and potential for leach solution recycling
Optimisation Breakthrough at Aurora Uranium Project
Aurora Energy Metals Limited has unveiled promising results from its latest metallurgical optimisation program at the Aurora Uranium Project in southeast Oregon. The company has successfully enhanced uranium recoveries to the high 80% range while drastically reducing the amount of acid required in the leaching process. These improvements mark a significant step forward in the project’s development, potentially lowering operating costs and environmental impact.
Cutting Reagent Use and Simplifying Processing
Previously, the project’s leaching process demanded an initial acid addition exceeding 600 kilograms per tonne of ore. The new testwork, conducted at ALS Metallurgy in Perth, has reduced this figure to approximately 240–250 kilograms per tonne. Overall acid consumption dropped to around 70–90 kilograms per tonne, a substantial decrease that directly translates into cost savings. Moreover, the process no longer requires ferric sulphate, a reagent previously used to maintain recovery rates, further simplifying the chemical inputs.
Another notable advancement is the elimination of separate processing streams for clay and middlings. The tests demonstrated that these materials can be combined without compromising uranium recovery, streamlining the flowsheet and reducing both capital and operating expenses.
Faster Leaching and Environmental Gains
The leach duration has been cut from 24 hours to about 12 hours, effectively doubling processing throughput potential and reducing capital intensity. Additionally, the successful demonstration of leach solution recycling opens the door to further reductions in acid and oxidant consumption, which could enhance the project’s environmental footprint and cost profile.
Implications for Project Economics and Next Steps
These metallurgical improvements build on the positive foundation laid by the 2024 Scoping Study, which reported uranium recoveries above 85% but with higher reagent use. Aurora’s Chairman, Peter Lester, highlighted that the optimisation results provide a clear pathway to advancing the project’s technical and economic studies. Investors and analysts will be watching closely for updated financial models that incorporate these efficiencies and for further milestones as Aurora progresses toward development.
Bottom Line?
Aurora’s metallurgical gains could reshape the economics of its uranium project, setting the stage for accelerated development.
Questions in the middle?
- How will these metallurgical improvements impact the project’s overall capital and operating cost estimates?
- What timeline does Aurora envision for advancing to feasibility studies or development decisions?
- To what extent will reagent recycling and reduced acid use improve the project’s environmental approvals and community acceptance?
