US Uranium Mining and Exploration http://www.wo
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Posted On: 07/02/2014 11:02:15 AM
US Uranium Mining and Exploration
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US Nuclear Fuel Cycle Appendix 1
(Updated 28 May 2014)
Uranium mining in the USA today is undertaken by few companies on a relatively small scale. Uranium exploration is undertaken by many companies, often going over areas that were mined in the 1950s-80s.
Uranium production is from one mill (White Mesa, Utah) fed by four or five underground mines and several in-situ leach (ISL) operations 1 is tabulated below.
Year Tonnes U produced Hardrock mills ISL operations at year end
2006 1583 White Mesa Crow Butte, Smith Ranch-Highland, Alta Mesa, Kingsville Dome, Vasquez
2007 1748 White Mesa Crow Butte, Smith Ranch-Highland, Alta Mesa, Kingsville Dome
2008 1503 White Mesa Crow Butte, Smith Ranch-Highland, Alta Mesa, Rosita, Kingsville Dome
2009 1445 White Mesa Crow Butte, Smith Ranch-Highland, Alta Mesa
2010 1630 White Mesa Crow Butte, Smith Ranch-Highland, Alta Mesa, La Palangana
2011 1538 White Mesa Crow Butte, Smith Ranch-Highland, Alta Mesa, La Palangana, Willow Creek
2012 1596 White Mesa Crow Butte, Smith Ranch-Highland, Alta Mesa, La Palangana, Willow Creek
2013 1796 White Mesa Crow Butte, Smith Ranch-Highland, Alta Mesa, Hobson/La Palangana, Willow Creek, Lost Creek
Most US states are 'agreement states' vis a vis the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and have authority to issue permits and regulate uranium mining and milling. NRC's role is then confined to oversight. NRC itself currently provides oversight of three ISL sites and one conventional uranium mill. In mid-2012 it was reviewing eight applications for new uranium processing sites, renewal of existing sites, or expansion of sites, and anticipated 16 more applications for uranium processing, including five conventional mills. Under a 2010 agreement NRC collaborates with the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on environmental assessment of mine proposals.
However, land access is partly controlled by the US government, and in 2011 the Interior Secretary issued an order banning hardrock uranium mining in about 4000 square km of land in Arizona for 20 years, which sterilized 145,000 tU of known resources according to the NEI and also much prospective ground. The industry contends that uranium exploration and mining here would not compromise the Grand Canyon watershed. The land is not within the Grand Canyon National Park or the buffer zone protecting the national park. The industry contends that that the land withdrawal is not justified by information in the Interior Department’s environmental assessment, and is an “arbitrary agency action” under the Administrative Procedure Act, and that it fails to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act by failing to take the “hard look” at the withdrawal’s consequences that the US Supreme Court required in a unanimous 1989 decision. In March 2013 a US District Court judge declined to overturn the mining ban.
US Uranium Production, tonnes U
Company ISL operations,
hard rock mill 2013 2014
Cameco Smith Ranch - Highland 646
Cameco Crow Butte 272
Uranium One Willow Creek 362
UEC Hobson - La Palangana
Mestena Uranium Alta Mesa
Ur-Energy Lost Creek 51
EFRC White Mesa mill 388
total 1796
Mining and exploration projects
Conventional (non-ISL) uranium mining is resuming in the USA after some years (though Cotter Corporation produced 38 tonnes U through its 400 t/day Cañon City mill, Colorado in 2005).
Energy Fuels - EFRC
In April 2012 Energy Fuels Resources Corporation (EFRC, a Colorado-based subsidiary of Energy Fuels Inc of Toronto) agreed to take over all Denison Mines' US assets and operations, including the White Mesa mill, in a C$106 million merger. This diminished the priority of building the Pinon Ridge mill, and in September 2013 the company put plans for it on hold. In August 2013 Energy Fuels took over Strathmore Minerals in a C$29 million deal. Korea Electric Power Co. (KEPCO) is the largest shareholder in both companies, with 9.1% and 11.7% respectively. It supported the takeover and holds 9.6% of the expanded company.
Denison Mines produced 165 tU in the first half of 2009 through its 2000 t/day White Mesa mill in southeastern Utah (near 'four corners'), from its own and purchased ore (the company is advertising its ore-buying program), as well as doing some toll milling. Production cost for this was $197 per kgU. The mill has a vanadium co-product recovery circuit. It produced 476 tU over 15 months to the end of 2013, and 700 t of vanadium oxide. Some of its feed in 2013 is coming from Cameco’s Blind River tailings in Ontario. The company has announced that it will close the mill from August 2014 to late 2015.
During 2013 the White Mesa mill processed 18,370 t of Arizona 1 ore, 2,052 t of Pinenut ore, 11,181 t of Daneros ore, 41,782 t of Pandora ore, 40,669 tons of Beaver ore, and 8,894 t of purchased ore to produce 388 tU.
EFRC produced from its Arizona 1 and Pinenut mines in Arizona during 2013, and is developing its larger-scale projects including particularly those acquired from Strathmore in 2013. Sheep Mountain WY, Roca Honda NM and the Henry Mountains complex in Utah are seen as the future of the company. Only Pinenut is operating in 2014.
EFRC has several mines in the Uravan Mineral Belt on the Colorado Plateau (straddling the Utah-Colorado border) containing 2100 tU in placer deposits plus vanadium co-product (Uravan = uranium + vanadium). These La Sal Complex mines about 100 km northeast of the White Mesa mill comprise La Sal, Beaver and Pandora which are mature operating mines with extensive interconnected underground workings. In October 2012 EFRC said it would place Beaver and La Sal on standby, pending uranium market improvement and would finish mining at Pandora by mid year due to depleted resources. EFRC’s nearby Energy Queen mine in Utah was refurbished for 2008 reopening, and is licensed but not operating.
Other EFRC Uravan mines operating in 2007-08 but now closed include Topaz, West Sunday and Sunday/St. Jude in the Sunday complex in Colorado. There are no plans to bring the other mine there, Van 4, into production. EFRC reopened the refurbished Whirlwind mine (including Packrat and Bonanza) following Bureau of Land Management and state approval, but put it on standby in 2009. It has 425 tU measured and indicated resources and 770 tU inferred resources.
EFRC's Henry Mountains deposits in Utah including Tony M, Southwest and Bullfrog have 4900 tU as indicated resources at over 0.2% and inferred resources of 3100 tU, both NI 43-101 compliant. All these are some 120 km west of the White Mesa mill. Denison began production from the Tony M mine in 2007, but late in 2008 put it on care and maintenance. The company was intending to spend $35 million on the adjacent new Bullfrog mine, but it was put on hold in 2008.
EFRC’s Daneros deposit in southeastern Utah was was the main asset of White Canyon Uranium which Denison bought for $57 million in 2011. It has been mined since December 2009 and ore was trucked 100 km to Denison's White Mesa mill for treatment and recovery of U3O8 product. Ore produced during the development phase was sold to Denison, and from there a 3-year toll treatment agreement came into effect. JORC-compliant resource figures of 447 tU in 0.22%U ore were quoted in August 2010, and production is planned to be 227 tU/yr. In October 2012 EFRC put Daneros on standby, pending uranium market improvement.
Denison also had four old mines in the Arizona Strip of north central Arizona, along with some new deposits there, though all these are some 500 km south from White Mesa mill and some may be impacted by the Bureau of Land Management decision to stall developments near the Grand Canyon. The Arizona One underground mine resumed production in 2009, with ore processed at White Mesa. Known resources were depleted early in 2014, so it closed. Denison had applied for licences for its nearby Pinenut and EZ mines. Pinenut was mined in the 1980s and produced 200 tU then, with a shaft 410 m deep. Inferred resources at Pinenut are 400 tU, and EFRC brought the mine into production in 2013 but will close it early in 2015 pending uranium price improvement. Ore is milled at White Mesa.
The EZ mine is subject to land use restrictions by the Bureau of Land Management. It has 810 tU as inferred resources. The Canyon mine, which was originally licensed in 1986 and operated for a few years, is fully permitted. It has 630 tU as inferred resources at 0.83%U. The development is on hold pending resolution of a dispute with the US Forest Service. The surface facilities are complete but shaft sinking to about 450 metres is not, and has been put on hold. Ore will be trucked to the White Mesa mill.
EFRC in March 2011 received a Colorado state licence to build the new 330 tU/yr Pinon Ridge mill for ore from these mines, plus possible toll treatment, but this was overturned on appeal in June 2012, pending a further public hearing. The state’s radioactive materials licence was reissued in April 2013, but plans were then put on hold. The company had been seeking $140 million finance for the mill, which would also produce 1700 t/yr of vanadium oxide.
EFRC's Sheep Mountain, Wyoming deposit has 11,700 tU measured and indicated resources at 0.1%U, including 7100 probable reserves. In 2009, Titan Uranium Inc bought Uranium One's 50% interest in it, and it then transferred to EFRC in the 2012 merger with Titan. Underground development took place in the 1970s. Titan undertook a prefeasibility study on mining the Congo open pit and underground, with heap leaching recovery, to produce 580 tU/yr from 5500 tU probable reserves from 2014. EFRC has updated the preliminary feasibility study for the whole project, and proposes development in conjunction with Gas Hills, 45 km north. The BLM is preparing an EIS for the project.
Strathmore had been working towards bringing its Gas Hills properties in central Wyoming into production, and in March 2013 announced 2080 tU at 0.11%U indicated resources and 2120 tU inferred resources (NI 43-101 compliant). Exploration and possible development was proceeding under a February 2012 agreement with KEPCO, which would contribute $32 million to the project from 2013, leading to an envisaged joint venture with Kepco holding 40%. EFRC is planning to develop it in conjunction with Sheep Mountain, 45 km away. Strathmore had been exploring the prospect of developing its Juniper Ridge property in conjunction with Gas Hills, or with EFRC’s Sheep Mountain (150 km north), or both. In March 2014 EFRC announced resources of 2350 tU at 0.05%U at Juniper Ridge, envisaging open pit mining and heap leach.
In New Mexico, Strathmore submitted a mining permit application in October 2009 for Roca Honda (60% owned, with Sumitomo 40%) in the Grants mineral district which has measured & indicated resource of 6,470 tU at 0.34% U and 4580 tU inferred resources at 0.35% U. Annual production is expected to be 1000 tU at a cost of $24/lb U3O8, and a mine permit decision is expected in 2016. Original plans assumed that a new mill would be built, but the White Mesa mill about 180 km away in southeastern Utah is likely to be used.
The merged company also has other projects in the Grants mineral district, including: Marquez with 3500 tU as indicated resource, Dalton Pass with ISL potential and 1000 tU measured & indicated resource, and Nose Rock, deep in hard rock with 1160 tU measured & indicated resource. All the above are NI 43-101 compliant. Church Rock prospect with 4570 tU as measured & indicated resource, was listed with these but in June 2012 the company retracted the resource estimate, since it was based on a previous owner’s 1979 data.
Uranium One
Toronto-based Uranium One's main interests are in ISL projects. Uranium One is now wholly owned by Russia’s ARMZ. In Wyoming, Uranium One USA had production from its Willow Creek ISL project in the Powder River Basin from 2011. It acquired 500 tU/yr capacity from Christensen Ranch ISL mine through the Irigaray central processing plant when it bought those assets for $35 million from Areva in mid-2009, and it plans to expand this plant to its licensed 960 tU/yr. In December 2010, NRC then licensed the Irigaray mill to produce up to 960 tU/yr (it operaed at 500 tU/yr in 2011), and for Christiansen Ranch to restart operations (it had been shut down since 2000 and restarted in January 2011). Production from its three small mines (Moore Ranch, Peterson Ranch, Nine Mile) and from Christiansen Ranch itself is from loaded resin trucked to Irigaray from satellite plants. Overall Willow Creek produced 362 tU in 2013 at a cost of $36/lb. Wellfield development was put on hold in 2014 until prices improve.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a licence to Uranium One Americas for Moore Ranch in October 2010, to start production in 2012, but development is suspended. Uranium One’s additional projects in the Powder River Basin, including Ludeman, Allemand-Ross and Barge, could also be developed as satellite operations with final processing through the Willow Creek central plant. Uranium One has some 4000 tU as measured resources (2235 t at Moore Ranch) and 23,000 tU as indicated resources in the state. It also had plans for production from Antelope and JAB in the Great Divide Basin, but these were deferred due to endangered species concerns.
In 2010, Uranium One sold a number of Utah and Colorado claims and two Utah leases, including the Sage mine, to Colorado Plateau Partners (CPP), a joint venture between Energy Fuels Inc of Toronto (see EFRC above) and Royal Resources Ltd of Australia.
Cameco
Cameco's US subsidiary Cameco Resources Inc operates the Smith Ranch-Highland mine in Wyoming's Powder River basin and the Crow Butte mine in Nebraska, both of them ISL operations, and producing nearly 1200 tonnes U between them in 2009 from total reserves of 12,000 tU (15,000 t U3O8). The company is aiming to increase production from these mines and adjacent properties including Reynolds Ranch to 1,770 tU/y when markets improve. Cameco also has a Gas Hills project in Wyoming which is permitted but on hold.
Smith Ranch-Highland produced 423 tU in 2012 and 646 tU in 2013 including North Butte. North Butte is a satellite plant in Wyoming which started production in May 2013 and will ramp up to 270 tU/yr. Licensed wellfield capacity of both is 1156 tU.
In 2013 Crow Butte produced 272 tU, though licensed capacity is 770 tU.
UEC
Uranium Energy Corporation (UEC) in October 2009 bought the small but recently-refurbished Hobson mill in southern Texas from Uranium One (it had been shut since 1991). UEC then made Hobson the basis and hub of its Texas uranium projects. Hobson had 385 t/yr capacity, but UEC says it is now 1150 tU/yr, in 2011-12 it processed 90 tU. It recovers uranium from loaded resin trucked there from the Palangana ISL mine, to which will be added loaded resin from satellite plants at Goliad and Burke Hollow, followed by Nichols and Salvo.
Production commenced at Palangana in November 2010 – the first US ISL operation to start in five years. By the end of 2011 UEC had obtained all the necessary permits to develop its Goliad ISL project, 70 km east of the Hobson mill, for production from mid 2014. Palangana has 410 tU measured and indicated resources grading 0.114%U in two orebodies and 445 tU inferred resources at 0.15%U in six others, while Goliad has 2100 tU measured & indicated resources at 0.04%U, all NI 43-101 compliant. Future ISL satellites are Burke Hollow, 86 km SE of Hobson and with 1100 tU inferred resource estimate, Salvo, with 1100 tU inferred resource grading 0.07%U, then Nichols with 500 tU inferred located close to Hobson mill, and Burke Hollow (1100 tU inferred) and Channen. Salvo and Channen are 70-85 km from Hobson. Longhorn is recently acquired, and will feed Hobson mill. UEC claims cash cost of $20 per pound over 2010-12 for its ISL production, excluding royalties. However, in September 2013 UEC said it would slow production at Palangana pending recovery in uranium prices, while it focuses on Goliard and Burke Hollow. UEC expects to lodge final permit applications for Burke Hollow late in 2014.
UEC in 2007 bought the New River Uranium Project in Arizona with a historic resource estimate of 5000 tU in shallow low-grade ore. Its Workman Creek deposit there has 1200 tU inferred resource. For the flagship Anderson project 290 km away, and formerly mined in 1950s, it announced 6500 tU NI 43-101 indicated and 4600 tU inferred resources at 0.04% (May 2012), most accessible by open pit mining.
In January 2013 UEC reported a NI 43-101 inferred resource for its Slick Rock project in Colorado, of 1770 tU with 0.21% cut-off. Vanadium is also present.
In 2009, UEC formed a joint venture with Australia’s Uran Ltd to develop the Grants Ridge project in New Mexico, including nine historic mines which operated from 1970-80s, with average grade 0.15%U, to produce 175 tU in total. Uran can acquire a 65% interest by spending $1.5 million to 2014.
URI
Uranium Resources Inc (URI) began operations in 1977 in south Texas. It developed and produced over 216 tU from the Longoria and Benavides projects in the early 1980s, then 2350 tU from Kingsville Dome and Rosita through to 1999.
URIcommenced production from its Vasquez ISL mine in 2004 at about 50 tU/y and from Kingsville Dome in 2006, both in south Texas. Vasquez peaked in 2006 and is now depleted (30 tU in 2007, 9 tU in 2008). Rosita restarted production in 2008 with oxygen injection but was then closed as uneconomic after 3 tU was recovered. Kingsville Dome produced 67 tU in 2008 and 19 tU in 2009. It was closed in June 2009 due to low uranium prices, and is being remediated along with Vasquez and Rosita.
URI earlier said that it did not intend to revive its Texas operations, with total reserves there of only 256 tU, and a joint venture exploration agreement with Cameco there has lapsed. However, in December 2013 it said that it remained “committed to developing uranium in South Texas as we aim to leverage our two processing plants in the region” – possibly Kingsville Dome and Rosita.
In New Mexico, URI in 2007 sought to buy Rio Algom Mining, with uranium properties and a licensed mill site at Ambrosia Lake, where it planned to construct a new mill to serve the Grants mineral belt. However, the deal was aborted in mid-2008. URI's future potential is in its Grants mineral belt properties in western New Mexico which hold 39,000 tU, and from which it hopes to produce 2000-3000 tU/yr from ISL.
URI subsidiary Hydro Resources Inc was licensed in 1994 to mine the Crownpoint and Church Rock ISL deposits in New Mexico, and after years of opposition the licence was validated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in 2006 and then reactivated in 2011. URI planned to produce 385 tU/yr from Church Rock/ Mancos from 2013,
as the first of URI’s New Mexico properties to develop, subject to further permitting. Nose Rock, Roca Honda and West Largo/ Ambrosia Lake are others in the Grants mineral belt.
URI also holds the Copper Mountain leases in Wyoming, with low-grade uranium mineralization (hardrock, not ISL) which was mined to 1971.
Uranerz
Uranerz Energy received an NRC materials licence for its Nichols Ranch ISL operation in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming in July 2011, and its final state approval in October 2012. Production commenced in April 2014, with loaded resin being trucked to Cameco’s Smith Ranch plant for recovery, under a toll processing agreement. The initial plant capacity is 300 tU/yr. The company has NI 43-101 compliant resources of 6060 tU at about 0.1% U in seven deposits, including measured & indicated resources of 1137 tU for Nichols Ranch itself, 860 tU for Hank, 1100 tU for West North-Butte and 1655 tU measured and indicated resources at about half the grades of these – 0.048% U – at Reno Creek, 30 km east of Nichols Ranch. The company has applied to NRC to add the contiguous Jane Dough permit area, with 1052 tU, to the Nichols Ranch project.
Ur-Energy
Ur-Energy Inc (URE/ URG) has total about 8500 tU as NI 43-101 indicated resources in Wyoming, and claims potential for double that. Lost Creek in the Great Divide basin has 3300 tU measured and indicated resources at 0.05 %U and 1800 tU inferred (Nov 2013). The company plans to produce 400 tU/yr from the Lost Creek wellfields and about the same from satellite operations.
Production from Lost Creek commenced in mid 2013 after construction of a 770 tU/yr mill, following NRC licensing and Bureau of Land Management approval. Production in 2013 was 50.57 tU. Early in 2012 Ur-Energy took over nearby leases from Uranium One, adding 1000 tU to its resource base in the Greater Lost Creek project. The site is close to Kennecott's Sweetwater mill. Bayswater Uranium is farming in to the company's Hauber prospect.
Peninsula/Strata
Australian-based Peninsula Energy reports JORC-compliant resources (January 2013) of 19,800 tU at 0.041%U for its Lance ISL project on the east side of Wyoming's Powder River Basin, including 6130 tU as measured and indicated resources, held by the company’s subsidiary Strata Energy Inc. It is planning to bring this into production at 580 tU/yr from three production units – Ross, Kendrick and Barber. These will feed into a central processing plant with an expandable capacity of up to 1154 tU per year (four modules of 288 tU/yr), commencing 2014 from Ross. The plant incorporates a restoration circuit with IX then RO to restore water quality of barren liquor to pre-mining levels.
State permitting is well advanced, with a permit to mine issued in November 2012. From the NRC, the company received a source materials licence (SML), and a final supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) for both the plant and Ross wellfield in March-April 2014. It expects to start production from Ross later in 2014. The Kendrick, Richards and Barber production units to the south of Ross will be brought on line with amendments to Ross licences. Vanadium may be a by-product – 2237 t V2O5 resources are identified for Ross and Kendrick.
Others, ISL
Mestena Uranium LLC is a private Texas company. Its Alta Mesa ISL plant in southern Texas is operational with about 385 tU/yr capacity.
Bayswater Uranium Corporation of Canada has received a pre-feasibility study on mining its newly-acquired Reno Creek and Southwest Reno Creek deposits in Wyoming. These have a NI 43-101 measured and indicated resource of 8440 tU @ 0.044% suitable for ISL, plus a small inferred resource. The project would have five wellfields and a central processing plant producing about 750 tU/yr. It is 30 km southeast of Christiansen Ranch and 50 km north of Cameco's Smith Ranch, and Bayswater plans to bring it into production about 2014.
In New Mexico, Uranium International Corp (UIC) has announced 1,180 tU measured and indicated resource at Dalton Pass, with ISL potential. It also announced a 1,160 tU measured and indicated resource at Nose Rock, deep in hard rock. Both are NI 43-101 compliant, in the Grants mineral belt and owned by Strathmore Minerals. UIC has the option of earning a 65% share of each.
Powertech Uranium Corp is proposing to develop two ISL mines: Centennial in northern Colorado, and Dewey-Burdock in South Dakota – in each case very close to the Wyoming border. Centennial has 4,430 tU in 0.08% ore and Dewey-Burdock 2570 tU indicated resources averaging 0.18%U and 1880 tU inferred resources averaging 0.13%, both NI 43-101 compliant. The company has applied to develop Dewey-Burdock, and an economic assessment early in 2012 suggested 3240 tU production over nine years, with $54 million capital investment. A draft licence was received in mid 2012 and a full operating licence was expected by mid 2013. NRC gave environmental approval in January 2014, then in April put the licensing on hold due to local opposition, but lifted this in May. The project still requires EPA and state approval. Powertech also has 400 tU as indicated resources at its Aladdin project in Wyoming.
Others, hardrock
Cotter Corporation, a General Atomics subsidiary, is planning a $200 million rebuild of its Cañon City mill by 2014, when it expects to treat ore from the Mount Taylor mine in New Mexico. (Mount Taylor, which has been on standby since 1989, is owned by another General Atomics subsidiary, Rio Grande Resources Corporation.)
Neutron Energy Inc has taken full ownership of the Cebolleta Land Grant in New Mexico which has 8000 tU resources after mining took place 1975-81, producing 460 tU.
Uranium One in 2007 bought US Energy's 1,000 t/day Shootaring Canyon mill* in southeast Utah and associated properties in four contiguous states for $50 million plus royalties.
* US Energy had been planning to bring the mill back into production at a cost of $31 million. (Uranium One had also secured the right to buy Rio Tinto's 3,000 t/day Sweetwater uranium mill and associated uranium properties in south-central Wyoming for $110 million, but in January 2007 Rio Tinto cancelled the deal.) In October 2013 Uranium One agreed to sell the Shootaring Canyon mill for $10 million to Black Range Minerals Ltd and also enter into a joint venture arrangement for all Uranium One's associated “conventional” hard rock leases, where Black Range would progressively increase its equity, but this deal has lapsed due to regulatory problems. Black Range will concentrate on its Hansen project.
Black Range Minerals Ltd has acquired the 11,500 tU Hansen deposit grading 0.07%U in Colorado. The company already owns the adjacent Taylor Ranch deposit, about twice the size and grading 0.05%U. Hansen was licensed for mining in 1981, but stalled due to low uranium prices. In October 2013 Black Range agreed to take over Uranium One’s Shootaring Canyon mill for $10 million and also associated “conventional” hard rock leases through a joint venture arrangement, but this deal lapsed.
Yellowcake Mining Corp reports 5,000 tU reserves at its planned Beck mine in the Uravan area of Colorado and agreed in May 2008 to sell a 50% stake in it to Korea Electric Power Corp (KEPCO). However, in February 2009, KEPCO withdrew, leaving the project bereft of funds. The company had joint ventures with Strathmore Minerals for Juniper Ridge and a Gas Hills prospect in Wyoming, but these were terminated in 2008. In 2010 Strathmore agreed to sell Juniper Ridge to Crosshair Energy, but this agreement terminated in 2012.
Bluerock Energy Corporation has shipped the first ore from development of the J-Bird mine in Colorado to Denison's White Mesa mill in Utah.
Laramide Resources Ltd is applying to reopen the La Sal II mine in Lisbon Valley, Utah, bought in 2010 from Homestake with about 1000 tU. It is about 90 km from Energy Fuels' White Mesa mill, and a two-year toll milling agreement was signed in January 2013. Laramide also has the La Jara Mesa project in the Grants mineral belt of New Mexico, with 4000 tU resource.
In Virginia, Virginia Uranium Inc, in association with Virginia Energy Resources Inc, has a proposal to mine the Coles Hill uranium deposit in Pittsylvania county which has 3260 tU as measured resource and 42,800 tU as indicated resource at 0.05 %U (NI 43-101 compliant) . An associated conventional mill would be near Chatham. A detailed state review reported on the project, but the Governor at the end of 2013 announced that he would veto any enabling legislation.
US uranium mines and other production facilities
ISL mine Hard rock mine Mill Status Annual capacity
Uranium One Willow Creek/ Christiansen Ranch, WY Irigaray, WY Operating 960 tU
Moore Ranch, WY Licensed but suspended 900 tU
Uranerz Energy Nichols Ranch, Hank, Jane Dough, WY Smith Ranch - Highland, WY Operating from 2014 300 tU initially, 770 tU
Ur-Energy Lost Creek, WY Lost Ck, WY Operating from 2013 770 tU
Cameco Resources Inc Smith Ranch - Highland, WY Smith Ranch - Highland, WY Operating 2100 tU
Cameco Resources Crow Butte, NE Crow Butte Operating 385 tU
Uranium Resources Inc Vasquez, TX
Rosita, TX Rosita? Operating in 2008, but now closed 0
Kingsville Dome, TX Kingsville Dome? Operating in 2008, but closed mid-2009 0
Mestena Uranium Alta Mesa, TX Alta Mesa Operating 385 tU
Uranium Energy Corp Palangana, Goliad, Burke Hollow, TX Hobson, TX Palangana operating, Goliad licensed, Hobson mill operating Mill: 385 tU
Hydro Resources Inc (URI subsidiary) Church Rock, NM Under construction* 385 tU
Crownpoint, NM Under construction* 385 tU
Peninsula/ Strata Lance, WY Ross Under construction* 580 tU
Powertech U Dewey-Burdock, SD Licensing deferred 385 tU
EFRC Arizona 1, Pinenut, Canyon, Az White Mesa, UT Arizona1 operated to early 2014, Pinenut operating 2013-15, others closed
EFRC La Sal, Energy Queen, Daneros, Whirlwind, CO-UT White Mesa, UT Mines on standby, Pinon Ridge, Co mill licensed but on hold.
EFRC Roca Honda, NM White Mesa, UT Planned
EFRC Sheep Mtn & Gas Hills, WY Whie Mesa, UT Planned
EFRC Henry Mtns, UT White Mesa, UT Development on hold
EFRC White Mesa, UT Operating, but closing mid-2014 to late 2015 540 tU
Cotter Corp Canon City, CO Standby, refurbish plan for 2014 start
Kennecott Sweetwater, WY Standby
Uranium One Shootaring Canyon, UT Standby
* Partially permitted and licensed (as since 2009 for Church Rock and Crownpoint)
Uranium mining was a major activity in the late 1940s and into the 1950s, when the focus was on national security rather than environmental protection. There was little regulation or oversight of facilities, and tailings were put in impoundments without liners, giving rise to groundwater contamination.
There was a considerable legacy of pollution from abandoned uranium mines and treatment plants, most dating from the 1950s, and which was addressed in the 1980s. For instance, the Uravan mill site on the San Miguel River in Colorado was designated a Superfund site and was cleaned up between 1987 and 2007 at a cost of over $120 million. Historic mining and milling at Uravan included the production of radium, vanadium and uranium, leaving radioactive residues from the early 1900s through to the mid-1980s. From the time Uravan mill began operating in the 1920s until it was shut down, it processed over ten million tonnes of uranium-vanadium ore, giving rise to a similar amount of uncontained tailings, and 1,440 megalitres of liquid wastes were treated in the site rehabilitation program.
The Schwartzwalder mine west of Denver, Colorado, was once the largest underground uranium mine in USA. It has been polluting Ralston Creek feeding the city's water supply and is now subject to bacterial bioremediation by Cotter Corp.
Further Information
Related information pages
US Nuclear Fuel Cycle
References
1. U.S. Uranium Mine Production and Number of Mines and Sources, US Energy Information Administration, Domestic Uranium Production Report (21 May 2009) [Back]
General sources
US Energy Information Administration (www.eia.doe.gov)
Company reports
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US Nuclear Fuel Cycle Appendix 1
(Updated 28 May 2014)
Uranium mining in the USA today is undertaken by few companies on a relatively small scale. Uranium exploration is undertaken by many companies, often going over areas that were mined in the 1950s-80s.
Uranium production is from one mill (White Mesa, Utah) fed by four or five underground mines and several in-situ leach (ISL) operations 1 is tabulated below.
Year Tonnes U produced Hardrock mills ISL operations at year end
2006 1583 White Mesa Crow Butte, Smith Ranch-Highland, Alta Mesa, Kingsville Dome, Vasquez
2007 1748 White Mesa Crow Butte, Smith Ranch-Highland, Alta Mesa, Kingsville Dome
2008 1503 White Mesa Crow Butte, Smith Ranch-Highland, Alta Mesa, Rosita, Kingsville Dome
2009 1445 White Mesa Crow Butte, Smith Ranch-Highland, Alta Mesa
2010 1630 White Mesa Crow Butte, Smith Ranch-Highland, Alta Mesa, La Palangana
2011 1538 White Mesa Crow Butte, Smith Ranch-Highland, Alta Mesa, La Palangana, Willow Creek
2012 1596 White Mesa Crow Butte, Smith Ranch-Highland, Alta Mesa, La Palangana, Willow Creek
2013 1796 White Mesa Crow Butte, Smith Ranch-Highland, Alta Mesa, Hobson/La Palangana, Willow Creek, Lost Creek
Most US states are 'agreement states' vis a vis the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and have authority to issue permits and regulate uranium mining and milling. NRC's role is then confined to oversight. NRC itself currently provides oversight of three ISL sites and one conventional uranium mill. In mid-2012 it was reviewing eight applications for new uranium processing sites, renewal of existing sites, or expansion of sites, and anticipated 16 more applications for uranium processing, including five conventional mills. Under a 2010 agreement NRC collaborates with the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on environmental assessment of mine proposals.
However, land access is partly controlled by the US government, and in 2011 the Interior Secretary issued an order banning hardrock uranium mining in about 4000 square km of land in Arizona for 20 years, which sterilized 145,000 tU of known resources according to the NEI and also much prospective ground. The industry contends that uranium exploration and mining here would not compromise the Grand Canyon watershed. The land is not within the Grand Canyon National Park or the buffer zone protecting the national park. The industry contends that that the land withdrawal is not justified by information in the Interior Department’s environmental assessment, and is an “arbitrary agency action” under the Administrative Procedure Act, and that it fails to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act by failing to take the “hard look” at the withdrawal’s consequences that the US Supreme Court required in a unanimous 1989 decision. In March 2013 a US District Court judge declined to overturn the mining ban.
US Uranium Production, tonnes U
Company ISL operations,
hard rock mill 2013 2014
Cameco Smith Ranch - Highland 646
Cameco Crow Butte 272
Uranium One Willow Creek 362
UEC Hobson - La Palangana
Mestena Uranium Alta Mesa
Ur-Energy Lost Creek 51
EFRC White Mesa mill 388
total 1796
Mining and exploration projects
Conventional (non-ISL) uranium mining is resuming in the USA after some years (though Cotter Corporation produced 38 tonnes U through its 400 t/day Cañon City mill, Colorado in 2005).
Energy Fuels - EFRC
In April 2012 Energy Fuels Resources Corporation (EFRC, a Colorado-based subsidiary of Energy Fuels Inc of Toronto) agreed to take over all Denison Mines' US assets and operations, including the White Mesa mill, in a C$106 million merger. This diminished the priority of building the Pinon Ridge mill, and in September 2013 the company put plans for it on hold. In August 2013 Energy Fuels took over Strathmore Minerals in a C$29 million deal. Korea Electric Power Co. (KEPCO) is the largest shareholder in both companies, with 9.1% and 11.7% respectively. It supported the takeover and holds 9.6% of the expanded company.
Denison Mines produced 165 tU in the first half of 2009 through its 2000 t/day White Mesa mill in southeastern Utah (near 'four corners'), from its own and purchased ore (the company is advertising its ore-buying program), as well as doing some toll milling. Production cost for this was $197 per kgU. The mill has a vanadium co-product recovery circuit. It produced 476 tU over 15 months to the end of 2013, and 700 t of vanadium oxide. Some of its feed in 2013 is coming from Cameco’s Blind River tailings in Ontario. The company has announced that it will close the mill from August 2014 to late 2015.
During 2013 the White Mesa mill processed 18,370 t of Arizona 1 ore, 2,052 t of Pinenut ore, 11,181 t of Daneros ore, 41,782 t of Pandora ore, 40,669 tons of Beaver ore, and 8,894 t of purchased ore to produce 388 tU.
EFRC produced from its Arizona 1 and Pinenut mines in Arizona during 2013, and is developing its larger-scale projects including particularly those acquired from Strathmore in 2013. Sheep Mountain WY, Roca Honda NM and the Henry Mountains complex in Utah are seen as the future of the company. Only Pinenut is operating in 2014.
EFRC has several mines in the Uravan Mineral Belt on the Colorado Plateau (straddling the Utah-Colorado border) containing 2100 tU in placer deposits plus vanadium co-product (Uravan = uranium + vanadium). These La Sal Complex mines about 100 km northeast of the White Mesa mill comprise La Sal, Beaver and Pandora which are mature operating mines with extensive interconnected underground workings. In October 2012 EFRC said it would place Beaver and La Sal on standby, pending uranium market improvement and would finish mining at Pandora by mid year due to depleted resources. EFRC’s nearby Energy Queen mine in Utah was refurbished for 2008 reopening, and is licensed but not operating.
Other EFRC Uravan mines operating in 2007-08 but now closed include Topaz, West Sunday and Sunday/St. Jude in the Sunday complex in Colorado. There are no plans to bring the other mine there, Van 4, into production. EFRC reopened the refurbished Whirlwind mine (including Packrat and Bonanza) following Bureau of Land Management and state approval, but put it on standby in 2009. It has 425 tU measured and indicated resources and 770 tU inferred resources.
EFRC's Henry Mountains deposits in Utah including Tony M, Southwest and Bullfrog have 4900 tU as indicated resources at over 0.2% and inferred resources of 3100 tU, both NI 43-101 compliant. All these are some 120 km west of the White Mesa mill. Denison began production from the Tony M mine in 2007, but late in 2008 put it on care and maintenance. The company was intending to spend $35 million on the adjacent new Bullfrog mine, but it was put on hold in 2008.
EFRC’s Daneros deposit in southeastern Utah was was the main asset of White Canyon Uranium which Denison bought for $57 million in 2011. It has been mined since December 2009 and ore was trucked 100 km to Denison's White Mesa mill for treatment and recovery of U3O8 product. Ore produced during the development phase was sold to Denison, and from there a 3-year toll treatment agreement came into effect. JORC-compliant resource figures of 447 tU in 0.22%U ore were quoted in August 2010, and production is planned to be 227 tU/yr. In October 2012 EFRC put Daneros on standby, pending uranium market improvement.
Denison also had four old mines in the Arizona Strip of north central Arizona, along with some new deposits there, though all these are some 500 km south from White Mesa mill and some may be impacted by the Bureau of Land Management decision to stall developments near the Grand Canyon. The Arizona One underground mine resumed production in 2009, with ore processed at White Mesa. Known resources were depleted early in 2014, so it closed. Denison had applied for licences for its nearby Pinenut and EZ mines. Pinenut was mined in the 1980s and produced 200 tU then, with a shaft 410 m deep. Inferred resources at Pinenut are 400 tU, and EFRC brought the mine into production in 2013 but will close it early in 2015 pending uranium price improvement. Ore is milled at White Mesa.
The EZ mine is subject to land use restrictions by the Bureau of Land Management. It has 810 tU as inferred resources. The Canyon mine, which was originally licensed in 1986 and operated for a few years, is fully permitted. It has 630 tU as inferred resources at 0.83%U. The development is on hold pending resolution of a dispute with the US Forest Service. The surface facilities are complete but shaft sinking to about 450 metres is not, and has been put on hold. Ore will be trucked to the White Mesa mill.
EFRC in March 2011 received a Colorado state licence to build the new 330 tU/yr Pinon Ridge mill for ore from these mines, plus possible toll treatment, but this was overturned on appeal in June 2012, pending a further public hearing. The state’s radioactive materials licence was reissued in April 2013, but plans were then put on hold. The company had been seeking $140 million finance for the mill, which would also produce 1700 t/yr of vanadium oxide.
EFRC's Sheep Mountain, Wyoming deposit has 11,700 tU measured and indicated resources at 0.1%U, including 7100 probable reserves. In 2009, Titan Uranium Inc bought Uranium One's 50% interest in it, and it then transferred to EFRC in the 2012 merger with Titan. Underground development took place in the 1970s. Titan undertook a prefeasibility study on mining the Congo open pit and underground, with heap leaching recovery, to produce 580 tU/yr from 5500 tU probable reserves from 2014. EFRC has updated the preliminary feasibility study for the whole project, and proposes development in conjunction with Gas Hills, 45 km north. The BLM is preparing an EIS for the project.
Strathmore had been working towards bringing its Gas Hills properties in central Wyoming into production, and in March 2013 announced 2080 tU at 0.11%U indicated resources and 2120 tU inferred resources (NI 43-101 compliant). Exploration and possible development was proceeding under a February 2012 agreement with KEPCO, which would contribute $32 million to the project from 2013, leading to an envisaged joint venture with Kepco holding 40%. EFRC is planning to develop it in conjunction with Sheep Mountain, 45 km away. Strathmore had been exploring the prospect of developing its Juniper Ridge property in conjunction with Gas Hills, or with EFRC’s Sheep Mountain (150 km north), or both. In March 2014 EFRC announced resources of 2350 tU at 0.05%U at Juniper Ridge, envisaging open pit mining and heap leach.
In New Mexico, Strathmore submitted a mining permit application in October 2009 for Roca Honda (60% owned, with Sumitomo 40%) in the Grants mineral district which has measured & indicated resource of 6,470 tU at 0.34% U and 4580 tU inferred resources at 0.35% U. Annual production is expected to be 1000 tU at a cost of $24/lb U3O8, and a mine permit decision is expected in 2016. Original plans assumed that a new mill would be built, but the White Mesa mill about 180 km away in southeastern Utah is likely to be used.
The merged company also has other projects in the Grants mineral district, including: Marquez with 3500 tU as indicated resource, Dalton Pass with ISL potential and 1000 tU measured & indicated resource, and Nose Rock, deep in hard rock with 1160 tU measured & indicated resource. All the above are NI 43-101 compliant. Church Rock prospect with 4570 tU as measured & indicated resource, was listed with these but in June 2012 the company retracted the resource estimate, since it was based on a previous owner’s 1979 data.
Uranium One
Toronto-based Uranium One's main interests are in ISL projects. Uranium One is now wholly owned by Russia’s ARMZ. In Wyoming, Uranium One USA had production from its Willow Creek ISL project in the Powder River Basin from 2011. It acquired 500 tU/yr capacity from Christensen Ranch ISL mine through the Irigaray central processing plant when it bought those assets for $35 million from Areva in mid-2009, and it plans to expand this plant to its licensed 960 tU/yr. In December 2010, NRC then licensed the Irigaray mill to produce up to 960 tU/yr (it operaed at 500 tU/yr in 2011), and for Christiansen Ranch to restart operations (it had been shut down since 2000 and restarted in January 2011). Production from its three small mines (Moore Ranch, Peterson Ranch, Nine Mile) and from Christiansen Ranch itself is from loaded resin trucked to Irigaray from satellite plants. Overall Willow Creek produced 362 tU in 2013 at a cost of $36/lb. Wellfield development was put on hold in 2014 until prices improve.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a licence to Uranium One Americas for Moore Ranch in October 2010, to start production in 2012, but development is suspended. Uranium One’s additional projects in the Powder River Basin, including Ludeman, Allemand-Ross and Barge, could also be developed as satellite operations with final processing through the Willow Creek central plant. Uranium One has some 4000 tU as measured resources (2235 t at Moore Ranch) and 23,000 tU as indicated resources in the state. It also had plans for production from Antelope and JAB in the Great Divide Basin, but these were deferred due to endangered species concerns.
In 2010, Uranium One sold a number of Utah and Colorado claims and two Utah leases, including the Sage mine, to Colorado Plateau Partners (CPP), a joint venture between Energy Fuels Inc of Toronto (see EFRC above) and Royal Resources Ltd of Australia.
Cameco
Cameco's US subsidiary Cameco Resources Inc operates the Smith Ranch-Highland mine in Wyoming's Powder River basin and the Crow Butte mine in Nebraska, both of them ISL operations, and producing nearly 1200 tonnes U between them in 2009 from total reserves of 12,000 tU (15,000 t U3O8). The company is aiming to increase production from these mines and adjacent properties including Reynolds Ranch to 1,770 tU/y when markets improve. Cameco also has a Gas Hills project in Wyoming which is permitted but on hold.
Smith Ranch-Highland produced 423 tU in 2012 and 646 tU in 2013 including North Butte. North Butte is a satellite plant in Wyoming which started production in May 2013 and will ramp up to 270 tU/yr. Licensed wellfield capacity of both is 1156 tU.
In 2013 Crow Butte produced 272 tU, though licensed capacity is 770 tU.
UEC
Uranium Energy Corporation (UEC) in October 2009 bought the small but recently-refurbished Hobson mill in southern Texas from Uranium One (it had been shut since 1991). UEC then made Hobson the basis and hub of its Texas uranium projects. Hobson had 385 t/yr capacity, but UEC says it is now 1150 tU/yr, in 2011-12 it processed 90 tU. It recovers uranium from loaded resin trucked there from the Palangana ISL mine, to which will be added loaded resin from satellite plants at Goliad and Burke Hollow, followed by Nichols and Salvo.
Production commenced at Palangana in November 2010 – the first US ISL operation to start in five years. By the end of 2011 UEC had obtained all the necessary permits to develop its Goliad ISL project, 70 km east of the Hobson mill, for production from mid 2014. Palangana has 410 tU measured and indicated resources grading 0.114%U in two orebodies and 445 tU inferred resources at 0.15%U in six others, while Goliad has 2100 tU measured & indicated resources at 0.04%U, all NI 43-101 compliant. Future ISL satellites are Burke Hollow, 86 km SE of Hobson and with 1100 tU inferred resource estimate, Salvo, with 1100 tU inferred resource grading 0.07%U, then Nichols with 500 tU inferred located close to Hobson mill, and Burke Hollow (1100 tU inferred) and Channen. Salvo and Channen are 70-85 km from Hobson. Longhorn is recently acquired, and will feed Hobson mill. UEC claims cash cost of $20 per pound over 2010-12 for its ISL production, excluding royalties. However, in September 2013 UEC said it would slow production at Palangana pending recovery in uranium prices, while it focuses on Goliard and Burke Hollow. UEC expects to lodge final permit applications for Burke Hollow late in 2014.
UEC in 2007 bought the New River Uranium Project in Arizona with a historic resource estimate of 5000 tU in shallow low-grade ore. Its Workman Creek deposit there has 1200 tU inferred resource. For the flagship Anderson project 290 km away, and formerly mined in 1950s, it announced 6500 tU NI 43-101 indicated and 4600 tU inferred resources at 0.04% (May 2012), most accessible by open pit mining.
In January 2013 UEC reported a NI 43-101 inferred resource for its Slick Rock project in Colorado, of 1770 tU with 0.21% cut-off. Vanadium is also present.
In 2009, UEC formed a joint venture with Australia’s Uran Ltd to develop the Grants Ridge project in New Mexico, including nine historic mines which operated from 1970-80s, with average grade 0.15%U, to produce 175 tU in total. Uran can acquire a 65% interest by spending $1.5 million to 2014.
URI
Uranium Resources Inc (URI) began operations in 1977 in south Texas. It developed and produced over 216 tU from the Longoria and Benavides projects in the early 1980s, then 2350 tU from Kingsville Dome and Rosita through to 1999.
URIcommenced production from its Vasquez ISL mine in 2004 at about 50 tU/y and from Kingsville Dome in 2006, both in south Texas. Vasquez peaked in 2006 and is now depleted (30 tU in 2007, 9 tU in 2008). Rosita restarted production in 2008 with oxygen injection but was then closed as uneconomic after 3 tU was recovered. Kingsville Dome produced 67 tU in 2008 and 19 tU in 2009. It was closed in June 2009 due to low uranium prices, and is being remediated along with Vasquez and Rosita.
URI earlier said that it did not intend to revive its Texas operations, with total reserves there of only 256 tU, and a joint venture exploration agreement with Cameco there has lapsed. However, in December 2013 it said that it remained “committed to developing uranium in South Texas as we aim to leverage our two processing plants in the region” – possibly Kingsville Dome and Rosita.
In New Mexico, URI in 2007 sought to buy Rio Algom Mining, with uranium properties and a licensed mill site at Ambrosia Lake, where it planned to construct a new mill to serve the Grants mineral belt. However, the deal was aborted in mid-2008. URI's future potential is in its Grants mineral belt properties in western New Mexico which hold 39,000 tU, and from which it hopes to produce 2000-3000 tU/yr from ISL.
URI subsidiary Hydro Resources Inc was licensed in 1994 to mine the Crownpoint and Church Rock ISL deposits in New Mexico, and after years of opposition the licence was validated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in 2006 and then reactivated in 2011. URI planned to produce 385 tU/yr from Church Rock/ Mancos from 2013,
as the first of URI’s New Mexico properties to develop, subject to further permitting. Nose Rock, Roca Honda and West Largo/ Ambrosia Lake are others in the Grants mineral belt.
URI also holds the Copper Mountain leases in Wyoming, with low-grade uranium mineralization (hardrock, not ISL) which was mined to 1971.
Uranerz
Uranerz Energy received an NRC materials licence for its Nichols Ranch ISL operation in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming in July 2011, and its final state approval in October 2012. Production commenced in April 2014, with loaded resin being trucked to Cameco’s Smith Ranch plant for recovery, under a toll processing agreement. The initial plant capacity is 300 tU/yr. The company has NI 43-101 compliant resources of 6060 tU at about 0.1% U in seven deposits, including measured & indicated resources of 1137 tU for Nichols Ranch itself, 860 tU for Hank, 1100 tU for West North-Butte and 1655 tU measured and indicated resources at about half the grades of these – 0.048% U – at Reno Creek, 30 km east of Nichols Ranch. The company has applied to NRC to add the contiguous Jane Dough permit area, with 1052 tU, to the Nichols Ranch project.
Ur-Energy
Ur-Energy Inc (URE/ URG) has total about 8500 tU as NI 43-101 indicated resources in Wyoming, and claims potential for double that. Lost Creek in the Great Divide basin has 3300 tU measured and indicated resources at 0.05 %U and 1800 tU inferred (Nov 2013). The company plans to produce 400 tU/yr from the Lost Creek wellfields and about the same from satellite operations.
Production from Lost Creek commenced in mid 2013 after construction of a 770 tU/yr mill, following NRC licensing and Bureau of Land Management approval. Production in 2013 was 50.57 tU. Early in 2012 Ur-Energy took over nearby leases from Uranium One, adding 1000 tU to its resource base in the Greater Lost Creek project. The site is close to Kennecott's Sweetwater mill. Bayswater Uranium is farming in to the company's Hauber prospect.
Peninsula/Strata
Australian-based Peninsula Energy reports JORC-compliant resources (January 2013) of 19,800 tU at 0.041%U for its Lance ISL project on the east side of Wyoming's Powder River Basin, including 6130 tU as measured and indicated resources, held by the company’s subsidiary Strata Energy Inc. It is planning to bring this into production at 580 tU/yr from three production units – Ross, Kendrick and Barber. These will feed into a central processing plant with an expandable capacity of up to 1154 tU per year (four modules of 288 tU/yr), commencing 2014 from Ross. The plant incorporates a restoration circuit with IX then RO to restore water quality of barren liquor to pre-mining levels.
State permitting is well advanced, with a permit to mine issued in November 2012. From the NRC, the company received a source materials licence (SML), and a final supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) for both the plant and Ross wellfield in March-April 2014. It expects to start production from Ross later in 2014. The Kendrick, Richards and Barber production units to the south of Ross will be brought on line with amendments to Ross licences. Vanadium may be a by-product – 2237 t V2O5 resources are identified for Ross and Kendrick.
Others, ISL
Mestena Uranium LLC is a private Texas company. Its Alta Mesa ISL plant in southern Texas is operational with about 385 tU/yr capacity.
Bayswater Uranium Corporation of Canada has received a pre-feasibility study on mining its newly-acquired Reno Creek and Southwest Reno Creek deposits in Wyoming. These have a NI 43-101 measured and indicated resource of 8440 tU @ 0.044% suitable for ISL, plus a small inferred resource. The project would have five wellfields and a central processing plant producing about 750 tU/yr. It is 30 km southeast of Christiansen Ranch and 50 km north of Cameco's Smith Ranch, and Bayswater plans to bring it into production about 2014.
In New Mexico, Uranium International Corp (UIC) has announced 1,180 tU measured and indicated resource at Dalton Pass, with ISL potential. It also announced a 1,160 tU measured and indicated resource at Nose Rock, deep in hard rock. Both are NI 43-101 compliant, in the Grants mineral belt and owned by Strathmore Minerals. UIC has the option of earning a 65% share of each.
Powertech Uranium Corp is proposing to develop two ISL mines: Centennial in northern Colorado, and Dewey-Burdock in South Dakota – in each case very close to the Wyoming border. Centennial has 4,430 tU in 0.08% ore and Dewey-Burdock 2570 tU indicated resources averaging 0.18%U and 1880 tU inferred resources averaging 0.13%, both NI 43-101 compliant. The company has applied to develop Dewey-Burdock, and an economic assessment early in 2012 suggested 3240 tU production over nine years, with $54 million capital investment. A draft licence was received in mid 2012 and a full operating licence was expected by mid 2013. NRC gave environmental approval in January 2014, then in April put the licensing on hold due to local opposition, but lifted this in May. The project still requires EPA and state approval. Powertech also has 400 tU as indicated resources at its Aladdin project in Wyoming.
Others, hardrock
Cotter Corporation, a General Atomics subsidiary, is planning a $200 million rebuild of its Cañon City mill by 2014, when it expects to treat ore from the Mount Taylor mine in New Mexico. (Mount Taylor, which has been on standby since 1989, is owned by another General Atomics subsidiary, Rio Grande Resources Corporation.)
Neutron Energy Inc has taken full ownership of the Cebolleta Land Grant in New Mexico which has 8000 tU resources after mining took place 1975-81, producing 460 tU.
Uranium One in 2007 bought US Energy's 1,000 t/day Shootaring Canyon mill* in southeast Utah and associated properties in four contiguous states for $50 million plus royalties.
* US Energy had been planning to bring the mill back into production at a cost of $31 million. (Uranium One had also secured the right to buy Rio Tinto's 3,000 t/day Sweetwater uranium mill and associated uranium properties in south-central Wyoming for $110 million, but in January 2007 Rio Tinto cancelled the deal.) In October 2013 Uranium One agreed to sell the Shootaring Canyon mill for $10 million to Black Range Minerals Ltd and also enter into a joint venture arrangement for all Uranium One's associated “conventional” hard rock leases, where Black Range would progressively increase its equity, but this deal has lapsed due to regulatory problems. Black Range will concentrate on its Hansen project.
Black Range Minerals Ltd has acquired the 11,500 tU Hansen deposit grading 0.07%U in Colorado. The company already owns the adjacent Taylor Ranch deposit, about twice the size and grading 0.05%U. Hansen was licensed for mining in 1981, but stalled due to low uranium prices. In October 2013 Black Range agreed to take over Uranium One’s Shootaring Canyon mill for $10 million and also associated “conventional” hard rock leases through a joint venture arrangement, but this deal lapsed.
Yellowcake Mining Corp reports 5,000 tU reserves at its planned Beck mine in the Uravan area of Colorado and agreed in May 2008 to sell a 50% stake in it to Korea Electric Power Corp (KEPCO). However, in February 2009, KEPCO withdrew, leaving the project bereft of funds. The company had joint ventures with Strathmore Minerals for Juniper Ridge and a Gas Hills prospect in Wyoming, but these were terminated in 2008. In 2010 Strathmore agreed to sell Juniper Ridge to Crosshair Energy, but this agreement terminated in 2012.
Bluerock Energy Corporation has shipped the first ore from development of the J-Bird mine in Colorado to Denison's White Mesa mill in Utah.
Laramide Resources Ltd is applying to reopen the La Sal II mine in Lisbon Valley, Utah, bought in 2010 from Homestake with about 1000 tU. It is about 90 km from Energy Fuels' White Mesa mill, and a two-year toll milling agreement was signed in January 2013. Laramide also has the La Jara Mesa project in the Grants mineral belt of New Mexico, with 4000 tU resource.
In Virginia, Virginia Uranium Inc, in association with Virginia Energy Resources Inc, has a proposal to mine the Coles Hill uranium deposit in Pittsylvania county which has 3260 tU as measured resource and 42,800 tU as indicated resource at 0.05 %U (NI 43-101 compliant) . An associated conventional mill would be near Chatham. A detailed state review reported on the project, but the Governor at the end of 2013 announced that he would veto any enabling legislation.
US uranium mines and other production facilities
ISL mine Hard rock mine Mill Status Annual capacity
Uranium One Willow Creek/ Christiansen Ranch, WY Irigaray, WY Operating 960 tU
Moore Ranch, WY Licensed but suspended 900 tU
Uranerz Energy Nichols Ranch, Hank, Jane Dough, WY Smith Ranch - Highland, WY Operating from 2014 300 tU initially, 770 tU
Ur-Energy Lost Creek, WY Lost Ck, WY Operating from 2013 770 tU
Cameco Resources Inc Smith Ranch - Highland, WY Smith Ranch - Highland, WY Operating 2100 tU
Cameco Resources Crow Butte, NE Crow Butte Operating 385 tU
Uranium Resources Inc Vasquez, TX
Rosita, TX Rosita? Operating in 2008, but now closed 0
Kingsville Dome, TX Kingsville Dome? Operating in 2008, but closed mid-2009 0
Mestena Uranium Alta Mesa, TX Alta Mesa Operating 385 tU
Uranium Energy Corp Palangana, Goliad, Burke Hollow, TX Hobson, TX Palangana operating, Goliad licensed, Hobson mill operating Mill: 385 tU
Hydro Resources Inc (URI subsidiary) Church Rock, NM Under construction* 385 tU
Crownpoint, NM Under construction* 385 tU
Peninsula/ Strata Lance, WY Ross Under construction* 580 tU
Powertech U Dewey-Burdock, SD Licensing deferred 385 tU
EFRC Arizona 1, Pinenut, Canyon, Az White Mesa, UT Arizona1 operated to early 2014, Pinenut operating 2013-15, others closed
EFRC La Sal, Energy Queen, Daneros, Whirlwind, CO-UT White Mesa, UT Mines on standby, Pinon Ridge, Co mill licensed but on hold.
EFRC Roca Honda, NM White Mesa, UT Planned
EFRC Sheep Mtn & Gas Hills, WY Whie Mesa, UT Planned
EFRC Henry Mtns, UT White Mesa, UT Development on hold
EFRC White Mesa, UT Operating, but closing mid-2014 to late 2015 540 tU
Cotter Corp Canon City, CO Standby, refurbish plan for 2014 start
Kennecott Sweetwater, WY Standby
Uranium One Shootaring Canyon, UT Standby
* Partially permitted and licensed (as since 2009 for Church Rock and Crownpoint)
Uranium mining was a major activity in the late 1940s and into the 1950s, when the focus was on national security rather than environmental protection. There was little regulation or oversight of facilities, and tailings were put in impoundments without liners, giving rise to groundwater contamination.
There was a considerable legacy of pollution from abandoned uranium mines and treatment plants, most dating from the 1950s, and which was addressed in the 1980s. For instance, the Uravan mill site on the San Miguel River in Colorado was designated a Superfund site and was cleaned up between 1987 and 2007 at a cost of over $120 million. Historic mining and milling at Uravan included the production of radium, vanadium and uranium, leaving radioactive residues from the early 1900s through to the mid-1980s. From the time Uravan mill began operating in the 1920s until it was shut down, it processed over ten million tonnes of uranium-vanadium ore, giving rise to a similar amount of uncontained tailings, and 1,440 megalitres of liquid wastes were treated in the site rehabilitation program.
The Schwartzwalder mine west of Denver, Colorado, was once the largest underground uranium mine in USA. It has been polluting Ralston Creek feeding the city's water supply and is now subject to bacterial bioremediation by Cotter Corp.
Further Information
Related information pages
US Nuclear Fuel Cycle
References
1. U.S. Uranium Mine Production and Number of Mines and Sources, US Energy Information Administration, Domestic Uranium Production Report (21 May 2009) [Back]
General sources
US Energy Information Administration (www.eia.doe.gov)
Company reports
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