Denison, a leading player in the uranium industry, has successfully concluded the recovered solution management phase at its Phoenix field test. This phase achieved an impressive recovery rate of over 99.99% of the contained uranium, providing a strong validation of the company’s process designs for future commercial operations at Phoenix.
During the solution management phase, Denison also collected treated water suitable for release. Rigorous testing was conducted to ensure the quality of the effluent, which was subsequently injected into a designated underground area. Additional comprehensive monitoring confirmed that there was no migration of the effluent above, below, or outside of the injection area, further demonstrating the environmentally responsible approach taken by Denison.
Kevin Himbeault, Vice President of Operations and Regulatory Affairs at Denison, emphasized the significance of the completed recovered solution management phase. He highlighted that this milestone showcases the seamless execution of the entire field test process, including construction and commissioning, well field development, mining solution control, uranium-bearing solution recovery, and effluent treatment.
The decommissioning of the Phoenix field test facility has already commenced, with a completion date set for next year. Despite the conclusion of this phase, Denison’s commitment to innovation and continuous improvement remains unwavering.
The Phoenix field test was an integral part of Denison’s Wheeler River project, which holds the distinction of being the largest undeveloped uranium project in the eastern region of the Athabasca Basin. The project encompasses the Phoenix and Gryphon high-grade deposits, both of which show immense promise.
According to the Phoenix feasibility study, the deposit at Phoenix contains an estimated measured and indicated resource of 280,200 tonnes of ore with a grade of 11.4% U3O8, translating to 70.5 million pounds of uranium oxide. Additionally, there is an inferred resource of 5,600 tonnes at 2.6% U3O8, containing 300,000 pounds of uranium oxide.
Meanwhile, the Gryphon deposit, which underwent a preliminary economic assessment in 2018, recently received an update for 2023. The key findings and economic outlook from the assessment have remained consistent, further reaffirming the value of Gryphon’s potential.
