Name of the Project
Alligator River project – Angularli uranium deposit.

Location
Northern Territory, Australia.

Client
Vimy Resources.

Project Description
The Angularli uranium deposit is part of the Alligator River project. The deposit has an inferred mineral resource estimate of 910 000 t grading 1.3% uranium oxide for 26-million pounds of uranium.

A scoping study on the deposit has proposed using conventional longhole open stoping methods to mine at Angularli. This allows for the underground mine workings to be used for disposal of all the process tailings as paste fill, and eliminates the need for a surface tailings storage facility. Access to the underground resource will be through a 5.5 m × 5.5 m decline, designed at a standard gradient of 1 in 7.

Two flowsheets have been considered in the scoping study – acid leach/solvent extraction and acid leach/direct precipitation. Both flow­sheet options have identical front-ends com­prising crushing, milling, acid leach and counter-current decantation circuits. The back-end, comprising a uranium drying and packaging plant, tailings paste plant and water treatment, is also essentially the same for both flowsheets. The only difference between the two flowsheets is the uranium recovery circuits.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Value
Not stated.

Duration
The project is expected to take 12 months
to build.

Latest Developments
With the scoping study completed, the Vimy board has approved the next stage of exploration and development for the Angularli deposit, if budget allows. An ore-sorting trial will also be undertaken to evaluate the potential increase in the head grade to the processing plant, and allow for a reduction in the mine cutoff grade. Further resource drilling will also be conducted to improve the confidence of the existing mineral resource.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Wood PLC (engineering scoping study).

On Budget and on Time?
Too early to state.

Contact Details for Project Information
Vimy Resources, tel +61 8 9389 2700 or email info@vimyresources.com.au.