METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RECOVERING ZIRCONIUM VALUES FROM A HARD ROCK ORE CONTAINING URANIUM

摘要

A method of recovering zirconium values from an ore containing zircon, baddeleyite, and uranium is disclosed. The method includes fusing the ore with soda ash and contacting the resulting fused ore with sulfuric acid, which generates an acid leach liquor that contains zirconium and uranium values and solids that comprise baddeleyite and silica. Baddeleyite is recovered by contacting it with sulfuric acid to convert baddeleyite to zirconium sulfate, which can be dissolved in the acid leach liquor. The method also includes separating zirconium from uranium by solvent extraction followed by precipitation.