Uranium

SRC has worked alongside the uranium industry in Saskatchewan and around for the world for over 60 years on analysis, process improvement, technology development and remediation. Our experts have decades of experience in the uranium industry, and we’ve expanded our world-class labs and facilities over the years to evolve with our clients’ changing needs.

Exploration

Since 1973, SRC Geoanalytical Laboratories has provided high-quality analytical packages to the uranium exploration and mining industry. As part of these packages, we operate a dedicated stand-alone uranium analysis laboratory licensed by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) to safely receive, process and archive radioactive samples.

The laboratory offers an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited method for the determination of U3O8 weight percentage in geological samples. The U3O8 assay was developed by our team to deliver quality assay results for the uranium industry. The lab is one of only a few in the world that can provide this type of uranium service. 

Services include:

•  Uranium Analysis/Radioactive Sample Preparation Facility
•   Rare Earth Analysis
•   Petrographic Services 
•   XRD and XRF Facility
• Electron Microprobe and QEMSCAN® Facility

SRC Environmental Analytical Laboratories has unique capabilities in radiochemical and uranium mining analysis. Environmental sample analysis is provided for special assessments and routine monitoring programs. We offer uranium analytical services that assist the uranium mining industry in carrying out their business and environmental programs, and ensuring that regulatory obligations are fulfilled, including:

• Environmental monitoring
• Leachability studies
• Kd (diffusion coefficient) studies
• Acid/base accounting
• Radon emanation rate
• Radiation safety services
• Umpire services

SRC has also long supported environmental protection studies and assessments, including hydrocarbon and radionuclide contamination of surface materials (soil and water) and impacts on ecosystems (forests and wildlife).

DESIGN & OPERATIONS

SRC has helped uranium mining clients develop, manage and improve their processes since the 1950s through geochemistry, mineralogical and minerals processing. SRC has the facilities and expertise to design and perform all stages of uranium processing and metallurgical testwork for the uranium industry. 

Early-stage tests in project development primarily determine the technical and economic feasibility of a uranium deposit. Full-scale pilot testing can also be done at SRC for the entire process, including tailings and effluent treatment. Effluent treatment involves removing contaminants by chemical and physical treatment, microbiological treatment or a combination of these methods.

Our Mineral Processing team offers the following services:

• Process Testing - Bench, Pilot, Field
• Evaluation - Mineralogy, Process, Equipment
• Process Design
• Optimization and Troubleshooting of Plants and Process Challenges
• Specialized Testing for In-situ Recovery for Uranium Applications 

Through our sensor-based sorting initiative, we offer services to test the amenability application of sorting solutions for uranium mining, from radiometric to XRT. SRC can find the optimum application of sorting for your project.  

At our Pipe Flow Technology Centre™, we offer services related to understanding slurry flows and measuring properties of slurries required for process control (e.g., density, flow).  

CLOSURE

SRC is managing Project CLEANS, the remediation of 37 abandoned uranium mine and mill sites in northern Saskatchewan. This includes the decommissioning and reclamation of uranium mine and mill sites and the cleanup of waste rock piles and tailings. 

SRC has project managed the closure and reclamation activities from assessments and closure plan design through to reclamation and monitoring, including many novel approaches to reclamation practices  and community engagement. 

Our work on Project CLEANS has been recognized by industry:

• Project Management Institute (PMI) North Sask Chapter Project of the Year Award for the Lorado Remediation Project
• Association of Professional Engineers & Geoscientists of Saskatchewan (APEGS) Environmental Excellence Award