Value-addition, by Extraction of Critical Minerals - Cu, Co, Ni, Mo and REEs - from the Albitite Type U-deposits in Rohil and Adjoining Areas, Rajasthan, India

Abstract

The albitite type of U-deposits have been established through detailed exploration and resource-evaluation by AMD in Rohil and adjoining areas of Rajasthan. Of these, 1,086.46 hectares in the Sikar district of Rajasthan has been recently issued a letter of interest (LOI), by the State Govt. of Rajasthan to start mining by the Uranium Corporation of India Ltd. (UCIL). Salient attributes of the deposits are given, with their U-ore containing many sulphide/ oxide ore minerals from which critical minerals (CMs), viz., Cu, Co, Ni, Mo and REEs are recoverable. It is suggested in this communication that (i) these CMs, besides U, may be extracted from the ore under value-addition in an integrated cost-effective project with high returns of investment and (ii) simultaneous laboratory/pilot-plant scale mineral processing of bulk ore from the proposed Rohil exploratory mine along with mine construction/ development of these deposits is preferable, as it saves some time in establishing a processing plant for the U-ore to recover its main product (U) and by-products (CMs).