The first modeling, measurement, and confirmation of natural attenuation over a 30-year period in a uranium in-situ recovery context: Approaches and perspectives

Doucmak R. Seigneur N. Escario S. Chanvry E. Lagneau V. Khaibulin R. Yegorov R. Kairambayev S. Descostes M.
July 2025 Elsevier B.V.

Journal of Contaminant Hydrology
2025 #273

In-situ recovery (ISR) is the most widely used uranium mining technique worldwide due to its cost-effectiveness, accounting for 55 % of global uranium production as of 2022. However, acidic ISR operations affect groundwater quality by increasing the concentrations of dissolved elements (such as SO₄) and decreasing its pH. This study firstly demonstrates natural attenuation within the ‘3y’ unit at the Kanzhugan deposit (Kazakhstan), where uranium was mined using ISR in the 1980s, using 30 years of monitoring data over a kilometric scale. Secondly, it aims to predict the environmental footprint of any such ISR production thanks to a reactive transport (RT) modeling approach using HYTEC, based on the monitoring data. The model, which assumes a homogeneous medium but incorporates key geochemical reactions, successfully reproduced the natural attenuation data over a 10-year period, previously published by Kayukov (2005). It was extended to the present day with validation points to enhance long-term prediction reliability. The geochemical model developed in this study shows that cationic exchange on clay surfaces and the precipitation of secondary minerals like gypsum regulate the behavior of contaminants (pH and SO₄) over extended periods and distances. Parameter calibration reveals the geochemical changes across broad temporal and spatial scales. In addition, this research is the first to validate an RT model over a long period for such applications. Consequently, RT simulations can now be utilized to predict uranium production and evaluate the long-term environmental footprint.

Environmental footprint , HYTEC , In-situ recovery uranium , Kanzhugan deposit , Natural attenuation , Post-mining , Reactive transport modeling

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Mines Paris PSL, PSL University, Centre de Géosciences, 35 Rue St Honoré, Fontainebleau, 77300, France
ORANO Mining, 125 Avenue de Paris, Châtillon, 92320, France
KATCO JV LLP, Congress Office BC, Esil district, 48 Sauran Street, Astana, Kazakhstan
KazAtomProm, 17/12, Syganak Street, Z05T1X3, Astana, Kazakhstan

Mines Paris PSL
ORANO Mining
KATCO JV LLP
KazAtomProm

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