Finnish company Talvivaara Mining is investigating modifying the metals extraction process at its Talvivaara nickel and zinc mine in Sotkamo, eastern Finland, in order to recover uranium as a by-product.
Mining, bioheapleaching and metals recovery techniques for the Talvivaara mine were tested on a 17,000 tonne on-site demonstration trial between 2005 and 2006. Construction of the mine started during 2007, with the commencement of commercial production in October 2008.
Talvivaara said that in its bioheapleaching process, small concentrations of uranium leach into the process solution (some 25 milligrams per litre) along with the company's main products: nickel, copper, zinc and cobalt.
