Abstract:Through experiments of solute migration and geochemical modeling, this paper reveals the characteristics and conditions of uranium transport during the in-situ leaching process. Firstly, with the extension of the in-situ leaching flow-path, the uranium content increases gradually until reaching saturation in the acid leaching solution. Secondly, the form and concentration of uranium are closely related to the hydrogeochemical conditions of the solution. The predominant uranium forms are UO2SO4 and UO22+ when the pH values range from 1. 9 to 4. 4, and UO2SO4 and (UO2)3 (OH)5+ when the pH values are in the range of 4. 4 to 5. 1. Thirdly, uranium migration during the in-situ leaching process has experienced multiple cycles of dissolution, precipitation and re-dissolution. On the one hand, uranium (U6+) begins to transport when 2. 0650 mV. On the other hand, the dissolved uranium can be precipitated when pH>4. 6 and Eh<420 mV. Lastly, in terms of uranium concentration and the pH and Eh values of the leaching solution, the whole flow-path of uranium migration can be divided into four leached zones: the completely leached zone, the effectively leached zone, the uranium precipitation zone and the non-leached zone. The four leached zones move orderly and all the zones finally become completely leached zones when the in-situ leaching process is over.