The purpose of this work was to assess the oxidative dissolution of ur
anium from a uraninite-containing rock in acid sulfate solutions under
test conditions relevant to uranium leach mines and acid mine waters.
Uranium dissolution in acidified mineral salts solution was slow and
the predominant carbonate mineral (rhodochrosite) in the rock sample c
ontinued to consume acid. Bacterial inoculation (Thiobacillus ferrooxi
dans) and additional Fe2+ or S-0 were tested in efforts to enhance the
dissolution. Addition of Fe enhanced the solubilization of uranium, w
hereas S-addition had little incremental effect on the dissolution wit
h and without bacterial inoculation. (C) 1998 Society of Chemical Indu
stry.