Laterite Leach Tests

ANSTO Minerals Report C1206 to Lagoon Creek Resources – Westmoreland Deposits
Residues: The mineralogy of the selected ores (Junnagunna, Garee (Redtree) Composite and
Jack) have not changed significantly after leaching (Table H1 and Appendix A – Figures A6
and A7). Hydroxylapatite was not detected by XRD in the Junnagunna residue. It most likely
dissolved during leaching.
Table H1 The relative concentrations (wt%) of the minerals identified in the ores and
their residues, determined by SIROQUANT TM using the XRD patterns
Ores Junnagunna Garee Garee Redtree Jack
Upper Lower Composite
Chlorite 1.8 0.5 2.8 1.7
Hematite 0.5 1.4 0.8 1.1 0.8
Jarosite 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.9 0.6
Hydroxylapatite 0.8
Illite 8.0 6.6 6.8 6.6 6.4
Quartz 88.0 90.6 88.8 89.7 92.3
Residues Junnagunna Redtree Jack
LC 3A LC 3B LC 12C
Chlorite 2.6 2.2
Hematite 0.4 1.5 0.7
Jarosite 0.9 1.2 0.6
Hydroxylapatite
Illite 11.3 11.5 3.7
Quartz 84.7 83.7 95.0
H3.2 Scanning Electron Microscopy
Method
The samples were mounted in epoxy resin and polished to a 1-micron diamond finish.
Approximately 5 nm of carbon was evaporated onto the surfaces under vacuum to prevent
charging. The SEM was a Zeiss Ultra Plus with an attached Oxford Instruments X-Max
80mm 2 SDD X-ray microanalysis system. The SEM was operated at an accelerating voltage
of 15 kV. The X-ray microanalysis system enables microchemical characterisation of the
sample. The images were acquired in backscattered electron imaging mode (BSE). This mode
can enable compositional differences between/within grains to be observed. Images obtained
from backscattered electrons are mean atomic number contrast images. Elements with high
atomic number give brighter contrast (light grey) than those with low atomic number (dark
grey).
Results
Junnagunna - residue (LC 3A): In addition to the gangue minerals identified by XRD, SEM
analysis shows that other gangue minerals such as rutile/anatase (TiO2), zircon (ZrSiO4),
pyrite (FeS2), monazite ((Ce,La,Nd,Th)PO4), florencite ((Ce,La)Al3(PO4)2(OH)6), galena
(PbS), iron copper sulfide, copper sulfide and barite (BaSO4) were also present in this sample.
Their abundance was too low to be detected by XRD.
The residual uranium minerals consist of coffinite (U(SiO4)1-x(OH)4x), uranium phosphate,
probably phosphuranylite (KCa(H3O)3(UO2)7(PO4)4O4·8(H2O)), and uraniferous zircon,
where coffinite was the most common uranium mineral. They were enclosed in the quartz