Tailings

Should the construction and operation of the Michelin Project prove economically viable, tailings management would be a vital component of mine design, and a top priority for Aurora. 

The four criteria that must be met by any tailings management option selected are:

  • They must not blow in the wind.
  • Tailings must not contaminate water in the area.
  • Long-term containment must be possible.
  • Tailings must be isolated from people and wildlife.

The eventual tailings design would need to provide safe, secure, long-term containment of the tailings from the Michelin Project. The preferred tailings management option would undergo a strict regulatory review process, which would include opportunity for public review and comment. Paladin Energy has strong expertise with tailings management, through its existing operations in Africa.

Tailings are the finely ground rock left over after the uranium has been removed from the ore at the mill. Almost all mining projects have tailings and standard industry practice is to permanently store tailings near the mine site. All tailings must be carefully managed to protect people and the environment. Testing on Aurora’s uranium deposits has shown that they will not be acid generating or metal leaching. However, Michelin uranium tailings would contain low amounts of radiation. Should it prove economically viable to proceed with the Michelin Project, Aurora would select tailings options engineered specifically to contain this radiation using designs that will keep tailings stable and protect people, wildlife and the environment. To find out more about radiation and radiation protection in uranium mining and the nuclear industry, please visit our learning portal.

* ‘Uranium’ is used here and elsewhere on this page in place of uranium oxide or U3O8