Determination of Uranium in Flotation Concentrates and in Leach Liquors by X-Ray Fluorescence

X-Ray fluorescence has been applied to the analysis of flotation concentrates obtained from pegmatitic uranium ores occurring in Northern Saskatchewan. Approximate uranium analyses can be obtained by direct measurement on flotation concentrates but more accurate results are obtained by using an internal standard such as strontium or yttrium. The time required for an analysis, as compared to that of conventional chemical or fluorimetric methods, is considerably reduced and flotation pilot plant operations can therefore be more effectively controlled. The method has been extended to include the analysis of sulphate leach liquors obtained from the leaching of pegmatitic ores and their flotation concentrates. Organic phases obtained in liquid – liquid extraction studies can also be rapidly analyzed for uranium by X-ray fluorescence.