Recovery of Uranium, Copper, and Zinc from Abu Thor Gibbsite Bearing Shale Ore Material, Abu Zeneima Area, Southwestern Sinai, Egypt

The efficiency of using ammonium carbonate lixiviant for extracting uranium (U), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) from Abu Thor gibbsite bearing shale ore material, which assays 0.11% U, 0.56% Cu, and 2.8% Zn, was evaluated. 99.6% of U, 98.1% of Cu, and 87.5% of Zn were leached under the optimum conditions: ammonium carbonate concentration 12%, solid/liquid ratio 1/3, leaching time 3.5 h, leaching temperature 85°C, and addition of 0.8 mL of hydrogen peroxide as oxidant. Amberlite IRA400 anion-exchange resin was used for U separation at pH 8.5, while direct precipitation using Na2S solution was then applied for Cu and Zn recovery. Finally, a technical flowsheet was suggested for the preparation of U, Cu, and Zn compounds.