Denison Mines made history in 2019 with the first two ISR wells in the province as part of their test program, and now have achieved proof of concept for the ISR or in-situ mining method, in Northern Saskatchewan’s Athabasca Basin.

Denison President and CEO, David Cates, says the operation of ISR is very different from current methods used in Saskatchewan, but very popular in other areas of the world. The lack of excavation, a large underground mine, or mills are the differences involved in ISR.

Instead a series of wells drilled towards the ore, allow for the injection and recovery of a uranium rich solution, which can be chemically separated in a small scale process plant. Cates says the solution can also be reconditioned and recycled back into the well field, basically creating a loop, that would allow them to keep mining.

Cates explains, the next steps are more technical tests geared towards a feasibility study, so they can make a definitive decision on more construction.

He adds they are attempting to pair what has been established as the lowest cost uranium mining method across the world, with the really high grade uranium deposit found in the Athabasca Basin.