Cigar Lake
Cigar Lake is the world's second largest high-grade uranium deposit, with grades that are 100 times the world average. The mine is currently in development with a target to begin production this year.
Ownership
The mine is owned by Cameco Corporation (50%), AREVA Resources Canada Inc (37%), Idemitsu Canada Resources Ltd. (8%), and TEPCO Resources Inc. (5%).
Key facts
• Cameco's share of the deposit's proven and probable reserves is 108.4 million pounds U3O8 at an average grade of 18.3%.
• The Cigar Lake project will employ up to 500 employees during the peak construction period.
• Approximately 250 people will be employed permanently when the project is in full production.
• The Cigar Lake orebody is being frozen prior to mining to improve ground conditions, prevent water inflow and improve radiation protection.
• The high grade ore will be removed by a non-entry method jet boring system that will be deployed within access tunnels being developed about 25 metres beneath the orebody.
• Jet boring involves using water under high pressure to carve out cavities in the orebody and then collecting the resulting ore slurry through pipes. The Cigar Lake mining process also involves backfilling the cavities in the orebody with concrete once the ore is removed.
• Ore collected by the jet boring system will be taken to underground grinding and thickening circuits and then pumped to surface as slurry. At the surface, the ore will be loaded in special containers for truck transport to the mill.
• Cigar Lake ore will be processed through a toll milling arrangement at Areva's McClean Lake operation, located 70 km to the northeast of Cigar Lake.
2121-11th Street West
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
S7M 1J3
Phone: (306) 956-6200
Fax: (306) 956-6201
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