Abstract: The process for converting feed materials of high mineral content containing primary metal values and fluorine values to the primary metal or useful compounds thereof and to fluorine values or useful compounds thereof, wherein the feed materials constitutes a difficultly soluble matrix, the process having the steps of contacting the feed materials in a reactor with a humidified, gaseous system at from about 200.degree. C. to about 1600.degree. C., the contacting being carried out such as to convert the primary metal values to oxide residues at commercially acceptable rates and to evolve gaseous fluoride from the feed, digesting said oxide residues in an acidic digest medium and separating the primary metal values from the resulting digest liquor and from other components of the residues.

Abstract: The process for separating U or Th values from values of at least one other metal such as Ta, Nb, Sc, Zr, Ti or Mg, wherein all of the values are contained in a difficult soluble matrix of highly fluorinated feed materials such as U or Th bearing ores or the processing products, processing intermediates, or processing residues thereof, the method comprising the steps of:(a) digesting the feed materials with an aqueous, mineral acid, digest medium containing one or more complexing materials such as H.sub.3 BO.sub.3, or ions of group 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A, 6A, or 7A metals, Fe, B, Al or Si;(b) maintaining the temperature of the medium between about 55.degree. C. and about 85.degree. C.

Abstract: The process for converting feed materials of high mineral content and substantial radioactivity levels to concentrated radionuclide products of high radioactivity levels and to other products of discard or very low radioactivity levels, wherein the feed materials consists of a difficultly soluble matrix contain substantial metal, fluorine, and radionuclide values assaying above about 30 pCi/g, the process having the steps of contacting the feed materials with high temperature steam of from about 200.degree. C. to about 1500.degree. C.