Abstract: A method of recovering zirconium values from an ore containing zircon, baddeleyite, and uranium is disclosed. The method includes fusing the ore with soda ash and contacting the resulting fused ore with sulfuric acid, which generates an acid leach liquor that contains zirconium and uranium values and solids that comprise baddeleyite and silica. Baddeleyite is recovered by contacting it with sulfuric acid to convert baddeleyite to zirconium sulfate, which can be dissolved in the acid leach liquor. The method also includes separating zirconium from uranium by solvent extraction followed by precipitation.

Abstract: A method of recovering zirconium values from an ore containing zircon, baddeleyite, and uranium is disclosed. The method includes fusing the ore with soda ash and contacting the resulting fused ore with sulfuric acid, which generates an acid leach liquor that contains zirconium and uranium values and solids that comprise baddeleyite and silica. Baddeleyite is recovered by contacting it with sulfuric acid to convert baddeleyite to zirconium sulfate, which can be dissolved in the acid leach liquor. The method also includes separating zirconium from uranium by solvent extraction followed by precipitation.

Abstract: A process for treating composite materials comprising metals and having significant radioactivity for separation into concentrated individual products is provided. The process of the invention recovers valuable metals and semi-metal elements including rare earth, transition metal, radioactive elements, and compounds and composites thereof as commercially viable products while isolating the radioactive components. They key components in the composite material which are desired to be recovered are tantalum, niobium, and scandium due to their high commercial values and significant quantities. The process further includes the capability to recover uranium, thorium, rare earth, and zirconium products. Generally, the process consists of an initial sulfate roast followed by a series of hydrometallurgical unit operations designed to separate and purify the desired components into commercially usable products, such as tantalum and/or niobium in the form of metal oxides, M.sub.2 O.sub.