The processes of the present invention include mineral acid leaching of a metal
containing material, such as an ore residue, containing fluoridated metal values
in the presence of a complexing agent which will complex fluoride ions. The processes
of the present invention provide for the separation of valuable metal, fluoride
and radionuclide values from a feed material of high mineral content wherein the
metals and radionuclides are present as substantially water insoluble fluorides
or are trapped within a metal fluorine matrix which is substantially insoluble
in typical chemical reactant systems.