Links to satellite images (Google Maps) and uranium deposit types (International Atomic Energy Agency)
Unconformity-Proterozoic, fracture-bound
Unconformity-Proterozoic. Fracture-bound.
Geology
Basement:graphite-biotite-cordierite gneiss cut by pegmatites and mobilizates. Minor calc-silicates. Cover: Athabasca Group (Manitou Falls Formation b and c ) 350 to 450 m Overburden; Glacial tilt (5 to 60 m). E-W shear zone offset by the NE-SW faults affecting the sandstones. Steeply dipping foliation. 4 main episodes of mineralization: 1500, 1300, 900, 300 Ma. Uraninite, pitchblende, coffinite. Clay-bound mineralization, minor veins in the basement and late perched mineralization in the sandstones. Very high grade (up to 70 % U). Large tonnage (150 000 tU).
Cigar Lake will be a 450 m deep underground mine in poor ground conditions, using ground freezing and high-pressure water jets for excavation of ore. High-grade ore slurry from remote mining will be trucked for treatment at Areva's expanded McClean Lake mill, 70 km northeast, and just over half of the product then to Cameco's Rabbit Lake mill 70 km east, to produce a total of 8200 t/yr U3O8 (7000 tU/yr) ramping up over three years from a planned production start in 2008. Proven and probable ore reserves are 176,700 tonnes U3O8 at over 24% average grade, and with other resources the mine is expected to have a life of 30-40 years. However, a major flood in October 2006 has set the project back at least a year.
Geology
Basement:graphite-biotite-cordierite gneiss cut by pegmatites and mobilizates. Minor calc-silicates. Cover: Athabasca Group (Manitou Falls Formation b and c ) 350 to 450 m Overburden; Glacial tilt (5 to 60 m). E-W shear zone offset by the NE-SW faults affecting the sandstones. Steeply dipping foliation. 4 main episodes of mineralization: 1500, 1300, 900, 300 Ma. Uraninite, pitchblende, coffinite. Clay-bound mineralization, minor veins in the basement and late perched mineralization in the sandstones. Very high grade (up to 70 % U). Large tonnage (150 000 tU).
Cigar Lake will be a 450 m deep underground mine in poor ground conditions, using ground freezing and high-pressure water jets for excavation of ore. High-grade ore slurry from remote mining will be trucked for treatment at Areva's expanded McClean Lake mill, 70 km northeast, and just over half of the product then to Cameco's Rabbit Lake mill 70 km east, to produce a total of 8200 t/yr U3O8 (7000 tU/yr) ramping up over three years from a planned production start in 2008. Proven and probable ore reserves are 176,700 tonnes U3O8 at over 24% average grade, and with other resources the mine is expected to have a life of 30-40 years. However, a major flood in October 2006 has set the project back at least a year.
The full construction licence was issued in December 2004 and construction of the C$ 520 million project began early in 2005. The McClean Lake mill is being modified in to take the new ore. Some 1.3 million cubic metres of waste rock from Cigar Lake will be emplaced under water in the Sue C pit at McClean Lake. The joint venture is managed by Cameco which holds 50%, other parties being Areva 37%, Idemitsu 8% and TEPCO 5%.
Unconformity-Proterozoic, fracture-bound.
Geology
McArthur River has enormous high-grade (23%) reserves at a depth of c 600 metres. It opened at the end of 1999. Remote-control raise-boring methods are used for mining and the ore is trucked 80 km south to the modified Key Lake mill, where it is blended with "special waste rock" to produce 8500 t/yr of U3O8 (7200 tU). Mining is constrained by licensed capacity, and a planned increase to 10,000 t/yr is under review by government agencies and expected to be implemented in 2009. Tailings are deposited in a mined-out pit. Flooding in April 2003 interrupted production for some three months. Cameco is the operator and majority owner, with Areva (30.2%) as partner.
Geology
McArthur River has enormous high-grade (23%) reserves at a depth of c 600 metres. It opened at the end of 1999. Remote-control raise-boring methods are used for mining and the ore is trucked 80 km south to the modified Key Lake mill, where it is blended with "special waste rock" to produce 8500 t/yr of U3O8 (7200 tU). Mining is constrained by licensed capacity, and a planned increase to 10,000 t/yr is under review by government agencies and expected to be implemented in 2009. Tailings are deposited in a mined-out pit. Flooding in April 2003 interrupted production for some three months. Cameco is the operator and majority owner, with Areva (30.2%) as partner.
Unconformity-Proterozoic, fracture-bound.
Geology
The McClean Lake mine commenced operation in mid 1999. It is producing about 2500 t/yr U3O8 (2120 tU) from 2.4% ore but has been relicensed for 3640 t/yr. It has new plant and other infrastructure and uses the first mined-out pit for tailings disposal (the ore having been stockpiled). Production in 2006 is expected to be less than 2000t due to lower grades and expansion of the mill to prepare for Cigar Lake ore. McClean Lake involves four open pits and later will become an underground mine. It is owned by Areva Resources (70%, also operator), in joint venture with Denison Energy (22.5%) and OURD (7.5%).
Geology
The McClean Lake mine commenced operation in mid 1999. It is producing about 2500 t/yr U3O8 (2120 tU) from 2.4% ore but has been relicensed for 3640 t/yr. It has new plant and other infrastructure and uses the first mined-out pit for tailings disposal (the ore having been stockpiled). Production in 2006 is expected to be less than 2000t due to lower grades and expansion of the mill to prepare for Cigar Lake ore. McClean Lake involves four open pits and later will become an underground mine. It is owned by Areva Resources (70%, also operator), in joint venture with Denison Energy (22.5%) and OURD (7.5%).
Unconformity-Proterozoic, fracture-bound.
Geology
Areva's Midwest mine was to be underground, utilising ground freezing and water jet boring, but may be open pit. The ore will be milled at McClean Lake nearby, to produce 2600 t/yr U3O8. Government approval received in April 1998 enabled application for CNSC construction and operating licences. An environmental assessment began in 2006, including new mine, 15 km haul road to McClean Lake mill, and expansion of the mill. The Midwest project is managed by Areva Resources (holding 69.16%), with Denison Energy (25.17%) & OURD Canada (5.67%).
Geology
Areva's Midwest mine was to be underground, utilising ground freezing and water jet boring, but may be open pit. The ore will be milled at McClean Lake nearby, to produce 2600 t/yr U3O8. Government approval received in April 1998 enabled application for CNSC construction and operating licences. An environmental assessment began in 2006, including new mine, 15 km haul road to McClean Lake mill, and expansion of the mill. The Midwest project is managed by Areva Resources (holding 69.16%), with Denison Energy (25.17%) & OURD Canada (5.67%).
Sandstone - Roll Front
Sandstone - Roll Front
Sandstone - Roll Front
Sandstone - Roll Front
Sandstone - Roll Front
Sandstone - Roll Front
Metasomatite
Sandstone - Tabular
Intrusive
Surficial.
Geology
The Langer Heinrich deposit is situated in a river valley, 90 km east of Swakopmund, which is a portion of a13 km - long E - W trending palaeochannel, transecting the Bloedkoppie Granite (up to 100 g/t U3O8 ) in the east and Damara schist in the west. The northern bank of the palaeochannel consists of Nosib quartzite.
The mineralisation, which is hosted by fluvial sediments of the palaeochannel, occurs in thin tabular bodies throughout the sedimentary rocks. Carnotite [K(UO )(VO ).1½ H ] is irregularly distributed as small patches and lenses around pebbles and in cracks, or finely disseminated in the host rock. It extends westwards across the Gawib River and continues under young sediment cover for ca. 2.5 km. With a 250 ppm U3O8 cut-off, total resources are 72.3 Mt at 600-700 ppm U3O8, containing 44,000t U3 O8 . After completion of the development phase production will start in 2006.
Geology
The Langer Heinrich deposit is situated in a river valley, 90 km east of Swakopmund, which is a portion of a13 km - long E - W trending palaeochannel, transecting the Bloedkoppie Granite (up to 100 g/t U3O8 ) in the east and Damara schist in the west. The northern bank of the palaeochannel consists of Nosib quartzite.
The mineralisation, which is hosted by fluvial sediments of the palaeochannel, occurs in thin tabular bodies throughout the sedimentary rocks. Carnotite [K(UO )(VO ).1½ H ] is irregularly distributed as small patches and lenses around pebbles and in cracks, or finely disseminated in the host rock. It extends westwards across the Gawib River and continues under young sediment cover for ca. 2.5 km. With a 250 ppm U3O8 cut-off, total resources are 72.3 Mt at 600-700 ppm U3O8, containing 44,000t U3 O8 . After completion of the development phase production will start in 2006.
Metasomatite
Sandstone - Roll Front
Sandstone - Roll Front.Geology
Uranium is hosted in Eocene strata of the lower stratigraphic-structural unit. The Eocene sequence is 80-150 m thick and includes five sandy horizons separated by clay-silt layers 3.5-30 m thick. Two of the sandy horizons, Kanzhugan and Uyuk, carry U mineralization. A regional oxidation zone (referred to as “stratum oxidation zone“ in Russian terminology) is the prominent alteration feature. 35 to 22 m.y. Uranium is essentially represented by coffinite. Ore bodies are related to sinuous redox fronts that extend for a length of as much as about 10 km. Ore bodies have roll and tabular morphologies. Their width is 40-800 m. Thicknesses vary between 1 and 20 m and average 5.3 m. Ore grades range widely.
Sandstone - Roll Front
Sandstone - Roll Front
Sandstone - Roll Front
Volcanic
Volcanic.Geology
Principal host lithologies are brecciated andesitic - basaltic pillow-lava, carbonaceous sandstone, oligophyric rhyolite sheets and vitroclastic felsic tuff. Fault systems are oriented NE-SW, N-S and NW-SE. Horsts and grabens are primarily controlled by NE-SW trending faults. ost prominent is pre-ore hydromica - montmorillonitization. Hematitization is directly related to mineralized zones and its intensity tends to correlate with the grade of mineralization. Late Jurassic - Early Cretaceous, 153 to 136 m.y. Principal uranium minerals are coffinite and pitchblende. Uraniferous leucoxene and titanite, minor brannerite and uranophane are wide spread in ore body No.7. Ore bodies display peneconcordant - tabular and veinlike to stockwork configurations. All ore bodies are blind distributed over a vertical interval from 30 to 600m below surface. Distances between ore bodies are 50 to 350m. The Dornot deposit covers an area of about 20 km²
Volcanic
Unconformity-Proterozoic, fracture-bound.Geology
Schist, granitic gneiss, pegmatite, dolerite; Mineralisation occurs in brecciated chlorite-biotite-felspar schist associated with a number of low-angle thrust zones. These faults are sub-parallel to the stratigraphy. Chloritic sericitic silicification. Primary ore consists of uraninite with minor brannerite and amorphous mixtures of pitchblende. Minor thucholite. Both the upper and lower mine sequences are severely brecciated in the ore zones and extensively invaded by chlorite veins, which carry most of the mineralisation. Within the ore zone there are several periods of brecciation and chloritisation and remobilisation of uranium mineralisation. 1737±20 Ma (U-Pg age dating)
The ore is mined by open-cut methods. Production commenced in 1981 from the first ore body which has been mined out - mine production is now from the second ore body. The processing plant (acid leach and solvent extraction) has a production capacity of 5000 tonnes U3O8 per year. Ranger mine area and the adjoining Jabiluka Mineral Lease are on Aboriginal land and they are surrounded by Kakadu National Park.
Unconformity-Proterozoic, fracture-bound
Hematite Breccia Complex.
Geology
Olympic Dam,is the world’s largest uranium deposit (in terms of total reserves and resources of uranium). Mineralisation occurs in a hematite-rich granite breccia complex and is beneath approximately 300 metres of flat-lying sedimentary rocks of the Stuart Shelf geological province. The mine produces uranium, copper, gold and silver. The ore is mined by large-scale underground methods (long-hole open stoping). Production began in 1988.
Geology
Olympic Dam,is the world’s largest uranium deposit (in terms of total reserves and resources of uranium). Mineralisation occurs in a hematite-rich granite breccia complex and is beneath approximately 300 metres of flat-lying sedimentary rocks of the Stuart Shelf geological province. The mine produces uranium, copper, gold and silver. The ore is mined by large-scale underground methods (long-hole open stoping). Production began in 1988.
The operation has annual production capacity of 200 000 tonnes of refined copper, and 4300 tonnes U3O8.
Sandstone - Basal Channel.
Geology
Beverley in the Lake Frome area (SA), is the first in situ leach (ISL) uranium mine in Australia. The deposit occurs in unconsolidated sands with inter-bedded clays (Upper Tertiary in age) that were deposited in a confined palaeochannel sequence. Mineralisation is at an average depth of 107 m below surface. Production commenced in November 2000 and the operation has capacity to produce 1000 tonnes U3O8 annually. Acid leach solutions and oxygen are used to dissolve uranium in situ, and resin-type ion-exchange techniques are used to recover uranium in the processing plant.
Geology
Beverley in the Lake Frome area (SA), is the first in situ leach (ISL) uranium mine in Australia. The deposit occurs in unconsolidated sands with inter-bedded clays (Upper Tertiary in age) that were deposited in a confined palaeochannel sequence. Mineralisation is at an average depth of 107 m below surface. Production commenced in November 2000 and the operation has capacity to produce 1000 tonnes U3O8 annually. Acid leach solutions and oxygen are used to dissolve uranium in situ, and resin-type ion-exchange techniques are used to recover uranium in the processing plant.
Sandstone - Roll Front
Uranium deposits and occurrences in Africa
| (International Atomic Energy Agency) |
| Country | Deposit Name | Deposit Type | Deposit Status |
| Abankor | Vein | Dormant | |
| Daira | Vein | Dormant | |
| Tahaggart | Sandstone - Basal Channel | Dormant | |
| Timgaouine | Vein | Dormant | |
| Tinef | Vein | Dormant | |
| Kitongo Bakouma | Surficial | Dormant | |
| Kamoto | Vein | Dormant | |
| Kasompi | Vein | Dormant | |
| Shinkolobwe-Kasolo | Vein | Dormant | |
| Bangombe | Sandstone - Tectonic/Lithologic | Dormant | |
| Boyindzi | Sandstone - Tabular | Depleted | |
| Mikouloungou | Sandstone - Tectonic/Lithologic | Depleted | |
| Mounana | Sandstone - Tabular | Depleted | |
| Okélobondo Nord | Sandstone - Tabular | Depleted | |
| Okélobondo Satellite Nord | Sandstone - Tabular | Depleted | |
| Okélobondo Satellite Sud | Sandstone - Tabular | Depleted | |
| Okélobondo Sud | Sandstone - Tabular | Depleted | |
| Oklo | Sandstone - Tabular | Depleted | |
| Antsirabe | Sandstone - Tabular | Dormant | |
| Folakara | Sandstone - Roll Front | Dormant | |
| Fort Dauphin Occurences | Intrusive | Dormant | |
| Kayelekera | Sandstone - Tabular | Exploration | |
| Gantour, Ganntour | Phosphorite | Dormant | |
| Khouribga (Uran) | Phosphorite | Dormant | |
| Meskala (Uran) | Phosphorite | Dormant | |
| Oued Eddahab (Uran) | Phosphorite | Dormant | |
| Auris | Intrusive | Dormant | |
| Engo Valley | Sandstone - Basal Channel | Dormant | |
| Goanikontes | Intrusive | Dormant | |
| Hakskeen | Surficial | Dormant | |
| Klein Trekkopje | Surficial | Dormant | |
| Langer Heinrich | Surficial | Development | |
| Mile 72 | Surficial | Dormant | |
| Rössing | Intrusive | Operating | |
| Tumas | Surficial | Dormant | |
| Valencia | Intrusive | Dormant | |
| Abakorum | Sandstone - Tabular | Dormant | |
| Akola | Sandstone - Tabular | Operating | |
| Akouta Nord | Sandstone - Tabular | Operating | |
| Akouta Sud | Sandstone - Tabular | Dormant | |
| Ariege | Sandstone - Tabular | Operating | |
| Arlette | Sandstone - Tabular | Depleted | |
| Artois | Sandstone - Tabular | Development | |
| Ebala | Sandstone - Tabular | Exploration | |
| Ebba Nord | Sandstone - Tabular | Development | |
| Ebba Sud | Sandstone - Tabular | Development | |
| Imouraren | Sandstone - Roll Front | Dormant | |
| Marianne | Sandstone - Roll Front | Unknown | |
| Marthe | Sandstone - Roll Front | Unknown | |
| Maryline | Sandstone - Roll Front | Unknown | |
| Tabelle | Sandstone - Tabular | Development | |
| Takriza | Sandstone - Tabular | Depleted | |
| Tamgak | Sandstone - Tabular | Exploration | |
| Tamou | Sandstone - Tabular | Operating | |
| Taza Nord | Sandstone - Tabular | Depleted | |
| Taza Sud | Sandstone - Tabular | Depleted | |
| Alio Ghelle;Jach Brava | Metasomatite | Dormant | |
| Dusa Mareb | Surficial | Dormant | |
| Blyvooruitzicht | Quartz-pebble Conglomerate | Dormant | |
| Buffelsfontein | Quartz-pebble Conglomerate | Operating | |
| Chemwes-Stilfontein | Quartz-pebble Conglomerate | Dormant | |
| Driefontein Mine | Quartz-pebble Conglomerate | Dormant | |
| Free State Geduld Mine | Quartz-pebble Conglomerate | Dormant | |
| Harmony | Quartz-pebble Conglomerate | Dormant | |
| Hartebeestfontein | Quartz-pebble Conglomerate | Operating | |
| Loraine | Quartz-pebble Conglomerate | Dormant | |
| Phalaborwa | Intrusive | Closed | |
| President Brand Mine | Quartz-pebble Conglomerate | Operating | |
| President Steyn | Quartz-pebble Conglomerate | Operating | |
| Randfontein Mine | Quartz-pebble Conglomerate | Dormant | |
| St.Helena (Beisa Section) | Quartz-pebble Conglomerate | Dormant | |
| Vaal Reefs Mines | Quartz-pebble Conglomerate | Operating | |
| West Rand Mine (Uranium Section) | Quartz-pebble Conglomerate | Dormant | |
| Western Areas Mine | Quartz-pebble Conglomerate | Operating | |
| Western Deep Levels Mine | Quartz-pebble Conglomerate | Dormant | |
| Western Holdings | Quartz-pebble Conglomerate | Operating | |
| Kanyemba | Sandstone - Tabular | Dormant | |
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