— The Coastal Plains
2.7. WORLD OVERVIEW OF POTENTIAL FOR DISCOVERY OF URANIUM RESOURCES RESOURCES
The IUREP project (1978-1985) (Appendix I) was the earliest attempt at an evaluation of the uranium potential around the world. For most areas possessing the geological conditions favourable for hosting uranium deposits, the relative potential for new discoveries is identified with suggested locations, rock types or terrains proposed. No effort has been made to make quantitative estimates of undiscovered resources. It is emphasized that the potential favourability was agreed on by a consensus of the expert group that prepared the volumes and is not a reflection of official estimates of governments or national authorities. A summary on relative potential is included in the introduction to each regional volume. The reader is referred to the individual reports for estimates of potential for specific areas.
The assessment of prospectivity for the discovery of new uranium deposits in an individual country is based on a consensus of the authors of this publication, following a review of the geology and reported results of exploration and development activities. Terms used range from ‘none’, ‘very limited’, ‘limited’
and ‘low’, to ‘moderate’ or ‘high’. These terms are not precisely defined but, rather, describe the country’s relative potential for additional uranium resources. The assigned description of potential is usually based on the existence of favourable rock types for hosting uranium deposits. The relative size of the country and extent of favourable areas, as well as the extent of exploration conducted, are also taken into consideration in describing the potential rating. It should also be emphasised that these evaluatiosn are necessarily based on incomplete understanding of geology and variable availability of data, and so can (and likely would) change should new information become available. Nevertheless, they are considered to be an appropriate and valid opinion at the time of writing.
2.7.1. Potential for new resources in Africa
There is potential for additional deposits in Africa, including all the types listed in Table 2.45 as well as others. Each report describes the geology and evaluates the potential for locating uranium resources.
Reports on Africa countries include 12 countries with a resource potential that is rated as ranging from none to limited.
Of the remaining 40 countries that have potential for uranium deposits, at least three of them, Algeria, Botswana and Zambia, have moderate to high potential for several types of deposit.
Algeria is described as having a high potential for sandstone, surficial and vein type deposits. Botswana has moderate to high potential for sandstone and calcrete type deposits and low to moderate potential for unconformity type deposits. Zambia has moderate to high potential for sandstone and metamorphic deposits.
There is moderate potential for locating additional sandstone deposits in Chad, the Congo, Ghana, Libya and Mali, and high potential in Gabon, Niger and Nigeria.
Namibia has a high potential for intrusive and calcrete type deposits.
Vein deposits may be located in Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya, Mali, Nigeria and Tunisia.
There is low to moderate potential for quartz-pebble conglomerates in Botswana, Liberia and high potential in South Africa.
Over 6.5 million tU is associated with phosphates in Morocco. There is moderate potential for uranium associated with phosphorite deposits in the Central African Republic, Nigeria and Senegal.
TABLE 2.45. POTENTIAL FOR NEW RESOURCES IN AFRICA
Country Potential Remarks
Algeria Moderate
to High Vein type in Precambrian rocks of the Hoggar and sandstone type and surficial along the fringes of the Hoggar, Eglab and Tindouf Massifs.
Angola Moderate Sandstone type in the Karoo and Continental Intercalaire formations, though reporting on exploration limited.
Benin Limited Unconformity type deposits along the Dahomeyan Series and the Upper Proterozoic Atacorian Series contact.
Botswana Moderate
to High
Many exposed sedimentary (Karoo) and metamorphic environments. Surficial type
Burkina Faso None Neoproterozoic phosphate rocks in the extreme south-east of the country.
Burundi Low Vein, granitic, peribatholithic environments.
Cabo Verde Very
Limited Recent volcanic formations.
Cameroon Moderate Sandstone type in continental sediments.
Central African Republic Moderate Unconformity type deposit, sandstone type in continental sediments, phosphate type.
Chad Moderate Sandstone type in continental sediments, vein type in Precambrian formations.
Comoros Very
Limited Volcanic formations.
Congo Moderate Potential for sandstone and unconformity type deposits. Country relatively small.
Côte d’Ivoire Moderate Occurrences in granitic environments. Limited exploration.
Democratic Republic of
the Congo Moderate
to High Overall favourable geological environments.
Djibouti None No known exploration. No favourable geology.
Egypt Limited to
moderate Vein, sandstone and surficial type occurrences but no economic deposits yet located. Phosphate deposits.
Equatorial Guinea None No known exploration. Very small country.
Eritrea
Eswatini (Swazilaqnd)
Low Limited
Inadequate exploration, several possibilities including sandstone and calcrete deposit types.
Sandstone type deposits associated with Karoo strata.
Ethiopia Moderate
to High Only preliminary exploration, possible unconformity, sandstone and calcrete deposit types.
Gabon Moderate
to High Several favourable basins. Potential for sandstone type deposits.
Gambia Low to
Moderate Favourable basins but very small country.
Ghana Moderate Metasomatite type associated with Middle Proterozoic formations of the Dahomeyan System, and sandstone type in the Voltaian Basin.
Guinea Very
Limited Vein type associated with Archaean and Proterozoic metamorphic complexes.
Guinea-Bissau Very
Limited No favourable geology based on exploration results.
Kenya Limited Continental sandstone and volcanic formations.
Lesotho Low Favourable rocks but limited channel development in sandstone formations.
Liberia Moderate Anomalies identified in quartz pebble conglomerates.
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Country Potential Remarks
Libya Moderate Geology favourable for sandstone, vein, unconformity and surficial type deposits.
Madagascar Moderate
to High
Geology favourable for vein, sandstone (including roll front) and intrusive type deposits.
Malawi Moderate
to High
Additional sandstone type deposits in the Kayelekera area, surficial type and uranium as a by-product of niobium extraction.
Mali Moderate Sandstone type deposits in continental sandstone along the fringes of the Adrar des Iforas Massif and in the Faléa area.
Mauritania Moderate Unconformity type, vein type, surficial type deposits in north-east Mauritania.
Mauritius None Oceanic basalts and reef limestones are unfavourable environments for the formation of uranium deposits.
Morocco Moderate Additional phosphates potential. Sandstone and vein type deposits in the Atlas.
Surficial type, intrusive type (carbonatites).
Mozambique Moderate Vein or unconformity type deposits in Precambrian formations. Sandstone type in Karoo formations.
Namibia High Potential for additional intrusive, surficial calcrete, sandstone type deposits similar in size to existing mines and deposits.
Niger High Sandstone type deposits in the Agades, Djado Basins.
Nigeria High Sandstone type deposits in the Cretaceous in the Sokoto and Chad Basins. Vein type. Phosphates in Cretaceous and Tertiary sediments.
Rwanda Moderate Lower Proterozoic pegmatitic and granitic intrusions in the western part of the country.
Senegal Low Vein type in granites. Uranium may be associated with sedimentary marine phosphates, possibly in shales.
Seychelles None Potential for discoveries based on the rock types found on the islands is regarded as nil.
Sierra Leone Low Similarities with the Guyana Shield of northern South America. Metasomatite type.
Somalia Mod Sandstone and calcrete type deposits.
South Africa High Large areas in western Transvaal favourable for quartz-pebble conglomerate type deposits, sandstone in Karoo Supergroup, large areas for surficial or calcrete deposit types.
Sudan Moderate Sandstone type deposits associated with the Mesozoic Nubian Series.
Togo Moderate Unconformity type deposits between the Dahomeyan Series and the Upper Proterozoic Atacorian Series.
Tanzania Low to
Moderate Surficial and Sandstone type deposits associated with Karoo strata.
Tunisia Moderate Potential for uranium in phosphates, but low average uranium grade. Vein, disseminated and sandstone type deposits.
Uganda Moderate Unconformity type deposits.
Zambia Moderate
to High
Sandstone type deposits in Karoo sediments. Calcrete, igneous or metamorphic deposit types.
Zimbabwe Moderate
to High Metamorphic in Precambrian Copperbelt and Karoo sediments.
.7.2. Potential for new resources in Western Europe
There is limited potential for additional deposits of significant size in the Western Europe region (Table 2.46). The highest potential is for additional resources of already identified deposit types in Spain.
Andorra, Holy See, Liechtenstein, Monaco and San Marino are countries with small land areas and therefore have no significant potential for uranium discoveries. While Luxembourg is somewhat larger (2 586 km2), the geology is not favourable for the discovery of uranium deposits.
TABLE 2.46. POTENTIAL FOR NEW RESOURCE DISCOVERIES IN WESTERN EUROPE
Country Potential Remarks
Sandstone, Carbonatite, Volcanic & Phosphorite, Metamorphite Very extensively explored ; possible potential at depth
Permian to Tertiary Sandstone Small urban country
Granite-related. Oceanic basalt related rocks unfavourable Granitic and Old Red Sandstone
Caledonian granites ; Alpine sandstones ; environmental restrictions Small coubtry, no exploration reported
Vein type ; Vicinity of intrusives, sandstones Small country, no exploration reportrd
Vein-type, Metamorphite, Alum Shale (<0.03%U) Vein type
Vein type
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2.7.3. Potential for New Resources in Central, Eastern and South-eastern Europe
There is potential for additional deposits in Central, eastern and south-eastern region (Table 2.47). The highest potential is for additional resources of already identified deposit types in the Russian Federation.
TABLE 2.47. POTENTIAL FOR NEW RESOURCE DISCOVERIES IN CENTRAL, EASTERN AND SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPE
Country Potential Remarks
Albania Very limited Unfavourable source and host rock types.
Armenia Low Unfavourable source and host rock types.
Belarus None
Bosnia and Herzegovina Very limited Unfavourable rock types (carbonates, ophiolites, molasse sediments).
Bulgaria Limited Potential previously assigned as moderate; these areas have already been explored and mined.
Croatia Very limited >50% of country underlain by carbonates.
Cyprus Very limited Unfavourable rock types (ophiolite suite and related rocks).
Czech Republic Low Very extensively explored; possible potential at depth.
Estonia Very limited Alum shale has some low grade potential; no other rocks considered to have potential.
Georgia None Unfavourable rock types in Alpine type tectonic setting.
Greece Low Potential in NE based on Bulgarian results; sedimentary basins could be explored.
Hungary Limited Limited potential on the basis of past exploration results and mostly unfavourable rock types.
Latvia None Unfavourable very young rock types; Quaternary cover predominates.
Lithuania None Past exploration unsuccessful; basement covered with younger marine sediments and Quaternary strata.
Moldova, Republic of None Quaternary with Tertiary (minor) sediments cover infrequent basement outcrops.
Montenegro None Unfavourable rock types (mostly limestone).
Poland Very limited Sandstone and vein type uranium near intrusives already explored.
Romania Low Some potential for deposits at depth in intrusive bodies.
Russian Federation Moderate to high Potential in the vicinity of existing large deposits, as well as potential for new discoveries in the very extensive remote areas.
Serbia Limited to none Limestone and ophiolite belts are unfavourable; other areas have potential only for limited, low grade mineralization.
Slovakia Moderate Past exploration demonstrated additional potential.
Slovenia Very limited Limited potential on the basis of past exploration results.
The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia Very limited >50% of country covered by Tertiary–Quaternary basins.
Turkey Limited Favourable for several deposit types (Sandstone, Metamorphite) although limited to low grade mineralization and relatively deep.
Ukraine Low to moderate
Exploration for metasomatite type deposits in Shield areas; possible basal channel sandstone type; unconformity, granite-related and haematite breccia type deposits also targeted.
2.7.4. Potential for new resources in South-eastern Asia, Pacific, East Asia
There is potential for additional deposits in the South-eastern Asia, Pacific, East Asia region (Table 2.48).
The highest potential is for additional resources of already identified deposit types in Australia, China and Mongolia.
TABLE 2.48. POTENTIAL FOR NEW RESOURCE DISCOVERIES IN SOUTH-EASTERN, PACIFIC AND EAST ASIA
Based on regional geology and knowledge of existing deposits.
Potential limited to metamorphic and intrusive formations China High Based on favourable environments, including basins in the north.
Fiji None Based on rock types.
Indonesia Limited Two areas of volcanics, granites and metasediments have uranium occurrences.
Japan Very low Past exploration covered most areas.
DPR Korea Not rated Insufficient geological information to evaluate potential. Probably similar to the republic of korea.
Republic of Korea Lao
Moderate Very limited
Black shales. Some potential exists for unconformity type deposits.
Potential limited to pre-cambrian metamorphic formations Malaysia
Mongolia High Based on sedimentary basin geology.
Myanmar Moderate Some areas mentioned as having favourable geology.
New Caledonia (France) Low Possibly associated with mylonites in shear zones.
New Zealand Philippines Limited Limited areas could be explored further.
Singapore Solomon Islands
None Limited
Small urban country, no exploration reported.
Phosphates
Taiwan, China Low Unfavourable rock types.
Thailand Low Some favourable sandstones, exploration has not been encouraging.
Timor-Leste Very limited Very small area and unfavourable rock types.
Viet Nam Moderate Some potential, including sandstone, coal-lignite and phosphates.
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2.7.5. Potential for new resources in Middle East, Central and Southern Asia
There is potential for the discovery of other deposits in the Southern and Central Asia and the Middle East regions. The highest potential is for additional resources of already identified deposit types in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan (Table 2.49).
Tertiary sandstone, carbonatite, volcanic complex. Limited exploration
—
Permian–Tertiary sandstone
Siwalik formations similar to Nepal and Palistan.
Vein, sandstone, unconformity (low grade deposits), carbonate, metasomatite.
2.7.6. Potential for new resources in North, Central and South America
The countries in the North, Central and South Americas designated as having ‘high’ potential are Argentina, Brazil, Canada and Venezuela. All but Venezuela have produced uranium in the past. Another eight countries (Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Surinam, the USA and Uruguay) are described as having ‘moderate’ potential (Table 2.50).
TABLE 2.50. POTENTIAL FOR NEW RESOURCE DISCOVERIES IN NORTH, CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
Country Potential Remarks
Argentina High Significant with unexplored areas including fluvial basins. Sandstone, vein, volcanic, surficial.
Belize Low Excepting crystalline basement, marine sediments predominate.
Bolivia Low IUREP described the existence of attractive unexplored targets, primarily associated with areas underlain by Precambrian strata in north-eastern Bolivia. No deposits have been located.
Brazil High to very high
Considerable target areas for several deposit types. Particularly important is the Guiana Shield for unconformity, metasomatite and quartz pebble conglomerate type deposits and very large basins for the sandstone hosted type. Numerous alkaline and carbonatite intrusions.
Canada High Continued success in identifying unconformity and other deposit types such as metasomatite, metamorphic and black shale.
Chile Low Nothing found in highly explored country. Potential for metasomatite.
Colombia Moderate Unexplored massif areas and Mesozoic sediments.
Costa Rica Very limited Unlikely owing to rock types present.
Cuba Very limited Unlikely owing to rock types present.
Dominican Republic Very limited Unlikely owing to rock types present.
Ecuador Limited Relatively small country and limited rock types present.
El Salvador Very limited Unlikely owing to rock types present.
French Guiana Low Quartz pebble conglomerate and unconformity type potential.
Guyana Moderate Metasomatite, quartz pebble conglomerate and unconformity type potential.
Guatemala Low Little exploration undertaken.
Haiti Low Unlikely owing to rock types present.
Honduras Low Unlikely owing to rock types present.
Jamaica Low Rock types related to tectonics unfavourable (dominantly marine and volcanics).
Mexico Moderate to High Attractive in situ leach amenable targets exist. Large volcanic areas, Phosphorites.
Nicaragua Limited Rock types related to tectonics unfavourable.
Panama Limited Rock types related to tectonics unfavourable.
Paraguay Moderate South-east region, west Paraná Basin, sandstone hosted type, possibly in situ leach amenable.
Peru Moderate Low (excluding Macusani district). Potential environments not investigated.
Suriname Low to Moderate Precambrian Shield areas relatively unexplored.
USA Moderate Extensively explored. Known deposits have greater resources at higher uranium market prices.
Uruguay Moderate Potential in Paraná Basin for sandstone type deposits.
Venezuela High Precambrian rocks have high potential for all types except calcrete.
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