— The Coastal Plains
2.5. WORLD OVERVIEW OF URANIUM RESOURCES
The following tables summarize, by region, identified and undiscovered uranium resources (Figs 2.12 and 2.13 and Tables 2.23 and 2.24)
As of 1 January 2017, reasonably assured resources (RAR), recoverable at <US $260/kg U amount to 4 845 000 tU. Inferred resources (IR), recoverable at <US $260/kgU amounts to 3 173 000 tU.
The South-eastern Asia, Pacific, East Asia region has the largest share of identified resources (reasonably assured resources and inferred resources) at 31.0%, followed by Africa (21.2%), North, Central and South America (16.3%); Middle East, Central and Southern Asia (15.7%); Central, Eastern and South-eastern Europe (13.2%) and Western Europe (2.7%). The regional reports indicate that the majority of identified resources are concentrated within three or fewer countries in each region.
Total undiscovered resources (prognosticated and speculative) are estimated at about 10 401 100 tU.
Undiscovered resources are reported by only about one fifth of the countries in this publication. The estimated undiscovered resources are highest where there are formal procedures established to make such estimates of undiscovered resources.
FIG. 2.12. Total identified uranium resources by region as of January 2017.
TABLE 2.23. DETAILS OF IDENTIFIED RESOURCES BY REGION (1000 tU) [2.25]
(As of 1 January 2017) Region
<US $40/kgU <US $80/kgU <US $130/kgU <US $260/kgU
RARa IRb RAR IR RAR IR RAR IR
Africa 0 0 206.2 70.2 921.7 350 1108.8 586.7
Central, Eastern and South-eastern Europe 0 0 82.8 40.4 316.9 322.3 469.4 584.2 South-eastern Asia, Pacific, East Asia 44.3 56.9 153.5 184.1 1468.2 768.2 1599.9 876.9
Western Europe 9.8 0 32.3 13.7 39.9 18.4 109.7 103.7
North, Central and South America 394 10 463.3 132.1 639.6 265.9 880 418.6 Middle East, Central and Southern Asia 265.3 277.5 341.8 359.4 478.7 552.2 647.3 602.9
Total 713.4 344.4 1279.9 799.9 3865.0 2277.0 4815.0 3173.0
a RAR: reasonably assured resources.
b IR: inferred resources.
Resources in a cost category include resources reported in lower cost categories. Total resources are resources reported in the highest cost category (<US $260/kgU)
78
FIG. 2.13. Total undiscovered uranium resources by region as of January 2017.
TABLE 2.24. DETAILS OF UNDISCOVERED RESOURCES BY REGION (1000 tU) [2.25]
(As of 1 January 2017)
2.5.1. Uranium resources in Africa
As of 1 January 2017, total identified resources for Africa (reasonably assured and inferred) amounted to 1 695 500 tU in the <US $260/kgU cost category.
Eighty-four per cent of the resources in the <US $260/kgU cost category are reported by three countries (Namibia, Niger and South Africa) (Fig. 2.14 and Table 2.25). Recently, additional resources have defined in Botswana, Mauritania, Namibia, Niger and Tanzania.
Undiscovered resources (prognosticated and speculative) are estimated to total about 1.13 million tonnes of uranium in the <US $260/kgU and unassigned cost categories. Only six countries reported undiscovered resources (Fig. 2.15 and Table 2.26).
Unconventional resources have significant potential in Africa, mainly associated with uranium in phosphate rocks in Morocco (Table 2.37).
FIG. 2.14 . Total identified uranium resources in Africa of January 2017.
TABLE 2.25. DETAILS OF IDENTIFIED RESOURCES IN AFRICA (tU) (As of 1 January 2017)
Country
<US $40/kgU <US $80/kgU <US $130/kgU <US $260/kgU
RAR Inferred RAR Inferred RAR Inferred RAR Inferred
Algeria 0 0 0 0 0 0 19 500 0
Botswana 0 0 0 0 13 700 59 800 13 700 59 800
Central Africa
Republic 0 0 0 0 32 000 0 32 000 0
Chad 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 400
Congo,
DemocraticRepublic 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 400 1 300
Egypt 0 0 0 0 1 900
Gabon 0 0 0 0 4 800 0 4 800 1 000
Malawi 0 0 0 0 4 400 1 800 9 700 4 600
Mali 0 0 0 0 5 000 3 900 5 000 3 900
Mauritania NA 0 NA 0 700 15 700 1 000 22 800
Namibia 0 0 0 0 335 300 106 800 368 500 172 900
Niger 0 0 0 0 237 400 42 600 336 400 89 200
Somalia 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 000 2 600
South Africa 0 0 167 900 61 700 237 600 84 800 259 600 189 700
Tanzania 0 0 38 300 8 500 39 700 18 500 39 700 18 500
Zambia 0 0 0 0 11 100 16 100 11 100 16 100
Zimbabwe 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 400 0
Total 0 0 206 200 70 200 921 700 350 000 1 108 800 586 700
80
FIG. 2.15 Total undiscovered uranium resources in Africa as of January 2017.
TABLE 2.26. DETAILS OF UNDISCOVERED RESOURCES IN AFRICA (tU) (As of 1 January 2017)
Country
Prognosticated Speculative
Total Speculative
<US $80 kgU
<US $130 kgU
<US $260 kgU
<US $130 kgU
<US $260
kgU Unassigned
Mauritania 0 0 0 n.a. n.a. 19 600 19 600
Namibia 0 0 57 000 0 0 110 700 110 700
Niger 0 13 600 13 600 0 51 300 0 51 300
Senegal 0 0 0 0 0 1 500 1 500
South Africa 0 74 000 159 000 243 000 411 000 280 000 691 000
Zimbabwe 0 0 0 25 000 25 000 n.a. 25 000
Total 0.0 87 600 229 600 268 000 487 300 411 800 899 100
2.5.2. Uranium resources in Western Europe
As of 1 January 2017, total identified resources of Western Europe (Reasonably Assured and Inferred) amounted to 58 300 tonnes of uranium in the <USD 130/kgU cost category and 213 400 tonnes U in the
<USD 260/kgU cost category (Fig. 2.16 and Table 2.27). This is only 0.1% and 2.7% of the world identified resources in the respective cost categories.
FIG. 2.16. Total identified uranium resources in Europe as of January 2017.
TABLE 2.27. DETAILS OF IDENITIFIED URANIUM RESOURCES IN WESTERN EUROPE (As of 1 January 2017)
Country
<US $40/kgU <US $80/kgU <US $130/kgU <US $260/kgU
RAR Inferred RAR Inferred RAR Inferred RAR Inferred
Finland 0 0 0 0 1200 0 1 200 0
Germany 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 000 4 000
Greenland 0 0 0 0 0 0 66 800 81 300
Italy 0 0 4 800 1 300 4 800 1 300 4 800 1 300
Portugal 0 0 4 500 1 000 6 000 1 000 6 000 1 000
Spain 9 800 0 23 000 1 1400 23 000 11 400 23 000 11 400
Sweden 0 0 0 0 4 900 4 700 4 900 4 700
Total 9 800 0 32 300 13 700 39 900 18 400 109 700 103 700
In 2017, 7 Western European countries reported identified resources. Nearly 100% of resources in the
<USD 130/kgU cost category were reported by 4 countries (Italy, Portugal, Spain and Sweden). Of the 213 400 tonnes identified resources reported in the <USD260/kgU category, 69% are the 148 100 tonnes of inferred resources reported in Greenland’s Kvanefjeld deposit. Recently Spain reported additional resources.
Undiscovered resources (prognosticated and speculative) are estimated to total about 85 500 tonnes U in the <USD260/kgU and unassigned cost categories (Fig. 2.17 and Table 2.28). Undiscovered resources are reported by only 3 countries (Germany, Italy, and Portugal).
Unconventional resources (Table 2.37) are associated with uranium in black shale and carbonatite deposits in Finland (37 500 t U) and phosphate rocks and black shales in Sweden (1 054 300 tU).
82
FIG. 2.17. Total undiscovered uranium resources in Europe as of January 2017.
TABLE 2.28. DETAILS OF UNDISCOVERED URANIUM RESOURCES IN WESTERN EUROPE (As of 1 January 2017)
Country
Prognosticated Speculative
Total Speculative
<US $80 kgU
<US
$130 kgU
<US
$260 kgU
<US $130 kgU
<US
$260
kgU Unassigned
Germany n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. 74 000 74 000
Italy 0 0 0.0 10 000 10 000 n.a. 10 000
Portugal 1 000 1 500 1 500 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.
Total 1 000 1 500 1 500 10 000 10 000 74 000 84 000
2.5.3. Uranium resources in Central, Eastern and South-eastern Europe
As of 1 January 2017, nine Central, Eastern, and South-eastern European countries reported identified resources (Fig. 2.18 and Table 2.29). About 83 % of total resources in the <US 260/kgU cost category were reported by the Russian Federation and Ukraine.
Undiscovered resources (prognosticated and speculative) are estimated to total 1 298 100 tU in the <US
$260/kgU and unassigned cost categories for 10 of the 25 countries in the region (Fig. 2.19 and Table 2.30) [2.25].
Only Greece reports unconventional resources in the region, 500 tU associated to phosphate rocks (Table 2.37).
FIG. 2.18. Total identified uranium resources in Central, Eastern and South-Eatern Europe as of January 2017.
TABLE 2.29. DETAILS OF IDENTIFIED RESOURCES IN CENTRAL, EASTERN and SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPE (tU) [2.25]
(as of 1 January 2017) Country
<US $40/kgU <US $80/kgU <US $130/kgU <US $260/kgU RAR Inferred RAR Inferred RAR Inferred RAR Inferred Czech
Republic 0 0 0 0 1 200 100 50 700 68 200
Greece 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 000 6 000
Hungary 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 500
Romania 0 0 0 0 3 000 3 600 3 000 3 600
Russia 0 0 24 500 15 300 214 500 271 000 260 000 396 900 Slovak
Republic 0 0 8 800 3 900 8 800 6 700 8 800 6 700
Slovenia 0 0 1 700 3 800 1 700 7 500 1 700 7 500
Turkey 0 0 6 500 500 6 500 500 6 500 500
Ukraine 0 0 41 300 16 900 81 200 32 900 137 700 81 300 Total 0 0 82 800 40 400 316 900 322 300 469 400 584 200
84
FIG. 2.19. Total undiscovered uranium resources in Central., Eastern and South-Eastern Europe as of January 2017.
TABLE 2.30. DETAILS OF UNDISCOVERED RESOURCES IN CENTRAL, EASTERN AND SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPE (tU) [2.25]
(As of 1 January 2017)
Country
Prognosticated Speculative
Total speculative
<US $80
kgU <US $130
kgU <US $260
kgU <US $130
kgU <US $260
kgU Unassigned
Bulgaria n.a. n.a. 25 000 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.
Czech Republic 0 200 000 223 000 0 0 17 000 17 000
Greece 6 000 6 000 6 000 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.
Hungary 0 0 13 400 0 0 0 0
Poland 0 0 0 0 0 20 000 20 000
Romania n.a. 3 000 3 000 3 000 3 000 n.a. 3 000
Russian Federation 115 100 115 100 143 900 390 100 591 100 n.a. 591 100
Slovak Republic 0 3 700 10 900 0 0 0 0
Slovenia 0 1 100 1 100 0 0 0 0
Ukraine 0 8 400 22 500 0 120 000 255 000 375 000
Total 121 100 137 500 448 800 393 100 714 100 292 000 1 006 100
2.5.4. Uranium resources in South-eastern Asia, Pacific, East Asia
As of 1 January 2017, total identified resources for the South-eastern Asia, Pacific, East Asia region (reasonably assured and inferred) amounted to 2 476 800 tU recoverable in the <US $260/kgU cost category (Fig. 2.20 and Table 2.31). This figure comprised 1 599 900 tU of reasonably assured resources and 876 900 tU of inferred resources. In 2017, only six countries in the South-eastern Asia, Pacific and
East Asia regions reported identified resources to the Red Book. Of the total identified resources, 2 054 800 tU are reported by Australia, equivalent to 83% of the total of the region, mainly associated to the Olympic Dam deposit. Following exploration activies in the southern basins, Mongolia increased significantly its indicated resources [2.25].
Undiscovered resources (prognosticated and speculative) are estimated to total about 1 851 700 tU in the
<US $260/kgU plus the unassigned cost categories (Fig. 2.21 and Table 2.32). This represents about 18%
of the total estimated world undiscovered resources. Undiscovered resources are reported by only four countries in this region, of which 76% of these occur in Mongolia, 22 % in Vietnam. Australia does not estimate undiscovered resources.
Indonesia and Thailand reports unconventional resources of uranium associated to rare earths (Table 2.37).
FIG. 2.20. Total identified uranium resources in South-Eastern Asia, Pacific and East Asia as of January 2017.
TABLE 2.31. DETAILS OF IDENTIFIED RESOURCES IN SOUTH-EASTERN ASIA, PACIFIC AND EAST ASIA (tU) [2.25]
(As of 1 January 2017) Country
<US $40/kgU <US $80/kgU <US $130/kgU <US $260/kgU RAR Inferred RAR Inferred RAR Inferred RAR Inferred
Australia NA NA NA NA 1 269 800 548 500 1 400 600 654 200
China 44 300 56 900 102 200 120 300 136 700 153 700 136 700 153 700
Indonesia 0 0 1500 0 5 300 2200 5 300 2200
Japan 0 0 0 0 6 600 0 6 600 0
Mongolia 0 0 49 800 63 800 49 800 63 800 49 800 63 800
Vietnam 0 0 0 0 0 0 900 3 000
Total 44 300 56 900 153 500 184 100 1 468 200 768 200 1 599 900 876 900
86
FIG. 2.21. Total undiscovered uranium resources in South-Eastern Asia, Pacific and East Asia as of January 2017.
TABLE 2.32. DETAILS OF UNDISCOVERED RESOURCES IN SOUTH-EASTERN ASIA, PACIFIC AND EAST ASIA (tU) [2.25]
(as of 1 January 2017)
Country
Prognosticated Speculative
Total speculative
<US $80 kgU
<US $130 kgU
<US $260 kgU
<US $130 kgU
<US $260
kgU Unassigned
China 3 600 3 600 3 600 4 100 4 100 n.a. 4 100
Indonesia 0 0 30 200 0 0 0 0
Mongolia 21 000 21 000 21 000 1 390 000 1 390 000 n.a. 1 390 000
Viet Nam n.a. n.a. 81 200 n.a. n.a. 321 600 321 600
Total 24.6 24 600 136 000 1 394 100 1 394 100 321 600 1 715
700
2.5.5. Uranium resources in the Middle East, Central and Southern Asia
Total identified resources of the Middle East, Central and Southern Asia area (reasonably assured resources and inferred resources) as of 1 January 2017 amounted to 1 030 900 tU in the <US $130/kgU cost category and 1 250 200 tU in the <US $260/kgU cost category. Of the total identified resources, in the <US $260/kgu cost category, 72.3 % are reported by Kazakhstan, 12.5 % by India and 11.1 % by Uzbekistan (Figs 2.22 and Table 2.33).
Undiscovered resources (prognosticated and speculative) are appraised to total 816 400 tU in the <US
$260/kgU and unassigned cost categories, with 65 % located in Kazakhstan. Prognosticated and speculative resources are reported by five countries (India, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan) (Fig.
2.23 and Table 2.34).
Unconventional resources associated with phosphorite are reported by Jordan (although Jordan reports these resources as conventional resources). Resources associated with phosphorite deposits may also exist in Iraq, Israel and the Syrian Arab Republic (Table 2.37).
FIG. 2.22. Total identified uranium resources in Middle East, Central and Southern Asia as of January 2017.
TABLE 2.33. DETAILS OF IDENTIFIED RESOURCES IN MIDDLE EAST, CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN ASIA (tU) [2.25]
(As of 1 January 2017) Country
<US $40/kgU <US $80/kgU <US $130/kgU <US $260/kgU
RAR Inferred RAR Inferred RAR Inferred RAR Inferred
India NA NA NA NA NA NA 149 000 8 000
Iran 0 0 0 0 1 100 5 100 1 100 5 100
Jordan 0 0 0 0 4 800 38 600 4 800 38 600
Kazakstan 227 900 253 200 304 400 335 100 415 200 427 000 434 800 469 700
Uzbekistan 37 400 24 300 37 400 24 300 57 600 81 500 57 600 81 500
Total 265 300 277 500 341 800 359 400 478 700 552 200 647 300 602 900
FIG. 2.23. Total undiscovered uranium resources in Middle East, Central and Southern Asia as of January 2017.
88
2.5.6. Uranium resources in North, Central and South America
Total identified resources in North, Central and South America (reasonably assured resources and inferred resources), as of 1 January 2017, amounted to 1 298 500 tU in the <US $260/kgU cost category (Fig. 2.24 and Table 2.35). This consisted of 879 900 tU of reasonably assured resources and 418 600 tU of inferred resources. In 2017, only eight countries in North, Central and South America reported identified resources to the Red Book. Of the total identified resources reported, 65% of these are held by Canada and 21% by Brazil.
As a result of exploration activities, additional resources have recently been reported by Canada.
The United States has not historically reported inferred resources. In 2014, the United States began an evaluation of the relative importance of the inferred resource category available in published estimates of US uranium properties.
Undiscovered resources (prognosticated and speculative) are estimated to total 2 193 400 tU in the combined <US $260/kgU plus unassigned cost categories (Fig. 2.25 and Table 2.36). Undiscovered resources are reported by only nine countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela). A total of 83% of the undiscovered resources occur in Brazil, Canada and Venezuela.
Prognosticated and speculative uranium resources for the United States were last comprehensively assessed in 1980. Records of these estimates are no longer available; therefore they are no longer reported for the United States.
Unconventional uranium resources have significant potential in North, Central and South America owing mainly to the association of uranium with phosphate rock deposits (Table 2.37). Of this deposit type, only the USA in all of North, Central and South America has a history of major commercial production of uranium as a by-product of phosphate production, although Canada has also produced uranium from phosphates.
FIG. 2.24. Total identified uranium resources in North, Central and South America as of January 2017.
TABLE 2.35. DETAILS OF IDENTIFIED URANIUM RESOURCES IN NORTH CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA (tU) [2.25]
(As of 1 January 2017)
Country <US $40/kgU <US $80/kgU <US $130/kgU <US $260/kgU RAR Inferred RAR Inferred RAR Inferred RAR Inferred Argentina 0 2400 5100 4000 11 000 19 000 11 000 20 000 Brazil 138 100 0 155 900 73 500 155 900 120 900 155 900 120 900 Canada 255 900 7600 275 200 35 200 409 700 104 700 592 900 253 500
Chile 0 0 0 0 0 0 600 900
Mexico 0 0 0 0 1800 1900 1 800 3 200
Paraguay 0 0 0 0 0 0 2900 700
Peru 0 0 14 000 19 400 14 000 19 400 14 000 19 400
USA 0 0 13 100 0 47 200 0 100 800 0
Total 394000 10000 463300 132100 639 600 265 900 879 900 418 600
90
FIG. 2.25. Total undiscovered uranium resources in North, central and South America as of January 2017.
TABLE 2.36. DETAILS OF UNDISCOVERED URANIUM RESOURCES IN THE AMERICAS (tU) [2.25]
(As of 1 January 2017)
Country
Prognosticated Speculative
Total speculative
<US $80 kgU
<US
$130 kgU
<US
$260 kgU
<US $130 kgU
<US
$260 kgU
Unassigned
Argentina n.a. 13 800 13 800 n.a. 79 500 n.a. 79 500
Bolivia 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 700 1 700
Brazil 300 000 300 000 300 000 n.a. n.a. 500 000 500 000
Canada 50 000 150 000 150 000 700 000 700 000 0.0 700 000
Chile 0 0 2 300 0 0 2 400 2 400
Colombia n.a. 11 000 11 000 217 000 217 000 n.a. 217 000
Mexico n.a. 3 000 3 000 n.a. n.a. 10 000 10 000
Peru 6 600 20 000 20 000 19 700 19 700 0.0 19 700
United States n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.
Venezuela n.a. n.a. n.a. 0.0 0.0 163 000 163 000
Total 356 600 497 80 500 100 936 700 1 016 200 677 100 1 693 300
TABLE 2.37. UNCONVENTIONAL URANIUM RESOURCES (tU) [2.25, 2.30–2.43]
Country Phosphate rock Non-ferrous ores Monazite Carbonatite
Black schist/shales,
lignite Other
Brazil 28–70 2 13.0
Chile 0.4a 0.8a
Colombia 20-60
Egypt 35-100b
Finland 1 2.5 35
Greece 0.5
India 1.7-2.5 6.6-22.9
Indonesia 27a
Iraq 19-42.8a
Iran, Islamic
Republic of 53a
Jordan 100a
Kazakhstan 58
Mexico 240 1
Morocco 6 526
Peru 41.6a 0.14-1.41
South Africa 180a 70.7
Sweden 42.3a 1
012a Syrian Arab
Republic 60-80
Thailand 0.5-1.5 31.8a
United States 576.5c 1.8 19 014c
Venezuela 42
Vietnam 0.5
Total 7 733.4-7 985.1 192.34-209.91 27.0 15.5 20 132.2 84.8
a Updated data from 2011-2017
b Includes an unknown quantity of uranium contained in monazite
c Secretariat estimate
92