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Borehole Logging for Uranium Exploration

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Borehole Logging for Uranium Exploration TECHNICAL REPORTS SERIES No. 212 Borehole Logging for Uranium Exploration A Manual c # INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY, VIENNA, 1982 BOREHOLE LOGGING FOR URANIUM EXPLORATION A Manual The following States are Members of the International Atomic Energy Agency: AFGHANISTAN HOLY SEE PHILIPPINES ALBANIA HUNGARY POLAND ALGERIA ICELAND PORTUGAL ARGENTINA INDIA QATAR AUSTRALIA INDONESIA ROMANIA AUSTRIA IRAN SAUDI ARABIA BANGLADESH IRAQ SENEGAL BELGIUM IRELAND SIERRA LEONE BOLIVIA ISRAEL SINGAPORE BRAZIL ITALY SOUTH AFRICA BULGARIA IVORY COAST SPAIN BURMA JAMAICA SRI LANKA BYELORUSSIAN SOVIET JAPAN SUDAN SOCIALIST REPUBLIC JORDAN SWEDEN CANADA KENYA SWITZERLAND CHILE KOREA, REPUBLIC OF SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC COLOMBIA KUWAIT THAILAND COSTA RICA LEBANON TUNISIA CUBA LIBERIA TURKEY CYPRUS LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYA UGANDA CZECHOSLOVAKIA LIECHTENSTEIN UKRAINIAN SOVIET SOCIALIST DEMOCRATIC KAMPUCHEA LUXEMBOURG REPUBLIC DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S MADAGASCAR UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF KOREA MALAYSIA REPUBLICS DENMARK MALI UNITED ARAB EMIRATES DOMINICAN REPUBLIC MAURITIUS UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT ECUADOR MEXICO BRITAIN AND NORTHERN EGYPT MONACO IRELAND EL SALVADOR MONGOLIA UNITED REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA MOROCCO CAMEROON FINLAND NETHERLANDS UNITED REPUBLIC OF FRANCE NEW ZEALAND TANZANIA GABON NICARAGUA UNITED STATES OF AMERICA GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC NIGER URUGUAY GERMANY, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA VENEZUELA GHANA NORWAY VIET NAM GREECE PAKISTAN YUGOSLAVIA GUATEMALA PANAMA ZAIRE HAITI PARAGUAY ZAMBIA PERU The Agency's Statute was approved on 23 October 1956 by the Conference on the Statute of the IAEA held at United Nations Headquarters, New York; it entered into force on 29 July 1957. The Headquarters of the Agency are situated in Vienna. Its principal objective is "to accelerate and enlarge the contribution of atomic energy to peace, health and prosperity throughout the world". © IAEA, 1982 Permission to reproduce or translate the information contained in this publication may be obtained by writing to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Wagramerstrasse 5, P.O. Box 100, A-1400 Vienna, Austria. Printed by the IAEA in Austria January 1982 TECHNICAL REPORTS SERIES No.212 BOREHOLE LOGGING FOR URANIUM EXPLORATION A Manual INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY VIENNA, 1982 BOREHOLE LOGGING FOR URANIUM EXPLORATION: A MANUAL IAEA, VIENNA, 1982 STI/DOC/lO/212 ISBN 92-0-145082-6 FOREWORD Intensive worldwide efforts in uranium exploration over the past four years have been stimulating research on and development of new exploration techniques and field equipment. It is widely recognized that borehole logging is one of the most effective ways of estimating uranium resources, and its popularity has grown considerably. Logging for uranium, which once was an auxiliary technique subordinate to chemical analysis and drilled core exami- nation, has become one of the most powerful and efficacious methods of measuring, directly or indirectly, uranium at depth. Borehole logging provides, rapidly and economically, most of the sub-surface information needed by the exploration geologist. This includes in-situ analysis, lithological identification, stratigraphic correlation, and information on density and moisture. Logging is important not only in exploration but in mine development and grade control, in mining operations and in production. Tens of millions of metres will be drilled and logged by exploration firms and governmental organizations in Member States each year in the search for nuclear fuel. The joint NEA/IAEA Group of Experts in Research and Development on Uranium Exploration Techniques, aware of the importance of this particular subject, recommended the preparation of a manual that could be of use to both developing and industrialized countries. Accordingly, the IAEA convened a workshop to discuss problems related to borehole logging and, later, organized an international consultative group charged with the preparation of such a manual. The present text has been prepared taking into account the requirements of both developing countries, which might be at an incipient stage of uranium exploration, and industrialized countries, where more advanced exploration and resource evaluation techniques are commonly in use. While it was felt necessary to include some discussion of exploration concepts and fundamental physical principles underlying various logging methods, it was not the intention of the consultants to provide a thorough, detailed explanation of the various techniques, or even to give a comprehensive listing thereof. However, a list of references has been included, and it is strongly recommended that the serious student of mineral logging consult this list for further guidance. The Agency wishes to express its gratitude to the four consultants, Messrs. J.K. Hallenburg, P.G. Killeen, V.L.R. Furlong and J. Duray, who participated in the meetings and contributed to the report. Special thanks are due to Mr. J.K. Hallenburg, Chairman of the Consultative Group, who not only contributed much original material to the manual but also edited the text for technical content and prepared it for publication. Mr. P.M.C. Barretto, a member of the Group, was the responsible Agency staff member for this project. CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 1 1.1. How borehole logging fits the uranium exploration program 1 1.2. Natural radioactivity 4 2. THE BOREHOLE: ITS CHARACTERISTICS AND EFFECTS 18 3. LOGGING TECHNIQUES 29 3.1. Common logging techniques 29 3.1.1. Gross-count gamma-ray logging 29 3.1.2. Spectrometric gamma-ray logging 52 3.1.3. Neutron logging 67 3.1.4. Resistance, resistivity, and conductivity 79 3.1.5. Spontaneous potentials 112 3.1.6. Calipers 135 3.1.7. Deviation 138 3.2. Other logging techniques 150 3.2.1. Neutron-activation systems 150 3.2.2. Density 153 3.2.3. Acoustic measurements 169 3.2.4. Induced polarization 176 3.2.5. Magnetic susceptibility 184 3.2.6. Dipmeters 187 3.2.7. Mud logging 190 3.2.8. Use of petroleum logs and petroleum logging equipment .... 192 4. INSTRUMENTATION 194 4.1. Basic systems 194 4.2. Advanced systems 208 4.3. Radioactivity statistics 214 5. FIELD PROCEDURES 216 6. INTERPRETATION 231 6.1. The exploration philosophy 231 6.2. Interpretation of borehole data 232 7. SELECTED REFERENCES 248 APPENDIX A: Calibration procedure for gross-count gamma-ray logging 259 APPENDIX B: Deadtime determination for gross-count gamma-ray logging 266 APPENDIX C: Correction factors for gross-count gamma-ray logging 270 APPENDIX D: Glossary 276 LIST OF CONSULTANTS 279 1. INTRCDUCTiai The importance of logging in uranium exploration was summarized in a 1976 IAEA report as follows: "Borehole logging rapidly and economically provides most of the subsurface infor- mation required by the exploration geologist. This includes in-situ sampling and assaying, lithologic identification, strat- igraphic correlation, and the more sophisticated logging pro- grairmes measure petrophysical parameters such as density, and moisture or various types of geological formation. Logging can often greatly reduce drilling costs by obtaining the needed data from less costly noncored holes or from holes previously drilled for other purposes. Generally, logging provides more represent- ative and objective data in less time and at lower cost than is required by descriptive logging, sampling and assaying of cores or cuttings." The dictionary defines a log as "a record of progress, as in a record of a ship's speed." A borehole log is a record of one or more physical measurements as a function of depth in a bore- hole. Logs are recorded by means of sondes, probes or tools carrying sensors which are lowered into the hole by a cable. Examples include logs of electrical measurements, nuclear meas- urements, acoustic measurements and temperature measurements. Measurement of certain parameters are especially useful in a uranium exploration program. The most common logging techniques useful in uranium exploration are described, including the phys- ical basis of each technique, its application, and the analysis of an example log. Less common logging techniques which may become in greater usage in the future are reviewed more briefly. Finally logging systems (more than one parameter) are dis- cussed including instrumentation, field procedures and inter- pretation in several specific geologic environments. 1.1. How borehole logging fits the uranium exploration program 1.1.1. A successful exploration program consists of systematic and sequential decision-making actions. In general, these actions are: 1.1.1.1. Preliminary appraisal A basic decision is made to explore for uranium. Considera- tion is given to the selection of promising areas which may be favorable for uranium occurrence (indicated by existing geologi- cal and geophysical information). Detailed geological appraisal of the selected area from existing geologic knowledge is carried 1 out in an attempt to reduce the areas to be examined. Geologi- cal interpretation from aerial photographs is often included in this stage. Geological and radiometric field checks are made for confirmation on the areas selected where possible host environments exists. 1.1.1.2. First phase program During the first phase of an exploration program several steps should be considered and/or must be followed. Airborne radiometric, ground radiometric, and/or geochemical surface sampling must be considered and carried out if they appear use- ful. Regional and local geological mapping are very necessary. Stratigraphic drilling should be carefully planned along
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