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Vanadium-Uranium Deposits: the Saltwash Type

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Vanadium-Uranium Deposits: the Saltwash Type Uranium as By and Co-Product Geological types Ulaanbaatar Jean René BLAISE Definitions: a co-product is one of two or more commodities that have a significant impact on the revenue or processing stream of a mine. Example: Uranium, Copper and Gold at Olympic Dam (Australia) a by-product can be defined as the output from a joint production process that is minor in quantity and/or value when compared to the main products. Example: Uranium, Nickel, Zinc, Copper, Cobalt at Talvivaara (Finland) Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Definitions: Conventional resources are those that have an established history of production where uranium is a primary product, co- product or an important by-product (e.g. from the mining of copper and gold). Very low-grade resources or those from which uranium is only recoverable as a minor by-product are considered unconventional resources (e.g. from phosphates) Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Geological types of uranium deposit (UDEPO/ Red Book): 1. Intrusive anatectic and magmatic 2. Granite related 3. Polymetallic iron-oxyde breccia complex 4. Volcanic related 5. Metasomatite 6. Metamophite 7. Proterozoic unconformity 8. Collapse breccia pipe 9. Sandstone 10. Paleo-quartz pebble conglomerate 11. Surficial 12. Coal/lignite 13. Carbonate 14. Phosphate 15. Black shale Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 U as by-co product is found in various types of deposits: - Intrusive anatectic pegmatite and intrusive plutonic - Polymetallic iron-oxyde breccia complex (IOCG) - Paleo-quartz pebble conglomerate - Proterozoic Unconformity - Sandstone - Coal/Lignite - Phosphate - Black shale Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 And also: - Uranium resources in heavy mineral sands (Monazite- bearing coastal sands in Brazil, India, Egypt, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, USA, … mined mainly for REE, Zr, Ti) - Tailings (South Africa Gold Mines) Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Anatectic pegmatite deposits Pegmatites prospective for uranium deposits are of the anatectic type, related to low degrees of partial melting during metamorphism In the Kanyika deposit, located in Malawi, Uranium is an important by-product in the complex polymetallic ore in a pegmatite quartz vein, hosted in Proterozoic felsic schists. Niobium and tantalum products would be produced with uranium and zircon as by-products. Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Anatectic pegmatite deposits Kanyika Resource estimate 1 500 ppm Nb2O5 cut-off (Globe Metals & Mining) Mt Ore Nb2O5 (ppm) Ta 2O5 (ppm) ZrSiO4 (ppm) U (ppm) Measured 5 3 900 180 5 300 93 Indicated 18 3 100 140 4 800 68 Inferred 37 2 700 130 5 100 68 Total 60 2 900 140 5 000 76 Recoverable U: 2 730 U Mining project: 60 tU/year Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Intrusive Magmatic deposits Deposits included in this type are contained in intrusive rocks of many different petrochemical compositions (granite, pegmatite, monzonite, peralkaline syenite and carbonatite). Two main subtypes are recognized which are: 1) intrusive anatectic deposits associated with partial melting processes (Rössing and Rössing South, Namibia, deposits in the Bancroft area, Canada) 2) intrusive plutonic deposits related to magmatic differentiation. Examples of this latter type include the uranium occurrences in the porphyry copper deposits of Bingham Canyon and Twin Butte (USA), the Kvanefjeld deposit (Greenland) and the Palabora carbonatite complex (South Africa). Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Intrusive Magmatic deposits 3 classes of deposits are separated: 1- Granites-monzonites (porphyry copper) (Bingham Canyon, USA; Chuquicamata, Chile) . U can be recovered as a by-product of Cu-Au-Ag-Mo 2- Peralcaline complexes (Kvanefjeld,Greenland) U is asociated to REE, Ta, Nb, Zr and Th 3- Carbonatites (Phalabora, South Africa): U can be recovered as a by/co-product of Nb-Ta, Zr, REE, P, Zn, Y, Th, ………. Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Intrusive Magmatic deposits 1- Granites-monzonites: very low-grade concentrations of disseminated uranium occur in highly differentiated granitic to quartz-monzonitic complexes (copper porphyry). Bingham Canyon (USA) Cu, Au, Ag, Mo 50 t U/ year, 1978-1989 8-12 ppm U Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Intrusive Magmatic deposits 1- Granites-monzonites: Chuquicamata (Chile) The Chuquicamata mine lies on the Chuqui porphyry complex, a north-north east trending, elongated, tabular, intrusive complex that measures 14kmx1.5km. The copper ore reserves of the Chuquicamata underground mine are estimated to be 1,700 mt grading 0.7% copper and with an average molybdenum content of 502ppm. Uranium : 150-200 000 tU @ 15-20 ppm Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Intrusive Magmatic deposits 2- Peralcaline complexes Low-grade uranium disseminations occur in peralkaline granite or syenite domes or stocks that are enriched in REE, Ta, Nb, Zr and Th. Uranium phases are commonly of a refractory nature (streenstrupine, eudyalite, monazite), such as in the large Kvanefjeld deposit (Greenland). Other examples are Gurayah (Saudi Arabia), Lolodorf (Cameroon) and Poços de Caldas (Brazil). Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Intrusive Magmatic deposits 2- Peralcaline complexes: Kvanefjeld (Greenland) Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Intrusive Magmatic deposits 2- Peralcaline complexes: Kvanefjeld (Greenland) Kvanefjeld is located at the northwest corner of the Ilimaussaq complex. Underlying the broad plateau is a vaste multi-element resource that includes one of the world’s largest resources of rare earth elements, along with extensive resources of uranium and zinc. The Kvanefjeld resource mostly outcrops and sits within 250 m of ground surface, with a low waste/ore ratio. Resource estimate: 10.3 Mt of total rare earth oxides, 221 000 tU, 2.24 Mt Zn. Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Intrusive Magmatic deposits 2- Peralcaline complexes (UDEPO) Deposit Country Resources (tU) Grade (%U) Kvanefjeld Denmark 221 000 0.023 Twihinate Morocco 75 000 0.025 Sorensen Denmark 62 370 0.026 Ghurayyah Saudi Arabia 45 700 0.012 Ilimaussaq Zone 3 Denmark 24 260 0.025 Pocos de Caldas Brazil 22 700 0.290 Nolans Bore Australia 5 160 0.018 Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Intrusive Magmatic deposits 3- Carbonatites Disseminated uranium can occur in the form of uranothorianite, perovskite, pyrochlore and rare earth element-bearing minerals in carbonatite complexes. Up to 2002, uranium was recovered at Phalaborwa (South Africa) as a by- product from copper production. Other examples of uranium-bearing carbonatite intrusions are Araxa and Catalao (Brazil), and Sokli (Finland). Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Intrusive Magmatic deposits 3- Carbonatites: Phalaborwa (South Africa) The carbonatite is mined mainly for Cu with Fe,vermiculite and Ni-Au-Ag-U-Zr-Pt as byproducts. Uranium production (50t/year) ended in 2002 Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Intrusive Magmatic deposits 3- Carbonatites (UDEPO) Deposit Country Resources (tU) Grade (%U) Catalao Brazil 72 175 0.0133 Glibat Lafhouda Morocco 21 250 0.0425 Phalaborwa South Africa 15-20 000 0.0040 Araxa Brazil 13 000 0.080 Toongi Australia 8 690 0.012 Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Polymetallic Iron-Oxyde Breccia Complex This type of deposits has been attributed to a broad category of iron-oxide-copper-gold deposits from around the world. Olympic Dam (Australia) is the only known representative of this type with significant by-product uranium resources. The deposit contains the world largest uranium resources with more than 2 Mt of uranium at low grade (230 ppm). Deposits of this group occur in hematite-rich granite breccias (Olympic Dam, Gawler Craton) or metasedimentary-metavolcanic breccias (Salobo, Carajas District, Brazil) and contain disseminated uranium in association with copper, gold, silver and rare earth elements. Other significant deposits and prospects of this type occur on the Gawler Craton, including Prominent Hill and Carrapeteena as well as some younger breccia-hosted deposits (Mount Gee and Radium Ridge) in the Mount Painter area. Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Polymetallic Iron-Oxyde Breccia Complex (Udepo) Deposit Country Resources (tU) Grade (%U) Olympic Dam Australia 2 125 230 0.023 Carrapateena Australia 46 585 0.023 Mount Gee Australia 26 380 0.052 Prominent Hill Australia 10 280 0.010 E1 North and South Australia 3 460 0.012 Radium Ridge Australia 1 845 0.050 Armchair-Streiberg Australia 1 540 0.085 Queens Gift Australia 910 0.024 Salobo Brazil 35 500 0.0045 Igarape bahia Brazil 30 000 0.0135 Sossego Brazil 22 000 0.006 Moran Lake Canada 3 680 0.030 Anna Lake Canada 1 890 0.059 Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Polymetallic Iron-Oxyde Breccia Complex Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Polymetallic Iron-Oxyde Breccia Complex Olympic Dam At Olympic Dam, this breccia is hosted within a Mesoproterozoic highly potassic granitic intrusion that exhibits regional Fe-K-metasomatism. The deposit consists of iron oxide containing uranium (0.023 %), copper (1.8 %), gold (0.5 g/t), silver (3.6 g/t) and rare earth materials (REE). Principal copper-bearing minerals are chalcopyrite, bornite and chalcocite. There also is a small amount of native copper and other copper-bearing minerals. The copper sulfides form disseminated grains, fragments and veinlets. Massive ore is rare within the breccia zones. Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Polymetallic Iron-Oxyde Breccia Complex Olympic Dam Uranium occurs in form of uraninite, with lesser brannerite and coffinite. They are disseminated as fine grains inside the hematitic breccias and intergrown with hematite and sulfides. Silver and gold are associated with copper-bearing minerals. The first one forms solid solutions while gold occurs as extremely fine particles. Bastnaesite is the main REE-bearing mineral. Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Polymetallic Iron-Oxyde
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