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Home , Uranium ore

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: , and 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, , Zinc, Copper, 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. related 3. Polymetallic -oxyde complex 4. Volcanic related 5. Metasomatite 6. Metamophite 7. unconformity 8. Collapse breccia pipe 9. 10. Paleo- pebble 11. Surficial 12. / 13. 14. Phosphate 15. Black

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 U as by-co product is found in various types of deposits:

- Intrusive anatectic 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 sands (Monazite- bearing coastal sands in Brazil, India, Egypt, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, USA, … mined mainly for REE, Zr, Ti)

- Tailings (South 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

In the Kanyika deposit, located in Malawi, Uranium is an important by-product in the complex polymetallic in a pegmatite quartz , hosted in Proterozoic 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 & 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, , peralkaline syenite and carbonatite).

Two main subtypes are recognized which are:

1) intrusive anatectic deposits associated with partial melting processes (Rössing and Rössing South, , 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 () and the Palabora carbonatite complex ().

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Intrusive Magmatic deposits

3 classes of deposits are separated:

1- - (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 (), 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 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 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 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 -rich granite (Olympic Dam, Gawler Craton) or metasedimentary-metavolcanic breccias (Salobo, Carajas District, Brazil) and contain disseminated uranium in association with copper, gold, 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 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 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-.

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 , and . 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 , with lesser brannerite and . 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 Breccia Complex

Olympic Dam

Uranium Production:

2011-2012: 3 267 tU 2012-2013: 3 446 tU 2013-2014: 3 382 tU

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Polymetallic Iron-Oxyde Breccia Complex

Carajas District

The Carajas District is one of the most important mineral provinces of Brazil.

Cu-Au deposits occur within a mixed metavolcanic-metasedimentary late (2.85-2.70 Ga) sequence that has been intruded by alkaline and calc-alkaline granites (2.75-2.55 Ga) and by I to A-type granites (1.9-1.8 Ga).

Uranium grades range from 30-50 ppm to 100-170 ppm.

Main deposits: -Salobo: 35 000 tU, 45 ppm U -Igarape Bahia: 29 000 tU, 135 ppm U -Sossego: 21 000 tU, 60 ppm U

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Polymetallic Iron-Oxyde Breccia Complex

Carajas District

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Paleo-quartz pebble conglomerate

Detrital uranium oxide are found in quartz pebble conglomerates deposited as basal units (Elliot Lake District, Canada) or intraformational conglomerates ( Basin, South Africa) in fluvial to lacustrine braided stream systems older than 2 400-2 300 Ma. The conglomerate matrix is pyritic, and gold, as well as other accessory and oxide and sulphide detrital minerals, are often present in minor amounts.

Two economic subtypes are distinguished:

U-dominant deposits: uranium dominant with REE and Th (Elliot Lake District, Canada).

Au-dominant deposits: Au with uranium (Witwatersrand Basin, South Africa) ± REE and . Detrital ore minerals include uraninite, uranothorite, native gold and platinoids. Resources are medium to large (5 000-100 000 tU) and grades low (0.01-0.05% U).

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Paleo-quartz pebble conglomerate

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Paleo-quartz pebble conglomerate

Uranium resources in the Wits Basin. (Council for Geoscience 2014)

Measured Indicated Inferred tU %U tU %U tU %U 47 523 0.098 219 607 0.094 300 855 0.302

Uranium Production 2012: 467 tU 2013: 531 tU

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Proterozoic Unconformity

Unconformity-related deposits are associated with and occur immediately below, above, or spanning an unconformable contact that separates Archean to crystalline from overlying, redbed clastic sediments of Proterozoic age.

In most cases, the basement rocks immediately below the unconformity are strongly hematized and clay altered, possibly a result of paleoweathering and/or diagenetic/ hydrothermal alteration.

Deposits consist of pods, veins and semi-massive replacements consisting mainly of pitchblende. Strong quartz dissolution is generally associated with them.

They are preferentially located in two major districts, the (Canada) and the Pine Creek Orogen (Australia).

The Proterozoic unconformity deposits include three sub-types of variable importance: Unconformity-contact deposits, Basement-hosted deposits and Stratiform structure-controlled deposits

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Proterozoic Unconformity

Gold at Cluff Lake

The “D" uranium deposit ( 4 585 tU @ 4.26 %U ) was located in the Carswell circular structure east of the northern tip of the Cluff Lake.

At Cluff Lake Mine, a gold saving circuit was installed during the operation of the mill. Production from the “D” deposit yielded 255 kg of gold produced in 1987.

AREVA reported that, locally, high grades of gold are present in the Shea Creek deposits, located south of Cluff lake.

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Proterozoic Unconformity

Gold at Shea Creek

AREVA/UEX report that, locally, high grades of gold are present in the Shea Creek deposits, located south of Cluff Lake. The high gold grades frequently, but not always, occur in areas of higher-grade uranium mineralization, and are known to be present both in unconformity and basement mineralization.

Significant composited gold-bearing intercepts include:

SHE-079: 13.75 g/t Au over 2.50 m; SHE-115-03: 14.02 g/t Au over 3.30 m; SHE-087: 20.79 g/t Au over 2.40 m; SHE-102: 9.70 g/t Au over 3.50 m; SHE-115-04: 5.95 g/t Au over 5.70 m.

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Proterozoic Unconformity

Koongarra (Australia)

The Koongarra uranium deposits are located 30 km south of Ranger.

Uranium occurs in quartz-chloride schists and graphite schists of the Cahill formation. Uraninite with and traces of chalcopyrite and .

The estimated uranium yield from the two orebodies is estimated to be 14 000 tonnes containing an average grade of 0.63%U of uranium, with associated gold.

Koongarra 1 :Reserves 12 300 tU 0.68% U 3.1 t Au @ 3 g/t

Koongarra 2: Resources 1 700 tU @ 0.25 % U

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Proterozoic Unconformity

Jabiluka

Gold mineralisation occurs in graphite horizons in the western part of the No. 2 Orebody .

The gold is mainly in breccia zones of the Main Mine Series and the ore averages a thickness of 2 m . The gold zone contains 2.392 Mt ore averaging 3.7 g/t Au and 0.40% U (ERA Ltd, 1992).

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Sandstone type deposits.

Sandstone-hosted uranium deposits occur in medium- to coarse- grained deposited in continental fluvial or marginal marine sedimentary environments.

Volcanic-ash may represent a major uranium sources within the sandstone.

Uranium is precipitated by reduction processes caused by a variety of possible reducing agents within the sandstone. These include carbonaceous material (mainly detrital plant debris), sulphides (pyrite), ferro-magnesian minerals (chlorite), bacterial activity, migrated fluids from underlying hydrocarbon reservoirs, and others.

Sandstone uranium deposits can be divided into five main sub-types with frequent transitional types between them: Basal channel deposits, Tabular deposits, Roll-front deposits, Tectonic-lithologic deposits and Mafic dykes/sills in Proterozoic sandstones.

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Sandstone type deposits

Uranium can be associated to Vanadium

USA: “Saltwash type” uranium deposits. Uravan Mineral Belt, Colorado and Utah

Zimbabwe: Kanyemba deposit

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Vanadium-uranium deposits: the Saltwash type

“Saltwash type” uranium deposits are unique among sandstone uranium deposits in that vanadium is the dominant commercial commodity; uranium occurs as an accessory mineral.

The main example of this deposit type is the deposits of the Uravan Mineral Belt, Colorado and Utah, USA.

Individual vanadium-uranium deposits of the Saltwash type are typically relative small, ranging from 100 to 500m long, 10 to 50m wide and 1 to 10m thick.

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Vanadium-uranium deposits : the Saltwash type

The host rocks for the vanadium-uranium deposits are continental fluvial sandstones. The host sands are reduced and contain carbonaceous plant debris similar to intrinsic - related deposits.

The source of the uranium for the Uravan deposits was probably de-vitrification of tuffaceous sediments overlying the host sandstone units.

The source of the vanadium is more problematic. Three sources of vanadium have been proposed: 1) alteration of and within the host and/or crystalline sands; 2) of overlying sediments; and 3) leaching from distant sedimentary and/or crystalline terrains (Thamm, et.al.).

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Vanadium-uranium deposits : the Saltwash type

District tU %U % V2O5 Uravan Mineral Belt 26 380 0.21 1.29 La Sal – La Sal Creek 2 470 0.27 1.46 Lukachukai – Carrizo 1 540 0.20 1.15 Green River 1 010 0.17 .19 Other districts 1 640 0.15 1.21 Total 33 040 0.20 1.25

Uranium ore production from the Saltwash Member. U.S. Department of Energy, 1981

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Vanadium-uranium deposits : The Kanyemba deposit

The deposit is located in the northern part of the country, near the boundary with Mozambique.

Identified Resources of the Kanyemba deposit in Zimbabwe are 1 800 tU (in situ) at an average grade of 0.6% U, combined with 12.8% V2O5.

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Vanadium-uranium deposits : The Kanyemba deposit

The deposit consists of several lens shaped bodies, 0.20–3 m thick, 20–100 m wide and up to 600 m long.

It is a tabular deposit occurring in sandstones of the Upper Pebbly Arkose Formation, Upper Triassic, of the Upper Karoo System.

The sandstone host rock was deposited by a meandering fluvial system.

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Sandstone

Uranium associated to Silver and Copper

Falea deposit (Mali)

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Sandstone

Uranium associated to Silver and Copper Geology of the Falea deposit (Mali)

Most of the mineralization at Falea occurs in the flat lying Kania sandstone, flanked by argillaceous units above and below.

The Kania sandstone is located near the bottom of the Neoproterozoic to Carboniferous Taoudeni basin, which sits unconformably on top of highly disturbed older Proterozoic Birrimian metasediments and metavolcanics.

Uraninite overprinting native silver and copper mineralization near basal unconformity in sandstone unit.

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Sandstone

Uranium associated to Silver and Copper

Falea deposit (Mali)

Resources evaluation: c/o 0.025 % U (Minxcon 2014)

M t U (%) Ag(g/t) Cu (%) tU t Ag t Cu Measured 15.67 0.073 55 0.22 11 380 860 33 700 & Indicated Inferred 15.35 0.042 18 0.24 6 030 280 36 800

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Coal / Lignite

Elevated uranium contents occur in lignite or coal mixed with mineral detritus (silt, clay), and in immediately adjacent carbonaceous mud and silt/sandstone beds. Pyrite and ash contents are high.

Two subtypes are recognized. Stratiform lignite-coal deposits: stratiform-syngenetic lignite-coal deposits have uniformly disseminated mineralization throughout the carbonaceous/lignite-coal horizons. Uranium grades are very low and average less than 50 ppm U, but volumes are enormous. (North Dakota,USA; Nizhne Iliskoye, Kazhakstan; Springbock Flats, South Africa)

Fractured-controlled lignite-coal deposits: Mixed stratiform and fracture- controlled, epigenetic lignite-coal deposits contain spotty and irregularly distributed mineralization along joints and cataclastic zones with strong variation of tenor. Resources are low to medium and grades low to medium (0.01-0.10%). Examples include Cave Hills and Slim Buttes (USA) and Freital (Germany).

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Coal / Lignite

The Nizhne-Ilyskoye deposit ()

Nizhne Iliskoye deposit 60.000 t U, 0.098%U

Polymetallic mineralization:Ag, Cd, Co, Ga, Ge, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, Re, Nizhne-Ilyskoye Tl,Zn, Cu, Sc, V, Y, Zr, REE

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Coal / Lignite

The Nizhne-Ilyskoye deposit (Kazakhstan)

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Coal / Lignite

Springblock Flats (Rep of South Africa)

Springbok Flats deposit 81.900 t U, 420 ppm

Coal

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Coal / Lignite

Major lignite-coal deposits (Udepo)

Deposit Country Resources (tU) Grade (%U) Northern Great USA 5-7 000 000 0.001-0.010 Plains East Ebro Valley Spain 102 000 Springbok Flats South Africa 81 920 0.042 Nizhne-Iliyskoye Kazakhstan 60 000 0.098 Koldzhat Kazakhstan 37 000 0.162 Mulga Rock Australia 20 780 0.043 Stepnovskoye Russia 19 100 0.005

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Phosphate

Phosphate deposits are principally represented by marine of continental-shelf origin containing syn-sedimentary, stratiform, disseminated uranium in fine-grained .

Phosphorite deposits constitute large uranium resources (millions of tons), but at very low grade (0.005-0.015%). Uranium can be recovered as a by-product of phosphate production. Examples include the Land Pebble District, Florida (USA), Gantour (Morocco) and Al-Abiad (Jordan).

Another type of phosphorite deposits consists of organic phosphate, including argillaceous marine sediments enriched in fish remains that are uraniferous (Melovoe, Kazakhstan).

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Phosphate

3 sub-types are recognized:

Microchemical Bedded phosphorites: North Africa (8-15 Mt U, 100- 150 ppm), Phosphoria Formation, USA (7 Mt U, 50-100 ppm)

Land pebble phosphorites (Florida): 800.000 t, 90-100 ppm

Organic phosphorites (Caspian Sea): 145.000 t, 0.05-0.10%

Continental phosphate (Bakouma): 30.000 t, 0.15- 0.30%

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Phosphate

World Phosphate Rock Production and Resources (USGS)

Country Mine Production (kT) Resources 2010 2012 2013 (MT) China 65 000 95 000 97 000 3 700 Morocco 26 000 28 000 28 000 50 000 USA 26 100 30 100 32 300 1 400 Russia 10 000 11 200 12 500 1 300 Tunisia 7 600 1 000 Jordan 6 000 1 500 Brazil 5 500 340 Egypt 5 000 100 RSA 2 300 2 240 2 300 1 500 Other countries 14 300 2 902 World Total 176 000 217 000 224 000 67 000

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Phosphate

Uranium Content of various phosphate rocks

U (ppm) Morocco 130 Gafsa (Tunisia) 33-55 Florida (USA) 125 Kola (Russia) 10 Zhijin (China) 30

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Phosphate

 Phosphate rock production > 200 Million tons/year

 Phosphate rock reserves > 300 Billion tons

 Phosphate rocks potential:12.894 Million T of U,

 12 000 Tons of U produced from Phosphate rocks are “lost” with the fertilizers per year (20 % of the world demand).

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Black Shale

Black shale-related uranium mineralization consists of marine organic-rich shale or coal-rich pyritic shale, containing syn-sedimentary disseminated uranium adsorbed onto organic material.

Stratiform black shale deposits: uranium mineralization consists of synsedimentary, uniformly disseminated uranium adsorbed on organic and clay particles in marine, organic-rich, pyritic shale with thin coalified, phosphatic and/or silty intercalations. Resources are large (100 000- > 1 000 000 t) at low grade (0.005-0.02%) (Randstad, MMS Vicken, Sweden and Chattanooga Shale, USA)

Stockwork black shale deposits consist of strata-controlled, structure-bound uranium concentrated in stockworks of microfractures within or immediately adjacent to carbonaceous, pyritic black shale/pelite beds. High organic carbon (up to 9% C), sulfide (up to 3.5%) and anomalous trace element (U, Mo, Ni, V, As, Sb) contents are typical for the carbonaceous (Ronneburg District, Germany). Deposits are small to large (300-50 000 t) with low to medium grades (0.05-0.20%).

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Black Shale Haggan Project

308.000 t U, 130 ppm 207 ppm Mo, 316 ppm Ni 430 ppm Zn, 1520 ppm V

Marby Project

23.000 t U, 115 ppm 185 ppm Mo, 250 ppm Ni, 353 ppm Zn, 1170 ppm V

MMS Vicken Project

403.000 t U, 145 ppm V, Ni, Mo

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Black Shale

The Talvivaara deposits (Finland)

The black schist ore at Talvivaara contains uranium in concentrations ranging from 1 to 40 ppm U

The Ni-Cu-Co-Zn-U mineralization is hosted almost entirely by high grade metamorphosed and intensively folded Proterozoic black schists.

Main sulphides are pyrrhotite, pyrite, , and chalcopyrite

Geological resources: Kuusilampi (15.000 t U) and Kolmisoppi (120.000 t U)

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Black Shale

The Talvivaara deposits (Finland)

Annual production will be 350 t U/year from ore averaging 16-18 ppm U

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Black Shale

Major black shales deposits (UDEPO)

Deposit / District Country Resources (tU) Grade (%U) Chattanooga USA 4 – 5 000 000 0.0057 MMS Vicken Sweden 403 000 0.0144 Narke Sweden 257 000 0.0175 Ranstad Sweden 254 000 0.030 Haggen Sweden 243 000 0.0137 Auminzatau Uzbekistan 56 600 0.05 Altyntau Uzbekistan 44 300 0.02-0.10 Ogcheon South Korea 33 350 0.029

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Gold tailings in South Africa

South Africa tailings reprocessing from gold mines

Uranium production in South Africa has generally been a by-product of gold. Uranium production begun in 1952.

Tailings contain around 0.3g/ton of leftover gold and 30 - 100 ppm of U.

Approximately 32% of the total national identified resources of South Africa are associated to tailings facilities (145 000 tU at

Gold production since 1886: 50 000 t Au Uranium production since 1952: 159 000 t U

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Gold tailings in South Africa

South Africa tailings reprocessing from gold mines (Red Book 2014)

Cooke 4 (Previously Ezulwini) UG mine + Randfontein tailings tailings Resources: 32 305 tU @ 0.029 %U Nominal capacity: 500 tU/year

Mine Waste Solutions Tailings reprocessing Resources: 32 305 tU @ 0.009 %U

Free State Tailings Tailings reprocessing Resources: 11 525 tU @ 0.008 %U Nominal capacity: 700 tU/year in 2016

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Gold tailings in South Africa

The Mine Waste Solutions (MWS) project is a gold and uranium recovery operation, comprising tailing deposits from 50 years of gold and uranium operations

The MWS project is estimated to contain 56 148 tU tU @ 0.009 %U The Mine Waste Solutions project

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Heavy mineral sands

Heavy minerals (dark) in a quartz beach sand (Chennai, India).

Heavy mineral sands are placer deposits formed most usually in beach environments by concentration due to the specific gravity of the mineral grains.

Monazite is an important ore for thorium, lanthanum, and cerium, as well as small amounts of uranium and thorium . It is often found in placer deposits. India, Madagascar, Australia and South Africa have large deposits of monazite sands. Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Heavy mineral sands

WIM 150 deposit Murray Basin, South Australia-Victoria

The Murray Basin of south-eastern Australia hosts some of the world's largest known deposits of heavy mineral sands , including Wimmera Industrial Minerals Pty Ltd's (WIM) WIM-150 deposit

1 650 Mt with 3.7 % heavy minerals

Imenite: 31 %, 137 Mt Zircon: 21 %, 35 Mt 10 500 t U, 10 500 t Th : 12 %, 29 Mt Leucoxene: 6 % Monazite: 2 %, 0.58 Mt 3 000 t U, 35 000 t Th Xenotime: 0.4 %, 0.17 Mt 1 700 t U, 1 700 t Th

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Heavy mineral sands

Beach sand mining in India

Data from the Atomic Mineral Directorate for Exploration and Research has shown that India’s monazite reserve was estimated at 12 M t, with 60 000 tU and 850 000 t Th.

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Uranium in sea water

Some 4.5 billion tons of uranium, representing an

enormous energy resource, are dissolved in the world's

oceans but at very low concentrations of about 3.3 ppb.

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Conventional Resources

RAR

Total 478 500 1 223 600 3 458 400 4 386 400

Co/by product 71 100 256 700 1 221 200 1 388 900 % 14.9 21.0 35.4 31.7

Uranium co/by-product is reported by 6 countries: Australia, Brazil, Greenland, Malawi, Russian Federation and South Africa.

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Conventional Resources

Inferred Resources

Total 168 400 901 100 2 260 100 3 523 700

Co/by product 0 92 900 541 100 783 500 % 0 10.3 23.9 22.2

Uranium co/by-product is reported by 6 countries: Australia, Brazil, Greenland, Malawi, Russian Federation and South Africa.

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Conventional Resources

Indicated Resources (RAR+Inferred)

Total 646 900 2 124 700 5 718 500 7 910 100

Co/by product 71 100 349 600 1 762 200 2 172 500 % 11.0 16.5 30.8 27.5

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Australia

IR NA NA 389 000 394 500 Total NA NA 1 329 900 1 335 400

Olympic Dam: iron-oxide-copper-gold deposit

Largest uranium deposit, fourth largest remaining copper deposit and fifth largest gold deposit in the world.

Total Resources: 9 576 Mt at 0.87% Cu, 0.022% U (2.1 MtU), 0.32 g/t Au and 1.5 g/t Ag

2013 Production: 3 400 tU

Other significant deposits and prospects of this type occur on the Gawler Craton, including Prominent Hill and Carrapeteena. Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Brazil

IR 0 31 200 78 600 78 600 Total 71 100 120 100 167 500 167 500

The phosphate/uranium project of Santa Quitéria (76 000 tU @ 0.08 % U) is under development.

In 2012, the project applied for a construction licence. The operation is now scheduled for 2016.

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Finland

IR 0 0 0 0 Total 0 0 0 1 200

Unconventional by-product uranium resources of Talvivaara (Ni-Zn-Cu- Co deposit) are approximately 22 000 tU (measured and indicated). Uranium grade in the Paleoproterozoic black schist-hosted ore is 17 ppm on average.

Another potential by-product uranium target is the Sokli carbonatite in northern Finland, presently under development for the beneficiation of the phosphate ore on top of the magmatic carbonatite. In the carbonatite, uranium pyrochlore occurs at a grade of 0.01% U and has been evaluated to contain 2 500 tU.

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Greenland

IR 0 0 0 221 200 Total 0 0 0 221 200

The Kvanefjeld U-Th deposit in south Greenland, is a large Rare Earth Element , Yttrium, Zinc and Uranium deposit associated with alkaline intrusive rocks.

Overall resource inventory of 956 million tonnes containing 221 200 tU (230 ppm U), 10.33 million tonnes of total rare earth oxides (10.8 % TREO) and 2.25 million tonnes of zinc (2.35 %Zn)

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Malawi

IR 0 0 0 525 Total 0 0 0 2 730

At Kanyika, Uranium is an important by-product in the complex polymetallic ore in a pegmatite quartz vein, hosted in Proterozoic felsic schists.

As of December 2012, total resources amount to 68.3 Mt of ore at average grade of 0.28% Nb2O5, 0.0135% Ta2O5 and 0.0066 % U.

Niobium and Tantalum products would be produced with uranium and zirconium as by-products.

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Russia

IR 0 0 0 34 400 Total 0 0 0 79 800

There are two deposits (in the Chita region) related to alkaline metasomatic formations which contain uranium as by-product of Ta, Nb and REE:

1. Katuginskoe (15 754tU at 0.01%U)

2. Ulug-Tanzekskoe (67 519tU at 0.014%U). (0.31% Nb20, 0.019% Ta205 and 1.38% Zr02)

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 South Africa

IR 0 69 286 103 929 138 572 Total 0 182 310 273 465 364 620

Most of the South Africa uranium resources are associated to quartz- pebble conglomerate deposits (uranium 0.01- 0.03 %U being a by- product of gold).

The Witwatersrand Basin contains about 81% of total identified uranium resources in South Africa, in both the underground, hosted by quartz- pebble conglomerates, and their resulting tailings storage facilities

Almost all of South Africa’s historical uranium production was derived from quartz-pebble conglomerate deposits with a small proportion being from the Palabora copper-bearing carbonatite (0.55 % Cu, 40 ppm U)

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Unconventional Resources (1 000 tU)

(Updated figures from 2011-2013 RB in brackets)

Country Phosphate rocks Non-ferrous Carbonatite Black schists, ores lignite Brazil 28.0-70.0 (84.4) 2 13 Chile 0.6-2.8 (7.2) 4.5-5.2 Columbia 20.0-60.0 Egypt 35.0-100.0 Finland 1 (1) 25 (2.5) 3.0-9.0 (22) 0.5 India 1.7-2.5 6.6-22.9 Jordan 100-123.4 (60) Kazakstan 58 Mexico 100-151 (240) 1

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Unconventional Resources (1 000 tU)

(Updated figures from 2011-2013 RB in brackets)

Country Phosphate Non-ferrous Carbonatite Black schists, rocks ores lignite Morocco 6 526 Peru 20 (21.6) 0.14-1.41 South Africa 77 Sweden 42.3 300 (967.6) Syria 60-80 Thailand 0.5-1.5 United States 140-330 1.8 Venezuela 42 Viet Nam 0.5

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Unconventional Resources

Estimated total unconventional uranium resources are 7.3 to 8.4 million tU.

Data are incomplete: Uranium resources associated with the Chattanooga (United States) and Ronneburg (Germany) black shales, which combined are estimated to contain a total of 4.2 million tU, are not listed. Uranium resources associated with monazite-bearing coastal sands in Brazil, India, Egypt, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and the United States. Unconventional resources are also not reported in former USSR countries

But not recoverable resources. Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Uranium production

World production by production method

Production method 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

(expected)

Open-pit mining 21,1 18,7 14,1 13,1

Underground mining 25,9 27,0 27,4 30,2

ISL 45,3 46,9 50,5 48,7

In-place leaching - - - -

Co-product/by-product 6,6 7,0 7,3 7,4

Heap leaching 0,4 0,3 0,5 0,6

Other 0,7 0,1 0,1 0,1

Total 100,0 100,0 100,0 100,0 100,0

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016 Thank You for your Attention

Ulaanbaatar, August 2016