INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA) Regional Workshop on ‘’Application of United Nations Framework Classification-2009’

UNFC-2009 Framework Classification Assay of known uranium resources

IAEA, Johannesburg, South Africa, 10 – 14 November 2014. URANIUM IN ALGERIA

Identified uranium potentiel & UNFC-2009 Framework Classification Assay

 KNOWN URANIUM DEPOSITS AND OCCURRENCES.

 UNFC-2009 FRAMEWORK CLASSIFICATION ASSAY.

 OUTLOOK DEVELOPMENT OF NUCLEAR POWER IN ALGERIA.

Geological map of Africa (BRGM, Edition) DEM map of Algeria Tell & Atlas

SAHARAN PLATFORM « Continental Intercalaire » series

YETTI-EGLAB Precambrian basement/ Sedimentary cover

HOGGAR Precambrian basement / sedimentary cover

Geological map of Algeria in North Africa context (Geological background, BRGM 2003,; DEM from SRTM, USGS 2000). HISTORICAL REVIEW OF URANIUM EXPLORATION The uranium exploration in Algeria has known three major distinct stages :

1. Before independence :

Prospection – Exploration

Uranium mineralization : Timgaouine.

2. Exploration activities by National firm SONAREM ;

General Exploration – Detailed Exploration

Uranium Deposits : Timgaouine – Abankor – Tinef - Tahaggart.

3. Exploration activities by the Atomic Energy Commissary.

Integration to National Nuclear Program

’’Research and development of uranium exploration’’ 1. Before independance (1962) :

Prospection – General Exploration in the Hoggar shield

 BRMA (France) at Timgaouine area (1953 – 1960)

 CEA (France) at Tesnou El Bema area (1958 – 1960)

Uranium Mineralization

Timgaouine - Tesnou El Bema 2. Exploration activities by National firm SONAREM.

General Exploration – Detailed Exploration (1969 – 1974)

DEPOSITS

Timgaouine - Abankor - Tinef - Tahaggart 3. Exploration activities by COMENA.

Integration to National Nuclear Program (Mai 1981)

‘’Research and Development of uranium exploration’’. TESNOU AREA TIMGAOUINE AREA TIN SERIRINE BASIN AREA

URANIUM DEPOSITS AND OCCURRENCES IN ALGERIA (geological maps) URANIUM DEPOSITS AND OCCURENCES URANIFEROUS PROVINCES OF HOGGAR

Two regional metallogenic circumscribed entities in the Hoggar are described in terms of uranium provinces:

Uranium province of Eastern branch of the Pharusian chain (Western Hoggar)

Northern District Southern District El Bema – Aït Oklan – Tesnou Timgaouine – Abankor – Tinef Vein deposit Vein deposit

Uranium province of Tin Séririne (Central Hoggar)

Northern subprovince Southern subprovince Tahaggart Tamarat N’iblis – Timouzeline Unconformity – (Basement/Cover) Sandstone mineralization Aït Oklan - N Eferi

Gour Tin Ben Guen

Tahaggart

Tinef Abankor Timgaouine

Deposits Uranium Mineralization

URANIUM DEPOSITS AND OCCURRENCES IN HOGGAR SHIELD - SOUTHERN ALGERIA - 7°

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 Issalane 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16

21° 1. Neogene and Quaternary 2. Tertiary and quaternary volcanism 21° 3. Cretaceous; 4. Jurassic; 5. Trias In Azzaoua 6. Carboniferous; 7. Devonian; 8. Silurian 9. Cambrian-Ordovician 10. Intermediate series (Eocambrian) 11. Western Hoggar (Pharusian chain) 12. Middle Hoggar (Polycyclic) 13. Easter Hoggar (Tiririne chain) 14. Anorogenic volcanism of Aïr 15. Faults 16. Uranium deposits and occurrences.

A Ï R Bassin de Tim Mersoï

Agadès 0 100 200 300 400km

7°

Uranium Province of Tin Séririne – Central Hoggar VEIN DEPOSITS TYPE IN PRECAMBRIAN BASEMENT Deposits Uranium Mineralization

URANIUM DEPOSITS AND OCCURRENCES IN TIMGAOUINE REGION (geological map) Deposits Uranium Mineralization

URANIUM OCCURRENCES IN TESNOU REGION - SOUTHERN ALGERIA - (geological map) UNCONFORMITY - RELATED DEPOSITS TYPE IN TIN SERIRINE PALEOZOIC SEDIMENTARY BASIN Deposits

Uranium Mineralization

URANIUM DEPOSITS AND OCCURRENCES IN TIN SERIRINE BASIN REGION - SOUTHERN ALGERIA - (geological map) URANIUM RESOURCES

GEOLOGICAL TYPES OF URANIUM DEPOSITS AND PRODUCTION METHODS

(IAEA - RED BOOK, 2011.) REASONABLY ASSURED RESOURCES

- GEOLOGICAL DEPOSITS TYPES -

Ore Tonnage Average content Tonnage metal Deposits (in 1000 tonnes) (%U) (in tonnes uranium)

VEINS DEPOSITS TYPES

Abankor 3 264 0.290 9 450

Timgaouine 7 442 0.157 11 732

Tinef 374 0.100 374

Daira Sud 1 600 0.120 2 000

TOTAL 12 680 0.187 23 556

UNCONFORMITY – RELATED DEPOSITS TYPES

Tahaggart 781 0.215 1 677

TOTAL 13 461 0.201 25 233 REASONABLY ASSURED RESOURCES (TONNES U)

GEOLOGICAL DEPOSITS TYPES

DEPOSITS TYPES < 40 USD KgU < 80 USD KgU < 130 USD KgU < 260 USD KgU

UNCONFORMITY / / 2 000

VEINS / / 24 000

TOTAL / / 26 000

PRODUCTION METHOD – RESOURCES IN SITU

METHOD < 40 USD KgU < 80 USD KgU < 130 USD KgU < 260 USD KgU

UNSPECIFIED / / / 26 000

Note that choosen prices were retained taking into consideration the remoteness of sites of all infrastructures : road, electricity, urban center, ..... (desert area) KNOWN URANIUM DEPOSITS & OCCURENCES. Timgaouine-Abankor Tahaggart

Localization of Timgaouine-Abankor (Western Hoggar) and Tahaggart (Hoggar southern border) uranium deposits (Geological background, BRGM 2003,; DEM from SRTM, USGS 2000).). DATA AND INVESTIGATIONS ON THE DISCOVERED DEPOSITS TIMGAOUINE SPECIFICATION UNIT Total DRILLING 99 holes on a regular mesh : 80x40 m and 80x80 m m 23 500 Radiometric prospection 1:10.000 km2 120 Radiometric exploration 1:500 km2 3 Geological Survey 1:25.000 km2 345 Geological Survey 1:1.000 km2 1.85

2 GEOLOGY Geological Survey 1:5.000 km 0.12 & Geological Survey 1:2.000 km2 2 GEOPHYSICS Underground gallery m 140.3 Mining crosscuts m 99,5 Mining trench m3 500 Prospection wells m 24,5 Exploration wells m 93 m TOPOGRAPHY Topographical Survey 1:1000 km2 1.85

Zones Ore (tonnes) U (%) Metal (tonnes) Central zone (C1) 1 366 000 0.280 3800 North zone (C2) 3 554 000 0.200 7000 South zone (C2) 930 000 0.160 1470 Total (C1+C2) 7 442 000 0.157 11 782 Resources II (C2) 3 500 000 0.046 1600 Resources III (C1) 190 000 0.110 210 Note : Resources have been estimated using a cutoff grade of 0.07% U.

Timgaouine deposit : 7 442 000 t at 0,157% U (C1+C2) i.e. 11 782 t U. ABANKOR

SPECIFICATION UNIT Total DRILLING 55 holes on a regular mesh : 80x40m m 9878.00 Radiometric prospection 1:10.000 km2 296.00 Radiometric exploration 1:5000 km2 80.00 Geological Survey 1:10.000 km2 35.00

2 GEOLOGY Geological Survey 1:1.000 km 3.20 & Geological Survey 1:500 km2 0.10 GEOPHYSICS Underground gallery m 323.50 Mining trench m3 2400.00 Prospection wells m 42.00 Sampling and analysis U 1668.00 T Topographical Survey 1:10.000 km2 17.00 TOPOGRAPHY Topographical Survey 1:1000 km2 3.20 Topographical Survey 1:500 km2 0.30

Section U (%) Ore (tonnes) Metal resources (tonnes) Section I 0.233 230 660 537.40 Section II 0.443 757 180 3354.30 Section III 0.401 660 960 2650.00 Section IV 0.216 670 400 1448.00 Section V 0.182 381 000 693.40 Section VI 0.277 162 880 451.20 Total 0.290 3 264 000 9 450 Abankor deposit : 3 264 000 t at 0,290% U i.e. 9 450 t U. TAHAGGART

SPECIFICATION UNIT AMOUNT Percussion drilling (Atlas-Copco) m 9251.00 DRILLING Core drilling (ZBUD) m 630.00 Radiometric prospection 1:10.000 km2 291.00 Radiometric exploration 1:2.000 km2 1.50 Radiometric exploration 1:200 and km2 1.22 1:400 GEOLOGY Geological Survey 1:2.000 km2 1.71 & Geological Survey 1:1.000 km2 2.70 GEOPHYSICS Gamma core drilling ml 9881.00 Mining trench m3 110.00 Prospection wells 2.20m2 m 15.00 Sampling U 270.00 Topographical Survey 1:1.000 km2 2.70 TOPOGRAPHY Staking km 90.30 Levelling km 66.00

Tahaggart deposit : 781 104 t at 0.215% U, approximately 1677 t U (potential reserves). UNFC-2009 FRAMEWORK CLASSIFICATION ASSAY OF ALGERIA DISCOVERED RESOURCES. UNFC-2009 FRAMEWORK CLASSIFICATION ASSAY OF ALGERIA DISCOVERED RESOURCES

UNFC-2009

N Deposit/ UNFC-2009 UNFC-2009 Catégories Firm Ore (t) U (%) Observations Region Class Sub-Class E F G Deposit evaluated at CI

Potentially and CII categories in 1 GEOMIN Development TIMGAOUINE 11 782 0.157 commercial Projet 2 2 1 1974 and Expertised in SONAREM Pending 1980. Deposit evaluated at CI

Potentially and CII categories in 2 GEOMIN Development ABANKOR 9 450 0.290 commercial Projet 2 2 1 1974 and Expertised in SONAREM Pending 1980. Deposit evaluated at CI

Potentially and CII categories in 3 GEOMIN Development TAHAGGART 1677 0.215 commercial Projet 2 2 1 1974 and Expertised in SONAREM Pending 1980. Deposit evaluated at CI

Potentially and CII categories in 4 GEOMIN Development TINEF 3740 0.1 commercial Projet 2 2 3 1974 and Expertised in SONAREM Pending 1980. Deposit evaluated at CI

Potentially and CII categories in 5 GEOMIN Development DAIRA SUD 1600 0.2 commercial Projet 2 2 3 1974 and Expertised in SONAREM Pending 1980.

TAMART

6 N'IBLIS GEOMIN - Exploration - - - - 3 3 4 TIMOUZELINE SONAREM Project

EL BEMA GEOMIN - Exploration 7 3 3 4 - AIT OKLAN SONAREM - - Project -

Deposits expertised by MINATOME (France) and URANEZ (Ex. FRG) OUTLOOK DEVELOPMENT OF NUCLEAR POWER IN ALGERIA. Statements of HE the Minister of Energy.

1. International Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Power in the 21st Century - Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation 27-29 June 2013.

« In this framework, Algeria decided to introduce nuclear power in its energy-mix and plans to build a first nuclear power plant in around 10 years.

Preparative actions and gradual implementation of the infrastructure required for the introduction of nuclear power are ongoing and include particularly :

 Strengthening of national capabilities for training and human resource development for support to nuclear safety and securit;

 Prospecting for potentiel sites;

 Adapting the legislative and regulatory framework;

 Progressive development of a local nuclear industry. »

2. 58th session of the General Conference of the IAEA – Vienna, 22 September 2014.

« Algeria wich opted for the use of nuclear energy peaceful purposes, wishes to reaffirm its commitment to the irreplaceable role of IAEA in strengthening national capacity in the nuclear field. »

…………..

« My country is closely following the growing interest of countries for the nuclear power option, continues to prepare for the prospect to include this source of energy in its national energy mix, of wich the construction of the first power plant is scheduled for 2027. »

THE GROWTH STRATEGIES.

Three main axes are undertaken within the context of the nuclear power development perspective in Algeria :

 Training and development of human resource;  The choice of sites for nuclear power plants;  The revival of uranium exploration in the Hoggar. The revival of uranium exploration in the Hoggar. Review and Prospects

Hoggar is the preferred target for uranium exploration.

THE CHOICE OF THE REGION FOR EXPLORATION PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION :

THE TIN SERIRINE SEDIMENTARY BASIN.

7°

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 Tamanrasset 9 10 11 12

Bassin 13 14 15 16 de ISSALANE Tin Seririne 21° 1. Neogene and Quaternary 2. Tertiary and quaternary volcanism 21° 3. Cretaceous; 4. Jurassic; 5. Trias In Azzaoua 6. Carboniferous; 7. Devonian; 8. Silurian 9. Cambrian-Ordovician 10. Intermediate series (Eocambrian) 11. Western Hoggar (Pharusian chain) 12. Middle Hoggar (Polycyclic) 13. Easter Hoggar (Tiririne chain) 14. Anorogenic volcanism of Aïr 15. Faults In Guezzam 16. Uranium deposits and occurrences. A Ï R Bassin de Tim Mersoï

Agadès 0 100 200 300 400km

7° Uranium Province of Tamesna (Tin Séririne – Tim Mersoi) Ordovician sandstones: The internal Tassili Tahaggart region URANIUM EXPLORATION IN TIN SERIRINE BASIN

For prospection, all geological and geophysical technics and methods have been implemented:

 Geological survey.

 Geophysical survey.

 Airborne Geophysical survey. Confirmed radiometric anamoly

TAHAGGART

RADIOMETRIC MAP OF ASSEO AREA - AEROGEOPHYSICAL SURVEY - SEROUENOUT TERRANE MOLE OF ISSALANE

7°30’ FAULT MAGNETIC MAP OF ASSEO AREA - AEROGEOPHYSICAL SURVEY - W E

Thrust plane

Ordovician Precambrian basement sandstones

Overthrust of the precambrian basement on the paleozoic cover underlining the hercynian event in Tin Séririne region Two types of uraniferous mineralizations are targeted :

 Precambrian basement-paleozoïc cover unconformity- related mineralization :

« Tahaggart type ».

 Continental sandstone-related mineralization of the base of lower Devonian :

« type ». Hoggar shield uranium districts retained for exploration HOGGAR: Sightseeing Tour

Some pictures of Tassils

INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA) Regional Workshop on ‘’Application of United Nations Framework Classification-2009’