International Atomic Energy Agency IUREP N.F.S. No. 125 November 1977 Distr. LIMITED Original: ENGLISH

INTERNATIONAL URANIUM RESOURCES EVALUATION PROJECT

IUREP

NATIONAL FAVOURABILITY STUDIES

BAHRAIN

77-10852

INTERNATIONAL URANIUM RESOURCES EVALUATION PROJECT

I U R E P

NATIONAL FAVOURABILITY STUDIES

IUREP N.F.S. Noo 125

CONTENTS

SUMMARY PAGE

A. INTRODUCTION AMD GENERAL GEOGRAPHY 1.

B. GEOLOGY OP IN RELATION TO POTENTIALLY FAVOURABLE URANIUM BEARING AREAS

C. PAST EXPLORATION -•••

D. URANIUM OCCURRENCES AMD RESOURCES 2"

Eo PRESENT STATUS OF EXPLORATION 2°

P. POTENTIAL FOR MEW DISCOVERIES 2°

BIBLIOGRAPHY 2°

FIGURES MAP OF ARABIAN PENINSULA

S U M M A R Y

Bahrain consists of limestone, sandstone and marl of Cretaceous and Tertiary ages„ The potential for discoveries of uranium is very limited and thus the jjJRejruI^tj.v.e. J?otential is placed in the category of less than 1 OOP _ t_onnes uranium.

- 1 -

A.ND

•• Bahrain, an archipelago, named after the largest island in the Gulf of Bahrain, an inlet of the , lies between the peninsula and the Hasa coast of . extends 27 mi. north to south by 10 mi. east to west and is a low, generally level expanse of sand and bare rock, with Jebel Dukhan (450 ft) the highest of a cluster of small rocky hills in the centre. .Total land area is about 256 square miles or 662 square kilometres. Muharraq to the north and Sitra to the east are low-lying and are connected by causeway to the main island. Other islands are Umm An Naeaan Jidda and the Hawar group off Qatar,

The climate is hot and rather humid in summer, but pleasant during the short winter season. Mean midday temperatures from May to September exceed 90° F. The scanty winter rain (3 in) excludes agriculture save in the extreme north where copious fresh- water springs permit irrigation. The water probably originates in central and western Arabia.

With the coming of oil resources to Bahrain good roads have been built linking all points of the main island. International air service links Bahrain with Europe and India. The sea port at Mina'Salman is a regular stop for traffic to and from ports of the East or Africa.

B • GEOLOGY OF BAHRAIN IOgMTI0N IP FAVOURABLE URANIUM BEARING _AREAS

Structurally the island is an up fold of limestone, marls and sandstone of Tertiary and Cretaceous age, similar to other oil-bearing structures in the Persian Gulf area.

Bahrain has surface outcrops of limestone, sandstone and marl of Cretaceous and Tertiary age. Stratigraphically it is on the west flank of the Persian Gulf syncline. From the standpoint of less regional geologic history, Bahrain is on the Interior Platform of the Arabian Shield. This shelf received a moderatly thick wedge of marine sediments during Cretaceous and Tertiary time,

C. PAST_ jjXPLORATIOjT

As far as is known, no exploration for uranium has ever taken place in Bahrain.

D. URANIUM

No occurrences or radioactive anomalies have been reported. - 2

E. PRESENT .STATUS.OF EXPLORATIOg •

As far as is known, there are no plans for uranium exploration in Bahrain, •

The potential for new discoveries is very limited,, There are no continental elastics so solution type deposits are not expected., No metamorphics or plutonic rocks are present so primary type deposits a.re not lik&ly. No phosphorites or ligmites are reported so uranium in association with these type deposits is not expected* Galcrete deposits axe not likely due to the high hummidity and lack of source. The ^Egcjilativ^Po^enti^l must be stated as than 1000 tonnes uranium,,

Compiled by J Bowman IAEA Consultant August 1977

BIBLIOjjRAPHY

Powers, R Wo, et al, 1966, Geology of the Arabian Peninsula USGS Professional Paper 56O-D

Encyclopedia Britannica 1974, Vol 2 pp 1042, 1043

World Almanic and Book of Pacts, 1977