Red Book Reporting Resources - UNECE Homepage · 2015-11-19 · Resource terminology Uranium resources are broadly classified as either conventional or unconventional. Conventional

Uranium Resources of Africa

Identified Resources

2014 Red Book

J.R. Blaise Johannesburg November 2014


Johannesburg November 2014

Resource terminology

Resource estimates are divided into separate categories

reflecting different levels of confidence in the quantities reported.

Reasonably Assured Resources (RAR)

Inferred resources (IR)

Prognosticated resources (PR)

Speculative resources (SR)

The resources are further separated into categories

based on the cost of production.

<USD 40 / kgU

<USD 80 / kgU

<USD 130 / kgU

<USD 260 / kgU




Uranium resources are broadly classified as either conventional

or unconventional.

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.




Reasonably assured resources (RAR) refers to uranium that

occurs in known mineral deposits of delineated size, grade and

configuration such that the quantities which could be recovered

within the given production cost ranges with currently proven

mining and processing technology, can be specified.

Estimates of tonnage and grade are based on specific sample

data and measurements of the deposits and on knowledge of

deposit characteristics.

Reasonably assured resources have a high assurance of

existence.

RAR are expressed in terms of quantities of uranium recoverable

from mineable ore.



Resource terminology Inferred resources (IR) refers to uranium that is inferred to occur

based on direct geological evidence, in extensions of well-explored

deposits, or in deposits in which geological continuity has been

established but where specific data, including measurements of the

deposits, and knowledge of the deposit’s characteristics, are

considered to be inadequate to classify the resource as RAR.

Estimates of tonnage, grade and cost of further delineation and

recovery are based on such sampling as is available and on

knowledge of the deposit characteristics as determined in the best

known parts of the deposit or in similar deposits.

Less reliance can be placed on the estimates in this category than on

those for RAR.

IR are expressed in terms of quantities of uranium recoverable from

mineable ore.




NEA/IAEA classification




Approximate correlation of terms used in major

resources classification systems



Uranium 2014

RAR (tU)

<USD40/kgU <USD80/kgU

<USD130/kgU

<USD260/kgU

World Africa

507 400

0

1 211 600

166 100

3 698 900

865 100

4 587 200

1 001 300

Africa/World (%)

0 13.7 23.4 21.8

RAR are reported by 14 African countries: Algeria, Botswana,

Central African Rep., Dem. Rep. of Congo, Gabon, Malawi, Mali,

Namibia, Niger, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia,

Zimbabwe.



Uranium 2014

RAR (tU)

Distribution of reasonably assured resources (RAR) among

countries with a significant share of resources



Uranium 2014

RAR (tU)

Distribution of resources by production method

Production method <USD 40/kgU <USD 80/kgU <USD 130/kgU <USD 260/kgU

Open-pit mining - 53 171 646 597 698 190

Underground mining - - 35 690 35 690

In situ leaching acid - - - -

In situ leaching alkaline - - - -

Co-product/by-product - 113 024 169 536 228 253

Unspecified - - 13 332 39 232

Total - 166 195 865 155 1 001 365



Uranium 2014

RAR (tU)

Distribution of resources by processing method

Processing method <USD 40/kgU <USD 80/kgU <USD 130/kgU <USD 260/kgU

Conventional from OP - 48 419 383 890 406 484

Conventional from UG - 113 024 205 226 261 738

In situ leaching acid - - - -


In-place leaching* - - - -

Heap leaching** from OP - 4 752 262 707 291 706

Heap leaching** from UG - - - -

Unspecified - - 13 332 41 437

Total - 166 195 865 155 1 001 365



Uranium 2014

RAR (tU)


Deposit type <USD 40/kgU <USD 80/kgU <USD 130/kgU <USD 260/kgU

Proterozoic unconformity - - - 1 500

Sandstone - 53 171 407 963 410 975

Polymetallic iron-oxide breccia complex - - - -

Paleo-quartz-pebble conglomerate(a) - 113 034 169 536 226 048

Granite-related - - - 19 400

Metamorphite - - - -

Intrusive - - 196 979 217 740

Volcanic-related - - - -

Metasomatite - - 7 179 7 179

Surficial deposits - - 51 498 81 523

Carbonate - - - -

Collapse breccia pipe - - - -

Phosphate - - 32 000 32 000

Lignite - coal - - - -

Black shale - - - -

Unspecifed - - - 5 000

Total - 166 205 865 155 1 001 365



Uranium 2014

IR (tU)


<USD130/kgU

<USD260/kgU

World Africa

175 500

0

745 100

78 400

2 204 000

472 500

3 048 000

562 800

Africa/World (%)

0 10.5 21.4 18.5

IR are reported by 13 African countries: Botswana, Chad, Dem. Rep. of

Congo, Egypt, Gabon, Malawi, Mali, Namibia, Niger, Somalia, South

Africa, Tanzania, Zambia.



Uranium 2014

IR (tU)

Distribution of Inferred resources (IR) among countries with a

significant share of resources



Uranium 2014

IR (tU)

Production method <USD 40/kgU <USD 80/kgU <USD 130/kgU <USD 260/kgU

Open-pit mining 0 9 082 297 028 327 059

Underground mining 0 0 66 529 84 277

In situ leaching acid 0 0 581 581

In situ leaching alkaline 0 0 0 0

Co-product/by-product 0 69 286 103 929 139 097

Unspecified 0 0 4 526 11 818

Total 0 78 368 472 593 562 832

Distribution of resources by production method



Uranium 2014

IR (tU)


Processing method <USD 40/kgU <USD 80/kgU <USD 130/kgU <USD 260/kgU

Conventional from OP - 9 082 222 646 252 589

Conventional from UG - 73 036 177 958 228 549

In situ leaching acid - - 581 581


In-place leaching* - - - -

Heap leaching** from OP - - 74 382 74 382

Heap leaching** from UG - - - -

Unspecified - - 4 526 14 231

Total - 82 118 480 093 570 332



Uranium 2014

IR (tU)

Distribution of resources by geological type

Deposit type <USD 40/kgU <USD 80/kgU <USD 130/kgU <USD 260/kgU

Proterozoic unconformity - - - -

Sandstone - 9 082 177 307 183 735

Polymetallic iron-oxide breccia complex - - - -

Paleo-quartz-pebble conglomerate - 69 286 103 929 138 572

Granite-related - - - 5 492

Metamorphite - - - -

Intrusive - - 97 944 117 547

Volcanic-related - - - -

Metasomatite - - 2 529 2 529

Surficial deposits - - 43 040 48 565

Carbonate - - - -

Collapse breccia pipe - - - -

Phosphate - - - -

Lignite coal - - 47 844 63 792

Black shale - - - -

Unspecified - - - 2 600

Total - 78 368 472 593 562 832



Uranium 2014

Identified Resources (RAR + IR)


<USD130/kgU

<USD260/kgU

World Africa

682 900

0

1 956 700

244 500

5 902 900

1 337 600

7 635 200

1 564 100

Africa/World (%)

0 12.5 22.7 20.5

Identified Resources are reported by 16 African countries



Uranium 2014 Identified Resources (RAR + IR)

Global distribution of identified resources (<USD 130/kgU)



Uranium 2014

Additional identified resources

The Secretariat identified additional identified resources since some

countries do not include resource determinations by junior exploration

companies in national totals until additional information is provided to the

pertinent agencies or until a mining licence application is filed, and others

do not always have sufficient human resources to provide detailed

information and evaluation as requested in the questionnaire.

The following table is a Secretariat estimate based on technical reports of

resources that have been classified either as Joint Ore Reserves

Committee (JORC), NI 43-101 or South African Mineral Resource

Committee (SAMREC) compliant.



Uranium 2014

Additional identified resources

Country Deposit/Project Resources (RAR+IR)

Cameroon Kitongo Lolodorf

11 100 1 000

Egypt Gabal Gutter Abu Zenina

2 000 100

Guinea Firawa 7 500

Mauritania Bin En Nar A 238 Reguibat

800 9 000

19 300

Total Africa 50 800

Total World 119 100



Algeria

<USD40/kgU

<USD80/kgU <USD130/kgU <USD260/kgU

RAR IR

0 0

0 0

0 0

19 500 0

Total 0 0 0 19 500

Reasonably assured resources in Algeria are associated to two

geological categories: upper Proterozoic vein deposits in the western

Hoggar and a deposit linked to the Pre-Cambrian basement and its

Palaeozoic sedimentary unconformity in the central Hoggar.

The first category includes vein deposits linked to the faults crossing

the pan-African batholith in the Timgaouine region, represented by the

Timgaouine, Abankor and Tinef deposits of the south-west Ahaggar.



Botswana

<USD40/kgU


RAR IR

0 0

0 0

12 800 56 000

12 800 56 000

Total 0 0 68 800 68 800

Identified resources are associated to the Letlhakane deposit.

The uranium mineralisation, hosted predominately in carbonaceous

mudstones and siltstones, occurs in relatively thin (0.5-5 m), laterally

extensive lenses with lower-grade material separating higher-grade ore

horizons.

The nature of the ore combined with shallow, flat-lying and soft strata

lends itself well to open-pit extraction methods.

The current resource estimate (in place) is 118 615 tU at 0.018% U.



Cameroon

<USD40/kgU


RAR IR Ad Resources

NA

NA

NA

12 100

Total NA NA NA 12 100 Identified resources are associated to the Kitongo and Lolodorf

deposits.

The Kitongo deposit was explored from 1971–1981, and drilled from

surface and from two adits. Only a fraction of the potential area was

explored. Trenching and drilling revealed uranium mineralization in a

shear zone cutting what was later identified as an albititized and

desilicified granite (episyenite) and Paleozoic andesites.

The uranium anomalies of the Lolodorf syenite were first discovered in

1979. The syenite occurs in a narrow band along the northwestern

edge of the Archean Ntera Complex. It is 2–5 km wide and about 60 km

long. Grades of up to 0.1% U have been reported.



Central African Republic

<USD40/kgU


RAR IR

0 0

0 0

32 000 32 000

32 000 32 000

Total 0 0 32 000 32 000

The Bakouma Basin uranium is associated with phosphate lenses

interstratified with the silts and the siliceous horizons of the M'Patou

formation (Eocene period). These lenses constitute the uranium ore

and are grouped in several small deposits: Patricia, Patou, Pama,

Palmyre, Pamela and Pâquerette.

Together they represent the Bakouma uranium deposit which contains

about 32 000 tU in ore with an average grade of 0.26% U at an

average depth of 35–40 m.



Chad

<USD40/kgU


RAR IR

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 2 400

Total 0 0 0 2 40

The Lere deposit has uranium hosted near vertical shear zones and

secondary foliation in albitised and silicified granite in a mixed terrain

of Precambrian units.

Resources compliant with the South African code for the reporting of

exploration results, mineral resources and minerals reserves

[SAMREC] Code have been evaluated to amount to 3 190 tU (in

place), at an average grade of 200 ppm U.



Dem. Rep. of Congo

<USD40/kgU


RAR IR

0 0

0 0

0 0

1 400 1 300

Total 0 0 0 2 700

Identified resources are associated to the Swambo, Shinkolobwe and Kasompi

deposits, in the “Copper–Cobalt belt” in the Shaba province.

These deposits are similar, except in size, to the Shinkolobwe deposit (23 000–

28 000 tU have been produced at the Shinkolobwe mine from ore ranging in

grade from 0.38–1.0% U.

Vein deposits in Precambrian metamorphic dolomites, shales, and

quartzites associated with cobalt, nickel and copper.



Egypt

<USD40/kgU


RAR IR Ad. Resources

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

2 100

Total 0 0 0 2 100

Uranium resources are associated to the In Gabal Gattar prospect

located in the N part of the Sinaï Desert (Shear zones cutting

Precambrian granites) and to the Abu Zenina prospect located in the

SW part of the Sinaï Peninsula.



Gabon

<USD40/kgU


RAR IR

0 0

0 0

4 800 0

4 800 1 000

Total 0 0 4 800 4 800

After the closure of mine operations in 1999, remaining

resources are associated to the Bagombe and

Mikouloungou deposits (Sandstone type deposits).



Guinea

<USD40/kgU


RAR IR Ad Resources

NA

NA

NA

7 500

Total NA NA NA 7 500

Uranium resources are associated to the Firawa deposit (uranium

occurrences identified in large fractures and adjacent mylonites related

to Archean and Proterozoic metamorphic complexes).



Malawi

<USD40/kgU


RAR IR

0 0

0 0

8 200 2 300

10 400 4 600

Total 0 0 10 500 15 000

Malawi’s total in situ identified resource is 19 910 tU. This is based on

resources at three locations:

-Paladin’s Kayelekera mine (13 090 tU), in sandstone

-Resource Star’s Livingstonia deposit (2 270 tU @ 0.0229% U), in

sandstone,

-Globe Metal’s Kanyika niobium deposit (4 550 tU) where uranium will

be produced as a by-product (0.28% Nb2O5, 0.0135% Ta2O5 and

0.0666% U).

Pegmatite quartz vein, hosted in Proterozoic felsic schists



Mali

<USD40/kgU


RAR IR

0 0

0 0

8 500 4 500

8 500 4 500

Total 0 0 13 000 13 000

The mineralisation at the Falea Project occurs within the Neoproterozic

to Carboniferous sedimentary sequence of the Taoudeni Basin. The

uranium mineralisation is believed to be a sandstone-type – roll-front –

deposit.

Total identified resources amount to 17 412 tU which includes 11 377

tU RAR and 6 035 tU inferred (NI 43-101compliant resource estimate).



Mauritania

<USD40/kgU


RAR IR Ad Resources

NA

NA

NA

29 100

Total NA NA NA 29 100

At Reguibat calcrete type uranium occurrences have been identified

related to Precambrian complexes.

A 238 and Bin En Nar deposits are related to shear zones in the

Reguibat shield.



Namibia

<USD40/kgU


RAR IR

0 0

0 0

248 200 134 600

296 500 159 100

Total 0 0 382 800 455 600

Identified recoverable conventional resources in Namibia amounted to

455 591 tU in 2013. Deposits in Namibia are typically large and low

grade. In 2013, about 84% of the recoverable identified uranium

resources are classified in the <USD 130/kgU(USD 50/lb U3O8) cost

category with no resources reported in the <USD 80kg/U category.

Intrusive type deposits: Rössing, Husab, Valencia, Namibplaass,

Etango

Calcrete type deposits: Langer Heinrich, Trekkopje, Omahola.

Surficial type deposits: Marenica, Tubas.



Niger

<USD40/kgU


RAR IR

0 0

14 800 600

325 000 79 900

325 000 79 900

Total 0 15 400 404 900 404 900

The total recoverable identified conventional resources for Niger, as of

the end of 2013, amount to 404 914 tU, a decline of 40 585 tU

compared to estimates in 2011, owing to the change in processing

method and recoveries for the Imouraren deposit.

Imouraren was originally planned (2011) to be mined by open-pit by

conventional processes with a 95% recovery, but in 2013 the plan was

updated – mining will be open-pit with heap leaching process and

recoveries of approximately 75%. Resources: 279 085 tU @ 0.07 %U

All uranium deposits in Niger are sandstone-hosted, with average

grades of 0.07 to 0.40% U.



Somalia

<USD40/kgU


RAR IR

0 0

0 0

0 0

7 600 2 600

Total 0 0 0 10 200

At Alio Ghelle, the mineralization is related to an albititic process

coming from sodium-metasomatism of fractured zones of the

basement.

The proved reserves of Alio Ghelle ore bodies amount to 1 950 tU

with an average content of 0.076% U and the semi-proved

reserves to 3 400 tU.

In the Mudug Province, the mineralization is found in friable rocks,

mainly in clays and fluvial sandstone of a Miocene suite overlain

by a massive gypsum crust.

The ore amount to 5 500 tU at an average grade of 0.068% U.



South Africa

<USD40/kgU


RAR IR

0 0

113 000 69 300

175 300 162 800

233 700 217 100

Total 0 182 300 338 100 450 800

The majority of past and present production was as a by-product of gold,

or to a minor extent, copper (Palabora). Only two primary uranium

producers have existed in South Africa (the Beisa mine in the Free State

and the Dominion Reefs Uranium Mine near Klerksdorp).

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.

Approximately 49% of the total identified resources are in the

Witwatersrand underground operations, 32% in their associated

tailings facilities, 14% in the Springbok Flats Basin where uranium is

hosted by both coal and shale and about 5% in the sandstone-hosted

deposits of the Karoo Basin.



Tanzania

<USD40/kgU


RAR IR

0 0

38 300 8 500

40 400 17 700

40 400 17 700

Total 0 46 800 58 100 58 100

Total identified in situ uranium resources from four areas in Tanzania

amount to 72 738 tU.

Over 80% of the total relates to the Nyota sandstone deposit at Mkuju

River. It contains 47 927 tU of measured and indicated and 10 578 tU

of inferred resources all in the <USD 80/kgU cost category.

The Manyoni playa lake calcrete deposits make up 11 146 tU of

identified resources of which 9 477 tU is inferred.

The remaining resources include two sandstone-type deposits:

the Likuju North of 2 312 tU and the Mtonya deposit which comprises

775 tU and is potentially in situ recovery amenable.



Zambia

<USD40/kgU


RAR IR

0 0

0 0

9 900 14 700

9 900 14 700

Total 0 0 25 600 25 600

Only three properties in Zambia have reached the stage of development

where NI 43-101 or JORC compliant resources have been published.

The Mutanga Project (sandstone type deposit) has a total of 75.4 Mt of

measured, indicated and inferred ore at a grade of 0.025% U containing

18 923 tU including inferred resources at Dibwe East.

The Chirundu Project, adjacent to Mutanga, has total measured,

indicated and inferred resources of 18.7 Mt at a grade of 0.023%

containing 4 270 tU.

The third is the Lumwana copper mine, where resources are hosted by

mica-quartz-kyanite schists of the Katangan Supergroup. Measured,

indicated and inferred resources of 7 492 tU are contained within 11.2

Mt of ore.



Zimbabwe

<USD40/kgU


RAR IR

0 0

0 0

0 0

1 400 0

Total 0 0 0 1 400

The resources are associated with the Kanyemba deposit located in

the northern part of the country, near the boundary with

Mozambique.

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.

6 750 t V2O5

Documents

Red Book Reporting Resources - UNECE Homepage · 2015-11-19 · Resource terminology Uranium resources are broadly classified as either conventional or unconventional. Conventional