Uranium and thorium resources in India: UNFC system...13 1 Uranium and thorium resources in India:...

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Uranium and thorium resources in India: UNFC system

P.S.Parihar Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research

Department of Atomic Energy Government of India

2

The federal status of the DAE and the powers invested in it under

the Indian Atomic Energy Act (1948 and 1962) as amended from time to time, bestow upon it several rights to facilitate atomic mineral exploration. The more significant ones are-

Exclusive rights to conduct exploration for uranium, thorium and other prescribed minerals such as beryllium, lithium, niobium, tantalum and rare-earth elements all over the country .

Exclusive rights to buy prescribed minerals from private mine owners produced incidental to mining of other economic minerals.

Rights to access to surface and sub-surface data on areas under exploration or mining/recovery for oil, coal, minerals and ground water by Government or Public Sector Organisations. The facility includes carrying out of gamma-ray logging of boreholes and checking of mine workings and collection of samples etc.

Government of India’s Policy on Atomic Minerals U

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Uranium exploration, production and utilisation are under the control of Central Government.

Only public sector companies under Government of India are allowed to explore and mine atomic minerals viz. U, Th, etc.

Present system of reporting of uranium reserves in India is as per the IAEA system of uranium resource classification Indicated – [Reasonable assured resources (RAR)] Inferred – [Inferred resources (IR)] Prognosticated resources (PR) Speculative resources

Government of India’s Policy on Atomic Minerals U

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Identified Resources Undiscovered Resources C

ost

of

reco

very

USD

<4

0/k

gU

Reasonably Assured

Resources

Inferred Resources

Prognostigated Resources

Sp

ecu

lati

ve r

eso

urc

es

USD

40

– 8

0/k

gU Reasonably

Assured Resources

Inferred Resources


USD

80

-1

60

/kgU

Reasonably Assured

Resources

Inferred Resources


USD

13

0–

26

0/k

gU Reasonably

Assured Resources

Inferred Resources


4

NEA-IAEA classification of uranium resources

Decreasin

g econ

om

ic viability

Decreasing confidence in estimates

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Two agencies, viz., Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) and Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) under the Department of Atomic Energy are engaged in the exploration and mining of uranium, respectively for its exclusive use as fuel in the nuclear power stations owned by Government of India.

As per UNFC, reporting of resources are to be done by numerical coding on three axes (E,F&G).

The geological details (G) and feasibility status (F) of almost all the Indian uranium and thorium deposits have been widely reported, but the details related to the economics (E) is not reported.

As a result, the classification with reference to E axis may be difficult for Indian deposits.

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A new plane E0 is suggested for those countries who want to keep the uranium production cost confidential.

UNFC system for uranium resource classification- suggested system for indian uranium resources

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All the evaluated thorium resources in India is confined to the mineral monazite occurring in the beach sand heavy mineral suite of East and West coasts.

Indian resources fall under the category “VI. Placer and residual deposits of hill and valley wash” of UNFC system and the deposits have been classified in the geological and Feasibility axes .

Economic axis depends on the associated heavy minerals and needs to be addressed separately. Numerical codes for E axis has not been worked out for Indian thorium deposits.

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Thorium resources

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India’s uranium resources and UNFC coding

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India’s uranium resources U

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Major uranium deposits U

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Seven production mines

Two mills for beneficiation

Uranium deposits/occurrences

Singhbhum Shear Zone, Jharkhand U

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Singhbhum Shear Zone, Jharkhand

Sixteen low grade - small to medium tonnage uranium deposits

G and F axes fairly well established

Seven producing mines

Two mills

Only U producing mines in India so far

Accounts for 30% (≈ 55000t U3O8) of country’s

Uranium resources

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Singhbhum Shear Zone, Jharkhand

Sixteen low grade - small to medium tonnage uranium deposits

G and F axes fairly well established


Two mills

Only U producing mines in India so far

Accounts for 29% of country’s Uranium resources

(55549t U3O8)

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Uranium resources in Cuddapah basin, Andhra Pradesh

Delhi

Hyderabad

0 200 400 km

Cuddapah Basin

Kaladgi Basin

Bhima Basin

Pakhal Basin

Vindhyan Basin

Chhattisgarh Basin

Khairargarh Basin

Ampani Basin

Abhujhmar Basin

Indravati Basin

Sukma Basin

Shillong Basin

Kunjar Basin

Gwalior Basin

• Cuddapah basin accounts for ≈ 50% of country’s uranium reserves

• Hold potential for immense additional resources

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TUMMALAPALLE

STRATABOUND CARBONATE HOSTED

Tummalapalle uranium deposit ≈ 70,000t U3O8

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TUMMALAPALLE

STRATABOUND CARBONATE HOSTED

Tummalapalle uranium deposit – 72,181t U3O8

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Srisailam-Palnad sub-basins, Cuddapah basin U

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Unconformity type deposits

Four deposits viz. Lambapur, Peddagattu, Chitrial and Koppunuru

G axis fairly established

≈ 20,000t U3O8 established so far

Similar type of deposits in Canada and

Australia are high grade-large tonnage


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Unconformity type deposits

Four deposits viz. Lambapur, Peddagattu and Koppunuru

G axis fairly established

More than 20,000t U3O8 established so far

Similer type of deposits in Canada and

Australia are high grade-large tonnage

Super High grade deposits are associated with this type of deposits


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≈ 20,000t U3O8

20

Uranium resources in NDFB

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Barmer

Jaisalmer

Badhaura

Jodhpur

Pali

Jalor

Nagaur

Jhunjhunu

Sikar

Ladi-ka-bas

Kalatopri

JAIPUR

Alwar

Bharatpur

Diara

Rohil - Ghateshwar

Kushlawali Dhani

Panchlangi

Kerpura

Karoth Ki Dhanian

Mewaragujarwas

Siswali

Dhanota

Sior

Kanthi

Antri

Goga Temple

Badhaura

Swai Madhopur

Kunchalwara

Devpura

BundiBhilwara

Kherpura

Putholi

Chitorgarh

Jhalawar

UdaisagarUmra

Prasad

Palanpur

Dungapur

Banswara

Kota

Kalamagra

Udaipur

Haldughati

Kharbar

Durgapura

0 50 100 km

24°

00'

26°

00'

28°

00'

26°

00'

28°

00'

Hy derabad

GEOLOGICAL MAP OF PART OF RAJASTHAN SHOWING URANIUM OCCURRENCES

r r

24°

00'

70° 00' 72° 00' 74° 00'76° 00'

78° 00'

72° 00'

74° 00'76° 00'

Alluvium

Sandstone & Conglomerate/Laterite

Deccan Trap

Abur Beds

Jurassic Formations

Bap Beds

Vindhyan Supergroup

Malani Rhyolite

Erinpura Granite

Delhi Supergroup

Raialo Series

Aravalli Supergroup/Basic & Ultrabasic Rocks

Granite/Nepheline Syenite

Banded Gneissic Complex (BGC)

Uranium Occurrence

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rr

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Barmer

Jaisalmer

Badhaura

Jodhpur

Pali

Jalor

Nagaur

Jhunjhunu

Sikar

Ladi-ka-bas

Kalatopri

JAIPUR

Alwar

Bharatpur

Diara

Rohil - Ghateshwar

Kushlawali Dhani

Panchlangi

Kerpura

Karoth Ki Dhanian

Mewaragujarwas

Siswali

Dhanota

Sior

Kanthi

Antri

Goga Temple

Badhaura

Swai Madhopur

Kunchalwara

Devpura

BundiBhilwara

Kherpura

Putholi

Chitorgarh

Jhalawar

UdaisagarUmra

Prasad

Palanpur

Dungapur

Banswara

Kota

Kalamagra

Udaipur

Haldughati

Kharbar

Durgapura

0 50 100 km

24°

00'

26°

00'

28°

00'

26°

00'

28°

00'

Hy derabad


r r

24°

00'

70° 00' 72° 00' 74° 00'76° 00'

78° 00'

72° 00'

74° 00'76° 00'

Alluvium


Deccan Trap

Abur Beds

Jurassic Formations

Bap Beds

Vindhyan Supergroup

Malani Rhyolite

Erinpura Granite

Delhi Supergroup

Raialo Series




Uranium Occurrence

Na metasomatite type uranium mineralisation mainly in the Khetri sub-basin. Also occurrences in Alwar and Lalsot-Bayana sub-basins

Middle Proterozoic meta-sedimentary rocks with acidic intrusives

Zone of extensive soda metasomatism

Established a low grade uranium deposit in Rohil village

Scope for similar mineralisation in other sectors of the sub-basin

Belt under active sub-surface exploration

≈ 7000t U3O8 established

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V V

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rrrr

r rr rr

rr

J J J J

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aaa

a

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a

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a

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V

Barmer

Jaisalmer

Badhaura

Jodhpur

Pali

Jalor

Nagaur

Jhunjhunu

Sikar

Ladi-ka-bas

Kalatopri

JAIPUR

Alwar

Bharatpur

Diara

Rohil - Ghateshwar

Kushlawali Dhani

Panchlangi

Kerpura

Karoth Ki Dhanian

Mewaragujarwas

Siswali

Dhanota

Sior

Kanthi

Antri

Goga Temple

Badhaura

Swai Madhopur

Kunchalwara

Devpura

BundiBhilwara

Kherpura

Putholi

Chitorgarh

Jhalawar

UdaisagarUmra

Prasad

Palanpur

Dungapur

Banswara

Kota

Kalamagra

Udaipur

Haldughati

Kharbar

Durgapura

0 50 100 km

24°

00'

26°

00'

28°

00'

26°

00'

28°

00'

Hy derabad


r r

24°

00'

70° 00' 72° 00' 74° 00'76° 00'

78° 00'

72° 00'

74° 00'76° 00'

Alluvium


Deccan Trap

Abur Beds

Jurassic Formations

Bap Beds

Vindhyan Supergroup

Malani Rhyolite

Erinpura Granite

Delhi Supergroup

Raialo Series




Uranium Occurrence







More than 7000t U3O8 established

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V V

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V V

VVV

V

rrrr

r rr rr

rr

J J J J

J J J J

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JJ

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JJ

J J

J

J JJJ

J

J J

J J

J J J

JJ J

J

J

J J

aaa

a

J

a

V

a

J

V

Barmer

Jaisalmer

Badhaura

Jodhpur

Pali

Jalor

Nagaur

Jhunjhunu

Sikar

Ladi-ka-bas

Kalatopri

JAIPUR

Alwar

Bharatpur

Diara

Rohil - Ghateshwar

Kushlawali Dhani

Panchlangi

Kerpura

Karoth Ki Dhanian

Mewaragujarwas

Siswali

Dhanota

Sior

Kanthi

Antri

Goga Temple

Badhaura

Swai Madhopur

Kunchalwara

Devpura

BundiBhilwara

Kherpura

Putholi

Chitorgarh

Jhalawar

UdaisagarUmra

Prasad

Palanpur

Dungapur

Banswara

Kota

Kalamagra

Udaipur

Haldughati

Kharbar

Durgapura

0 50 100 km

24°

00'

26°

00'

28°

00'

26°

00'

28°

00'

Hy derabad


r r

24°

00'

70° 00' 72° 00' 74° 00'76° 00'

78° 00'

72° 00'

74° 00'76° 00'

Alluvium


Deccan Trap

Abur Beds

Jurassic Formations

Bap Beds

Vindhyan Supergroup

Malani Rhyolite

Erinpura Granite

Delhi Supergroup

Raialo Series




Uranium Occurrence







More than 7000t U3O8 established

3a

ROHIL PROSPECT DISTT. SIKAR , RAJASTHAN

T.S.of BH.NO.GTR-166,81,100, 120,18,19,39 & RHL-16,19,18(p) & 44

GTR-81495.30m

GTR-18486.90m

GTR-19486.70m

GTR-39486.20m

RHL-16486.60m

RHL-19487.10m

RHL-18(P)489.35m RHL-44

486.82m

50m 0 50 100m

DD.189.75mD

D.2

84.5

0m

DD

.437.3

5m

DD

.619.6

0m

DD

.715.1

0m

DD

.925.8

5m

DD

.736.2

0m

DD.538

.40m

0.023X2.21m0.126X1.51m

0.055X4.85m

0.077X15.50m

0.030X1.21m

0.041X9.27m

0.039x6.55m

0.057x6.82m

B

0.066x1.16m

WESTEAST

Section N-2

1

41

14

1

1a1

4

1+73

14

1

4

1

1a

13

3+73

0.041X5.55m

1

1a

1+7

3+73

1+1a4

1+1a

4

1+7

3

11+

7

1a1+

71a1+73

11a

1+1a

1+7

31

3

1+7 1a

3a

3

AMPHIBOLITE / BASIC INTRUSIVES

CALC SILICATE /IMPURE MARBLE

QUARTZITE / AMPHIBOLE QUARTZITE a: GRAPHITIC

QBS WITH QUARTZITE INTERCALATIONS a: GRAPHITIC

U - MINERALISATIONS AT 0.020% eU3O8 CUT-OFF GRADE

& TRUE THICKNESS

Additional Lodes

1a1

2

3

4

5 ALBITITE /ACID INTRUSIES

ZONE OF ALTERATION 7

6

INDEX

QUARTZ VIEN /REEF

OVER BURDEN

GTR-100

DD 4

02.4

0m

100

400

A

BB1

0.041X1.63m

A

B2

4

GTR-120488.22m

0.025X2.15m

0.043X2.22m

DD 2

51.0

5m

800m

0.035x4.65m

0.064X1.34m

0.037X2.21m

0.103x1.32m0.024x1.15m

0.030x4.59m

0.075x1.58m

0.024x1.16m0.050x1.58m

0.036x1.17*

m

0.063X1.53m 0.059X4.17m

0.049x1.08m0.107x1.01m

0.039X4.94m

B3

0.043X3.07m

0.033x4.06m

0.028X1.39m

0.024X1.73m*

0.058X1.34m

A1

0.050x1.49m

B4

0.081x 6.32m

GTR-166495.01m

500m

450

400

350

300

250

200

150

100

50

00

-50

-100DD.793

.95m

0.064 x 7.02m

0.058 x 6.09m

0.078 x 12.79m

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Uranium resources in Bhima basin, Karnataka

F F

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

76 150 '

170

'

GEOLOGICAL MAP OF BHIMA BASIN5 0 5 10 15Km

LATERITE

DECCAN TRAP

CHERT BEDS (INTER - TRAPPEANS)

PURPLE SHALE(HARWAL Fm.)

LIMESTONE( KATAMDEVARHALLI Fm.)

SAND STONE/ SHALE(HALKAL Fm.)

LIMESTONE(SHAHABAD Fm)

SHALE

DYKE

YOUNGER GRANITE

YOUNGER SCHIST BELT

PENINSULAR GNEISS

OLDER SCHIST BELT (SARGUR)

ARENITE

FAULTFF

INDEX

SURFACE RADIOACTIVITY

Kagna river

F

F

Fracture zone

(RABANPALLI Fm)

F F

F FF

F

FF

N

EW

S

76 300 ' 76 45

0 ' 77 0

77 150 ' 77 30

0 '

160

'15

160

'30

160

'45

170

'15

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F F

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

76 150 '

170

'


LATERITE

DECCAN TRAP






SHALE

DYKE

YOUNGER GRANITE

YOUNGER SCHIST BELT

PENINSULAR GNEISS


ARENITE

FAULTFF

INDEX


Kagna river

F

F

Fracture zone

(RABANPALLI Fm)

F F

F FF

F

FF

N

EW

S

76 300 ' 76 45

0 ' 77 0

77 150 ' 77 30

0 '

160

'15

160

'30

160

'45

170

'15

GOGI

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F F

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

76 150 '

170

'


LATERITE

DECCAN TRAP






SHALE

DYKE

YOUNGER GRANITE

YOUNGER SCHIST BELT

PENINSULAR GNEISS


ARENITE

FAULTFF

INDEX


Kagna river

F

F

Fracture zone

(RABANPALLI Fm)

F F

F FF

F

FF

N

EW

S

76 300 ' 76 45

0 ' 77 0

77 150 ' 77 30

0 '

160

'15

160

'30

160

'45

170

'15

GOGI

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7. Umthongkut

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Mahadek basin, Meghalaya U

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7. Umthongkut

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• Holds ≈ 10% of India’s uranium resources • Ore body occur as a blanket at shallow level

(<50m) • Suitable for opencast mining • G and F axes fairly well established • Prospect for more resources in the basin ≈ 20,000t U3O8


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7. Umthongkut

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• Holds 11% of India’s uranium resources • Ore body occur as a blanket at shallow level (<50m) • Suitable for opencast mining • G and F axes fairly well established • Prospect for more resources in the basin


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7. Umthongkut

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• Holds 11% of India’s uranium resources • Ore body occur as a blanket at shallow level (<50m) • Suitable for opencast mining • G and F axes fairly well established • Prospect for more resources in the basin


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Thorium exploration

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Heavy Mineral Placer Sand deposits

• Shoreline Placer • Alluvial Placer • Inland aeolian Placer

Late-stage Igneous rocks

• Alkaline Complexes • Carbonatite • Alkali granite/Pegmatite

Pegmatite

Hydrothermal veins

Quaternary sediments

High grade Metamorphic rocks

Thorium mineralisation U

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Source for Th and REE

Discovery – in the year 1909 from beach sands from

Manavalakurichi, Tamil Nadu.

Occurs in placer sands along with ilmenite, rutile,

leucoxene, garnet, zircon & sillimanite.

Monazite-bearing placer sands found along the coast-line

and also inland in aeolian and riverine environments.

Recovered as by-product at:

• Chavara, Kerala

• Manavalakurichi, Tamil Nadu

• Chattarpur, Odisha

Thorium mineralisation - Monazite U

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Grade in different environments

˃ Beach sands : upto 1%

(up to 5% in some places in Kerala, Tamil Nadu)

˃ Teri Sands Tamil Nadu :Upto 0.10%

˃ Siri River, Chhattisgarh : Upto 0.8% (Riverine Placer)

ThO2 : upto 9-10% (av.)

U3O8 : 0.3%

REO : 60%

P2O5 : 27%

Monazite U

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Beach and inland placer deposits U

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Minerals Reserves as on August 2009 (million tonnes)

Ilmenite+Leucoxene 520.38

Rutile 29.11

Monazite 10.70

Zircon 32.28

Garnet 154.26

Sillimanite 195.85

Total 942.58

Beach placer resources in India U

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The main constraint in adopting the UNFC system for uranium and thorium resources in India is that the production cost of uranium is not in public domain.

It may not be possible to assign numerical codes for the Indian uranium and thorium deposits in the E axis.

UNFC system therefore may incorporate a numerical code in the E axis for those deposits where economics is not considered.

This may help countries like India to adopt UNFC within their policy framework.

Conclusion U

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Thanks

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Uranium and thorium resources in India: UNFC system...13 1 Uranium and thorium resources in India:...

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