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Recent Developments of

Uranium Explorationin Jordan

Ned Xoubi, PhD

2008

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Recent Developments ofUranium Exploration in Jordan

Ned Xoubi, PhDCommissioner for Nuclear Fuel Cycle

Jordan Atomic Energy Commission

Director General ofJordan Energy Resources, Inc

IAEA Technical Meeting on Uranium Exploration and Mining Methods

November 17-20, 2008

Amman - Jordan

Invited Talk

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Uranium is a Strategic Resource

Lack of conventional energy resources, Jordan Imports over95% of its energy fuel

Development of secure alternative energy supply is a toppriority for Jordan

Uranium is a strategic resource

Uranium exploitation policy is to maximize sovereignty while

creating value from resource

No Concessions to foreign companies

Assurance of nuclear fuel supply for Jordans Nuclear PowerPlants

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Jordan Energy Resources Inc

Jordan Energy Resources, Inc (JERI) wasfounded for the purposes of exploring, mining

and exploiting uranium resources in Jordan JERI is the commercial arm of JAEC

JERI is a private shareholding company wholly

owned by JAEC

Foreign Investors ?

Joint Ventures with foreign companies interested

in investing and developing Uranium resources inJordan

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1979/1980 Airborne Survey

Gamma intensity of up to 2000 cps

Source: NRASource: NRASource: NRA

12 Areas with high radiationintensity were identified

Mostly related to Areas with

Phosphate rock formations

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Phosphate Mines Locations

Source: NRASource: NRASource: NRA

Source : JPMC

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Potential Areas

Ruwaished

Wadi Bahiyyah

Central Jordan

Northern Jordan

Wadi Sahb Elabiadh

Haranah

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Previous Work

During the 80s and 90s NRA carried out many studies inthese areas

Concentrating on Central Jordan

1700 trenches

15000 car-borne and foot gamma measuring points

11000 emanometry and track-etch radon gas points

Hundreds of boreholes

Thousands of samples were collected and analyzed

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Results & Data

Data available is preliminary

Uranium deposits are mostly

surfacial

Overburden thickness is 0.5 - 3 m

Uranium concentration of 200 2700 ppm

Difficulty in repeating some of themeasurements

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Central Jordan

64880648801.326060Total

1559515.5951.289489469.189.18KZKhan Azzabib

4.851.363716.874

2.3151.312634.83

2.061.233423.5214965

5.741.34

345

405

22.73

7.561

Attarat and W.

Maghar

4.571.494155.264

0.81.424880.823

20.41.2777814.9234320

8.5481.25

592

688

28.1

7.11

Siwaqa

Total EstimatedUranium Ore(U3O8) (tones)

EstimatedUranium Ore

(U3O8) Inventory

(tones)

AverageOre Thick.

meter

Total AverageConc.ppm

AverageConc.ppm

TotalAreakm2

Area

km2Block

Central JordanUranium

Areas

NRA Estimated Uranium Ore (U3O8) Deposit

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Central Jordan

Joint Venture with Areva signedon September 30, 2008

A total area of approximately1400 km (50 km fertile zone)

Detailed exploration program

Bankable feasibility study (BFS)

Uranium production in 2012

2000 tons per year (estimated)

French and Jordanian geologists

are currently working in the area

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Northern Jordan

Includes Housha and Hamra whichare located in Mafraq governant in

northern Jordan Currently under active exploration

An area of approximately 30 Km2

maybe expandable up to 150 Km2

Jordanian/ Chinese Joint workinggroups

Chinese and Jordanian geologistsare currently working in the area

Mafraq

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Northern Jordan

Uranium

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Northern Jordan

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Northern Jordan

0 40 80 120 160

1

2

3

4

0 40 80 120 160

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

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Northern Jordan

Categories & Genesis of Uranium Mineralization

Paleo-weathering zone type

weathering-leaching-evaporation(gypsum and calcium nodules )

Fissure type

leaching-evaporation (near the

ground surface, usually no morethan several meters )

Quaternary sediments type

(leaching)-absorption (reduction) -evaporation (near the groundsurface, usually no more thanseveral meters )

Uranium anomaly related tothe Fissures

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Wadi Bahiyyah

Wadi Bahiyyah

Currently under activeexploration

Wide area of approximately1300 Km2

Jordanian/ Chinese Joint

working groups Chinese and Jordanian

geologists are currentlyworking in the area

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Wadi Bahiyyah

URC

MCM

Uranium anomalies (70-140cps)are very common in the upper part of MCM

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Wadi Bahiyyah

Uranium anomaly occurs in themodern weathering zone, just

beneath the concretion

0230958 E

3378343 N

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Wadi Bahiyyah

50-70cm marl, 1500cps

10-50cm loose marl with yellow minerals, up to 1500cps

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Wadi Bahiyyah

0212990 N

3412313 E

Uranium: 300-380cps or 40-50 ppm, in Quaternary sedimentsWidth: more than 150m

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Other Potential Areas

Ruwaished

Wadi Sahb Elabiadh

Other potential Areas including

1. Ruwished

2. Wadi Sahb Elabiadh

Are under negotiations with amajor Uranium company

Joint working groups

Exploration should start soon

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Thank You

Questions ?

More than a dream . It is our Goal

NX