Unconventional uranium resources- Indian scenario
By
Anjan ChakiDirector
Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and ResearchDepartment of Atomic Energy
Government of India
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
PreviewUranium provinces Indian scenarioPhosphorites U.P., Uttarakhand and Rajasthan statesCambrian Black shales Himachal Pradesh and UttarakhandMonazite East and West coasts of IndiaLignite ash Tamil Nadu statePlaya sediments Semi-arid to arid regions of RajasthanConcluding remarks Present status of investigations and future plans
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
Kaladgi basin, Karnataka
Bhima basin, Karnataka Southern Cuddapah
Basin, Andhra Pradesh
Srisailam, Palnad and Kurnool sub-basins,Cuddapah basin ,Andhra Pradesh
Mahadek basin, Meghalaya
Singhbhum Shear Zone, Jharkhand
North Delhi Fold Belt, Rajasthan and Haryana
Major Uranium Provinces of India
Vein type Sandstone typeUnconformity ralatedStratabound
Deposit type Province State
Vein type Singhbhum Shear ZoneNorth Delhi Fold BeltBhima & Kaladgi basinsUmraBodal & Jajawal
JharkhandRajasthan&Haryana KarnatakaRajasthanChhattisgarh
Unconformity related Cuddapah basin Andhra Pradesh
Stratabound Cuddapah basin Andhra Pradesh
Sandstone type Mahadek basin Meghalaya
India’s major uranium provinces
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
Uraniferous Phosphorites of India
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
USGS open file report No. 02-156-A (2002) has listed more than 65 occurrences of phosphorites in India.Of these, 55 occurrences are sedimentary phopsphorite deposits and 10 are magmatic deposits Nearly half a dozen more apatite occurrences associated with carbonatites are knownAmong the 55 sedimentary phosphorite occurrences, 9 aresignificant deposits having more than 2m thickness and extending over more than 2 km strike length.
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
Major phosphorite formations in India
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
Major phosphorite formations in India
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
Phosphorites of Bijawar basin
Bijawar basin
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
Stratigraphy of Bijawar basin
Middle to Upper Proterozoic
Vindhyan Super Group
-------------------------Unconformity-----------------------
Lower ProterozoicGangau Formation Sandstones, shale and
PhosphoritesBajna dolomitesDargawan trapMalehra chert breccia-------------------------Unconformity-----------------------
Archaean Bundelkhand Group Granitoid complex with meta-sedimentary enclaves
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
Bijawar phosphoritesArea Hirapur-MardeoraDistrict Chattarpur and Sagar districts of Madhya
PradeshGeology Part of Bijawar Group of rocks in the Bijawar
basin. Overly the Bundelkhand granitoids and underly the Vindhyan Super Group sediments
Stratigraphy Occur at the upper parts of the basin (Gangau formation) along with conglomarate, dolomite, sandstone, shale, conglomarate and basic volcanics
Extension Occur as four horizons of varying dimension from 220 – 1400m. Thickness from 1 to 35m
Nature Reddish brown, fine grained with 15 -48% P2O5
Exploitation Being exploited by State mining corporation for fertilisers
Uranium content 100 ppm. Systematic evaluation not doneRemarks Potential deposit for exploitation
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
MASRANADURMALA
BUTSI
MAJHGAONMITHIANGAON
KUMALI
NAUR
KUKHI
BANALI
SATENGAL
MALDEOTA
CHAMASARI
DHOBIGHATTONETA
KAPHULTI
KIMAIKOLTI
GEOLOGICAL MAP OF MUSSOORIE SYCLINE, DEHERADUN AND TEHRI-GARHWAL DISTRICT, UTTRAKHAND
DOLERITEOLIVE SHALE AND SHALE MARLQURTZITE MEMBERCALCAREOUS MEMBERARENACEOUS MEMBERARGILLACEOUS MEMBERCHERT MEMBER (CHERT AND PHOSPHORITE UNITS)LIMESTONE AND DOLOMITEPHYLLITES, SCHISTOS, QUARTZITE
1Km 0 2 4Km
INDEX
KROL FORMATION
LOWER TAL FORMATION
UPPER TAL FORMATIONSUBATHU FORMATION
STRIKE & DIP OF BEDDING
FAULTTHRUST
STRIKE & DIP OF FOLIATION
DARAK
After GSI
DOLERITEOLIVE SHALE AND SHALE MARLQURTZITE MEMBERCALCAREOUS MEMBERARENACEOUS MEMBERARGILLACEOUS MEMBERCHERT MEMBER (CHERT AND PHOSPHORITE UNITS)LIMESTONE AND DOLOMITEPHYLLITES, SCHISTOS, QUARTZITE
INDEX
KROL FORMATION
LOWER TAL FORMATION
UPPER TAL FORMATIONSUBATHU FORMATION STRIKE & DIP OF BEDDING
FAULT
THRUST
STRIKE & DIP OF FOLIATION
GEOLOGICAL MAP OF MUSSOORIE SYNCLINE, DEHRADUN AND TEHRI-GARHWAL DISTRICTS, UTTARAKHAND
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
Age Group FormationLower-Middle Proterozoic
Central crystallines of Himalayas
---------------------- Main Central Thrust ------------------------------500Ma(early Cambrian)
Tal Group Koti Dhamam formation- ArenaceousSankjholi formation- Arenaceous and argillaceousShalian formation (Carbonaceous shale, Phosphorites and Cherts)
Krol Group Krol- A (shale Carbonate facies)Infra Krol (Argillaceous facies)
650Ma(Neo Proterozoic)
Blaini Group Boulder bed (Tillite facies)
---------------------- Main Boundary Thrust ------------------------Tertiary Siwalik Group Sandstone – shale sequence
Stratigraphy of Lesser Himalayas
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
Mussoorie PhosphoritesArea MussoorieDistrict UttarakhandGeology Lower Tal Group of Cambrian sediments of Lesser
Himalayas. Occur in association with Carbonaceous shale and Chert.
Stratigraphy Occur between Garhwal (MCT) and Krol (MBT) thrustsExtension Extend for nearly 75km. Phosphorites are 1 to 5m
thick. Uranium mineralisation is restricted to the bottom 1.5m of the phosphorite horizon. In general uranium mineralisation confined to the Phosphorites, Chert and Black shale association.
Nature Fluorapatite (collophane) and DahliteExploitation Not exploited by so farU3O8 content 200 - 980ppm. Uranium concentration is high because
of the intimate association of carbonaceous shaleRemarks Environmentally fragile. Steeply dipping syncline
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
GEOLOGICAL MAP OF RAJASTHAN(After Sinha-Roy 1998)
Ganganagar
0 25 50 75 100km
Alluvium & sandTertiary SequenceDeccan TrapsMesozoic SequenceBap Boulder BedMarwar SupergroupVindhyan SupergroupMalani Igneous SuiteErinpura GraniteSendra GraniteSirohi, Ras, punagarh GroupBarotiya GroupSendra GroupBhim GroupGogunda GroupAjitsagar, Bairath, Anasagar etc. GraniteAjabgarh GroupAlwar GroupDarwal, Anjana GraniteJhalara GraniteJharol (Lunawada) Group & UltramaficsDebari GroupDelwara (=? Raialo) GroupBerach GraniteUntala, Gingla GraniteHindoli GroupComposite Mangalwar-Sandmata ComplexMangalwar Complex
DELHISUPERGROUP
ARAVALLISUPERGROUP
BASEMENTSEQUENCE
82°74°
82°74°
16°
24°
16°
24°
DelhiJaipur
Kolkata
MumbaiNagpur
ThiruvananthapuramChuru
BikanerJhunjhunu
Sikar
Nagaur
Jaisalmer
JodhpurAjmer
Alwar
JAIPUR
Bharatpur
Sawai Madhopur
Jhalawar
KotaBundiBhilwara
Chitaurgarh
Barmer
Jalore
Sirohi
Udaipur
Tonk
Dungarpur
Banswara
N
Kirouli Phosphorites(Phosphorite lenses
in limestone)
Udaipur
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
Kirouli
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
Kirouli
Stratigraphy of Kirouli area
Lower Proterozoic Aravalli Super Group Nathdwara GroupDolomite and schistphosphoritesJharol GroupQuartzite and phyllitesUdaipur GroupConglomarate, phyllite, schist andStromotalites
--------------------- Unconformity ------------------------Archaean Pre-Aravalli Migmatites, schists
and metabasics
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
Kirouli Phosphorite, Udaipur district, Rajasthan
Area KirouliDistrict Udaipur district, RajasthanGeology Nathdwara Group of Aravalli Super Group of Lower
Proterozoic ageStratigraphy Occur at the lower part of the Aravalli Super GroupExtension Extend for 2.5km. 10 major lenses of phosphorites
from 10x1m to 30x50m delineated in cherty brecciated limestone.
Nature Sand size phosphate set in a matrix of microcrystalline phosphate and limonite with an average 17% P2O5
Exploitation Not exploited so farU3O8 content 260 to 840 ppmRemarks Low P2O5 content and mode of occurrence of phosphorite as pockets inhibits its exploitation
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
Uranium from monazite
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
Monazite content in beach sand generally ranges from 0.02 – 0.88%. The higher concentrations up to 5% are confined to very few places along Tamil Nadu and Kerala coasts.
Aeolian Teri sands of Tamil Nadu contain 0.02 to 0.11% monazite.
Riverine placers of Siri river, Chattisgarh state contain 0.6 to 0.8% monazite.
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
Average ThO2 content : 9%ThO2 resource in monazite : 963,900 tonnesTh Metal = 847,268 tonnes
Average U3O8 content in monazite: 0.3%U3O8 resource in monazite : 32,130 tonnesU Metal = 26,989 tonnes
Average REO content : 60%REO resources = 6,426,000 tonnesFor every tonne of REO produced from monazite co-production of ThO2 will be 150 kgU3O8 will be 0.006 kg.
Monazite Resources - 10.70 million tonnes
REO in Monazite : 60%La2O3: 23%, CeO2: 46%, Nd2O3: 20%, Pr6O11: 5.5%, Sm2O3: 2.5% and other REO: 3%.
In view of modest U and abundant Th resources, India has planned to use thorium in the 2nd and 3rd stages of the nuclear power programme.
Monazite at present is separated as by-product of ilmenite mining at Manavalakurichi, Chavara on the west coast and Chatrapur on the east coast.
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
Uranium from carbonaceous shale
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
MASRANADURMALA
BUTSI
MAJHGAONMITHIANGAON
KUMALI
NAUR
KUKHI
BANALI
SATENGAL
MALDEOTA
CHAMASARI
DHOBIGHATTONETA
KAPHULTI
KIMAIKOLTI
GEOLOGICAL MAP OF MUSSOORIE SYCLINE, DEHERADUN AND TEHRI-GARHWAL DISTRICT, UTTRAKHAND
DOLERITEOLIVE SHALE AND SHALE MARLQURTZITE MEMBERCALCAREOUS MEMBERARENACEOUS MEMBERARGILLACEOUS MEMBERCHERT MEMBER (CHERT AND PHOSPHORITE UNITS)LIMESTONE AND DOLOMITEPHYLLITES, SCHISTOS, QUARTZITE
1Km 0 2 4Km
INDEX
KROL FORMATION
LOWER TAL FORMATION
UPPER TAL FORMATIONSUBATHU FORMATION
STRIKE & DIP OF BEDDING
FAULTTHRUST
STRIKE & DIP OF FOLIATION
DARAK
After GSI
DOLERITEOLIVE SHALE AND SHALE MARLQURTZITE MEMBERCALCAREOUS MEMBERARENACEOUS MEMBERARGILLACEOUS MEMBERCHERT MEMBER (CHERT AND PHOSPHORITE UNITS)LIMESTONE AND DOLOMITEPHYLLITES, SCHISTOS, QUARTZITE
INDEX
KROL FORMATION
LOWER TAL FORMATION
UPPER TAL FORMATIONSUBATHU FORMATION STRIKE & DIP OF BEDDING
FAULT
THRUST
STRIKE & DIP OF FOLIATION
GEOLOGICAL MAP OF MUSSOORIE SYNCLINE, DEHRADUN AND TEHRI-GARHWAL DISTRICTS, UTTARAKHAND
A
B
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
Area Black Shale (phosphatic) Grey / Earthy shale Limestone/calc. mudstoneU3O8 (ppm) U3O8 (ppm) U3O8 (ppm)
Dobighat 25 – 940 25 -Baradwara 25 – 900 25 -Daunk 25 – 390 - -Loharigarh 50 – 400 - -Chamasari 130 – 2800 12 – 920 2 -520Timli 200 – 560 - 100 – 290Sarkhet 44 – 520 - -Loarkha 25 – 1100 15 – 100Narayanpur 56 – 970 51 6Kokliyalgaon 45 – 67 7 -110 -Ghuttu 58 – 100 - -Durmala 95 – 190 22 -
Uranium values from Mussoorie black shales
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
77° 30' 77° 35'
30°40'
30°37'
Phagni
Koti Dhaman
Derbai
TilkanaRajana
NerabagBagh
Tatuwa
Pherog
Dochi
Kandi
F
F
Infrakrol FormationMassive Dolomite
Banded Siltstone Member
Chert MemberCarbonaceous Member
Sankholi FromationGraywacke Member
Lower Quartzite MemberShale Member
Algal Limestone MemberUpper Quartzite Member
Shaliyan Fromation
Earthy Dolomite MemberEarthy Siltstone Member
Arkosic sandstone Member Koti Dhaman Formation
Tal Group
FF
F
F
F
F
F
Bulich
GutailaTiklata
m1000 0 1 2 3 4 5km
30°42'
30°35' (After O.N Bhargava et. al 1998)
GujonThountha
INDEX
RichordDor
Uraniferous Zone (2006-08)
30°
40°
55°
20°
20°
40°
15°
25°
45°
15°
30°
35°
30°
40°
STRIKE AND DIP40°
Krol Group
Geological map of Nigali Dhar syncline, Sirmour district, H.P. showing uraniferous zones
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
Carbonaceous shales of Lesser HimalayasArea Krol belt, Lesser HimalayasDistrict States of Uttarakhand and Himachal PradeshGeology Part of Cambrian Tal Group Group of rocks
sandwiched between the Main Boundary thrust and Main Central Thrust of the Himalayas. Disposed in five major synclines Viz. Nigali Dhar, Korgai, Mussoorie, Garhwal and Nainital synclines.
Stratigraphy Occur at the Lower parts of the Tal Group as Carbonaceous shale-Phosphorite-Chert association
Extension The belt runs for more than 300km. Thickness of black shale from 1 to 130m
Nature High organic content and presence of pyrite Exploitation Not exploitedUranium content 20 to 390ppm. Systematic evaluation not doneRemarks Fragile Himalayan belt
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
High organic content and presence of pyrite in black shales. Organic matter acts as a powerful reductant and maintains the reducing environment which protects the mineralization from oxidation and remobilisation.Major components of black shales are silica and clay minerals, Organic matter, sulfides, and carbonate. No discrete uranium mineral is recordedU occurring in adsorbed state on sapropelic organic matter and also associated with phosphate- bearing mineral, fluorapatiteHigh biological productivity during Cambrian might have played an important role in uranium concentration in black shales. Cyanobacterial mats form physical traps to remove Uranium from solutions.
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
Uranium from lignite ash
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
coal ash, specifically ash from lignite burning coal plants located in areas where the lignite contains higher than normal levels of uranium. Since uranium oxides are not flammable, the uranium oxide gets left behind in the ash, so there is a potential that it will contain commercially useful quantities of uranium -something close to few hundred parts per million that is generally considered interesting.
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
Coalfields Geological horizons Locations
Tertiary Coalfields
Early Pleistocene to Upper Pliocene
Lignites in the Kashmir Valley-Nichahom lignite
Miocene Lignites of South Arcot , Tamilnadu and of Kerala
Oligocene to Upper Eocene Jaipur, Nazira and Makum coalfields of Assam ; Namchick and Namphuk coalfields of Arunachal Pradesh
Middle Eocene Lignites of Palana, Rajasthan and Kutch
Lower Eocene Coals of Darranggiri, Rongrenggiri in the Garo Hills; Cherapunji, Mawlong and Nongstoin in Meghalaya, Mikir Hills in Upper Assam, and Coals of Jammu coalfields– Kalkot, Metka, Mahogala, Chakar Dhanwal Sawalkot-Lodhra, Kura and Chinkah
Upper Gondwana Coalfields
Upper Jurassic Chikiala and Kota in the Kota Stage in Maharashtra ; Satpura region in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh; Ghuneri in Kutch below the Umia Stage
Upper Permian Raniganj, Jharia, Bokaro and Karanpura coalfields of the Damodar valley in West Bengal and Bihar
Lower GondwanaCoalfields
Lower Permian All Lower Gondwana coalfields of the Indian Peninsula, including Damodar Valley, Mahanadi Valley, Brahmani Valley, Son Valley, Pench-Kanhan Valley, Pranhita - Godavari Valley and Wardha Valley, coalfields of Himalayas; Darjeeling district of W. Bengal; Ranjit Valley of Sikkim; Abur, Daphla and Aka hills of Arunchal Pradesh
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
Lignite bearing Miocene sandstones
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
Neyveli
State Proven resources
Indicated resources
inferred Total
1 Tamil Nadu 2831.00 23,793.03 5119.60 31,743.63
2 Rajasthan 560.91 2620.60 1129.92 4311.43
3 Gujarath 785.27 259.40 1618.08 2662.75
4 Jammu & Kashmir -- 20.25 7.30 27.55
5 Kerala -- -- 9.65 9.65
6. West Bengal -- 0.29 0.86 1.15
Total 4177.18 26693.57 7885.41 38756.16
Lignite reserves of India(Million tonnes)
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
Uranium investigations in Cuddalore formationSouth eastern part of Indian peninsula is exposed with NE-SW trending detached outcrops of Gondwana-Cretaceous-Tertiary-Quartenery sediments overly granitoid basement rocks and extend over 300km.
The Miocene Cuddalore sandstones comprise major argillaceous sandstone, fire clay, laterite and Lignite seams of 8-24m thickness
14 -700ppm uranium in lignite with few values of upto 1000ppm
Systematic exploration planned in the near future
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
Location U3O8 (ppm)(Total)
Cu(ppm)
Co(ppm)
Pb(ppm)
Zn(ppm)
Th(ppm)
Mine – 1A 2 10 10 10 70 10Mine – 1A 2 <10 <10 10 20 20Mine -1 180 1420 20 50 240 40Mine -1 180 1780 80 70 500 60Mine -1 540 2410 40 290 200 60Mine -1 9 20 300 <10 1050 10Mine -1 370 1320 40 90 260 60Mine -1 (shale)
4 170 <10 20 60 230
Uranium and other metal concentration in Neyveli lignite
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited is a Government owned lignite mining company administered through the Ministry of Coal. NLC operates the largest open pit lignite mines in India and mines around 24 million tonnes of lignite per year for the thermal power stations with an installed capacity of 2490 Mw of electricity per year.
NLC has expanded its project to Rajasthan to exploit the lignite resources for thermal power production.Lignites of Cuddalore sandstone (Miocene) contains 25-35% of carbon, 46-50% of moisture, 15% organic compounds and around 4 - 5% mineral ash.
2 to 540ppm uranium values recorded in the lignites of Neyveli
Ash content of Neyveli lignite is 4 to 5%A presumed average 100ppm of U3O8 in the lignite ash makes 120 tonnes U3O8 in the annual production of lignite ash
Proposed to investigate the pit containing nearly fifty years of ash for uranium extraction by heap leaching.
Ash pit has the potential to produce significant uranium.
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
Uranium from Playa sediments
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
Uranium in playa Sediments The term ‘Playa’ is used to refer to flat and generally barren portions of the arid basins of usually internal and closed drainage that periodically flood and accumulate detrital and evaporite sedimentsThere are about 50,000 playas in the world of which about 1000 have areas greater than 100 sq kmUraniferous playa deposits have been located in South Africa, Australia and Chile. No deposit of this type was known earlier to contain sufficient mineralisation to constitute a viable depositRecently, M/s. Uranex has identified the ‘Bahi Project’ in Tanzania which contains an estimated resource of 3000 tonnes U3O8 at an average grade of 218 ppm U. Uranium is found in unconsolidated playa/lake sediments in amorphous form in cracks and on grain surfaces and occurs within top 20 m of lake.
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
Characteristics of Salt lakes of northwest Rajasthan (Source : GSI)
Name of lake / Playa Area (sq km) Thickness of lake sediments (m)
Saline or Non saline
Sambar 243 +25 Saline , Mg/ClKuchaman 8.5 20 SalineSargot 2.2 20 SalineDidwana 10.4 20.30 SalineBap-Phalodi 51 - SalineDedyan-ka-Rann 5.8 1.4 Presence of minor saltLunkaransar 4.5 - SalinePachpadra 82.79 - SalineGudi Rann 17.3 1.4 SalinePokaran Rann 12.1 5 SalineLawan ka Rann 5.6 1.4 Presence of minor saltJhalaria ka Rann 7.8 1.2 Saline in deeper portionMertha Rann 26.0 3.3 Saline in deeper portionKhara Rann 14.3 1.5 SalineKanod Rann 23.0 +3.2 Saline
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
Salt pans in Didwana salt lake
Didwana salt lake
Mud (clay) & fluvial wash in a dug well section
Satellite image of Didwana salt lake
Ridge of car.phy./quartzite
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
Sample no. U (T)(ppm)
U(L)(ppm)
K20(%)
V(ppm)
Rock type
DLUD-P-1 13 9 1.91 140 Clay/siltDLUD-P-2 82 79 1.39 55 Clay/siltDLUD-P-3 71 68 1.22 58 Clay/siltDLUD-P-4 67 60 1.24 55 Clay/siltDLUD-P-5 16 10 2.04 58DLUD-P-6A 89 63 0.41 14 Calcretised
silici-clastic sediment of fluvial origin
DLUD-P-6B 110 95 0.29 <10
DLUD-P-7 50 37 1.42 41 Clay/siltAverage of 8 well section samples
64 49
Open Well Section sample Results, Didwana Lake(Central Portion)
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
Sample no. U (T)(ppm)
U(L)(ppm)
K20(%)
V(ppm)
Rock type
DLUD-1 74 71 1.31 16 Clay/siltDLUD-2 32 24 1.59 28 Clay/siltDLUD-3 67 66 1.31 21 Clay/siltDLUD-4 10 7 2.08 19 Clay/siltDLUD-6 23 20 0.41 22 Clay/siltDLUD-7 17 11 1.98 11 Clay/siltDLUD-8 32 23 1.04 11 Clay/siltDLUD-5 190 175 0.48 27 Calcretised
silici-clastic sediment of fluvial origin
Water TableAverage of 8 well dump samples
55 49
Uranium values in well dump samples, Didwana Lake (Central Portion)
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
Uranium in Didwana playa sediments
Average 60ppm of uranium in the top 5m of unconsolidated sediments (clay and silt) above water tablePlaya sediments rich in calcite, gypsum and halite.Uranium concentration increases below water tableBrine well water samples in the lake contain 466-2072ppb uraniumUranium occur in the cementing material of sedimentsNo carnotite reported in the uraniferous playa sediment samplesLow Eh, alkaline pH and high content of uranium in the lake water facilitate Uranium deposition with the playa sedimentsplaya sediments appear to be 20,000 years and younger
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009
Concluding remarksIndian Phosphorite deposits with relatively low P2O5content in general do not make this attractive for phosphoric acid and uranium production
Uranium from Indian monazites is a viable option
Exploitation of uranium from lignite ash is a workable proposition
Extensive uraniferous black shale deposits of Himalayas contain low grade uranium
Uraniferous playas of Rajasthan state could be an interesting option in the near future, needs further exploration
“Uranium from Unconventional Resources” IAEA theme meeting, Vienna, 3 – 6 November, 2009