книги / 715

* In situ resources.

NATIONAL REPORTS: PERU

Peru

Uranium exploration and mining development

Historical review

Macusani Uraniferous District (Department of Puno) is located in the South-East of Peru. Uraniferous mineralisation is found in acid volcanic Mio-Pliocene rocks (10 to 4 Ma).

Radiometric prospecting revealed over 40 uraniferous areas; the most important of them are Chapi, Chilcuno-VI, “Pinocho”, Cerro Concharrumio and Cerro Calvario.

Uranium mineralisation consists mainly of autunite, meta-autunite and weeksite filling sub-vertical to sub-horizontal fractures, with impregnation on both sides of the fracture. The host rocks are rhyolites of Quenamari Volcanic Formation.

Historically, considering all the surveyed areas, Chapi is the most important site and detailed radiometry, emanometry, trench and gallery work, as well as diamond drilling have been carried out in it. The mineralisation is in sub-vertical fractures distributed in structural lineaments from 15 m to 150 m width and 20 m to 30 m thickness. The grades vary between 0.03% U to 0.75% U, with an average of 0.1% U. Based on the exploration results as well as the geological and emanometry information, a minimum potential of 10 000 tU has been assigned to Chapi site and 30 000 tU to the whole Macusani Uraniferous District.

Since 2003, private companies restarted the exploration in both Macusani and Santa Lucia-Rio Blanco area (250 km from Macusani), which are located also in a Tertiary volcanic environment. Uranium potential of other areas of the country is also considered important. Peruvian Institute Nuclear Energy (IPEN), through its promotional activities, has proposed highlighting new areas of interest such as San Ramón Oxapampa and Corongo in the central region of Peru, where some work has been conducted to identify potential uraniferous regions.

Several companies have focused on the Macusani uranium district in order to develop further uranium resources through drilling in different prospects. As already mentioned, since 2003, besides Macusani and Santa Lucia-Rio Blanco, Pampacolca (Arequipa), which is in a Tertiary volcanic environment, has also been explored for uranium.

Recent and ongoing uranium exploration and mining development activities

Uraniferous mineralisation in Macusani is hosted by young acidic rocks, namely rhyolites of Upper Miocene (8-6 Ma). There are more than 70 radiometric anomalies depicted to date on surface along Macusani plateau, from which less than 20 of them have been drilled.

Recent studies on mineralisation in Macusani’s district indicate that uranium mineralisation is cropping out at elevations of between ~4 100 m and 4 400 m around Quenamari Plateau, west and northwest of Macusani’s county; it comprises stockworks and associated disseminations of two coarse-grained yellow minerals, meta-autunite (hydrous calcium-uranyl phosphate), and subordinately, weeksite (hydrous potassiumuranyl silicate). From a mining standpoint, mineralised zones are mantos, but they are neither strictly stratiform nor stratabound. There is no evidence for precursor uraninite/pitchblende occurrence and the ore’s thorium content is negligible.

NATIONAL REPORTS: PERU

Deposits are hosted almost entirely by the Upper Miocene Macusani Formation, about 500 m thickness, gently dipping succession of subaerial, exceptionally-reduced, peraluminous sillimanite-andalusite-muscovite-biotite rhyolites, which, through crystal fractionation, were intensely enriched in alkali (Li, Rb, Cs) and lithophile metals (Sn, W, Nb, Ta, Be), as well as in F, B and P. Rhyolites lack ashflow petrographic features and were erupted as crystal-charged frothy debris-flows, with the absence of explosive degassing permitting the exceptional retention of ore metals. Background (whole-rock), uranium contents of the younger lava flows averages 28 ppm U, and attains 120 ppm U and 270 ppm U in coeval hypabyssal intrusions and residual glasses (obsidian), respectively.

Uranium potential in other parts of Peru is also important and IPEN has proposed to highlight new areas of interest. In 2012, IPEN discovered new uranium occurrences in San Ramón Oxapampa’s region, where initial results demonstrate important uraniferous potential.

Uranium resources

Identified conventional resources (reasonably assured and inferred resources)

As a result of a series of corporate mergers and acquisitions that took place over the last six years, all the drilled uranium resources at Macusani (124 M lbs U3O8 or 47 709 tU) are under the cover of Plateau Uranium Inc., a new company derived from Macusani Yellowcake Inc. Another active company on the plateau is Fission Uranium, also from Canada but with no registered resources.

Macusani Uranium District (tU, in situ)

Uranium resources (tonnes U)

Undiscovered conventional resources (prognosticated and speculative resources)

Macusani Uranium District

* Extension of 1 000 km2, distribution of Tertiary volcanic rocks with associated uranium.

NATIONAL REPORTS: PERU

Unconventional resources and other materials – At country level

**Granites with radioactive anomalies and uranium occurrences located in the departments of Junín and Pasco, average of 50-80 ppm U.

***Currently, only exploited rock phosphate concentrate; the evaluated content is 46 ppm U.

****Others in the rest of the country, uranium deposits associated with hydrothermal deposits (Cu Pb-Ni-W).

Uranium policies, uranium stocks and uranium prices

National policies relating to uranium

Mining activities, formerly conducted by the government, entered into a privatisation process in 1992 with application of the Mining Investment Promotion’s Law. This legislation aims to provide stability and a guaranteed framework for long-term investments in mining, including uranium. In recent years, the reactivation of interest in uranium exploration has resulted in allowing several foreign private companies to conduct exploration and evaluation programmes in the zones where IPEN had previously performed prospecting and exploration work.

Peruvian State, by promoting investment in uranium mining, plans to evaluate the potential for uranium in the country in areas other than Macusani. One such area is in the Eastern Cordillera, where occurrences of uranium in granite-type rocks also have thorium potential.

Technical Office of National Authority (OTAN) is responsible for policy and regulatory issues. A new law involving the promotion and development of nuclear energy for electricity generation is being developed.

Reasonably assured conventional resources by deposit type

(tonnes U*)

* In situ resources.

Reasonably assured conventional resources by production method

(tonnes U*)

* In situ resources.

*In situ resources.

**A subset of open-pit and underground mining, since it is used in conjunction with them.

Inferred conventional resources by deposit type

(tonnes U)

Inferred conventional resources by production method

(tonnes U*)

* In situ resources.

Inferred conventional resources by processing method

(tonnes U*)

*In situ resources.

**A subset of open-pit and underground mining, since it is used in conjunction with them.

Prognosticated conventional resources

(tonnes U)

Cost ranges

Speculative conventional resources

(tonnes U)

Cost ranges

NATIONAL REPORTS: RUSSIA

Russia

Uranium exploration and mine development

Historical review

Since the beginning of uranium exploration in 1944, more than 100 uranium deposits have been discovered within 14 districts in Russia. The most significant deposits are located within four uranium-bearing districts:

•the Streltsovsk district, which includes 19 volcanic, caldera-related deposits where the mining of some deposits is ongoing;

•the Trans-Ural and Vitim districts, where basal channel sandstone-type deposits are being developed for uranium production by in situ leach mining;

•the Elkon district that contains large metasomatite-type deposits prospective for future mining.

Recent and ongoing uranium exploration activities

There are two types of uranium exploration activities in Russia, one involves prospecting aimed at new deposit discovery and evaluation and the second, involves exploration at earlier discovered deposits with a view to estimate and delineate deposit resources.

Uranium prospecting in Russia is financed from the state budget by the Federal Agency for Subsoil Use (Rosnedra). In 2014, the budget amounted to RUB 1.0 billion (Russian rubles), in 2015 and 2016 it decreased to RUB 0.7 billion and 0.5 billion respectively. The Republic of Buryatia, the Trans-Baikal and Irkutsk regions were the main areas for prospecting, followed by the Republic of Kalmykia.

These activities were focused on two main objectives: the resource increase near operating Khiagda and Priargunsky production centres and large deposits discovery in new areas, for either conventional or in situ leach mining.

The activities of 2015-2016 resulted in identification of 26 900 tU of prognosticated resources (category P1 in Russian classification) and 53 100 tU of speculative resources (P2 in Russian system).

The exploration of the phosphorus-rare-earth-uranium Shargadyk deposit in Ergeninsky uranium district of Kalmykia was completed in 2015. It resulted in 9 467 tU conversion from prognosticated into known uranium resources. These resources are planned for open-pit mining and heap leaching processing to recover uranium and rare earth elements.

The exploration for sandstone basal channel-type prognosticated resources evaluation was completed in 2016 in the North Amalat area, which is located within the Vitim uranium region and close to the Khiagda uranium field. The last one is under active development by ISL mining method. As a result 25 480 tU of P1 prognosticated resources and 26 800 tU of P2 speculative resources were identified within Kulariktin and Barkasun areas. Resources belong to <USD 80/kgU cost category.

NATIONAL REPORTS: RUSSIA

Uranium exploration at the Shangulezh area within the Sayan potentially uranium district (Irkutsk region of Russia) resulted in 19 500 tU of P2 speculative resources estimation. Mineralisation belongs to the unconformity geological type.

6 100 tU and 2 520 kg of gold in P2 speculative category were identified during early stage exploration at the Kurumkan area of Central Aldan region (Republic Saha Yakutia).

Exploration of existing deposits

The subsidiaries of uranium holding company “Atomredmetzoloto” (ARMZ), which is incorporated within the Russian State Corporation “Rosatom”, continued exploration and resource estimation of uranium deposits, which are being prepared for development.

During 2015-2016, Dalur mining company continued exploration and pilot mining at Khokhlovskoe deposit in Kurgan region.

The Priargunsky Mining-Chemical Production Association (PMCPA) focused exploration activities on additional resources identification at flanks and deep levels of operating deposits and on new high-grade deposits discovery within the Streltsovsk uranium district.

ARMZ’s uranium exploration budget was RUB 75 million in 2015 and RUB 52 million in 2016.

Uranium exploration abroad

Russia, through the State Corporation Rosatom subsidiary Uranium One Group and its Canadian branch Uranium One Inc., performed geologic exploration and research studies in Kazakhstan and Tanzania.

In Kazakhstan, six mines jointly owned by Russian Uranium One Company with Kazatomprom and other shareholders were in commercial production during 2015-2016. In 2015 and 2016, exploration was performed at four mines Akdala, Southern Inkai, Khorasan and Zarechnoye in order to convert resources from inferred to RAR category and supply long-term production programmes with a reliable resource base. In 2015, exploration expenditures totalled USD 13.8 million and in 2016 USD 4.9 million (proportionally to Russian share in the JVs). Major 2015 expenditures were spent for South Inkai drilling programme. New technical report on Akdala mine resources estimation was finalised in 2017, for the other three mines reports will be completed in 2018. Recent technical reports for Karatau and Akbastau mines resources reassessment were issued and approved in 2015.

In Tanzania, Mantra Recourses Company performed additional exploration and ISL pilot test works at the Mkuju River uranium project. Uranium One Inc. was the project operator. In 2015, exploration expenditures totalled USD 3.3 million and in 2016, USD 1.2 million. Activities were focused on mining plan technical optimisation and verification drilling. The results of the research activities and the spot ISL tests performed during 2015-2016 confirmed good in situ leach mining potential for the part of resources located in permeable sediments below the water table.

Recent mine development activities

The activities for uranium deposits development in Russia were performed in two main areas: pilot operations at existing or under construction mines and feasibility studies or engineering works at prospective mines.

In 2016, Priargunsky Mining-Chemical Production Association started with preparatory development works for the new mine No. 6 construction based on Argunskoye and Zherlovoye deposits.

NATIONAL REPORTS: RUSSIA

The Dalur mine (Kurgan region of Russia) continued advanced pilot in situ leach mining at the Khokhlovskoe deposit, which is located 110 km from the main mining centre. In 2016, the pilot plant capacity was expanded to 200 tU/yr.

The Khiagda mine (Republic of Buryatia) continued development of the Khiagda uranium ore field. In 2016, the local commercial processing plant with 200 tU capacity and auxiliary infrastructure was commenced at the Istochnoe deposit.

The Gornoe Mining Company continued pilot mining project development for Berezovoe deposit located in Trans-Baikal district.

The activities for uranium deposit development in Elkon and Trans-Baikal uranium regions have significantly decreased and were suspended due to unfavourable market conditions.

Uranium resources

Identified resources (reasonably assured and inferred resources)

In 2015-2016, a comprehensive exploration and technical economic evaluation of uranium resources continued.

As of 1 January 2017, total recoverable uranium resources in Russia attributable to category RAR and inferred amounted to 656 859 tU, while in situ known resources comprised 840 622 tU. It is a decrease of 38 341 tU or approximately 6% compared to 1 January 2015. The decrease mainly occurred due to high-cost resources reassessment and to mined uranium depletion.

74% of all recoverable resources are attributed to operating and prospective mines and the remaining 26% relate to stand by deposits in so-called undistributed state fund.

Recoverable reasonably assured resources amounted to 259 968 tU, 83% of which are recoverable at a cost less than USD 130/kgU and only 9% are recoverable at a cost less than USD 80/kgU. 68% of RAR resources may be mined by conventional underground mining method. All resources attributable to the category less than USD 80/kgU are planned for in situ leach mining method.

Inferred uranium resources amounted to 396 891 tU, of which only about 4% are recoverable at a cost of less than USD 80/kgU. Over 71% of inferred uranium resources are expected to be mined by conventional underground mining method.

Undiscovered conventional resources (prognosticated and speculative resources)

As of 1 January 2017, Russian prognosticated uranium resources amounted to 143 900 tU, and speculative resources to 591 100 tU. In the Russian classification system, “prognosticated” corresponds to P1 category and “speculative” to P2 category.

The majority of prognosticated resources are located in the Trans-Baikal region (Streltsovsk and East Trans-Baikal uranium ore districts), in the Republic of Buryatia (Vitim district), in the Republic of Sakha-Yakutia (Elkon district) and in the Republic of Kalmykia.

Uranium production

Historical review

Cumulative production at the Russian uranium mines totalled 164 904 tU through the end of 2016.

NATIONAL REPORTS: RUSSIA

The first Russian uranium mine was the Lermontov Complex, also known as the Lermontov State Enterprise “Almaz”. Almaz was located 1.5 km from the town of Lermontov in the Stavropol region of Russia. The Beshtau and Byk vein-type deposits were mined, and both are currently depleted. Their original resources totalled only 5 300 tU (at an average grade of 0.1% U) and were extracted by two underground mines starting in 1950. Mine 1 Beshtau was closed in 1975 and mine 2 Byk in 1990. The ore was processed at the local processing plant using sulphuric acid leaching. From 1965 to 1989, small amounts were also produced via stope (block) and heap leaching methods. From the 1980s until 1991, uranium ore transported from Ukraine and Kazakhstan was also processed at Almaz. Production from local deposits totalled 5 685 tU, with 3 930 tU extracted by underground mining and 1 755 tU by a combination of the different leaching technologies.

Between 1968 and 1980, 440 tU were produced by open-pit mining from the small Sanarskoye deposit in the Trans-Ural district by the Malyshevsk mine, which was the operator of this project.

The joint stock company “Priargunsky Mining-Chemical Production Association” (Priargunsky) has been the largest uranium production centre in Russia over the past several decades. As of 1 January 2017, about 148 000 tU has been produced at the Priargunsky, making it the largest (cumulative) uranium production centre in the world.

The Priargunsky production centre is located in the Chita region, 10-20 km from the town of Krasnokamensk (population of about 60 000). The production was based on volcanic-type deposits of the Streltsovsk uranium district, with overall original in situ resources 244 000 tU at an average grade of about 0.2% U. Mining has been conducted since 1968 by two open pits (both now depleted) and five underground mines. Milling and processing have been carried out since 1974 at the local hydrometallurgical plant using sulphuric acid leaching with subsequent recovery by ion-exchange extraction. Since the 1990s, low-grade ore has been processed by heap leaching method.

Starting from 2002, Russia began commercial sulphuric acid ISL production at Dalur mine, located in Kurgan region of Russia, and later in 2011 at Khiagda ISL mine in Republic of Buryatia. Cumulative ISL production at these two mines totalled 12 204 tU through the end of 2016.

Status of production capabilities

Atomredmetzoloto Uranium Holding – a mining division of the State Corporation Rosatom, owns three operating uranium mining centres in Russia.

In 2016, uranium production in Russia amounted to 3 005 tU, of which 1 873 tU were produced using conventional underground mining method and 1 132 tU produced using in situ leach method. Since 2014 uranium production by underground method decreased by 5% and by ISL method increased by 11%.

From the 1 873 tU initially mined by underground method in 2016, 1 621 tU was produced at the hydro-metallurgic plant by conventional ore processing, and 252 tU was processed by heap leaching with subsequent solutions treatment at the plant.

The PMCPA remains the key uranium mining centre in Russia. Its resource base is represented by the volcanic-type uranium deposits of the Streltsovsk uranium ore district with current in situ resources tonnage at about 103 000 tU as of 1 January 2017.

In 2016, Priargunsky mine produced 1 873 tU. 1 621 tU of total production came from the conventionally milled and processed ore and the remaining 252 tU were produced by the heap leaching method. As of January 2017, three underground mines No. 1, No. 8 and Glubokiy were in operation. Mine No. 1 has been active for more than 40 years. Underground mine No. 2 suspended mining activities in late 2016 due to low-cost resources depletion. In 2016, Priargunsky started preparations for the development of the Argunskoe and Zherlovoye deposits, which will be used in the future as a basis for a new mine construction (No. 6).