INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA)
Technical Meeting on
Origin of sandstone type uranium deposits: A global prespective
29 May - 1 June 2012, IAEA Headquarters, Vienna, Austria
INFORMATION SHEET AND CALL FOR PAPERS
I.
Introduction
As the global uranium demand is expected to grow, in consonance with the nuclear growth
expected in many countries, there is a paramount need to identify additional resources of
uranium. It is essential to identify uranium resources that are low-cost and of the type that
could be easily mined and processed. Such resources could be brought into production very
quickly in response to the rapid growth in uranium demand.
Sandstone uranium mineralisation is the most abundant style that is found in every continent.
About a quarter of the world’s identified uranium resources are of sandstone type, from over
500 deposits reported in about 40 countries. Sandstone uranium deposits currently contribute
to a major share of the world production. Some of the sandstone uranium deposits are
amenable to in situ leach (ISL) process, which presently has over 40 % share in annual
uranium production.
Production from sandstone uranium deposits, due to its suitability for ISL process, is low-cost
and could be brought to production faster than some of the other deposits types. Sandstone
uranium deposits could also be developed by conventional open-pit and underground mining
methods if ISL option is not found suitable. Many of the uranium projects that have been
started recently or that are expected to come online soon are based on sandstone type deposits.
There is an increasing interest world-wide to identify more sandstone uranium resources.
Considerable exploration inputs are committed to discover such deposits. Exploration efforts
extensively rely on a deeper understanding of the origin of sandstone uranium deposits in a
variety of geological environments.
Sandstone uranium deposits occur in medium to coarse-grained sandstones deposited in a
continental fluvial or marginal marine sedimentary environment. Uranium is precipitated
under reducing conditions caused by a variety of reducing agents within the sandstone, for
example, carbonaceous material, sulphides, hydrocarbons and ferro-magnesium minerals.
Sandstone uranium deposits can be divided into four main sub-types: roll-front, tabular, basal
channel and tectonic/lithologic deposits.
The origin of sandstone uranium deposits is intimately related to the sources of uranium, the
solutions that mobilize uranium, and the precipitating action of various agents. Bacteriological
hydrogen sulfide and oil-gas related origins are being proposed for some the important
sandstone uranium provinces. Certain fracture-controlled and collapse breccia-pipe deposits
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also show evidence of having been formed under conditions similar to that of sandstone
uranium deposits. Salt-dome structures and fractures transecting carbonaceous sediments
could also be favourable sites for uranium accumulation.
The purpose of the Technical Meeting is to provide a forum for experts from Member States
to discuss recent advances in understanding the origin of sandstone uranium deposits, and
using this insight in exploration programmes for identifying new resources. Recent case
histories and studies in geology and exploration of sandstone uranium deposits will be
discussed.
The target participants of the Technical Meeting are professionals engaged in uranium
geology and exploration, resource evaluation and production, researchers, energy planners and
officials interested in uranium resources from Member States.
The Technical Meeting (TM) will be held at the IAEA Headquarters, Vienna, Austria.
II.
TOPICS TO BE COVERED
The following specific topics are identified as being of particular interest, and shall be
considered in the papers to be presented:
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III.
Geological setting and controls of sandstone uranium deposits;
Origin of sandstone uranium deposits;
Mineralisation styles of sandstone uranium deposits;
Recognition criteria for sandstone uranium deposits;
Geochemical and geophysical exploration for sandstone uranium deposits;
Exploration and production case histories of sandstone uranium deposits; and
Socio-economic and environmental issues in production from sandstone uranium
deposits.
ORGANIZATION
Chairman:
Mr Michel Cuney
Directeur de Recherche au CNRS
CREGU & UMR G2R 7566
Géologie et Gestion des Resssources Minérales et Energétiques
Université Henri Poincaré - NANCY I
Equipe Genèse et Gestion des Ressources Minérales
Domaine Scientifique Victor Grignard - Entrée 3B
BP 70 239 - F54 506 VANDOEUVRE les NANCY Cedex, France
Phone: 33-(0)3 83 68 47 09
Fax: 33-(0)3 83 68 47 01
Email: michel.cuney@g2r.uhp-nancy.fr
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Scientific Secretary:
Mr Harikrishnan Tulsidas
International Atomic Energy Agency
Vienna International Centre
1400 Vienna, Austria
Phone: +43 1 2600 22758
Fax: +43 1 26007 22758
Email: T.Harikrishnan@iaea.org
Secretary:
Ms Emalia Awadissian,
International Atomic Energy Agency
Vienna International Centre
1400 Vienna, Austria
Phone: +43 1 2600 22765
Fax: +43 1 2600 29671
Email: E.Awadissian@iaea.org
IV.
PARTICIPATION
Each person wishing to participate in the meeting is requested to complete the Participation
Form A (attached), with an indication of the intention to present a paper must be sent to the
IAEA through the competent official authority by 15 March 2012.
Participants are required to prepare a paper on the topic related to sandstone uranium deposits
and to make a presentation of their paper. The presentations will have a duration of
approximately 20 minutes and it is preferred that they are prepared in MS PowerPoint format.
Contributed papers and presentations should be submitted in English with an electronic
version provided to the scientific secretary prior to the meeting.
V.
VENUE
The meeting will be held at Agency Headquarters in Board Room A, Vienna International
Centre (VIC), 1400 Vienna, Austria. Participants are advised to arrive one hour prior to the
convening time of the meeting to allow for timely registration. Please note that you must
present an official photo identification document in order to be admitted to the VIC premises.
The following web site (http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/Meetings/Guide/vic.shtml) can be
accessed for more detailed information on Vienna and the VIC: Meetings Guide.
VI.
VISA ARRANGEMENTS
Participants are also advised that they may require a valid passport and Schengen visa for
entry into Austria. Accordingly, it would be advisable to begin the immediate preparation of
travel arrangements and necessary authorizations. Please advise the Secretariat as soon as
possible if a formal invitation letter is needed in order to facilitate the visa request. We
recommend that you apply for visa in a timely manner, if necessary.
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VII.
EXPENDITURES
In accordance with the established rules, Governments, national authorities, private companies
or individual sources are expected to bear the travel and other costs of designated participants
in the meeting. Limited funds are, however, available to help cover the cost of participants from
Member States eligible to receive technical assistance under the IAEA’s technical cooperation
programme. Such assistance can be offered, upon specific request, to one participant per country
provided that, in the IAEA’s view, this participant will make an important contribution to the
meeting. The application for financial support should be made at the time of the designation of
the participant.
The Secretariat wishes to state that compensation is not payable by the IAEA for any damage
to or loss of the experts’ personal property. However, for the period of their engagement with
the IAEA, including travel between their residence and the duty station, the designated experts
will be covered under the IAEA’s insurance policy for permanent total disablement or death
resulting from service-incurred accidents or illness up to a maximum of €100 000, for
permanent partial disablement resulting from service-incurred accidents or illness up to a
maximum of €100 000 and for medical expenses up to a maximum of €20 000 plus €10 000
for supplementary travel and accommodation expenses in case of illness or injury resulting
from service-incurred accidents or illness, in accordance with the terms of the IAEA’s
relevant insurance policy. This insurance coverage only covers accidents and illnesses insofar
as they clearly result from attendance at an IAEA meeting. The IAEA recommends that the
expert also make arrangements for private insurance coverage on an individual basis.
VIII. WORKING LANGUAGE
The working language of the meeting will be English. All communications, abstracts, and
papers must be sent in English.
FORM A
T1-TM-
INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY
Technical Meeting on
Origin of sandstone type uranium deposits: A global prespective
29 May – 1 June 2012, Vienna, Austria
To be sent to competent official authority (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Atomic Energy Authority) for
transmission to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna International Centre, 1400 Vienna, Austria
PARTICIPATION FORM
DEADLINE: 15 March 2012
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Ms
For urgent communications please indicate:
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Do you intend to present a paper?
YES
□
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YES
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NO
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Title of the paper:
An abstract of my paper is attached?
FORM B
T1-TM-
INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY
Origin of sandstone type uranium deposits: A global prespective
29. May – 1 June 2012, Vienna, Austria
FORM FOR SUBMISSION OF A PAPER
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: 15 March 2012
TITLE OF THE PAPER
AUTHOR(S) INITIAL(S) AND FAMILY
NAME(S)
SCIENTIFIC ESTABLISHMENT(S) IN WHICH WORK HAS BEEN
CARRIED OUT
TOWN/COUNTRY
1.
3.
3.
AUTHOR WHO WILL PRESENT THE PAPER
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 THE COPYRIGHT OR
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