URANIUM AND OTHER MINERALS IN GHANA –
CASE FOR IMPLEMENTING UNFC
John Hanson1, Florence Akontoh3, Samuel B.
Dampare1,2, Felix Aidoo1
National Nuclear Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission,
P.O. Box LG 80, Legon-Accra, Ghana
1
2
Graduate School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, University of GhanaAtomic, P.O. Box LG 58, Legon-Accra, Ghana
3
University of Ghana, Legon-Accra, Ghana
•IAEA WORKSHOP ON ‘‘UNITED NATIONS FRAMEWORK CLASSIFICATION – 2009 FOR EVALUATION OF URANIUM
AND THORIUM RESOURCES AND TO LEVERAGE TRANSPARENT AND EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS, LUXOR, EGYPT,
1
18 - 22 OCTOBER, 2015”
INTRODUTION
2
INTRODUCTION CONT’D
 Ghana is endowed with mineral resources
 Major mineral resources: gold, diamonds, manganese, bauxite and






oil
Gold is predominant mineral accounting for about 80 % of all
mineral revenues.
Ghana has a long mining history of which uranium has never been
part.
Uranium exploration; past and present has been directed at
conventional uranium deposits (Keta, Voltaian and Winneba basin)
Insufficient energy to support the growing population and industrial
activities
Ghana is, therefore, embarking on nuclear power project to introduce
nuclear energy into the country’s energy mix
The need to explore for other potential types of uranium deposits
(co- products uranium resources)
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INTRODUCTION CONT’D
• Reprocessing of tailing resources for gold, copper and uranium e.g.,
Witwatersrand basin and copper tailings in Zambia
• Tarkwaian paleoplacer gold deposits in Ghana and Witwatersrand
deposits bear similarities
• Elemental analysis of Takoradi Black Shales by Asiedu et al., (2005),
revealed multi- elemental associations of concentrations of
zirconium, vanadium, cobalt, thorium and uranium.
• Therefore the need to explore and develop potential co- product
uranium deposits from mine tailings cannot be overemphasized
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GEOLOGICAL SETTING
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POTENTIAL HOST ROCK TYPES FOR URANIUM DEPOSITS IN
GHANA (INFERENCE FROM IUREP REPORT, 1982)
2
3
4
1
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THE WAY FORWARD/FUTURE PLANS
• Exploration activity on the Takoradi Black Shale and gold tailings
• Anomalous areas of uranium concentration need to be well defined
• Strengthening collaboration among GSD, Ghana Atomic Energy
Commission and University of Ghana to continue with the uranium
exploration activities
• Have a national project on uranium exploration
• Step up public education on uranium and nuclear power issues
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CHALLENGES AND NEEDS
•
•
Inadequate funds for ground follow-ups on anomalous areas
Lack of equipment for effective ground follow-ups
 Continued support from the IAEA would be required in the following
areas:
 TC Project on Uranium Exploration in Ghana
 Expert Advice/Mission
 Further training course in uranium exploration techniques and methods
 Equipment to support the GSD/GAEC/UG exploration team
 Image Analyzers for Nuclear Track Counting
 Track Etch Detectors
 Spark Counter Spectroscopy Amplifiers
 Broadband Gamma-Ray Scintillometers
 Portable Gamma-Ray Spectrometers D25A-400A
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CONCLUSIONS
• Although Uranium prospecting in Ghana started in the early days, it
did not yield any economic viable deposits of the mineral
• Recent studies have shown that Ghana stands a high chance of
striking co- product Uranium resources
• Ground investigations are being carried out by the Geological
Survey Department together with Ghana Atomic Energy
Commission and University of Ghana mine tailings and Takoradi
Black Shales
• Preliminary geochemical investigations have been carried out from
the Voltaian Basins are not encouraging therefore further studies are
to be carried out
• Geochemical studies are to be conducted at potential areas such as
Takoradi Black shales and gold tailings
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APPLICATION OF UNFC-2009 TO EXPLORATION
PROJECT OF GHANA
Deposit
/
Project
Investigator
UNFC2009
Class
UNFC
-2009
SubClass
UNFC-2009
Categories
Voltaian
Basin
Explorat
-ion
Remarks
E
F
G
Ghana
Geological
Survey
Department
Exploration
project
None
3.2
3
4
Early
Exploration
Takoradi
Black
Shale
GAEC, UG,
GSD
Exploration
project
3.2
3
4
Early
Exploration
Gold
tailings
GAEC, UG,
GSD
Exploration
project
3.2
3
4
Early
Exploration
10
THANK YOU
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