Uranium in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (phase V, deliverable 81)

Open-File Report 2013-1280-N
Prepared in cooperation with the Ministry of Petroleum, Energy, and Mines of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania
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Abstract

Mauritania has 80 known uranium mineral occurrences and is the current focus of active exploration for uranium by a number of private companies. Seventeen occurrences have had resource estimates published and can be considered as mineral deposits. Fourteen of these are calcrete-type deposits with a total resource of 138.3 million tonnes at an average grade of 331 ppm U3O8. The three bedrock-hosted deposits are granite hosted vein/shear zone type deposits with a total resource of 46.5 million tonnes at a grade of 248 ppm U3O8.

All of the deposits and the majority of the other uranium occurrences are found in the Paleoproterozoic Rgueïbat Shield in areas underlain by the Cortege de Yetti, the Complexe de Tmeïmichatt Ghallamane and the Complexe d'Adam Esseder. This area is also visible in the PRISM airborne radiometric data as an extensive >4 ppm equivalent uranium anomaly.

Uranium occurrences are also reported in the Tasiast-Tijirit Terrane of the Archean Rgueïbat Shield, the Mauritanide Belt, and the Coastal Basin. Geologic environments permissive for eight types of uranium deposits are recognized in Mauritania. These deposit types include: calcrete, granite-hosted vein/shear, alkaline intrusive, unconformity-associated, quartz pebble conglomerate, phosphate, sandstone, and red bed-type uranium deposits.

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Uranium in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (phase V, deliverable 81)
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2013-1280
Chapter N
DOI 10.3133/ofr20131280N
Year Published 2015
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Central Mineral and Environmental Resources Science Center
Description viii, 56 p.
Larger Work Type Report
Larger Work Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Larger Work Title Second projet de renforcement institutionnel du secteur minier de la République Islamique de Mauritanie (PRISM-II) (Open File Report 2013-1280)
Country Mauritania
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
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