Overview on Uranium with Emphasis on Surficial Uranium Deposits in Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

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Nuclear Materials Authority

Abstract

This overview addresses uranium ore deposition and classification, mining and refining of uranium are briefly given. The main properties of primary and secondary uranium minerals are reported. The surficial uranium deposits account for approximately 4% of world uranium resources, defined as young uraniferous sediments and soils - Tertiary to Recent - near surface. The major controlling factors effect the world distribution of surficial uranium deposits are reported in details such as : climate, source, Tectonic as controlling factor led difference in relief topography and basin configuration, morphology, stratigraphy, permeability and porosity, tectonics, source and transport, mineralogy and geochemistry, evaporation processes and the interaction between basement source carrying waters and evaporative vertical. Micro- organisms which play an important roles and responsible for predominance of anaerobic bacteria controlling and enriching the U- bearing minerals (Bio- enrich). Finally, comprehensive outline on surficial depositions in Egypt is given, reviewed examples in Egypt, suggest the strong probability of surficial uranium existence (Bahariya, Sitra lakes, Fayium, Tushki basins and Ras Shukeir), moreover the Siwa oasis can represent indicative recent simulator for formation processes. Presence of carnotite in Sinai support the prevalence of similar controlling factors governs the Australia examples

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