International Uranium Resources Evaluation Project (IUREP) national favourability studies: Australia

In Australia most exploration for uranium has been conducted by companies and individuals. The geological mapping and airborne radiometric surveying conducted by the BMR is made available to interested persons. Exploration for uranium in Australia can be divided into two periods - 1947 to 1961 and 1966-1977. During the first period the Commonwealth Government introduced measures to encourage uranium exploration including a system of rewards for the discovery of uranium ore. This reward system resulted in extensive activity by prospectors particularly in the known mineral fields. Equipped with a Geiger counter or scintillometer, individuals with little or no experience in prospecting could compete with experienced prospectors and geologists. During this period several relative small uranium deposits were discovered generally by prospectors who found outcropping mineralisation. The second phase of uranium exploration in Australia began in 1966 at which time reserves amounted to only 6,200 tonnes of uranium and by 3 977 reserves had been increased to 289,000 tonnes. Most of the exploration was done by companies with substantial exploration budgets utilising more advanced geological and geophysical techniques. In the field of airborne radiometer the development of multi-channel gamma ray spectrometers with large volume crystal detectors increased the sensitivity of the tool as a uranium detector and resulted in several major discoveries. Expenditure or exploration for uranium increased from 1966 to 1971 but has declines in recent years. After listing the major geological elements of Australia, its uranium production and resources are discussed. During the period 1954-71 the total production of uranium concentrate in Australia amounted to 7,780 tonnes of uranium, and was derived from deposits at Rum Jungle (2,990 tonnes U) and the South Alligator River (610 tonnes U) in the Northern Territory, Mary Kathleen (3,460 tonnes U) in Queensland and Radium Hill (720 tonnes U) in South Australia. The only production at the present time is from the Mary Kathleen deposit which as at 30 June 1977 had produced a further 513 tonnes of uranium since it recommenced operations in 1976. Australia's uranium resources as at 30 June 1977 are estimated as follows (1) Recoverable up to a cost of US$80/kg U (US$30/lb U3O8): Reasonably assured resources: 289-000 tonnes U; Estimated additional resources: 44,000 tonnes U. (2) Recoverable at a cost of US$80-130/kg U (US$30-50/lb U3O8): Reasonably assured resources : 7,000 tonnes U; Estimated additional resources : 5,000 tonnes U. The reasonably assured resource category is as defined by NEA/IAEA. In expressing Australia's resources the estimated additional resource category is defined as: 'Estimated Additional Resources are confined to uranium which could be recovered within the given cost ranges from those known deposits where there are insufficient data to classify the resources as 'Reasonably Assured', and to extensions of known deposits beyond the limits of 'Reasonably Assured Resources' in those deposits. Quantitative estimates of speculative uranium resources have not been made for Australia