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

In 1959 uranium was discovered in the Siwalik Sandstones to the west of Dera Ghazi Khan. Subsequent exploration by the Atomic Energy Minerals Centre of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, latterly assisted by an IAEA/UNDP project identified some 50 radioactive anomalies or groups of anomalies, in a Siwalik area 120 miles long and 30 miles wide. Most exploration work was concentrated at one locality known as Baghal Chur where two paleostream channel controlled ore shoots were investigated. Uraninite and coffinite were the ore minerals in the non-oxidised zone and tyuyamunite in the oxidised zone. Approximately 300 short tons U3O8 have been indicated in the two ore shoots in ore grading 0.12% U3O8 and a further 400 short tons are inferred in the extensions. Within Pakistan there are seven other extensive Siwalik areas, in at least one of which other radioactive anomalies have been found but which for all practical purposes remain virtually unexplored. On the basis of the areas involved and the comparison with the Dera Ghazi Khan area a Speculative Potential of 10,000 tonnes U3O8 is estimated for Pakistan. (author)