Uranium Potential of the Singhbhum Shear Zone, India: Future Prospects

The Singhbhum Shear Zone (SSZ), Jharkhand, India, hosts several uranium deposits and is one of the major uranium producing provinces of India. The SSZ uranium province has the potential to host significant uranium resources in addition to metals such as Cu, Ni, Mo, REE, Fe and Mg. Proven uranium resources in the province as of July 2017 were 64 392 tU₃O₈ (54 604 tU). The producing centres, namely, Jaduguda (from 1968), Bhatin (from 1986), Narwapahar (from 1995), Turamdih (from 2003), Bagjata (from 2008) and Mohuldih (from 2012) have been developed as underground mines and Banduhurang (from 2009) as an open pit. Recent conceptual work carried out by the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research based on new exploration strategies, has paved the way for additional resources to be located in the adjoining blocks of the existing mining centres, thereby extending the lifespan of the mines. The conceptual exploration strategy has also given encouraging results and has helped to identify new potential zones. Some significant recent discoveries are reorienting the exploration programme to enhance the resource base of the SSZ significantly. The present paper describes some of the results and the plan for future exploration by Atomic Minerals Directorate, India.