Uranium Deposits in Mauritania

This article includes an overview of Mauritania's geographical location and its population, as its location is considered important because it overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and includes important geomorphologic and geological environments. Also, the general geological aspects of Mauritania, the nature of the existence and occurrences of uranium in different geological environments will be discussed. Mauritania is classified into three geological regions; the first region is located in the north and northwest and consists of pre-Cambrian rocks, while the second region is partly located in the center and east and consists of primary sandstone. The third geological region consists of the Senegalese-Mauritanian sedimentary basin, which includes coastal Mauritania and the lower Senegal River valley in the southwest. The uranium exploration history and mode of distribution of uranium deposits in Mauritania are treated. It is found that most of the economic uranium ores belong to the superficial type of uranium deposits and mainly occur in the north of Mauritania near the border with Algeria. The main uranium deposits are found in Ain Ben Til, Tiris, Reguibat regions and Bir Ein Elnar. This article indicates that Mauritania possesses important economic uranium deposits in northwest Africa. (author)