Natural Resources and Conservation Vol. 4(2), pp. 25 - 33
DOI: 10.13189/nrc.2016.040201
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Uranium in South Africa: Exploration and Supply Capacity

A. O. Kenan ^*, E. Chirenje
Council for Geoscience, South Africa

ABSTRACT

The major uranium deposits types are quartz-pebble conglomerate of the Central Rand Group (Witwatersrand Supergroup) and the Dominion Group, sandstone of the Karoo Uranium Province, surficial deposits of the Namaqualand region, as well as coal of the Springbok Flats Basin. Recent exploration activities (both greenfields and near-mine) have increased the resource potentials of these deposits. South Africa's Council for Geoscience has conducted high resolution magnetic and radiometric surveys in the Namaqualand region. Witwatersrand Basin is the only deposit where uranium mining is active at present in South Africa. Total uranium production in 2015 was 448 t. However, with production expected to increase in the Witwatersrand Basin, production is expected to reach 700 t U by the end of 2018. Furthermore, with uranium production envisaged to begin in the Karoo Uranium Province, uranium production may exceed 1000 t U by the year 2020.

KEYWORDS
Uranium, Witwatersrand Basin, Karoo Uranium Province, Springbok Flats Basin, Namaqualand

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] A. O. Kenan , E. Chirenje , "Uranium in South Africa: Exploration and Supply Capacity," Natural Resources and Conservation, Vol. 4, No. 2, pp. 25 - 33, 2016. DOI: 10.13189/nrc.2016.040201.

(b). APA Format:
A. O. Kenan , E. Chirenje (2016). Uranium in South Africa: Exploration and Supply Capacity. Natural Resources and Conservation, 4(2), 25 - 33. DOI: 10.13189/nrc.2016.040201.