1

TECHNICAL MEETING ON URANIUM PRODUCTION NETWORK

FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING

22 - 24 NOVEMBER 2010

VIENNA, AUSTRIA

A PROSPECT OF URANIUM EXPLORATION

AND MINING IN MONGOLIA

by

Norov Enkhbat *, Sodnom Enkhbat **, Nanzad Norov*

* Nuclear Research Centre of the National University of Mongolia

** Nuclear Energy Agency of the Government of Mongolia

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OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION

1. Uranium production

2. Description of uranium ore district of Mongolia;

2. Deposits reserves and resources;

3. State policy of Mongolia on the geological survey and

exploitation of radioactive minerals;

1. Uranium Production

"Erdes" uranium mining is based on Mardai, Dornod,

Gurvanbulag and Havar deposits. "Erdes" uranium mining

enterprise was established under the bilateral Mongolian-

Soviet inter-government agreement at Mardai group of

deposits. In 1989 this enterprise started its uranium mining.

Mined uranium ores were transported by railroads to

Krasnokamensk in Chita region for processing at a mining-

chemical factory. “Erdes” uranium mining has been mined

490578-ton uranium ore or 490.6 ton metal of uranium

since exploited open mine. Unfortunately, political and

economic transformation in the country during that time

caused the suspension of uranium mining in 1995.3

Years Ore, ton Contents,% Metal, kg

1989 79882 0.117 93566

1990 91154 0.098 89253

1991 100724 0.1 100639

1992 89209 0.118 105225

1993 52321 0.104 54275

1994 63378 0.114 72114

1995 13919 0.145 20187

Total 490587 535259

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Table.1. statues of uranium extraction from Dornod deposits

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1. DESCRIPTION OF URANIUM ORE DISTRICT

OF MONGOLIA

1. DESCRIPTION OF URANIUM ORE DISTRICT OF

MONGOLIA

Based on result of the exploration work in the

territory of Mongolia was classified into four uranium

bearing metallogenical provinces: Mongol-Priargun,

Govi Tamsag, Hentei-Daguur and Northern

Mongolia. Each of these provinces differ by their

geological structure, type of uranium deposits,

association of minerals and mineralization age.

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Locations of uranium deposits in Mongolia

Simplified map showing the uranium provinces and districts in Mongolia.

Within the country six uranium deposits, about 100 uranium occurrences and

1400 radioactive anomalies were identified.

1. Spar-uranium mineral association (МZ3) related to theВТС(volcanic-tectonic structure)

2. Uranium ore association (K) related to the oxidized zones instratums and soil in semi consolidated sediments

3. Uranium ore association (K1) in coal bearing sediment

4. Uranium ore association related to the broken zones ingranite rocks

5. uranium ore association (PR3) related to the broken zones inmetamorphic and granite rocks

6. Uranium ore association with U-Th rare earth elementsmineralization related to the metasomatized alkali rocks

7. Uranium ore association in metasomatite, magmatite,pegmatite

8. Uranium ore association in silicified schist.

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Classification of identified uranium deposits and

occurrences in the territory of Mongolia

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No. Genesis type Geological ageResource,

million tones U

1 Modern sediment N-Q 30

2 Sandstone type K-Q 607

3 Volcanic type

(F-Mo-U mineralization

association)

J3-K 183

4 Type related to the Granite rocks K1-Q 40

5 Metamorphic origin PR3-T 60

6 U-Th-rare earth mineralization

association related to the alkalic

rocks

PZ2-PZ3 115

7 Metasomatite genesis PR3 15

8 Black shale genesis PR3 60

Table.1. Genesis type of uranium ore

Table.2. Uranium Resources of Mongolian (1000 mln, tU)

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metallogenic

district

metallogenic

district, ore

district

Name of ore areaGenesis

type

Amount of

Reserves

Reserves classification

Reserve Resource

C1 C2 P1 P2 P3

RAR EAR1 EAR2 Speculative

I. M

on

go

l-P

ria

rgu

n

1.North Choibalsan

I.1.1.Dornod ore node 3 70 31 20 6 13

I.1.2.Ugtam ore node 3 5 5

I.1.3.Turgen ore node 3 5 5

I.1.4.Enger shand ore node 3 5 5

I.1.5. Sumiin nuur basin 2 5 5

2.BerkhI.2.1.Ulziisaihan ore node

3 15 10 5

I.2.2. Batnorov ore node 3 12 7 5

3.Dornogovi-

Zuungobi

I.3.1.Bor-Undur ore node 3 5 5

I.3.2.Khongor ore node 3 7 7

I.3.3.Ulaan nuur ore node 3 15 15

I.3.4.Shivee ore node 3 3 3

I.3.5.Choir ore node 2 90 8 8 54 20

I.3.6.Nyalga basin 2 12 6 6

I.3.7.Tavan suvee basin 2 20 20

4.Dundgobi

I.4.1. Mushgaa khudag ore node3 16 6 10

I.4.2.Ulziit-Uul ore node 3 20 10 10

I.4.3.Ongiin gol basin2 115 50 65

5.Other areas

I.5.1.Matad ore node 3 5 5

I.5.2.Ulziit basin 2 25 15 10

I.5.3.Choibalsan basin 2 5 5

I.5.4.Gurvansaikhan basin 2 15 8 10 5

Table.2. Uranium Resources of Mongolian (1000 mln, tU)

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met

all

ogen

ic

dis

tric

t

met

all

ogen

ic

dis

tric

t, o

re

dis

tric

t

Name of ore areaGenesis

type

Amount of

Reserves

Reserves classification

Reserve Resource

C1 C2 P1 P2 P3

RAR EAR1 EAR2 Speculative

II.G

ob

i-T

am

sag

II.1.Sainshand ore area 2 30 3 12 15

II.2.North Sainshand basin 2 30 7 23

II.3.Zuunbayan basin 2 50 8 20 30

II.4.Undurshil basin 2 50 20 30

II.5.Tamag basin 2 60 10 50

II.6.Ail ore node 3 10 5 5

II.7.Other ore area 270 270

III.1.Central ore area 4 30 4 10 16

III.

Kh

enti

i-

Da

uri

an

III.2.Janchivlan ore area 4 10 10

III.3.Chuluut ore area1 30 10 20

III.4.Other areas80 80

IV.N

ort

hM

on

go

lia

IV.1.Buteeliin nuruu ore area 7 15 5 10

IV.2.Khuvsgul ore area 8 20 20

IV.3.Ari goli ore area 6 30 5 25

IV.4.White shivee ore area 6 35 35

IV.5.Mongol Altai ore area 5 50 5 45

IV.6.Dundgorkhi ore node 5 5 5

IV.7.Tashaat deluu ore node 5 5 5

IV.8.Bayankhongor ore area 8 40 40

IV.9.Tuba ore area 6 30 30

IV.10.Khangai ore area 6 15 15

IV.11.Khaartsag ore area 6 5 5

IV.12.Nuuriin basin 2 100 100

Uranium Deposits and Fold Belts of Mongolia

Deposits

Uranium

reserves

mln.ton

Reserves

categories

Uranium

contents, %

Depth of ore

body, m

Dornod 32312 RAR+EAR1 0.154 450

Gurvanbulag 12629 RAR+EAR1 0.170 400

Nemer 2528 EAR1 0.146 300

Mardai 1104 RAR+EAR1 0.160 650

Ulaan 270 RAR+EAR1 0.145 300

Kharaat 7288 RAR+EAR1 0.026 30

Khairkhan 8406 RAR+EAR1 0.071 45

Narst 3000 EAR2 0.04 50

Dulaan-Uul 9888 RAR+EAR1 0.017 60

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Table.3. Uranium reserves in Mongolian uranium deposits

Deposits Company or License holder owner

Dornod “Khan Resource” Co Ltd

“Central Asian Uranium” Co Ltd

Mongolia - 21%

Russian - 21%

Canada - 58%

Gurvanbulag CNNC corporation

Mardai - -

Nemer - -

Ulaan “Shin Shin” LLC, ”Khunbou”

LLC

China - 100%

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Table.4. Uranium exploration companies in Mongolia

Dornod uranium group deposit

Stratigraphy of Dornod complex

Uranium deposits associated with the Dornod group of

deposit composed of Jurassic-Cretaceous peralkaline

volcanic rocks. It hosts the Dornot, Gurvanbulag and

Mardain-gol uranium deposits. Reserves reported 22

million tonnes @ 0.20% U308. (80% of the uranium reserves

of Mongolia)

Gurvanbulag uranium deposit

The uranium reserve of the Gurvanbulag deposit is estimated at 5.5 million

tonnes of uranium ore with 0.15% U3O8.

The Gurvanbulag deposit is located at the eastern part of Mongolia, in the north Choibalsan

uranium mineralization zone of Argun-Mongolia uranium metallogenic belt.

There are three main mineralization zones within the Gurvalbulag deposit group area:

Central, Zavsar and South-west. The main ore minerals are coffinite, pitchblende and

uranophan.

The U mineralisation –coffinite pitchblende and

uranophane

Schematic geological map

Schematic section

Gurvanbulag uranium deposit

North shaftWest shaft Main shaft

GURVANBULAG UNDERGROUND MINING

AT SADDLE HILLS

North shaft West shaft Main shaft

Map of 260m level in Gurvanbulag underground mining

Gurvanbulag deposit:

0.25% U3O8

Ventilation,

Cement block

0.22% U3O8 = 13,633,000lbs

0.15% U3O8 = 8,642,000lbs

Gurvanbulag – Past, Present, Future

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Future planning of uranium production industry

Gurvanbulag 2008

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Schema of uranium production technology in Gurvanbulag mining

Dornod uranium deposit

The Dornod deposit is located in the eastern part of Mongolia, 800 km north-east of

Ulaanbaatar. The uranium mineralization extends over an area of 20 km2 and is

concentrated in thirteen ore bodies.

Uranium mineralization is mainly associated with volcanic rocks. The main ore

mineral are pitchblende and coffinite, in the oxidation zone uranophan is dominant.

Uranium mineralization is represented by 13 ore bodies, located at 30-700 m depth.

Dornod open pit mining.

Mineralized zones

of Dornod uranium deposit

Cross Section, Deposit #7

Geology of deposit #7

The main part of mineralization is formed

along fault zones. The average ore grade is

about 0.28% U.

Reserves in this deposit is 29 000t U3O8

This deposit is situated 760 km north-east of Ulaanbaatar. The

Mardai-gol deposit belongs to the north Choibalsan uranium

mineralization zone of the Argun-Mongol province.

Uranium mineralization occurs along faults. Ore bodies are

mainly veins and stockworks. The uranium mineralization of

the Mardai deposit is the fluorite-molybdenum-uranium type

and the main ore mineral is pitchblende and coffinite.The Mardai deposit was

mined from 1988 to 1995.

Mardai-gol uranium deposit

Ore reserve is 819,000 tons with

0.098% U3O8Abandoned Russian mining town

The Haraat deposit located in the East Gobi province,occurs in lower Cretaceous sediments of the Choir basin(Fig.18). The ore occurs in alternating sandstone andclays, with interbedded lignitic layers. Commonminerals include autunite, torbernite andschroeckingerite.

Estimated reserves are 5,400 tonnes U3O8Average grade of 0.039%U

Haraat base camp Near Choir Deposits

Haraat uranium deposit

DULAAN-UUL camp (AREVA)

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Dulaan uul drilling exploration

Exploration drilling in Choir basin

In recent years many foreign invested companies are conducting

uranium exploration in Mongolia and some of them identified the

reserve of uranium deposits. Based on the uranium deposits

establishment of modern highly developed nuclear power station

which is fully meets the requirements of nuclear and radiation safety

is a big contribution to development of Mongolian society and

economy. Certainly Mongolian uranium sector will be absolutely

perfect when the uranium sector law and regulation will be associated

to Mongolian policy on development of nuclear power station.

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3. STATE POLICY OF MONGOLIA ON THE

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY AND EXPLOITATION

OF RADIOACTIVE MINERALS

In recent years many foreign invested companies are conducting uranium

exploration in Mongolia and some of them identified the reserve of uranium

deposits. Based on the uranium deposits establishment of modern highly

developed nuclear power station which is fully meets the requirements of

nuclear and radiation safety is a big contribution to development of

Mongolian society and economy. Certainly, Mongolian uranium sector will

be absolutely perfect when the uranium sector law and regulation will be

associated to Mongolian policy on development of nuclear power station.

According to Nuclear energy law that adopted by the parliament of Mongolia

on August 6, 2009 and Policy on radioactive minerals and nuclear energy

law which has been adopted on June 25, 2009 it is says to study in detail the

reserve of radioactive minerals, and become one of the leading countries

which are mining, producing and exporting of uranium with peace purpose,

utilize nuclear energy in social and economy sector and have a nuclear power

station with no negative impact to human and nature environment.

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3. STATE POLICY OF MONGOLIA ON THE

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY AND EXPLOITATION OF

RADIOACTIVE MINERALS

Once nuclear energy law adopted and had a governmental agency to implement

policy on radioactive minerals it makes the basis of mining, enriching and

utilization of radioactive minerals.

The world wide nuclear energy utilization is increasing, uranium price is growing in

world market and Mongolia has certain uranium reserves. Regarding this the one of

way to development of Mongolia is to utilize nuclear power and radioactive

minerals.

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