Dear to Mr Kevin Rudd

Atomic Blogging: The Weapon of Mass Domination! Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister of Australia Uranium - The Peaceful Atom? The first power station to produce electricity by using heat from the splitting of uranium atoms began operating in the 1950s. Today most people are aware of the important contribution nuclear energy makes in providing 16% of the world's electricity, - more than all electricity produced worldwide in 1960. Not so well known are the many other ways the peaceful atom has slipped quietly into our lives, often unannounced and in many cases unappreciated. Radioisotopes and radiation have many applications in agriculture, medicine, industry and research. They greatly improve the day to day quality of our lives. What is a radioisotope? Isotopesare different forms of an atom of the same chemical element. They have identical chemical properties but a different relative atomic mass. While the number of protons is the same, the number of neutrons in the nucleus differs. Some isotopes are referred to as 'stable' and others as 'unstable' or 'radioactive'. It is the radioactive nature of these unstable isotopes, usually referred to as'radioisotopes', which gives them so many applications in modern science and technology. Any isotope can be used as a tag to follow the movement of some material. see also ANSTO paper onRadioactivity, Radioisotopes etc George de Hevesy: The first practical application of a radioisotope was made by George de Hevesy in 1911. At the time de Hevesy was a young Hungarian student working in Manchester with naturally radioactive materials. Not having much money he lived in modest accommodation and took his meals with his landlady. He began to suspect that some of the meals that appeared regularly might be made from leftovers from the preceding days or even weeks, but he could never be sure. To try and confirm his suspicions de Hevesy put a small amount of radioactive material into the remains of a meal. Several days later when the same dish was served again he used a simple radiation detection instrument - a gold leaf electroscope - to check if the food was radioactive. It was, and de Hevesy's suspicions were confirmed. History has forgotten the landlady, but George de Hevesy went on to win the Nobel prize in 1943 and the Atoms for Peace award in 1959. His was the first use of radioactive tracers - now routine in environmental science. Scientists continue to find new and beneficial ways of using nuclear technology to improve our lives. In our daily life we need food, water and good health. Isotopes play an important part in technologies that provide us with these basic needs. The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is a base for international cooperation in hundreds of development projects. Food and Agriculture Some 800 million of the world's six billion inhabitants are chronically malnourished, and tens of thousands die daily from hunger and hunger-related causes. Radioisotopes and radiation used in food and agriculture are helping to reduce these tragic figures. As well as directly improving food production, agriculture needs to be sustainable over the longer term. The UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) works with the IAEA on programs to improve food sustainability through nuclear and related biotechnologies. Fertilisers: Fertilisers are expensive and if not properly used can damage the environment. Efficient use of fertilisers is therefore of concern to both developing and developed countries. It is important that as much of the fertiliser as possible finds its way into plants and that the minimum is lost to the environment. Fertilisers 'labelled' with a particular isotope, such as nitrogen-15 and phosphorus-32 provide a means of finding out how much is taken up by the plant and how much is lost, allowing better management of fertiliser application. Using N-15 also enables assessment of how much nitrogen is fixed from the air by soil and by root bacteria in legumes. Increasing Genetic Variability: Ionising radiation to induce mutations in plant breeding has been used for several decades, and some 1800 crop varieties have been developed in this way. Gamma or neutron irradiation is often used in conjunction with other techniques, to produce new genetic lines of root and tuber crops, cereals and oil seed crops. New kinds of sorghum, garlic, wheat, bananas, beans and peppers are more resistant to pests and more adaptable to harsh climatic conditions. In Mali, irradiation of sorghum and rice seeds has produced more productive and marketable varieties. Insect Control Crop losses caused by insects may amount to more than 10% of the total harvest worldwide, - in developing countries the estimate is 25-35%. Stock losses due to tsetse in Africa and screwworm in Mexico have also been sizeable. Chemical insecticides have for many years been our main weapon in trying to reduce these losses, but they have not always been effective. Some insects have become resistant to the chemicals used, and some insecticides leave poisonous residues on the crops. One solution has been the use of sterile insects. The Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) involves rearing large numbers of insects then irradiating them with gamma radiation before hatching, to sterilise them. The sterile males are then released in large numbers in the infested areas. When they mate with females, no offspring are produced. With repeated releases of sterilised males, the population of the insect pest in a given area is drastically reduced. Major SIT operations have been conducted in Mexico, Argentina and northern Chile against the Medfly (Mediterranean fruit fly) and in 1981 this was declared a complete success in Mexico. In 1994-95 eradication was achieved in two fruit-growing areas of Argentina and 95% success in another, as well as in Chile. The program is being extended to all of southern South America. Meanwhile the EU is financing a 'fly factory' on Portugal's Madeira island to produce up to 100 million sterile males Medflies per week. A very successful SIT campaign was screwworm eradication in southern USA, Mexico and nearby. By 1991 the screwworm eradication had yielded some US$ 3 billion in economic benefits due to healthier livestock, not to mention humans. The Mexican plants and equipment were then applied to infestations in Libya, Jamaica and Central America, providing 20 million sterile pupae per week. A number of the most fertile parts of Africa cannot be farmed because of the tsetse fly which carries the parasite trypanosome that causes the African sleeping sickness disease and the cattle disease Nagana. Economic losses due to this are estimated by FAO at US$ 4 billion per year. However, SIT in conjunction with conventional pest controls is starting to change all this. Zanzibar was declared tsetse-free in 1997 and Nigeria has also benefited. In southern Ethiopia a major tsetse SIT program is under way, with a million sterile males per month being produced in a 'fly factory' at Addis Ababa and then released. Three UN organizations - the IAEA, the FAO, the World Health Organisation (WHO), with the governments concerned are promoting new SIT programs in many countries.Food Preservation Some 25-30% of the food harvested is lost as a result of spoilage by microbes and pests. In a hungry world we cannot afford this. The reduction of spoilage due to infestation and contamination is of the utmost importance. This is especially so in countries which have hot and humid climates and where an extension of the storage life of certain foods, even by a few days, is often enough to save them from spoiling before they can be consumed. Many countries lose a high proportion of harvested grain due to moulds and insects. In all parts of the world there is growing use of irradiation technology to preserve food. In over 40 countries health and safety authorities have approved irradiation of more than 60 kinds of food, ranging from spices, grains and grain products to fruit, vegetables and meat. It can replace potentially harmful chemical fumigants to eliminate insects from dried fruit and grain, legumes, and spices. Following three decades of testing, a worldwide standard was adopted in 1983 by a joint committee of WHO, FAO and IAEA. In 1997 another such joint committee said there was no need for the earlier recommended upper limit on radiation dose to foods. As well as reducing spoilage after harvesting, increased use of food irradiation is driven by concerns about food-borne diseases as well as growing international trade in foodstuffs which must meet stringent standards of quality. On their trips into space, astronauts eat foods preserved by irradiation. Raw foods are exposed to high levels of gamma radiation which kills bacteria and other harmful organisms without affecting the nutritional value of food itself or leaving any residue It is the only means of killing bacterial pathogens in raw and frozen food. Of course, irradiation of food doesnotmake it radioactive! Food irradiation applications Low dose(up to 1 kGy) Inhibition of sprouting Potatoes, onions, garlic, ginger, yam Insect and parasite disinfestation Cereals, fresh fruit, dried foods Delay ripening Fresh fruit, vegetables Medium dose(1-10 kGy) Extend shelf life Fish, strawberries, mushrooms Halt spoilage, kill pathogens Seafood, poultry, meat High dose(10-50 Gy) Industrial sterilisation Meat, poultry, seafood, prepared foods Decontamination Spices, etc Radiation is also used to sterilise food packaging. In the Netherlands, for example, milk cartons are freed from bacteria by irradiation. Water Resources Adequate water is essential for life. Yet in many parts of the world water has always been scarce and in others it is becoming scarcer. Yet for any new development, whether agricultural, industrial or human settlement, a sustainable supply of good water is vital. Isotope hydrology techniques enable accurate tracing and measurement of the extent of underground water resources. Such techniques provide important analytical tools in the management and conservation of existing supplies of water and in the identification of new, renewable sources of water. They provide answers to questions about origin, age and distribution, the interconnections between ground and surface water and aquifer recharge systems. The results permit planning and sustainable management of these water resources. For surface waters they can give information about leakages through dams and irrigation channels, the dynamics of lakes and reservoirs, flow rates, river discharges and sedimentation rates. From Afghanistan to Zaire there some 60 countries, developed and developing, that have used isotope techniques to investigate their water resources in collaboration with IAEA. Neutron probes can measure soil moisture very accurately, enabling better management of land affected by salinity, particularly in respect to irrigation. Medicine Many of us are aware of the wide use of radiation and radioisotopes in medicine particularly fordiagnosis(identification) andtherapy(treatment) of various medical conditions. In developed countries (a quarter of the world population) the frequency of diagnostic nuclear medicine is 1.9% of the population per year, and the frequency of therapy with radioisotopes is about one tenth of this. Diagnosis Radioisotopes are an essential part of diagnostic treatment. In combination with imaging devices which register the gamma rays emitted from within. they can study the dynamic processes taking place in various parts of the body. An advantage of nuclear over x-ray techniques is that both bone and soft tissue can be imaged very successfully. In using radiopharmaceuticals for diagnosis, a radioactive dose is given to the patient and the activity in the organ can then be studied either as a two dimensional picture or, with a special technique called tomography, as a three dimensional picture. The most widely used diagnostic radioisotope is technetium-99m*, with a half-life of six hours, and which gives the patient a very low radiation dose. Such isotopes are ideal for tracing many bodily processes with the minimum of discomfort for the patient. They are widely used to indicate tumours and to study the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, blood circulation and volume, and bone structure. * Technetium generators, a lead pot enclosing a glass tube containing the radioisotope, are supplied to hospitals from the nuclear reactor where the isotopes are made. They contain molybdenum-99, with a half-life of 66 hours, which progressively decays to technetium-99. The Tc-99 is washed out of the lead pot by saline solution when it is required. After two weeks or less the generator is returned for recharging. A major use of radioisotopes for diagnosis is in radio-immuno-assays for biochemical analysis. They can be used to measure very low concentrations of hormones, enzymes, hepatitis virus, some drugs and a range of other substances in a sample of the patient's blood. The patient never comes in contact with the radioisotopes used in the diagnostic tests. In the USA alone it is estimated that some 40 million such tests are carried out each year. Therapy: The uses of radioisotopes in therapy are comparatively few, but important. Cancerous growths are sensitive to damage by radiation, which may be external- using a gamma beam from a cobalt-60 source, or internal - using a small gamma or beta radiation source. Iodine-131 is commonly used to treat thyroid cancer, probably the most successful kind of cancer treatment, and also for non-malignant thyroid disorders. Iridium-192 wire implants are used especially in the head and breast to give precise doses of beta rays to limited areas, then removed. A new treatment uses samarium-153 complexed with organic phosphate to relieve the pain of secondary cancers lodged in bone. (See also information paperRadioisotopes in Medicine) Sterilisation: Many medical products today are sterilised by gamma rays from a cobalt-60 source, a technique which generally is much cheaper and more effective than steam heat sterilisation. The disposable syringe is an example of a product sterilised by gamma rays. Because it is a 'cold' process radiation can be used to sterilise a range of heat-sensitive items such as powders, ointments and solutions and biological preparations such as bone, nerve, skin, etc, used in tissue grafts. The benefit to humanity of sterilisation by radiation is tremendous. It is safer and cheaper because it can be done after the item is packaged. The sterile shelf life of the item is then practically indefinite provided the package is not broken open. Apart from syringes, medical products sterilised by radiation include cotton wool, burn dressings, surgical gloves, heart valves, bandages, plastic and rubber sheets and surgical instruments. Smoke Detectors One of the commonest uses of radioisotopes today is in household smoke detectors. These contain a small amount of americium-241 which is a decay product of plutonium-241 originating in nuclear reactors. The Am-241 emits alpha particles which ionise the air and allow a current between two electrodes. If smoke enters the detector it absorbs the alpha particles and interrupts the current, setting off the alarm. (See also information paperSmoke Detectors and Americium) Science and Industry Environmental tracers Radioisotopes also play an important role in detecting and analysingpollutants, since even very small amounts of a radioisotope can easily be detected, and the decay of short-lived isotopes means that no residues remain in the environment. Nuclear techniques have been applied to a range of pollution problems including smog formation, sulphur dioxide contamination of the atmosphere, sewage dispersal from ocean outfalls and oil spills. Industrial tracers: The ability to measure radioactivity in minute amounts has given radioisotopes a wide range of applications in industry as 'tracers'. By adding small amounts of radioactive substances to materials used in various processes it is possible to study the mixing and flow rates of a wide range of materials, including liquids, powders and gases and to locate leaks. Tracers added to lubricating oils can help measure the rate of wear of engines and plant and equipment. Tracer techniques have been used in plant operations to check the performance of equipment and improve its efficiency, resulting in savings in energy and the better use of raw materials. Instruments: Gauges containing radioactive sources are in wide use in all industries where levels of gases, liquids and solids must be checked. These gauges are most useful where heat, pressure or corrosive substances, such as molten glass or molten metal, make it impossible or difficult to use direct contact gauges. Radioisotope thickness gauges are used in the making of continuous sheets of material including paper, plastic film, metal, glass, etc, when it is desirable to avoid contact between the gauge and the material. Density gauges are used where automatic control of a liquid, powder or solid is important, for example, in detergent manufacture. Tobacco companies use radioisotope density gauges to check the amount of tobacco packed into each cigarette. Radioisotope instruments have three great advantages: measurements can be made without physical contact with the material or product being measured. Very little maintenance of the isotope source is necessary. The cost/benefit ratio is excellent - many instruments pay for themselves within a few months through the savings they allow. Radiography Radioisotopes which emit gamma rays which can be used to check welds of new gas and oil pipeline systems, with the radioactive source being placed inside the pipe and the film outside the welds. This is more convenient than employing X-ray equipment. Other forms of radiography (neutron radiography/ autoradiography), based on different principles, can be used to gauge the thickness and density of materials or locate components that are not visible by other means. (See also information paperRadioisotopes in Industry) Radioisotope power sources Some radioisotopes emit a lot of energy as they decay. Such energy can be harnessed for heart pacemakers and to power navigation beacons and satellites. The decay heat of plutonium-238 has powered many US space vehicles. It enabled the Cassini space probe to investigate Saturn. Dating Analysis of radioisotopes is of vital importance in determining the age of rocks and other materials that are of interest to geologists, anthropologists and archaeologists. From the moment we get up in the morning, until we go to sleep, we benefit unknowingly from many ingenious applications of radioisotopes and radiation. The water we wash with (origin, supply assurance), the textiles we wear (manufacture control gauging), the breakfast we eat (improved grains, water analysis), our transport to work (thickness gauges for checking steels and coatings on vehicles and assessing the effects of corrosion and wear on motor engines), the bridges we cross (neutron radiography), the paper we use (gauging, mixing during production processes), the drugs we take (analysis) not to mention medical tests (radioimmunoassay, perhaps radiopharmaceuticals), or the environment which radioisotope techniques help to keep clean, are all examples that we sometimes take for granted. To Investigate or Consider: In what other areas would you expect radionuclides to be used - as tracers? For measurement? For sterilisation? For medical diagnosis or treatment? Give reasons. In medicine, why is it often important to be able to use radioisotopes which are short-lived? If you needed to be able to deliver a cancer-killing dose of gamma rays to a particular few cubic centimetres of tissue inside a person, how would you do it while avoiding high doses to the rest? What are the arguments for and against food preservation by gamma rays? How does thermoluminescent dating work? Updated in October 2004 © World Nuclear Association. All rights reserved 'Promoting the peaceful worldwide use of nuclear power as a sustainable energy resource' Contact WNA May 2008 Australia's Uranium Deposits and Prospective Mines Summary of Resources Available in Major Deposits and Prospective Mines Deposit Grade U3O8 Contained U3O8 category Jabiluka, NT 0.50% 59 000 t reserves plus: 0.43% 21 700 measured & indicated resources 0.54% 57 700 inferred resources Koongarra, NT 0.8% 14 540 t reserves Mt Fitch, NT 0.046% 6 600 t resources Angela, NT 0.1% 10 250 t resources Bigrlyi, NT 0.14% 5 200 t resources Nolans Bore, NT 0.02% 3977 t resources Napperby, NT 0.036% 670 t inferred resources Kintyre, WA 0.15-0.4% 36 000 t reserves & resources Yeelirrie, WA 0.15% 52 500 t indicated resources Mulga Rock, WA 0.11% 46 500 t resources Manyingee, WA 0.09% 12 000 t resources Oobagooma, WA 10 700 t inferred resources Lake Maitland, WA 0.03% 7900 t resources Lake Way, WA 0.054% 4600 t resources Centipede, WA 0.063% 4400 t resources Thatchers Soak, WA 0.03% 4100 t resources Honeymoon, SA 0.42m%, 0.24% 2900 t indicated resources Billeroo West (Gould Dam), SA 0.045%, 0.33 m% 2 500 t indicated resources Bevereley Four MIle, SA no data yet 15 000 t inferred resources Prominent Hill, SA 0.012% 9900 t inferred resources Mt Gee, SA 0.063% 26,900 t inferred resources Crocker Well, SA 0.048% 8 576 t resources Curnamona, SA ? ? Valhalla, Qld 0.080% 0.075% 16 900 t 9000 t indicated resources inferred resources Skal, Qld 0.119% 5000 t resources Andersons Lode, Qld 0.143% 6500 t inferred resources Westmoreland, Qld up to 0.2% 7000 t indicated resources 15 000 t inferred resources Ben Lomond, Qld 0.27% 3600 t indicated resources 0.21% 1250 t inferred resources Maureen, Qld 0.123% 2940 t resources This table was updated with April 2006 data fromGeoscience Australia. Figures may differ from older ones in the text, and not all deposits are written up below. Note that information on Ranger, Olympic Dam and Beverley are in aseparate paper. See also paper onUranium Exploration in Australia. Jabiluka, NT The Jabiluka 1 uranium deposit in the Northern Territory was discovered in 1971 by Pancontinental Mining Limited. In 1973 further drilling located the larger Jabiluka 2 uranium orebody about one kilometre to the east. Jabiluka lies 230 kilometres east of Darwin and 20 kilometres north of Ranger on the edge of the floodplain of Magela Creek, a tributary of the East Alligator River. It is surrounded by the Kakadu National Park, but the mine lease area is excluded from the National Park and adjoins the Ranger lease. Jabiluka 2 has resources in excess of 160 000 tonnes of uranium oxide, and is one of the world's larger high grade uranium deposits. An Environmental Impact Study was approved in August 1979. In August 1982 Mineral Lease MLN 1 was granted by the Northern Territory for a period of 42 years following the signing of an agreement with the Northern Land Council, representing the traditional Aboriginal owners. The agreement, approved by the Commonwealth Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, was to provide $10 million to local Aboriginal people up to the end of construction, then royalty-type payments of 4.5% of net revenue, increasing to 5% after ten years. No Aboriginal sacred sites would be disturbed. By the end of 1982 all necessary mining and environmental approvals had been obtained from governments for the underground mining of the Jabiluka 2 orebody and the Company had been cleared by the Commonwealth to seek sales contracts. Significant marketing progress was made, firm commitments being obtained for the supply of 15 600 tonnes of uranium oxide over ten years. However, with the Australian Labor Party coming to power in the 1983 federal election, Commonwealth approval was withdrawn and development ceased. In 1987 Pancontinental bought the 35% equity in the project then held by Texaco. In August 1991 Energy Resources of Australia (ERA), the operator of the adjacentRangermine, bought the Jabiluka lease from Pancontinental for A $125 million. In 1993 ERA undertook a feasibility study with a further drilling program on the orebody. This involved more than 12,000 metres of drilling, concentrating on the eastern half of the orebody (which was temporarily renamed North Ranger 2). As a result, ERA published proved and probable reserves of 19.5 million tonnes of ore at an average grade of 0.46% U3O8containing 90,400 tonnes of uranium oxide. The study envisaged an underground mine, with ore being milled and treated at the existing Ranger site and tailings disposed of there. A total of only 20 hectares of land would be required for the surface facilities at the mine site, or 80 hectares including the haul road (wholly on ERA leases), compared with 820 hectares required under the previously-approved 1982 proposal. click to enlarge Ranger and Jabiluka leases A new Environmental Impact Statement for mining the Jabiluka 2 orebody and milling the ore at Ranger was approved in October 1997, following public comment. A Public Environmental Report on the alternative of milling the ore at Jabiluka was approved in August 1998, conditional upon all tailings being emplaced underground. This completed the Commonwealth approvals process for the project. The Jabiluka mine development proceeded in 1998-99 with relevant agreements in place. However, mining was deferred until Ranger output starts to decline towards the end of its life, and until agreement could be reached regarding treatment of Jabiluka ore at the Ranger mill. The mine was developed with an 1150 metre access decline and a further 700 metres of excavation around the orebody. About 50,000 tonnes of mineralised material which was removed during development was stockpiled under cover on the surface. Development then ceased and the mine was put on standby with environmental maintenance and planning. In 2000, following intensive drilling from the underground access to the Jabiluka orebody, ERA revised the overall resource, with some reduction in actual reserves. Proved and probable ore reserves now stand at 11.8 Mt ore @ 0.50%, containing 59,000 tonnes U3O8. Additional measured and indicated resources are 21,700 tonnes U3O8in 0.43% ore, and inferred resources a further 54,700 tonnes in 0.54%. All figures are based on a cut-off grade of 0.20%. In 2003 the Northern Territory government approved ERA's proposal for long-term care and maintenance of the Jabiluka site and this was implemented. The stockpiled mineralised material was backfilled into the decline and a similar quantity of waste rock joined it. ERA also undertook improvements to water management at the site. The new works were in line with the wishes of the Aboriginal traditional owners. They also improved the environmental management of the site and cost less than long-term management of the previous situation. ERA (whose parent company is Rio Tinto) will not proceed with the mine until there is agreement from the local Mirrar Aboriginal people. See alsoERA web site. Koongarra, NT Koongarra is a small but relatively high grade uranium deposit in the Alligator Rivers of the Northern Territory. It lies some 30 km south of Ranger and 3 kilometres east of Nourlangie Rock. When the Kakadu National Park was set up in 1979, the land covered by the Koongarra Special Mineral Lease was excluded. However, the Lease area is on Aboriginal land. Koongarra was discovered by Noranda Australia Ltd in 1970. In 1980 Denison Australia Pty Ltd took over Noranda's interests in the deposit. In 1992 Total acquired a 70% interest in Koongarra, which was subsequently acquired by Cogema Australia Pty Ltd. In 1995 Cogema acquired the remaining 30% interest in the project. In 2006 Cogema mining operations became part ofAreva NC. When Denison Australia took over the deposit, a draft EIS was submitted to the Federal Government. The final EIS was approved in 1981. Denison conducted a review of the project to minimise its impacts and this resulted in the definition of a 1050 ha project site extending into the National Park. This area was excised from the National Park by the Koongarra Project Area Act 1981, but this has not yet been proclaimed. In the mid 1980s, and again in 1991, Denison negotiated Aboriginal agreements, but these did not receive the assent of the Federal Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. Development was stalled in 1983. Following the 1996 change of federal Government, all aspects of the project were reassessed by Cogema, but in April 2000 the (Aboriginal) Northern Land Council vetoed development of the project for five years. The upper orebody has proved and probable ore reserves with an average grade of almost 0.8% U3O8, containing 14 500 tonnes of uranium oxide accessible by open pit mining, and with associated gold. Proposed production was 1375 tonnes U3O8per year. A poorly-defined lower orebody is estimated to contain 2000 tonnes of uranium oxide in 0.3% ore but does not form part of the reserves. Mount Fitch, NT Mount Fitch was discovered in 1965 and is part of the old Rum Jungle workings near Batchelor, 64 km south of Darwin.Compass Resources NLhas been active in the area for some years, primarily focused on the Browns deposit, a copper-cobalt-nickel deposit close to the old Intermediate open pit. In 2006 Compass reported resources of 4050 tonnes U3O8at Mt Fitch, averaging 0.046%. Angela, NT The Angela deposit, 25 km south of Alice Springs was discovered in 1973 and extensively drilled by Uranerz Australia in 1989, under a Uranerz-MIM joint venture which reported 11,500 tonnes of U3O8at 0.10 to 0.13% (measured, indicated, & inferred resources), spread over 5.7 kilometres strike length in sandstone to a depth of 650 metres and open at depth. After Uranerz departed from Australia in 1991, Angela was held under a retention licence, but this was relinquished due to prevailing Labor Government policy. The NT government in February 2008 accepted a bid by 50-50 joint venturers Paladin Energy Ltd and Cameco Australia to explore the deposit with the adjacent Pamela deposit. The new Angela Project JV has committed to spend $5 million on confirming the resources once a licence is issued, with a view to then undertaking a bankable feasibility study. It is expected to have a conventional hard rock mill and an alkaline leaching circuit, with production possibly in 2011. Bigrlyi, NT Bigrlyi is a series of discontinuous lenses outcropping over 12.5 km in hard sandstone along the northern edge of the Ngalia Basin in NT. Central Pacific Minerals NL in 1982 reported resources of 2181 tonnes U3O8averaging 0.372% in eight separate lenses, the main mineral being uraninite, along with vanadium minerals. In mid 2006 the deposit was held by a joint venture includingEnergy Metals Ltd(53.3%) and Valhalla Uranium (41.7%) who reported indicated and inferred resources of 3800 t U3O8at 0.21% average (and 4000 t V2O5) at 0.10% cut-off, based on interpretation of historic drill holes. At 0.05% cut off the resource is 5200 t U3O8at average 0.14%. In September 2006 Paladin Resources took over Valhalla Uranium Ltd. Nolans Bore, NT This is a deposit of rare earths, about 135 km north of Alice Springs, and has some uranium as potential by-product.Arafura Resourcesintends to develop it as a rare earths mine. Napperby, NT The Napperby project in the Northern Territory, northwest of Alice Springs, is an historic uranium prospect, comprising an extensive near-surface, consistent mineralised zone that is relatively low grade calcrete, but is close to infrastructure. An inferred resource of 670 tonnes in 0.36% ore over one kilometre of paleochannel was reported in 2006.Toro Energytook over the project from Deep Yellow, and is now defining the resource with a view to assessing the viability of mining it. Honeymoon, SA (with East Kalkaroo and Gould's Dam) Honeymoon itself was discovered in 1972, about 75 kilometres north west of Broken Hill, 30 kilometres inside South Australia. MIM Holdings Ltd bought out CSR Ltd's 34.3% share in 1988. In 1997 Sedimentary Holdings NL reached agreement with MIM to acquire the Honeymoon leases next to its own East Kalkaroo deposit on the Yarramba palaeochannel. The exploration licences thus consolidated include much of the Yarramba palaeochannel in both directions from the deposits and have a number of other uranium occurrences. The 1997 agreement also included acquisition of the Gould Dam-Billaroo West leases 80 km northwest of Honeymoon. The 1997 agreement initially brought together known uranium resources of about 4200 tonnes U3O8averaging 0.11% and amenable toin-situ leaching. The purchase was funded by Southern Cross Resources Inc. of Toronto, which raised capital in Canada for the development of the SA uranium properties. Sedimentary Holdings progressively reduced its share in Southern Cross and sold the last 7% in September 2004. The Honeymoon - East Kalkaroo deposit occurs in porous sand of the Yarramba palaeochannel at a depth of 100-120 metres and extending over about 150 hectares. Plans were developed in the late 1970s to extract the uranium oxide by in situ leaching (ISL), and some $12 million was spent in preparation. Draft and Final Environmental Impact Statements were produced, and both South Australian and Commonwealth environmental approval was subsequently obtained in 1981 for production to 450 t/yr. Field tests of the ISL process were carried out and a $3.5 million, 110 t/yr pilot plant was built, but the project was abandoned in 1983. Aerial view of plant and infrastructure (wellfield is beyond at top left) -click to enlarge Trial wellfield (extraction well is left of centre) -click to enlarge Well header building -click to enlarge Inside well header building -click to enlarge Pilot plant -click to enlarge Field leach trials using the refurbished process plant resumed in 1998 and led to a proposal to produce about 1000 t/yr U3O8equivalent (as uranium peroxide) at less than US$ 6/lb U3O8. A June 2000 draft EIS covers the Honeymoon - East Kalkaroo deposits on five Mineral Claims and approval of this was granted in November 2001. Further drilling and logging with a prompt fission neutron tool in 2004 confirmed high-grade resources which were reported in terms of grade thickness (GT) - average grade U3O8multiplied by thickness of leachable sand holding the uranium. In the Honeymoon deposit itself 3300 t U3O8at an average GT of 0.84 m% was confirmed, with 900 t U3O8at an average GT of 0.38 m% in East Kalkaroo adjacent. The program failed to extend these resources, which suggests a smaller operation than earlier envisaged. The main lease is now ML 6109. Further drilling and logging of nearby parts of the Yarramba palaeochannel immediately NW of Honeymoon in 2004 failed to confirm further resources, and the program was shifted to the Gould's Dam area. Mineralisation at Billeroo West (including Gould Dam) in the Billeroo palaeochannel is similar to that at Honeymoon. Following exploration late in 2004 of one kilometre of palaeochannel using prompt neutron fission technology, the indicated resource was stated as 2000 t U3O8at an average GT of 0.33 m% or 0.12% U3O8. Much of the palaeodrainage system there is untested. In November 2004 the company announced revised development plans down to a 400 tpa plant at Honeymoon costing $A 44 million (US$ 31 million) and with cash operating cost of A$ 17.70/lb U3O8(US$ 12.40/lb). Development was deferred pending higher uranium prices and the outcome of further exploration at Gould's Dam. In December 2005 Southern Cross Resources was taken over by Aflease to formSXRuraniumOneInc, which proceeded to develop the Dominion uranium project in South Africa.Honeymooninformation is on its web site. Following a new feasibility study, in August 2006 Uranium One announced that development of Honeymoon would proceed as a 400 t/yr ISL mine. It quoted indicated resources of 2900 tonnes U3O8at 0.24% (av grade thickness 0.42 m%) excluding some thin low-grade material included in earlier estimates but again excluding the adjacent East Kalkaroo deposit. Production cost envisaged is US$ 14.13 /lb ($36.70/kgU) and project cost US$ 36 million (A$ 48 million), with the mine to be commissioned early in 2009. In January 2007 a ten-year export permit was granted. In May 2008 the company announced suspension of development in order to allow evaluation of opportunities for the project. Beverley Four Mile, SAFour Mile comprises two deposits 5-10 km NW of the Beverley mine and is being explored by Quasar Resources Pty Ltd (affiliated with Heathgate Resources). Alliance Resources Ltd is a 25% free carried joint venture partner. An "initial resource estimate" of 15,000 tonnes U3O8at 0.37% was announced in May 2007 for the west deposit and this subsequently became inferred resources under JORC code. Alliance in January 2008 announced preliminary indications of a similar resource is in the east deposit. In January 2008 Alliance announced a concept study for the project with ISL mining commencing in 2010 if resources in the eastern deposit materialised in an initial JORC resource estimate, now expected in the third quarter of 2008. However, all this was overtaken by encouraging (but not yet properly quantified) drilling results on the east deposit and in April 2008 Alliance reported that Quasar had decided to apply for a mining lease and proceed with mining as soon as possible - probably late 2009 on the east deposit. A feasibility study for the mine was brought forward, making the planned field leach trial on the west deposit redundant. First stage production is envisaged as 680 t/yr U3O8, rising to 2000 t/yr by stage 3. The proposed initial mining area now has over 50 drill holes at production spacing, and grades are being measured with a prompt fission neutron (PFN) tool, giving much more confidence than gamma logging. There are three mineralised layers between 190 and 210 metres deep, ranging from 1.1 to 7.3 metres thick and with grades up to 1.74% U3O8. Two possibilities for uranium recovery are piping the loaded solution 6 km to the Beverley plant for recovery, or having an ion exchange plant at Four Mile and trucking the loaded resin to Beverley for stripping (elution) and precipitation. Quasar applied for a mining lease in May 2008. Mt Gee, SA Working with data from earlier drilling campaigns,Marathon Resourceshas quantified to publishable standard the uranium resources of the Paralana ore system comprising a number of uranium and polymetallic orebodies spread over 12 km in the north Flinders Ranges of South Australia. The Mt Gee deposit has a total of 33,000 tonnes U3O8, mostly as inferred resources and mostly low-grade (0.05% cut off) but with some higher-grade portions. Other orebodies in the system are also prospective. The area has been drilled extensively since 1968 by Exoil, CRAE (Rio Tinto) and Goldstream. In 2007 Marathon initiated a pre-feasibility study and an environmental impact study for underground mining at Mt Gee. The results of ongoing drilling and the initial studies are expected in mid 2008. The Mt Gee - Mt Painter mineralisation is the source of uranium in the palaeochannels around Beverley, a few kilometres east. Curnamona, SA A large area including all of the Yarramba palaeochanel north of Honeymoon- East Kalkaroo was held byHavilah Resourcesbut was floated asCurnamona Energy Ltdin 2005, with Havilah holding 50.6% of the new company. No resources are yet quantified. Crocker Well & Mt Victoria, SA Uranium mineralisation in the Olary area of SA (Curnamona province) was investigated 1951-78 by the SA Mines department and private companies, and the Crocker Well deposit went through to a feasibility study then. This uranium field has six deposits over 4 sq km. Inferred resources are 12.5 million tonnes @ 0.05% U3O8with cut-off of 0.03%. The Mt Victoria deposit 7 km away has an inferred resource of 0.25 Mt grading 0.16%. Mineralisation at Crocker Well is primarily thorian brannerite in igneous rock, with some davidite, while that at Mt Victoria is davidite. PepinNini Minerals Ltdnow holds both deposits and adjacent prospective ground. Other hard rock outcrops in the area grade up to 2.1% U3O8. With a cut-off of 0.025% the total inferred resource is 8576 t U3O8at average 0.048% grade. In March 2006 a JORC-compliant inferred resource of 6750 t was quoted with grade of 0.05% for Crocker Well. A scoping study for 500 tU/yr production encouraged the company to proceed with upgrading the resource to measured or indicated status and quantifying further mineralisation. Resource verification is due to be complete in July 2008. Metallurgical testing shows good potential for ore beneficiation prior to treatment, and also that hot leaching gives good recoveries. In June 2007 Sinosteel Corporation of China committed $40 million for a 60% stake in PepinNini's Curnamona Project as a joint venture partner. Sinosteel committed $11 million to explore and develop the project over a two-year period. Of this, $5 million is being spent on exploratory drilling and metallurgical testing at Crocker Well, together with a process of regulatory approvals and a Bankable Feasibility Study which is now underway. Prominent Hill, SA Minotaur Resources Ltd proved up a significant mineral resource in the Gawler Craton, some 150 km NW of Olympic Dam. In 2001 copper-gold mineralisation in iron oxide similar to Olympic Dam's was discovered under 100 m of sedimentary cover by the Mount Woods joint venture, and Minotaur subsequently bought out the other parties, notably BHP-Billiton. Oxiana Ltd then farmed in towards earning 65% of the project by spending $34 million in staged exploration and evaluation. In 2005 Minotaur resources was acquired byOxiana Ltd. As of August 2004 an inferred resource of 97 million tonnes at 1.5% copper, 0.5 g/t gold and 103 ppm uranium in the upper chalcocite. In deeper chalcopyrite, uranium runs to 120 ppm. This gives less than 10,000 tonnes U, with unknown mineralogy and hence uncertain recovery. Kintyre, WA The Kintyre deposit is a significant high-grade uranium orebody with a small surface outcrop in the remote Rudall region of Western Australia. This is on the western edge of the Great Sandy Desert in the Eastern Pilbara Region of Western Australia, approximately 70 km south of Telfer and some 1200 kilometres NNE of Perth. It was discovered by Rio Tinto Exploration in 1985 through surface follow-up of a number of radiometric anomalies detected during an airborne survey. The deposit then lay less than a kilometre inside the state's largest national park, covering 1.5 million hectares. The Rudall River National Park is surrounded by vacant crown land and has boundaries defined arbitrarily by latitude and longitude rather than natural features. It was established in 1977 to preserve and demonstrate an arid desert dry river ecosystem in the Eastern Pilbara region. Mineral exploration was permitted within it. However, the Kintyre orebody is outside the catchment area which the Park had been intended to protect. Canning Resources Pty Ltd was the Rio Tinto company which in association with Rio Tinto Exploration took over the role of assessing the feasibility of bringing a mine into production. By 1988 reserves of some 24 000 tonnes of uranium oxide (in association with other minerals) had been delineated, with a further 12 000 tonnes of inferred resources, in several contiguous parts of the orebody, with a grade of 0.2 - 0.4% U3O8and a cut-off grade of 0.05%. This showed that development was feasible. In 1991 Rio Tinto Exploration received the WA Minister for Mines' Award for Environmental Excellence "for the overall commitment of exploration staff to minimising the impact of exploration activities at Rudall River whilst under critical community scrutiny and for progressively rehabilitating all areas disturbed during exploration, as an integral part of the overall exploration programme." In April 1994 the State Government excised an area of 15,100 hectares from the Rudall River National Park, including the Kintyre project area. At the same time a strip of land of 15,400 ha was added to the western boundary of the Park, part of the river system that the park was set up to protect. click to enlarge Production is envisaged at 1800-2000 tonnes of uranium oxide concentrate per year, with open pit mining. There is the potential for further resources to be identified. The vein-type nature of the orebody makes it possible to use radiometric ore sorting so that the mill feed is effectively very high grade, which results in lower processing costs and a compact treatment plant. The total area disturbed by the proposed mine and treatment plant, including up to five small open cuts, will be about three square kilometres (300 ha), with the treatment plant occupying about six hectares. An additional 100 ha will be required for infrastructure. Capital cost of the project is estimated to be $120 million. Tailings will be in two streams, both as filter cake, which will be buried in purpose-built disposal facilities or in a mined-out pit. The first stream is a conventional residue from acid leaching, containing most of the ore's radioactivity. The second is mixed gypsum and iron hydroxide from an iron precipitation stage. The other eventual waste will be some evaporite from process liquors which cannot be recycled. There will be no tailings dam. Due to low international uranium prices and other outstanding approval requirements, the project was slowed down in 1997 and Rio Tinto Exploration put it under care and maintenance late in 1998. In 2002 it was decommissioned and rehabilitated. In 2007-08 it was put up for sale by Rio Tinto, with deadline for bids in March. See alsoKintyre web site. Yeelirrie, WA The Yeelirrie deposit is between Wiluna and Leinster, WA, about 500 kilometres north of Kalgoorlie and close to the Goldfields gas pipeline. It is also close to the existing infrastructure serving WMC nickel mines at Mount Keith and Leinster. Western Mining Corporation (WMC) discovered the shallow and extensive deposit in 1972. It is reputedly the world's largest sedimentary deposit of its kind. In August 1978 Urangesellschaft Australia Pty Ltd bought for A $3 million a 10% interest in the deposit, but this was reacquired by WMC in October 1993. At the same time Esso was brought into the project and given 15% equity in return for a commitment to fund 80% of the Stage I feasibility study and pilot plant, then costed at A $21 million. Esso withdrew in May 1982 for commercial reasons and the share reverted to WMC. The deposit extends over 9 kilometres, is up to 1.5 kilometres wide, up to 7 metres thick and lies mostly at a depth of 5.5 metres below the surface. It comprises a mineral resource of 35 million tonnes with an average grade of 0.15%, containing 52 000 tonnes of uranium oxide, which could readily support a low-cost mining operation producing a proposed 2500 tonnes per year of uranium concentrate with 1000 tonnes per year of vanadium oxide by-product. An Environmental Impact Statement was produced in 1978 and resulted in environmental approval from both state and Commonwealth governments. In the twelve years to 1983 WMC and its partners (then including Esso) spent a total of $35 million preparing to develop Yeelirrie as an open cut mine, including building and operating the pilot metallurgical plant at Kalgoorlie. A $320 million project was envisaged and sales contracts were being planned. However, the 1983 federal election and implementation of the ALP "three mines policy" meant that permission to negotiate sales contracts was withdrawn in March 1983. Plans were then abandoned, and WMC's attention focussed on developing Olympic Dam. A new state Labor government was elected in 2002 with an ideological anti-uranium stance. Pursuant to this, the 1978 state mining agreement for Yeelirrie was revoked in March 2004. However, WMC Resources retained the mining tenements and awaited future opportunities after undertaking rehabilitation of the site by the end of 2004. In 2005 ownership passed toBHP Billiton Ltd. Mulga Rock, WA The Mulga Rock polymetallic deposit 250 km north east of Kalgoorlie was discovered by PNC Exploration in 1979. It comprises Ambassador, Emperor and Shogun deposits, the first being some 20 km from the others and the three covering some 7 square kilometres. Mineralisation consists principally of uranium, scandium, nickel and cobalt in lignite within a sedimentary basin, with uranium apparently comprising half or less of the recoverable value of minerals. In particular the orebodies are a major scandium resource. Ore thickness is 0.5 to 5 metres at depths of 35 - 45 m. PNC evaluated only the uranium content and identified an estimated resource of 46,000 t U3O8at 0.095% U grade. The deposits were acquired by Eaglefield Holdings Pty Ltd in 2000, associated with Narnoo Mining. It undertook a preliminary feasibility study on the Ambassador deposit, which indicated that an open pit producing four metals including 200 tpa Sc oxide over ten years should be viable. The other two deposits should double mine life. Metallurgical studies show high recoveries of uranium and scandium using acid leach and solvent extraction. Progress has slowed due to state government policies relating to uranium mining. In 2005Bullion Minerals Ltdattempted to acquire the project. In 2006 it passed to Energy & Minerals Australia Ltd when it acquired Narnoo Mining and early in 2008 in a prospectus the resource was quoted as 46,500 t U3O8at 0.11% grade. Manyingee, WA This deposit was discovered in 1974 in the northern part of the Carnarvon Basin, 85 km south of Onslow in Western Australia. It occurs in sandstones and siltstones at a depth of 60-110 metres, and seven mineralised rollfronts extend over 7 km but one third of the deposit occurs in 1.5 km2. The orebodies contain a total indicated and inferred resource of 7860 tonnes of U3O8in 0.12% ore, with potential for 9500 tonnes. Two pumping tests and one five-spot in situ leaching test have been run to evaluate whether the ore is amenable to in situ leaching and whether the leach solutions can be confined. Subsequent monitoring has confirmed that there is no environmental contamination from these tests. Development was suspended due to federal Labor Government policy on uranium. The project is covered by three mining leases granted in 1989. Following the transfer of Total's worldwide uranium assets to Cogema in 1993, the deposit became owned 92.3% by Afmeco Mining and Exploration Pty Ltd (AFMEX), a subsidiary of Cogema Australia, in joint venture with Urangesellschaft Australia Pty Ltd (7.7%). They sold the deposit to a wholly-owned subsidiary ofPaladin Resourcesin 1998 for A$ 3.25 million plus 1% royalty, which in 1999 was renegotiated to $1 million plus $0.75 million on project approval plus increased but capped royalties. Paladin had hoped to bring the deposit into production in about 2005, but has concentrated on its African prospects while WA government policies precluded uranium development. Oobagooma, WA This deposit occurs in a zone averaging 2 metres thick in sandstone, 75 kilometres northeast of Derby in Western Australia. The deposit was held owned by Afmeco Mining and Exploration Pty Ltd (AFMEX), a subsidiary of Cogema Australia, but was sold to a wholly-owned subsidiary ofPaladin Resourcesin 1998 for A$ 0.9 million plus 1% royalty. It is held under two exploration licence applications. The inferred resource potential is quoted as 8000 to 12 000 tonnes of uranium oxide at 0.1- 0.15% U3O8, and AFMEX had calculated a geological resource of 9950 tonnes with cut off of 0.035%. In situ leaching appears to be the most likely method of extraction and some pump test work has been done. Lake Way & Centipede, WA The Lake Way deposit, close to Wiluna, 750 kilometres north east of Perth in Western Australia, was discovered in 1972. Delhi International Oil Corporation (53.5%) and Vam Ltd (46.5%) were joint venturers initially, but Asarco Australia Ltd bought out its partner and in May 1994 became Wiluna Mines Ltd, whose main focus is on gold. Lake Way is a very shallow low-grade sedimentary deposit in calcrete and clays. It averages 1.5 metre thick but ranges up to 5 metres below the surface. It was to have been mined by four or more pits over some 9 square kilometres. Some 5.76 million tonnes of 0.087% U3O8ore was identified by 1981, though later reserves were quoted as 3.77 million tonnes of 0.096% ore. The larger tonnage was expected to yield 4000 tonnes of uranium oxide concentrate. Plans were abandoned in 1983. In 2005 Nova Energy Ltd held the title and quoted a resource of 4600 t U3O8at 0.054%. The smaller Centipede calcrete deposit is 12 km south of the Lake Way deposit, but is higher grade. It consists of two or three lenses of 1 to 5 m thick mineralisation containing carnotite through the carbonate matrix of a chemical delta where a 30 km drainage system enters Lake Way. Acclaim Uranium held the deposit in the 1990s and reported 2257 t U3O8resources. Nova Energy Ltd quoted 4440 t U3O8resources at 0.063% for it in 2006. Toro Energy(which merged with Nova) is undertaking feasibility studies for 750 t/yr production of U3O8with low-cost open cut mining of both deposits and using a carbonate leach plant. Lake Maitland, WA Several calcrete deposits occur at Lake Maitland, 100 km SE of Wiluna. Thee were evaluated by Carpentaria Exploration, Esso and then Acclaim Uranium in the late 1990s. The deposit underlies the northern end of Lake Maitland itself. The mineralised zone is about 6 km long and 300-600 m wide, 1.5-2.0 m below the surface and up to 2 m deep. In 2005 the deposit was owned by Redport Ltd, and in mid 2006 inferred resources were stated as 10,700 t U3O8at 0.03% with 0.01% cut off, 4759 tonnes of this "high-grade". In 2006Mega Uranium Ltdacquired Redport and early in 2008 it confirmed a NI 43-101 compliant inferred resource of 10,700 tonnes U3O8. Valhalla, Qld (Mount Isa Uranium Project) This deposit was discovered 40 km north of Mount Isa about 1954 by a prospector. MIM took it over and sunk an exploration shaft. In the 1960s it passed to Queensland Mines Ltd which drilled it extensively and held it until 1992, whenSummit Resources Ltdtook over. A drilling program in 50:50 joint venture with Valhalla Uranium Ltd has identified an JORC-compliant resource of 26,900 tonnes U3O8at 0.023% cut-off and averaging 0.077%. About 70% of the ore is above 0.064% cut-off. The mineralisation is hosted within highly altered and mineralised tuff and shale, and includes some vanadium. The deposit remains open along strike to the north and south and at depth. A full feasibility study is planned, though the state Labor government has said it will not issue any mining lease for uranium. In September 2006 Paladin Resources took over Valhalla Uranium Ltd. Indicated resources were then quoted as 16,900 t U3O8and inferred resources 9000 t. In 2007 Paladin launched a full takeover bid for Summit Resources and ended up with 81.8% of it. Areva bought a 10.5% stake in Summit. Summit also holds the Andersons, Skal, Bikini and Mirrioola deposits nearby. Westmoreland, Qld (& NT) This comprises the eastern end of a series of small prospects and deposits spread over about 50 kilometres straddling the Queensland - Northern Territory border, about 400 kilometres north of Mount Isa. Westmoreland is on the Queensland side of the border and its deposits extend over about 10 kilometres. The first uranium mineralisation was discovered here in 1956, by a prospector with a Geiger counter. Late in 1956 the Bureau of Mineral Resources flew an airborne scintillometer survey and recognised anomalies in outcrops of the Westmoreland conglomerate held by Mount Isa Mines Ltd (MIM). Further work resulted in three mining leases being pegged over the Redtree deposit in 1959. In 1967 Queensland Mines Pty Ltd obtained an exploration permit over the area surrounding the MIM-ZC leases and commenced a major drilling program which identified further Redtree deposits and the Huarabagoo deposit. In 1975 Queensland Mines formed a Joint Venture with Urangesellschaft Australia Pty Ltd, Anglo Australian Resources NL and IOL Petroleum Ltd, with the IOL share later being taken over by a CRA subsidiary. In the period 1976 to 1983 Urangesellschaft discovered the Junnagunna deposit while they were managing the Joint Venture. In 1985 Queensland Mines resumed management. In 1990 CRA Exploration Pty Ltd (now Rio Tinto Exploration P/L) entered the Queensland Mines - Urangesellschaft Joint Venture and took over the exploration work with a view to earning equity in the Joint Venture. In 1997 Rio Tinto took over the whole project (it already had a 100% interest in the original MIM-ZC mining leases at Redtree), but relinquished the leases in 2000. The main deposits comprise three mineralised pods adjacent to the Redtree Dyke and flat irregular masses further from it. Grades are 0.1-0.2% and 0.04-0.15% U3O8respectively, with associated gold. The total inferred resource for Redtree, Huarabagoo and Junnagunna was about 22,000 tonnes contained U3O8. Three other prospects contain further small known resources. The "copper/gold/uranium" leases were apparently taken up by Tackle Resources after Rio Tinto relinquished them and in August 2004 the rights were bought by Canadian companyLaramide ResourcesLtd for US$ 150,000 plus some Laramide shares. In 2006 Laramide announced that 7000 t of the resource had been upgraded to indicated resources in line with Canadian NI 43-101 standard. A major drilling program continues and will form the basis of a feasibility study. Ben Lomond, Qld This deposit, some 50 kilometres west of Townsville, was discovered in 1975 by Total Mining Australia Pty Ltd. Mining leases were granted in 1980 and 1983. In 1994, following the transfer of Total's worldwide uranium assets to Cogema, the company changed its name to Afmeco Mining and Exploration Pty Ltd (AFMEX), which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cogema Australia Pty Ltd. In July 1997 AFMEX agreed to sell the deposit to Anaconda Uranium Corporation of Canada for A$ 3 million plus 1% royalty, but due to state government policies Anaconda walked away from the deal after an initial payment. The deposit reverted to AFMEX. A resource of about 6800 tonnes U3O8with an average grade of 0.228% U3O8and 4578 tonnes of molybdenum at an average grade of 0.149% has been delineated. A 1982 feasibility study proposed recovery of 4760 tonnes U3O8from 0.246% ore. Proposed mining of the deposit was to be primarily open cut, but with about one third of the orebody being underground mined, and with annual production of 500 tonnes of uranium oxide and 250 tonnes of molybdenum. The 1984 Environmental Impact Study was accepted by state and federal authorities, and a water monitoring program is continuing. Development was suspended due to both federal and state Labor Government policy on uranium. Anaconda intended to prepare a new feasibility study on the project based on "a more economic and environmentally friendly method of extracting the uranium", and to update environmental studies. The small Maureen deposit, 300 km inland, was to provide "operating synergy", and joint production facilities were envisaged. AFMEX prepared a revised Plan of Operations covering the final rehabilitation of the site. This plan was to be implemented once all regulatory approval had been obtained, but in 2005 the deposit was sold for $1 million to Uranium Mineral Ventures Inc, a subsidiary of Maple Minerals Corp of Canada. In January 2005Mega Uranium Ltdagreed to acquire 100% of UMV and in February 2006 the Queensland government approved transfer of the leases to UMV. In early 2008 NI 43-101 compliant indicated resources of 3600 t U3O8at 0.27% and inferred resources of 1250t at 0.21% were quoted by Mega. Maureen, Qld The small Maureen uranium deposit near Georgetown in north Queensland was bought in July 1997 by Anaconda Uranium Corporation for $325,000 plus royalties, but in 1998 reverted to its previous private owners. Measured and indicated resources are almost 3000 tonnes of U3O8grading 0.123% with 0.07% molybdenum as wll as fluorite and accessible by open pit. Some $8 million was spent on the deposit in the 1970s. In 2005 the deposit was owned by Georgetown Mining Ltd and in August 2005Mega Uranium Ltdacquired the rights to the deposit and surrounding mineralised areas. For further informationor Return to Index URANIUM INFORMATION CENTRE Ltd. A.B.N. 30 005 503 828 GPO Box 1649, Melbourne 3001, Australia phone (03) 9629 7744 fax (03) 9629 7207 Copyright © 2000 UIC. - All rights reserved. URL - http://www.uic.com.au ____________________________________ *** Simple UltraSlim *** Real Flat Television * Your Info has been send to your Friend. Thank You. PS 52UV60 Download: Manual Book|Driver Print Features Send to Friend Brochure FEATURES * 21" Real Flat TV * XBR (Extended Bass Radiator) * DIVA (Digital Intelligent Video Aplifier) Engine * Super Sensitive Receiver * Built in FM Radio with 100 Program Memory * AV Stereo * Surround Sound * Music Mode * Picture Improvement * Picture Noise Reduction * Auto Volume Level * Field Strenght Meter * Dual AV Input * DVD Input * AV Output * Bass, Treble & Balance Control * CATV Cable Ready * 200 Program Memory * Sleep Timer On/Off Timer * Auto Standby BROCHURE Usaha batik nih... Karya Seni Batik Modern Batik Modern Karya Karsino Oleh Fajar Dinar Bentuk seni bertebaran di muka bumi Nusantara yang luas ini. Salah satu di antaranya adalah seni batik. Ada seni batik tradisional, dan ada pula kini dikenal seni batik modern yang dikerjakan oleh mesin, sedangkan batik tradisional dikerjakan oleh tangan dengan peralatan yang sederhana. Seorang pemuda yang bertempat tinggal di dekat pantai berhasil menciptakan seni batik modern. Hasil ciptaannya tersebut ternyata banyak diminati bahkan para turis pun banyak yang membeli. Makin lama produksi batik di kampung tersebut semakin dikenal dan berhasil menarik keuntungan yang cukup besar. Keberhasilan Taruna Karya yang dipimpin oleh Tugino telah mewujudkan amal nyata. Salah satu di antaranya adalah mereka telah membangun perpustakaan desa untuk meningkatkan minat baca masyarakat setempat. Hal tersebut sesuai dengan anjuran pemerintah. Selain itu, mereka menjadi pelopor kebersihan untuk memerangi sampah sekaligus membudidayakan kesehatan bagi warga kampung. Simak deh cerita-cerita yang ada di dalam buku ini. MTC Bandung 2008.