Uranium resources and reserves in egypt

Hassan Z. Harraz
hharraz2006@yahoo.com
2017- 2018

Outline of Topic:
 CATEGORIES OF URANIUM DEPOSITS
 URANIUM ORE MINERALS
 URANIUM DEPOSITS IN EGYPT
❖ Introduction
❖ Uranium Occurrence in the Egypt
❖ Types of Uranium Deposits in Egypt:
➢ Uranium Occurrences in Pan-African
Younger Granites of Egypt
➢Uranium Occurrences in Dykes
➢Uranium Occurrences in Sedimentary
Rock Sequences of Egypt
❖ Conventional- , and Nonconventional types
2

Introduction
Uranium - Thorium Exploration activity started in Egypt as early as
1956.
Geophysical, radiometric and geologic exploration resulted in the
discovery of many radioactive anomalies sporadically distributed in
different geologic environments in different parts of the country
3

Localities of Resources and Reserves of
Radioactive Raw Materials in Egypt
4

URANIUM-BEARING DEPOSITS IN EGYPT
The uranium-bearing deposits of Egypt can be described as follows:
1) In Pan-African Younger Granites (e.g., Gabal Gattar, Wadi
Araba; EI-Maghrabiya (El Erediya and El Missikat); Um Ara; Abu
Rusheid; Nugrus; Sikait; Sella).
2) In Dyke of Felsites and Bostonites (e.g., El Atshan area).
3) In Shales, Sandstones, and the Carbonaceous Sediments
(e.g., Wadi Araba, Abu Zeneima, Um Kharit, Gabal Qatrani,
Gabal Hafhuf (Bahariya Oasis))
4) In Phosphate Deposits (e.g., Abu Tartour, Hamarwain, Mahamid).
5) In Black Sands (in the Mediterranean coast of Egypt from Rashid to
Rafah city).
6) In Sabkha deposits (e.g., in Sitra, Nuweirnicya, Bahrein and El
Arag lakes in the Western Desert).
7) In Siltstone of Hammamat deposits (e.g., Um Tawat, Wadi EI-
Kareim in the Eastern Desert).
5

Location map showing the
uranium occurrences in Egypt
6

URANIUM RESOURCES AND RESERVES IN EGYPT
Resources and reserves of radioactive raw Materials in
Egypt include some:
1) Uranium Occurrences in Sedimentary
Rocks
2) Uranium Occurrences in Dykes
3) Uranium Occurrences in Pan-African
Younger Granites (YG)
➢discovered at some localities in the Eastern Desert, Sinai, and Western Desert.
1) Conventional- types,
and
2) Nonconventional
types
 Most of Egyptian uranium occurrences containing Low Grade Uranium Ores which can extracted by
Heap Leaching Techniques.

URANIUM RESOURCES AND RESERVES IN EGYPT
➢Uranium and/or Thorium include:
I) Replacement Fissure Zones;
A) in Younger Granitic rocks:
❖Essentially U with subordinate Th
(Example G. Gattar, Eradia and Missikat,
Um Ära).
❖Essentially Th with subordinate U
(Example: Abu Garadi and Um Safi felsite).
B) In alkaline dykes and sills (Bostonite
dykes) and contact planes with
Volcanogenic-Metasedimentary rocks
(Example: Atshan area).
II) Occurrences in Paleozoic Rocks
❖Occurrences in Carboniferous
sedimentary rocks associated with Cu and
Mn deposits. (Example: Abu Zenima Area –
West Central Sinai).
1) Conventional-Type
The nonconventional
uraniferous occurrences
in Egypt include:
i) Marine Phosphorites of
cretaceous age
ii) Beach Placers of the
Black Sand
concentrations along
the Mediterranean of
Recent age.
iii) Carbonaceous shales,
clays and phosphatized
sandstones of
Oligocène age at
Qatrani area-Western
Desert.
2) Non-Conventional-Type

Uranium Resources and Reserves in Egypt
9
Type Age Area
CONVENTIONALTYPES
Replacement
fissure zones
in Post-
Orogenic
granitic
magmatism
(Vein-type
uranium)
Pan-African
Eastern
Desert
➢ Wadi Araba
➢ EI-Maghrabiya (El
Erediya and El
Missikat)
➢ Um Ara
➢ Abu Rusheid
➢ Nugrus
➢ Sikait
➢ Gabal Gattar
➢ Sella.
in Felsites and
Bostonite
dykes
El Atshan area
Occurrences
in Paleozoic
Rocks
Uranium
mineralization
in a Karst
environment in
Carboniferous
dolomites
Carboniferous
West
Central
Sinai
Peninsula
Abu Zeneima
NONCONVENTIONALTYPES
Marine Phosphorites
Upper
Cretaceous
(Campanian-
Maastrichtian)
1) Red Sea Coast: Qusseir‐Safaga
Region, the Eastern Desert along the
Red Sea Coast;
2) Nile Valley Region: Idfu‐Qena
Region, and
3) New Valley in the Western Desert:
Kharga‐Dakhla Region including Abu
Tartur plateau .
Uranium in
Carbonaceous
Sediments
Oligocene
Western
Desert
➢ Gabal Qatrani
➢ Gabal Hafhuf
(Bahariya Oasis)
Sabkha deposits
Recent
➢ Sitra Lake
➢ Nuweirnicya lake
➢ Bahrein lake
➢ El Arag lake
Beach Placers of the
Black Sand
Northern
Egypt
Mediterranean coast
of Egypt (from
Rashid to Rafah
city).

1) Uranium Occurrences in Sedimentary Rock Sequences
 Radioactive anomalies discovered in the Younger Sedimentary cover are represented by
anomalies in Carboniferous rocks, in Cretaceous rocks, in Oligocène rocks and in
Recent deposits.
a) In Carboniferous rocks (part of Um Bogma Formation), Uranium anomalies are
restricted to Central Sinai and its economic potentiality is not yet assessed. Uranium
mineralization is also delineated in a karst environment in Carboniferous dolomites (i.e., Surfacial
type U-deposit in sedimentary rocks) at Abu Zeneima.
b) Anomalies in Cretaceous black shales, and in phosphorite deposits. Cretaceous rocks are
related to the exposed section containing phosphates and phosphatic rocks
occurring along the Red Sea (between Quseir and Safaga), along the River Nile
(between Idfu and Qena) and in the Western Desert (Oases).
 Phosphates and phosphatic rocks represent a substantial uranium resource in
Egypt.
c) Anomalies in Oligocene Shales and Sandstones are restricted to the northern part of
the Western Desert. The economic potentiality of this type depends largely on the
development of appropriate flowsheet for extraction of uranium particularly, if we kept in
mind that there is no other by-product that will come out with uranium.
✓ It was also discovered in the Oligocene sandstones and associated rocks at Gabal
Qatrani, where uranium of up to 0.3% U3O8, is concentrated in the intersitital spaces
between sand grains (Said, 1962).
d) The Recent deposits are represented by the vast resource of Black Sands containing
monazites spreading over along the Mediterranean coast. The economic potentiality of
this commodity is viewed in terms of appropriate marketing of the different products
coming out of this sand (rutile, zircon, ilmenite, magnetite, ... etc), and the industrialization
of large tonnage of monazite-rich concentrate.
10

2) Uranium Occurrences in Dykes
 Another favorable geologic environment for uranium is delineated in the Central part of
the Eastern Desert where the host rock is alkaline sills and dykes of Bostonites.
 Among the most important localities, mention is made to that of El Atshan, Wadi Gir, Owershy,
Nasb El Qash, Farkha Wadi Kareim, Urn Shaghir, Urn Huyut, Kab El Abiad, Wadi Rahia, and Kab El
Warrada.
 The most important of these is the occurrence described at Atshan where secondary uranium
mineralization at the surface promoted detailed geologic work, diamond drilling and mining
works.
 The locality of El Atshan is some 40 km Southwest of Qusseir and the rocks of the area include a
thick succession of géosynclinal metasediments intruded by bostonite sills and dykes.
➢ Uranium is epiqenized in the form of El Atshan area (probably amorphous Clarkeite
{Na0.7Pb0.1Ca0.1(UO2)0.9O0.9(OH)1.1•0.1(H2O)} and secondary alteration minerals
particularly along joint planes and along contact with the enclosing metasedimentary
rocks.
➢ Although this type of occurrence is repeated in several places, it represents only
small-sized prospects of subeconomic potential.
11

• Granitic rocks are known to have much higher U contents than
other common rock types.
• Several U deposits occur within or near the peripheries of some
granitic plutons in the Eastern Desert of Egypt (e.g. Gabel Gattar
and Gabel EI-Erediya).
• The mineralogical composition of these deposits is dominated by
secondary U minerals.
• Yellow- coloured secondary U mineralization is found
impregnating the fractured albitized and alkali-feldspar granites.
• They occur as stains along the fracture surfaces and as acicular
crystals filling cavities.
• Ibrahim (1986) and Abdel Meguid (1986) ascribed the high
radioactivity of the Um Are area, south Eastern Desert, to the
presence of uraninite and uranophane disseminated along the
fractures crossing the host granitic rocks.
12

3) Uranium Occurrences in Pan-African Younger Granites (YG) of Egypt
 Uranium - Thorium Exploration activities led to the discovery of several uranium anomalies and occurrences, especially in the Younger
Granites (YG) as vein-type uranium associated with Post-Orogenic granitic magmatism of Pan-African age at EI-Maghrabiya (El
Erediya and El Missikat), Um Ara, Nugrus area, and Gabal Gattar.
 In almost all of these occurrences, the U-mineralization is structurally controlled with preferable development at the marginal zones of the
enclosing granites or associated with wide scale alteration features. But, the question is why some Egyptian younger granitic
masses do not show any valuable U-anomalies, in spite of the presence of fracturing and large scale alteration.
 Thus, not only secondary processes (as fracturing or alteration) but also the magmatic processes may represent the main factors
controlling U-distribution. In other words, the composition of magma may introduce U-poor or U-rich granites. Alteration and fracturing of
U-rich granites help meteoric water and hydrothermal solutions to liberate labile uranium and precipitate their loads along microfractures,
joints and fault planes.
 The uranium mineralization related to granite masses, where it occurs either as disseminations in the autometasomatically altered
parts (Greisens and Albitites), or where it forms veinlets and stringers across granite masses (Hussein et al., 1986).
 Several plutons of these Younger Granites in the Eastern Desert, host a variety of rare metal mineralization including uranium:
i) The Gattar granite pluton, at the northern-part on the Eastern Desert, hosts vein-type uranium mineralization associated with
molybdenite. Uranium mineralization are elongated generally in the direction of the main fracture zone and occur along micro-fracture
surfaces, and coating cavities and vugs as thin films and fine clots. U-minerals are always found in association with black fluorite, and
iron oxides and manganese oxides. The uranium mineralization: is represented essentially by visible secondary uranium minerals :
uranophane and soddyite with finely disseminated sooty pitchblende. Some of these anomalies are associated with lemon yellow
secondary uranium minerals (probably uranophane) and fluorite with deep violet -to black-colour. Gangue: are mainly iron and
manganese oxides and fluorite, with minor amounts from sulphides(pyrite, chalcopyrite, galena, sphalerite and molybdenite).
ii) Two Younger Granite plutons: namely El Missikat and El Erediya (El Maghrabiya area), in the central part of the Eastern Desert,
host siliceous vein-type uranium mineralization, which is structurally controlled by faults and their leather joints associated with NE and
NNE trending shear zones. The granitic rocks of Gabal El-Missikat pluton are essentially composed of potash feldspars, plagioclase
and quartz, with subordinate biotite. Zircon, sphene, apatite and magnetite are present as accessory minerals. These anomalies occur
as disconnected lensoidal shapes with limited dimensions, where all these anomalies are structurally controlled. It connected with
jasperoid silica and strong alteration represented by silicification, sericitization, hematitization and kaolinization. The uranium
mineralization is mainly associated with smoky and/or red jasperoid siliceous materials in reactivated shear fractures (M-I, M-II and M-
III) crossing the orthoclase granites in NE-SW to ENE-WSW directions and dipping steeply toward SE.
iii) At the Gabal Kab Ameri, in the central part of the Eastern Desert.
iv) At the southern part of the Eastern Desert, Um Ara granite hosts uranium as disseminated unconformity contact type.
 The estimation of the uranium potentiality of the four younger granite plutons is 14000 tons uranium as speculative resources.
13

Uranium Ore Minerals in YG
 Granitic rocks which is the most predominant-type comprising the Pan-African is found to be the most
favorable host of radioactive anomalies, some of these anomalies are found to be either uranium-bearing
or thorium-bearing depending upon the predominance of uranium or thorium minerals.
 The most ubiquitous radioactive minerals include
❖ Uraninite (crystalline UO2-2.6);
❖ Pitchblende (amorphous UO2-2.6),
❖ Uranothorite {(Th,U)SiO4},
❖ Thorite {Th(SiO4)},
❖ Thorianite (ThO2),
❖ Xenotime {Y(PO4)},
❖ Monazite {Ce0.5La0.25Nd0.2Th0.05(PO4)},
❖ Zircon
 and a suite of secondary uranium minerals, the most common of which are
❖ Uranophane (CaO. 2UO2 . 2SiO2 . 6H2O),
❖ Autunite {Ca(UO2)2 (PO4)2 • 10H2O},
❖ Soddyite {(UO2)2(SiO4)•2(H2O)},
❖ Clarkeite {Na0.7Pb0.1Ca0.1(UO2)0.9O0.9(OH)1.1•0.1(H2O)})
20

I) REPLACEMENT FISSURE ZONES
Several zones having radioactivity of above normal
values were located in several places in the Eastern
Desert.
These radioactive zones are not restricted to one type of
a host rock nor restricted to specific strike direction.
Some of these areas are known to contain discrete
uranium and/or thorium minerals, while some others
with no identified minerals, but with higher
radioactivity which is in a number of instances has been
attributed to :
❖the presence of accessory zircon, monazite, ..etc; or
❖the absorption of uranium ions on hematite during
hematitization which is a common postmagmatic
alteration feature in all of these fissure zones.
22

Table 2. Characteristics of Radioactive Occurrences Genetically Related to I-Type Granites
23

Table 3. Characteristics of Radioactive Occurrences Genetically Related to S-Type Granites
Area
Feature
Abu Garadi Urn Safi Wadi El Gemal
Country rock Metamorphosed volcano
sedimentary rocks.
Metamorphosed
volcano sedimentary
rocks.
metamorphosed basic
volcanic rocks.
Acid magmatism Granite Felsite Psammitic gneiss
Primary minerals Uranothorite
xenotirae
columbite
zircon
Thorianite
Thorite
Uraninite
Uranothorite
xenotime
columbite
zircon
Uranothorite
columbite
zircon
Secondary
minerals
Uranophane Clarkeite,
autunite, soddyite,
delorenzite.
Kasolite ?
Structural control Contact between granite
and metamorphosed
country rocks
Along NW-SE, ENE-WSW
trending faults.
ENE-WSW trendinq
zones in felsite.
ENE-WSW in
metasomatically
Altered psammitic
gneiss.
References Khawasik, 1968
Attawiya, 1978
El Ghawaby, 1966 Hassan, 1964
24

II) OCCURRENCES IN PALEOZOIC ROCKS
In Carboniferous rocks (part of Um Bogma Formation), Uranium
anomalies are restricted to Central Sinai and its economic
potentiality is not yet assessed.
In many localities within Abu Zenima district, uraniferous zones are found
associated with the Middle Carboniferous Unit of the Um Bogma Formation.
Uranium mineralization is also delineated in a karst environment in
Carboniferous dolomites (i.e., Surfacial type U-deposit in sedimentary rocks)
at Abu Zeneima.
A more recent discovery of prospective area of anomalous zones with
secondary uranium minerals is stratigraphically related to the Carboniferous
and lithologically controlled by a succession of sandstones, claystones and
silty beds.
This occurrence is repeated in a number of places around Abu Zenima
(Central Sinai).
This occurrence is represented by dispersed secondary minerals in siltstone,
shale and sandstone constituting the Lower Carboniferous sequence.
Primary minerals identified include xenotime, zircon, monazite
Secondary minerals: identified include zippeite, metatorbernile,
metaautunite, metazuenerite. carnotite, Rb-earnotite, uranophane and
uvanite.
25

Uranium deposits in Sinai
Uranium mineralization in west central Sinai occurs as
secondary uranium minerals (Dabbour and Mahdy, 1988)
hosted in Lower Carboniferous rocks (Um Bogma
Formation).
In many localities within Abu Zenima district, uraniferous
zones are found associated with the Middle unit of the Um
Bogma Formation.
Trace amounts of uranium are known to be associated
with carbonaceous Jurassic sedimentary rocks in the
Maghara area of the Platform Province and with
manganese are deposits east of Abu Zenima and Abu
Rudeis.
Small concentrations of uranium in sandstone in close
association with igneous intrusive and high-grade
metamorphic rocks, particularly in the vicinity of
manganese-iron mineralization.
26

Egyptian Ore Deposits 27
Shallow
Open
Marine
Pink colour, Sandy Dolostone -
Marl Dolostone
Mn-Fe ore
Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks
i) Middle Carbonate Unit (Um Bogma
Formation, 0 – 41 m, Lower
Carboniferous Visean):
▪ This is represented by dolomite and
limestone rocks and are covered
conformably the lower sandstone unit.
▪ Four members are differentiated from
base to top:
➢Dolomite Member.
➢Marly dolomite and Silt member,
➢Silt-Shale member,
➢ Dolomite and Manganese-
bearing member,
Lower Sandstone Unit
(Cambo-Ordovician to
Devonian)
ii) Upper Sandstone Unit (Abu
Thora Formation, 30 – 200 m;
Lower Carboniferous Visean):
➢ represented by medium to coarse
grained sandstone.
➢ Some beds are almost Snow-white,.
Friable Sands With Three Kaolinitic
Claystone Layers (~80 Million Tons)Kaolinitic Claystone Layers
Medium to Coarse Grained
Sandstone
Glass Sand Member
Um
Bogma
Abu
Thora
Carboniferous
Fluviatile
,
Swampy
To
Coastal
Marine
Adedia
U-Deposits

i) Marine Phosphorites:
The Egyptian phosphate deposits {occurring along the Red Sea coast between Safaga and Qusseir, along
the Nile Valley between Idfu and Qena, and in the Dakhla, and Kharga Oases} are considered with their huge
reserve as a potential submarginal resource of uranium.
29
Oil Shale

In the western
parts, Phosphate
are enriched by:
Glauconitic
Sand- and
Siltstones
In the eastern
parts,
phosphate
lithofacies are
enriched by
limestones,
cherts,
Black Shale,
highly
bituminous
shales.

i) Marine Phosphorites:
Marine phosphorites represent potential resources for
uranium.
The total estimated reserve and potential reserve of
phosphatic rocks in Egypt amounts approximately to 2.5
billion tons.
Assuming an average of 100 gm U3O8/ton, the above reserve
contains as much as 250,000 tons U3O8 (Sayyah and El Shatoury, 1991) .
❖Potential resource of about 250,000 tons U3O8 at
less.
➢The uranium content of phosphate rocks generally
increases with the increase of phosphorous content, but
deposits rich in phosphate does not necessarily imply they
are richest in uranium.
➢Also, the uranium content of phosphate rocks decreases
with weathering due to leaching of uranium sometimes
with the development of secondary enriched zones.
31

 Uranium content in
phosphoric acid is proportional
to its content in the phosphate
ore.
 However, Concentrations
above 80 ppm U, is viable as
commercial by-product.
Distribution of Uranium in some Egyptian phosphorites
32
Locality
phosphorites
(million tons )
P2O5-content
(million tons )
U-content
(Tons)
Red Sea 72 16.7 7,000
Nile Valley 225 55.8 22,500
Western Desert 700 156 21,000
The phosphate resources and uranium content in
the different localities of phosphatic rocks in Egypt
22,500

The average uranium content of various phosphatic rocks in Egypt
Area Locality U (ppm) Reference
Red Sea
Quseir
85 Davidson & Atkin (1953)
67 Abdou (2002)
Um El-Hweitat 49 Shahata et al (2004)
Wasif 84 Shahata (2005)
Safaga
102 Davidson &Atkin (1953)
131 Abdou (2002)
Hamrawin
94 Hassan & El-Kammar (1975)
55.2 Abdou (2002)
Abu Shegiala 35 Ahmed (1986)
Nile Valley
Oweinia 143 Hassan& El-Kammar (1975)
Mahamid East
98 Germann et al (1987)
116.5 Abdou (2002)
Mahamid West
67 Hassan & El-Kammar (1975)
62.6 Abdou (2002)
Sibaiya East 94 Hussein (1954)
East Luxor 114 Salman (1974)
Wadi Higaza 69 El-Aassy (1977)
Western Desert
Kharga Oasis
20 Zaghloul & Abdel Aziz(1961)
32 Zaghloul & Mabrouk (1964)
Abu Tartur
20 El-Mahrooky (1992)
33 El-Kammar&El-Reedy (1984)
24.7 Abdou (2002)
Sinai
East El Qaa
SouthWeast Sinai
88 El-Aassy (1992)
38 Shahata et al (2001)
33

Concerning the trace elements, the
Egyptian phosphorites in general
exhibit the typical enrichment of
Cd, U, As, Y, REE, Sr and Mn, as
compared with an average marine
shale (Altschuler 1980).
On the other hand, with the
exception of Zr, Sr, Sc and Ba, their
trace element concentration is
slightly lower than that of an
average marine phosphorite.
The concentration level of
lanthanoids (Ln, La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu,
Tb, Yb, Lu) in Egyptian phosphorites
is raised by a factor of up to 5
compared with an "average shale".
With a mean of 390 ppm, the Ln
contents, however, are highly
variable between the three facies
types.
With 690 ppm, the average
concentration level is highest in the
Abu Tartur phosphates, and may
prove there to be of economic
value.
34Egyptian Ore Deposits

Reasons for Trace elements Enrichments in Egyptian Phosphorite Deposits
The following can be considered as eligible reasons for trace elements
enrichments:
1) They are permeable horizons bound in many cases by impermeable sediments.
2) Compaction and transformation of underlying or overlying shale produce large mass of water
(trace elements-rich).
3) The complex structure of the carbonate-fluorapatite (francolite) allows substitution in different
sites including Ca2+, PO4
3+, CO3
2+, OH- and F-.
4) Although “francolite” is the only major phosphate mineral in phosphorites, many other
minerals and solid states of “uncommon” phosphate may occur in minor concentrations.
5) They are rich in organic matter resulting from decay of collagen and soft tissues, giving rise
to strong anaerobic bacterial activity.
6) Present bituminous shales (or Oil shales) are an ideal material to trap trace elements because
they show a relatively simple and homogenous mineralogical composition, including phyllosilicates,
sulfides and organic matter (OM).
7) Duwi and Dakhla formations in Egypt are described as heavy metals-rich at economic potential level.
8) Both of Duwi and Dakhla formations are deposited in marine and continental settings under reducing
conditions. Redox-sensitive element s (e.g., U, Ln, V, Cd, Zn, Mo, Cr and Se) are often enriched in
these sediments. When organic-rich sediments are exposed to oxygen, they undergo dramatic
changes. Pyrite breaks down into iron oxyhydroxides upon weathering, releasing organic and
inorganic acids to the environment. Organic matter combustion into carbon dioxide and/or released
as dissolve d or particulate organic matter. Redox-sensitive metals are mobilized a s soluble higher
oxidation state in the ground water, (sometimes at potentially toxic limits).
36Egyptian Ore Deposits

ii) Beach Placers of the Black Sand
The Recent deposits are represented by the vast resource of Black
Sands containing monazites monazite besides magnetite, ilmenite, zircon,
rutile and garnet are present along the Mediterranean Coast.
Concentration plants for the separation of various minerals and required
treatments to prepare acceptable shipments in the world market will promote
benefication of monazite in making utilization of the extracted U, Th and the
rare earths (REEs).
The economic potentiality of black sands with respect to U and Th content must
be viewed in terms of industrialization of the whole products coming out from
black sands.
The economic potentiality of this commodity is viewed in terms of
appropriate marketing of the different products coming out of this sand
(rutile, zircon, ilmenite, magnetite, ... etc), and the industrialization of large
tonnage of monazite-rich concentrate.
Nevertheless, the estimated reserve of heavy Minerals amounts to over 30
million tons in the top meter and over 600 million tons with 27% heavy minerals
to a depth of 20 meters in the area of Damietta East, Rosetta East and Nest.
Some other 42.6 million tons grading about 9% heavy Minerals are proved to a
depth of 20 meters east and west of the Rosetta mouth of the Nile.
Possible annual production of some 50 tons U3O8
37

iii) Carbonaceous shales
Anomalies in Oligocene Shales are restricted
to of Qatrani area in the northern part of the
Western Desert.
The Oligocène carbonaceous shale of Qatrani area
is uraniferous.
The range of uranium content is from 0.003 to
0.065% with an average estimated by Pejatovic
(1968) as 0.01 percent.
The uraniferous bed extends below basaltic sheet
for a distance of about 15 km with thickness
varying between 0.1 and 1.0 m and averages 0.4 m.
Anomalous zone with some 1,200 tons of ore.
38

RESERVES AND RESOURCES
Egypt's reserves and resources of the fissionable raw materials include the
outlined conventional type uranium mineralizations discovered mainly at
the localities of G. Gattar, Eradia and Missikat, Atshan, Abu Garadi, Urn Safi
and Um Ära in the Eastern Desert and, the newly discovered occurrence in
Central Sinai, as well as the nonconventional resources included in the
marine phosphorites, carbonaceous shale and black sands.
The marine phosphorites represent potential ore resource for uranium.
The economics of extraction of uranium from phosphatic ores are viewed
in connection with the industrialization to triple superphosphate fertilizers
and phosphoric acid.
The phosphate deposits of Egypt occur in the Campanian- Maestrichtian
age (Cretaceous) in horizons of different thickness and P2O5 content along
the Red Sea coast, Nile Valley, and Oasis.
The total estimated reserve and potential reserve of Egypt amounts
approximately to 2.5 billion tons distributed as follows:
39
Red Sea area 200-250 million tons
Nile Valley area
❖ Mahamid 237 million tons
❖ East & North Mahamid 1.1 billion tons
❖ Wadi Seraya, Abu Had
and Wadi Hamama
400 million tons
Western Desert
❖ Dakhla and Kharga oases
700 million tons

RESERVES AND RESOURCES
 Assuming an average of 100 gm U3O8/tons, the above reserve contains as much as 250,000 tons U3O8.
 This amount, however, may be reduced by a factor of two depending upon the percent recovery and
variation in the uranium content in phosphorites in different areas.
 The uraniferous carbonaceous shales and clay of Qatrani area. Western Desert extends from east to west
for a distance of about 15 km. with a thickness that varies between 0.1 and 1.0 m and average of 0.4 m.
The uranium concentration along its strike varies between 0.002 and 0.06% U3O8 with an average of
0.01% (Pejatovic, 1968) estimated a total reserve of about 1,200 tons. This area, however, should be
viewed in connection with the fact that no other product shall come out with uranium.
 The economic potentiality of the black sands with respect to its uranium and thorium content as well as
the other composing mineral constituents is reviewed in the report presented by Cameron (1966) who
advised not to rely on the beach sands as a source of uranium. The estimated reserve of the heavy
minerals amounts to over 30 million tons in the top meter and over 600 million tons of a 27% heavy
minerals to a depth of 20 m in the area of Damietta East, Rosetta East and West. Some other 42.6 million
tons were proved to a depth of 20 m. east and west of the Rosetta mouth of the Nile grading about 9%
heavy minerals (EBASCO).
 Unless industrialization of the whole products coming out from black sands, Cameron (1966) estimated
the cost of one pound of U3O8 to be in the range of $ 100-150 which is very high for the foreseable
future requirement.
 Assuming an annual production of 12,000 tons monazite (and marketing of other products) some 54
tons U3O8 can be achieved at an estimated cost of $ 15 to 30% per pound U3O8 (Cameron, 1966).
 In a more recent studies the economics of industrialization of black sands as a source of uranium is
based on a minimum annual production of 6,000 tons of monazite.
 Moreover, some 3,000 tons of ore assayed at 0.108% U are outlined from Atshan area through intensive
drilling program and some exploratory mining operations.
40

RESOURCES AND RESERVES of Fissionable Materials in Egypt
41
(1) Conventional - Types
• Fissure Zones in Granites:4 Localities with Potential shows
currently under assessment.
• Fissure Zones in alkaline dikes and sills (Bostonites).
❖Several localities with anomalous value.
❖In one area 3,000 tons of ore assayed at 0.108% U is
delineated.
❖Occurrences in Paleozoic sandstone under assessment.
(2) Nonconventional - Types
• Phosphatic Rocks (Cretaceous)
Potential resource of about 250,000 tons U3O8
• Carbonaceous Shale (Oligocène)
Anomalous zone with some 1,200 tons of ore.
• Beach Sands (Recent)
Possible annual production of some 50 tons U3O8

1) Uranium deposits of Gabal Gattar
Gabal Gattar area, as a segment of the north Eastern Desert of Egypt, is a part of the Arabian-Nubian
shield.
This area is dominantly covered with Pan-African rocks, mainly Younger Granites of late
Proterozoic age. The Gattarian granite mass forms an elongated huge granite batholith trending by
its long dimension (40 km) in a NS direction. More than 80 publications and internal reports had been
carried out on this granite mass.
The Gattar granite pluton hosts vein-type uranium mineralization associated with molybdenite.
U-mineralization in Gabal Gattar granites (northern part of the Gattarian granite batholith) is
discovering by NMA during the field season 1984/1985.
The Younger Granites of Gabal Gattar acquire their importance from hosting of uranium
mineralization in eight uraniferous occurrences namely G-l, G-ll to G-VIII.
They are characterized by visible intense secondary U-minerals with their characteristic yellow to
greenish yellow colours.
Only one occurrences (G-V) was confined to a strongly altered contact zone between the northern
border of Gabal Gattar granite and the closely adjacent Hammamat sediments of Gabal Um Tawat
along Wadi Bali. The locations and distributions of the recorded uraniferous sectors are structurally
controlled by the NNE, NS and ENE major fracture systems and shear zones (i.e., Unconformity-
related deposit Types).
Nearly all the recorded U-mineralized sectors are found to be associated with strongly deformed and
deeply hematitized granite zones.
G-l, G-II, G-V and G-VI represent the most significant and more promising uraniferous occurrences.
The visible secondary U-minerals are encountered filling large and feather fractures with thickness
ranging from a few mm to a~8 mm. They are always accompanied with deep brown hematite and
occasionally with dark violet fluorite.
42

1) Uranium deposits of Gabal Gattar
Mineralogy
 Radiometrically, the normal granites forming Gabal Gattar are considered as an uraniferous granite type, its specific
background gamma activity range is normally exceeding than that of the normal world granites (4 ppm U and 14 ppm Th). It
has U-contents ranging from 12 to 30 ppm with an average value of 18 ppm, whereas their Th-contents are within the
normal value (15 ppm).
 The main U-minerals in Gabal Gattar U-prospect identified are given below.
 These U-minerals are occasionally associated with calcite, fluorite, hematite, and ilmenite. Biotite, zircon, wolfenite, and
chlorite. Some of these gangue minerals, especially hematite and ilmenite, play an important role in fixation of U-minerals
from its beating circulating water.
Minerals Formulae
Uraninite 2UO2
Carnotite K2O, 2UO2, 2VO4
Umohoite UO2, MoO4, 4H2O
BeCquerelite 7UO3, H2O
Masuyite UO3. H2O
Uranophane CaO, 2UO2 , 2SiO2, 6H2O
-Uranophane CaO, 2UO2, 2SiO2. 6H2O
Kasolite Pb, 2UO2, 2SiO2, 2H2O
Zippeite 2UO3, 2SiO2. 2H2O
Soddyite 3UO2, 2SiO4, OH, 5H2O
❖ The encountered U-minerals are usually associated with
dark brown hematite and occasionally with deep violet
fluorite.
❖ Fluorite is sometimes recorded without my trace of U-
minerals indicating presence of two generations of
fluorite.
❖ Primary U-minerals (uraninite) are occasionally
identified in some intensely uraniferous parts.
45

Characterization of uranium deposits in Gabal Gattar:-
 U and Th are concentrated mainly in the accessory minerals; more than 80 % of U is contained in accessory
minerals while only a maximum of 20 % U is associated with essential minerals. The secondary minerals (as
hematite, fluorite and clay minerals), which formed during post magmatic processes, concentrate much more U
than Th indicating that U enrichment is controlled mainly by post magmatic processes to a great extent.
 The highest U and Th contents are displayed by hematitized granite. Thus, a positive correlation between the
degree of hematitization and the intensity of uranium mineralization. This feature supports the hydrothermal
concept of mineralization at Gabal Gattar uranium prospect. The probable source of uranium bearing fluids
could originate be either from the granite at its late or post magmatic stage or from some deeper source
 The presence of quartz veinlets and deep violet fluorite in the mineralized granites is a supporting evidence for
hydrothermal vein type uranium mineralization.
 The hypogene enrichment in uranium in the G-l occurrence is mostly due to hydrothermal solutions rich with
uranium which affected the Gattar granite and resulted in their intense alteration and deposited their uranium in the
structural network of the rocks. A supergene source of enrichment in uranium is mainly due to the leaching of
some of the magmatic uranium from the host rocks by meteoric fluids that were drained to the fractured and
sheared zones, where they deposited their loads.
 Gattar granite was affected by strong acidic changed later to strong alkaline hydrothermal solutions. These
solutions played the most important role in the alteration of Gattar granite along shear zones. Acidic solutions with
low U, Th and Zr contents resulted in kaolinization of Gattar granite along shear zone. The acidic solutions were
changed to alkaline solutions rich in Fe, Th and U. In hematitized granite, U and Th replaced Zr especially along
zircon rims while iron oxides adsorbed most U and precipitated along fractures or coated the metamicted zircon
crystals (Dardier, 2000).
 Structurally, The Gattarian granite batholith was subjected to more than one tectonic episode printed on the rock
surfaces, by joints, faults and shear zones of various attitudes and directions. The NNE, NS, NE and ENE
directions represent the most significant fracture systems and shear zones. Along these fractures, granites are
highly sheared and extensively subjected to various deuteric and post magmatic hydrothermal alterations.
Hematitization silicification, kaolinization and epidotization are the most pronounced alteration features
encountered Fluoritization, episyenitization and carbonatization are superimposed later. Among these
alteration features, the hematitization, episyenitization of the granites and fluoritization are the most
significant ones, since they are oftenly associated with most of the recorded U-mineralized sectors.
46

REFERENCES
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Abd El-Naby, H.H. (2008). Genesis of secondary uranium minerals associated with jasperoid veins, El Erediya area, Eastern Desert, Egypt Miner Deposita 43, 933–944. DOI
10.1007/s00126-007-0171-1
Abdalla, H.M., 1996. Geochemical and mineralogical studies at Um Ara rare metals prospect, Southeastern Desert, Egypt. Ph.D. Thesis, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
Abdel Maguid, A.A., (1986): Geologic and radioactive studies of uraniferous granites in Um Ära- Um Shilman Area, Southeastern Desert, Egypt. Ph.D. Thesis (unpublished) Suez Canal
University.
Abdel Monem AA, Bakhit FS, Ali MM (1990) Trace and rare earth elements geochemistry of the uranium mineralization at El Erediya, central Eastern Desert, Egypt. J Egypt Mineral
2:143–150
Abu-Deif, A. (1985) Geology of uranium mineralization in El Missikat area, Qena-Safaga road, Eastern Desert, Egypt. Unpublished M.Sc. thesis, Al-Azhar University, 103 p
Abu-Deif, A. (1992) The relation between the uranium mineralization and tectonics in some Pan-African granites, West of Safaga, Eastern Desert, Egypt. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, Assiut
University, 216 p
Abu-Deif, A., Abouelnaga, H.S., Hassanein, H.I. (2001) Distribution of radioelements and its relation to uranium migration, El Erediya exploratory tunnels, central Eastern Desert, Egypt. J
King Abdulaziz Univ (Earth Sci) 13:19–40
Abu-Deif, A., Ammar, S.E., Mohamed, N.A. (1997) Geological and Geochemical Studies of Black Silica at El-Missikat Pluton, Central Eastern Desert, Egypt, Proc. Egypt. Acad. Sci. 47, pp:
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Dawood, Y.H., Abd El-Naby, H.H., 2001. Mineralogy and genesis of secondary uranium mineralization, Um Ara area, south Eastern Desert, Egypt. J. Afric. Earth Sci. 32 (2), 317–323.
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Osmond, J.K., Dabous, A.A., Dawood, Y.H., 1999. U Senes age and origin of two secondary uranium deposits, Central Eastern Desert, Egypt. Economic Geology 94, 273-280
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