Sheraton Hotel, Mendoza City

April 11th -15th, 2016

“

INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY

NATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION – ARGENTINA

RAW MATERIAL EXPLORATION MANAGEMENT

TRAINING WORKSHOP ON URANIM EXPLORATION METHODS

granite

10% sandstone

26% volcanic

64%

DON OTTO ORE DEPOSIT (1963/81)

SANDSTONE URANIUM TYPE

PRODUCTION: 202 tU

UNDERGROUND

LOS COLORADOS ORE DEPOSIT (1993/96)

SANDSTONE URANIUM TYPE

PRODUCTION: 55 tU

OPEN PIT

SCHLAGINTWEIT ORE DEPOSIT (1982/89)

GRANITE - RELATED

PRODUCTION: 207 tU

OPEN PIT

LA MARQUESA ORE DEPOSIT (1953/64)

GRANITE - RELATED

PRODUCTION: 16 tU

OPEN PIT

LA ESTELA ORE DEPOSIT (1985/90).

GRANITE - RELATED

PRODUCTION: 25 tU

OPEN PIT

SIERRA PINTADA ORE DEPOSIT (1975/95)

VOLCANIC - RELATED

PRODUCCIÓN: 1.600 tU

OPEN PIT

HUEMULES ORE DEPOSIT (1952/76)

SANDSTONE URANIUM TYPE

PRODUCTION : 208 tU

UNDERGROUND

LOS ADOBES ORE DEPOSIT (1974/76)

SANDSTONE URANIUM TYPE

PRODUCTION: 120 tU

OPEN PIT

CERRO CONDOR ORE DEPOSIT (1978/80)

SANDSTONE URANIUM TYPE

PRODUCTION: 56 tU

OPEN PIT

PAPAGAYOS ORE DEPOSIT (1952/55)

SANDSTONE URANIUM TYPE

PRODUCTION: 4,5 tU

OPEN PIT

ARGENTINE PRODUCTION UNTIL 1997

TOTAL PRODUCTION: 2581,7 t U

In 1992, Argentina began to import

uranium due to economic reasons, situation

that progressively led to the closing of

national production in 1997.

YELLOWCAKE IMPORTS

KAZA, CANADA, CZECH REP

FUEL FABRICATION

CONUAR S.A.

UO2 CONVERSION

DIOXITEK S.A.

D2O FACILITY

ENSI S.E.

NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE IN ARGENTINA

EMBALSE 648 MWe Natural U

ATUCHA II

745 MWe Natural U

ATUCHA I 357 MWe

Slightly Enriched U

b

c

ARGENTINE NPPs

0 1000 km

N

a

a

c

b

U DEMAND IN ARGENTINA

Current Consumption: 120 t U per year

NPP OPERATION

START

REMAINING

OPERATION

DEMAND

ATUCHA I 1974 2012-2027 800 t U 615

EMBALSE 1984 2012-2033 1400 t U 1718

ATUCHA II (START UP 2013)

2015 40 years 3700 t U

CAREM --- 40 years 600 t U

Total 6500 t U

NPP OPERATION

START

NPPs TYPE GENERATING

CAPACITY

Unit Fourth

(proposed)

2020/22 2 units PHWR or

1 unit PWR

2 x 750 Mwe or

1 x 1500 MWe

Unit Fifth

(planned)

2026/28 To be define 1500 MWe

CAREM150 -------- LWR 150 MWe

EXPANSION OF THE NUCLEAR ENERGY PROGRAMME

URANIUM RESOURCES IN ARGENTINA (NEA - IAEA)

E = Economic and Social Viability.

F = Field Project Status and Feasibility.

G = Geological Knowledge.

*1 Uranium Deposits Classification

Source: IAEA, 2012

Deposit Type

*1

RAR t U IR t U

Sierra Pintada Volcanic-related 4,000 6,170

Cerro Solo Sandstone hosted 4,420 4,810

Don Otto Sandstone hosted 180 -

Sub Total 8,600 t U 10,980 t U

Total 19,580 t U

RAW MATERIAL EXPLORATION MANAGEMENT

ORGANIZATION CHART

MANAGEMENT OFFICE

EXPLORATION CENTERS

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE

ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT CONTROL

LEGAL ADVICE

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

REGIONAL GEOLOGICAL STUDIES

NORTHWEST REGIONAL

CENTER REGIONAL

CUYO REGIONAL

PATAGONIA REGIONAL

TECHNICAL EVALUATION OF MINING PROJECTS

• PROSPECTION DEPARTMENT

• RESERVES AND EVALUATION DEPARTMENT

CÓRDOBA TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

REGIONAL CENTERS OF

EXPLORATION

STRATEGIC PLAN 2019-2025

MISSION: To undertake the prospecting, exploration and assessment

of mineral resources used in the nuclear field. (Law No 24.804, Article 2,

Subsection k).

VISION: To ensure the necessary uranium resources to meet the national

requirements within a framework of sustainable development.

S.O.1:- To increase the Reasonably Ensured Resources, which intend to supply

national uranium for existing nuclear power plants and those planned to be built.

S.O.2:- To increase Inferred Resources in exploration areas.

S.O.3:- To increase knowledge in the geological uranium potential of Argentina and

define new prospecting areas of interest to the nuclear field.

S.O.4:- To establish a transparent and participative communication system with

the community in accordance with CNEA communication policy.

URANIUM DEPOSIT TYPES IN ARGENTINA

GRANITE-RELATED

• ENDOGRANITIC

• La Estela, San Luis (Mined)

• Achala, Córdoba (Mined)

• PERIGRANITIC

• Franca, Catamarca

• Alipán, La Rioja

VOLCANIC-RELATED

• STRATABOUND

• Sa. Pintada, Mendoza (Stand- By)

• Laguna Colorada, Chubut

SANDSTONE-HOSTED

• BASAL CHANNEL

• Cerro Solo, Chubut (Assessment stage)

• TABULAR

• Don Otto, Salta

• ROLL FRONT

• Arroyo Perdido?, Chubut;

• Los Colorados, La Rioja (Mined)

SURFICIAL

• CALCRETE

• Laguna Sirven, Santa Cruz

Uranium Deposits Classification Source: IAEA, 2012

ABOUT CURRENT EXPLORATION ACTIVITIES

RAW MATERIAL EXPLORATION MANAGEMENT

Besides the Provincial Mining Companies (Chubut, La

Rioja, Santa Cruz), Senior Producers and Junior

Companies, CNEA is carrying out uranium exploration

activities in 55 areas located throughout the country.

Among them, according to the degree of knowledge

about each area under study, we can recognize nine (9)

uranium deposits and nineteen (19) Manifestations of

Discovery.

In the remaining 27 areas, several exploration activities

are being developed in order to define their uraniferous

potentialities.

LOCATION AREAS UNDER STUDY

Qda. del Tapón

Qda. La Yesera

Qda. Sunchales

N

DON OTTO Sandstone Type Uranium Deposits (mined since 1963 to 1981), Salta province: The

mineralization is hosted within marine-continental sediments assigned to Yacoraite formation of

Cretaceous age.

In the north of the orebody are being develops an exploration plan by CNEA with the objective to

add new resources to remainder one of the old exploitation. Main works include geochemical and

geophysical surveys (Telluric Magnetic and Geoelectrical), a strategic net of deep drilling, and a

exhaustive structural study.

MINA FRANCA , Granite Related-Subtype Perigranitic Uranium Deposit, Catamarca Province:

Located in the geological province of Sierras Pampeanas, the mineralization is

associated to Precambrian metamorphic basement close to the contact with the Los

Ratones Carboniferous granite.

As surface studies are almost finished, it is expected to move forward with the

implementation of geophysical techniques and a drilling program aimed at acquiring

knowledge about the behavior of mineralization at depth.

Mina Franca area

ALIPAN I, Granite Related-Subtype Perigranitic Uranium Deposit, La Rioja Province:

Into geological province of Sierras Pampeanas, the mineralization zone was

recognized in the east slope of Velasco Hill. It is related to metamorphic rocks

of La Cebila Formation dated Cambric – Ordovician age, closely to the contact

with the Huaco granite Devonian – Carboniferous age.

The continuity of exploration work includes a drilling net of 4500 meters supported by

ground geophysical and geochemical surveys to follow-up subsurface extensions of the

tectonic structures and geologic formations hosting the uranium mineralization ocurrences.

Schematic drilling cross section

zona de

oxidación

Uranofano y

limonitas

Zona intermedia

oxidación

/reducción

Pechblenda

hollinosa +

pirita

TRES NIDOS, Sandstone Type Uranium Deposits. Río Negro Province.

Through information from oil drilling, geochemical and geophysical prospecting and

drilling, we are exploring sedimentary sequences of the northeastern edge of the

Neuquina Basin in search of Sandstone Type Uranium Deposits - Subtype Roll Front.

CERRO SOLO, Sandstone Uranium Type Deposits, Chubut Province.

The mineralization with lenticular morphology is related to fluvial sediments assigned

to Arroyo del Pajarito Member of the Los Adobes Formation Cretaceous age.

In the last three years the CNEA is carrying out the following activities:

In relation with main mineralized “C and B” ore body, a prefeasibility study is in course .

Hydrometallurgical tests in a scale lab were done.

The Social and Environmental Baseline Study is practically finished

THANK YOU VERY MUCH

FOR YOUR ATTENTION

Roberto E. Bianchi

Gerente Exploración de Materias Primas

Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica

Av. del Libertador 8250

C1429BNP, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires

Tel: 54 11 4704 1415 /Fax: 54 11 4704 1179

rbianchi@cnea.gov.ar