The Nature and Extent of Uranium Reserves and Resources and Their Environmental Development in the U.S. and Overseas

Michael D. Campbell, Jeffrey D. King, Henry M. Wise, Ruffin I. Rackley, and Bruce N. Handley
MD Campbell and Associates, Houston, TX

Uranium is an abundant element in the earth’s crust and occurs in economic concentrations in a variety of geological environments. Uranium concentrations occur in rocks ranging from Precambrian in age to sediments of Tertiary age. Uranium occurs in economic concentrations at locations ranging from the cold of the high latitudes to the heat of the tropics. Reserve estimates are based on geophysical logs and an estimate of the physical dimensions of the mineralization. Reserve needs are based on industry estimates for new reactors and historical usage of older reactors, which depends on the reactor design. With the present expansion in the use of nuclear power expected to continue for the next 40 years, the dependence on overseas oil and gas and on coal in the U.S., even with expensive new technology, will be reduced and together will have a marked impact on world political instability and on the U.S. contribution of CO₂ emissions.

We assess the potential problems inherent in predicting uranium reserves and in developing these reserves, both from a technical point of view and a societal perspective, which must be combined by any corporation engaged in uranium production. Environmental considerations involving ground-water sampling of area water wells prior to in situ recovery operations are an integral part of every development project and depends on the geographical location of the deposit under consideration. Non-political State and Federal interests must be balanced between the interests of national needs and security and local protection with economic development. Without the balance, damage to society would occur at a time when we can least afford it. Filtered through industry perspectives, we evaluate the conclusions of the major centers of assessment of these issues for apparent validity and their likely variation.

AAPG Search and Discover Article #90078©2008 AAPG Annual Convention, San Antonio, Texas