Uranium-related activities in Finland

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Paula Delilah Little
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1 TVO/Hannu Huovila Uranium-related activities in Finland Esa Pohjolainen Geological Survey of Finland 1

2 Legislation Production of uranium needs a license from the Government according to the Nuclear Energy Act Production of uranium up to 10 tu/year needs a license from the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) Exploration license is required for uranium exploration according to the Mining Act Drilling and trenching won t be permitted until the licenses are in force Permit applications concerning a uranium mine under the Nuclear Energy Act and Mining Act are handled jointly and decided on in a single decision by the Government Granting a uranium mine permit requires municipality approval 2

Historical review of U exploration & mining U exploration carried out in Finland from 1955 to 1989 by several organizations Atomienergia, IVO, Outokumpu & GTK Exploration again in the

3 Historical review of U exploration & mining U exploration carried out in Finland from 1955 to 1989 by several organizations Atomienergia, IVO, Outokumpu & GTK Exploration again in the 2000s by AREVA and junior companies AREVA projects sold to Mawson Resources Ltd Uranium mining in Paukkajanvaara pilot mine in t U was produced ( t of ore was hoisted) 3

Uranium resources in Finland Only minor activities in the past and at present Currently no uranium mining in Finland Resources only 1500 tu in two deposits (Palmottu and Pahtavuoma-U)

4 Uranium resources in Finland Only minor activities in the past and at present Currently no uranium mining in Finland Resources only 1500 tu in two deposits (Palmottu and Pahtavuoma-U) Known uranium occurrences are small and low-grade Financial risks relating to U projects Municipality & government approvals required for U mine permit Locations in Natura 2000 protected areas 4

Talvivaara uranium by-product recovery Nickel mine in Sotkamo, E Finland U as a by-product of Ni and Zn production from black schists U grade 17 ppm in the ore Uraninite is mostly enclosed in

5 Talvivaara uranium by-product recovery Nickel mine in Sotkamo, E Finland U as a by-product of Ni and Zn production from black schists U grade 17 ppm in the ore Uraninite is mostly enclosed in carbonaceous nodules in the ore In heap leaching, U dissolves in the process solution (PLS) with main base metals As a result of the recovery, the amount of U in the Ni-Co concentrate and in the gypsum pond tailings will be reduced Google Earth Talvivaara mine 5

Talvivaara uranium by-product recovery U in the PLS (10-30 mg/l U) will be recovered using solvent extraction After U extraction, the solution directed to Ni-Co precipitation Expected start of

6 Talvivaara uranium by-product recovery U in the PLS (10-30 mg/l U) will be recovered using solvent extraction After U extraction, the solution directed to Ni-Co precipitation Expected start of uranium production in Environmental permit and start-up permit needed Planned production 350 t U/yr Unconventional resources t U (measured and indicated) Talvivaara Mining Company Plc 6

Uranium exploration Mawson Resources Ltd The most active company in uranium exploration in Finland Rompas-Rajapalot Au-U exploration project in Paleoproterozoic Peräpohja Schist Belt in northern

7 Uranium exploration Mawson Resources Ltd The most active company in uranium exploration in Finland Rompas-Rajapalot Au-U exploration project in Paleoproterozoic Peräpohja Schist Belt in northern Finland Structurally-hosted hydrothermal Au-U in metamorphic supracrustal rocks The best intersection: 1 m at 3540 g/t Au in drill hole ROM0011 Rompas exploration license came into legal force in October 2012 European Uranium Resources Ltd Riutta, Asento & Nuottijärvi projects The best intersection in Riutta: 3.7 m at 1.53 % U 3 O 8 by AREVA in

Uranium potential in Finland The most economically significant U deposit types missing (unconformity, sandstone, breccia complex) Uranium areas in Finland: Kolari-Kittilä Peräpohja Schist Belt

8 Uranium potential in Finland The most economically significant U deposit types missing (unconformity, sandstone, breccia complex) Uranium areas in Finland: Kolari-Kittilä Peräpohja Schist Belt Kuusamo Schist Belt Koli Uusimaa All uranium areas associated with Paleoproterozoic metamorphic supracrustal schist belts Kolari-Kittilä Peräpohja Schist Belt Kuusamo Schist Belt Koli Uusimaa HELSINKI 8

9 Uranium potential areas in Finland Kolari-Kittilä Vein (Pahtavuoma) & quartzite hosted (Kesänki) Kuusamo Schist Belt Metasomatic & IOCG (polymetallic Au-Co-Cu-Fe-U deposits with intense albitization Favourable fluid sources present (evaporites) Peräpohja Schist Belt Structurally-controlled hydrothermal vein-type New discoveries (Rompas & Rajapalot) Favourable fluid sources, a supracrustal sequence with evaporites (dolomites) Koli Vein-type (Riutta) and quartzite hosted (Ipatti) Uusimaa Mostly intrusive type occurrences Palmottu (1000 tu at 0.1 % U) Rompas Peräpohja Province Modified from map by Olli Äikäs 9

10 GTK s involvement in U-related activities No uranium exploration by GTK (finished in late 1980s) Uranium geology research Ore forming processes Basic information for exploration, mineral potential evaluation and environmental studies International cooperation: Participitation in the Joint NEA/IAEA Uranium Group (Red Book) Namupol project with Ministry of Mines and Energy of Namibia: Support for drafting of nuclear fuel cycle policy, legislation, regulations and minerals database in Namibia 10

Some possible themes for research in the future Uranium potential modelling Rather young remobilization of uranium U-Pb dates from S Finland (Alho, Lakeakallio & Särkijärvi) indicate remobilization

11 Some possible themes for research in the future Uranium potential modelling Rather young remobilization of uranium U-Pb dates from S Finland (Alho, Lakeakallio & Särkijärvi) indicate remobilization of U during the Ordovician 450 Ma ago High-grade & near-surface Riutta occurrence incompletely drilled Role of supracrustal sequences with evaporites as a favourable and possible source for saline and oxidizing hydrothermal solutions Many deposits in Finland contain carbonaceous nodules with uraninite Role of carbonaceous matter in ore forming processes (e.g. Au deposits) IVO-9 boulder. Two U-rich boulders (glacial erratics) were found by Imatran Voima Oy at Alho, NW of Porvoo, in 1956 (IVO-9: 36 % U 3 O 8 ) and in 1957 (IVO-99: 12 % U 3 O 8 ). The mother lode of the Alho boulders has not been discovered. Olli Äikäs 11

12 Nuclear energy Four reactors generating 26 % of electricity Located in Loviisa (operator Fortum) and Olkiluoto (operator TVO) A fifth reactor Olkiluoto 3 is under construction Start of the electricity production may be postponed until 2016 Two units are planned, ready in early 2020s at the earliest Olkiluoto 4 (TVO): plant supplier selection ongoing Hanhikivi 1 (Fennovoima): target to select the plant supplier in 2013 Olkiluoto 3 unit under construction, photo by TVO/Hannu Huovila 12

facility to the Government in December 2012 Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) makes a safety

13 Nuclear waste management Spent nuclear fuel of TVO and Fortum will be disposed of in the bedrock of Olkiluoto at a depth of 420 m Posiva submitted construction license application for final disposal facility to the Government in December 2012 Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) makes a safety assessment of the application for the Ministry (MEE) Final disposal is planned to start in 2022 Posiva Oy Posiva Oy 13

Sotkamo Silver Mo i Rana and Tampere areas. Erkki Kuronen Chief Geologist, M.Sc., MAusIMM Sotkamo Silver Oy

Sotkamo Silver Mo i Rana and Tampere areas. Erkki Kuronen Chief Geologist, M.Sc., MAusIMM Sotkamo Silver Oy Mo i Rana and Tampere areas Erkki Kuronen Chief Geologist, M.Sc., MAusIMM Oy Mo i Rana and Tampere areas Erkki Kuronen Chief Geologist, M.Sc., MAusIMM Oy 2.9.2018 Silver 2 Deposits and Projects develops