Prospect-Exploration. operations of JSC NAC Kazatomprom in South Kazakhstan (development of uranium raw materials) Olga Gorbatenko

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1 Prospect-Exploration operations of JSC NAC Kazatomprom in South Kazakhstan (development of uranium raw materials) Senior Manager, Production and Technical Department JSC NAC Kazatomprom Olga Gorbatenko

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4 Prospect-Exploration operations of JSC NAC Kazatomprom in South Kazakhstan (development of uranium raw materials) Various uraniumbearing complexes and related types of uranium deposits are present on the territory of Kazakhstan.

5 Prospect-Exploration operations of JSC NAC Kazatomprom in South Kazakhstan (development of uranium raw materials) However in the past time the unconditional meaning was acquired by layer-infiltration uranium deposits related to the development of regional zones of layer oxidation in permeable sediments of Cretaceous and Palaeogene. A large part of deposits of RAR and Inferred resources of these deposits of Shu-Sarysu and Syrdaria uranium provinces was explored in the 80-s and partly in early 90-s of the past century. Starting in the middle of 90-s within the limits of Shu-Sarysu depression there was deep geological correction of scaling to 1: with drilling of mapping wells on 6.4х6.4 km grid.

6 Prospect-Exploration operations of JSC NAC Kazatomprom in South Kazakhstan (development of uranium raw materials) The increase of number of uranium producing enterprises of Kazatomprom at known explored deposits will inevitably lead to sufficient exhaustion of minerals in South Kazakhstan in the nearest future. Which means the only conclusion: prospecting operations must begin in the nearest future in uranium perspective areas, which are actually the remote flanks of processed deposits. Perspective areas that are the basis of this program were distinguished by the group of geologists leaded by Mr. Petrov N.N. during preparation of Prospect metal-genetic uranium map of Kazakhstan in scale 1:

7 1. Perspective areas of Shu-Sarysu Sarysu uranium province The first group of perspective areas covers the territory located east of the known deposits Zhalpak, Uvanas and Kanzhugan. The regional oxidation front developed in the sand sediments of the Upper Eocene horizon remains weakly studied and practically not prospected in the south part of this area. It stretches in the meridional direction in the eastern part of the province for almost 250 km. Practically throughout the whole length this front is accompanied by uranium traces. Industrial layer-infiltration deposits related to the sediments of the Upper Eocene are also known in North-Fergana ore region and in Central Kyzylkum (Lyavlyakan and Beshkak).

8 Perspective areas of Shu-Sarysu Sarysu uranium province The Upper Eocene horizon of Shu-Sarysu province distinguishes three perspective areas: East-Zhalpak (2), East-Uvanas (3) and East-Moinkum (4). Prospecting made by single well profiles on the first two areas showed uranium presence in well permeable sands. No specialized operations were performed at East Moinkum area. However the Tastinskaya geological expedition during map drilling for copper discovered conditioned uranium ore. The area of 150х15 km (2250 km2), stretches from the eastern flank for Uvanas deposit in the north to Kanzhugan deposit in the south.

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10 Volumes of prospecting operations in East-Zhalpak, East-Uvanas and East-Moinkum areas Type of Operations Area, in square km. Number of wells Well depth in meters Drilling volume Total meters With core sampling East-Zhalpak area Map drilling with 3,2х3,2 km grid Prospecting drilling with 12,8х0,2-0,1 grid Prospecting drilling with grid 6,4х0,1-0,05 km East-Uvanas area Map drilling with grid 3,2х3,2 km Prospecting drilling with grid 12,8х0,2-0,1 km Prospecting drilling with grid 6,4х0,1-0,05 km East-Moinkum area Map drilling with grid 3,2х3,2 km Prospecting drilling with grid 12,8х0,2-0,1 km Prospecting drilling with grid 6,4х0,1-0,05 km At perspective areas to be found during prospecting Prospecting assessment drilling with grid 1,6х0,1-0,05 km Total:

11 Perspective areas of Shu-Sarysu Sarysu uranium province The result of future operations will be the assessment of ore presence of this territory with calculation of uranium resources on speculative resources. The second group of perspective areas covers areas distinguished in the back of regional fronts of layer oxidation zone related to the relict nonoxidized layers of gray-colored sands, usually in the separation zone of layer oxidation from the lower clay aquifer. This morphological subtype of mineralization is developed in Zhalpak horizon of Zhalpak, Akdala and Sholak-Espe deposits. The largest block of such perspective areas is distinguished in the back of layer oxidation zone fronts developed in Mynkuduk and Inkuduk horizons at deposits Inkai and Budyonovskoye (East-Inkai (5), Kapkansor (6) and East-Budyonovskoye areas (7)). Their sizes are correspondingly about 370; 400 and 800 km2.

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13 Perspective areas of Shu-Sarysu Sarysu uranium province The discovered and anticipated mineralization on these areas is related to the upper clay-sand cluster of Inkuduk horizon. Its ore presence is already confirmed in the region by two small sites Karlysai and Barkhannyi with real perspectives of substantial expansion of mineralization scales after prospecting operations. Deposits in shape of narrow rolls with shortened wings are typical here. Mineralization of Barkhannyi site have the following average parameters: content of uranium 0,045%, thickness 4,81m, specific productivity 3,68 kg/m2. For Karlysai site these parameters are correspondingly: 0,052%; 3,45m; and 3,05 kg/m2. The depth of mineralization at Barkhannyi deposit is about 400m and at Karlysai deposit m, which is sufficiently less than the main mineralization of Inkai and Budyonovskoye deposits.

14 Volumes of prospecting operations in East-Zhalpak, East-Uvanas and East-Moinkum areas Type of Operations Area, in square km. Number of wells Well depth in meters Drilling volume Total meters East-Inkai Area Prospecting drilling with grid 12,8х0,2-0,1 km Prospecting drilling with grid 6,4х0,1-0,05 km Prospecting drilling with grid 3,2х0,1-0,05 km Kapkansor Area Prospecting drilling with grid 12,8х0,2-0,1 km Prospecting drilling with grid 6,4х0,1-0,05 km Prospecting drilling with grid 3,2х0,1-0,05 km East-Budyonovskoye Area Prospecting drilling with grid 12,8х0,2-0,1 km Prospecting drilling with grid 6,4х0,1-0,05 km Prospecting drilling with grid 3,2х0,1-0,05 km Total: Prikaratau Area Prospecting drilling with grid 6,4х0,1-0,05 km

15 Perspective areas of Shu-Sarysu Sarysu uranium province The third group of uranium perspective areas covers Mynkuduk and Inkai horizons (mk, in) of Prikaratau area (1). The depth of the ore containing complex s bottom reaches 1000 meters. The size of the area is about 800 km 2. Exploratory operations can be performed here during industrial development of Budyonovskoye deposit.

16 2. Perspective areas of Syrdaria uranium province Undoubtedly the Southeastern and South continuation of uraniumbearing fronts of layer oxidation zone is characterized with high perspectives. The uranium traces were found in the sediments from the Santon to Maastricht at deposits of Karamurun-Kharasan group (Karamurun-Karatau metallogenic uranium zone). Its length between the South Karasan deposit in the north and Zarechnoye deposit in the south is about 125km. There are no grounds to suppose the reduction of indicators of uranium presence and productivity of santon-campan-maastricht complex in this interval of the zone. However exploratory operations in the nearest years are not likely here due to sufficient depth of ore horizons that exceed m (and possibly over 1000 meters).

17 Perspective areas of Syrdaria uranium province The southern ending of uranium ore zones of deposits of Karamurun- Kharasan group and Irkol deposit where mineralization is very likely at big depths has not been drilled. It stands out as one large (about 6 thousand km 2 ) perspective East-Kyzylkum area (8). Prospecting operations can be performed in the nearest future when the industry starts to develop deep ores. If the group of deposits Kyzylkol-Lunnoye-Chayan will start their development (joint status of inferred resources 2455 tons, U- 0.05%) it will be possible to run prospecting at Prishymkent area (10) located to the south of indicated group of deposits and covering the area of 300km 2.

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19 Volumes of prospecting operations at East-Kyzylkum and Prishymkent Areas East-Kyzylkum Area Type of Operations Area, in square km. Number of wells Prospecting drilling with grid 12,8х0,2-0,1 km Well depth in meters Drilling volume Total meters Priishim Area Prospecting drilling with grid 6,4х0,1-0,05 km

20 Prospect-exploration exploration operations of JSC NAC Kazatomprom in South Kazakhstan (development of uranium raw materials) Besides the areas mentioned above South Kazakhstan also has perspective areas where deposits of layer-infiltration type can be discovered. However execution of prospecting operations can be done only in the third decade of this century.

21 Stages of operations 1. Drilling I stage ( ) East-Zhalpak area East-Moinkum area East-Uvanas area East-Inkai area Kapkansor area East-Budyonovskaya II stage ( ) East-Kyzylkum area Prishymkent area Prikaratau area 2. Radioecological and geophysical provision of operations ( ): Restoration of geophysical service (Volkovgeology Company) Complex explanation of areas for uranium prospecting operations by distance sounding methods using digital data of space photographs of the Earth s surface in various spectrums. Complex of geophysical and radioecological research (from surface and in wells). 3. Training and attraction of geological experts to solve the issues of uranium raw material development ( ) 4. Organization-technical and social measures ( )

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