Print this pageAAPG ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION
Making the Next Giant Leap in Geosciences
April 10-13, 2011, Houston, Texas, USA
Update on Wyoming Uranium Mining
(1) Uranium, Wyoming State Geological Survey, Laramie, WY.
Wyoming leads the US in uranium production, averaging just under two million pounds of U3O8 (yellowcake) per year. Numerous additional mine proposals have been submitted to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission and are in various stages of permitting and licensing. While a few of these proposed projects will be developed with conventional mining techniques, most will be In-situ recovery (ISR) operations. An overview of the geology of these projects is presented as well as an update on their status with regard to exploration, development and expected first production.
In the Powder River Basin (PRB) in northeastern Wyoming, economic uranium deposits occur in the lower Tertiary Wasatch Formation (Eocene) and Fort Union Formation (Paleocene). The Fort Union Formation is currently being mined at Cameco’s Smith Ranch-Highland (SRH) operation in Converse County, producing just less than two million pounds of yellowcake per year. SRH is Wyoming’s only producing uranium mine at this time. Developing ISR projects in the PRB include: the resumption in 2011 of ISR mining at Christensen Ranch (Uranium One) in Johnson and Campbell Counties; Nichols Ranch (Uranerz) in Johnson and Campbell Counties; Moore Ranch, Ludeman, and Allemand-Ross (Uranium One), all in Converse County; and Reno Creek (AUC LLC) and Ruby Ranch (Cameco) in Campbell County.
The Great Divide Basin (GDB) lies in the eastern portion of the Greater Green River Basin in southwestern Wyoming and hosts economic uranium deposits in the Paleocene Battle Spring Formation, as well as significant occurrences in other formations in the basin including early Tertiary coal beds. Developing ISR projects in the GDB include Lost Creek and Lost Soldier (Ur-Energy) in Sweetwater County; Jab and Antelope (Uranium One) in Sweetwater County; West Alkali Creek (Wildhorse Energy) in Fremont County.
The Gas Hills in Fremont and Natrona Counties has produced nearly as much uranium as all other Wyoming uranium mining districts combined. Roll front uranium deposits occur in the Puddle Springs Member of the Eocene Wind River Formation. Strathmore Minerals is pursuing several surface pit projects there. Other areas with developing projects include the Crooks Gap-Green Mountain area, Black Hills area and the Shirley Basin.