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New Uranium Mining Projects - South/Central America

(last updated 30 Apr 2008)

Contents:

Argentina   flag

In Argentina, uranium prospection and/or exploration is being performed by Calypso Acquisition Corp. external link, Energía Mineral S.A. external link, Consolidated Pacific Bay Minerals Ltd. external link, Mega Uranium Ltd., International Mineral Resources Ltd., United Energy Metals S.A., Laramide Resources Ltd., Wealth Minerals Ltd. external link, Madero Minerals S.A., Globe Uranium Ltd external link, Yamiri Gold and Energy Inc. external link, Urex Energy Corp. external link, Portal Resources Ltd. external link, Cascadero Copper Corporation external link, Strategic Resources Ltd. external link, Argentina Uranium Corp. external link, Blue Sky Uranium Corp. external link, Uranio AG external link, Uranio del Sur S.A. external link, Jackson Minerals Ltd external link, UrAmerica PLC external link

 

General

Thousands protest in Catamarca against uranium mining

On Nov. 6, 2007, thousands of people marched in the central square of the city of Tinogasta to protest against uranium mining projects in the west of Catamarca province. (Los Andes/El Ancasti Nov. 7, 2007)
Argentina's atomic energy commission CNEA has postponed uranium exploration that was underway in Catamarca province due to a lack of budget. (BNamericas Nov. 27, 2007)

 

Sierra Pintada Uranium District, Mendoza

> See also Sierra Pintada uranium mine

> See also Calypso Uranium Corp. files claim to set aside anti-mining law in Mendoza Province

Uranium mining in San Rafael is opposed by ¿Uranio? No Gracias external link.

 

The owners of uranium properties in the touristic zone of Cañón del Diamante are taking legal action against further exploration by Canadian company Mega Uranium Ltd. (formerly Maple Minerals Corp.). (Diario Uno May 31, 2006)

Cerro Solo, Chubut

CNEA seeks to clarify Cerro Solo strategy early 2005: Argentina's atomic energy commission, the CNEA, will clarify early in 2005 its strategy for restarting work at its Cerro Solo uranium deposit in the southern province of Chubut, according to CNEA geology chief Luis López. The strategy will involve forming a partnership with a private company, launching a new auction for the project or seeking a third, as yet unclear alternative, López said. (BNamericas Dec 8, 2004)

Further delay ahead for Cerro Solo sell-off: Argentina's atomic energy commission (CNEA) will not be able to proceed with the sell-off of the Cerro Solo uranium deposit in Chubut province until the beginning of 2004 due to a change of provincial government after elections on November 2, 2003. The CNEA will have to wait for the new parliament in the southern province to define the area around Cerro Solo as an exclusion zone with respect to a law prohibiting open-pit mining there. (BNamericas Sep 10, 2003)

Additional interested parties will be sought in a new auction, to be held in 45-60 days, for the Cerro Solo uranium deposit, according to a source from the National Commission of Atomic Energy (CNEA). The CNEA earlier rejected a bid from the consortium of mining company Mining World and Canadian consultant John Thomson because "it did not comply with the tender's requirements". The Cerro Solo deposit, in Chubut province, has 4600 tonnes U3O8 (3900 tU) in reserves, including 2600 tonnes U3O8 (2205 tU) proven and 2000 tonnes U3O8 (1696 tU) probable. The proven ore grade is estimated at about 0.35% U3O8. (UI News Briefing 01.14, April 4, 2001; CNN March 27, 2001)

Don Otto, Salta

CNEA is working to reactivate the Don Otto uranium project in Salta province. The Don Otto mine is being explored and evaluated to measure its economic feasibility. "Right now, we cannot say whether it will be reactivated or not," said Gian Franco Guidi, CNEA representative for northwestern Argentina. (BNamericas Nov. 27, 2007)

The re-opening of the Don Otto uranium mine will be formally initiated in early August 2007, when the minister of Planning, the governor of Salta, and the president of the national atomic energy commission (CNEA), sign a cooperation agreement. The mine will produce 30 tonnes of uranium per year. (Clarín Aug. 1, 2007)

Dioxitek S.A. external link, the industrial arm of Argentina's national atomic energy commission CNEA, and La Casualidad S.A., controlled by Salta province, are touching up the details of an agreement to operate jointly the Don Otto uranium mine. CNEA mined Don Otto between 1955 and 1981 but was forced to shut it down when uranium prices fell. "Now with Salta's offer to activate the deposit, we are rehabilitating it to move ahead with exploration and continue extracting what remained from previous mining," CNEA production manager Alberto Castillo said. (BNamericas July 17, 2007)

The Argentinian National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA) and the Salta Provincial Government (both via subsidiary entities) have reached an agreement for the re-opening of the Don Otto Uranium Mine. (Globe Uranium Ltd June 12, 2007)

Bolivia   flag

In Bolivia, uranium prospection and exploration is being performed by Intrepid Mines Ltd external link, Mega Uranium Ltd.

Brazil   flag

General

Discovery of uranium deposit in Pará state

The discovery of a uranium deposit spread over 600 kilometres square in the Brazilian state of Pará was announced by the Company of Research of Minerals Resources (CPRM) external link, an affiliate of the Ministry of Mines and Energy external link. A geologist at CPRM said that Brazil would benefit from the Pará deposit only if the price of uranium on the international market exceeded US$40-60 per pound. (UI News Briefing 00.16, April 19, 2000)

 

Itataia project, Santa Quitéria (Ceará)

> View deposit info

INB hopes to get uranium export clearance for Santa Quitéria phosphate and uranium mining project to become viable

Brazil's state-run nuclear mining and fuel company INB hopes to get government clearance to start exporting uranium as part of a plan to quadruple production by 2011 and expand prospecting. Luis Felipe da Silva, INB president's special aide for new projects, said the Santa Quitéria phosphate and uranium mining project, which would involve a private partner to mine phosphates, hinged on the liberalization of exports. So far, Brazil's laws make uranium mining and trade a state monopoly and do not permit exports.
Santa Quitéria in the northeastern Ceará state would churn out 800 tonnes of uranium in 2011 and 1,200 tonnes later on, allowing Brazil to export over 1,000 tonnes of excess metal. Guilherme Camargo, a director at the Brazilian Nuclear Energy Association (ABEN) industry lobby, warned that without the green light for exports Santa Quitéria was doomed to fail. (Reuters Dec. 10, 2007)

 

Lagoa Real / Caetité, Bahia

> View deposit info
> View more recent issues

Between April 20 and 23, 2000, an estimated 5000 cubic meters of uranium-bearing leaching liquid leaked from a collection pond at the heap leaching facility of the Lagoa Real / Caetité mine. The pond liner, consisting of an HDPE membrane based on a compacted clay layer, obviously leaked. The event had become known only on July 11, 2000, by a denouncement of nine plant workers to the state attorney of Caetité. (Gambá Oct. 26, 2000 / Jan. 9, 2001)

The new 400 t/year uranium processing plant at Lagoa Real / Caetité has started production on June 24, 2000. INB anticipates increasing output to 700-800 tU3O8 (594-678 tU) per year by 2004. [UI News Briefing 00.29]
The uranium is recovered by heap leaching with sulfuric acid.

Chile   flag

In Chile, uranium prospection and/or exploration is being performed by Lefroy Resources Ltd external link, Polar Star Mining Corporation external link, U3O8 Energy Ltd external link, U3O8 Holdings plc external link

Colombia   flag

In Colombia, uranium prospection and/or exploration is being performed by Energentia Resources Inc. external link, Mega Uranium Ltd., Blue Sky Uranium Corp. external link, UrAmerica PLC external link

Ecuador   flag

In Ecuador, uranium prospection and/or exploration is being performed by Spirit Exploration, Inc. external link, Bolivar Mining Corp. external link

Guatemala   flag

In Guatemala, uranium prospection and/or exploration is being performed by Pathfinder Resources Ltd. external link, Gold-Ore Resources Ltd. external link, Santoy Resources Ltd. external link

Guyana   flag

In Guyana, uranium prospection and/or exploration is being performed by Prometheus Resources Guyana Inc. external link, U3O8 Corp. external link, StrataGold Corporation external link

Mexico   flag

In Mexico, uranium prospection and/or exploration is being performed by Fronteer Development Group Inc., Kennecott Exploration Company, Geoinformatics Exploration Inc. external link, Laramide Resources Ltd., Tonogold Resources, Inc. external link, Prospect Uranium, Inc. external link, NWT Uranium Corp., Azure Minerals Ltd external link

Kennecott fined for illegal uranium extraction

Rio Tinto's subsidiary Kennecott was fined for illegally mining uranium in the Loxicha region in southern Mexico's Oaxaca state. Its license was canceled. Under Mexican law, uranium extraction and processing is the sole prerogative of the state. Kennecott carried out surface exploration and drilling on three concessions in Oaxaca, named Elvira I, II and III until October 1999. (unomásuno, Dec 18, 2001)

Paraguay   flag

In Paraguay, uranium prospection and exploration is being performed by Coronel Oviedo Mining Company SA, Crescent Resources Corp. external link, Cue Capital Corp. external link, Transandes Paraguay S.A., Wildhorse Energy Ltd external link, Cameco Corp., Yellow Cat Uranium PLC external link, Picomayo Minerales SA

Peru   flag

In Peru, uranium prospection and exploration is being performed by Frontier Pacific Mining Corporation external link, Solex Resources Corp. external link, Vena Resources Inc. external link, MINERGIA S.A.C. external link, Cameco Corporation, Range Resources Ltd external link, Westmag Ltd external link, Wealth Minerals Ltd. external link, Contact Uranium Ltd. external link, Cardero Resource Corp. external link, Macusani Yellowcake Inc. external link, Lefroy Resources Ltd external link, Alara Uranium Ltd external link, Fission Energy Corp., Alturas Minerals Corp. external link, Bolivar Mining Corp. external link

Macusani Project

"Uranium ore from the Macusani project in Peru is being shipped to North America for final metallurgical testing, at the request of a 'uranium major', Strathmore Resources has announced. If the tests are successful, Strathmore says, it will be able to produce uranium profitably from the project at current market prices." [UI News Briefing 98/44]

Uruguay   flag

General

Uruguay considers launching bid for uranium exploration

Authorities at Uruguay's national mining and geology department Dinamige external link are considering launching a bid for uranium exploration, Dinamige head Luis Ferrari told BNamericas. The entity was unprepared for the degree of interest shown by a number of companies in exploring there and is now considering launching a bid in areas of interest. The official said interested parties have until mid-September 2007 to present proposals. Uruguayan mining law establishes that minerals with energy purposes receive special treatment and the state holds exclusive mining rights. As such, bidding processes are necessary for third-party exploratory studies, the official said. (Business News Americas July 30, 2007)

Uruguay to invite companies for uranium exploration

Montevideo will shortly issue an invitation to potential investors and mining outfits to conduct further uranium exploration. (FT May 14, 2007)

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