Emerging concepts in uranium exploration in India: An overview and way forward

Tuyển tập báo cáo Hội nghị Khoa học và Công nghệ hạt nhân toàn quốc lần thứ 14
Proceedings of Vietnam conference on nuclear science and technology VINANST-14

EMERGING CONCEPTS IN URANIUM EXPLORATION IN INDIA:
AN OVERVIEW AND WAY FORWARD
DEEPAK KUMAR SINHA

Director, Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research, Hyderabad-500 016
Email:
Abstract: The geological set up of India which encompasses rocks of Archaean to Recent provides scope for any
metallogeny. Records of various metallogenic epochs are preserved in the known metallogenic provinces. Sustained
exploration efforts by Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), a constituent unit under
Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India has established nearly 0.3 million tonnes of uranium in the
country during the last seven decades. AMD has planned establishment of similar quantity of uranium resources in 10 – 15
years period to support the indigenous Nuclear Power Programme (NPP) of the country. This paper defines four (04)
uranium metallogenic epochs ranging from 2.8 Ga to Recent period and five (05) major uranium provinces in India. It
presents overview of advances brought in AMD during last seven decades and way forward for augmentation of uranium
resources in next 10-15 years.
Keywords: Uranium, Exploration, AMD, India.

1. INTRODUCTION

Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), the oldest and a constituent R&D
unit of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India, shoulders the responsibility of survey,
exploration and augmentation of atomic mineral inventory of the country in the front end of the nuclear
fuel cycle. Uranium, thorium and rare metals (niobium, tantalum, lithium, zirconium and beryllium) are the
primary targets of exploration for the nuclear power programme of India. AMD is also engaged in
exploration for Rare Earth Elements (REE) and helium, mainly based on indigenous technology and
expertise. AMD has systematically developed its exploration capabilities over last seven decades through
incorporation of innovative exploration techniques and state-of-the-art analytical facilities for scaling up
the exploration activities for augmentation of atomic mineral resources in diverse geological domains of

the country to support the nuclear power programme of India. This paper presents an overview of
advancements adopted by AMD for uranium exploration in India and the way forward.
2. URANIUM METALLOGENY VIS-À-VIS GEOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK OF INDIA

An appraisal of all the known uranium deposits of the world and their space – time relationship
reveals a striking similarity in uranium metallogeny, i.e. their formation in well defined epochs from Early
Proterozoic to Recent. These epochs apparently coincide with the major phases of crustal e volution such as
cratonisation of the continental crust, oxygenation of the atmosphere, global tectonic events, global
intrusive episodes, evolution of land plants and life forms and formation of coal, oil and gas [1]. Globally,
the uranium deposits are characterized by their extreme diversity in size, grade, shape, etc. as they form in
conditions ranging from deep high-grade metamorphic to surficial environments and from Neoarchaean to
the Quaternary Period [2].
In this context, India has a unique and diverse geological composition in time and space with
lithological, structural and thermal events of almost all ages of the geological time scale broadly in line
with global geological episodes (Fig. 1). The geological records are well documented for the evolution of
potential source rocks for uranium, the favorable tectonothermal and sedimentary processes for uranium
mobility in different geochemical environments and finally its fixation in suitable geological or
geochemical traps leading to the formation of major types of uranium deposits. The Archaean history of
Peninsular India is recorded in the five distinct cratonic nuclei, namely Bundelkhand (Northern), Dharwar
(Southern), Singhbhum-Odisha (Eastern), Aravalli (Western), and Bastar (Central) Cartons. A series of
greenstone and high-grade metamorphic belts embedded in Tonalite - Throndhjemite Gneissic (TTG)
complexes constitute the terminal Archaean accretion and marked by major event of granite emplacement
that occurred around 2.2 - 2.5 Ga. It is around these granite batholith and cratonic blocks of gneissic greenstone complexes that subsequent Proterozoic events have unfolded, with the cratons providing the
source of terrigenous sediments to the basins that evolved around them in diverse tectonic settings [3,4].
555


Tiểu ban E: Hóa phóng xạ, Hóa bức xạ và hóa học hạt nhân, Chu trình nhiên liệu, Cơng nghệ nhiên liệu hạt nhân,
Quản lý chất thải phóng xạ
Section E: Radiochemistry and adiation & nuclear chemistry, Nuclear fuel cycle, nuclear material science and technology,

Radioactive waste management

Recent geochronological and isotopic data generated from the Singhbhum-Odisha Craton revealed that the
crustal growth of the Indian cratons extended over a protracted period of >4 Ga to the end of Neoarchaean
(2.5 Ga) [5].
Prior to the Great Oxidation Event (GOE) which started at ~2.2 Ga, uranium was mainly
mechanically transported as detrital uraninite and deposited as placers in several Meso- and Neoarchaean
quartz pebble conglomerate and quartzite horizons of the greenstone belts in Dharwar, Aravalli and
Singhbhum cratons [6]. GOE was responsible for the initiation of intense chemical weathering of the
Neoarchaean U-rich K-granites mobilising uranium from the source rocks in the soluble (U6+) state. After
the GOE there was an abundant supply of uranium to ocean basins in U6+ state. Such a development of
anoxic/euxinic conditions favoured reduction of the hexavalent uranium to tetravalent state and its
deposition on a large scale in the strata of post-2.3 Ga age.
In southern India, the Southern Granulite Terrain (SGT) is one of the largest exposed Precambrian
deep continental crustal sections consisting of multiple deformed Archean and Neoproterozoic high-grade
metamorphic and magmatic rocks. A set of sigmoidal shear zones developed during the closure of
Mozambique ocean between Dharwar craton and SGT with progressive sequence from Pacific-type
orogeny (Neoarchean) to Himalayan-type orogeny (Neoproterozoic) as a result of collisional suturing [7,8].
Concentration of U in these domains of high-grade metamorphic rocks is very low as during progressive
regional metamorphism, U is expelled from the system during partial melting and subsequent melt
extraction. The Proterozoic basins developed over the Peninsular India exhibit quartz arenite (with or
without rudaceous components) - argillite - carbonate associations that characterise ‘passive extensional
basins’ occurring on the margin of cratonic blocks. These sediments are assigned to an array of supra-tidal,
shore-face, inter-tidal and off-shore depositional systems, with occasional incidence of aeolian, evaporitic
and euxinic environmental conditions [9,10].
Substantial thickness, in the order of kilometers, of these Proterozoic basin successions with
pervasive shallow-marine signatures is attributed to intra- to epicratonic basin model with slow, steady
subsidence [3]. Majority of the redox-controlled, sedimentary and structurally controlled, hydrothermal
uranium deposits of India are hosted in the Proterozoic rock formations (mostly between 1.9 – 0.8 Ga). The
rocks representing the transition period between Precambrian and Phanerozoic is exposed in the Lesser

Himalayan Region which also record uranium concentrations in phosphorite and black shale. Phanerozoic
sedimentation within the Indian craton commenced essentially from Late Carboniferous with the opening
of continental rift systems in East Gondwana assembly, of which India was a constituent member along
with Australia, Antarctica and Madagascar. Late Jurassic onward, the fragmentation of East Gondwana and
the separation of India from its erstwhile neighbours triggered the formation of the eastern and western
coastlines of the Indian plate. The craton-margin rifts turned into passive margins as the Indian plate took a
long northward drift with time. The continuing convergence of subducting plate and obduction of
Himalaya-Tibet fold-thrust belt, the flexural buckling of the Indian lithosphere resulted in the formation of
foreland basins with varying dimension and character in conjunction with the evolution of the Himalayan
fold-thrust system. Phanerozoic basins of varying tectonic affinity viz. rift, passive margin, accretionary
arc/forearc, intermontane, foreland opened and evolved in tune with the rift-drift-collision history of the
Indian plate, starting with intracontinental Gondwana basins in Late Carboniferous and culminating in the
Indo-Gangetic foreland with commencement of Himalayan orogeny Eocene onward [11]. The fluvial
Cretaceous sediments of Mahadek Basin in north east India, fluvio-deltaic Gondwana sediments (Permian
to Cretaceous) in Central India and the foredeep mollasic sedimentary rocks of Siwalik Basin (Middle
Miocene to Pleistocene) in northern India have significant potential to host sandstone-type uranium
mineralisation. Such mineralisation is attributed to concentration of intrinsic uranium in the basement
granitoids and sediments derived from fertile silicic magmatic crystalline/tuffaceous provenance and
subsequent remobilisation by groundwater. Enrichment of uranium is controlled by porosity- ermeability
barriers and abundance of reductants such as organic carbon, pyrite, and anaerobic bacteria.
Secondary controls by localised faults and relatively higher concentrations of Se, Mo, Cu, Co, V, and
556


Tuyển tập báo cáo Hội nghị Khoa học và Công nghệ hạt nhân toàn quốc lần thứ 14
Proceedings of Vietnam conference on nuclear science and technology VINANST-14

Au with uranium are the chemical characteristics of this period. The Deccan Traps represent a continental
flood basalt province that records immense accumulations of tholeiitic basalt magmas as layered structure
(traps) which erupted over a relatively short time span (0.5 Ma) straddling the Cretaceous-Tertiary

boundary around 65 Ma. The basaltic lava covered an area of 5 lakh sq. km. in the western and central part
of India, with thickness decreasing from west to east, with around 100 m in the east to about 1500 m in the
west [12]. Although uranium content in trap basalts is very less, uranium ccurrences are known at the
contact of the Deccan Trap (basalt)- Infratrappean (Lameta) beds – crystalline basement [13]. Though the
Deccan basalts are low in uranium content, cogenetic alkaline/carbonatite rocks contain vast economic
resources of REE. In post-Oligocene, large river systems originating from the Himalaya i.e., the Indus,
Ganga and Brahmaputra, coastal tracts and desert regions such as the Thar record thick Quaternary deposit
in Indian subcontinent. These deposits constitute an important archive for Quaternary paleoclimatic studies
including variations in monsoonal strength and intensity that took place during the Late Quaternary in India
[14]. In Western India, especially in Thar desert, Mg-calcrete formations under arid climatic condition in
fluvio-lacustrine environment has favoured the formation of calcrete type of uranium occurrences by
mixing of ephermal centripetal drainage with dissected palaeochannel water and groundwaters originating
from acidic/basic volcanic [15,16].
3. HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE OF URANIUM EXPLORATION IN INDIA

The history of exploration for atomic minerals in India dates back to the discovery of the occurrence
of monazite bearing black sand along the southern and south-western coast of India by a German Chemist,
Schomberg in 1909 [17].The first report of uranium in India was in 1913, when occurrence of gummite
(altered uraninite) and a 36 pound pure uraninite nodule was discovered from pegmatite of Gaya district,
Bihar [18,19]. ubsequently,torbernite has been discovered from Singhbhum belt in the early 1920's by a
private prospector (E.F.O. Murray) and documented in the records of the Geological Survey of India [20].
The pre-independence records of 30 year period do not show significant development in the search of
uranium minerals. However, post-independence, emphasis was given for the development of this as energy
resource and major discoveries of uranium mineralisation were recorded.
Initially, uranium exploration by AMD was primarily oriented towards understanding the various
processes of uranium mineralisation in a geological domain or in a host rock and contemplating
possibilities of economically viable deposits. The first extensive surveys for uranium began in 1949 in
Singhbhum, Eastern India by a joint team of geologists from the Atomic Energy Commission, Geological
Survey of India and Damodar Valley Corporation. The team discovered fifty seven (57) uranium anomalies
[21]. The follow up exploratory drilling mainly concentrated in four major prospects namely Jaduguda,

Bhatin, Narwapahar and Keruadungri [22] resulted in delineation of promising subsurface continuity of the
uranium mineralisation. Subsequent to the discoveries in the Singhbhum belt and the geological analogies
of discovery related to hydrothermal deposits in black shales and pegmatites elsewhere in the world,
uranium mineralisation was located in Aravalli Fold Belt at Umra (hosted in Precambrian
calcareous/carbon phyllites) and at Bhunas (pegmatite hosted) in 1955-56 [23]. The introduction of
airborne surveys was a major input to the exploration activities of AMD. India has been one of the pioneers
in using the airborne surveys for uranium exploration as AMD commenced airborne survey way back in
1955 with indigenously designed and developed Gamma Ray Total Count System to cover large areas and
lead to fairly quick location of anomalies [24]. Various geological domains were covered by flying over
1,19,000 sq. km area from 1957 – 62 [25]. Exploratory mining commenced in Jaduguda as well as in Umra
in 1957. The mineralisation had both primary and secondary uranium minerals with higher grades
recovered through a shaft and processed for its contained uranium at the Atomic Energy Establishment,
Trombay (AEET), the precursor to Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). Subsequent progressive
changes in uranium exploration strategies and adoption of innovative multidisciplinary techniques by AMD
for survey and prospecting for uranium, brought to light several other genetic types of uranium
mineralisation in India.
4. PROGRESSIVE CHANGES IN URANIUM EXPLORATION AND STRATEGIES IN INDIA

Over the last seven (07) decades, the exploration models and techniques adopted by AMD have
557


Tiểu ban E: Hóa phóng xạ, Hóa bức xạ và hóa học hạt nhân, Chu trình nhiên liệu, Cơng nghệ nhiên liệu hạt nhân,
Quản lý chất thải phóng xạ
Section E: Radiochemistry and adiation & nuclear chemistry, Nuclear fuel cycle, nuclear material science and technology,
Radioactive waste management

changed manifold. Till 1970s, exploration was primarily focused to delineate the surficial radioactive
anomalies with regard to the geochemical and geophysical properties attributed to the mineralising
processes. Exploration efforts were based mainly on investigating shear zone and granite related uranium

mineralisation. The Singhbhum copper belt in Eastern India became the obvious first choice for first
extensive surveys for uranium in India in 1949 following the analogy of vein type, structure controlled,
shear induced, hydrothermal uranium deposits established in Shinkolobwe, Katanga Copper Province,
Congo [26] and the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, USA [27]. Granitic rocks are known to constitute
the most potential source rocks for uranium. Thus terrains with Late Archaean granitoids and younger
granites had provided a good provenance. The discovery of uranium in the Quartz Pebble Conglomerates
(QPC) of Blind River, Canada and Witwatersrand in South Africa prompted surveys in the basal
conglomerates of the Eparchaean unconformity at the base of the Dharwar Supergroup in Dharwar Craton,
Iron Ore Group (IOG) in Singhbhum- Odisha Craton and Aravalli Supergroup in Aravalli Craton in India.
Subsequently, there was a paradigm shift in uranium exploration strategy during 1970s and the
Proterozoic and Phanerozoic sedimentary basins laid over such fertile granitoid-rich provinces became
potential targets for exploration. The follow up ground surveys resulted in discovery of several promising
uranium anomalies which were taken up for detailed subsurface exploration. This change in exploration
strategy and adopting global best practices/techniques in exploration and mineral deposit modelling
resulted in augmentation of substantial uranium resources in India.
The multidisciplinary techniques for survey and prospecting for uranium and other atomic minerals
in diverse geological domains of the country became the major inputs for exploration. In reconnaissance
stage, apart from the direct radiometric methods for shallow surficial deposits, concealed and deeper
exploration targets are invariably prioritised based on application of high resolution remote sensing,
airborne and ground geophysical techniques.The heliborne geophysical surveys usually employ gamma ray
spectrometry, magnetic and time domain electromagnetic (TDEM) methods besides the state of the art
Audio Frequency Magneto Telluric (AFMAG) and gravity methods. These techniques are enormously
effective in narrowing down the exploration targets, especially the concealed and deep seated targets.
Applications of advanced hyper-spectral remote sensing technique are being utilised for delineation of
alteration zones associated with mineralisation and subsequent target selection. In addition, ground
geophysical methods such as electrical, magnetic, gravity and electromagnetic methods are employed
where airborne surveys have indicated potentiality to define target in localized scale. Presently, exploration
targets are being invariably prioritised based on the interpretation of ground and heliborne geophysical data
including the conventional geological and geochemical studies. Geographical Information System (GIS)
has facilitated the integration of digital geophysical/geological data. Technological advancements such as

use of mobile GPS mapper, microprocessor based total station survey instrument, handheld GPS, CAD/GIS
software based thematic mapping, portable XRF and indigenous development of portable 4-channel
gamma-ray spectrometer have eased the hardship faced by field geologist on course of ground
geological/geochemical/radiometric surveys and mapping in earlier days.
Subsequently, subsurface exploration is carried out by drilling to assess the subsurface continuity and
homogeneity of the mineralization. Mechanised borehole multi para-logging system, microprocessor based
borehole trajectory logging system, core imaging system etc. are utilised to facilitate high quality data
generation. Besides, software based ore body modelling, 3D visualization, volumetric analysis, resource
estimation and ore body simulation utilising the sub-surface exploration data are carried out in line with
best global practices. It helps in planning of exploratory/commercial mining and understanding the aspects
of ur anium metallogeny.
The metallogenic studies require state-of-the-art analytical facilities. Accordingly, the analytical
capabilities of AMD have witnessed noticeable advancements during recent years. The Geochronology,
Stable Isotope, Petro–mineralogy, XRD, XRF, Electron Microprobe, Mineral Technology, Radiometric and
Chemical laboratories of AMD are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment / instrumentations like
Thermal Ionisation Mass Spectrometer (TIMS), Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer (IRMS), modern
558


Tuyển tập báo cáo Hội nghị Khoa học và Công nghệ hạt nhân toàn quốc lần thứ 14
Proceedings of Vietnam conference on nuclear science and technology VINANST-14

petrological microscope aided with image analysing software systems, X-Ray Fluorescence instruments
(Wavelength and Energy Dispersive), Electron Probe Micro Analyser (EPMA), Inductively Coupled
Plasma – Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS) and Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES), Atomic
Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) etc., which facilitates generating analytical data to support the exploration
programme and understand the genetic aspects of mineralisation. Utilisation of high resolution HPGe
detectors and several major and trace elements using Instrumenta Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA)
technique has facilitated assaying uranium up to trace level in geological samples. The Chemical
laboratories of AMD are equipped with state-ofthe-art instruments for estimation of uranium up to parts per

trillion (ppt) level and most of the other elements up to parts per million (ppm) level.
These facilities have helped AMD to identify major metallogenic provinces of India. The exploration
efforts are focused in these provinces which have largely aided the augmentation of uranium resources
from different geological domains of the country in recent times (Fig. 2).6
5. URANIUM PROVINCES OF INDIA AND PERIODS OF METALLOGENY

India is the seventh-largest country in the world, with a total area of 3.28 million square kilometer.
Out of this, ~49% area is not suitable for uranium exploration as it includes the Deccan Traps (basic
volcanics; ~16%), higher Himalayan terrain (inaccessible; ~13%), IndoGangetic Plain (alluvium; ~13%),
Mio-Pliocene/ Recent sediments, Ophiolites (~4.7%), Thar Desert (~1.3%) and the coastlines (~0.2%).
Two major geographical units of India, namely the Peninsular Indian Shield and the Himalayan belt, host a
variety of uranium deposits and occurrences. Over the last seven decades AMD has been carrying out
integrated multidisciplinary exploration over several geological domains based on conceptual models. This
has resulted in identification of the following five major uranium provinces.
1. The Cuddapah Basin (Paleo- to Neoproterozoic) in the Dharwar Craton of Southern Peninsular
India is one of the major uranium provinces hosting uranium mineralisation at various stratigraphic levels.
Two major types of uranium mineralisation / deposits namely the stratabound, carbonate-hosted and
unconformity-related have been identified in the Cuddapah Basin. The stratabound carbonate-hosted
deposits occur in the southern part of the Cuddapah Basin. The Palaeoproterozoic Vempalle Dolostone
occurring in the lower stratigraphic sequence of the Cuddapah Basin hosts a unique, low-grade and largetonnage uranium deposit in the Tummalapalle-Rachakuntapalle sector. The vast extent of the deposit, its
stratabound nature, dolostone host rock and point-to-point correlation with uniform grade and thickness of
the mineralisation over considerable lengths along the strike and dip, make the deposit unique in the world.
Two ore lodes with an average thickness of 2.30 meters and 1.75 meters, separated by a lean band of ~3
meters, are under active exploration at vertical depths of up to 1000 meters. Exploration is being continued
in several sectors of the 30 km long belt in southern part of Cuddapah basin. The unconformity-related
uranium deposits occur in the northwestern margin of the Cuddapah Basin, comprising the Meso- to
Neoproterozoic Srisailam and Palnad SubBasins. Intensive exploration over the past few decades in the
northern part of the Srisailam Sub-Basin established three low-tonnage, low-grade uranium deposits named
Lambapur, Peddagattu and Chitrial. Exploration efforts along the northern margin of the Palnad Sub-Basin
have resulted in locating a low-grade and low-tonnage deposit at Koppunuru. Exploration is underway in

other parts of the Srisailam and Palnad SubBasins. Substantial dimensions of uranium mineralisation
occurring close to the unconformity between the basement granite and Gulcheru Quartzite have been
established in the Kappatralla Outlier.
2. The Mesoproterozoic Singhbhum Shear Zone (SSZ) in Eastern India is a 160 km long, arcuate
belt of tectonised rocks fringing the northern boundary of the Singhbhum Craton along the Singhbhum
Group of rocks. Exploration efforts since the early fifties led to the identification of several low-grade and
low- to medium-tonnage uranium deposits, some of which are under active exploitation. The established
uranium deposits are mainly located in the central and eastern sectors of the shear zone. Intensive
exploration in various sectors in the SSZ has added significant resources to the uranium inventory in the
recent times. Notable among them are Singridungri-Banadungri, Rajdah, Jaduguda North, Bangurdih and
Narwapahar sectors. A recent, path breaking discovery of a globally unique, serpentinised peridotite hosted
polymetallic deposit (U–Cr–Ni–Mo–REE–Fe–Mg) in SSZ has provided a new exploration model for
559


Tiểu ban E: Hóa phóng xạ, Hóa bức xạ và hóa học hạt nhân, Chu trình nhiên liệu, Cơng nghệ nhiên liệu hạt nhân,
Quản lý chất thải phóng xạ
Section E: Radiochemistry and adiation & nuclear chemistry, Nuclear fuel cycle, nuclear material science and technology,
Radioactive waste management

uranium mineralisation.
3. The Mesoproterozoic North Delhi Fold Belt, comprising the Khetri, Alwar and LalsotBayana
Sub-Basins in the northwestern part of India, hosts several uranium occurrences. The 200 km long NNESSW trending “Albitite Line” passing through the Delhi Supergroup and Banded Gneissic Complex is the
site for extensive sodic metasomatism and holds great potential to host metasomatite-type uranium
mineralisation. Integrated7 exploration including litho-structural, heliborne and ground geophysics and
drilling resulted in the discovery of a fracture-controlled metasomatite-type uranium deposit near Rohil,
Rajasthan. Intensive multi-disciplinary exploration led to the discovery of another deposit at Jahaz,
Rajasthan. Intensive exploration efforts have resulted in establishing promising new sectors in Guman
singh-Ki-Dhani, Narsinghpuri, and Hurra-Ki-Dhani in the contiguous area of Rohil, which have similar
geological settings.

4. The Upper Cretaceous Lower Mahadek Formation occurring in northeastern India, exposed
along the southern margin of Shillong Plateau is a potential host for sandstone type uranium mineralisation.
This geological domain has been under exploration since the late 1970s. Substantial exploration inputs over
the years led to the discovery of seven lowto edium-grade, low- to medium-tonnage, uranium deposits at
Domiasiat, Wahkyn, Wahkut, Gomaghat, Tyrnai, Umthongkut and Lostoin.
5. The Neoproterozoic Bhima Basin in Southern India comprises calcareous sediments with
minor arenaceous lithostratigraphic units of the Bhima Group, which were deposited over basement granite
and have been affected by several east-west trending faults. A small-size, medium-grade uranium deposit
has been established at Gogi along the GogiKurlagare-Gundahalli Fault. Intensive multi-disciplinary
exploration also established another deposit at Kanchankayi adjacent to the Gogi uranium deposit. Current
exploration efforts are concentrated in the eastern extension of the Kanchankayi sector, around Hulkal.
From the metallogenic point of view, four (04) uranium metallogenic epochs have been identified in India.
These are
a) 2800 – 2200 Ma: Uranium mineralisation hosted in quartz pebble conglomerate at the base of the
greenstone belts in Dharwar, Singhbhum and Aravalli cratons belong to this period
b) 2000 – 800 Ma: This is the major metallogenic epoch in India. The uranium deposits / occurrences
in Cuddapah Basin, Singhbhum Shear Zone, Chhotanagpur Granite Gneiss Complex, Aravalli Fold Belt,
intracratonic basins such as Bhima, Kaladgi, Vindhyan, Bijawar, Shillong and Chhattisgarh, Crystallines of
Himalayas and Kotri – Dongargarh Belt belong to this epoch.
c) 540 – 0.011Ma: Uranium mineralisation associated with phosphorites and black shales of Krol–
Tal sequence in Lesser Himalaya, the sandstone type uranium deposits/occurrences in Cretaceous Mahadek
basin, Permian-Cretaceous Satpura-Gondwana Basin and Miocene-Pleistocene sedimentary sequences in
Siwalik Basin belong to this period.
d) post 0. 011 Ma: Uranium mineralisation associated with the Quaternary calcrete / playa in Western
India occurs in this period.
6. THE WAY FORWARD

The progressive technological, instrumental and conceptual advancements brought about in AMD
have facilitated several leads and the discovery of several new uranium occurrences / deposits in India.
AMD has systematically planned the exploration strategy for future augmentation of additional uranium

resources. Exploration inputs are to be intensified in the first order target areas for enhanced resource
augmentation while R&D and phase-wise exploration inputs in the identified greenfield areas will be
focussed on developing these areas for further exploration. AMD envisages around 2 million line
kilometers of heliborne geophysical surveys and 5 million meters exploratory drilling to establish nearly
3,50,000 tonnes uranium oxide within a period of 10- 15 years (2020 -2035), which is approximately the
same amount established in India in last seven decades. Strengthening in-house exploration and R&D wing
of the Directorate by acquiring state-of-the-art instruments, trained manpower and infrastructure are high
on agenda for achieving the feat.
560


Tuyển tập báo cáo Hội nghị Khoa học và Công nghệ hạt nhân toàn quốc lần thứ 14
Proceedings of Vietnam conference on nuclear science and technology VINANST-14

Considering the availability of huge thorium resources, India has the most technically ambitious and
innovative three stage NPP with an aim to base the future nuclear power generation on thorium rather than
on uranium in its third stage. However, the expansion and self-reliance in the first (natural uranium based)
and second uranium and plutonium based stage of the NPP relies on the requirement of domestic in-situ
uranium resources which will be catered by the forward looking and the state-of-the-art exploration
strategy of AMD.
REFERENCES
[1] Robertson, D.S., Tilsley, J.E., and Hogg, G.M. The time-bound character of uranium deposits. Econ. Geol. 55, pp.
659-694 (1978).
[2] Bruneton, P. and Cuney, M. Geology of uranium deposits in Uranium for Nuclear Power, Hore-Lacy, Ian, Eds.
(Woodhead, 2016) vol. 1, chap. 2.
[3] Ramakrishnan M, Vaidyanadhan R. Geology of India. (Geol. Soc. Ind., 2010). vol. 1,556p & vol. 2, 428p.
[4] Valdiya, K.S. The Making of India – Geodynamic Evolution. (Springer Publ., 2016 ed.2), 924p.
[5] Chaudhuri, T. A review of Hadean to Neoarchean crust generation in the SinghbhumCraton, India and possible
connection with Pilbara Craton, Australia: The geochronological perspective; Earth Sci. Review 202, 103085: pp. 125 (2020).
[6] Mahadevan, T.M.: Exploration for quartz-pebble type uranium deposits in IndiaProblems and prospects; Mem. Geol.

Soc. Ind. 9, pp. 19-28 (1988).
[7] Sato, K., Santosh, M., Tsunogae, T., Chetty, T.R.K. and Hirata, T. Subduction–accretion–collision history along the
Gondwana suture in southern India: a laser ablation ICP– MS study of zircon chronology. Jour. Asian Earth Sci. 40
(1), pp. 162–171 (2011).
[8] Chetty, T.R.K. and Santosh, M. Proterozoic orogens in southern Peninsular India: contiguities and complexities. Jour.
Asian Earth Sci. 78, pp. 39–53(2013).
[9] Kale, V.S. Proterozoic Basins of Peninsular India: status within the global Proterozoic systems. Proceed. Ind. Nat. Sci.
Acad., 82 (3) pp. 461-477(2016).
[10] Mazumder R, Eriksson P.G. Precambrian basins of India: stratigraphic and tectonic context. Mem. Geol. Soc. Lond.
43(1) pp.1–4 (2015).
[11] Chakraborty, P.P., Tandon, S.K., Saha, S. Development of Phanerozoic sedimentary basins of India. Jour. Asian Earth
Sci. 184, pp. 1 – 9 (2019).
[12] Kalia, K.L. and Krishna, V.G. Deep Seismic Sounding Studies in India and major discoveries. Curr. Sci. 62(1), pp.
117 – 154 (1992).
[13] Hansoti, S.K., Kamlesh Kumar, Duddalwar, A.B. and Nagabhushanam B. Geology and uranium mineralisation in
Deccan Trap-Lameta-Crystalline basement at Lalbarra, Mandla district, Madhya Pradesh, India. Jour. Expl. Res.
Atomic Miner. 7, pp. 15-23 (1994).
[14] Tandon, S.K., Sinha, R., Gibling, M.R., Dasgupta, A.S., Ghazanfari, P. Late Quaternary evolution of the Ganga
Plains: myths and misconceptions, recent developments and future directions. Golden Jubilee Mem. Geol. Soc. Ind.
66, pp. 259–299 (2008).
[15] Kumar, Ramesh, Pande, D., Misra, A and Nanda, L.K. Playa sediments of the Dindwana Lake, Rajasthan: A new
environment for surficial type uranium mineralisation in India. Jour. Geol. Soc. Ind. 77 (1), pp. 89-94 (2011).
[16] Rao, A.Y., Vijay Raj, K., Yadav, O.P., Nanda, L.K., Rai, A.K. and Parihar, P.S., 2015: Uranium bearing magnesiancalcrete in surficial environment from Khemasar, Churu district, Rajasthan, India; Curr. Sci. 108 (8): pp. 1540-1544.9
[17] Overstreet, W.C. Geologic occurrence of Monazite. U.S.G.S Prof. Paper 530, 327p (1967).
[18] Hayden, H. H., General report for 1913. Pitchblende: Ind. Geol. Survey, Rec.44, 24p
[19] (1914).
[20] Frondel, C. Mineral Composition of Gummite. Americ. Miner. 41 (7&8), 539-568 (1956).
[21] Fermor, L. The mineral resources of Bihar and Orissa. Rec. Geol. Surv. Ind. 53, pp. 239- 319 (1921).
[22] Khedkar,V.R. Iso-rad survey and prospecting for uranium in the belt of uraniferous rocks in Singhbhum district,
Bihar. Un published F.S. Report 1950-51. RMSU(AEC) (1951).

[23] Bhola, K.L., Rama Rao, Y.N., Sastry, C.S , and Mehta, N.R. Uranium mineralization in the Singhbhum Thrust Belt,
Bihar India. Econ. Geol. 61, pp. 162-173 (1966).
[24] Kaul, R., Yadava, R.S., Gupta, K.R., Govind Singh, and Bahuguna, R. Structure and uranium mineralization in the
Proterozoic Aravalli Supergroup of Umra area, Udaipur district, Rajasthan, India. Jour. Expl. Res. Atomic Miner. 4,
pp. 13-25 (1991).
[25] Rama Rao, Y.N. Conceptual approaches and changing philosophies in uranium exploration through time in India.
Jour. Geol. Soc. Ind. 82, pp. 192-197 (2013).
[26] Sinha, D.K. Geophysical exploration for uranium and other atomic minerals in India – Historical perspective and
future scope. Jour. Expl. Res. Atomic Miner. 28, pp.1-23 (2020).
[27] Derriks, J.J.; Vaes, J.F. The Shinkolobwe Uranium Deposit: Current Status of Our Geological and Metallogenic

561


Tiểu ban E: Hóa phóng xạ, Hóa bức xạ và hóa học hạt nhân, Chu trình nhiên liệu, Cơng nghệ nhiên liệu hạt nhân,
Quản lý chất thải phóng xạ
Section E: Radiochemistry and adiation & nuclear chemistry, Nuclear fuel cycle, nuclear material science and technology,
Radioactive waste management

Knowledge in Proc. Int. Conf. on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy. New York: United Nations. pp. 94–128
(1956).
[28] Sims, P. K., and Sheridan, D. M. Geology of uranium deposits in the Front Range, Colorado: U.S. Geol. Surv. Bull.
1159, 116p (1964).

562