New Uranium Mining Projects - South/Central America
(last updated 6 Sep 2008)
Contents:
In Argentina, uranium prospection and/or exploration is being performed by Calypso Acquisition Corp. 
,
Energía Mineral S.A. ,
Consolidated Pacific Bay Minerals Ltd. ,
Mega Uranium Ltd.,
International Mineral Resources Ltd.,
United Energy Metals S.A.,
Laramide Resources Ltd.,
Wealth Minerals Ltd. ,
Madero Minerals S.A.,
Globe Metals & Mining Ltd ,
Yamiri Gold and Energy Inc. ,
Urex Energy Corp. ,
Portal Resources Ltd. ,
Cascadero Copper Corporation ,
Strategic Resources Ltd. ,
Argentina Uranium Corp. ,
Blue Sky Uranium Corp. ,
Uranio AG ,
Uranio del Sur S.A. ,
Jackson Minerals Ltd ,
UrAmerica PLC
NGOs denounce irregular granting of land for uranium mine in La Rioja province
Environmentalist organizations and the Kirchnerism of La Rioja say that the provincial government of La Rioja has granted "in silence" almost 150 thousand hectares to a Canadian miner for the purpose of open-pit uranium mining.
In the denunciation the environmental organizations claimed that the government of Luis Beder Herrera, "without official announcement, nor public presentation of environmental impact studies, nor Public Hearing, has granted in total silence from 2007 to today 149,318 hectares of La Riojan territory to the Canadian company Rome Resources Ltd , through the Swiss company Uranio AG and its Argentine subsidiary Uranio del Sur SA".
(Los Andes Sep. 4, 2008)
Provincial Government of Jujuy suspends mining exploration in zone of Tilcara
By judicial order, the Provincial Government of Jujuy suspended on Aug. 7, 2008, the proceedings of mining exploration in the zone of Tilcara. It also decided to restrain the orders of prospection in the region of the Yungas.
(Clarín Aug. 8, 2008)
Protest against uranium exploration in UNESCO World Heritage area Quebrada de Humahuaca (Jujuy province)
On August 1, 2008, the NGO Los Vecinos Autoconvocados de Tilcara sued the Province of Jujuy in administrative court over the mining exploration permits issued in the Quebrada de Humahuaca area. (Vecinos Autoconvocados Aug. 3, 2008)
On July 10, 2008, two thousand residents of several localities of Quebrada de Humahuaca held a manifestation in Tilcara against uranium exploration permits awarded to Uranio del Sur SA in the UNESCO World Heritage area .
(Clarín July 12, 2008)
For opposition against uranium mining in Jujuy, see No a la contaminación en la Quebrada de Humahuaca (in Spanish)
Argentina announces discovery of uranium deposit in Jáchal department (San Juan province)
A uranium find was announced yesterday in the provincial capital San Juan by the national senator Caesar Ambrosio Gioja, president of the Commission of Mining, Energy and Fuel of the Senate.
The finding of the deposit, in the department of Jáchal, whose departmental head is 150 kilometers to the north of the capital, is in the stage of preliminary studies, therefore it was explained that although it is an important discovery, it is still premature to speak of mining of the mineral.
(Los Andes June 4, 2008)
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)
> 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 .
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)
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)
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. , 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)
In Bolivia, uranium prospection and exploration is being performed by Intrepid Mines Ltd , Mega Uranium Ltd.
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) , an affiliate of the Ministry of Mines and Energy . 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)
> View deposit info
INB selects private partner for mining of Santa Quitéria uranium/phosphate deposit
On June 19, 2008, Brazil's state-run nuclear mining and fuel company INB chose local fertilizers producer Galvani as the private partner to mine phosphate and uranium at the Santa Quitéria reserve.
The INB, which has the monopoly rights on uranium mining in the country with the world's sixth biggest reserves of the radioactive metal, will get the uranium produced at the mine and Galvani will keep the phosphate, used as fertilizer.
Family-owned Galvani is Brazil's only integrated producer of phosphate fertilizers.
The Santa Quitéria prospect has a capacity to produce 240,000 tonnes oh phosphate a year and 1,600 tonnes of uranium ore, the INB said in a statement. The private company will invest $350 million in the project.
Santa Quitéria in the northeastern Ceará state would churn out 800 tonnes of uranium in 2011 and then gradually boost output to 1,600 tonnes later, allowing Brazil to export over 1,000 tonnes of excess metal.
(Reuters June 19, 2008)
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)
> 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.
In Chile, uranium prospection and/or exploration is being performed by
Lefroy Resources Ltd ,
Polar Star Mining Corporation ,
U3O8 Energy Ltd ,
U3O8 Holdings plc ,
Corporación Nacional del Cobre (Codelco)
By the end of the year, state-owned copper company Corporación Nacional del Cobre (Codelco) will be working with Chile's Nuclear Energy Commission to determine the feasibility of extracting uranium from its northern Chuquicamata and Radomiro Tomic mines, reported Chilean daily El Mercurio this week.
(Santiago Times Sep. 3, 2008)
In Colombia, uranium prospection and/or exploration is being performed by
Energentia Resources Inc.,
Mega Uranium Ltd.,
Blue Sky Uranium Corp. ,
UrAmerica PLC
In Ecuador, uranium prospection and/or exploration is being performed by
Spirit Exploration, Inc. ,
Bolivar Mining Corp.
In Guatemala, uranium prospection and/or exploration is being performed by
Pathfinder Resources Ltd. , Gold-Ore Resources Ltd. , Santoy Resources Ltd.
In Guyana, uranium prospection and/or exploration is being performed by
Prometheus Resources Guyana Inc. ,
U3O8 Corp. ,
StrataGold Corporation ,
Takatu Minerals Ltd. ,
Pharsalus Inc.
In Mexico, uranium prospection and/or exploration is being performed by
Fronteer Development Group Inc.,
Kennecott Exploration Company, Geoinformatics Exploration Inc. ,
Laramide Resources Ltd.,
Tonogold Resources, Inc. ,
Prospect Uranium, Inc. ,
NWT Uranium Corp.,
Azure Minerals Ltd
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)
In Paraguay, uranium prospection and exploration is being performed by
Coronel Oviedo Mining Company SA,
Crescent Resources Corp. ,
Cue Resources Ltd. ,
Transandes Paraguay S.A.,
Wildhorse Energy Ltd ,
Cameco Corp.,
Yellow Cat Uranium PLC ,
Picomayo Minerales SA
In Peru, uranium prospection and exploration is being performed by
Eldorado Gold Corporation ,
Solex Resources Corp. ,
Vena Resources Inc. ,
MINERGIA S.A.C. ,
Cameco Corporation,
Range Resources Ltd ,
Westmag Ltd ,
Wealth Minerals Ltd. ,
Contact Uranium Ltd. ,
Cardero Resource Corp. ,
Macusani Yellowcake Inc. ,
Lefroy Resources Ltd ,
Alara Uranium Ltd ,
Fission Energy Corp.,
Alturas Minerals Corp. ,
Bolivar Mining Corp.
"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 considers launching bid for uranium exploration
Authorities at Uruguay's national mining and geology department Dinamige 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)
