image: Upper Mustang, NEPAL
Uranium is a radioactive element with
atomic number 92 in the periodic table. Uranium -238 (U-238) is the most common
and stable isotope of uranium found in the earth. Generally it is a rare
element with minimum concentration in the earth as it is found in a very few
parts per million or even more.
Host/Ore:
The important compound of uranium,
triuranium octoxide (U₃O₈) is extracted from its ore uraninite.
Sandstone is one of the most important host of uranium as
more than 50% of known uranium deposits of the world are of sedimentary deposit
mostly sandstone.
Leucogranite, pegmatites are also the important hosts.
History:
After the
radiometric survey back in 2014, it has been confirmed about the occurrence of
uranium in Upper Mustang of Nepal.
But this is not only the first occurrence in
the country. Early study suggests that, small mineralizing body of uranium was also
predicted in the sandstone deposit of Siwalik Group of Central Nepal.
The radiometric survey suggests that the
mineralization of Uranium deposited in the middle and lower Siwalik was restricted
less than a kilometer.
So the extraction is not conducted due to the
less concentration in the Uranium of Siwalik yet.
But the present condition has slightly heated
the situation after the survey of 2014 in Upper Mustang.
The
report suggests that the mineralization is expected to be larger than 30 sq.km.
So, due
to the prediction of the large concentration of the Uranium deposit, Nepal is optimistic
for the extraction.
Occurrence:
According to the report of “Department of Mines and Geology”
during the radiometric survey of the Siwalik sandstone a few irregular and
small about (mm to 1 m) thick, (15cm to 35m) long and another 105m thick with length
of 500m uranium mineralization was found. This mineralization comprises the
middle Siwalik group and basal part of upper Siwalik group of the central
Nepal. This mineralization is associated with coaly materials as well as with
sandstone mostly arkose (type of sandstone which is rich in feldspar).
According to the data of radiometric survey, the significant mineralization was recorded in Tinbhangale area of Hetauda district which is underlain by the coarse grained dominated sediments of Middle and Upper Siwalik.
Another radiometric survey in 2014 gave the account of the
deposit of Uranium in the upper Mustang of Nepal near Nepal-China border.
According to the report of International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA), 10 kms long and 3 kms wide of uranium deposit of high grade is located
in Upper Mustang.
This concentration is very larger compared to other
significant uranium mineralization in Nepal.
image : upper Mustang , Nepal
Extraction policy of Nepal Government:
There is no such law made till now by the government of Nepal
for the extraction of Uranium.
In the absence of this law, the government cannot proceed for
the extraction of uranium.
As the extraction is very expensive, the private interference
of domestic company cannot exhibit here.
As no licenses has been issued by DMG yet.
So this may result to the interference of foreign aid and
foreign policy (most likely) for the extraction of uranium.
In this present situation, government can pass the bail for
the foreign interference anytime and this law is most likely to favor powerful
nations like USA.
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