Australia has uranium deposits of world significance. Deposits of uranium of differing size and grade can be found in most parts of Australia.
The most significant deposits are in South Australia, the Northern Territory, Western Australia and Queensland.
Geoscience Australia assesses and maps Australia’s uranium resources and identified deposits. GA maps show the locations of Australia’s most significant uranium deposits.
Of Australia’s total uranium resources, Geoscience Australia estimates that South Australia has 78%, the Northern Territory has 13%, Western Australia has 6% and Queensland has 3%.
The Olympic Dam deposit in South Australia is the single largest deposit in the world, containing greater than a million tonnes of uranium.
The extent of the resource at Ranger in the Northern Territory has been confirmed as also being of world significance. Large deposits, such as Yeelirrie, Mulga Rocks and Kintyre, also exist in Western Australia.
Summary of Known Uranium Resources Available in Major Deposits and Prospective Mines
|
Deposit |
Grade U3O8 |
Contained U3O8 |
Category |
|
Jabiluka, NT |
0.49% |
67 700 t |
reserves |
|
plus: |
0.36% |
16 440 |
measured & indicated resources |
|
0.53% |
57 500 |
inferred resources |
|
|
Koongarra, NT |
0.8% |
14 540 t |
reserves |
|
Mt Fitch, NT |
0.046% |
6 600 t |
resources |
|
Angela, NT |
0.1% |
10 250 t |
resources |
|
Bigrlyi/Ngalia, NT |
0.082% |
12 200 t |
indicated & Inferred resources |
|
Nolans Bore, NT |
0.02% |
3 977 t |
resources |
|
Napperby, NT |
0.036% |
3 350 t |
inferred resources |
|
Kintyre, WA |
0.49% |
25 600 t |
indicated resources |
|
Yeelirrie, WA |
0.13% |
63 000 t |
measured & indicated resources |
|
Mulga Rock, WA |
0.052% |
34 000 t |
indicated & Inferred resources |
|
Ponton, Double 8, WA |
0.031% |
7 800 t |
inferred resources |
|
Nyang, Carley Bore, WA |
0.031% |
7 100 t |
total resources |
|
Manyingee, WA |
0.09% |
12 000 t |
resources |
|
Yanrey, WA |
7 136 t |
resources |
|
|
Oobagooma, WA |
0.12% |
9 950 t |
inferred resources |
|
Wiluna (with Lake maitland), WA |
0.053% |
29 300 t |
measured & indicated resources |
|
Theseus, Lake Mackay, WA |
0.049% |
3 600 t |
inferred resources |
|
Thatcher Soak, WA |
0.029% |
4 900 t |
inferred resources |
|
Billeroo West (Gould Dam), SA |
0.045%, 0.33 m% |
2 500 t |
indicated resources |
|
Beverley Four MIle, SA |
0.33% |
32 000 t |
indicated & inferred resources |
|
Samphire, SA |
0.023% |
21 000 t |
inferred resources |
|
Carapateeena, SA |
0.027% |
55 000 t |
inferred resource |
|
Prominent Hill, SA |
0.012% |
9 900 t |
inferred resources |
|
Mt Gee, SA |
0.063% |
26 900 t |
inferred resources |
|
Crocker Well, SA |
0.048% |
6 740 t |
resources |
|
Curnamona, SA |
? |
? |
|
|
Valhalla, Qld |
0.089% |
24 765 t |
measured & indicated resources |
|
0.08 |
5 860 |
inferred resources |
|
|
Skal, Andersons, Bikini, Watta, Qld |
0.06% |
12 800 t |
inferred resources |
|
Westmoreland, Qld |
0.089% |
16000 t |
indicated resources |
|
7 000 t |
inferred resources |
||
|
Ben Lomond, Qld |
0.27% |
3 600 t |
indicated resources |
|
0.21% |
1 250 t |
inferred resources |
|
|
Maureen, Qld |
0.123% |
2 940 t |
resources |
Source: World Nuclear Association
AUSTRALIA'S URANIUM PRODUCTION
Australian uranium operating mines are in South Australia and the Northern Territory.
The industry generates almost a billion dollars of exports annually.
Source: World Nuclear Association
Source: Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office
URANIUM RESOURCES AND PRODUCTION BY COUNTRY
Source: World Nuclear Association, OECD Nuclear Energy Agency and IAEA