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Abstract

Uranium is used as a fuel mineral for nuclear power, and in the manufacture of nuclear weapons. In this chapter we begin by briefly reviewing the adequacy of uranium resources to supply an expanding nuclear industry and then consider the relative importance of the principal deposit types. The diversity of uranium occurrences precludes a detailed consideration of each deposit type but the reader is referred to Nash et al. (1981) for an excellent overview of the subject. We have selected unconformity and sandstone-type deposits for particular consideration. The reasons are partly because together they constitute more than 60% of World resources but also because they serve to illustrate contrasting approaches to exploration. Uranium contained in quartz—pebble conglomerates is discussed in Chapter 5.

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© 1986 R. P. Edwards and K. Atkinson

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Edwards, R., Atkinson, K. (1986). Uranium ores of sedimentary affiliation. In: Ore Deposit Geology and its Influence on Mineral Exploration. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-8056-6_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-8056-6_9

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