Exploration for uranium in Argentina began in the early 1950's, and subsequently deposits have been discovered in a number of locations, mostly in the western part of the country and in the southern province of Chubut in Patagonia. For the last 25 years only minimal exploration for uranium was carried out by Commission Nacional de Energia Atomica de Argentina (CNEA). Recent activity has centred on the Cerro Solo and Laguna Colorada deposits in Chubut and the Las Termas property in the north-western province of Catamarca.
Uranium has been produced on a small scale since the mid-1950's, with cumulative production reaching 2 509 tonnes by the end of 1999. Argentina's uranium industry has been shrinking fast: 1999 output was only 4 tonnes. The sole production centre currently in operation is the San Rafael facility in the province of Mendoza, which processes ore from the Sierra Pintada deposit - its nominal production capacity of 120 tonnes/year is severely underutilised. The CNEA has coordinated the entire scope of uranium programs since the 1960's.
Proven reserves of uranium, recoverable at less than US$ 80/kgU, were 5 240 tonnes at end-1999, a slight increase on the end-1996 estimate, which is attributable to a revised assessment of the Cerro Solo deposit. Further known conventional resources consist of 2 240 tonnes of reasonably assured resources (RAR), recoverable at US$ 80-130/kgU and 2 450 tonnes of estimated additional resources (EAR-1) recoverable at less than US$ 130/kgU. Undiscovered resources (at the latter cost level) are put at 1 440 tonnes.
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URANIUM
Argentina
Salta
Jujuy
Catamarca
La Rioja
San Juan
Maps & Photos
Sandstone-Type Uranium Deposits
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