CENTRAL JORDAN URANIUM PROJECT: MONITORING THE PROJECT MATURITY VIA THE APPLICATION OF THE UNFC-2009

摘要

The uranium deposits in the Central Jordan Uranium Project (CJUP) are primarily hosted by the Muaqar Chalky Marl (MCM) Formation of upper Maastrichtian age, part of the Upper Cretaceous to lower Tertiary Belqa Group. Uranium exploration and resource estimation were performed over three phases in this project: phase I (2009 - 2014), phase II (2016) and phase III (2018 to current). JORC-2012 standards have been adopted and followed to carry over all exploration activities and resource estimation stages; from Inferred to the measured category. Metallurgical testwork indicated the amenability of the ore to static leaching using alkaline lixiviants. However other metal extraction routes, including various physical beneficiation processing concepts, were investigated. Initial results, with a fourfold concentration upgrade, were encouraging but a preliminary engineering and economic trade off analysis indicated the whole of ore concept as the preferred option. Therefore, higher level process development and engineering endeavors are currently culminating into the construction of a processing pilot plant based on heap leach technology. The data generated from the pilot plant operation will provide the basis for commercial plant detailed engineering and project feasibility analysis. This study demonstrates the advantages of using the UNFC-2009 classification system to monitor the project maturity of CJUP over different phases of exploration and technical viability. The project progressed from a "Potentially Commercial Projects/Development on Hold" project in Phase I to a more mature "Potentially Commercial Projects/Development Pending" in Phase II. Phase III is still progressing. The application of UNFC-2009 to the CJUP study in Jordan clearly demonstrates the advantage of tracking the project from a lower maturity level of assessment to a higher level. Therefore, classification and reporting of uranium project results using UNFC-2009 have clear advantages for policy makers in Jordan, as well as for internal company requirements for monitoring the progress of a project over time.