ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES OF SURFICIAL URANIUM DEPOSITS: OUM DHEROUA CASE STUDY (ISLAMIC REPUBLIC MAURITANIA)

Uranium deposits and resources are considered as an important raw material base for the implementation of scenarios for the green and clean energy transition. Traditionally discussed risks of potential environmental impacts of Uranium projects development could be subdivided by deposit type. Surficial type mineralization connected to the calcretes in shallow paleovalleys or playas has many specific features which might be analysed separately. Case study of Oum Dheroua Uranium project in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania shows an unexpected lower estimation of environmental risks comparatively to conventional Uranium projects despite to open-pit mining technology. The reasons for such estimation, connected to geographic location, the inclusion of Uranium minerals in natural ecosystems and low scale of deposits (both in grade and size sense). Potential by-products (Vanadium and Strontium) are not part of environmental factors assessment.