Bruneton and five co-authors reported in 2018 that in 1995, the IAEA published a map, World Distribution of Uranium Deposits [1], which was followed in 1996 with a World Guidebook [2] to accompany the map. The guidebook contained information on 582 uranium deposits (≥500 tU, ≥0.03% U), describing 13 parameters that included location, status, resource range, average grade range, age, host rock and tectonic setting. However, at that time, for many deposits, this knowledge was very limited.
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In the late 1990s, a considerable amount of information on uranium deposits, particularly from the former Eastern Bloc countries became available. Subsequently, a sharp increase in the price of uranium in 2005 led to greatly increased exploration and the discovery of many new deposits. The guidebook and the database on which it is based is known as UDEPO (Uranium DEPOsits). The database has been published on the IAEA web site since 2004 and has been continuously updated to include new deposits and provide more information on the uranium geology and technical characteristics of the deposits.
In 2009, a technical document, World Distribution of Uranium Deposits (UDEPO) with Uranium Deposit Classification [3], was published by the IAEA with data for 874 uranium deposits (≥500 tU, ≥0.03% U, 37 parameters described).
A new report published in 2018, World Distribution of Uranium Deposits (UDEPO) – 2016 Edition [4], contains information on 1807 uranium deposits (≥300 tU, no grade restriction) and uses the new classification of uranium deposits adopted in 2013 by the IAEA [5–7]. It contains summary tables, diagrams and figures illustrating the diversity of the uranium deposits.
The database is continually updated and improved and although not publishing exact values of resources and grades, is nevertheless an interesting and useful tool for geologists and researchers. In addition, a world map of uranium deposits has been published by the IAEA to accompany the database.
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