Student Mario Emad Ayyad, Supervised by Professor Awatef Abu Seda, reported that before the 1996, the exploration works resulted in the discovery of some low grade U- occurrences which related to various geologic formations such as; vein-type (G. El-Missikat), metasomatized granites (G. Um Ara), shear zones in calc-alkaline granite and inter-mountain basin (G. Gattar) and surfacial type U-deposit in sedimentary rocks (Abu Zeneima , Sinai).
After the 1996, NMA exploration activities for uranium resources were focusing on the south Eastern Desert of Egypt,these works resulted in the discovery of three U-resources These resources (from south to north) include vein-types (G. El-sella & Abu Rusheid area) and metamorphosed sandstone-type (Sikait area).
Egypt has an ongoing program in the Sinai and Eastern Deserts to extract uranium ore through heap leach mining. Egypt asserts that none of the uranium ore concentrate produced is of a purity or composition to require IAEA safeguarding, but transferred some of the material to NMA headquarters in Cairo for IAEA review during the agency's 2005 investigations. Egypt began investigating conventional uranium occurrences in the Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert, Eastern Desert, and Sinai Peninsula in the 1950s. Egypt also explored unconventional uranium resources contained in phosphate deposits in the Western Desert, Nile Valley, and the Red Sea Coast.
The phosphate deposits contain substantial uranium (estimated at 33,000 tons), but extraction would be difficult and expensive. From 2001 to 2005, the NMA suffered substantial budget cuts, effectively crippling further phosphate exploration plans. As a result, the NMA decided to explore and evaluate only the most promising sites in the Sinai and Eastern Desert.
Presently, exploration is focusing on conventional granite-based uranium resources in the intermountain basins, while evaluation of potential uranium resources continues in the El Sella and Kab Amiri areas of the Eastern Desert. Attention is being concentrated on several mineralized vein-type deposits (Gabal Gattar, El Miskat/El Erediya, Um Ara, and El Atshan) and a siltstone deposit in the Sinai (Wadi Nasib). Egypt also discovered another uranium bearing area, Gabal Kadabora, in the central eastern desert. Generally, operations in the Eastern Desert have included deep trenching, tunneling, core and percussion drilling, and laboratory analysis.
Western intelligence sources believe that in January 2005, Egypt and China formed an agreement for Chinese assistance in mining uranium deposits on the Sinai Peninsula. The status of this project is unclear.
Uranium resources in Egypt may be classified as:
1. Vein-type (G. El-Missikat), (G. El Sella), and (Abu Rusheid Area).
2. Metamorphosed sandstone-type (Sikait area).
3. Shear-zones in calc-alkaline granite and intermountain basin (G. Gattar).
4. Surficial type U-Deposit in sedimentary rocks (Abu Zeneima).
See map for general locations.
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