(1) The document discusses uranium mineralization found in sandstone deposits in Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania and the environmental issues surrounding potential uranium mining in the area. (2) Baseline studies were conducted to measure background radiation levels in soils, sediments, water, food crops, and vegetation to establish preliminary radiation levels before any mining occurs. (3) The studies found slightly elevated uranium and thorium levels in some samples near the Mkuju River but generally radiation levels were comparable to control samples. These baseline measurements will be used to evaluate potential environmental impacts if the mine becomes operational.

1. SANDSTONE-HOSTED URANIUM MINERALIZATION IN
SELOUS GAME RESERVE AND ENVIRONMENTAL
ISSUES : A CASE OF MKUJU RIVER PROJECT-
TANZANIA
D.A. MWALONGO, S.L.C MDOE AND I.S.N. MKILAHA

2. CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION
2. OBJECTIVES
3. U MINERALIZATION
4. ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
5. METHODOLOGY
6. RESULTS
7. CONCLUSION

3. INTRODUCTION
• Uranium mining is treated differently than other mines!
• The environmental Impact Statement (EIS) during
approval process
• Higher level of community concern in relation to
uranium mining than with other mining activities
• Lack of trust consultants/contractors EIA reports
• Increase cost and Delays
– The Community perceptions;
– The actual and perceived risks

4. OBJECTIVES OF THIS PRESENTATION
(I)BRIEF OVERVIEW OF URANIUM
MINERALIZATION IN TANZANIA
(I)TO ESTABLISH A PRELIMINARY
BASELINE RADIOACTIVITY LEVELS

5. U MINERALIZATION IN TANZANIA
Geosurvey International in 1976-1980 carried out uranium
exploration on country wide
Further ground follow-up was undertaken by Uranerzbergbau of
Germany in 1978-82
 Airborne geophysical survey comprising magnetics, radiometric
and electromagnetic methods was carried out all over the country
Spacing of the flight lines was 1 km and tie lines 10 km
Potential for follow up work suggested:
Sandstone and siltstone of Karroo System;
Igneous/intrusive type;
-Carbonatite; and
-Intra-intrusive rocks.
Hydrothermal type;
- Unconformity vein type in Ubendian and Karagwe-Ankolean System
Phosphate rocks;
 Superficial calcrete and mbuga deposits; and
Radioactive beach sand.

6. THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE RADIOMETRIC ANOMALIES

7. Selous Game Reserve (SGR)U Anomalies
• Tabular Sandstone-hosted
uranium deposit
• The SGR is the largest game
reserve in Africa and
includes two national parks
• It was declared a natural
world heritage site in 1982
by UNESCO
• The discovery alarmed the
public and encounters
oppositions from public and
civil societie
• The baseline radiological
studies were conducted by
non partial audience to
characterize the initial
conditions

8. SGR RADIOMETRIC MAP

9. LOCAL GEOLOGY
The local geology of the project is located in large intracratonic
basin filled with clastic sediments
The uranium mineralization is a tabular occurs intestinally in the
course sandstones and conglomerate channel
Three trap lithologies namely:
(i) Arkose unit containing carbonaceous debris, carbonaceous
siltstone rip-up and mercasite/pyrite concretions
(ii) Permeable coarser sandstones with marcasite concretions and
fine joints and clay development in the matrix of permeable
stratigraphy
(iii) The oxidized organic rich outer zones where mineralized layers
exposed on the sides of the steep hills
The rich outer zones are caused by uranium concentration and
upgrading as a direct result of reducing environment caused by
increase in organic materials

10. ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES!!

11. WILD HABITAT!

12. Why?
Independent information for:
Regulatory authorities
 government Authorities
Environmentalist
The public,
Politicians; and
Government officials

13. High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector was used
Relative efficiency of 55% and resolution of 1.70 keV at 1332
keV energy of 60Co
The detector chamber was shielded with three layers of copper,
cadmium and Lead of 30 mm, 3 mm and 100 mm thick,
respectively
Soil, sediment and surface water, food crops and
Vegetations commonly feed by wild animals samples were
measured
The performance of the system was validated using IAEA
reference materials like soil 375, the experimental values
were within ± 5 %

14. RESULTS

15. ACTIVITY CONCENTRATION IN SOIL
Maximum activity concentration of 238U and 232Th and 40K
in soil samples compared to the control (7*)
Any significant deviation from these values in future may
be attributed to the uranium mining processes

16. Activity Concentration in sediments
The activity concentrations of 238U and 232Th and 40K
radionuclide were higher than the control samples
 As expected, the activity concentration of the 238U, 232Th and
40K in the sediment samples were much higher than those
found in control samples

17. Activity Concentration in water
The activity concentrations 238U in the samples from Mkuju were slightly higher
than the mean value in control sample
The activities of radionuclides in the analyzed water samples were comparable
The activities were also in the same range as the activity in the control sample
 The samples from wet Mkuju River had slightly higher activity concentration
than other three samples

18. Activity Concentration in food crops
The results show highest average activity concentration of
238U, 232Th and 40K in from maize samples while cassava tuber
and millet grains have lowest activity concentration.

19. Activity Concentration in wild vegetation feed by wild animals
The results showed elevated activity concentration of
radionuclides 238U and 232Th in weeds sampled from riverbank
than in grass
Wild fruits showed lowest activity concentrations for all
radionuclides
The activity concentration is typical grass shows lowest activity
concentrations which are commonly fed by animals d animals

20. 6. CONCLUSION
The baseline information presented compared with
environmental data collected once the mine is
operational, will be used as a basis to evaluate potential
environmental impacts of the mine operations
The radiological baseline studies are important to
build public trust about the industry
The Wildlife Act of 2009 has weakened the legal
basis for World heritage
However, the status of to whether mining and milling
activities will take place or not awaits UNESCO
discretion

21. THANK YOU!