Journals →  Eurasian Mining →  2025 →  #1 →  Back

MINERAL GEOLOGY, HYDROGEOLOGY AND EXPLORATION
ArticleName Forecasting roll-front uranium provinces based on integrated geological and satellite remote sensing data
DOI 10.17580/em.2025.01.03
ArticleAuthor Mendygaliyev А. A., Arshamov Ya. K., Rysbekov К. B., Meirambek G. M.
ArticleAuthorData

Satbayev University, Almaty, Kazakhstan

Mendygaliyev А. A., Senior Lecturer
Arshamov Ya. K., Professor, Candidate of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences, y.arshamov@satbayev.university
Rysbekov К. B., Professor, Candidate of Engineering Sciences
Meirambek G. M., Professor, Candidate of Engineering Sciences

Abstract

An innovative approach has been developed to predict prospective areas for the exploration of rollfront uranium deposits. This method is based on the infiltration model of ore formation and incorporates the advanced exploration practices of roll-front uranium deposits in Kazakhstan, compared with global experience. The approach employs publicly available satellite Earth observation data alongside global geological datasets. Applying this methodology has allowed the identification of prospective areas for roll-front uranium ore exploration and provided a brief characterization of the most significant ones. Special attention is given to large depressions conducive to infiltration conditions, ranging from regions of atmospheric water recharge in arid and semi-arid climates to sedimentary areas under reverse climatic conditions with favorable environments for the formation of reductive geochemical zones. These zones are characterized by active sulfatereduction processes mediated by microorganisms and the generation of hydrogen sulfide fluids.

keywords Uranium mineralization, roll-front, forecasting, ore formation model, exploration
References

1. World Nuclear Association, Outline History of Nuclear Energy. 2020. Available at: https://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-futuregeneration/outline-history-of-nuclear-energy.aspx (accessed: 20.04.2025).
2. Mendygaliyev A. A., Selezneva V. Y., Yazikov E. G. Development and innovative solutions of actual problems of geological exploration of hydrogenous uranium deposits. Gornyi Zhurnal Kazakhstan. 2020. No. 3. pp. 6–13.
3. Nuclear Energy Agency, Forty Years of Uranium Resources, Production and Demand in Perspective, The Red Book Retrospective. Available at: https://oecd-nea.org/jcms/pl_14100/forty-years-of-uranium-resources-productionand-demand-in-perspective?details=true (accessed: 20.04.2025).
4. World Uranium Geology, Exploration, Resources and Production. Austria : IAEA, 2020. 972 p.
5. Kazatomprom. Natural uranium production. Available at: https://www.kazatomprom.kz/en/page/dobicha_prirodnogo_urana (accessed: 20.04.2025).
6. Petrov N. N., Yazikov V. G., Aubakirov H. B. et al. Uranium Deposits of Kazakhstan (Exogenous). Almaty : Gylym, 1995. 264 p.
7. Kislyakov Ya. M., Schetochkin V. N. Hydrochemical Ore Formation. Moscow : Geoinformark, 2000. 611 p.
8. Mendygaliyev A., Arshamov Ya., Selezneva V., Yazikov E., Bekbotayeva A. Prospects for application of multi-spectral earth sensing data in forecasting and searching for reservoir-infiltration uranium deposits. News of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 2021. Vol. 2, No. 446. pp. 90–97.
9. Batulin S. G., Grushevoi S. G., Zelenova O. I. О. et al. Hydrochemical Uranium Deposits: Theoretical Foundations. Moscow : Atomizdat, 1980. 270 p.
10. Brovin K. G., Grabovnikov V. A., Shumilin M. V. et al. Forecasting, Exploration, and Industrial Evaluation of Uranium Deposits for In-Situ Leaching. Almaty : Gylym, 1997. 384 p.
11. IAEA, World Distribution of Uranium Deposits. ID 978-92-0-100118-4. Available at: https://www.iaea.org/publications/12314/world-distribution-ofuranium-deposits (accessed: 20.04.2025).
12. IAEA, World Distribution of Uranium Provinces. Available at: https://www.iaea.org/publications/14859/world-distribution-of-uranium-provinces (accessed: 20.04.2025).
13. Sautter B., Song Y., Pubellier M. et al. The World 5M : Geological Map of the World at scale 1 : 5M. 2022. Available at: https://ccgm.org/en/world-15m/ (accessed: 20.04.2025).
14. Available at: https://maps-for-free.com (accessed: 20.04.2025).
15. SASPlanet. Available at: https://github.com/sasgis/sas.nightly (accessed: 20.04.2025).
16. Berikbolov B. R., Dolgopolov V. F., Petrov N. N. Deep Geological Mapping of the Mesozoic-Cenozoic Cover in the Chu-Sarysu Depression. Volkovgeology JSC, 2002.
17. Pechenkin I. G. Relation of U metallogeny to geodynamic processes in Eurasian marginal parts. Ruda i Metally. 2016. No. 2. pp. 5–16.
18. Yudovich Ya. E. Reflections on infiltration epigenesist. Bulletin of the Tomsk Polytechnic University Geo Assets Engineerin. 2008. pp. 4–10.
19. Onika S. G., Rysbekov K. B., Aben E. K., Bahmagambetova G. B. Leaching rate dependence on productive solution temperature. Engineering Journal of Satbayev University. 2020. pp. 766–771.
20. Kunarbekova M., Yeszhan Y., Zharylkan S., et al. The state of the art of the mining and metallurgical industry in Kazakhstan and future perspectives: A systematic review. ES Materials and Manufacturing. 2024. Vol. 25. ID 1219.

Full content Forecasting roll-front uranium provinces based on integrated geological and satellite remote sensing data
Back