Discovered in 1970s
In main Karoo Basin, largely in Beaufort Group Fluviatile sediments
Location of Aeradiometric anomalies and deposits (SACGS Memoir 76)
Rietkuil
First discovered trial open pit 1978
Rystkuil (Ryst Kuil) Largest Deposit to date
Found initially by Chris Cameron demonstrating use of scintillometer to farmer who liked dark (uraniferous) rocks for his garden
•Resource 10.9 Mt at 0.104 % U3O8 at 80-130 $/kg
•25 m centres 100-200 m depth, mainly percussion
•400 m centres were used to define geology
Geological Outline SK= Rystkuil (Eddington and Harrison 1979)
Decline to Test Mine
Esso Minerals exited in 1981. Optioned to Southern Sphere (Utah)- 1985.
•2004 mineral rights nationalized (26% BEE). Taken up by Uramin 2005, a start up, along with the Trekkopje project in Namibia and assets in Central Africa. Sold to Areva for $1.8 bn in 2007
•Written down 2011 but explored by Peninsula Energy 2009-2019 (below)
A good explanation of the stratigraphy by Gulliford et al. (2014)