1. p. 1 DOE Office of Nuclear Energy Nuclear Fuels Resources Workshop Mid-Point Session October 14, 2010 Resource Estimation and Exploration: panel members * Panel co-lead Steve Herring* Charles Forsberg* Susan Hall Scott Sitzer Jean-Rene Blaise Phillip Goodell Robert Vance Robert Price Meg Coleman Ila Pillalamarri Erich Schneider Jon Price Fares Howari George Breit

2. p. 2 DOE Office of Nuclear Energy Nuclear Fuels Resources Workshop Mid-Point Session October 14, 2010 2 Potential scientific impactPotential technological impact Summary of research directionScientific challenges Resource Estimation and Exploration: Complete NURE with updated methods The National Uranium Resource Evaluation (NURE) collected geochemical and geophysical data and issued reports from 1973 to 1984. Was never really finished. Retention of information gained on public lands Preserve and complete the extensive US database Correlation of multiple spectral scans Contribution to understanding of fundamental ore-forming processes Airborne gravimetric magnetic, EM and gamma instrumentation impact on resource estimation in four to ten years newer geophysical instrumentation - more geochemical analysis to unexplored areas - airborne gravitometric and magnetic - National geological geophysical data preservation program - archive university archives, data rescue - DOE National Geothermal Data System

3. p. 3 DOE Office of Nuclear Energy Nuclear Fuels Resources Workshop Mid-Point Session October 14, 2010 3 Potential scientific impactPotential technological impact Summary of research directionScientific challenges Resource Estimation and Exploration: Understanding process oriented models Fundamental understanding of ore- formation processes Define a science-based approach to uranium geology to be more predictive Indicate attractive areas for more intensive exploration Timescale: 6-15 years? look for Silicic Large Igneous Processes fluid flow in basins for mineralization history of crust fluid flow through the crust Olympic Dam as an example Why does it have so much uranium and rare earth elements? Similar to information sharing in petroleum industry Research papers, models analogies Organizing databases e.g. processes in south Texas and phosphate deposits in Florida thinking about the big-picture processes eruption and caldera source of enrichment of uranium in Mideast

4. p. 4 DOE Office of Nuclear Energy Nuclear Fuels Resources Workshop Mid-Point Session October 14, 2010 4 Potential scientific impactPotential technological impact Summary of research directionScientific challenges Resource Estimation and Exploration: Fundamental research on ISL design Participate in IAEA-planned TECDOC on alkaline ISL Restoration of reducing conditions - will recover unattended but maybe in a century Many in drinking water aquifers Not all clean sand array of porous that are not connected - heterogeneities Better lixiviants? Learn and document a fundamental understanding of the In Situ Leaching process Retaining public confidence for ISL Understanding the ore-forming process through temporarily reversing the process Understanding the multiple roles of the lixiviant Operational understanding of ISL permeability Part of assurance of full-term operation of future ISL operations timescale 5-15 years?

5. p. 5 DOE Office of Nuclear Energy Nuclear Fuels Resources Workshop Mid-Point Session October 14, 2010 5 Potential scientific impactPotential technological impact Summary of research directionScientific challenges Resource Estimation and Exploration: Advanced measurement techniques Advanced Visible Infrared Imaging System (AVRIS - NASA platform) existing anti/geoneutrino and seismic data Petroleum geology data in university archives Digitization of old data (pre-NURE) Long-term process in gathering and coordinating data shallow depth penetration of existing remote techniques (< 10m) Data harvesting and coordination with other disciplines Understanding the dynamic processes leading the economic ore-forming process understanding unexpected deposit finds e.g. Olympic Dam part of understanding overall geochemical dynamics uranium recovery with minimal environmental impact long-range plan for fuel supply assurance timescale 20-50 years and beyond