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Recognition of uranium provinces
The Science of the Total Environment, 79 (1989) 29~298 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam--Printed in The Netherlands
Book
295
Reviews
Recognition of Uranium Provinces, Proc. Tech. Committee, London, September 1985, IAEA, Vienna, 1988, 459 pp. Price: Austrian Sch. 940.00.
The concept and identification of mineral provinces is of considerable interest in the evaluation of ore resources, their exploration and exploitation. In order for a trace element such as uranium to become enriched in crustal rocks, to the extent that deposits of ore-grade are formed, geological processes, over long time spans are required. The early composition of the Earth would presumably be similar to t h a t of chondrites; following the primary fractionation and the later changes which took place in the mantle, uranium became enriched in the crustal rocks, especially in stable parts of the crust, thus the slow process of enrichment of trace elements, over geologic time, could take place. The maximum concentration of uranium ores is to be found in association with those magmas, and mineral fluids, which are the most mobile. Today, the main sink for uranium is the oceans where a concentration of about 3 pg U l- 1 is ubiquitous. There are several approaches to the cause of enrichment, such as the need for part of the mantle to become enriched in uranium as a precursor for ore formation, or the influence by geological control. The first four chapters of this book discuss the nature of uranium provinces and their formation. Then follow twelve chapters which describe the characteristics of major uranium deposits of the world, e.g. C a n a d a - - Athabasca, Blind R i v e r - - Elliot Lake basin; U.S.A. - - Colorado Plateau; Namibia - - Damara Orogen; South Africa - - Witwatersrand; Australia - - Pine Creek, Olympio Dam, Yilgarn Block a n d Gascoyne Province; S. Greenland; India - - Singhbum Province; Brazil. The last chapter considers uraniun~ exploitation. Finally, reports of three panel discussions are presented, the topics considered are: formation of uranium provinces, the characteristics of uranium deposits and, finally, their exploration. The conclusions of the second panel are interesting, namely that while all participants agreed t~at there was a need for a source of labile uranium which, following migration, gives rise to the ore deposits, there are no major similarities between the different types of province except that they occur in the continental crust rather than the oceanic crust and contain uranium. This book does not contain any major new findings, but is a very useful contribution to the subject, especially the treatment of the process of uranium enrichment in space and time. The role the IAEA can play in promoting exploration is illustrated; by making information available and allowing concepts of new provinces or provincial extensions to be examined across national boundaries. This book was prepared by camera-ready copy and suffers from the use of a
296
wide range of typeface; several of the illustrations, especially those of maps, are very poorly reproduced.
Plymouth (United Kingdom)
E.I. Hamilton
Economy and Environment, by C. Perrings, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1987, pp. 179, Price: £22.50, US$34.50. National, regional and global approaches to economy are closely linked to environmental matters, for example the short and long term effects of weather and climatic change on agricultural productivity. So far there are very few links between models for economy and climate. Models of the economy are usually based upon empirical decisions, such as those derived from a study of supply and demand. Climatic models tend to be based upon the solution of equations which rely upon known relationships between various states of matter; it is possible to add a perturbation to a model and then follow its pathway through a system, albeit that the model may not be able to accommodate all the knock-on effects associated with a real system. There is a lack of universal acceptance that environmental issues constitute a significant problem to economists; the problem rests with the extent and purpose of human control, and the balance which can be exercised between restrictions on production in order to preserve the environment, and supporting production to the detriment of the environment. Part one of this book considers the physical system, as most major models of economic growth are constructed on the basis of a description of the physical conditions of production; five assumptions are identified for the global physical system. Because total resource recycling is not possible the growth of output and depletion of environmental resources are synonymous. Part two considers the structure of the price system which is driven from one state of disequilibrium to another by forces which lie outside the system. As a set of established rules do not exist which identify the effects arising from the external forces, any response has to rely upon intuitive decisions for major perturbations, or fine tuning of the system. Part three considers optimal strategies where those of a collective nature need to dominate over those of individuals; collective control (ignoring the political requirements) at a global level over environmental resources is a means of stabilising economies, but no economy reaches a state of sustained equilibrium and instead is subject to processes of continuous change. In order to sustain an environmental strategy the author invokes a need for the principle of common property (e.g. resources) and private accountability in the use of environmental resources. However, the author notes that neither can ensure that future generations will not be bequeathed a wasteland. Both the economy and the environment are very sensitive to change. Can there exist some form of long-term control which will ensure some degree of stability for survival in an environment which is subject to dramatic long and
Book
295
Reviews
Recognition of Uranium Provinces, Proc. Tech. Committee, London, September 1985, IAEA, Vienna, 1988, 459 pp. Price: Austrian Sch. 940.00.
The concept and identification of mineral provinces is of considerable interest in the evaluation of ore resources, their exploration and exploitation. In order for a trace element such as uranium to become enriched in crustal rocks, to the extent that deposits of ore-grade are formed, geological processes, over long time spans are required. The early composition of the Earth would presumably be similar to t h a t of chondrites; following the primary fractionation and the later changes which took place in the mantle, uranium became enriched in the crustal rocks, especially in stable parts of the crust, thus the slow process of enrichment of trace elements, over geologic time, could take place. The maximum concentration of uranium ores is to be found in association with those magmas, and mineral fluids, which are the most mobile. Today, the main sink for uranium is the oceans where a concentration of about 3 pg U l- 1 is ubiquitous. There are several approaches to the cause of enrichment, such as the need for part of the mantle to become enriched in uranium as a precursor for ore formation, or the influence by geological control. The first four chapters of this book discuss the nature of uranium provinces and their formation. Then follow twelve chapters which describe the characteristics of major uranium deposits of the world, e.g. C a n a d a - - Athabasca, Blind R i v e r - - Elliot Lake basin; U.S.A. - - Colorado Plateau; Namibia - - Damara Orogen; South Africa - - Witwatersrand; Australia - - Pine Creek, Olympio Dam, Yilgarn Block a n d Gascoyne Province; S. Greenland; India - - Singhbum Province; Brazil. The last chapter considers uraniun~ exploitation. Finally, reports of three panel discussions are presented, the topics considered are: formation of uranium provinces, the characteristics of uranium deposits and, finally, their exploration. The conclusions of the second panel are interesting, namely that while all participants agreed t~at there was a need for a source of labile uranium which, following migration, gives rise to the ore deposits, there are no major similarities between the different types of province except that they occur in the continental crust rather than the oceanic crust and contain uranium. This book does not contain any major new findings, but is a very useful contribution to the subject, especially the treatment of the process of uranium enrichment in space and time. The role the IAEA can play in promoting exploration is illustrated; by making information available and allowing concepts of new provinces or provincial extensions to be examined across national boundaries. This book was prepared by camera-ready copy and suffers from the use of a
296
wide range of typeface; several of the illustrations, especially those of maps, are very poorly reproduced.
Plymouth (United Kingdom)
E.I. Hamilton
Economy and Environment, by C. Perrings, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1987, pp. 179, Price: £22.50, US$34.50. National, regional and global approaches to economy are closely linked to environmental matters, for example the short and long term effects of weather and climatic change on agricultural productivity. So far there are very few links between models for economy and climate. Models of the economy are usually based upon empirical decisions, such as those derived from a study of supply and demand. Climatic models tend to be based upon the solution of equations which rely upon known relationships between various states of matter; it is possible to add a perturbation to a model and then follow its pathway through a system, albeit that the model may not be able to accommodate all the knock-on effects associated with a real system. There is a lack of universal acceptance that environmental issues constitute a significant problem to economists; the problem rests with the extent and purpose of human control, and the balance which can be exercised between restrictions on production in order to preserve the environment, and supporting production to the detriment of the environment. Part one of this book considers the physical system, as most major models of economic growth are constructed on the basis of a description of the physical conditions of production; five assumptions are identified for the global physical system. Because total resource recycling is not possible the growth of output and depletion of environmental resources are synonymous. Part two considers the structure of the price system which is driven from one state of disequilibrium to another by forces which lie outside the system. As a set of established rules do not exist which identify the effects arising from the external forces, any response has to rely upon intuitive decisions for major perturbations, or fine tuning of the system. Part three considers optimal strategies where those of a collective nature need to dominate over those of individuals; collective control (ignoring the political requirements) at a global level over environmental resources is a means of stabilising economies, but no economy reaches a state of sustained equilibrium and instead is subject to processes of continuous change. In order to sustain an environmental strategy the author invokes a need for the principle of common property (e.g. resources) and private accountability in the use of environmental resources. However, the author notes that neither can ensure that future generations will not be bequeathed a wasteland. Both the economy and the environment are very sensitive to change. Can there exist some form of long-term control which will ensure some degree of stability for survival in an environment which is subject to dramatic long and