Status of uranium exploration in Peninsular Malaysia

702001-101408-1204-B
Author : Chu, L.H. & Chand, F.
Publication : Bulletin of the Geological Society of Malaysia
Page : 627-647
Volume Number : 20
Year : 1987
DOI : https://doi.org/10.7186/bgsm20198630

Bulletin of the Geological Society of Malaysia, Volume 20, August 1986, pp. 627 – 647 

Status of uranium exploration in Peninsular Malaysia

CHU LING HENG AND FATEH CHAND

Geological Survey Malaysia, Tiger Lane, Ipoh, Malaysia

 

Abstract: Although preliminary attempts at identifying radiometric targets were made by the Geological Survey in the late 1950s, and even as recent as 1975, systematic exploration for uranium in Peninsular Malaysia however did not really get underway until the middle of 1977 when the Central Belt Project, a regional geochemical sampling programme, was launched. Since then this programme, which for the first time incorporates uranium analyses of geochemical samples has continued to assume an important role in assessing the mineral potential of the Project area covering some 31,000 km2 in north-central Peninsular Malaysia. To complement this geochemical survey a helicopter-flown spectrometric and magnetic survey was conducted over the Project area in April 1980.

The granitoids are generally more responsive radiometrically and show a higher geochemical uranium contrast in comparison to other rock types. The recent discovery of uraniferous lithologies containing uraninite and uranium-bearing florencite and rhabdophane in the Boundary Range Granite, together with the known torbernite occurrence in the Main Range Granite, implies that the search for granite-hosted uranium mineralization deserves priority.

Contrary to earlier belief, the importance of the Mesozoic continental formations as possible uranium hosts appears to have been reduced, judging from their weak airborne radiometric and geochemical responses. On the other hand the Tertiary basins, not previously accorded attention, should be assessed for their uranium potential.

https://doi.org/10.7186/bgsm20198630