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Ranger Mine, Kakadu, West Arnhem Region, Northern Territory, Australiai
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Ranger Mine | Mine (Abandoned) |
| Kakadu | National Park |
| West Arnhem Region | Region |
| Northern Territory | Territory |
| Australia | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
12° 40' 55'' South , 132° 54' 33'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Mine (Abandoned) - last checked 2024
Deposit first discovered:
1969
Köppen climate type:
Other/historical names associated with this locality:
Ranger Uranium Mine; Ranger Uranium Deposit
Other Languages:
French:
mine d'uranium Ranger, Territoire du Nord, Australie
German:
Ranger-Uran-Mine, West Arnhem Region, Nordterritorium, Australien
Russian:
Рейнджер, Северная территория, Австралия
Cebuano:
Ranger Uranium Mine, West Arnhem, Northern Territory
Danish:
Ranger Uranmine, Northern Territory, Australien
Polish:
Ranger Uranium Mine, Terytorium Północne, Australia
Swedish:
Ranger Uranium Mine, West Arnhem, Northern Territory, Australien
Vietnamese:
Mỏ urani Ranger, Lãnh thổ Bắc, Úc
A former uranium mine owned by Energy Resources of Australia. Located in the Kakadu National Park about 230 kilometres east of Darwin. Produced 3,000 tons/year U3O8 (1984).
Mining commenced in 1980 and is continuing. Ranger then consisted of two main orebodies (Pits #1 and 3) with a total of approximately 110,000 tonnes of U3O8, but Pit #1, with half of that ore, is now mined out. Capacity is about 5,000 tonnes U3O8 per year.
The Ranger deposit was first identified by Noranda Ltd in 1969. Two economical ore bodies were uncovered later by Peko Mines NL and Electrolytic Zinc Co of Australasia. Mining of the No. 1 deposit (Ranger 1 orebody) commenced as an open pit in 1980 until exhausted in 1994 (1995 according to Wikipedia). The No. 3 deposit was opened as an open-pit mine in 1997, ceasing in 2012. The mine plant processed stockpiled ore until January 2021. ERA has tenure and access to the site, principally for rehabilitation activities, until 8 January 2026.
The ore is crushed to a fine powder and pumped as a slurry to a thickener to remove the excess water. It then goes to leach tanks where sulphuric acid is added which dissolves the uranium and other minerals forming a uranium-rich solution. After solids are removed, kerosene is used to strip the uranium from the solution. Ammonia is added to further this process, precipitating uranium in the form of ammonium diuranate, which then goes to a furnace. The ammonia is removed in the furnace, and the uranium is converted to uranium oxide concentrate. This dark green to grey powder is then packed into drums for export.
The Ranger deposits are found in a gently undulating erosional plain from the Kombolgie Sandstone.
The Ranger No. 1 deposit is 250 metres long as a discrete basin, about 120 metres deep at the centre, of two ore zones. One is highly brecciated, and the other zone is smaller.
The Ranger No. 3 deposit is 160 metres long, as an intensely brecciated ore body, 2-3 metres thick. Above this is a weakly brecciated zone of chloritized schist. Secondary ore minerals in the weathered zone close to the surface include urano-phosphates, mainly saleeite, with lesser sklodowskite, metatorbernite, and poorly characterised uranium oxides ("gummite").
Bright yellow radioactive saleeite specimens have been regularly seen over the years.
The mine is one of the most tightly regulated in Australia. Regardless, its presence in a world heritage listed national park has been controversial.
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Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsCommodity List
This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded from this region.Mineral List
Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities30 valid minerals.
Rock Types Recorded
Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!
Rock list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities
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Alphabetical List Tree DiagramDetailed Mineral List:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 1 - Elements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Graphite | 1.CB.05a | C |
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
| ⓘ | Bornite | 2.BA.15 | Cu5FeS4 |
| ⓘ | Chalcopyrite | 2.CB.10a | CuFeS2 |
| ⓘ | Galena | 2.CD.10 | PbS |
| ⓘ | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Hematite | 4.CB.05 | Fe2O3 |
| ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| ⓘ | Brannerite | 4.DH.05 | UTi2O6 |
| ⓘ | Uraninite var. Pitchblende | 4.DL.05 | UO2 |
| ⓘ | 4.DL.05 | UO2 | |
| ⓘ | Curite | 4.GB.55 | Pb3(H2O)2[(UO2)4O4(OH)3]2 |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| ⓘ | Wyartite | 5.EA.15 | CaU5+(UO2)2(CO3)O4(OH) · 7H2O |
| Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
| ⓘ | Uranopilite | 7.EA.05 | (UO2)6(SO4)O2(OH)6 · 14H2O |
| ⓘ | Johannite | 7.EB.05 | Cu(UO2)2(SO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
| ⓘ | Rabejacite | 7.EC.10 | Ca(UO2)4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 6H2O |
| Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates | |||
| ⓘ | Libethenite | 8.BB.30 | Cu2(PO4)(OH) |
| ⓘ | Pseudomalachite | 8.BD.05 | Cu5(PO4)2(OH)4 |
| ⓘ | Parsonsite | 8.EA.10 | Pb2(UO2)(PO4)2 |
| ⓘ | Saléeite | 8.EB.05 | Mg(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 10H2O |
| ⓘ | Torbernite | 8.EB.05 | Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O |
| ⓘ | Meta-autunite | 8.EB.10 | Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 6H2O |
| ⓘ | Metatorbernite | 8.EB.10 | Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 8H2O |
| ⓘ | Dewindtite | 8.EC.10 | H2Pb3(UO2)6O4(PO4)4 · 12H2O |
| ⓘ | Phosphuranylite | 8.EC.10 | KCa(H3O)3(UO2)7(PO4)4O4 · 8H2O |
| ⓘ | Renardite | 8.EC.10 | Pb(UO2)4(PO4)2(OH)4 · H2O |
| ⓘ | Dumontite | 8.EC.15 | Pb2(UO2)3O2(PO4)2 · 5H2O |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| ⓘ | Coffinite | 9.AD.30 | U(SiO4) · nH2O |
| ⓘ | Sklodowskite | 9.AK.10 | Mg(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 6H2O |
| ⓘ | Kasolite | 9.AK.15 | Pb(UO2)(SiO4) · H2O |
| ⓘ | Magnesio-foitite | 9.CK.05 | ◻(Mg2Al)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| ⓘ | Muscovite | 9.EC.15 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | var. Sericite | 9.EC.15 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Chlorite Group' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Gummite' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Tourmaline' | - | AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| ⓘ | 'Rhombohedral Carbonate' | - | (Ca/Mg/Fe/Mn etc)CO3 |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Coffinite | U(SiO4) · nH2O |
| H | ⓘ Curite | Pb3(H2O)2[(UO2)4O4(OH)3]2 |
| H | ⓘ Dewindtite | H2Pb3(UO2)6O4(PO4)4 · 12H2O |
| H | ⓘ Dumontite | Pb2(UO2)3O2(PO4)2 · 5H2O |
| H | ⓘ Johannite | Cu(UO2)2(SO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
| H | ⓘ Kasolite | Pb(UO2)(SiO4) · H2O |
| H | ⓘ Libethenite | Cu2(PO4)(OH) |
| H | ⓘ Meta-autunite | Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 6H2O |
| H | ⓘ Metatorbernite | Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 8H2O |
| H | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Phosphuranylite | KCa(H3O)3(UO2)7(PO4)4O4 · 8H2O |
| H | ⓘ Pseudomalachite | Cu5(PO4)2(OH)4 |
| H | ⓘ Rabejacite | Ca(UO2)4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 6H2O |
| H | ⓘ Saléeite | Mg(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 10H2O |
| H | ⓘ Sklodowskite | Mg(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 6H2O |
| H | ⓘ Torbernite | Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O |
| H | ⓘ Uranopilite | (UO2)6(SO4)O2(OH)6 · 14H2O |
| H | ⓘ Wyartite | CaU5+(UO2)2(CO3)O4(OH) · 7H2O |
| H | ⓘ Renardite | Pb(UO2)4(PO4)2(OH)4 · H2O |
| H | ⓘ Magnesio-foitite | ◻(Mg2Al)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| H | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| B | Boron | |
| B | ⓘ Tourmaline | AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| B | ⓘ Magnesio-foitite | ◻(Mg2Al)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | ⓘ Graphite | C |
| C | ⓘ Wyartite | CaU5+(UO2)2(CO3)O4(OH) · 7H2O |
| C | ⓘ Rhombohedral Carbonate | (Ca/Mg/Fe/Mn etc)CO3 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Brannerite | UTi2O6 |
| O | ⓘ Coffinite | U(SiO4) · nH2O |
| O | ⓘ Curite | Pb3(H2O)2[(UO2)4O4(OH)3]2 |
| O | ⓘ Dewindtite | H2Pb3(UO2)6O4(PO4)4 · 12H2O |
| O | ⓘ Dumontite | Pb2(UO2)3O2(PO4)2 · 5H2O |
| O | ⓘ Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| O | ⓘ Johannite | Cu(UO2)2(SO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
| O | ⓘ Kasolite | Pb(UO2)(SiO4) · H2O |
| O | ⓘ Libethenite | Cu2(PO4)(OH) |
| O | ⓘ Meta-autunite | Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 6H2O |
| O | ⓘ Metatorbernite | Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 8H2O |
| O | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Parsonsite | Pb2(UO2)(PO4)2 |
| O | ⓘ Phosphuranylite | KCa(H3O)3(UO2)7(PO4)4O4 · 8H2O |
| O | ⓘ Uraninite var. Pitchblende | UO2 |
| O | ⓘ Pseudomalachite | Cu5(PO4)2(OH)4 |
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Rabejacite | Ca(UO2)4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 6H2O |
| O | ⓘ Saléeite | Mg(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 10H2O |
| O | ⓘ Sklodowskite | Mg(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 6H2O |
| O | ⓘ Torbernite | Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O |
| O | ⓘ Tourmaline | AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| O | ⓘ Uraninite | UO2 |
| O | ⓘ Uranopilite | (UO2)6(SO4)O2(OH)6 · 14H2O |
| O | ⓘ Wyartite | CaU5+(UO2)2(CO3)O4(OH) · 7H2O |
| O | ⓘ Renardite | Pb(UO2)4(PO4)2(OH)4 · H2O |
| O | ⓘ Magnesio-foitite | ◻(Mg2Al)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| O | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Rhombohedral Carbonate | (Ca/Mg/Fe/Mn etc)CO3 |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | ⓘ Saléeite | Mg(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 10H2O |
| Mg | ⓘ Sklodowskite | Mg(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 6H2O |
| Mg | ⓘ Magnesio-foitite | ◻(Mg2Al)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| Mg | ⓘ Rhombohedral Carbonate | (Ca/Mg/Fe/Mn etc)CO3 |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Magnesio-foitite | ◻(Mg2Al)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| Al | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Coffinite | U(SiO4) · nH2O |
| Si | ⓘ Kasolite | Pb(UO2)(SiO4) · H2O |
| Si | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | ⓘ Sklodowskite | Mg(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 6H2O |
| Si | ⓘ Magnesio-foitite | ◻(Mg2Al)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| Si | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| P | Phosphorus | |
| P | ⓘ Dewindtite | H2Pb3(UO2)6O4(PO4)4 · 12H2O |
| P | ⓘ Dumontite | Pb2(UO2)3O2(PO4)2 · 5H2O |
| P | ⓘ Libethenite | Cu2(PO4)(OH) |
| P | ⓘ Meta-autunite | Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 6H2O |
| P | ⓘ Metatorbernite | Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 8H2O |
| P | ⓘ Parsonsite | Pb2(UO2)(PO4)2 |
| P | ⓘ Phosphuranylite | KCa(H3O)3(UO2)7(PO4)4O4 · 8H2O |
| P | ⓘ Pseudomalachite | Cu5(PO4)2(OH)4 |
| P | ⓘ Saléeite | Mg(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 10H2O |
| P | ⓘ Torbernite | Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O |
| P | ⓘ Renardite | Pb(UO2)4(PO4)2(OH)4 · H2O |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| S | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Galena | PbS |
| S | ⓘ Johannite | Cu(UO2)2(SO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
| S | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Rabejacite | Ca(UO2)4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 6H2O |
| S | ⓘ Uranopilite | (UO2)6(SO4)O2(OH)6 · 14H2O |
| K | Potassium | |
| K | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| K | ⓘ Phosphuranylite | KCa(H3O)3(UO2)7(PO4)4O4 · 8H2O |
| K | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Meta-autunite | Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 6H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Phosphuranylite | KCa(H3O)3(UO2)7(PO4)4O4 · 8H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Rabejacite | Ca(UO2)4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 6H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Wyartite | CaU5+(UO2)2(CO3)O4(OH) · 7H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Rhombohedral Carbonate | (Ca/Mg/Fe/Mn etc)CO3 |
| Ti | Titanium | |
| Ti | ⓘ Brannerite | UTi2O6 |
| Mn | Manganese | |
| Mn | ⓘ Rhombohedral Carbonate | (Ca/Mg/Fe/Mn etc)CO3 |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Rhombohedral Carbonate | (Ca/Mg/Fe/Mn etc)CO3 |
| Cu | Copper | |
| Cu | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| Cu | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Cu | ⓘ Johannite | Cu(UO2)2(SO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
| Cu | ⓘ Libethenite | Cu2(PO4)(OH) |
| Cu | ⓘ Metatorbernite | Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 8H2O |
| Cu | ⓘ Pseudomalachite | Cu5(PO4)2(OH)4 |
| Cu | ⓘ Torbernite | Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O |
| Pb | Lead | |
| Pb | ⓘ Curite | Pb3(H2O)2[(UO2)4O4(OH)3]2 |
| Pb | ⓘ Dewindtite | H2Pb3(UO2)6O4(PO4)4 · 12H2O |
| Pb | ⓘ Dumontite | Pb2(UO2)3O2(PO4)2 · 5H2O |
| Pb | ⓘ Galena | PbS |
| Pb | ⓘ Kasolite | Pb(UO2)(SiO4) · H2O |
| Pb | ⓘ Parsonsite | Pb2(UO2)(PO4)2 |
| Pb | ⓘ Renardite | Pb(UO2)4(PO4)2(OH)4 · H2O |
| U | Uranium | |
| U | ⓘ Brannerite | UTi2O6 |
| U | ⓘ Coffinite | U(SiO4) · nH2O |
| U | ⓘ Curite | Pb3(H2O)2[(UO2)4O4(OH)3]2 |
| U | ⓘ Dewindtite | H2Pb3(UO2)6O4(PO4)4 · 12H2O |
| U | ⓘ Dumontite | Pb2(UO2)3O2(PO4)2 · 5H2O |
| U | ⓘ Johannite | Cu(UO2)2(SO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
| U | ⓘ Kasolite | Pb(UO2)(SiO4) · H2O |
| U | ⓘ Meta-autunite | Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 6H2O |
| U | ⓘ Metatorbernite | Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 8H2O |
| U | ⓘ Parsonsite | Pb2(UO2)(PO4)2 |
| U | ⓘ Phosphuranylite | KCa(H3O)3(UO2)7(PO4)4O4 · 8H2O |
| U | ⓘ Uraninite var. Pitchblende | UO2 |
| U | ⓘ Rabejacite | Ca(UO2)4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 6H2O |
| U | ⓘ Saléeite | Mg(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 10H2O |
| U | ⓘ Sklodowskite | Mg(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 6H2O |
| U | ⓘ Torbernite | Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O |
| U | ⓘ Uraninite | UO2 |
| U | ⓘ Uranopilite | (UO2)6(SO4)O2(OH)6 · 14H2O |
| U | ⓘ Wyartite | CaU5+(UO2)2(CO3)O4(OH) · 7H2O |
| U | ⓘ Renardite | Pb(UO2)4(PO4)2(OH)4 · H2O |
Geochronology
Mineralization age: Paleoproterozoic : 1737 ± 20 MaImportant note: This table is based only on rock and mineral ages recorded on mindat.org for this locality and is not necessarily a complete representation of the geochronology, but does give an indication of possible mineralization events relevant to this locality. As more age information is added this table may expand in the future. A break in the table simply indicates a lack of data entered here, not necessarily a break in the geologic sequence. Grey background entries are from different, related, localities.
| Geologic Time | Rocks, Minerals and Events | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Precambrian | |||||||
| Proterozoic | |||||||
| Paleoproterozoic | |||||||
| Statherian |
| ||||||
Other Databases
| Wikipedia: | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranger_Uranium_Mine |
|---|---|
| Wikidata ID: | Q1413953 |
| GeoNames ID: | 8236282 |
Localities in this Region
- Northern Territory
- West Arnhem Region
- Kakadu
- Ranger Mine
- Kakadu
- West Arnhem Region
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
Australia
- North Australian ElementCraton
- Northern Territory
- Pine Creek OrogenOrogen
Australian PlateTectonic Plate
- North Australian Craton
- Pine Creek InlierShield
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References
Skirrow, Roger G.; Mercadier, Julien; Armstrong, Richard; Kuske, Tehani; Deloule, Etienne (2016) The Ranger uranium deposit, northern Australia: Timing constraints, regional and ore-related alteration, and genetic implications for unconformity-related mineralisation. Ore Geology Reviews, 76. doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2015.09.001
Gigon, Joséphine, Skirrow, Roger G., Harlaux, Matthieu, Richard, Antonin, Mercadier, Julien, Annesley, Irvine R., Villeneuve, Johan (2019) Insights into B-Mg-Metasomatism at the Ranger U Deposit (NT, Australia) and Comparison with Canadian Unconformity-Related U Deposits. Minerals, 9 (7) 432 doi:10.3390/min9070432
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Ranger Mine, Kakadu, West Arnhem Region, Northern Territory, Australia