Koongarra deposit, Kakadu, West Arnhem Region, Northern Territory, Australia i
Regional Level Types
Koongarra deposit Deposit
Kakadu State Park
West Arnhem Region Region
Northern Territory Territory
Australia Country

Uranium(-gold) deposit.

The Koongarra uranium deposit is 30 kilometres south south-east of Jabiru and the Ranger uranium mine, in the Kakadu National Park. It is 3 kilometres west of Nourlangie Rock in a valley bounded by the Brockman Rock outlier, and the escarpment of the Arnhem Land Plateau.

There are two ore bodies totalling 16 540 tonnes of uranium.

It was discovered in 1970 by Noranda Australia Ltd, the lease later taken over by Denison Australia Pty Ltd. In 1995 the lease was held by a French company called AREVA. Mining has not proceeded due to opposition from the local indigenous communities.

The Archaean Nanambu Complex forms a dome, flanked by the mineralisation in the lower Proterozoic Cahill Formation, a layered sequence of quartz-Mg-chlorite schist, with layers of dolomite and metamorphosed limestone of the same unit underlying this. The regolith is sandy loams, white sand, fragmented sandstone, and extensive lateritic ferricrete.

The Koongarra deposit contains two distinct but related ore bodies, separated by 100 metres of barren schist. The ore bodies are 650 metres long, averaging 30 metres wide, strikes north-east, and dips 55 degrees south-east.

The primary ore is pitchblende, which occurs as veins 1-10mm thick, intimately intergrown with Mg-chlorite. Minor gold, galena, and Cu Sulphides occur disseminated in the ore. There are abundant secondary uranium minerals within a 100 metre dispersion fan of weathering above the south-west portion of the deposit. These include uranyl phosphates, mainly saleeite, metatorbernite, and renardite. In the primary ore zone there is uraninite oxidised and altered to uranyl silicates, kasolite, sklodowskite and uranophane.

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Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List

16 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded

Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!

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Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

ⓘ Dolostone

ⓘ Limestone

ⓘ Schist

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ 'Apatite'

Formula: Ca₅(PO₄)₃(Cl/F/OH)

References:

Isobe, H., Ewing, R. C., & Murakami, T. (1993, January). Formation of secondary uranium minerals in the Koongarra deposit, Australia. In MRS Proceedings (Vol. 333, p. 653). Cambridge University Press.

ⓘ 'Chlorite Group'

References:

Waite & Payne (1993) Uranium Transport in the subsurface environment - Koongara - a case study in Metals in Groundwater H. Allen et al ed. CRC Press

Angela Giblin (2004) Alligator Rivers Uranium deposits (Koongarra, Nabarlek and Ranger One) Northern Territory. CRC LEME

ⓘ Curite

Formula: Pb₃(H₂O)₂[(UO₂)₄O₄(OH)₃]₂

References:

Isobe, H., Murakami, T., & Ewing, R. C. (1992). Alteration of uranium minerals in the Koongarra deposit, Australia: Unweathered zone. Journal of Nuclear Materials, 190, 174-187.

Waite & Payne (1993) Uranium Transport in the subsurface environment - Koongara - a case study in Metals in Groundwater H. Allen et al ed. CRC Press

ⓘ Dewindtite

Formula: H₂Pb₃(UO₂)₆O₄(PO₄)₄ · 12H₂O

References:

Waite & Payne (1993) Uranium Transport in the subsurface environment - Koongara - a case study in Metals in Groundwater H. Allen et al ed. CRC Press

Angela Giblin (2004) Alligator Rivers Uranium deposits (Koongarra, Nabarlek and Ranger One) Northern Territory. CRC LEME

Giblin, A.(2004): Aligator Rivers Uranium Deposits, CRC LEME (2004)

ⓘ Fourmarierite

Formula: Pb(UO₂)₄O₃(OH)₄ · 4H₂O

References:

Waite & Payne (1993) Uranium Transport in the subsurface environment - Koongara - a case study in Metals in Groundwater H. Allen et al ed. CRC Press

ⓘ Galena

Formula: PbS

References:

Angela Giblin (2004) Alligator Rivers Uranium deposits (Koongarra, Nabarlek and Ranger One) Northern Territory. CRC LEME

ⓘ Gold

Formula: Au

References:

Angela Giblin (2004) Alligator Rivers Uranium deposits (Koongarra, Nabarlek and Ranger One) Northern Territory. CRC LEME

ⓘ Graphite

Formula: C

References:

ⓘ Kasolite

Formula: Pb(UO₂)(SiO₄) · H₂O

References:

Isobe, H., Murakami, T., & Ewing, R. C. (1992). Alteration of uranium minerals in the Koongarra deposit, Australia: Unweathered zone. Journal of Nuclear Materials, 190, 174-187.

Angela Giblin (2004) Alligator Rivers Uranium deposits (Koongarra, Nabarlek and Ranger One) Northern Territory. CRC LEME

ⓘ Metatorbernite

Formula: Cu(UO₂)₂(PO₄)₂ · 8H₂O

References:

Waite & Payne (1993) Uranium Transport in the subsurface environment - Koongara - a case study in Metals in Groundwater H. Allen et al ed. CRC Press

Angela Giblin (2004) Alligator Rivers Uranium deposits (Koongarra, Nabarlek and Ranger One) Northern Territory. CRC LEME

ⓘ Quartz

Formula: SiO₂

References:

Giblin, A. (2005). Alligator Rivers uranium deposits (Koongarra, Narbarlek and Ranger One), Northern Territory. Regolith Expression of Australian Ore Systems. CRC LEME, Perth, 411, 414.

ⓘ Renardite

Formula: Pb(UO₂)₄(PO₄)₂(OH)₄ · H₂O

References:

Giblin, A. (2005). Alligator Rivers uranium deposits (Koongarra, Narbarlek and Ranger One), Northern Territory. Regolith Expression of Australian Ore Systems. CRC LEME, Perth, 411, 414.

ⓘ Saléeite

Formula: Mg(UO₂)₂(PO₄)₂ · 10H₂O

References:

Waite & Payne (1993) Uranium Transport in the subsurface environment - Koongara - a case study in Metals in Groundwater H. Allen et al ed. CRC Press

Angela Giblin (2004) Alligator Rivers Uranium deposits (Koongarra, Nabarlek and Ranger One) Northern Territory. CRC LEME

ⓘ Sklodowskite

Formula: Mg(UO₂)₂(SiO₃OH)₂ · 6H₂O

References:

Isobe, H., Murakami, T., & Ewing, R. C. (1992). Alteration of uranium minerals in the Koongarra deposit, Australia: Unweathered zone. Journal of Nuclear Materials, 190, 174-187.

Angela Giblin (2004) Alligator Rivers Uranium deposits (Koongarra, Nabarlek and Ranger One) Northern Territory. CRC LEME

ⓘ Uraninite

Formula: UO₂

References:

Isobe, H., Murakami, T., & Ewing, R. C. (1992). Alteration of uranium minerals in the Koongarra deposit, Australia: Unweathered zone. Journal of Nuclear Materials, 190, 174-187.

Waite & Payne (1993) Uranium Transport in the subsurface environment - Koongara - a case study in Metals in Groundwater H. Allen et al ed. CRC Press

ⓘ Uraninite var. Pitchblende

Formula: UO₂

References:

Angela Giblin (2004) Alligator Rivers Uranium deposits (Koongarra, Nabarlek and Ranger One) Northern Territory. CRC LEME

ⓘ Uranophane

Formula: Ca(UO₂)₂(SiO₃OH)₂ · 5H₂O

References:

Angela Giblin (2004) Alligator Rivers Uranium deposits (Koongarra, Nabarlek and Ranger One) Northern Territory. CRC LEME

ⓘ Vandendriesscheite

Formula: PbU₇O₂₂ · 12H₂O

References:

Waite & Payne (1993) Uranium Transport in the subsurface environment - Koongara - a case study in Metals in Groundwater H. Allen et al ed. CRC Press

ⓘ Wölsendorfite

Formula: Pb₇(UO₂)₁₄O₁₉(OH)₄ · 12H₂O

References:

Isobe, H., Murakami, T., & Ewing, R. C. (1992). Alteration of uranium minerals in the Koongarra deposit, Australia: Unweathered zone. Journal of Nuclear Materials, 190, 174-187.

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘ	Gold	1.AA.05	Au
ⓘ	Graphite	1.CB.05a	C
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘ	Galena	2.CD.10	PbS
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘ	Quartz	4.DA.05	SiO₂
ⓘ	Uraninite var. Pitchblende	4.DL.05	UO₂
ⓘ		4.DL.05	UO₂
ⓘ	Fourmarierite	4.GB.25	Pb(UO₂)₄O₃(OH)₄ · 4H₂O
ⓘ	Wölsendorfite	4.GB.30	Pb₇(UO₂)₁₄O₁₉(OH)₄ · 12H₂O
ⓘ	Vandendriesscheite	4.GB.40	PbU₇O₂₂ · 12H₂O
ⓘ	Curite	4.GB.55	Pb₃(H₂O)₂[(UO₂)₄O₄(OH)₃]₂
Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
ⓘ	Saléeite	8.EB.05	Mg(UO₂)₂(PO₄)₂ · 10H₂O
ⓘ	Metatorbernite	8.EB.10	Cu(UO₂)₂(PO₄)₂ · 8H₂O
ⓘ	Renardite	8.EC.10	Pb(UO₂)₄(PO₄)₂(OH)₄ · H₂O
ⓘ	Dewindtite	8.EC.10	H₂Pb₃(UO₂)₆O₄(PO₄)₄ · 12H₂O
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘ	Sklodowskite	9.AK.10	Mg(UO₂)₂(SiO₃OH)₂ · 6H₂O
ⓘ	Kasolite	9.AK.15	Pb(UO₂)(SiO₄) · H₂O
ⓘ	Uranophane	9.AK.15	Ca(UO₂)₂(SiO₃OH)₂ · 5H₂O
Unclassified
ⓘ	'Chlorite Group'	-
ⓘ	'Apatite'	-	Ca₅(PO₄)₃(Cl/F/OH)

List of minerals for each chemical element

H	Hydrogen
H	ⓘ Curite	Pb₃(H₂O)₂[(UO₂)₄O₄(OH)₃]₂
H	ⓘ Dewindtite	H₂Pb₃(UO₂)₆O₄(PO₄)₄ · 12H₂O
H	ⓘ Fourmarierite	Pb(UO₂)₄O₃(OH)₄ · 4H₂O
H	ⓘ Kasolite	Pb(UO₂)(SiO₄) · H₂O
H	ⓘ Metatorbernite	Cu(UO₂)₂(PO₄)₂ · 8H₂O
H	ⓘ Saléeite	Mg(UO₂)₂(PO₄)₂ · 10H₂O
H	ⓘ Sklodowskite	Mg(UO₂)₂(SiO₃OH)₂ · 6H₂O
H	ⓘ Uranophane	Ca(UO₂)₂(SiO₃OH)₂ · 5H₂O
H	ⓘ Vandendriesscheite	PbU₇O₂₂ · 12H₂O
H	ⓘ Wölsendorfite	Pb₇(UO₂)₁₄O₁₉(OH)₄ · 12H₂O
H	ⓘ Renardite	Pb(UO₂)₄(PO₄)₂(OH)₄ · H₂O
H	ⓘ Apatite	Ca₅(PO₄)₃(Cl/F/OH)
C	Carbon
C	ⓘ Graphite	C
O	Oxygen
O	ⓘ Curite	Pb₃(H₂O)₂[(UO₂)₄O₄(OH)₃]₂
O	ⓘ Dewindtite	H₂Pb₃(UO₂)₆O₄(PO₄)₄ · 12H₂O
O	ⓘ Fourmarierite	Pb(UO₂)₄O₃(OH)₄ · 4H₂O
O	ⓘ Kasolite	Pb(UO₂)(SiO₄) · H₂O
O	ⓘ Metatorbernite	Cu(UO₂)₂(PO₄)₂ · 8H₂O
O	ⓘ Uraninite var. Pitchblende	UO₂
O	ⓘ Quartz	SiO₂
O	ⓘ Saléeite	Mg(UO₂)₂(PO₄)₂ · 10H₂O
O	ⓘ Sklodowskite	Mg(UO₂)₂(SiO₃OH)₂ · 6H₂O
O	ⓘ Uraninite	UO₂
O	ⓘ Uranophane	Ca(UO₂)₂(SiO₃OH)₂ · 5H₂O
O	ⓘ Vandendriesscheite	PbU₇O₂₂ · 12H₂O
O	ⓘ Wölsendorfite	Pb₇(UO₂)₁₄O₁₉(OH)₄ · 12H₂O
O	ⓘ Renardite	Pb(UO₂)₄(PO₄)₂(OH)₄ · H₂O
O	ⓘ Apatite	Ca₅(PO₄)₃(Cl/F/OH)
F	Fluorine
F	ⓘ Apatite	Ca₅(PO₄)₃(Cl/F/OH)
Mg	Magnesium
Mg	ⓘ Saléeite	Mg(UO₂)₂(PO₄)₂ · 10H₂O
Mg	ⓘ Sklodowskite	Mg(UO₂)₂(SiO₃OH)₂ · 6H₂O
Si	Silicon
Si	ⓘ Kasolite	Pb(UO₂)(SiO₄) · H₂O
Si	ⓘ Quartz	SiO₂
Si	ⓘ Sklodowskite	Mg(UO₂)₂(SiO₃OH)₂ · 6H₂O
Si	ⓘ Uranophane	Ca(UO₂)₂(SiO₃OH)₂ · 5H₂O
P	Phosphorus
P	ⓘ Dewindtite	H₂Pb₃(UO₂)₆O₄(PO₄)₄ · 12H₂O
P	ⓘ Metatorbernite	Cu(UO₂)₂(PO₄)₂ · 8H₂O
P	ⓘ Saléeite	Mg(UO₂)₂(PO₄)₂ · 10H₂O
P	ⓘ Renardite	Pb(UO₂)₄(PO₄)₂(OH)₄ · H₂O
P	ⓘ Apatite	Ca₅(PO₄)₃(Cl/F/OH)
S	Sulfur
S	ⓘ Galena	PbS
Cl	Chlorine
Cl	ⓘ Apatite	Ca₅(PO₄)₃(Cl/F/OH)
Ca	Calcium
Ca	ⓘ Uranophane	Ca(UO₂)₂(SiO₃OH)₂ · 5H₂O
Ca	ⓘ Apatite	Ca₅(PO₄)₃(Cl/F/OH)
Cu	Copper
Cu	ⓘ Metatorbernite	Cu(UO₂)₂(PO₄)₂ · 8H₂O
Au	Gold
Au	ⓘ Gold	Au
Pb	Lead
Pb	ⓘ Curite	Pb₃(H₂O)₂[(UO₂)₄O₄(OH)₃]₂
Pb	ⓘ Dewindtite	H₂Pb₃(UO₂)₆O₄(PO₄)₄ · 12H₂O
Pb	ⓘ Fourmarierite	Pb(UO₂)₄O₃(OH)₄ · 4H₂O
Pb	ⓘ Galena	PbS
Pb	ⓘ Kasolite	Pb(UO₂)(SiO₄) · H₂O
Pb	ⓘ Vandendriesscheite	PbU₇O₂₂ · 12H₂O
Pb	ⓘ Wölsendorfite	Pb₇(UO₂)₁₄O₁₉(OH)₄ · 12H₂O
Pb	ⓘ Renardite	Pb(UO₂)₄(PO₄)₂(OH)₄ · H₂O
U	Uranium
U	ⓘ Curite	Pb₃(H₂O)₂[(UO₂)₄O₄(OH)₃]₂
U	ⓘ Dewindtite	H₂Pb₃(UO₂)₆O₄(PO₄)₄ · 12H₂O
U	ⓘ Fourmarierite	Pb(UO₂)₄O₃(OH)₄ · 4H₂O
U	ⓘ Kasolite	Pb(UO₂)(SiO₄) · H₂O
U	ⓘ Metatorbernite	Cu(UO₂)₂(PO₄)₂ · 8H₂O
U	ⓘ Uraninite var. Pitchblende	UO₂
U	ⓘ Saléeite	Mg(UO₂)₂(PO₄)₂ · 10H₂O
U	ⓘ Sklodowskite	Mg(UO₂)₂(SiO₃OH)₂ · 6H₂O
U	ⓘ Uraninite	UO₂
U	ⓘ Uranophane	Ca(UO₂)₂(SiO₃OH)₂ · 5H₂O
U	ⓘ Vandendriesscheite	PbU₇O₂₂ · 12H₂O
U	ⓘ Wölsendorfite	Pb₇(UO₂)₁₄O₁₉(OH)₄ · 12H₂O
U	ⓘ Renardite	Pb(UO₂)₄(PO₄)₂(OH)₄ · H₂O

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

Australia

McArthur BasinBasin
North Australian ElementCraton
Northern Territory
- Pine Creek OrogenOrogen
- West Arnhem Region
  - Kakadu National ParkNational Park

Australian PlateTectonic Plate

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References

Isobe, H., Murakami, T., & Ewing, R. C. (1992). Alteration of uranium minerals in the Koongarra deposit, Australia: Unweathered zone. Journal of Nuclear Materials, 190, 174-187.

Giblin, A.(2004): Alligator Rivers Uranium Deposits (Koongarra, Nabarlek and Ranger One) Northern Territory,CRC LEME (2004).

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