Programa de conferencias
The CNEA Uranium Exploration Projects in Argentine Patagonia
María Lorena RodríguezSubgerenta A/C de Regional Patagonia de Energía Atómica @CNEA
Deputy Manager in charge of the Patagonian Branch, Raw Materials Exploration Management, National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA, Argentina). Bachelor Degree in Geology, specialised in Natural Sciences (Río Cuarto National University, Córdoba, Argentina). She has solid experience in CNEA since May 2019 to date, specialised in environment and staff management. Responsible for the public investment project for the comprehensive exploration and evaluation of uranium resources in the Cañadón Asfalto Basin (Chubut) and the Deseado Massif and their areas of influence (Santa Cruz). She has participated in several training courses and seminars about environmental legislation, environmental management, sustainable mining, and specific professional training in safety and uranium prospecting-exploration and processing, including remediation and waste management. Her published papers mainly focus on the Cerro Solo Uraniferous District in Chubut Province, Argentina.
Resumen
The beginning of uranium exploration work by CNEA in the Patagonia region has its origins in the review of background information such as studies of radioactive rock samples and information from oil drilling developed in the Province of Chubut. The discovery of these uranium anomalies was the basis for the start of exploration activities in other Patagonian provinces. Over the years, exploration work continued, although with strong budgetary constraints, which resulted in a slow progress of planned studies. In the mining prospects that CNEA carries out in the Patagonian region and according to the level of knowledge and the legal mining status, uranium projects are recognized as deposits, discovery manifestations, and prospecting areas. This presentation details the main aspects of the projects that CNEA is currently carrying out in the provinces of Chubut (Cerro Solo Uranium District, Sierra Cuadrada Uranium District, Los Mártires Uranium District), Rio Negro (Catriel Project), and Santa Cruz (Meseta Sirven Project).